History of Social Policy Influences: Role of religious traditions, influence of English poor laws, legacy for modern social policy from Social Policy for Effective Practice, by Rosemary Chapin Chapter 2, “The Historical Context: Basic Concepts and Early Influences” © 2011 Taylor and Francis

Religious Traditions and Social Welfare Judaism Justice Islam Charity to those in need, zakat Buddhism Compassion and good deeds Confucianism Self-sacrifice and duty to society American Indian Religions Collectivism Christianity Care and charity © 2011 Taylor and Francis

English Poor Laws, 1601 and 1834 Local responsibility Distinction between “worthy” and “unworthy” Different forms of relief: Outdoor relief Workhouses Almshouses Principle of least eligibility Least eligibility: benefits/conditions provided would be low enough so that people would be motivated to look for work instead Where do you see these principles at work still today? © 2011 Taylor and Francis

Worthy v. “Unworthy” Widows People with disabilities Most children Able-bodied adults Unmarried women Strangers Those of different religions/backgrounds Who is “worthy” and “unworthy” today? How have these lists changed? How have they not? How do these characterizations align with social work values and ethics? © 2011 Taylor and Francis

U.S. Constitution and social welfare States primarily responsible for social welfare Initially, only protected rights of white, landowning males Bill of Rights the constitutional framework for civil rights protections today Enshrined private philanthropy approach Continued principles of English Poor Laws © 2011 Taylor and Francis

Progressive Era Began in late 1800s Encouraged activist, morally responsible government to counter impacts of unrestrained industrial capitalism Among major accomplishments: Federal income tax Consumer protection Labor law protections Women’s suffrage Mothers’ pensions © 2011 Taylor and Francis

Influence of Racism Settlement Houses mostly ignored impact of race on problems in urban areas Anti-immigrant sentiment influenced policy development in Progressive Era Early social work profession racially exclusive How does this legacy continue to impact social work today? © 2011 Taylor and Francis