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Political Economy, Moral Economy And The Medicare Modernization Act Of 2003, Judie Svihula

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Through the lens of political and moral economy, I examined the dominant values and actors in the legislative process of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. In my content analysis of federal hearings, I found that witnesses from government agencies, Congress and think tanks had almost equal presence at the hearings. Witnesses who were invited by Congress to testify at the hearings expressed twice as much support for private interests than for the general Medicare population or low-income beneficiaries. Few expressed concern for the uninsured population. Witnesses offered almost four times as many expressions of support for market rationalism than …

Tracing The History Of Medicare Home Health Care: The Impact Of Policy On Benefit Use, Joan K. Davitt, Sunha Choi

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

We trace key policy changes that affected use of the Medicare home health benefit from the 1980s through the prospective payment system implemented in 2000, analyzing the impact on three measures of home care use: expenditures, users and visits. We demonstrate the impact of policies generated in the legislative, the judicial, and the executive branches of government and the gaming behavior of home health agencies in response to policy changes. Our analysis suggests that the policy itself and the implementation process are critical to understanding benefit use. The incentives in the policies and agency reactions had the potential to generate …

Social Security Privatization: An Ideologically Structured Movement, Judie Svihula, Carroll L. Estes

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

We document the cumulative change in expressions of support for Social Security's social insurance ideals to privatization,from the late 1970s through 2007. Social Security's basic structure and principles generally were supported by the United States government and in amendments to the original Act of 1935. However, in the 1980s market arguments began to proliferate in government alongside pension privatization projects by international governmental organizations and conservative think tanks. Although in 1983 Commission members concluded "the Social Security system is sound in principle.. and... structure," four members wrote a supplemental statement that emphasized market rationalism. By 1994 dissension in Congress was …

The Illusion Of Change, The Politics Of Illusion: Evolution Of The Family Support Act Of 1988, Luisa S. Deprez

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The enactment of the Family Support Act was the outcome of a six-year legislative and administrative review of, and debate about, welfare policy and programs. Heralded as the opportunity of the century, it did little, however, to alter existing policy. This article examines the evolution of the Family Support Act within the United States Congress, spotlighting two important time periods leading up to its enactment: 1981 to 1985 and 1986 to 1988. Original documentsfroin the files of the late Senator Moynihan, legislative sponsor of the Family Support Act, as well as a comprehensive investigation of Congressional records of hearings and …

Leveling The Playing Field: Epitomizing Devolution Through Faith-Based Organizations, Robert J. Wineburg, Brian L. Coleman, Stephanie C. Boddie, Ram A. Cnaan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The original New-Federalism agenda that emerged with the Reagan administration weakened federal programs and transferred power to states and localities. While Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush's years were characterized by block grants and dismantling public assistance, the Clinton years will be remembered for the dismantling of AFDC. Recruiting faith-based organizations to provide social services epitomized the second Bush presidency. In this article, we demonstrate how the seeds for recruiting faith-based groups were planted before and during the Reagan years, and how two waves of devolution chipped away at our national commitment to welfare. These first two waves provided …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 35, No. 1 (March 2008)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL ISSUE ON HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL POLICY

• INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE - Richard K. Caputo, Special Editor
• LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD: EPITOMIZING DEVOLUTION THROUGH FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS - Robert J. Wineburg, Brian L. Coleman, Stephanie C. Boddie, and Ram A. Cnaan
• SOCIAL WORK IN THE WORKFARE REGIME: A COMPARISON OF THE U.S. AND AUSTRALIA - Catherine McDonald and Michael Reisch
• SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION: AN IDEOLOGICALLY STRUCTURED MOVEMENT - Judie Svihula and Carroll L. Estes
• THE ILLUSION OF CHANGE, THE POLITICS OF ILLUSION: EVOLUTION OF THE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT OF 1988 - Luisa S. Deprez
• WHEN DOES …

A Decent Home For Every Family? Housing Policy Initiatives Since The 1980s, Sondra J. Fogel, Marc T. Smith, Anne R. Williamson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A fundamental economic and social principle embedded in the American psyche remains the value of shelter. However, housing policy is the result of a complex exchange among economic, political, and social agendas competing for attention within the multiple levels of local, state, and federal governments. This article intends to capture what we consider afea of the significant initiatives since 1980 that reflect these tensions and comprise our current housing policies and directions. Furthermore, we suggest additional housing issues that may need to be addressed by the next presidential administration.

