Social Welfare Policies,

Programs and Services

PUBLIC POLICY,
POLICY FORMULATION PROCESS, AND
GUIDING THEORIES OF SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY

From the Notes of:

Atty. Meralie Mucoy-Granados
Nemia C. Antipala
Mary Lou Alcid, UPCSWCD Review Notes 2016
UPOU Social Policy Development Module

• Will a social agency thrive without a

policy?
• What are the resources needed to run a
social agency?
• How is a policy formulated?
• How is it implemented? Or translated to
something real and tangible?
• Basically, organizations are run
on three kinds of
resources-money, people, and
ideas.
• An IDEA is where policy starts.
WHAT IS A POLICY?

• Policy is an idea, which is a guide to action, is written, and has the approval of
legitimate authority.
• Policy is an all-inclusive word, refers to just about anything a government does.
Policies develop as “a way of dealing with problems”.
• More concretely, policies are principles, plans, procedures, and courses of action—
established in statute, interpreted in administrative code, spelled out in agency
regulation, and supported by judicial decree—that direct what the government and
its representatives can and cannot do.
• “is more than a single program - it is the set of principles guiding a range of actions in a
particular sphere” (Richan, 1988)

WHAT I S SOCIAL POLICY?

• Social policies are those principles, procedures, and courses of action
established in statute, administrative code, and agency regulation that
affect people's social well-being.(Dear)
• Specific policies become social policies whenever they influence social
problems.(Bruce S. Jansson, 1994).
• Refers both to the social decision-making process by which a course
of action is selected, defined and promoted (policy-making) and to the
product or outcome of that process (resulting policy or outcome).
(Dolgoff& Feldstein, 2003)

WHAT IS A SOCIAL
WELFARE POLICY?
 •Social welfare policy, is a subset or one
portion of social policy.
•Social welfare policy is concerned mainly
with the transfer of goods and services
to individuals and families, either through
government agencies, voluntary non-profit
organizations or profit making companies.
•Those policies that affect the distribution of
resources
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
THAT ARE TARGETS OF POLICY
 Material Mental or Cognitive Inter Deprivatio Deprivation Physical
Resources Emotional Deprivation personal n of of Personal Deprivatio
Deprivation Deprivation Deprivation Opportunities Rights n

Inadequ Various Develop Marital Lack of Lack of Illnesses

at e forms of mental conflicts, educatio civil rights Disabilities
income, mental disabilities loneliness, n, lack of and
housing, illness destructive access to liberties
food child-pare services Victim of
nt or discriminat
relations, medical io n
dysfuncti care, lack
on al of fulfilling
families work
FRAMING POLICIES
SOCIAL POLICY
is both a
PROCESS and
PRODUCT

SOCIAL POLICY
(guide, standing plan, set
of
principles, collective
strategy and plan of
action to improve the
quality of life of people
who are disadvantaged orPRODUCT
are in need

PROCESS
•Consists of sequential steps to be followed in Analyze findings and confirm evidence 4.
problem solving Provide the information to the public 5.
1. Identify problem Study alternative solutions
2. Define the problem as a public issue 3. 6. Prepare initial policy statements that
 identify goals
7. Develop supportive organizational
structures and policy recommendations 8.
Legitimize policy efforts through public
support
9. Construct the policy and/or program
design
10.Implement and assess the social policy
•Social policies result into Laws (e.g. R.A.
7610, R.A. 7160, PD 603, etc.)
•Social Policy products can be a
Program (e.g. KALAHI-CIDSS, Tindahan
ni Gloria Labandera, etc.)
•Social Policies can be in the form of
court decisions
•Administrative policies – may prescribe
the qualifications for a certain staff in an
agency.

THE STAGES OF POLICY

PROBLEM OPTIONS DECISION PLANNING PROGRAM

FEEDBACK LOOP
• The problem phase involves developing ideas about what is wrong,
and what different thinkers and interests judge the problem to be.
• Options- different approaches to corrective action- must be
considered. thinking on the subject, as well as to talk with any
individuals affected by “the problem.”
THE STAGES OF POLICY
• From this list of options, authoritative bodies select one (or several)
decisions, which is hard, because it allocates goods and values in
the system, and defines “winners and losers.”
• Planning is the next step. It involves developing the more specific
operating guidelines that will make the policy decision workable.
• Running the program is next. Here, the policy is actually put into
practice, and information from what happens is placed in the feedback
loop.
• The feedback loop is the process of evaluation. There is a continual
 monitoring-of the program and efforts made-to see what modifications
can take place throughout the process, and at any point during it.
TYPES OF POLICY CHOICES

• Residual—selective policies that addresses

short/medium-term or emergency social
problems of special groups such as the
poor, disabled, sick, aged, children, etc.

