Historical Development of Social Work in USA agra university Social Work

1. SESSION :- 2020-2022
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIAL WORK IN U.S.A.
SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
Dr. R.K. BHARTI Sanjiv Pratap
Singh
(Associate Professor) MSW – I Sem.
Sr. No. - 32

2.  INTRODUCTION
 DIFFERENCE B/W THE ENGLISH AND THE
AMERICAN POOR LAW PRACTICE
 THE ALMSHOUSES IN USA
 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES
 IMPORTENT THREE SOCIAL MOVEMENT
1. COS MOVEMENT
2. SATTLEMENT HOUSES MOVEMENT
3. CHILD WELFARE MOVEMENT
 IMPORTANT YEARS AND EVENTS
 CONCLUSION

3. Social work was developed through the
practice of charity, social service, welfare
measures etc.
The English Poor Law legislation's and
related developments provided the
background for the development of
American systems of relief.

4. IN ENGLAND IN AMERICA
 To place the paupers into
poorhouses and
workhouses
 Legacies, endowments, and
bequests provided
substantial funds for the
support of the poor in
hospitals, asylums, and
orphanages.
 Almshouses and houses of
correction were established
only in some of the larger
cities.
 Private Charities played an
insignificant role until the
end of the 18th century.

5.  An almshouse (also known as a bade –house,
poorhouse, or hospital) is charitable housing
provided to people in a particular community.
 Almshouses were originally formed as extensions
of the church system and were later adapted by
local officials and authorities.
 In alms-houses, old ,sick, tramps, vagabonds,
blind, deaf-mutes, cripples, idiots and insane,
orphans, foundlings, unmarried mothers with their
children, prostitutes, and criminals were all put in
these houses− often without separation of the
sexes or age-groups.

6. Unfortunately, the introduction of
almshouse care did not have the effect of
improving the condition of the poor.
One of the biggest problems with
almshouses is that they were rarely self –
sustaining.
So by the end of the 18th century,
almshouses began to be replaced by
asylums and institutions.

7. The first state to create a central agency
for the supervision of all state charitable
institutions was Massachusetts, which
organized a State Board of Charities in
1863.
Dr. Howe’s methods for humane treatment
of the poor in all these institutes and for
efficient management were published in
1866 under the title ‘Principles of Public
Charities’

8. Dr. Samuel Gridly Howe served for 10
years as its President.
In the meantime, Massachusetts had
added in 1869 a central agency in the field
of public health – The State Board of
Health.

9.  During the last half of the 19th century, the US
experienced an increase in social problems as a
result of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and
immigration, together with the massive growth of the
population.
 In response to these problems, three social
movements began that formed the basis for the
development of the Social Work Profession :-
1. The Charity Organization Societies(COS) – 1877 in
Buffalo (New York)
2. The Settlement House Movement – 1886 in New
York City
3. The Child Welfare Movement :–
a. The Children’s Aid Socirty – 1853
b. The Prevention Society of Cruel to Children - 1875

10. Humphreys Gurteen, who had been in
London and was acquainted with the
Charity Organization Society, organized
the first society of the type in the United
States in 1877, in Buffalo, New York.
Its aim was to help the poor more
effectively by avoiding the wasting of
money, competition, and duplication of
work among the relief societies.

11. The COS’ Friendly Visitors (mostly women)
consisted of personal attributes such as
sympathy, tact, patience, and wise advice.
COS operated on the following Principles :
i. Detailed investigation on applications for
charity.
ii. A central system of registration to avoid
duplication.
iii. Co-operation between various relief
agencies.
iv. Extensive use of voluntary friendly visitors.

12.  Stanton coit and Charles B. Stover were the
first Americans to transplant the idea of The
Settlement House to this Country.
 After a study of Toynbee Hall and European
experiments, in 1887 they founded the
neighborhood Guild of New York City, later
changed to The University Settlement House.
 One of the most important Social Settlements
in the United States became Hull House in
Chicago, founded by Jane Addams and Ellen
Gates Starr in 1889.

13.  The children’s Aid Society (1853) and The
Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to
Children (1875) which began in New York City
formed the basic elements of a child welfare
movement can be traced back to 1729.
 Their aims, “rescuing children from
inadequate homes or from the streets and
finding for them wholesome living situations.”
 Once their goals were accomplished, the
agencies considered their job to be over.

14. Barker’s (1999) milestones highlight some of
the key steps in the evolution of Social
Welfare and Social Work in what would
become the United States of America-
 1624: Verginia Colony institutes laws
providing for the needs of disabled soldiers
and sailors.
 1642: Plymouth colony, based on the
Elizabathan Poor Law, enacts the first such
legislation in the “New World, America”
 1650: The Protestant Work Ethic
 1692: Introduction to Massachusetts

15.  1776: The US declaration of independence is
signed, promoting freedom for everyone but the
slaves.
 1787: The US Constitution is adopted.
 1813: The child labor Laws are passed.
 1830: The National Negro Conventions meeting
for people of color and women.
 1843: The New York Association is established
 1848: Feminists meet to begin establishment of
women rights to vote and receive equal
opportunities for education and employment.

16.  1928: The First International Conference of Social
Work was held from July 8th to 13th in Paris, and it
drew 2,481 delegates from 42 countries (Organisation
of the International Conference of Social Work, First
Conference July 8-13, 1928).one section of the
conference was devoted to Social Work education. The
world meeting in Social Work and Social welfare
became regular after the first conference.
 1928: Conference was also the birth place of three
major organizations, International Associations of
Schools of Social Work (IASSW), International
Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), and the
International Council for Social Welfare (ICSW).

17.  1950: The Social Security Act of 1935 is
amended regarding to children and its
relatives.
 1960: The NASW adopted its first code of
Ethics.
 1990: The Americans with Disabilities Act
makes it illegal.
 1990: The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS
resources Emergency Act
 1996: President Clinton sign into law
Personal Responsibility and work opportunity
Reconciliation Act.

18.  The history of social work and social welfare
in North and South America share common
histories in that both were largely shaped by
European influences .
 The Settlement house Movement and The
Child Welfare Movement eventually made
important contributions to the development of
the Social Work Profession, but it is in the
COS movement that the origin of the
profession is to be found.