Encyclopedic Guide to Social Welfare and Social Work in the Philippines

Conceptual Definitions of Social Welfare

Social welfare is defined by Friedlander as an organized system of social services and institutions designed to aid individuals and groups to attain satisfying standards of life and health. It encompasses personal and social relationships which permit individuals to develop their full capacities and promote their well-being. Elizabeth Wickenden expands this by including laws, programs, benefits, and services that assure or strengthen provisions for meeting basic social needs recognized as essential to the well-being of the population. Romanyshyn views it as including all forms of social interventions with a primary concern for promoting the well-being of both the individual and society, encompassing the treatment and prevention of social problems, development of human resources, and improvement of quality of life. Gertrude Wilson summarizes it as an organized concern of all people for all people, touching upon physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual dimensions.

Society responds to unmet needs through individual and group efforts, major societal institutions with shared responsibilities, and specific social agencies. There are two primary conceptions of social welfare. Residual formulations conceive of social welfare as temporary, offered only during emergency situations and withdrawn when regular social systems resume function. Conversely, institutional formulations see social welfare as a proper and legitimate function of modern society. Social welfare programs are generally categorized into Social Security, which involves compulsory measures to protect families from unavoidable interruptions in income; Personal Social Services, which address personal and interpersonal problems; and Public Assistance, which refers to concrete material supports provided by government agencies.

Goals and Roles of Social Welfare and Social Services

Social services are the programs and activities provided under various auspices to concretely answer the needs and problems of society members. Richard M. Titmus suggests that social problems are often located in the economy, and he considers social services as partial compensation for socially generated disservices and socially caused diswelfare. The first primary goal of social welfare is Humanitarian and Social Justice, based on the democratic ideal of social justice. This involves identifying the most afflicted, dependent, and neglected populations and prioritizing them for the investment of scarce resources.

The Social Control Goal is based on the recognition that deprived groups may strike out against what they consider alienating parties. Hence, society secures itself against threats to life, property, and political stability by providing resources to those deprived of opportunities. The Economic Development Goal prioritizes programs designed to support increases in the production of goods and services. The immediate beneficiaries of this goal are often able-bodied and relatively better-off members of the community whose productivity contributes to development.

Historical Development of Social Welfare in the Philippines

During the Pre-Historic Period, social welfare centered on mutual protection and economic survival. The Spanish Period introduced the teaching of doing good for the salvation of souls. In $1565$, Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established the first hospital in Cebu. In $1882$, Hospicio de San Jose was founded to house the aged and orphans, and in $1885$, Asilo de San Vicente de Paul was established as an asylum for girls.

The American Period brought a new educational system, health methods, and religious freedom starting in $1899$. Key milestones included the Philippine Normal School in $1900$, the Insular Board in $1902$, and the American Red Cross Philippine Chapter in $1905$. Other organizations followed, such as La Gota de Leche in $1907$, the Philippine Anti-TB Society in $1910$, and the Associacion de Damas Filipinas in $1913$. The Public Welfare Board ($PWB$) was created on February $5$, $1915$, and the Associated Charities of Manila followed in January $1917$. By $1921$, the Office of Public Welfare Commissioner was established. In $1924$, the Associated Charities became an independent agency. Scholarship grants for professional social work training were introduced in $1933$, with Josefa Jara Martinez becoming a key figure who introduced the scientific approach to the field.

In the Commonwealth Period around $1940$, the Department of Health and Public Assistance Service took over activities from the Associated Charities. During the Japanese Occupation, welfare work focused on medical care and food for wounded soldiers and civilians, led by the Philippine Red Cross and the National Federation of Women's League. The Post-War years saw the reopening of the Bureau of Public Welfare in $1946$ and the creation of $UNICEF$ that same year. On October $4$, $1947$, the Bureau became the Social Welfare Commission ($SWC$). In August $1948$, President Quirino created $PACSA$. In January $3$, $1951$, $SWC$ and $PACSA$ fused into the Social Welfare Administration. In the $1970$s, the Department of Social Welfare became the Department of Social Services and Development on September $8$, $1976$, and later the Ministry of Social Services and Development on June $2$, $1978$. In the $1980$s, Case Management was launched, and on January $30$, $1987$, the agency became the $DSWD$ under Executive Order No. $123$. The $1990$s saw the passage of the Local Government Code ($R.A. 7160$) on October $10$, $1991$.

Social Work Philosophy, Values, and Principles

Social work is a profession concerned with man's adjustment to his environment. It seeks to enhance social functioning through restoration of impaired capacity, provision of individual and social resources, and prevention of social dysfunction. Social functioning problems arise from personal inadequacies, situational inadequacies, or both. The profession is rooted in the philosophy that man has worth and dignity, a belief associated with democratic theory. Values include the right to self-fulfillment, the obligation of members to contribute to the common good, and the obligation of society to facilitate individual development.

