Understanding Social Welfare

by Dolgoff, Ralph; Feldstein, Donald

• ISBN13: 9780801330360
• ISBN10: 080133036X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Understanding Social Welfare introduces students to the issues, historical influences and trends, methods of operation, and unresolved conflicts of American social welfare. It helps them acquire the basic tools for understanding, analyzing, and evaluating social welfare policies and programs. The text focuses on the impact of social structure on people's lives; emphasizes the current concerns of today's diverse client population; and incorporates the latest social welfare legislation.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
CHAPTER ONE Socio-Economic Structure, Human Needs, and Mutual Responsibility	1	(15)
Overview	1	(1)
The Impact of Social and Economic Structures	2	(2)
Defining Social Welfare and Social Work	4	(1)
The American Myth of the Hero	5	(5)
New Forms of Blaming the Victim	8	(2)
The Authors' Perspective	10	(3)
Summary	13	(1)
Questions for Consideration	13	(1)
Notes	14	(2)
CHAPTER TWO Social Values and Social Welfare	16	(21)
Overview	16	(1)
Modern Views of Humanity	17	(1)
Self-Actualization versus Irritation Response Theories	18	(1)
Economics and Human Motivation	19	(1)
An Overview of History	20	(2)
Altruism and Mutual Aid	20	(2)
Ancient Cultures	22	(5)
Egypt	22	(1)
Sumer and Babylonia	23	(1)
Hebrew and Judaic Societies	24	(2)
Greece and Rome	26	(1)
Christianity	27	(2)
Byzantium: Christianity in the East	28	(1)
Holy Poverty and Expectations of the Wealthy	29	(1)
Eastern Cultures	30	(3)
China	31	(1)
India	32	(1)
Islam	33	(1)
Summary: Evolving Values and Social Welfare	33	(1)
Questions for Consideration	34	(1)
Notes	34	(3)
CHAPTER THREE Social Values and Social Welfare: England From the Middle Ages Onward	37	(24)
Overview	37	(1)
The Early Middle Ages	37	(2)
The Middle Middle Ages	39	(1)
The Late Middle Ages to Elizabethan Poor Laws	40	(4)
Work and Religion	44	(4)
The Poor Laws	48	(3)
The Poor Law Compilation of 1601	49	(2)
Speenhamland	51	(2)
The Workhouse	53	(1)
The Poor Law of 1834	54	(1)
Principles of the Poor Laws	55	(2)
Summary	57	(1)
Questions for Consideration	58	(1)
Notes	58	(3)
CHAPTER FOUR Social Values and Social Welfare: The American Experience I	61	(27)
Overview	61	(1)
American Poor Law Mentality	61	(4)
Settlements, Labor, and Imported "Poor Laws"	62	(3)
The Early Spanish Influence, the Mexicans, and Other Latinos	65	(2)
Voluntary Mutual Aid Efforts	67	(1)
Mutual Aid among African Americans	67	(4)
The American Frontier: The Myth and Values	71	(2)
Native Americans and U.S. History	73	(3)
The Federal Role in Social Welfare	76	(1)
The Freedmen's Bureau	77	(2)
Veterans and a Suspension of the Ethic	79	(1)
Social Darwinism	80	(1)
The Coming of Social Insurance	81	(1)
Society, Social Values, and Modern Views of Human Nature	82	(1)
Summary	83	(1)
Questions for Consideration	84	(1)
Notes	84	(4)
CHAPTER FIVE America, Poverty, Two Paths: The American Experience II	88	(23)
Three Discoveries of Poverty	88	(6)
First Discovery	89	(1)
The Fading of the First Discovery	90	(1)
Second Discovery	90	(1)
Third Discovery	91	(3)
The War on Poverty	94	(2)
Expectation and Delivery	95	(1)
The "Skirmish" against Poverty	96	(2)
Families, Children, and Poverty	98	(8)
Aid to Families with Dependent Children ("Welfare")	98	(4)
An Old-New Path	102	(2)
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families	104	(1)
Social Security	105	(1)
Contrasting Values and Aims	106	(1)
The Poor Laws Today	106	(2)
Human Nature and the American Dream	108	(1)
Summary	109	(1)
Questions for Consideration	109	(1)
Notes	109	(2)
CHAPTER SIX Concepts for Social Welfare	111	(25)
Overview	111	(1)
What Is Social Welfare?	111	(3)
