Human services

This chapter starts off with discussing the Cyclical nature of change. These changes in social attitudes and treatment methods. Another area that is covered is whether to give commodities or give CASH. A question to ask is how would the client be motivated to use them. How responsible will they be? Could the people or will they loose control in use of the commodities or CASH? There is Conflict which is enabling people to do it themselves or is it just giving the commodities or CASH to them? Should we help and lead to a dependency on a program.

In a 'dialectical process' which is an idea or taking an action to get a response. In reaching an 'antithesis' which is a response which is opposite in a new way in reaching a 'syntheis' a response which is against it in another opposite way and how social change happens.

Idea----------report

Action--------antithesis

Dialectical---cyclical

Early Philosophies give a sense of justice - respect and dignity to the profession.

Aristotle- human values- better to give than to receive. A benevolent idea

Cicero- give justice to whole human race his due rich or poor alike. Daily allowances given out.

Food and custodial care were ways help was given.

Herbert Spenser- Social Darwinism- 'Survival of the Fittest' to social life whomever can support themselves is the fittest - rich people and the poor are unfit. A question that could or is asked 'How will I get my money and what they need and know what to do to survive.

Issues of Victim Blaming

Programs tend to address character or personality defects - rehabilitation programs (got to fix the person) or to detect fraud or correct problem versus the 'opportunity theory' that are programs that want to make changes to a social system that will make more opportunities for jobs, education, and community programs that will offer ideas to improve individuals socially and financially in their various places of living and work. Another question that could be asked 'How motivated is the client?'

Means-tested programs versus Universal Programs

Means-tested- people have to fall below a certain financial eligible standard. (real-low) demonstrate that you have means to support self.

Universal- provide income and support regardless of problem or status. An example is Worker's Compensation.

Means-tested is a residual philosophy that is needing help is not just normal and have special circumstances. Has occurred to us to need help. Some 'individual deficiency' occurs that can attach a negative stigma to a client.

Universal is institutional and covers the develpment needs in a society and these needs are normal problems that occur in life. An example is in Sweden saying that family allowances are made for each child. In the United States it it more individualistic. You have the 'Haves and the Have-nots'.

A 'remedial approach' is that we fix immediate problem only; the deserving poor versus the undeserving poor persons.

'Deserving poor'- Classify people who are worthy and suggests who are the worthy and unworthy of gaining assistance as being always repeated throughout history. An example are single moms, laid-off persons or the jobless through no fault of their own, as in the disabled, elderly and children.

'Undeserving poor'- drug and alcohol addicts or people making various problems by their own doing, as in illegal aliens, abled-bodied persons but not working who are receiving benefits.

Providing assistance for a 'mental illness' for some say 'evil spirits' were thought or was the cause. The 'supernatural' should be excised through an 'exorcism' or by 'trepidation' a beating or drilling a hole in a person's head to rid the evil out of the body.

Hippocrates- 'natural' or an imbalance of bodily fluids and the ridding of evil spirits is done by 'bleeding the patient'.

In the Middle ages the responsibility belonged to the Catholic church. The authorities would give the church the relief needed through paying a 'tithe' at church or in taxes. This is known as a 'charitible contribution' and also a required sacred function.

Why was church able to do this?

A feudal system was used and resources were sufficient and affected by no control of man. Human services could do their job, but in 1348 the 'Bubonic Plague' took 2/3 of the society died within two years and workers died, but in 1349 the 'Statute of Labors Act' and K. Edwards said all abled persons accepts any kind of employment within their 'parish' a foundation of residency requirements that not allowed to leave that parish.

In modern days public assistance belongs to each state having each own requirements for aid where you move. 150 years later the feudal systems break down and social change starts.

The Reformation occurs with the church divided and poor services did not function in same way for the poor that were increasing. But malnutrition, broken families, transient people, and poor health death happens. Citizens moved to cities who did not want the poor because primarily had no skills, but an agricultural backround moved to the city these citizens would have to start begging and the effects of industrialization will begin to change socially.

The Great Depression changed our society as in the use of some technology that was present then and is involved today. It is how we responded to what was happening.

*1601- The Elizabethan Poor Law- In England who attempted to codify a national legislation to create a national policy for meeting the needs of the poor. There are two (2) categories the "worthy poor" that were children that were orphaned, the aged, chronically ill, the disabled. People that were and wasn't expected to be fraudulent in an attempt to get assistance. They were placed in 'almshouses' that were poor houses with deplorable conditions present- 'indoor relief' this provides a type of relief by 'institutionalization' of them. Should we offer 'community care' today instead?

Children that were orphaned will be placed with families where they will work for them. 'Abled body poor'- less humane were called malingerers who lacked motivation to gain employment who were sent to prison or workhouses or to be indentured to factories as slave labor. The purpose was to deter others to be this way. To instill the 'Protestant Work Ethic' "Idle minds are the devil's playhouse."

'Victim-blaming' influenced society by social welfare standards.

*Aspects of Elizabethan Poor Laws related to U.S. Policy

1. Clear government responsibility for those in need and formally involved in human service delivery.

2. Government authority to force people to work. TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) the government provided low people in 1996 two years of assistance then they were cut-off and have to find work.

3. Government enforcement of family responsibility the family helps even the adult children.

4. Caring for the elderly at the local level was shown responsible. Today, the state and county government to own, in so many words, their constituents.

Also, to attempt and try to classify the 'have's and the 'havenots' .

Foster care families - 'kinship care'; must establish residency to get assistance. Change in philosophy. In 1834 the 'Poor Law Reform Act' from England passed off concerns that supervision was too liberal. The poor had no incentive to work to create a state of dependency. Outlaws 'outdoor relief' as assistance in their homes that were provided, as in visiting nurses and Meals on Wheels be abolished and public assistance was stopped.

Establishment of the 'Principle of Least Eligibility' meaning no assistance should be provided in an amount that renders the recipient better off then the lowest paid workers got.

Today they receive (Workmens Compensation, Social security, and Unemployment).

The US Social Welfare during colonial times and with a English foundation dealt with religion, charity and to provide for each other. The 'Almshouses' were shelters for bed, food, and minimal physical care were increased due to larger governmental units to meet the poors need.

End of Part One of Chapter Two