Week 1 Flashcards
Social Work, Social Welfare, and You
-We are all part of the Canadian social welfare system
-We fund social welfare through our taxes
-We benefit from its programs and services
-We shape and define with through voting for public officials who legislate it
-Social work is part of the response to social welfare issues in society.
Why we should care
-We all have a vested interest in understanding the “system”
-Personally, as future social workers who will be advocating for a fair and equitable system of services for our clients.
Social welfare as a philosophy
Social welfare as a process
Social welfare as a product
The Welfare State
the range of programs and services available to Canadian citizens
Key Elements of The Welfare State
-Use of state power to provide essential social services to citizens
-Use of grants, taxes, pensions, and minimum-income programs to provide income security
-social services + income security = The welfare state.
Social services
provides personal or community services to help people improve their wellbeing
-non-monetary assistants
- child care, child protection agencies, children aid, Womens shelters, and counceling.
Income Security
provides monetary assistance to supplement income or maintain minimum income level
-4 types of income security.
What are the 4 types of income security?
-minimum income
-income supplementation
-social insurance programs
-demogrants
minimum income
monetary assistance for those without income. ex, Ontario Works
Income Supplementation
Addition to earned income.
Social Insurance Programs
follow the principle of shared risk. Those who contribute are eligible. ex, EI
Demogrants
flat-rate payments to individuals or households based on demographic characteristics like number of children or age of recipients
ex, Universal Child Care Benefits.
Social Policies
The overall rules and regulations, laws, and other administrative directives that set the frame work for state social welfare activity
Social Programs
Specific initiatives that implement social welfare policies.
Universal programs
Available to everyone in a specific category (such as people aged 65 and over, people with disabilities, or children) on the same terms and as a right of citizenship
Selective programs
Target those found to be in need or eligible, based on a means (or income) test or a needs test
-The benefit is reduced according to income level.
Social programs & services are delivered through:
-Public Welfare
-Private Welfare - Non Profit, For Profit
Public Welfare
-Occurs at three levels of government:
-federal/national
-provincial/ territorial
-regional/ municipal
Public non-government agencies:
-Advisory and appeal boards
-Members appointed from public by government
-Independent/Semi-independent
Private Welfare (Non-profit organizations)
-Mandated to provide a service but not create profit
-Registered by law
-Receive funds from government and private sources
-Earn money by providing services for other organizations
-Governments are moving more and more towards this model to save money
Private Welfare (For-profit organizations)
-Provide services on a fee basis
-May often be purchased by government on behalf of individuals
-Purpose is to generate a profit for the owner of the organization
Key Approaches to Social Welfare
-The Residual View
-The Institutional View
Residual View
-Social Welfare is temporary response to human need
-Implemented only when all else fails
Individuals needs are met through family and market economy
-Government plays limited role
-Provides benefits at low level to discourage use
