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Development of the modern welfare system. Early 20 th Century. Public v. Private. Pendulum swayed back and forth throughout U.S. history By late 1800s welfare work mostly private – COS, Settlement Houses Could the two work in harmony?. Origins of Current Public Welfare System.
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Development of the modern welfare system Early 20th Century
Public v. Private • Pendulum swayed back and forth throughout U.S. history • By late 1800s welfare work mostly private – COS, Settlement Houses • Could the two work in harmony?
Origins of Current Public Welfare System • 1909 White House Conference on Dependent Children • Supported by social workers and sponsored by Theodore Roosevelt • The beginning of social work’s domination of child welfare issues
Purpose of Conference • Bring together leaders and their experiences • Develop a thorough plan for care of dependent children • “Home life is the highest and finest product of civilization” and “children should not be deprived of it except for urgent and compelling reasons.”
Importance of foster care and adoption • Cottage type living if in institutions
Establishment of U.S. Children’s Bureau • Supported by social workers, especially those concerned with child labor • Opposed by businesses, who feared it would end child labor • Initially placed in U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor with a budget of about $25,000
Children’s Bureau was mainly charged with investigating and reporting conditions • Headed by Julia Lathrop, social worker • Politically savvy, she first tackled infant mortality as an issue • Passage of Sheppard-Towner Act (1921) led to child and maternal health centers nationwide
Sheppard-Towner • Opposed as socialist (fear that government would come into home) • Opposed because headed by women’s efforts • Brought the federal government into child welfare through health through federal grants in aid to states
Widows’ Pensions/Mothers’ Aid • Another spin-off from 1909 conference • Children should reside at home and not be put in institutions or for adoption when widowed moms could not support • Anti-delinquency (mom should supervise) • End the separation of mother and child for reasons of poverty alone
Also thought to be less costly (mom and child in institutions) • Opposed because it would transform charity into entitlement • Beginning of gendered welfare state (OASDI benefits men and means tested benefits women)
Widows’ Pensions Enacted • 1911 Missouri enacted for “full time mothers with dependent children” • In 1919, 39 states had such laws • By 1935, all but SC and GA • Return of public home relief • Foundation for Title IV of SS Act (AFDC) – needy children cared for in own homes
Part of a Broader Movement • Progressives also sought end to child labor • Also compulsory social insurance, workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age insurance (labor union support) • Women’s suffrage (1920) • Prohibition (1919)