Social Policy, Social Services, and Social Work	114	(1)
Social Policy	114	(1)
Social Services	114	(1)
Social Work	115	(1)
Ideology, Social Policy, and Government Intervention	115	(11)
The Federal and Pluralist System	121	(1)
The Economic Sphere	122	(4)
The Importance of Fiscal and Monetary Policy	126	(2)
An International Economy	128	(1)
A Second Welfare System--Corporate Welfare	129	(5)
A Changed World--New/Old Ideology, New Policies, New Economic Forces, New Social Policy, and New Social Services	130	(2)
A Changed Context	132	(2)
Summary	134	(1)
Questions for Consideration	134	(1)
Notes	134	(2)
CHAPTER SEVEN Examining a Social Welfare Program: Structural Components, Alternative Program Characteristics, and Evaluation	136	(24)
Overview	136	(1)
Structural Components	137	(5)
What Are the Needs and Goals to Be Met?	137	(1)
What Is the Form of Benefit That the Program Produces?	138	(1)
Who Is Eligible for the Program?	138	(1)
How Is the Program Financed?	139	(2)
What Is the Level of Administration?	141	(1)
Alternative Program Characteristics	142	(11)
Residual, Institutional, Developmental, Socio-Economic Development	142	(3)
Selective or Universal	145	(4)
Benefits in Money, Services, or Utilities	149	(2)
Public or Private	151	(1)
Central or Local	151	(2)
Lay or Professional	153	(1)
Evaluating the Program	153	(5)
Adequacy	154	(1)
Financing	154	(3)
Coherence	157	(1)
Latent Consequences	157	(1)
Summary	158	(1)
Questions for Consideration	158	(1)
Notes	158	(2)
CHAPTER EIGHT The Welfare Society and Its Clients	160	(31)
Overview	160	(1)
Who Is a Client of Social Welfare?	160	(2)
What Is Poverty?	162	(4)
Absolute Poverty	162	(3)
Relative Poverty	165	(1)
Subjective Poverty	166	(1)
A Description of the Poor	166	(6)
Income and Wealth Inequality	172	(2)
The Effect of Some Government Programs	174	(2)
The Near-Poor and Expectations	176	(1)
Other Views of Poverty	177	(1)
Relative Inequality	178	(3)
Lack of Power, Access, and Inclusion	179	(1)
The Underclass/Culture of Poverty Thesis	180	(1)
Strategies for Fighting Poverty	181	(5)
Social Utilities	181	(1)
Investment in Human Capital	182	(1)
Income Transfers	183	(1)
Rehabilitation	183	(1)
Aggregative and Selective Economic Measures	184	(2)
Participation and Organization	186	(1)
Ideology Revisited	186	(2)
Summary	188	(1)
Questions for Consideration	189	(1)
Notes	189	(2)
CHAPTER NINE Current Social Welfare Programs--Economic Security	191	(41)
Overview	191	(1)
Social Insurance Programs	192	(22)
Social Security (OASDI)	192	(13)
Unemployment Compensation	205	(5)
Workers' Compensation	210	(4)
Income Support Programs	214	(15)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families	215	(7)
Supplemental Security Income	222	(3)
General Assistance	225	(2)
Earned Income Tax Credit	227	(2)
Summary	229	(1)
Questions for Consideration	229	(1)
Notes	230	(2)
CHAPTER TEN Social Welfare Programs: Sustaining the Quality of Life	232	(47)
Overview	232	(7)
Managed Care: A Radical Change	232	(2)
Major Organizational Types	234	(1)
Impact on Services and Practitioners	235	(1)
Proponents	235	(1)
Criticisms	235	(1)
Research on Quality of Care	236	(1)
Strategies to Achieve Profits	236	(1)
Public Criticism and Legislation	236	(2)
Social Work Roles	238	(1)
Health Care Programs	239	(11)
Medicare	239	(5)
Medicaid	244	(6)
Nutrition Programs	250	(5)
The Food Stamp Program	250	(2)
Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children	252	(2)
School Lunch and Breakfast Programs	254	(1)
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance	255	(1)
Goals	255	(1)
Housing	256	(3)
Veterans' Benefits	259	(4)
Employment Programs	263	(1)
Personal Social Services	264	(7)
Services to Families	265	(1)
Services to Children	266	(3)
Title XX	269	(2)
Mental Health Services	271	(2)
Corrections	273	(3)
Summary	276	(1)