Felix Biestek identified seven principles of the social work relationship. The Purposeful Expression of Feelings recognizes the client's need to express emotions freely while the worker listens without condemnation. Controlled Emotional Involvement requires the worker to be sensitive to feelings while maintaining objectivity. Acceptance involves recognizing the client's innate dignity regardless of their behavior or qualities. Individualization recognizes each client's unique qualities. A Non-Judgemental Attitude precludes assigning guilt or innocence regarding the problem's cause. Client Self-Determination is based on the right of individuals to make their own choices. Confidentiality protects private information, though it is not absolute and may be shared within professional agencies with permission.

In the Philippine context, practitioners must navigate dominant Filipino values. These include Social Acceptance, facilitated by Smooth Interpersonal Relations ($SIR$) which involves Pakikisama (concession), Euphemism (pleasant expression of truths), and the use of a Go-Between or Tulay. Amor Propio refers to sensitivity to personal affront, while Hiya is the fear of exposure of the insecure self. Other values include emotional closeness and security within the family, high respect for authority and tradition, personalism, and Utang na Loob (debt of gratitude). Patience, suffering, and endurance are also prevalent beliefs, particularly regarding the expectation for women to suffer in silence.

Attributes of the Social Work Profession

Ernest Greenwood identifies five attributes of a profession. The first is a Systematic Body of Theory, categorized into tested knowledge established through science, hypothetical knowledge that is unproved, and assumptive knowledge or practice wisdom. Second is Professional Authority, which defines the client-professional relationship. Third is Community Sanction, which defines the professional-community relationship. Fourth is a Regulative Code of Ethics to check abuses of power. Fifth is a Professional Culture, which includes social values, professional norms, and symbols like emblems, history, and specialized vocabulary.

The Philippine Association of Social Workers ($PASWI$) was founded on November $12$, $1947$ and incorporated on April $18$, $1948$. Its objectives include promoting professional standards, strengthening member competence, and working for social legislation. The practice is regulated by $R.A. 4373$ (the Social Work Law of $1965$), which requires registration and certification of agencies. $R.A. 5416$ of $1968$ empowered the department to set standards and coordinate government and voluntary efforts to avoid duplication. The Magna Carta for Public Social Workers ($R.A. 9433$) was signed on April $11$, $2007$.

Critical Legislations and Government Agencies

Social legislation in the Philippines covers diverse sectors. For children, relevant laws include $P.D. 603$ (Child and Youth Welfare Code), $R.A. 7610$ (Special Protection Against Abuse), $R.A. 8043$ (Inter-Country Adoption Act), and $R.A. 9344$ (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of $2006$). Women's rights are protected by $R.A. 7877$ (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act), $R.A. 8353$ (Anti-Rape Law), and $R.A. 9262$ (Anti-$VAWC$). Older persons and those with disabilities are supported by $B.P. 344$ (Accessibility Law), $R.A. 7277$ (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons), and $R.A. 9257$ (Expanded Senior Citizens Act).

Government agencies play distinct roles. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ($OWWA$) provides programs for Filipino contract workers and their dependents. The National Housing Authority ($NHA$), created under $P.D. 757$ in $1975$, implements integrated housing programs focused on the lower $30.0\, \%$ of the urban population. The Public Attorney's Office ($PAO$) represents indigent persons in legal cases. Private agencies include Philippine Business for Social Progress ($PBSP$), established in $1970$; $SOS$ Children's Village, which provides alternative parental care; and the Women's Crisis Center ($WCC$), which offers feminist counseling and temporary shelter. Training and protection are also provided by the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse ($CPTCSA$) and the Tribal Development Foundation in the Philippines.

The Social Work Helping Process

The social work helping process is a sequential, problem-solving framework that involves cognitive and relational elements. Assessment is the first step, where the worker collects information to reach an understanding of the client, the problem, and the social context. Sources include primary data from the client, secondary data from significant others, existing records, and the worker's observations. The intake process marks the transformation of a potential client into an actual client. During assessment, practitioners may use partialization to separate multiple problems and prioritize the most critical ones.

Planning is the link between assessment and intervention, where goals are formulated using the $SMART$ criteria. Plans identify the means to achieve these goals and identify units of attention, which are systems focused on change. Intervention involves the actual carrying out of the plan. Social workers assume various roles: Resource Provider (providing material aid), Social Broker (linking clients to community services), Mediator (acting as a conciliator), Advocate (taking a partisan interest for the client), and Enabler (facilitating client strengths). Documentation and social critique are also essential to advocate for policy changes. Evaluation measures outcomes against objectives, considering both effectiveness and efficiency. Termination occurs when goals are met, when little movement is seen, or if resources are unavailable. It involves disengagement, stabilization of change, and a final evaluation.

