Notes by MIRALDA MUKHATSHANE(u21592502)
SOCIAL WORK THEORY
CHAPTER 2: AN EVOLVING PROFESSION
THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
Emerged as a professional activity during the late nineteenth century. Its
roots lie in early social welfare activities, the charity organization
movement, and the settlement house movement.
Historically maintained a partisan commitment to working with people
who are poor or disenfranchised.
As charity workers, they applied measures to improve individuals’ moral
and social acceptability.
Other social workers have viewed disenfranchised populations as
victims of social disorder, social injustice, and social change.
As social reformers, they confronted the root causes of problems,
modified societal structures, and engaged in advocating policy and
legislative changes to improve environmental conditions and create
opportunities.
EARLY SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS
Numerous social welfare organisations sprang up in the United States
(and other Western countries) during the nineteenth century to
address concerns about social issues.
Many of these organisations sponsored publications and journals to
inform their membership. For example, early journals include Lend-A-
Hand (1886), Charities Review (1891), Social Casework (1920), Child
Welfare (1922), Social Service Review (1927), and Public Welfare
(1943).
The care of the poor, the disabled, the mentally disturbed, and
orphans in alms houses, reformatories, and asylums was of central
interest in the last decades of the nineteenth century.
Alms houses were for the insane, paupers, the feebleminded,
illegitimate and dependent children, prostitutes and unmarried
mothers and all destitute people
, Notes by MIRALDA MUKHATSHANE(u21592502)
This “era of big buildings” focused on providing for society’s
dependents within the confines of custodial care.
The National Conference examined institutionalized care with a
critical eye and tried to develop practical methods for dealing with
the insane, paupers, dependent and neglected children, and
criminals.
THE ERA OF MUTUAL RESPOSIBILITY AND RELIGIOUS AID
Examples include pregnant women, young children, the handicapped
and the elderly.
The poor were responsible for themselves and unworthy of the help
of others.
Reformation – 16th Century
- mismanagement of churches and abuse of funds contributed to
the reformation (Luther, Calvin).
- the responsibility for the collection of money, food, clothing and
the distribution thereof became better organised.
- church members then got involved to help out because doing well
unto others was part of their belief system.
GOVERNMENT RELIEF AND THE POOR LAWS
Henry VII
- The first person in the 16th century to acknowledge the public’s
responsibility to the poor.
- Begging has been licensed, registered and justified in certain
areas.
Elizabethan Poor Laws
- This law has been introduced in the 17th century by Queen
Elizabeth
- general tax must be collected to provide poor relief
- Houses were established and able-bodied poor were forced to
work
- Those that couldn’t work like the aged, blind and lame were cared
for
- The law underlined the following principles
SOCIAL WORK THEORY
CHAPTER 2: AN EVOLVING PROFESSION
THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION
Emerged as a professional activity during the late nineteenth century. Its
roots lie in early social welfare activities, the charity organization
movement, and the settlement house movement.
Historically maintained a partisan commitment to working with people
who are poor or disenfranchised.
As charity workers, they applied measures to improve individuals’ moral
and social acceptability.
Other social workers have viewed disenfranchised populations as
victims of social disorder, social injustice, and social change.
As social reformers, they confronted the root causes of problems,
modified societal structures, and engaged in advocating policy and
legislative changes to improve environmental conditions and create
opportunities.
EARLY SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS
Numerous social welfare organisations sprang up in the United States
(and other Western countries) during the nineteenth century to
address concerns about social issues.
Many of these organisations sponsored publications and journals to
inform their membership. For example, early journals include Lend-A-
Hand (1886), Charities Review (1891), Social Casework (1920), Child
Welfare (1922), Social Service Review (1927), and Public Welfare
(1943).
The care of the poor, the disabled, the mentally disturbed, and
orphans in alms houses, reformatories, and asylums was of central
interest in the last decades of the nineteenth century.
Alms houses were for the insane, paupers, the feebleminded,
illegitimate and dependent children, prostitutes and unmarried
mothers and all destitute people
, Notes by MIRALDA MUKHATSHANE(u21592502)
This “era of big buildings” focused on providing for society’s
dependents within the confines of custodial care.
The National Conference examined institutionalized care with a
critical eye and tried to develop practical methods for dealing with
the insane, paupers, dependent and neglected children, and
criminals.
THE ERA OF MUTUAL RESPOSIBILITY AND RELIGIOUS AID
Examples include pregnant women, young children, the handicapped
and the elderly.
The poor were responsible for themselves and unworthy of the help
of others.
Reformation – 16th Century
- mismanagement of churches and abuse of funds contributed to
the reformation (Luther, Calvin).
- the responsibility for the collection of money, food, clothing and
the distribution thereof became better organised.
- church members then got involved to help out because doing well
unto others was part of their belief system.
GOVERNMENT RELIEF AND THE POOR LAWS
Henry VII
- The first person in the 16th century to acknowledge the public’s
responsibility to the poor.
- Begging has been licensed, registered and justified in certain
areas.
Elizabethan Poor Laws
- This law has been introduced in the 17th century by Queen
Elizabeth
- general tax must be collected to provide poor relief
- Houses were established and able-bodied poor were forced to
work
- Those that couldn’t work like the aged, blind and lame were cared
for
- The law underlined the following principles
