chapter 6

Empowering Programs with Resources that Enhance Social

Work Education

©2012, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ ©2012, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ Cole PublishingCole Publishing

Counsel on Social Work Education (CSWE) Defines Educational Policy and

Accreditation Standards (EPAS) Developed Ten “Core Competencies”

and 41 related “Practice Behaviors” Every Student should master the Practice

Behaviors and Core Competencies before completing their program


The Textbook – “Helping Hands” icon call attention to content

that relates to Practice Behaviors and Competencies.

“Competency Notes” at the end of each chapter help put the Practice Behaviors and Competencies in practical context.

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Cole PublishingCole Publishing

The Practice Behaviors Workbook developed with the text provides assignable exercises that assist in mastering the Practice Behaviors and Competencies.

Additional Online Resources can be found a www.cengage.com/socialwork.


http://www.cengage.com/socialwork

Social Policy to Address the Worst Economic Catastrophe in

U.S. History


1. During the era of denial (1929 to March 1933), Americans were so stunned by the economic catastrophe that they took little corrective action.

2. During the period of emergency reforms (March1933 to January 1935), Americans supported a bewildering number of reforms but tended to believe that prosperity would soon return and that these reforms were temporary.

3. During the era of institutionalized reform (January 1935 to January 1937), Americans made a number of reforms permanent.

4. During an era of policy stalemate (January 1937 to December 1941), the momentum of New Deal reform was decisively broken.

5. During the era of pullback in World War II (December 1941 to August 1945), many of the New Deal programs were rescinded, but a core of New Deal reforms remained intact and became the foundation of the modern American welfare state.

2.1.3©2012, Cengage Learning, Brooks/ ©2012, Cengage Learning, Brooks/


Great Depression was the worst economic catastrophe to hit the United States

When stock prices plunged, panicked investors rushed to sell their stocks—leading to even greater declines in stock prices

Consumers lacked resources to purchase goods and services

As unemployment precipitously rose to encompass 25 percent of all workers, demand for products declined yet further and precipitated even more layoffs, creating a vicious circle

2.1.9


Hoover’s measures did not address the mounting economic needs of local governments, which were moving toward bankruptcy as their welfare expenditures increased

Hoover became more conservative as the nation gradually moved toward more liberal ideas

He resorted to budget balancing and various monetary solutions to complement his woefully inadequate program.

He bitterly attacked liberals for advocating policies that he viewed as socialistic measures that would com pound the nation’s economic problems

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Roosevelt had extraordinary power because he had gained support not only from the working class but also from a sizable portion of the middle class.

Roosevelt and his inner circle of advisors reasoned that interventions could be devised in a trial-and-error fashion until something worked.


Conservatives were a potential threat to social reforms.

Roosevelt encountered formidable political opposition from both political parties throughout the decade.

Even though more than half the American population lived in cities during the 1930s, local, state, and national legislatures were dominated by rural legislators, who were often insensitive to the needs of city dwellers.



In the New Deal era, four of the justices consistently opposed federal social legislation on the grounds that it was not an enumerated power in the Constitution; when joined by two moderate justices, they were able to overrule social legislation.

No alliances formed between groups that represented urban

workers and distressed persons in rural areas

Many farmers turned against the New Deal in the late 1930s

because they resented its emphasis on urban reforms.

2.1.3


Roosevelt developed politically ingenious strategy

When conservatives complained that he was spending excessively, he would cut spending in the regular budget, usually balancing it by cutting spending on veterans’ programs, slashing the number of federal employees, cutting the War Department, and achieving many additional economies—while simultaneously incurring huge deficits to fund the emergency budget.



Using the Funds to Finance Emergency Relief

Moving from Cash Assistance to Creating Work Programs

Developing a Work Relief Program for Complex Projects


Trying to End the Great Depression: Increasing federal spending Restoring confidence in banks Attacking speculation in stocks Stopping the vicious circle of job

and price cuts in industry

2.1.3


Stopping the vicious circle of price cuts and increased production in agriculture Averting foreclosures Reviving Economies in vast regions

2.1.3


Summary of the major provisions of the Social Security Act


The disillusionment of the middle class Fears that Roosevelt sought too much power Reform Fatigue Funding of New Deal Programs Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 The Wagner-Steagall Housing Act Attacking Administrative Abuses of Welfare

Programs Reorganizing Federal Social Welfare Programs

2.1.3


By the end of the 1920s, social work had consolidated its position, with the development of many schools, most of which were associated with universities

The old charity organization society agencies developed the American Association for Organizing Charity, where they officially changed their mission from relief giving to family casework

Social casework, which emphasized diagnosis and scientific work, still bore some resemblance to the older charity work because it focused mainly on the person in the environment



The Great Depression and World War II actually benefited the social work profession

Most social workers had been employed in private agencies in the 1920s, thousands of jobs opened up in New Deal agencies in the 1930s

The number of people in social work positions increased from 40,000 in 1930 to 70,000 in 1940

2.1.1


A lively controversy existed within the profession over a number of issues. For example:To what extent should the profession engage in social action rather than just counseling? Should the profession have relatively broad or narrow membership? And to what extent should the profession ally itself politically with liberal forces?



Certain central tendencies in the developments of the 1920s and 1930s, such as: dominance of casework, the decision by most

social workers to support relatively liberal social policies but not radical reforms,

preferences for a relatively restrictive membership policy

But these central tendencies ought not to obscure conflict within a profession

2.1.1


chapter 6

Education

cengage learning

brooks cole publishing

social reforms

core of new deal reforms

new deal era

new deal programs

social policy

urban reforms