1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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