• Institutional–These policies assume that solutions to problems

have to be applied universally and are usually delivered through
existing institutions; it also involves the establishment and
enforcement of standards and regulations that shape the role of
non-state actors and markets in social provisioning.
 • Transformative--can also be used to
transform gender, racial and other iniquitous
social relations.
GOAL & OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL POLICY

Goal:
• Enhancement of quality of life of all especially the poor, marginalized
& vulnerable
• Economic
growth

Objectives:
• Reduce poverty
• Maximize welfare
• Pursue equality/eliminate discrimination
• Higher productivity
TYPE OF NEEDS ( ACCORDING TO
BRADSHAW (1972)

• Felt needs: conscious need not necessarily expressed (subjective)

• Expressed needs :publicized need--demands
• Normative needs: based certain standards (expert or normative
as in HR)
• Comparative needs: 'relative judgment’—needs of a group
defined relative to another group have or don’t have (there is
element of justice)
• Issue: Needs vs. Wants & Satisfaction?
PUBLIC POLICY AS DEFINED BY VARIOUS AUTHORS •

“the relationship of a government unit to its environment” –Eyestone,

1971

• “whatever governments choose to do or not to do” –Dye, 1972

• “a long series of more or less related activities (rather than discrete

decisions)” –Rose, 1969

• “a proposed course of action of a person, group or government within

a given environment providing obstacles and opportunities which the
policy was proposed to utilize and overcome in an effort to reach a
goal or realize an objective or purpose” –Friedrich, 1963
• “ a purposive course of action followed by an actor or set of actors in
dealing with a problem or matter of concern” –Anderson, 1975
PUBLIC POLICY

➢The set of policies (laws, plans,

actions, behaviors) of a government;
➢Plans and methods of action that govern
that society;
➢A system of laws, courses of action,
and priorities directing a government
 action
THE VARIOUS USES AND MEANINGS OF
THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC POLICY

•A label for a field of government activity

•Expression of general purpose, aspirations of, for society

•Specific proposals or means for achieving larger ends

•Decisions of government

•Formal authorizations

•Program of government

•An output or what government actually delivers

 •A theory or model of cause and effect

•A process
A POLICY IS PUBLIC

• If it is authoritatively determined, implemented and enforced by

governmental institutions (Dye, 1971);

• It is legitimate, universal and coercive in effect (Dye, 1971);

• If it commands obedience as well as agreement (Nicolaidis, 1963);

• If it has the key role of government and also the participation of
other institutions/sectors (Hogwood and Gunn, 1984);

• More importantly, if it is for the achievement of societal

 improvement, or ideally for the common good of the public
(Mendoza, 1991).
MAIN POINTS OF DEFINITIONS

❖Public policy is larger than decisions. It

consists of decisions to address a public
issue or problem.

❖It is a process, consisting of a pattern of

action or decisions taken over time.
MAIN POINTS OF DEFINITIONS
❖It involves intention and behavior

❖It involves action as well as inaction (decision

not to do anything)

❖It is based on law, it is authoritative –

commands obedience, has elements of
coercion
MAIN POINTS OF
DEFINITIONS
❖It is a purposive course of action and goal
– oriented

❖It involves a leading role for government

❖It involves intra – and inter-organizational

relationships, state and non-state activities
General purpose/ intent Series of government
Guiding principle decisions and actions
Rule for Action
Vision and Mission of Purposive course of actions
governance

Laws, rules, regulations Programs

Field of activity of
Change or no change from the
government Projects
status quo
Government actions/ inaction

CAUSE

Desired state of
affairs; Impact
EFFECT,
IMPACT
Outcomes;
Effects;

The Anatomy of Public Policy

DEFINITIONS OF SOME BASIC

TERMINOLOGIES
❖Public policy – long series of more or less
related choices, including decisions not to act,
made by governmental bodies and officials

❖Policy issue – a disagreement or conflict

among policy actors about an actual or
potential course of action
DEFINITIONS OF SOME BASIC
 TERMINOLOGIES

❖Policy problem – an unrealized need, values, or

opportunity which, however identified, may be
attained through public action

❖Policy environment – the specific context in

which events surrounding a particular issue
occur
DEFINITIONS OF SOME BASIC
TERMINOLOGIES
❖Policy formulation – the development and
synthesis of alternative solutions for policy
problems

❖(Policy) Evaluation – the policy-analytic method

used to produce information about the value or
worth of past and for future courses of action
DEFINITIONS OF SOME BASIC
TERMINOLOGIES
❖Policy advocacy – the use of policy-relevant
information to make policy claims and offer
reasoned arguments about possible solutions
for problems.

❖Policy advocacy is a way to make normative

statements, not to issue prescriptions,
commands or orders of various kinds
THE POLICY-MAKING
PROCESSES 1) Get Issue on the Agenda

• If there is an issue or problem that should be addressed

by your city or county, it has to be put on the public
agenda. Some issues are so important that there is a
consensus that something must be done. However, your
issue may be in competition with others for time and
attention. The support of other members of the
legislative body is needed to commit time and resources
to study the issue. The same is true for the chief
executive. A budget is needed to carry out the studies
and conduct the processes needed to bring resolution to
important policy issues.
THE POLICY-MAKING

PROCESSES 2) Document Existing Conditions

• Issues become part of the public agenda when

there is a shared perception that a problem
must be solved, an issue resolved, or an opportunity
realized. Explain the problem and recognize that everyone
does not share the same definition of problem.

• Existing conditions provide a reference point against which

possible actions are compared. The task of documenting
existing conditions will probably be assigned to staff. Council
members must recognize that resources need to be budgeted
for these staff activities.
THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES

• 3) Define Goals and Objectives

• Policy action requires public support, or at a minimum, a
working majority of the legislative body. The
development of goals is an important part of the search
for agreement. Conceptually, the idea is to move from
the more general to the specific: first reaching
agreement on broad principles before getting to specific
means.
THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES
 Goals are qualitative in nature, for example:
• Create a community where people can live, work, and play in an
environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Preserve greenbelts and natural areas.
• Provide for the efficient and safe movement of people and goods.

THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES •

Objectives are quantitative, providing yardsticks to measure goal
achievement. Some examples are:
• Create 1,500 new affordable housing units by the year 2005.
• Acquire outright or purchase the development rights to preserve
 1,000 acres of greenbelts by the year 2005.
• Improve intersections in the downtown so they function no worse
than Level of Service E, at or
near the capacity of the roadway, during
morning and afternoon peak hours.

THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES

4) Generate Alternatives
• What options are there for attaining the
 policy-making body's goals? It is important to
consider a range of reasonable alternatives. If
alternatives favored by an influential interest
group are excluded, it will be very difficult to
reach a decision that has strong support.
THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES

5) Identify Key Interest Groups

• This is an important step in defining criteria for
evaluating alternatives. Who else cares about this
issue? How will they be impacted? Will they be
positively or negatively affected by various
solutions? Which interest groups are logical
allies?Who is likely to oppose the action(s)?
THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES

6) Evaluate Alternatives

• This task will likely fall mainly to staff, and will

often be addressed through formal process
requirements such as the preparation of
environmental impact statements
THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES

7) Decide
• Even if everything is done right, some decisions are hard because they
address a difficult issue. A few points to review are:
• Recognize constraints, such as budgets, laws, and authority. Balance dreams
with the reality of what needs to be changed. Small changes can have major
impacts through time.
• Recognize that there are often more than two positions on an issue. This
makes it difficult to get a majority, much less a consensus.
• Think about how alternatives might be combined into "win-win" solutions that
address needs of multiple parties.
• Treat all parties with respect. Remember that even if you do not win this one,
long-term relationships count.
THE POLICY-MAKING

PROCESSES 8) Implement and Monitor

• Even if you have done a great job in involving all the

 parties, analyzing alternatives, and achieving consensus,
the process is not complete. Too many well-intentioned
plans sit on a shelf and collect dust. Make sure that
implementation responsibilities are clearly assigned.
ANDERSON’S 1984 POLICY PROCESS
FRAMEWORK
• Problem Identification and Agenda Formation

• What is a policy problem

• What makes it a policy problem?

• How does it get into the agenda of government

• Formulation
• How are alternatives for dealing with the problems developed?
• Who participates in policy formulation?

• Adoption

• How is a policy alternative adopted or enacted?

• What requirements must be made?
• Who adopts the policy?
• What processes are used?
• What is the content of the adopted policy?
• Implementation

• Who is involved?

• What is done, if anything, to carry a policy into effect?

• What impact does this have on policy content?

• Evaluation

• How is the effectiveness or impact of a policy measured?

• Who evaluates?

• Are there demands for change of repeal of the policy?

THE PUBLIC POLICY-MAKING PROCESS IN THE

PHILIPPINES
BY SOPREPEÑA (1995)
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE
POLICY PROCESS
➢Problem definition and agenda setting:

⚫ Identifying a problem –
problem definition and
redefinition

⚫ Getting the policy problem into

the policy agenda of the government
KEY COMPONENTS
 OF THE POLICY PROCESS

➢Formulation:

⚫Search and evaluation of alternative

courses of action (including maintaining
status quo) for dealing with the public
problem
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE
 POLICY PROCESS

➢Adoption of decision making:

⚫ Decision on the best course of action

⚫Authorization or official adoption by

government
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE
 POLICY PROCESS

➢Implementation:

• Execution or enforcement of policy;

• Resources, organization, personnel, time

frame
KEY COMPONENTS
 OF THE POLICY PROCESS

➢Evaluation:

⚫ Assessing the results and impact of policy

⚫ Feedback used to review policy – status

quo, improvement, termination
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE POLICY PROCESS
➢Both rational and political

➢Sequential, cyclical and iterative

➢Ongoing, continuing cycle the boundaries

of which are sometimes blurred

➢Complex and dynamic

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE POLICY PROCESS
➢Rational
⚫ Involves steps from problem formulation and
evaluation of alternative through implementation
⚫ Problem is viewed as technical, climate as
consensual, process as controlled
⚫ Conflicts over goals or perceptions about the
situation may be present but these are assumed to
result in stable and determinate outcomes and do
not interfere with the consistency of the process
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
 THE POLICY PROCESS

➢ Political
⚫Perceptions and interests of individual
actions enter at all stages
⚫Policy is a bargained outcome
⚫Environment is conflictful
⚫Characterized by diversity and
constraints
THE POLICY SYSTEM
 Policy
Stakeholders

Policy
Public Policies
Environment
THE ENVIRONMENT
 OF THE POLICY SYSTEM
❖Environment of policy making:

❖ In general, forces and conditions affecting

policymaking

❖Specific contexts surrounding a particular

policy problem
THE ENVIRONMENT
 OF THE POLICY SYSTEM
❖Environment generates and transmits demands for
policy action

❖Public policies also affect the environment

❖Two broad categories of environment:

➢ Intra-social or societal
➢ Extra-societal
THE ENVIRONMENT
 OF THE POLICY SYSTEM
Intra-societal Environment -

❖Physical or geographic characteristics – climate,

topography, land and water resources, location

❖Technology – level of technological development

or backwardness
THE ENVIRONMENT OF
 THE POLICY SYSTEM

Intra-societal Environment -

❖Socio-economic of living, income and wealth

distribution, ethnic differentiations, spatial
distribution

❖Political system and culture – democratic,

authoritarian, capitalistic, socialistic
THE ENVIRONMENT
 OF THE POLICY SYSTEM
Extra-societal Environment:

❖Global developments – globalization,

ICT, ❖Multilateral, bilateral institutions
❖International economic order
❖Foreign and transnational investments and
corporations
❖International agreements, treaties,
summits ❖Other countries
LEVELS OF POLICY
 ACTORS IN POLICY MAKING:

Others terms used:

❖policy makers,
❖stakeholders,
❖influence wielder,
❖implementors,
❖analyst – depending on the stage of the
policy process they are involved in
 ACTORS IN POLICY MAKING:

❖Stakeholders have stake in a policy because

they affect and are affected by governmental
decisions – e.g., citizens’ group, labor unions,
NGOs, business groups, government
agencies, political parties, etc.
ACTORS IN POLICY MAKING:
❖Official actors
➢Have legal authority to make policies –
legislators, executives, administrators, judges,
➢Primary and secondary actors
⚫ Congress, President, Judiciary
⚫ Bureaucrats, administrators,
administrative bodies
➢Unofficial actors
POLITICAL CONTEXT OF SWPPS
 IN THE PHILIPPINES
• DEVOLUTION
• Transfer of power from national/central government to sub
nationational government units (LGUs)
• Also known as: Political Decentralization

• Subnational Units
• 80 provinces
• 144 Cities
• 1,480 Municipalities
• 42,028 Barangays

BASIC SERVICES
MECHANISMS FOR CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
FUNCTIONS OF PROVINCIAL, CITY, AND
 MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS
PUBLIC POLICY- MAKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Legislative Structure
• The Philippine Congress is divided into two chambers, namely the
Senate and the House of Representatives referred to as the Upper
House and the Lower House respectively.
• They are located in opposite sides of Metropolitan Manila, the
Senate at the GSIS Building, Financial Center in Pasay City and the
House of Representatives at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
• Each House has its own set of officers and rules to guide its daily
proceedings.
• Each also has its own Journal which is a summary of the plenary
session and a Record of Proceedings which is a verbatim output of
 the day's activities.
PUBLIC POLICY- MAKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Senate
• The Senate consists of 24 Senators elected at large.
• Under synchronized elections, 12 Senators are elected every three
(3) years.
• Each has a term of six years.
• The term of a senator, as provided for in the Constitution, starts at
noon on the 30th day of June following their election.
• The Constitution also limits their stay in office to no more than two
(2) consecutive terms.
PUBLIC POLICY- MAKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

The House of Representatives

• The 1987 Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall
be composed of not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by
law, who shall be elected from legislative districts and through a party
list system.

• The Representatives (of legislative districts and party list) shall have a
term of three years commencing at noon of the 30th day of June
following their election and are limited to serving a maximum of three
(3) consecutive terms.
PUBLIC POLICY- MAKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Article VI of the Constitution specifically allocates one

representative for every city with a population of at least 250,000.
• Article VI, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution provides that out of
the total number of Members, twenty percent (20%) shall come
from Party-List (PL) representatives, one-half of which shall be filled
 by sectoral representatives for the first three terms of Congress
(1987-1998).
• In response to this constitutional provision, the Ninth Congress
enacted a party-list law, Republic Act 7941, which provides for
a system of proportional representation in the election of
Representatives from national, regional, and sectoral parties,
organizations or coalitions.*
PUBLIC POLICY- MAKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Legislative Powers and Functions

• Under Article VI of the Philippine Constitution, the Legislative branch is
vested with the following powers and functions:
• Propose, review and adopt bills for enactment into law
• Conduct studies and inquiries in aid of legislation and investigations
necessary in the lawmaking process and in the oversight of the
execution of laws by the executive
 • Propose appropriations, revenue or tariff bills; bills authorizing increase
of the public sector debt; bills of local application and private bills
• Concur in all treaties and international agreements
• Exercise the constitutional right and responsibility of advice and consent
on certain presidential nominations through the Commission on
Appointments
PUBLIC POLICY- MAKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Judge the election, returns and qualifications of its members,

determine the rules of its proceedings, and punish its members by
suspension or expulsion for disorderly behavior
• Authorize the President to exercise emergency power in times of
war or national emergency
• Propose amendments to the Constitution for ratification by the
people
• Call for a constitutional convention
 • The power to ratify treaties belongs exclusively to the Senate while
bills on appropriations, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing
increase of public debt, bills of local application, and private bills
originate from the House of Representatives.
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

• Legislators file bills on issue areas of their concern, although bills on

international agreements and treaties are traditionally initiated by
the Senate, while bills on appropriations and those authorizing
increase in public debts originate from the House of
Representatives.

• After research and studies have been conducted by the staff and the
legislators themselves, the bill goes through the legislative mill.
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

Introduction of the Bill

• Bills are signed by the author and filed in four copies;
delivered to the Secretary of the Chamber of origin.

• A bill number is assigned by the Secretariat.

• The bill is calendared for introduction and first

reading. This is done within the first three session days
from the day it is filed.
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
FIRST READING
• The Secretary of the Chamber reads the bill, its number, long title,
and its author(s)
• Committe Referral and Action

• The presiding officer of the session refers the bill to the appropriate
committee.

• The committee schedules and conducts meetings and public hearings; reports
the consolidated bills on the same subject or the substitute bill; or gives notice
to the author(s) if action is unfavorable
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

SECOND READING
• The bill goes through a second reading after which a committee
 report on the subject is read.

• On the second reading, the following takes place:

• Period of Debate: Sponsorship Speech; Interpellation; Turno en Contra •
Period of Amendments: Committee Amendments; Individual Amendments •
Voting, which may be by viva voce; raising
of hands; division of the house; nominal or
roll call

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

 THIRD READING

• The bill on the third reading is subjected to a viva

voce vote.

• The Secretary General signs a certification and sends

the bill to the Secretary of the chamber. The bill is
sent to the other house (the bill goes through first,
second and third readings in the second chamber)
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

• Conference Committee
• The bill is returned to the chamber of origin for
 votes to amendments recommended by other
chamber .
• The bill is sent for consideration to a conference committee if the changes
recommended by the other chamber are not accepted by the chamber where
the bill originated .

• Presidential Action
• The bill is sent for Presidential approval if it passes both chambers after the
reconciliation of differences of the different versions of the bills in the
Conference Committee .

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

• The bill becomes a law after it is signed by the President, or after 30

days from the day of submission for Presidential action and the
President takes no action
• If the President vetoes the bill:
• it is returned to the chamber of origin together
 with his/her objections
• objections are entered in the Journal and sent back for reconsideration •
two-thirds of the members of the chamber of origin can pass the bill to
the other chamber; if approved by two thirds of the members of that
chamber, the presidential veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law

GUIDING THEORIES IN SOCIAL

WELFARE POLICY
FORMULATION

• RATIONALISM
• INCREMENTALISM
• SYSTEMS THEORY
GUIDING THEORIES: RATIONALISM

• Rationalism
• Guided with facts and reason. Use judgement in weighing alternatives given
the benefits derived and the costs involved.
• Implies that policy is seen as Efficient Goal Achievement.
• A policy is rational when it is most efficient. That is the ratio between the
values it achieves and values it sacrifices is positive and higher that any policy
alternative.
• Different options in data gathering should be considered.

• What is most cost-effective?

• What are the advantages/disadvantages of each alternative?
• What are the costs and benefits?

GUIDING THEORIES: INCREMENTALISM

• Incrementalism
• Building or adding to something which is already existing or in place. •
Looking back and examining previous policies and from there refine and
enhance existing policies.
• Relating to or denoting an increase or addition especially one of a series on
a fixed scale. (Oxford Dictionary)
• The policy is a variation of the past.
• The policy is a continuation of past activities.
• Policy makers generally accept the legitimacy of established programs and
tacitly agrees to continue previous policies.

GUIDING THEORIES: INCREMENTALISM

• Philippine Social Welfare policies are considered incremental as
programs have not changed much. There can be new labels but
the approach and strategies are basically the same.
• E.g. SPDEFS (1970s) to CIDSS (1990s) NCDDP (2000s)
• Self-employment, Practical Skills, Day Care, Emergency Assistance, Family planning,
and Special Social Services (SPDEFS)
• Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS)
• NCDDP – National Community-Driven Development Program

GUIDING THEORIES: SYSTEMS THEORY

• Systems Theory
• The need to diagnose and look at the needs and problems of the disadvantaged
sector of society. Understand the specific needs and problems to examine, identify,
formulate and prescribe specific intervention to remedy the situation. • To
understand the phenomena and to act on a certain problem.
• Problems are linked to a complex web of factors such as poverty, unemployment,
parental neglect, family breakdown, etc.
• It means policy is a System Output.
• Policy is a response of a system (i.e. Political) to forces brought to bear upon it
from the environment. Outputs of a political system are authoritative value
allocations of the system and these allocations contribute to public policy.
• You need to explore and analyze every detail and dimension of the cause of the
problem before you deliberate and formulate a social welfare policy.