SOCIAL

18TH-2OTH

CENTURY

IN
WORK
AMERICA
SOCIAL WORK IN
UNITED STATES
COLONIAL PERIOD:
VOLUNTARY ACTS OF SERVICE
Individuals and families would care for
themselves, but if further difficulties
existed, friends, neighbors or
representatives of the community would
volunteer to meet their needs.
 EARLY BEGINNINGS OF SOCIAL WORK
The roots of social welfare in America had their beginnings
in Europe particularly related to the Elizabethan Poor Laws of England.
Towns and local communities assumed responsibilities for
aiding the unfortunate and disadvantaged
IN US
In the late 1800s, a new system emerged as a method for providing aid for social
i l l s . A s o n e o f t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l e a r l y p r o f e s s i o n a l s i n s o c i a l w o r k , Jane
Addams w a s a f o u n d e r o f t h e U . S . S e t t l e m e n t H o u s e M o v e m e n t t o e s t a b l i s h
settlement houses in poor urban areas for volunteer middle-class social workers
to alleviate the poverty of their low-income neighbors. Focused on the causes
of poverty through research, reform, and residence, early social workers in the
movement provided the poor with educational, legal, and health services. By
1913, there were 413 settlements spread across 32 states in the nation to
improve the lives of the poor.
SOCIAL WORK OF

IN UNITED STATES
NOTAB
1843-1853
Improvement of the Condition
of the Poor and the Children’s
Aid Society were founded.

LE
They focused on addressing
social issues such as child
welfare and tenement housing.

MOME 1800 1861-1865

NTS IN
Based on the need created by the upheaval
Organizations and associations of the Civil War, major social welfare
were formed and the act of initiatives, such as the U.S. Sanitary

helping became more formalized Commission and the American Red

Cross, emerged. Charity boards were
seminaries, inns, churches, created as a means to improve the

SOCIAL
hospitals, prisons, schools, management of social institutions. The first

US
federal social welfare program, referred to
interaction with the needy, the ill
as the Freedmen’s Bureau, began in 1865

WORK and other social problems;

distribution of books and sending
as a means to help newly emancipated
slaves. The program was short-lived;
however, as a lack of funds and political
of missionaries in certain places. pressure prevented it from carrying out its
mission. Congress shut down the
Freedmen’s Bureau in 1872.
1870'S
NOTABLE EVENTS
The concept of state boards spread to other states
and many achieved greater administrative
responsibilities

THAT TAKES PLACE

IN UNITED STATES
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1877

US
American Charity Organization Society (COS) of Buffalo was

WORK
established.

Function: Finding means to help the poor and preventing the poor from taking advantage of the
numerous uncoordinated social agencies that had developed in many communities.

"Friendly visitors” – they were trained people to contact clients. They believed
poverty could be eradicated thru the introduction of additional scientific
Techniques: planned intervention or treatment.
 SOCIAL
18TH-2OTH

CENTURY

IN
WORK
AMERICA
NOTAB
1843-1853
Improvement of the Condition
of the Poor and the Children’s
Aid Society were founded.

LE
They focused on addressing
social issues such as child
welfare and tenement housing.

MOME 1800 1861-1865

NTS IN
Based on the need created by the upheaval
Organizations and associations of the Civil War, major social welfare
were formed and the act of initiatives, such as the U.S. Sanitary

helping became more formalized Commission and the American Red

Cross, emerged. Charity boards were
seminaries, inns, churches, created as a means to improve the

SOCIAL
hospitals, prisons, schools, management of social institutions. The first

US
federal social welfare program, referred to
interaction with the needy, the ill
as the Freedmen’s Bureau, began in 1865

WORK and other social problems;

distribution of books and sending
as a means to help newly emancipated
slaves. The program was short-lived;
however, as a lack of funds and political
of missionaries in certain places. pressure prevented it from carrying out its
mission. Congress shut down the
Freedmen’s Bureau in 1872.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1877

US
American Charity Organization Society (COS) of Buffalo was

WORK
established.

Function: Finding means to help the poor and preventing the poor from taking advantage of the
numerous uncoordinated social agencies that had developed in many communities.