Does Belief Matter? Social Psychological Characteristics And The Likelihood Of Welfare Use And Exit, Michele Lee Kozimor-King

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Numerous studies have reemerged examining social psychological variables as predictors of individual differences in the human experience. Still, current research focusing on the effects of self-beliefs on welfare use and exit is limited. This study examines the effects of social psychological variables on the likelihood of welfare use and five-year outcomes of wonen using data from the 1979 through 2000 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Binary logistic regression estimates suggest that social psychological characteristics are initially related to welfare use, but do not remain oce control variables are introduced. While social psychological predictors do not appear …

Social Welfare Policy And Public Assistance For Low-Income Substance Abusers: The Impact Of 1996 Welfare Reform Legislation On The Economic Security Of Former Supplemental Security Income Drug Addiction And Alcoholism Beneficiaries, Sean R. Hogan, George J. Unick, Richard Speiglman, Jean C. Norris

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Prior to January 1, 1997, individuals with drug- or alcohol-related disabilities could qualify for federal public assistance through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. During the welfare reforms of the Clinton administration, this policy was changed, resulting in lost income and health care benefits for many lowincome substance abusers. This paper examines the historical underpinnings to the elimination of drug addiction and alcoholism (DA&A) as qualifjing impairments for SSI disability payments. Following this, empirical evidence is presented on the effect this policy change had on the subsequent economic security of former SSI DA&A beneficiaries. Findings indicate that study participants who …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session February 15, 2008, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Election of Officers
• Secondary Education Partnership Agreement
• Conferring of Degrees
• Gift Report
• Grant Report
• Personnel Report
• Property Lease
• Property Lease
• Adoption of Kalamazoo County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Prism #28, February 2008, Office Of The Provost

Prism: Western Michigan University's Newsletter for Academic Affairs

No abstract provided.

Foster Youth Higher Education Initiative, John M. Dunn

WMU President John Dunn

No abstract provided.

Western News, Jan. 24, 2008, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Scholarships support program for foster-care youth; Provost search moves into high gear; Student award named for retiree Gary Belleville; On Campus with Gary Custer.

Prism #27, January 2008, Office Of The Provost

Prism: Western Michigan University's Newsletter for Academic Affairs

No abstract provided.

Western Michigan University Undergraduate Catalog 2008-2009, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Course Catalogs (1904-present)

• General Information
• Colleges
• Course Descriptions (by prefix)

Western Michigan University Graduate Catalog 2008-2009, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Course Catalogs (1904-present)

• General Information
• Colleges
• Course Descriptions (by College)

Fact Book 2008-09, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Fact Books

• General Information
• Enrollment Information
• Institutional Comparison
• Student Information
• Faculty Information
• Budgets and Resources

History Of Contemporary Social Policy: Introduction, Richard K. Caputo

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

As the contributions to this special issue of ]SSW attest, much can be said about the nature of social welfare policies and programs over the past quarter century. Some changes are allegedly beneficial, some not, in regard to the welfare of the nation in general and to economically needy people in particular. The welfare program in the form of cash assistance primarily to lowincome mothers and their children as we had understood and implemented it since 1935 ended. Work effort became the sine qua non of cash assistance for all low-income families. Further, the very notion of the welfare state …

Review Of Sociology In America: A History. Craig Calhoun, Editor. Reviewed By Richard Caputo., Richard Caputo

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Craig Calhoun (Ed.). Sociology in America: A History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. $85.00 hardcover, $30.00 papercover.

