The document outlines the historical evolution of the social work profession from ancient philanthropic efforts to its professionalization in the 19th and 20th centuries. It discusses key movements, such as charity organization societies and the settlement house movement, and their roles in shaping social assistance frameworks. The document also highlights contemporary challenges and developments in social work in both the USA and England, illustrating its ongoing adaptation to societal needs.

1. Evolution of Social Work
Profession

2. Evolution of Social Work Profession
• Historical Evolution of Social Work Profession Through the Ages
• Charity
• Poverty Relief
• Charity Organization Societies
• Settlement House Movement
• Social Work in the USA
• Professionalization of Social Work
• Social Work in the 20th Century
• Social Work in the 21st Century
• Social Work in England

3. Historical Evolution of Social Work Profession Through the Ages
• Ancient Roots of Social Work: Traces social
work's origins in early philanthropic efforts and
community-based support systems across
ancient civilizations.
• Emergence of Modern Social Work: Highlights
the pivotal 19th century developments that
professionalized social work and established its
core principles and practices.
• Evolving Roles and Responsibilities: Examines
how social work's scope has expanded to address
complex social issues in the 20th and 21st
centuries.
Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels

4. Charity
• Roots in Major Religions: Charity and social welfare have deep roots in the teachings and practices of all
major religions, underscoring their universal moral significance.
• Informal Helping of the Church: The Church in the 4th century pioneered an informal system of charitable
assistance, setting the stage for the modern social work profession.

5. Poverty Relief
• End of feudalism: The collapse of the feudal system led to a rise in landless peasants, necessitating new
approaches to poverty relief.
• The Poor Law Act 1601: This landmark legislation established a systematic framework for categorizing and
assisting the poor, laying the foundations for modern welfare systems.
• Specialized Assistance: The Act introduced differentiated approaches for the impotent poor, able-bodied
poor, idle poor, and pauper children, tailoring support to individual circumstances.

6. Charity Organization Societies
• First formed in 1869: The London Charity Organization Society, founded in 1869, pioneered a new
approach to charitable assistance.
• Stopped giving doles: The society shifted away from indiscriminate handouts, recognizing the need for
more strategic and coordinated relief efforts.
• Formulated treatment plans: The society developed individualized plans to address the root causes of
poverty and provide long-term solutions, rather than temporary relief.

7. Settlement House Movement
• Founding of Toynbee Hall: Toynbee Hall, founded
by Cannon Samuel Augustus Barnet, served as a
pioneering settlement house that aimed to
bridge the gap between the wealthy and the
poor.
• Educational and Cultural Development: The
settlement house movement sought to provide
educational and cultural opportunities to the
urban poor, empowering them through
knowledge and exposure to the arts.
• Advocacy and Legislation: Settlement houses
actively advocated for legislation to improve
living conditions and public health, driving social
reforms that benefited the underprivileged
communities they served. Photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels

8. Social Work in the USA
• Colonial Period: Established early foundations for
social welfare through the Elizabethan Poor Law
and first almshouse in Massachusetts.
• Civil War and Industrialism: Rapid growth of
poverty led to voluntary relief efforts and the
recognition of government responsibility for
social welfare.
• Settlement Movement: Pioneered community-
based approaches to empowering the urban poor
through education, cultural development, and
advocacy for social reforms.
Photo by Valeriia Miller on Pexels

9. Professionalization of Social Work
• Mary Richmond: First Professional Social Worker: Pioneered the casework approach and established
social work as a distinct profession in the USA.
• Founding of American Association of Schools of Social Work: Standardized social work education and
training, promoting the field's academic and professional status.
• Social Work's Role in World Wars: Developed specialized casework skills to support soldiers and provided
essential services for war-affected communities.

10. Social Work in the 20th Century
• The Great Depression and New Deal: Triggered
major expansions of social welfare programs to
assist the unemployed and impoverished during
economic crisis.
• Expansion of social welfare programs:
Broadened the scope of social work to address a
wider range of societal challenges and support
vulnerable populations.
• Challenges of the 1980s: Tested the limits of
social welfare systems as they confronted the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, crack cocaine crisis,
homelessness, and domestic violence. Photo by Jopwell on Pexels

11. Social Work in the 21st Century
• Social Workers in Mental Health and Family
Services: Social workers comprise a significant
percentage of mental health and family services
professionals, playing a crucial role in addressing
complex psychosocial needs.
• Policies Under the Obama Administration: The
Obama administration's initiatives, such as the
Affordable Care Act, environmental regulations,
and social welfare policies, impacted the scope of
social work practice.
• Changing Priorities Under the Trump
Administration: The Trump administration's
changes to healthcare, immigration, and
environmental policies presented new challenges
and opportunities for social work professionals. Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels

12. Social Work in England
• Medieval Period: Charity as a Religious Duty:
Charitable assistance to the poor was viewed as a
religious obligation, laying the groundwork for
the development of social welfare systems.
• Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601: This landmark
legislation established a systematic framework
for categorizing and assisting the poor, setting
the stage for modern welfare programs.
• Charity Organization Society (1869): The
pioneering organization shifted from
indiscriminate handouts to individualized plans,
recognizing the need for more strategic and
coordinated relief efforts.
Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels