The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy uses the lens of an innovative policy model and an emphasis on social change to break new ground in social welfare policy texts. Starting from the explicit premise that every kind of social work practice embodies a social policy, the book stresses that policy knowledge enables social workers to help clients as well as to help themselves. Drawing on this awareness, the text then makes the standard social welfare policy material come alive by asking two new questions: 1) what factors trigger social change in these social policies?; and 2) how do these factors affect the social policies that influence what social workers actually do? To answer these questions, it develops a five-part policy model, which shows, through full chapters on each subject, how economics, politics, ideology, social movements, and the history of social welfare define social welfare policy.
The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy uses the lens of an innovative policy model and an emphasis on social change to break new ground in social welfare policy texts. Starting from the explicit premise that every kind of social work practice embodies a social policy, the book stresses that policy knowledge enables social workers to help clients as well as to help themselves. Drawing on this awareness, the text then makes the standard social welfare policy material come alive by asking two new questions: 1) what factors trigger social change in these social policies?; and 2) how do these factors affect the social policies that influence what social workers actually do? To answer these questions, it develops a five-part policy model, which shows, through full chapters on each subject, how economics, politics, ideology, social movements, and the history of social welfare define social welfare policy.
PART I Introducing Social Welfare Policy
1 Introduction: Social Problems, Social Policy, Social Change
How Are Social Problems Constructed?
Who Gets to Define a Social Problem?
Social Policy and Social Work
Theories of Social Change
Change and Social Welfare Policy: A Policy Model
The Triggers of Social Change: An Overview
Conclusion
2 Definition and Functions of Social Welfare Policy: Setting the
Stage for Social Change Mimi Abramovitz
What Is Social Welfare Policy?
Broadening the Definition of Social Welfare Policy
Deepening the Definition of Social Welfare Policy
Competing Functions of Social Welfare Policy
Overview of Major Social Welfare Programs
Organizing Principles: Who Benefits from Universal or Selective
Provision?
PART II The Policy Model
3 The Economy and Social Welfare
The Words We Use
The Structure of the Economy
Microeconomics
Measuring the Functioning of the Economy
The Terms and Tools of Economic Policy
Social Welfare and the Economy in Historical Context
Production for Profit versus Production for Need
The Economy versus Social Welfare?
Downsizing and Outsourcing
Trade Unions
The Minimum Wage
Enron and the Corporate Scandals
A New Economic Crisis
4 The Politics of Social Welfare Policy
Political Science Theories: Decision Making, Definitions of
Democracy, and Majority Rule
Definitions of Democracy
The American System of Government: Federalism
U.S. Government: Its Distinctive Characteristics
Divided Government
The Political Functions of Social Welfare
The Implications for Social Welfare Policy
5 Ideological Perspectives and Conflicts Mimi Abramovitz
What Is Ideology?
Social Welfare Ideology and Social Change
The Ideology of Human Nature
The General Welfare: Individuals in Society
The Ideology of the Definition of Need
The Ideology of the Role of the Government
The Ideology of Work and the Work Ethic
The Ideology of Family
The Ideology of Racial Inequality
Ideologies of Professionalism
6 Social Movements and Social Change Mimi Abramovitz
Ways of Becoming Active
Social Movements, Contradictions, and Social Change
Theories of Social Movements
From Theory to Practice: Using Ideology When Seeking Social
Change
7 Social Welfare History in the United States
The Ambiguities of U.S. Social Welfare History
What the British Brought
Social Welfare in the Colonies (1619-1783)
Independence to the End of the Civil War (1783-1865)
The End of the Civil War to the Progressive Era (1865-1900)
The Progressive Era to the New Deal (1900-1932)
The New Deal to World War II (1933-1945)
Post-World War II to the Great Society (1946-1968)
1969-2008: The Conservative Response
A New, New Deal? 2009-Present
The Historical Patterns
PART III Policy Analyses: Applying the Policy Model
8 Income Support: Programs and Policies
Social Change Triggers
Social Security
Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income
Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Workers' Compensation
Earned Income Tax Credit
General Assistance Programs
Individual Development Accounts
The Basic Income Grant
Economics
Politics
Ideology
Social Movements
History
9 Jobs and Job Training: Programs and Policies
The Context for Employment Policy
Classifying Federal Job Programs
Employment Training Programs: What Do We Know?