"Friendly visitors” – they were trained people to contact clients. They believed
poverty could be eradicated thru the introduction of additional scientific
Techniques: planned intervention or treatment.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1886

US
Settlement houses were created in response to some of the societal changes caused by industrial expansion.
WORK Settlement houses are neighborhood-based organizations that provide services specific to the needs of their
neighborhoods — much like a community center. This new type of social service agency focused on correcting
the environmental causes of poverty. Their activities included conducting research, establishing a juvenile court
system, creating widows pension programs, promoting legislation, prohibiting child labor, and introducing
public health reforms and the concept of social insurance. The first U.S. settlement, the Neighborhood Guild,
began in New York City in 1886.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL 1886

US WORK Pioneers in this movement:

Stanton Coit and Jane Addams – they established
settlement houses in New York and Chicago
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL 1889

US WORK Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created The Hull House, the most famous American
settlement house. Located in the midst of a culturally diverse neighborhood in Chicago, the
Hull House welcomed anyone in need of assistance. The residents of Hull House offered
public education programs to everyone in the community along with social services such as a
public kitchen, access to public baths, and a nursery.
NOTAB 1893
Nathaniel Rosenau of the COS questioned the right of
the superannuated clergyman, unsuccessful merchant or

LE political favorite to serve as manager of a charitable society

or institution. He concluded that it was necessary that persons
incharge of this work be specially trained, have a calling for the
work and intend to devote themselves to it.

MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1898
The New York School of Philantropy was formed under the

US
guidance of Edward T. Devine, secretary of the New York COS.
WORK From a 6-week summer session to one year then two year
training for social workers
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
Early Social Work Education Programs Are Born
In the late 19th century, full programs dedicated social work education began to take shape.
Among them, Columbia University partnered with The New York College of Science to develop and

US WORK offer the first social work class. In 1904, Simmons College in Boston collaborated with Harvard
University to establish the Boston School for Social Workers. Simmons was the first college to
provide training for clinical social workers. By 1908, a full curriculum social work program was
offered through the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy, which is now known as the
University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1905

US WORK
The first medical social work department was established by Ida Cannon at the Massachusets
General Hospital Medical social service invigorated the quest for professional skill and technique
and the implications of casework theory and practice. It demanded new and special instruction
and expertise as opposed to relief and economic dependency.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1905

US WORK
The first medical social work department was established by Ida Cannon at the Massachusets
General Hospital Medical social service invigorated the quest for professional skill and technique
and the implications of casework theory and practice. It demanded new and special instruction
and expertise as opposed to relief and economic dependency.

“HUMAN KINDNESS ALONE CANNOT SOLVE TANGLED SOCIAL PROBLEMS”-

 NOTABLE In United States for

MOMENTS Social Work.

1912
A one-year course in medical social work
was established in the Boston School of
Social Work
1915
1921
Despite increased training opportunities for
The American Association of Social Work
social workers, there remained a lot of
was created, the first major
uncertainty about the future of the
professional social work body.
profession.

In 1915, at the National Conference of Charities and

Corrections, Dr. Abraham Flexner asserted that social
work couldn’t be considered a true profession in his
“Is Social Work a Profession?” presentation due to it’s
lack of specificity, specialized skills, and knowledge.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
1913-1927
In the early 19th century, social workers began to work in conjunction with psychiatrists and
psychologists. These cooperative efforts helped to spark legitimization of the field, and by 1927

US
more than 100 child guidance clinics were opened to provide services primarily to middle-class
WORK clients. In addition to these clinics, the Community Chest movement began in 1913. A precursor of
the United Way and its health and welfare councils, Community Chest organizations raised money
from businesses to fund community projects.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL 1914-1928

US WORK The Red Cross and the Army requested social workers to apply casework skills to treat soldiers for
“shell shock” in World War I. This marked the first time social workers were called upon to treat
social issues that weren’t limited to poverty.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
Social Work Education Programs Take Hold (1919)

US
Formal social work training programs spread through major urban areas in the early 20th
WORK century. By 1919, there were 17 schools of social work affiliated with the Association of Training
Schools of Professional Social Work before it became the Council on Social Work Education.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL Government Responds to the Great Depression (1929)

US WORK Government programs began evolving under the Roosevelt administration. The New Deal (1933-
1936) led to dozens of social welfare acts including the Social Security Act of 1935. Social welfare
programs expanded to include housing, recreation, cultural activities, social insurance, and child
welfare programs.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
The New Deal Expands Assistance (1929)