Questions for Consideration	276	(1)
Notes	276	(3)
CHAPTER ELEVEN Nonprofit and Private Social Welfare	279	(22)
Overview	279	(1)
Early Patterns	279	(1)
The Nonprofit Sector	280	(2)
Types of Nonprofit Agencies	281	(1)
The Proprietary Private For-Profit Organization	282	(1)
Services of the Nonprofit and Private Sectors	283	(1)
Getting and Spending	283	(4)
Private and Nonprofit Agencies as Social Welfare Programs	287	(3)
Family and Friends	288	(2)
A Point of View	290	(1)
Leadership, Class, and Gender	291	(1)
Private and Public Spheres	292	(3)
Uses of Public Funds and Power	292	(1)
Tax Laws and Policy	293	(1)
Accountability	294	(1)
National Policy	294	(1)
Marketplace and the Nonmarket Domain	295	(1)
The Family	296	(1)
Toward the Future	296	(2)
Summary	298	(1)
Questions for Consideration	298	(1)
Notes	298	(3)
CHAPTER TWELVE Social Work: The Emergence of a Profession	301	(22)
Overview	301	(1)
The Workers of "Good Works"	302	(5)
The Process of Professionalization	307	(1)
A Brief History of Practice and Methods	308	(4)
Development of the Professional Association	312	(2)
Social Work with Groups	314	(2)
Community Organization and Social Planning	316	(2)
Toward a Unified Profession	318	(1)
Summary	319	(1)
Questions for Consideration	319	(1)
Notes	319	(4)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Social Work: Functions, Context, and Issues	323	(20)
Overview	323	(1)
The Purposes of Social Work	323	(2)
The Professional within the Organizational Context	325	(1)
The Professional within Complex Organizations	325	(3)
Complex Organizations and Professional Culture	326	(1)
Complex Organizations and Authority	326	(1)
The Profession and Professional Autonomy	327	(1)
Alternative Roles and Settings	328	(1)
Society, the Functions of Social Work, and Services for People	328	(1)
The "Bottom Line"	329	(1)
The Two Tracks of Social Work: Cause and Function	329	(5)
Generic-Specific Social Work	334	(2)
Professionals and Volunteers	336	(2)
The Number of Social Workers	337	(1)
The Impact of Managed Care	338	(1)
Racism, Sexism, and a Pluralistic Society	338	(2)
Summary	340	(1)
Questions for Consideration	340	(1)
Notes	340	(3)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Social Trends Affecting Social Welfare	343	(24)
Overview	343	(1)
Growth, Demography, and Resources: International Perspectives	343	(4)
Growth and Demography: The United States	347	(3)
Population Growth	347	(1)
The Family	348	(2)
Aging	350	(1)
Fertility Rate	350	(1)
Productivity and the Service Economy	350	(2)
A National Society	352	(1)
Individual and Shared Goals	352	(1)
Ethnicity and Pluralism	353	(2)
Gender	355	(2)
Gays and Lesbians	357	(3)
The New Property	360	(1)
Additional Societal Issues Affecting Social Welfare	361	(2)
Technological Change	361	(1)
Crime	361	(1)
The Place of Social Welfare in a Changing Context	362	(1)
Summary	363	(1)
Questions for Consideration	363	(1)
Notes	363	(4)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Alternative Programs to Meet Social Welfare Needs	367	(34)
Overview	367	(1)
Female Heads of Household, Children, and Poverty	368	(5)
Limitations of Current Programs	370	(1)
Improved Social Policy	371	(1)
A Set of Ideal Services	371	(2)
The Aging and Long-Term Home Health Care	373	(5)
Immigration	378	(5)
Implications	382	(1)
Persons with Disabilities	383	(4)
Civil Rights	384	(1)
Family and Medical Leave Act	385	(1)
Children, Learning, and Social Participation	386	(1)
General Social Services for Persons with Disabilities	387	(1)
Alternatives Facing the Practitioner	387	(4)
Technology and Social Action	389	(2)
Where We Are	391	(3)
Two Scenarios	394	(1)
Our Proposal	394	(1)
Summary	395	(1)
Questions for Consideration	395	(1)
Notes	396	(5)
APPENDIX Sources of Information	401
Index	405	(10)
About the Authors	415