Slide 1

Social Welfare Policy and
Underlying Values

Chapter 1


Slide 2

Social Work Code of Ethics
 Section

6

 Social Workers

should promote the
general welfare of society

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 3

Social Work Code of Ethics


Section 6.04 (a)

 Social Workers should be aware of the impact of

the political arena on practice and should advocate
for changes in policy and legislation to improve
social conditions in order to meet basic human
needs and promote social justice.

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 4

Social Welfare
 Let’

break it down

 1.

Social – U.S. society in our
collective nature
 2. Welfare – well-being, state of
healthy balance
Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 5

Social Welfare
Together they mean

“Well being of society”

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 6

Why Study Social Welfare?





It is about us
We are both –
providers
recipients
To understand the
social welfare
system



As citizens we are
policy makers
 To understand the
influence that
values and beliefs
have on social
welfare policies and
systems

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 7

Social Welfare Systems





Social Issues



Policy Goals

Legislation/regulation


Programs

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 8

Questions to ask









Who gets the services?
Why do they get the
services?
What do they receive?
How do they receive
services?
What does it cost?
Who pays for it?



Eligibility
 Program Goals


Benefits
 Service Delivery
System
 Cost Analysis
 Financing

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 9

Purpose of a Social Welfare
System


To provide a safety net of emergency
services
 To provide services that cannot be
effectively provided on an individual
basis
Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 10

Policy Development
 Residual


Calls for organized public interventions
when the normal resources of family and
the market place breakdown



Social services are required when a
problem cannot be address by individual
resources

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 11

Policy Development
 Institutional

Social welfare programs are seen as a
normal part of the social structure
Institutional social welfare policy see
providing service as a legitimate
function of society
Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 12

Provision of Services


Universality – Social services that
provide benefits to all members of
society, regardless of income and
means



Selectivity – Services are restricted
to those who can demonstrate need
through eligibility criteria

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 13

Social Welfare Policy Blend
 Residual

– Federal Emergency
Management Act – FEMA

 Universal

– Cash Assistance, Food
Stamps, and Medicaid

 Selective

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 14

Social Welfare Policy Blend
 Institutional

Universal – Public Education
Fire and police protection

Selective – Social Security
Medicare
Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 15

Values and Beliefs
 A value

is the worth, desirability,or
usefulness placed on something

 A belief

is an opinion or conviction

 Both

have shifting impact on social
welfare policy

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 16

Religious Values


Development of social welfare services can
be traced to values reflected in the dominant
religions of our country
 Goals of religious charitable efforts were to
uphold moral character, maintain
humbleness, and help those who are less
fortunate
Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 17

Social Values
 Two

competing yet strong social values
that shape policy are:
– Social responsibility and citizenship
– Hard work and self-sufficiency

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 18

Competing Beliefs









Undeserving
Individual
Responsibility
Individual Change
Self-sufficiency
Entitlement
Aid to Those we
Know



Deserving
 Social Responsibility


Social Change
 Social Support
 Handout
 Aid Stranger

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 19

Competing Beliefs







Religious and Faith
Based Practice
Crisis Response
Sympathy
Trust
Rationality








Separation of Church
and State
Prevention
Empathy
Suspicion
Emotions

Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education


Slide 20

For Consideration


U.S. beliefs that we all have freedom of
choice
 Do we all really have freedom to choose
how we live our lives?
 How does that create social injustice?
 How do social welfare polices and
programs assist in providing choices?
Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs: A Values Perspective, by Elizabeth Segal
Copyright 2007, Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Higher Education