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ADUHENE SOWK 211 COMBINED SLIDES (2)
SOWK 211: History of Social Work
Page 1: Introduction
Semester and Course Information
University of Ghana, Legon
Association of Students of Social Work
Presenter: Emmanuel Aduhene
Contact information provided
Page 2: Lecture One
Topic: Social Welfare and Social Work
Page 3: Presentation Outline
Definitions and Purpose of Social Welfare
Values in Social Welfare
Definition of Social Work
Relationship Between Social Welfare and Social Work
Some Social Welfare Programs in Ghana
Page 4: Introduction
Historical Context: Informal help from family, friends, and religious organizations was a norm in communities prior to systemic changes. Urbanization and industrialization altered traditional family structures, resulting in social issues like crime, homelessness, and poverty. This disruption highlighted the inadequacy of informal systems to deal with emerging social challenges, creating a demand for formalized social welfare services aimed at strengthening family and community support systems.
Page 5: Definitions - Social Welfare
Social Welfare: As defined by Axim and Stern (2005), Social Welfare encompasses various organized responses aimed at maintaining societal stability and well-being. It covers a broad spectrum of programs, including education, health services, rehabilitation, public assistance, and protective services, which are all essential for enhancing quality of life and social cohesion.
Page 6: Social Welfare Definitions
Variability in Meaning: Social welfare is understood both as an institutional framework for service delivery and as an academic discipline aimed at understanding the complexities of social services and their impact on communities (Zastrow, 2004).
Page 7: Social Welfare as an Institution
Institutional Framework: A structured system comprising policies and programs focused on assisting individuals and communities by fulfilling basic social needs, including foster care, adoption, financial assistance, and various rehabilitation programs that aim to integrate vulnerable populations into society.
Page 8: Social Welfare as an Academic Discipline
Academic Focus: This discipline centers around the study and practical application of agencies, programs, policies, and social service delivery to communities and individuals, aimed at training competent social workers and improving social service methodologies (Zastrow 2004: 5).
Page 9: Purpose of Social Welfare
Social Treatment: Aims to ameliorate societal issues through structured intervention.
Social Control: Engages in preventing behaviors that harm communities and individuals.
Enhancement of Social Functioning: Endeavors to improve individual well-being across different demographics, ensuring that all individuals can access opportunities for growth.
Page 10: Values in Social Welfare
Guiding Principles: Values serve as the foundational principles that direct behavior and actions within the social welfare sphere. They arise from the inherent necessity for mutual aid and social control, reflecting essential elements of human interactions.
Page 11: Mutual Aid
Concept: Defined as the support exchanged among individuals and communities to achieve collectively beneficial outcomes (Gitterman, 2006). It fosters a reciprocal relationship that strengthens community ties and enhances collective well-being.
Page 12: Protection of Others
Community Care: Encompasses efforts focused on safeguarding vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, as well as ensuring the protection of community resources, promoting mutual support and improved living conditions.
Page 13: Types of Values
Instrumental Values: Values that yield personal advantages, often financial or social gains.
Moral Values: Essential standards of conduct necessary for harmonious societal coexistence, ensuring ethical practice within the welfare system.
Other Values: This includes cultural, personal, and spiritual values, all of which influence individual behaviors and decision-making processes.
Page 14: Challenges Associated with Values
Conflicts: Individuals may face internal or external conflicts among competing values, which complicate decision-making processes in social work. Over time, the application of these values may evolve, presenting additional challenges in practice and policy implementation.
Page 15: Values in Social Work
Professional Awareness: Social workers are encouraged to recognize their values and the potential for value conflicts, advocating for value suspension during client interactions to uphold professionalism and objectivity.
Page 16: Additional Values in Social Work
Commitment: Social workers are dedicated to fostering social change, emphasizing justice, and titling respect for individual differences.
Client Empowerment: A focus on enabling clients to achieve self-sufficiency while maintaining confidentiality throughout the process.
Page 17: Continued Values in Social Work
Knowledge Sharing: Valuing the transmission of knowledge within the profession and advocating persistently for client rights, while maintaining rigorous standards of ethical and professional conduct.
Page 18: What is Social Work?
Historical Definition: Social work is characterized by efforts to enhance social functioning, fundamentally through relationship building (CSWE, 1959).
Current Definition: It is recognized as an art, science, and profession dedicated to facilitating resolutions to individual, family, and community issues (Boyle, 2006).
Page 19: Characteristics of Social Work
Relational Focus: Central to social work is the emphasis on building and maintaining relationships with clients and communities, which is essential for effective intervention. Additionally, professional skills are vital for the successful application of social work techniques.
Page 20: Functions of Social Work
Restoration: Focuses on identifying and rehabilitating impairments in individuals' social functioning.
Resource Provision: Aims to enhance both individual and collective societal capabilities through strategic support.
Prevention: Engages in proactive measures to address social dysfunction and mitigate possible risks in communities.
Page 21: Relationship Between Social Work and Social Welfare
Clarifying Confusion: The two terms are often used interchangeably, but social welfare is a broader concept encompassing various functions beyond just social services delivery, including economic and cultural aspects of community wellbeing.
Page 22: Premises of Relationship
Interdependency: This relationship acknowledges the significance of individuals and their roles within their communities, focusing on alleviating both individual issues and community-level concerns.
Page 23: Differences Between Social Work and Social Welfare
Scope: While welfare encapsulates overall societal well-being, social work is particularly concerned with service delivery aimed at addressing specific social needs and problems within the community.
Page 24: Social Workers’ Prominent Role
Vital Contributions: Despite various professions offering welfare services, social workers hold a crucial position due to their extensive training in both theory and practice, enabling them to address complex social issues effectively.
Page 25: Characteristics of Social Work
Holistic Perspective: Considers the whole individual while recognizing the influence of familial structures and community resources in service delivery, ensuring that interventions are tailored and effective.
Page 26: Continued Characteristics
Varied Approaches: Social work encompasses diverse methodologies such as casework, group work, and community organization, all of which require specialized professional bodies and educational pathways.
Page 27: Social Work and Other Professions
Comparative Focus: Sociologists may analyze patterns of human behavior, while social workers actively seek practical strategies to enhance social functioning and address immediate community challenges.
Page 28: Assignment
Exploratory Task: Examine the relationship and distinctions between social work and other disciplines, including psychiatry and psychology, to better understand the unique contributions of each field to societal well-being.
Page 29: Psychology and Social Work
Field Differences: Psychologists primarily scrutinize mental processes and behaviors, contrastingly, social workers emphasize the broader sociocultural context and accessible resources utilized to promote community integration and support.
Page 30: Social Welfare Programs in Ghana
Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT): Established in 1965, this program provides old-age and survivor benefits, focusing on social protection and economic security.
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS): Launched in 2003, aimed at delivering comprehensive health services, thereby replacing outdated cash-based systems with more inclusive and equitable health coverage.
Page 31: Continued Social Welfare Programs
Ghana School Feeding Program: Initiated in 2005 to combat hunger and bolster school attendance, ensuring that children receive nutritious meals to facilitate their learning.
Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP): Commenced in 2008 to reduce poverty through cash transfers to vulnerable households, empowering them to meet their basic needs.
Page 32: Means Testing in Social Welfare
Eligibility Criteria: Social welfare benefits often hinge on thorough eligibility evaluations, assessing an individual's means and circumstances to ensure appropriate resource allocation for those in need.
Page 33: Dock
Page 34: Thank You
Page 35: SOWK 211: Historical Development of Social Welfare
Page 36: Outline
Prehistoric Period to 6000 BC
6000 BC to 3000 BC (Africa and Egypt)
Mesopotamia in the Bronze Age
Middle Ages and Feudalism
Page 37: Prehistoric Period to 6000 BC
Community Living: Main activities revolved around survival through food sharing and religious practices, emphasizing the importance of communal support and cooperation for survival.
Page 38: Prehistoric Social Structure
Egalitarian Society: Characterized by communal ownership of resources and a lack of organized governance, reflecting labor divisions based on age and gender within the community.
Page 39: Historical Developments
Societal Changes: The bubonic plague in the 1300s caused significant labor shortages, necessitating state intervention to ensure societal stability and survival.
Page 40: Religious Influence
Welfare Legitimization: The church played a prominent role in legitimizing welfare practices, framing the assistance of the poor as a moral obligation and a divine right.
Page 41: Legislative Changes
1348 Laws: Introduced distinctions between the “worthy” and “unworthy” poor, paving the way for formal welfare systems that structured support based on societal perceptions of need.
Page 42: Turmoil in the 1500s
Church Reformation: The break from Catholic traditions initiated by Henry VIII led to financial strains impacting charitable actions and substantial changes in welfare provisions.
Page 43: Social Welfare Transition (6000-3000BC)
Nomadic Societies: The period was marked by migration and nomadism, affecting social structures and necessitating adaptive welfare responses to diverse living conditions.
Page 44: African Civilization Pre-Colonially
Civilizational Sophistication: Evidence indicates that sophisticated civilizations existed prior to Egyptian influence, showcasing advanced social structures and community support systems.
Page 45: Black Contributions
Cultural Influence: Ongoing debates center around recognizing the contributions of African societies to early Egyptian culture, highlighting interconnectedness and shared heritage.
Page 46: Ethiopian Influence
Cultural Notions: Exploration of Ethiopian civilization reveals significant interrelations with Egypt and contributions to broader African socio-political contexts.
Page 47: Egyptian Social Welfare Systems
Administrative Response: Ancient Egyptians established systems allowing the poor to articulate their needs, accompanied by divine oversight guiding socio-economic matters.
Page 48: Mesopotamian Civilization
Social Conditions: The socio-economic environment during the Bronze Age was characterized by agricultural affluence, guiding population dynamics and welfare considerations.
Page 49: Walled Cities
Urban Protection: The rise of aggression led to the construction of walled cities, prompting societal stratification and changes in welfare dynamics among various social classes.
Page 50: Protective Deities
Cultural Beliefs: Deities like Goddess Nanshe were believed to offer protection and welfare services, indicating early forms of organized support and care within communities.
Page 51: Evolution of Shrine Services
Charitable Provisions: Shrines transitioned from purely charitable institutions to providing interest-bearing loans, illustrating the evolving nature of social support systems.
Page 52: Social Class Emergence
Class Structures: The rise of distinct classes, including nobility and dependent freemen, significantly affected social dynamics and access to welfare resources.
Page 53: Hammurabi’s Code
Legal Structure: Established fundamental rights securing protections for the poor, contributing to the formalization of justice within societal and welfare systems.
Page 54: Hammurabi’s Legacy
Cultural Lessons: The tenets of Hammurabi's code laid groundwork for concepts of equity, treatment of marginalized groups, and women’s rights, influencing future welfare ideologies.
Page 55: Medieval Context
Welfare Systems: Overview of welfare practices during the Middle Ages showcases the influence of feudal structures and the emerging role of religious institutions in social care.
Page 56: Manor System
Economic Framework: Development of the manor system as an economic structure within feudalism underscored the organization of labor and resources for communal survival.
Page 57: Social Structures
Feudal Conflict: Societal organization was dictated by land ownership and power struggles, reflecting the intertwining of welfare obligations with governance in feudal systems.
Page 58: Visual Aid: Manor Layout
Illustrative Tool: Representation of the manor system's layout aids in understanding feudal social structures and their impact on welfare delivery.
Page 59: Legacy of Feudalism
Hierarchical Structures: Interactions among different societal roles within feudalism (lords, vassals, and peasants) reinforced a hierarchical welfare provision mechanism, impacting later welfare developments.
Page 60: Feudalism Neurosis
Economic Shifts: The impracticality of serfdom became increasingly evident due to technological advances that changed workforce demands, prompting reconsideration of feudal obligations.
Page 61: SOWK 211 Part II
Page 62: Historical Development
Evolutionary Analysis: A deeper inquiry into the historical evolution of welfare systems from prehistoric times to modern structures demonstrates the interplay of social, economic, and political factors.
Page 63: Church Influence
Promoting Welfare: Examining the church’s role elucidates how religious institutions shaped welfare narratives and programs during feudal eras, highlighting faith-based approaches to social care.
Page 64: Private Welfare Forms
Social Norms Enforcement: The intersection of private welfare practices, community expectations, and social norms reveals a complex web of caregiving obligations and responsibilities.
Page 65: Efforts During Economic Changes
Labor Demands: Shifts in economic paradigms influenced societal responses to poverty, revealing evolving understandings of welfare and the responsibilities of both individuals and communities.
Page 66: Challenges in Urban Restructuring
Consequence of Changes: Economic upheavals led to increased vagrancy and uprootedness, with begging becoming more prevalent, prompting societal concerns over urban poverty and public safety.
Page 67: Tudor Social Changes
Policy Formulation: Tudor policies significantly influenced social care systems, shaping the discourse around poverty alleviation and community organization.
Page 68: Tudor Reforms
Regulatory Acts: Examination of acts established during this period illuminates the regulatory frameworks governing poverty and societal conduct.
Page 69: Elizabethan Poor Laws
Historical Significance: The 1601 Poor Laws are pivotal in the evolution of modern welfare systems, encapsulating a societal shift toward structured support mechanisms for the impoverished.
Page 70: Codification of Poor Laws
Establishment Reasons: A detailed analysis of the motivations behind creating systematic welfare policies reveals the impact of urbanization on traditional charity structures, necessitating reform.
Page 71: Need for Codification
Urbanization Effects: The urban landscape's transformations fundamentally altered the dynamics of charity, highlighting the need for structured welfare responses to address emerging social challenges.
Page 72: Elizabethan Poor Laws Highlights
Care Responsibilities: The laws introduced explicit responsibilities for family care and individual accountability, shaping contemporary views on family and community obligations.
Page 73: Framework of Support
Legal Responsibilities: The formalization of familial responsibilities laid the groundwork for contemporary welfare legislation, emphasizing accountability for social welfare within families.
Page 74: Trends in Poor Law History
Shift in Perspectives: The transition from charitable approaches to state responsibilities for social welfare underscores the evolving landscape of societal care and support during historical developments.
Page 75: Current Social Welfare in Ghana
Post-Colonial Developments: An examination of Ghana’s welfare evolution post-colonialism reveals adaptations to local conditions influenced by global trends and context-specific needs.
Page 76: Historical Context in Ghana
Social System Development: Discussion on the development of social systems within Ghana post-1950 elucidates the intersection between historical legacies and contemporary welfare practices.
Page 77: Traditional Social Systems
Kinship Influence: The significance of kinship and communal factors in early welfare practices underscores the depth of traditional systems in addressing social needs before colonial interventions.
Page 78: Colonial Welfare Introduction
Formal Structures: The establishment of formal welfare structures during colonial eras brought substantial changes to social support systems, with long-lasting implications on the local populations.
Page 79: Transition in Care Systems
Missionary Influence: The role of missionaries and voluntary organizations during colonialism shifted service delivery approaches, reflecting Western influences on local welfare mechanisms.
Page 80: Shift in Local Resources
Colonial Engagement: Examining the interaction between colonial powers and local needs reveals complexities in welfare programming and resource allocation.
Page 81: Transformation in Service Delivery
Post-Colonial Changes: The evolution of community welfare delivery post-colonially reflects the impacts of urbanization and socioeconomic shifts on the landscape of social support.
Page 82: Current Patterns
Policy Developments: Ongoing developments in social welfare policy in Ghana showcase the dynamic nature of welfare systems as they adapt to contemporary social needs and global shifts.
Page 83: Localization and Social Work
Integration Trends: Recent trends emphasize the importance of local contexts in social work practices across Africa, advocating for indigenization that respects and incorporates traditional methodologies for greater relevance and impact in social service delivery.