Social Work Helping Models and Approaches

Various models guide social work intervention. The Direct Provision Model involves administering material aid to reduce situational deficiencies. The Intercession-Mediation Model utilizes non-consensual strategies like administrative appeals and judicial systems to secure legal benefits. The Crisis Intervention Approach is a time-limited work, usually $2$ to $6$ weeks in duration, aimed at restoring equilibrium after a stressful life event. The Problem-Solving Approach, pioneered by Helen Harris Perlman, focuses on the person, the problem, the place, and the process to cope with stressful social tasks.

The Task-Centered Model is a brief, time-limited approach where intervention is concentrated on specific, client-acknowledged target problems. The Psychosocial Approach, also known as the diagnostic school, views the person in the context of interactions within their internal and external worlds, utilizing techniques like catharsis and reflective consideration. Behavioral Modification focuses on observable responses and uses reinforcement, punishment, and extinction to learn new behaviors or eliminate problematic ones. The Functional Approach, developed by proponents like Ruth Smalley, emphasizes the use of agency function to give focus to the helping process. The Family-Centered Approach treats the family as the primary unit of attention to improve child and family well-being. Developmental Approaches focus on maximizing self-realization potentials, while the Interactionist Approach focuses on the mediating function of social work between people and social systems.

Generic Tools in Social Work Practice

Interviewing is a primary tool, involving a face-to-face meeting to communicate, collect information, and implement service plans. Essential skills include relating, observing, listening, and asking questions (including closed-ended, open-ended, and leading questions). Communication is the process of making common a message through a source, channel, and receiver. Sub-skills include active and responsive listening, attending, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Practitioners must overcome obstacles like personal reactions and blind spots to maintain trust.

Recordings serve as tools for accountability, evaluation, and education. Types of records include intake forms, case studies, summary records, process recordings, and periodic evaluation summaries. Community resources are indispensable, and workers must stay updated on agency policies to facilitate the intercessor-mediator role. Programs and activities provide channels for destructive energy, serve as educational tools, and develop proper attitudes like industry and self-reliance. Activity dimensions include prescriptiveness, physical movement, and reward structures. Selecting appropriate activities requires evaluating individual variables like skill and motivation, as well as group variables like solidarity and mood.

Fields of Social Work Practice

Child Welfare focuses on strengthening parent-child relationships and providing supplemental or substitute care through child placement, adoption, foster care, or legal guardianship. Family Welfare supports families through parent effectiveness training, marriage strengthening, and livelihood programs. Health social work occurs in hospitals to help patients deal with the psychosocial components of illness. Corrections involves the administration of penalties centered on re-socializing offenders through probation and parole. School Social Work addresses students' social and emotional problems that interfere with academic achievement.

Specialized fields include work with drug dependents, where the Dangerous Drugs Board leads prevention and control. Practitioners also work with socially disadvantaged women, released prisoners, older persons, and persons with disabilities ($PWD$). Community Welfare focuses on the upliftment of entire communities through relocation, resettlement, and organization development. Industry social work improves the health and general welfare of employees. Cultural Communities or grassroots practice involves work with indigenous peoples, governed by laws like $R.A. 8371$. International Social Work addresses global goals like the elimination of absolute poverty and environmental barriers, often collaborating with $UN$ agencies like $FAO$, $UNICEF$, and $WHO$.

Trends and Behavioral Science Theories

Current trends include the Generalist or Integrated Method, which advocates for a wide skill repertoire rather than separate practice methods. Developmental Social Welfare works at macro levels (policy formulation) and micro levels (access and linkages). Rural Social Work requires adapting to specific community dynamics and identifying non-existent resources. Case Management focuses on optimizing functioning for those with multiple needs through a network of formal and informal supports. Empowerment-Oriented Practice involves mutual assessment and power-sharing between worker and client.

Practitioners utilize several theories. Psychoanalytic Theory, founded by Sigmund Freud, explores unconscious drives, while Ego Psychology (Erik Erickson) focuses on the ego as the executive officer with $12$ specific functions. Systems Theory uses concepts like open/closed systems, boundaries, and feedback. Role Theory examines status, norms, and role conflict. Small Group Theory analyzes communication, power structures, and cohesion. Learning Theory emphasizes shaping and modeling behavior, while Organization Theory looks at specialization and bureaucracy levels. Techniques revised by Florence Hollis include environmental modification, psychological support, clarification, and insight development.