Poverty and Social Work Essay example - 8858 Words

From Poor Law to Welfare State: A History of Social Welfare in America- Walter I. Trattner Chapter 1: The Background The chapter traces the origin of welfare practices and caring for the needy from primitive times to the Elizabethan Poor Laws. References include Hammurabi, a Babylonian ruler who included protection of the vulnerable a part of his code in 2000 BC and the ancient Greeks and Romans (including Aristotle, 384-322 BC) who considered giving to charity a virtue. Perhaps more important to American welfare, were ancient Jewish doctrines which established that giving and receiving were duties. Those who could give were obliged to do so, while those who were in need were obliged to accept help. The Talumd codified these†¦show more content†¦Various residency requirements were used to determine who should get aid. During the 17th and 18th centuries, strangers were warned to leave town within a given period of time. The expanding economy in the colonies made settlement determinations increasingly difficult and this system was nearly abandoned by the end of the 18th century. The â€Å"unsettled poor† led to the first major revision in poor relief. Many people were driven from their homes to Boston during King Philip’s War, which led the locality to appeal to the state for funds to care for the poor in 1701. Attitudes toward poverty relief stemmed from the Elizabethan poor law system. Public responsibility for the needy was stressed. At the same time, Calvinism was very influential. Hard work was considered â€Å"a calling† and a virtue, leading to the widespread condemnation of the able-bodied poor. Idleness among the able-bodied was punished via indentured servitude, whipping, and exile from town. Idleness was akin to a crime. The native American’s refusal to adopt western religion and ways of living was also considered a vice and led to extermination. Slaves were to be taken care of by slave owners and free blacks were excluded from official poor relief. Apprenticeship was used to care for children, both because it was a good means of discipline, it was efficient, and it corresponded with Calvinistic ideas. Separate laws for the mentally ill were less common. Massachusetts enacted a lawShow MoreRelatedThe Effect Of Media On Classism1484 Words   |  6 PagesStates was built on the concept of the American dream. The idea that anyone can achieve success if they just work hard enough and are determined enough is very lucrative. Unfortunately the American dream is not as obtainable as many think. 65% of children raised in the bottom fifth income bracket will remain in the bottom two brackets (Adams, et al., 2013, p. 143). This means that even with hard work and determination the majority of Americans will not achieve the American dream. When a person has basedRead MorePoverty Is The State Of Being Extremely Poor1618 Words   |  7 PagesPoverty is generally regarded as the state of being extremely poor. While this is true, this state can only be judged as a relation to a given social or economic state. In light of this, a better way to define poverty would be; the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions (Merriam-Webster). Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. PovertyRead MoreSocial Exclusion vs. Poverty Essay1644 Words   |  7 Pagescontribute towards social exclusion in the United Kingdom. Not all of these factors are as straightforward as each other. By considering these causes, I will be able to explain why poverty is not the same as social exclusion. It states in the Introduction of Labours next steps: tackling social exclusion, that social exclusion is about more than poverty and unemployment, it is also about being cut off and neglected by the rest of society. The Social Exclusion UnitRead MoreThe Social Problem That I Chose For My Final Paper Is Poverty1592 Words   |  7 PagesDaniel DeGroat Social Issue Paper Intro to Sociology 9 December 2015 Poverty in America The social problem that I chose for my final paper is Poverty in America. Poverty is the general scarcity, dearth, or the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money. Since the early 1800s, industrialization and immigration has brought poverty of a new kind and on a new scale to American cities. I have chosen the topic of poverty because it is apart of my everyday life and world. BeingRead MoreBecoming A Licensed Clinical Social Worker1192 Words   |  5 Pageseducation in social work, I see myself envisioning clients’ health and well-being. As a student, I will study and practice techniques, beyond a generalist perspective, that will allow me to give clients hope and the ability to see something greater than what they are facing. Upon completion of a Master of Social Work direct practice degree and certificates in gerontology and mental health programs, I intend to become a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). As a Licensed Clinical Social Wo rker, IRead MoreEssay Contemporary Poverty in the United Kingdom766 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: This report will focus on contemporary poverty in the UK although poverty is different globally, it will look at childhood in general and show the effect that poverty has on the experiences of childhood. The report will define poverty and use statistics and government policy on poverty. Three sources will be analysed, for the academic my main source is on the book of Ridge (2002) which is Childhood Poverty and Social Exclusion from a Childs perspective, next for media source it isRead MoreSocial Welfare And The Field Of Social Work861 Words   |  4 PagesThree thousand years ago, people recognized that they had a moral obligation to help those in need. Looking back on the history of social work, there have been many definitions of the field, but it is ever-changing and expanding to include the things that happen in society every day. The 1800’s were a defining period of time for social welfare and the field of social work was born. For the time, there was such progressive a cts stemming from many factors affecting the United States including a populationRead MoreCurrent Poverty Of The Uk1490 Words   |  6 PagesCurrent poverty in the UK is measured in terms of relative poverty. Townsend who is known for his work on relative poverty describes it as â€Å"Their resources are so seriously below those commanded by the average individual or family that they are, in effect, excluded from ordinary living patterns, customs and activities† (Townsend, 1979) To measure if someone is living in relative poverty they have to be earning under 60% of the average household income, it was estimated that in 2013/14 13.2 millionRead MoreBshs 325 Week 4 Macro System1114 Words   |  5 PagesKrist-Ashman, 2010). Social work is viewed in three categories: macro, mezzo, and micro. These three categories at times have a tendency to coincide and influence each other. The practice of macro social work is the effort to help clients by intervening in a larger system, such as at the neighborhood, institution, or at a smaller group level (Zastrow Krist-Ashman, 2010). Macro practice empowers clients by involving them in systematic change. An example would be part of a change in a social change at a largeRead MorePoverty As A Social Problem1739 Words   |  7 Pages Poverty as a Social Problem Magdalena Brania Mrs. Kropf May 27, 2015 Poverty is inscribed in the history of the world, but it is not inherent fate of every human being. It is also not related to the human nature, which does not mean that it can not be due to its nature. All communities experience it, with a greater or lesser extent way causing psychological and sociological conflicts. Society who have to deal with poverty is not only from undeveloped countries, but also developed