Week 3: Social Welfare Over Time
Social workers operate within the greater social welfare system, which involves government programs, such as unemployment compensation, housing programs, health insurance, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In their role, social workers identify individuals and families who may be eligible for benefits and connect them with these key resources. Social workers also advocate for policy change to ensure more equitable or broad support for clients. But social welfare policies and programs have not remained static over the years. They have evolved, as have perspectives toward those in need.
In this Discussion, you explore a specific time period and the events, policies, and social work contributions that defined it.
To prepare:
- Review the Learning Resources on the history of social work and the social welfare system.
- Choose a period of history discussed in the Learning Resources:
- Pre–Civil War
- Civil War
- World War I
- Great Depression
- World War II
- Post–World War IIWelfare Programs in the American Human Services System
- 21st Century
Post a response to the following:
- Identify the significant event(s) that shaped the social welfare policies and programs of your chosen time period.
- Describe any positive changes in social welfare policies/programs that occurred during the time period (e.g., healthcare, housing and food assistance).
- Describe how social workers contributed to these positive changes. What was the role of social workers during the time period?
Tutorial for Social Welfare Over Time