25 Year Club: 26th Annual Gala, Western Michigan University

25 Year Club

25 Year Club

26th Annual Gala

December 4, 2007

• New Inductees
• Members
• Retirees

Resilient Teachers: A Qualitative Study Of Six Thriving Educators In Urban Elementary Schools, Paul Giroux

Dissertations

This qualitative research study used elements of phenomenological and narrative research methodology to explore the common characteristics and experiences of a sample of resilient elementary teachers working in urban schools. The six research subjects in this study’s sample each had at least eight years of teaching experience, and each participated in a cycle of three in-depth interviews designed to determine their degree of resilience and to develop a portrait of their personal and professional characteristics, experiences, attitudes and beliefs. Once the data collection phase was complete, data was coded and then analyzed to identify which of the characteristics and experiences …

The Research Practices And Needs Of Non-Profit Organizations In An Urban Center, Randy Stoecker

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

How do nonprofit organizations use data and research? What challenges do they face in conducting research and managing data? In spring of 2004, 80 nonprofit organizations in Toledo, Ohio returned a survey on their research and data needs and practices. The survey found that nonprofits collect data on a wide variety of topics, but do not use much of the data that they collect, and do not collect much data that could be useful for other groups, particularly neighborhood organizations. The average nonprofit in the survey has five employees and four volunteers who, together, spend 56 hours per week collecting, …

Public And Private Sources Of Assistance For Low-Income Households, Chi-Fang Wu, Mary Keegan Eamon

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examined the types and combinations of public and private assistance received by three types of low-income households, including those with children, without children, and elderly without children. Using data from the 1996 and 2001 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), the results indicate that a large percentage of low-income households rely on public assistance, and receipt of private assistance is much less common. Approximately 7% of the sample use both types of assistance. The findings highlight differences in combinations of public and private assistance used by different household types. Wealsofound some significant differences in …

Review Of Strategic Giving: The Art And Science' Of Philanthropy. Peter Frumkin. Reviewed By Ram Cnaan., Ram Cnaan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Peter Frumkin, Strategic Giving: The Art and Science of Philanthropy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2006. $ 39.00 hardcover.

Review Of The Future Of Europe: Reform Or Decline. Alberto Alesina And Francesco Gianvassi. Reviewed By James Midgley., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Alberto Alesina and Francesco Gianvassi, The Future of Europe: Reform or Decline. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. $ 24.95 hardcover.

Social Theory: Central Issues In Sociology. John Scott.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for John Scott, Social Theory: Central Issues in Sociology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006. $ 99.95 hardcover, $ 37.95 papercover.

Review Of Human Behavior For Social Work Practice: A Developmental-Ecological Framework. Wendy Haight And Edward H. Taylor. Reviewed By Marvin D. Feit., Marvin D. Feit

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Wendy Haight and Edward H. Taylor, Human Behavior for Social Work Practice: A Developmental-Ecological Framework. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books, 2006. $ 39.95 papercover.

Unsung Heroines: Single Mothers And The American Dream. Ruth Sidel.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Ruth Sidel, Unsung Heroines: Single Mothers and the American Dream. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2006. $ 45.00 hardcover, $ 17.95 papercover.

Index Of Volume Xxxiv, Issues 1-4

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

No abstract provided.

Negotiating 'Professional Agency': Social Work And Decision-Making Within The Ontario Child Welfare System, Henry Parada, Lisa Barnoff, Brienne Coleman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article explores how social work as a discipline has helped to negotiate professional agency in decision-making within the restructured child protection system. The narratives of child protection workers affirm that a restrictive climate does exist in child protection agencies and that it indeed shapes the way they make their decisions. This study uses institutional ethnography as the methodology for exploring the decision-making practices of child protection workers. Three forms of data collection were used: experience as data, documentation reviews and in-depth interviews.