2. WHAT IS INSTITUTIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE?
Institutional Social welfare is designed to prevent
problems. “They are proactive and provide
benefits or services to people before problems
arise.” (Segal, pg. 39). It’s a system in which one’s
need is accepted as a normal part of social life.
Welfare is provided for the population as a whole,
in the same way as public services. It is not just for
the poor, but for everyone.
3. The institutional formulation, in contrast, sees
social welfare as a proper, legitimate function
of modern society. That some individuals are
not able to meet all their needs is considered
a “normal” condition, and helping agencies
are accepted as “regular social institutions”.
4. CHARACTERISTICS OF INSTITUTIONAL
APPROACH
• Universal;
• It focuses on the organized system of providing services to the people
to fulfill their needs.
• Social Welfare is considered as a first line defense of modern
industrialized society.
• No stigma attached. It is preventative.
• Recognizes the need for a variety of social services to maintain a
good standard of living.
• The States have a special obligation to ensure the well-being of all
and the people have the right to get (benefit of) these services.
5. INSTITUTIONAL SOCIAL WORK
● Institutional social work takes the approach that everyone
deserves to be supported by the community and the
government, even without an obvious and direct request
for help, so each person can become self-sufficient. It's
also preventive in nature, because it anticipates problems
that may arise and resolves them as early as possible.
● Institutional social work focuses on giving each person
equal opportunity to be supported, whatever their
circumstance.
6. Our own Philippine Constitution (1987)
reflects the institutional view in the following
words:
● The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order
that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
nation and free the people from poverty through policies
that provide adequate social services, promote full
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved
quality of life for all.
