Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc SOCIAL WORK IN CANADA An Introduction Third Edition Chapter 3: The History of Social Work

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. The History of Social Work  PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform  PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform  PHASE 3: The Era of Applied Social Science

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform The Era of Moral Reform – Pre-1890  Private charities An early approach to social work that involved private individuals and religious organizations that provided material relief to the poor.  Poor Relief The Poor Laws signaled an important progression from private charity to public welfare, where the care and supervision of the poor was the responsibility of each town, village, or hamlet.

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform  Deserving Poor People who were poor through no fault of their own; considered to be of good moral character  Undeserving Poor People who were perceived to be poor because they were lazy or morally degenerate; not deserving of charity

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform Charity Organisation Society In Britain, the Charity Organisation Society advanced the concept of self help and limited government intervention to deal with the effects of poverty. The organization claimed to use “scientific principles to root out scroungers and target relief where it was most needed.”

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 1: The Era of Moral Reform The Settlement House Movement Settlement houses in poor neighborhoods offered food, shelter, and other basics in the form of charity on part of wealthy donors, the residents of the city, and the scholars who volunteered their services.

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform The Era of Social Reform – Scientific Philanthropy An early approach to social work that rejected moral judgments and encouraged a “scientific” assessment of human behavior and approach to finding solutions.

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform Karl Marx ( )  A German philosopher and political economist  Father of communism and socialism  Outlined a theory of political economy  Posited that capitalism will eventually fail  Workers (proletariat) can bring about change

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform The Rise of Trained Social Workers  Training shifted from agency-based volunteer to worker with university-based education  1914 University of Toronto opens Department of Social Services  1918 McGill University opens School of Social Study & Training

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform The Rise of Trained Social Workers  1928 University of British Columbia starts similar program  1927 the Canadian Association of Social Workers is established (CASW)  1947 Master of Social Work degree is offered at University of Toronto  1966 University of Toronto awarded the first Bachelor of Social Work degree

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform Social Casework  Modern casework – systematic methods of investigation, assessment and decision making – was strongly influenced by Mary Richmond  Mary Richmond wrote a 1917 text, Social Diagnosis, which was used in the training of workers

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform Social Diagnosis – “The Social Work Process” 1.Collection of social evidence, data on family history, and data pertaining to the problem at hand; 2.Critical examination of the material leading to diagnosis: and; 3.Development of a case plan with the involvement of the client

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform Psychology and Social Work  Theories of Sigmund Freud played an important role  Freud provided insight into the inner workings of the individual  Social work shifted from a concern with the societal context to a concern with a person’s psychological make-up  Social work moved from an active role to a more passive role for the worker

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform Social Gospel, Social Work, and Social Action  During this period of social reform, the social gospel movement had an influence on Canadian social work  Movements for a more socially oriented church began to appear  1907: the Moral and Social Reform League is founded  More scientific perspective, distancing itself from a moral base  1927: the League is replaced by the Canadian Association of Social Workers

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 2: The Era of Social Reform Social Work and the Great Depression  1930s period of mass unemployment  1933, nearly one-quarter of labor force unemployed  Unemployment requires national response rather than local charity response  Depression shattered idea that market forces should be left unregulated  1941 census records 1,805 Canadian social workers (65% increase over 1931)

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 3: The Era of Applied Social Science The Era of Applied Social Science – 1941 and Beyond  Social Services are not a luxury  Social Services are vital to a functioning economy  Legitimization and increase of government intervention in economy  Career opportunities and education for social workers opened up  Social work opportunities shift to government departments and agencies

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 3: The Era of Applied Social Science Diagnostic Approach  Emphasizes an understanding of an individual’s problem by reference to causal events in his or her early life Functional Approach  Based on the belief in the potential of individuals to determine their own direction

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. PHASE 3: The Era of Applied Social Science The Expansion of Social Services and Social Work  Demands on private relief organizations grow  1956 Unemployment Insurance Act provided federal assistance to the provinces for unemployed  1966 Canadian Assistance Plan transformed social assistance into a publicly funded and administered program  Canada becomes welfare state with public system of health and hospital care

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. Questions for Discussion Discuss the development of social welfare provision in your province. Do you see differences in terms of how social services are provided in your province as compared to other provinces?

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. Questions for Discussion In what ways can traces of the Poor Law of 1601 still be found social welfare provision today?

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. Questions for Discussion In what ways are religious congregations still involved in social work provision of social welfare services?

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. Questions for Discussion Development of social work as a vocation and expansion of state provision of social welfare occurred at the same time as significant immigration to Canada. In what ways could you see immigrants contributing to the growth of the social work profession?

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. Questions for Discussion Why does the emergence of social work roughly coincide with major economic and social changes in society?

Chapter 3: The History of Social Work Social Work In Canada Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc. Websites  Canada’s Unique Social History  History of Toynbee Hall  Information for Practice