Social workers have over the years been responsible for the development of public and private charitable organizations that have served millions of people. The social work practice began at the end of the 19 th century. The following essay provides a brief description of how social work has evolved over the last 100 years.
The social work profession can be traced back to the end of the 19 th century at a time when there was mass immigration into American cities by foreigners. As the pioneer of social work, Jane Addams, was involved in the opening of the Hull House in Chicago. The aim was to provide poor people with social services. According to The University of Southern California (2017) , Addams and her team offered services such as boys’ clubs, children’s nurseries, playgrounds, and education classes.
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Nevertheless, the use of scientific methods in the study of how social works could be developed began in 1917. Mary Ellen Richmond introduced social casework and wrote social welfare papers that she forwarded to learning institutions (The University of Southern California, 2017 ). According to Richmond, social work was complex and, hence, intellectuals needed to develop an understanding of the individual circumstances of poor people.
At the height of the settlement movement, Edward Franklin Frazier actively spoke out about key social issues that needed to be addressed. In particular, Franklin demanded the equal treatment of all Americans and the end of racial segregation. Franklin was involved with the New York and Atlanta Schools of Social Work. His major contribution is that he fostered the training of black social workers in this schools.
During the Franklin Roosevelt presidency, American was undergoing the Great Depression. As can be expected, social works were greatly affected. However, Harry Hopkins, an appointee of Roosevelt’s, spearheaded the establishment of a $500 million federal works program. Men and women who had been trained in social work were employed, and millions of Americans benefited from the program.
In 1948, the Fair Labor Standards Act was implemented under Roosevelt’s watch. As Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins had noticed that people were overworked and exploited. Therefore, she sought to safeguard workers by cutting the number of hours they worked, ensuring that they had safe workplaces, and protecting them from exploitation (The University of Southern California, 2017 ).
During the second half of the 20 th century, social work was majorly focused on the protection of WWII veterans and African-Americans. Del Anderson ensured that the physical and psychological impact of the war did not affect the veterans. Alternatively, Whitney Young coerced African-Americans to work their way out of poverty by planning and preparing for their future. As the leader of the Urban League, he was focused on decent education, proper housing, adequate healthcare, and good jobs for all.
From the 1960s onwards, however, the social works sector has been affected by a growing income gap and a lack of federal funding. Although the likes of Ana Dumois have actively advocated for community healthcare programs, government priorities have since shifted. Therefore, there has been inadequate resources for skill development and other essential activities like transportation and healthcare provision.
In conclusion, social work has greatly evolved over the last century. Several individuals have over the years taken it upon themselves to help the poor. However, reduced government funding continues to plague the social works sector.
References
The University of Southern California. (2017, September 27). Legacies of Social Change: 100 Years of Professional Social Work in the United States [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4VzRSnksmA
