This document outlines the structure and history of the U.S. social welfare system, detailing its evolution over several centuries in response to societal needs and challenges. It discusses key developments from colonial times through significant periods such as the Great Depression, World War II, and recent years, highlighting the establishment of programs like Social Security and Medicaid. The course encourages reflection on personal experiences with the social welfare system and its impact on individuals and families.

1. Public Assistance & Benefits
HMS 16
Thursday 6pm-8:50pm
Instructor: Thu Tran, MSW

2. ● Attendance
● Syllabus
● Lecture
● Break
● Journal
● Select Group Presentations
Agenda

3. Group Standards
You will want to discuss:
Group leaders
Group expectations
Schedule meeting times as needed
Deadlines-research, turn in information
Who will gather all materials to make it
cohesive

4. Course Overview & History of
the Social Welfare System
What do you know about the Social Welfare
System?
● Take 2 minutes and write down what you
know about the Social Welfare System.

5. What is Social Welfare?
● Social Welfare addresses the well-being of
people in society.
● It is a collection of programs, resources &
services available to help people
● Social welfare services are created and
established through:
o Public Laws and Policies
o Federal & state legislatures and local & court

6. Helping People
● Institutional services are in place to
PREVENT problems.
o They are proactive and provide benefits or services
to people before problem arise.
● Residual services come in to play only
AFTER there is an identifiable problem.
o They are designed to address only the identified
problems and are only available when all other
resources are lacking and when there is a
documented need.

7. The History of U.S. Social
Welfare
● Today’s Social Welfare System (SWS) reflects 4
centuries of responses to social needs.
● Development of SW policy and systems since the
earliest European colonist arrived in this country.
● Can be broken down to 9 key periods
o Colonial
o Pre Civil War, Civil War & Post Civil War
o Progressive Era
o The Great Depression & The New Deal
o World War II & The Post-War Economy
o The Social Reform Years
o The Retrenchment Years
o Now-New Millennium: Terrorism, War and Financial Struggles

8. Colonial Period
● First SW policy to be widely implemented in
this country was an English system based on
the Elizabthen Poor Laws.
● What is it’s primary principles?
o The poor were categorized as: worthy or unworthy to
receive aid
 Worthy poor: widows, orphans, elderly & people
w/ disabilities
 Unworthy poor: able-bodied single adults &
unmarried women w/ children born out of
wedlock

9. ● Aid for the poor first came from families and
only when the family absolutely could not
provide economic support, did public
authorities step in.
● Legal residency in the community was
necessary to be eligible for assistance.
● Assistance was temporary and only for
emergencies. The ultimate goal was for each
recipient to gain employment or marry
someone who was employed.

10. Pre-Civil War
Growing Social Problems
● Influx of European immigrants
● Communities could not afford adequate care for social needs and
sought new ways to deal with poverty and social problems
Responding to Needs
● Creation of residential institution (referred to as indoor relief) were
developed by local government & private relief groups. They
include:
o Almshouses for the poor
o Asylums for people w/ mental health problems
o Orphanages for children without parents could not afford to
care for them
● The institutions were believed to be the way alleviate social
problems

11. The Civil War & Post Civil
War
● 1860s, Social & economic differences between the North and
the South led the U.S. into a Civil War.
● Devastation & upheaval caused by the war contributed to a
national realization that some social concerns were well
beyond the reach of families & local communities.
● Post war, reconstruction period, federal government tried to
aid displaced families and make reparation for losses
incurred in the war.
● Results: Freedman’s Bureau was launched in 1865 as the first
federal social service program to help provide temporary
assistance to newly freed slaves by:
o Reuniting families
o Medical care
o Food Rations
o Make property available

12. Progressive Era
● Rapid industrialization caused a significant economic
change.
● The tremendous social, economic and political change
during this era gave rise to new ways to address societal
problems resulting in the birth of the social work
profession.
● Charity Organization Societies and the Settlement
Movement evolved.
o These were non-governmental movements served as
the foundation of the social work profession.
o An awareness of the influence of environmental or
structural factors on the individual’s life influenced
new social values for welfare services.

13. The Great Depression & The
New Deal
● Most significant economic downturn in the
U.S. history.
● During the Great Depression, the imbalance
between supply & demand destroyed social
well-being on an immense scale.
● The scope of the problems and social needs
overwhelmed existing state, local and private
agencies and programs.

14. Outcomes:
● Permanent involvement of the federal government in
both the provision of social services and the regulation
of the economy.
● Social and Economic reforms were introduced.
The New Deal
● First responded w/ immediate financial relief and short-
term employment and then follow up by investing
public funds promote long-term employment.
o Immediate efforts includes:
 distribution of funds through the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration & Civil Works Administration
 Organized and provided permanent solutions

15. ● Social Security Act of 1935 allowed for:
o Long term protection through a federal program of
social insurance and public assistance.
o The first comprehensive federal effort to ensure
economic security and address poverty.

16. World War II
● WWII forced the nation to focus its economic and social
resources on war.
o It increased employment as people joined the
military and went to work in war-related industries.
● Post war: federal legislation had a profound effect on
returning soldiers. New legislation created.
o The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill)
which help soldiers adapt to civilian life.
 Education
 Training
 Employment services
 Home and Business loans

17. Post War Economy
● 1950s, there was a large focus on family and individual
achievements. The government aligned themselves to
this focus by helping families with:
o Subsidizing home ownership and transportation
o Moving out of city life to newly developed suburban
● Negative affects:
o Fragmentation of extended families
o Lack of support from family
o A greater need for outside resources
o Leaving disenfranchised individuals in the city-
causing a lower, middle and upper class distinction

18. Social Reform Years
● Federal government remained involved in helping through
social welfare policies and programs, there were still gaps and
holes in support.
o Biggest gap was in medical care for the elderly & poor
● 1965, Medicaid and Medicare were passed into law:
o Medicaid: health coverage for low income
o Medicare: health coverage for senior citizens & people w/
disabilities
● Other efforts introduced to battle the War on Poverty in the
1960s was the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 which
introduced various programs:
o Job Training
o Employment Incentives
o Community Action
o Food Stamp
o Head Start

19. Retrenchment Years
● Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980 on a platform
of decreasing the federal government’s role in social welfare
and turning back to local entities. This is known as
“Devolution”.
o It diminished role for the federal government in anti-poverty
programs & increased variation among other programs.
● 1990s, most significant changes in the welfare reform was
Aid to Families w/ Dependent Children transition to
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs.
o AFDC provided primary cash support for poor women &
children
o TANF provided temporary financial assistance while
aiming to get people off of that assistance primarily
through employment.

20. Social Welfare in the New Millennium:
Terrorism, War and Financial Struggles
Since the terrorist attack on 9/11/01, there was a shift from
the devolution of government social services.
● Federal government invested in the provision and funding
of most social services programs.
● The U.S. Economy has gone through 2 economic
downturns during Pres. Bush Sr & Jr’s presidency.
o 2001 Recession & 2007-2008 Mortgage Financial woes
● Impact: affected employment and income which produced
needs for:
o Health Care Coverage
o Rent
o Food Assistance

21. ● Election & Re-election of Pres. Obama in 2008 &
2012 led to:
o Death of Osama Bin Laden
o Withdrawal of troops and promise to end the
war (Iraq & Afghanistan)
o Reform of health care- 2010 Affordable Care
Act/Obama Care
o Womens rights
o Tackle Unemployment & Mortgage issues
o Energy policy and Gun control

22. Journal 1
What is/or was your experience with the Social
Welfare System? If you personally have not
utilize it, has someone from your family or
friends? What was your/their experience like?
Would you recommend others to tap into this
resource?