Economics
The Politics of Employment Programs
Ideology
Social Movements
History
10 Housing: Programs and Policies
The Context for Housing Policy
Social Change Triggers
The Housing Bubble
Housing Programs
Economics
Politics
Ideology
Social Movements
History
Conclusion
11 Health Care: Programs and Policies
Social Change Triggers
Social Programs
The Inadequacies of the U.S. Health Care System
Economics
Politics
Ideology
Social Movements
History
12 Food and Hunger: Programs and Policies
Definition
Social Change Triggers
Food Programs
Classifying Food Programs: Who, What, to Whom, and at Whose
Expense
Economics
Politics
Ideology
Social Movements
History
Conclusion
PART IV Conclusions
13 If You Want to Analyze a Policy...
Notes
Figure Credits
Index
Joel Blau, DSW, is Professor of Social Policy at the School of
Social Welfare, Stony Brook University.
Mimi Abramovitz, DSW, is Bertha Capen Reynolds Professor of Social
Policy, Hunter College School of Social Work and The Graduate
Center, City University of New York.
"A very readable and comprehensive book that brings a refreshingly
new approach to the field by stressing the ever-changing nature of
social welfare policy and the need for students to understand the
way social policy is shaped by history, ideology, economics,
politics, and social movements. This excellent book offers
important and challenging insights and deserves to be widely
read."-James Midgley, Harry & Riva Specht Professor of Public
Social Services and Dean, School of Social Welfare, University of
California, Berkeley
"I really appreciate this text because it facilitates understanding
of the many factors that often complicate social policy in real
life experiences. It gives students the tools for questioning and
challenging our social welfare practices and approaches as we
encounter changing social conditions. Students love it because they
are able to recognize key aspects of the policy framework in their
personal stories and in the fabric of every day life."--CarolAnn
Dan
"A very readable and comprehensive book that brings a refreshingly
new approach to the field by stressing the ever-changing nature of
social welfare policy and the need for students to understand the
way social policy is shaped by history, ideology, economics,
politics, and social movements. This excellent book offers
important and challenging insights and deserves to be widely
read."-James Midgley, Harry & Riva Specht Professor of Public
Social Services and Dean, School of Social Welfare, University of
California, Berkeley
"I really appreciate this text because it facilitates understanding
of the many factors that often complicate social policy in real
life experiences. It gives students the tools for questioning and
challenging our social welfare practices and approaches as we
encounter changing social conditions. Students love it because they
are able to recognize key aspects of the policy framework in their
personal stories and in the fabric of every day life."--CarolAnn
Daniel, Ph.D, Brooklyn College
"A lucid and thoughtful presentation of the dynamic aspects of
social welfare policy for students of social work and related human
servicesunique and proactive."-Paula Allen-Meares, The Norma Radin
Collegiate Professor of Social Work and Professor of Education, and
Dean, School of Social Work, University of Michigan
"This text brings to life the texture and pulse of decisions and
processes that help determine who will eat steadily, find quality
shelter, stay employed, afford transportation, secure child care,
and enjoy a livable income. It will serve graduate and
undergraduate students for years to come."-Barbara Levy Simon,
Associate Professor of Social Work, Columbia University
"A welcome departure from most social policy texts that prepares
students to analyze social issues and to construct strategies for
changing crucial social welfare policiesa novel and effective
approach."-Josefina Figueira-McDonough, Ph.D., Professor Emerita,
Justice Studies and Social Work, Arizona State University
"Blau and Abramovitz have given us the great gift of their many
combined years of professional experience and advocacy for the
poor. You don't have to be a social work student to profit from
their clarity and insights; I, for one, will be referring to this
book for years to come."-Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickle and
Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
"An accessible, readable, and stimulating approach to social
welfare policy that will inform, challenge, and motivate both
undergraduate and graduate students. New and exciting, this
well-researched and organized text will help students master the
intricacies of social welfare policy and became policy-sensitive
practitioners."--Irwin Nesoff, DSW, Associate Professor and
Assistant Chairperson, Social Work Department (BSW), Kean
University
"A very readable and comprehensive book that brings a refreshingly
new approach to the field by stressing the ever-changing nature of
social welfare policy and the need for students to understand the
way social policy is shaped by history, ideology, economics,
politics, and social movements. This
excellent book offers important and challenging insights and
deserves to be widely read."-James Midgley, Harry & Riva Specht
Professor of Public Social Services and Dean, School of Social
Welfare, University of California, Berkeley
"I really appreciate this text because it facilitates understanding
of the many factors that often complicate social policy in real
life experiences. It gives students the tools for questioning and
challenging our social welfare practices and approaches as we
encounter changing social conditions.
