Social Welfare Policy Key Terms

Comprehensive practice vocabulary flashcards covering key terms across social welfare policy, social work history, theoretical paradigms, social security systems, and civil rights.

social welfare

The system of programs and services to ensure the maintenance of society. Helps people meet the social, economic, educational, and health needs

recipient

An individual who receives social welfare benefits or services.

social welfare policy

The principles, guidelines, or laws that govern the activities and functioning of the social welfare system.

value

A deeply held belief or standard that guides judgment, choices, and social priorities.

social welfare programs

The specific products or services provided through social welfare policies to address identified social needs.

belief

An opinion or conviction that something is true or exists, shaping individual and societal attitudes.

provider

An individual, organization, or government entity that delivers social welfare services or benefits to recipients.

social welfare system

The organized network of policies, programs, resources, and personnel designed to address social problems and promote well-being.

residual social welfare policy

An approach holding that social welfare support should be provided only as a safety net when individual, family, and market support systems fail.

institutional social welfare policy

An approach viewing social welfare services as a normal, first-line function of modern society available to all members without stigma.

universality

A social welfare policy principle where social services or benefits are available to all members of a society regardless of income or need.

selectivity

A social welfare policy principle where eligibility for benefits or services is restricted to individuals who meet specific criteria, such as income level or demonstrated need.

social justice

The ideal condition in which all members of a society have equal rights, opportunities, protection, and access to resources.

Elizabethan Poor Laws

English legislation passed in 1601 that established a system of public relief for the poor, distinguishing between the worthy and unworthy poor and assigning local responsibility for relief.

worthy and unworthy poor

A historical classification dividing the poor into those deserving help (e.g., widows, orphans, elderly, disabled) and those deemed undeserving (e.g., able-bodied individuals refusing work).

indoor relief

Social assistance provided to individuals within institutional settings, such as poorhouses, almshouses, or workhouses.

progressive era

A period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States spanning from the 1890s to the 1920s.

Charity Organization Societies

19th-century organizations that sought to scientificize and coordinate charitable relief to eliminate duplication and discourage dependency.

settlement movement

A reform movement originating in the late 19th century that established neighborhood centers in urban areas to provide social services and foster community integration.

New Deal

A series of economic and social welfare programs, public works projects, and financial reforms enacted under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression.

Social Security Act of 1935

Landmark federal legislation that established the U.S. social welfare foundation, creating social insurance programs, unemployment compensation, and public assistance programs.

social insurance

Publicly administered programs designed to protect individuals and families against income loss due to retirement, disability, death, or unemployment, funded through dedicated contributions.

public assistance

Government programs providing financial aid or services to individuals and families based on demonstrated financial need (means-tested).

War on Poverty

Unofficial name for the expansive social welfare initiatives introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the 1960s to reduce national poverty rates.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Federal legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations, employment, and federally funded programs.

Economic Opportunity Act

Key 1964 War on Poverty legislation that created community action agencies, Job Corps, Head Start, and other antipoverty measures.

Food Stamp Program

A federal assistance program providing food-purchasing assistance to low- and no-income people living in the U.S.

Older Americans Act

1965 legislation establishing a nationwide network of community-based services and advocacy programs for older adults.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program enacted in 1965 primarily serving individuals aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program enacted in 1965 that provides health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families.

Head Start

A federal program established in 1965 providing comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.

Family and Medical Leave Act

1993 labor law requiring covered employers to provide employees with job-protected, unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act

1996 federal law that reformed U.S. welfare policy by replacing AFDC with the block-granted TANF program and placing time limits and work requirements on benefits.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

A federal block grant program created in 1996 that provides temporary financial assistance and work opportunity programs to low-income families with children.

ideologies

Sets of shared beliefs, values, and ideas that shape how individuals and groups interpret the world and determine social policies.

theories

Formulated systems of concepts and principles designed to explain, predict, or understand social phenomena and human behavior.

paradigms

Dominant frameworks, worldviews, or conceptual models that guide scientific research, policy creation, and professional practice.

cause and function

The dual nature of social work advocacy—addressing the underlying social issues (cause) while managing and delivering immediate services (function).

blaming the victim

An ideological perspective that attributes social problems and personal hardship to individual moral, biological, or behavioral flaws rather than systemic flaws.

culture of poverty

A theory suggesting that poor individuals share a set of distinct values and behaviors that perpetuate poverty across generations.

biological determinism

The belief that human behavior, intelligence, and social outcomes are primarily determined by biological or genetic traits rather than environment or social structure.

social control

The methods, mechanisms, and institutions through which society regulates individual and group behavior to enforce conformity and social order.

elite power

The theory that a small, wealthy, and powerful ruling group holds disproportionate influence over government, economics, and social policy decisions.

critical theory

An approach to social philosophy and analysis that seeks to critique, examine power dynamics within, and transform society rather than merely explain it.

postindustrial era

An economic and social period characterized by a shift from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-, information-, and technology-based economy.

globalization

The process of increasing interconnectedness and integration among economies, cultures, societies, and governments worldwide.

social construction

The process by which social reality and concepts are created, given meaning, and maintained through cultural and social interactions.

distributive justice

The principle concerning the fair and equitable allocation of resources, wealth, opportunities, and burdens across society.

social empathy

The ability to understand the experiences, conditions, and systemic challenges of marginalized or diverse groups to inform social policy and action.

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)

The official name for the federal Social Security program providing retirement, survivor, and disability benefits to eligible workers and dependents.

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

A joint federal-state program that provides temporary wage replacement to eligible workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA)

The U.S. federal payroll tax dedicated to funding the Social Security (OASDI) and Medicare programs.

regressive tax

A tax system where lower-income earners pay a higher percentage of their total income in tax compared to higher-income earners.

Social Security trust fund

Financial accounts held by the U.S. Treasury that hold accumulated payroll tax contributions reserved to pay future Social Security benefits.

progressive tax

A tax system in which the rate of taxation increases as the taxpayer's income increases, placing a higher financial burden on higher earners.

civil rights

Legally enforceable rights protected by law that guarantee freedom from discrimination and equal social opportunities for all citizens.

prejudice

A preconceived opinion, attitude, or judgment toward a group or individual formed without adequate knowledge, cause, or reason.

discrimination

The unfair or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or disability.

oppression

The systematic and pervasive mistreatment, exploitation, and subjugation of a group or social category by a dominant group supported by social structures.

human rights

Fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all human beings regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, language, or religion.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing individual civil rights and liberties.

institutional racism

Systemic policies, practices, and procedures within institutions that result in unfair treatment and disadvantages for racial minority groups.

hate crime laws

Legislation that establishes enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by bias against protected social characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

A proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

affirmative action

Policies and measures designed to improve opportunities and representation in employment and education for historically marginalized groups.

nondiscrimination

The policy, practice, or legal requirement of treating all individuals fairly and equally without bias based on protected identity categories.

equality

The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, opportunities, and legal standing.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

1994 federal law aimed at preventing and improving the criminal justice response to violence against women, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

Civil rights law enacted in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, transportation, and public accommodations.