This document discusses the history of poverty and social welfare policy in the United States. It covers the emergence of the modern welfare state after World War II under presidents Kennedy and Johnson, including the expansion of programs for the elderly, working poor, and permanently disabled. It also discusses Reagan's attempts to scale back the welfare state in the 1980s. The document then promotes attending an advocacy day event in Illinois to advocate for social welfare policies and issues.
6. The Emergence of the Modern
Welfare State
• Post World-War II Boom
• President Kennedy’s Election- 1961
• Mechanization of agriculture and the movement of minority
groups
• A political response to political disorder
• Civil rights movement
• Expansion of Programs under LBJ
• Increase in entitlements- The elderly, working poor, and
permanently disabled
• Failure of Carter administration
• Reagan’s return to the 19th century
• Welfare reforms
7. There’s no such thing as a single-issue
struggle, because we don’t
live single-issue lives.”
Audre Lorde (1934-1992,
Black Lesbian Writer and Activist
• http://www.ted.com/talks/yoruba_richen_what_the_gay_rights_movement_learned_from_t
he_civil_rights_movement?language=en
• http://www.newblackfilm.com/trailer/
8. Group Discussion Activity
Use your Social Welfare History Timeline discuss the
following with your group:
1) Choose the top 2 or 3 policies for each of the last 4
decades of the 20th century (ie. 1960’s 1970’s, 1980’s,
1990’s)
2) What is the current direction of social welfare policy.
3) Given the historical progression of social welfare
policy, what do you think will likely be the next piece
of history written about social welfare policy.
9. Extra Credit:
5 points for attending all day event
and submitting 3 page paper
1 additional point for attending the pre-advocacy day event
Illinois NASW Advocacy Day
Tuesday, April 14th in Springfield, IL
• The day will encompass a half day of educational seminars on lobbying in Illinois followed by advocating at
the Capitol.
• The cost of attending the event is $13 if you register prior to February 28th. After February 28th, the cost
goes up to $18.
You need to register individually, online at:
https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/advocacy-day-041415/
• The School of Social Work will be arranging for transportation for all students to Springfield and back on
Advocacy Day. The event begins in Springfield at 8:15am and will wrap up at 3:30pm. Please plan to be at
the School of Social Work to leave for Springfield at 6:15am. The bus will be leaving promptly at 6:30am,
so please keep in mind if you are late, you will need to arrange for your own transportation to Springfield.
• Once you register, please also send an email to ksharmon@illinois.edu to let me know you are registered
so I can keep a head count of how many people are attending.
• More information about Advocacy Day can be found at http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/.
10. Next Class
• Social Policy Forum
• Karger and Stoesz, Chapter 6
• 1st Exam is March 3. It will be administered on
Compass.
Editor's Notes
For most Americans, poverty is a fluid condition
Trends in poverty in the United States
Poverty rate; children; racial and ethnic groups; regionally; suburb/urban/rural
Poverty index is plagued by problems. Disregards various in-kind benefits. It doesn’t reflect:
1) family structure
2)changes in family needs,
3)recent changes such as the casualization of workforce
4) It is arbitrary for those close to the limit