US
The stock market crash in October 1929 signaled the start of a depression that would last for a
WORK decade. The Great Depression (1929-1939) created a shift in the belief that social welfare was a
government responsibility versus a private charitable responsibility. Economic decline highlighted
the insufficiency of local and state public relief agencies and ultimately, it revolutionized the role
the federal government played in social welfare efforts.
 1935 1 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

THE SOCIAL SECURITY 2 SOCIAL INSURANCE

ACT REVOLUTIONIZED THE 3 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

TOTAL SOCIAL WELFARE 4 AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN

SCENE PROVISIONS: 5 AID TO THE BLIND

6 OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES

NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL WWII Requires Military Social Workers (1939-1945)

US WORK Many social workers were given war-related assignments during World War II to develop services
for communities impacted by the war. Social workers on these assignments helped soldiers and
their families cope with injuries and other medical problems. A special classification for military
social workers was developed from this work.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
Consolidation Improves Professional Outlook
(1952-1955)

US WORK
Following the end of World War II, efforts were made to enhance the professional status of social
work. The Council on Social Work Education was formed in 1952. The National Association of
Social Workers was created in 1955 to further the professional status of social work. Various
social work groups and organizations that had already been established throughout the country
consolidated to form this new association. Simmons School of Social Work alumnus Dr. Helen
Rehr was one of the NASW’s National Center for Social Policy and Practice’s founding members
and served as its first treasurer.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL Waging the ‘War on Poverty’ (1964)

US WORK President Johnson announced a launch of an “unconditional war on poverty” in January 1964.
With this declaration, the recognition of poverty as a social problem took hold. As a result of the
attention, government programs aimed at social advancement were established: Economic
Opportunity Act, Office of Economic Opportunity, Medicare, Medicaid, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, Older American Act, and the Food Stamps program to name a few.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
The Federal Government Shifts Course (1970)

US
In the 1970s, a belief that the influx of social programs in the U.S. had created social unrest took
WORK hold, and social reform began to stagnate. Starting with with the Nixon Administration, the federal
government pulled back on the social reform of the previous decades. However, there were still
positive changes in the field during the 1970s. Universities and colleges established the BSW —
Bachelor of Social Work— as an entry-level degree program and created joint degrees with other
public policy sectors. The privatization of social work practices also grew, giving social workers
greater autonomy and legitimacy.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL The Federal Government Shifts Course (1970)

US WORK Many federal programs were reduced or eliminated during the Reagan administration in the
1980s. These cutbacks in government agencies resulted in social workers relying heavily on
private-sector solutions for social welfare problems. Social workers also faced new challenges: the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, the crack cocaine epidemic, homelessness, and domestic violence.
 NOTABLE In United States for

MOMENTS Social Work.

1955 1965 1974

National Association of Social Workers was
created based on the amalgamation of 7 smaller
specialized social work associations.
Expanding medical and health care system in the US The CSWE approved the accreditation of the
undergraduate programs in SW or social welfare
* Medicare
Encompassed a compulsory hospital insurance plan
and a voluntary supplemental medical insurance
* Medicaid
Provided medical care to low income people
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL Programs Scaled Back, Cut (1980)

US WORK Many federal programs were reduced or eliminated during the Reagan administration in the
1980s. These cutbacks in government agencies resulted in social workers relying heavily on
private-sector solutions for social welfare problems. Social workers also faced new challenges: the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, the crack cocaine epidemic, homelessness, and domestic violence.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
Emphasis Placed on Non-Government Options (1996)

US
In light of the stagnation and lack of federal programs from previous administrations, the Clinton
WORK administration placed greater pressure on nonprofits to fill gaps in service provision. In 1996, the
controversial welfare reform bill known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was passed.
It placed time limits and conditions on cash assistance from the federal government. During this
decade, schools of social work received increased funding for research and evaluation activities in
areas such as domestic violence, child welfare, mental health, and aging.
NOTAB
LE
MOME
NTS IN
SOCIAL
Social Work in the 21st Century
By the early 2000s, social workers made up the largest percentage of professionals working in the

US
mental health and family services fields. These professionals were ready with treatment options
WORK for those affected by events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the
recession that began in 2008. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was passed in
2008 to require insurance coverage for mental health services at the same level of coverage for
physical health issues, making mental health and substance abuse services more affordable for
many people. New technology like social media allows social workers to begin addressing global
issues more effectively.