Students love it because they are able to recognize key aspects of
the policy framework in their personal stories and in the fabric of
every day life."--CarolAnn Daniel, Ph.D, Brooklyn College
"A lucid and thoughtful presentation of the dynamic aspects of
social welfare policy for students of social work and related human
servicesunique and proactive."-Paula Allen-Meares, The Norma Radin
Collegiate Professor of Social Work and Professor of Education, and
Dean, School of Social Work,
University of Michigan
"This text brings to life the texture and pulse of decisions and
processes that help determine who will eat steadily, find quality
shelter, stay employed, afford transportation, secure child care,
and enjoy a livable income. It will serve graduate and
undergraduate students for yearsto
come."-Barbara Levy Simon, Associate Professor of Social Work,
Columbia University
"A welcome departure from most social policy texts that prepares
students to analyze social issues and to construct strategies for
changing crucial social welfare policiesa novel and effective
approach."-Josefina Figueira-McDonough, Ph.D., Professor Emerita,
Justice Studies and Social Work, Arizona
State University
"Blau and Abramovitz have given us the great gift of their many
combined years of professional experience and advocacy for the
poor. You don't have to be a social work student to profit from
their clarity and insights; I, for one, will be referring to this
book for years to come."-Barbara
Ehrenreich, author of Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in
America
"An accessible, readable, and stimulating approach to social
welfare policy that will inform, challenge, and motivate both
undergraduate and graduate students. New and exciting, this
well-researched and organized text will help students master the
intricacies of social welfare policy and became
policy-sensitive practitioners."--Irwin Nesoff, DSW, Associate
Professor and Assistant Chairperson, Social Work Department (BSW),
Kean University
"A very readable and comprehensive book that brings a refreshingly
new approach to the field by stressing the ever-changing nature of
social welfare policy and the need for students to understand the
way social policy is shaped by history, ideology, economics,
politics, and social movements. This
excellent book offers important and challenging insights and
deserves to be widely read."-James Midgley, Harry & Riva Specht
Professor of Public Social Services and Dean, School of Social
Welfare, University of California, Berkeley
"I really appreciate this text because it facilitates understanding
of the many factors that often complicate social policy in real
life experiences. It gives students the tools for questioning and
challenging our social welfare practices and approaches as we
encounter changing social conditions.
Students love it because they are able to recognize key aspects of
the policy framework in their personal stories and in the fabric of
every day life."--CarolAnn Daniel, Ph.D, Brooklyn College
"A lucid and thoughtful presentation of the dynamic aspects of
social welfare policy for students of social work and related human
servicesunique and proactive."-Paula Allen-Meares, The Norma Radin
Collegiate Professor of Social Work and Professor of Education, and
Dean, School of Social Work,
University of Michigan
"This text brings to life the texture and pulse of decisions and
processes that help determine who will eat steadily, find quality
shelter, stay employed, afford transportation, secure child care,
and enjoy a livable income. It will serve graduate and
undergraduate students for years to
come."-Barbara Levy Simon, Associate Professor of Social Work,
Columbia University
"A welcome departure from most social policy texts that prepares
students to analyze social issues and to construct strategies for
changing crucial social welfare policiesa novel and effective
approach."-Josefina Figueira-McDonough, Ph.D., Professor Emerita,
Justice Studies and Social Work, Arizona
State University
"Blau and Abramovitz have given us the great gift of their many
combined years of professional experience and advocacy for the
poor. You don't have to be a social work student to profit from
their clarity and insights; I, for one, will be referring to this
book for years to come."-Barbara
Ehrenreich, author of Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in
America
"An accessible, readable, and stimulating approach to social
welfare policy that will inform, challenge, and motivate both
undergraduate and graduate students. New and exciting, this
well-researched and organized text will help students master the
intricacies of social welfare policy and became
policy-sensitive practitioners."--Irwin Nesoff, DSW, Associate
Professor and Assistant Chairperson, Social Work Department (BSW),
Kean University
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