Social Work Commons^™

Book Review - Social Security After Fifty: Successes And Failures By Edward D. Berkowitz, James L. Wolk

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In many ways, this compact little book is a celebration. It is a celebration of the cornerstone of the American social welfare system, the Social Security Act of 1935. It is a celebration of the flexibility of an American political economic system that adjusts, somewhat reluctantly, to the vagaries of a capitalist system. Mainly, it is a celebration of the personality and work of three people instrumental in the development, implementation, and maintenance of an American institution; Wilbur Cohen, Robert Myers, and Robert Ball.

What's Right With Welfare? The Other Face Of Afdc, Ronald B. Dear

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Eleven million people, mostly mothers and children, depend on Aid to Families with Dependent Children, America's largest child welfare program. Much is wrong with AFDC welfare, and serious efforts are being made, again, to reform it. So far, no major attempts at reform have been successful. If reform is to succeed, we must understand what needs to be corrected and what does not.

What's right with welfare? This study, not an apology or excuse for AFDC, answers that rarely asked question. Part I surveys background. Part II cites myths and criticisms of AFDC and portrays poverty as it afflicts children …

The Work Incentive Years In Current Perspective: What Have We Learned? Where Do We Go From Here?, Leonard Goodwin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A review of the rationale, results, and research findings from worktraining efforts for welfare recipients is presented. Focus is on the Work Incentive (WIN) Program from its inception in 1968 to its heydays in the 1970s and its decline during the Reagan era. The review provides a basis for examining the recent welfare legislation and recongizing the elements needed for real welfare reform.

Work And Welfare: How Industrialists Shaped Government Social Service During The Progressive Era, Cynthia Hamilton

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article focuses on the welfare work of industrialists which was developed as a mechanism for fighting trade unionism during the Progressive era. This focus is designed to place welfare in its proper perspective within the political economy and to identify its political and economic functions. The article concludes that industrial welfare was one of the instruments used in creating a work ethic in the United States and one of the mechanisms of social engineering both in and outside of industry.

Towards A Construct Of Employment For Social Welfare And Economic Productivity, David C. Congdon

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article analyzes Marxian socialist, neo-classical, and Keynesian economic theories toward developing a construct of employment which supports social welfare and economic productivity. It considers their motivational approaches, outcomes, and requirements for social control. A Keynesian construct of employment is recommended as supportive of social well-being, high productivity, and a level of social control reduced from that in currently dominant economic systems. Implications and implementation issues are considered.

A New Paradigm For Social Welfare, David Stoesz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The American welfare state has been contained by several developments that have influenced social policy: the traditionalist movement, neoliberal ideology, and the budget deficit. These are evident in the minimal welfare reform of the Family Support Act of 1988. A new paradigm for organizing thinking about American social welfare is proposed around themes that have become central to discussions of social policy: productivity, reciprocity, community, and privatization. In order to become a viable institution again, social welfare policy should emphasize specific themes: voluntarization, access to services, social choice, social control, social obligation, transitional benefits, community enterprise, and national service.

Family Structures And The Feminization Of Poverty: Women In Hawaii, Susan Meyers Chandler, Jennifer Williams

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The quality of life for many single mothers and their children is shrouded in economic hardship. Women outside the traditional nuclear family, attempting to raise children, are doing so in poverty and without much public support. Marital disruption, teenage mothers, and out of wedlock births have resulted in an alarming number of improverished children living in America. This paper examines census data in the state of Hawaii and the impact of family structure on the quality of lives of women with children. Women living in multigenerational family arrangements, rather than in "traditional" families have higher income, holding family size constant. …

The Limits Of The Welfare State: New York City's Response To Homelessness, Joel Blau

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This research examines New York City's response to the growth of the homeless population. Reviewing the six policies that constitute the city's response, it identifies two patterns. These patterns-cost-reduction and preparation for work-are then explored as examples of the constraints on the development of policies for the homeless. Finally, three theories of the welfare state are advanced to analyze these constraints and illuminate New York City's behavior.

A Framework For Analyzing Knowledge Utilization In Social Work Practice, Craig W. Lecroy, Jose B. Ashford, Mary Wirtz Macht

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Methodological and conceptual limitations have resulted in knowledge being defined so narrowly that we accept the inaccurate conclusion that social workers fail to utilize knowledge. This article seeks to rectify this problem by clarifying the concept of knowledge utilization in social work practice. Toward this end a framework is proposed that makes explicit the philosophy of science and practice assumptions germane to the use of knowledge in practice.

Considerations In The Development Of A Scientific Social Work, Stanley L. Witkin, Shimon Gottschalk

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A key issue in social work's struggle to develop a legitimate and distinct knowledge base is the development of a scientific model suited to the needs and objectives of the profession. Although various approaches have been proposed, they have tended to dichotomize the issues into one of science versus nonscience. In response to this situation, this paper presents an integrative approach to the development of a scientific social work. In addition, it is argued that values can (and should) be an integral part of a scientific approach and that they are legitimate criteria for the evaluation of social theories.

When Is Statistical Significance Meaningful? A Practice Perspective, Robert W. Weinbach

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Statistically significant relationships may be quite small in the absolute sense. The practitioner who faces the issue of when to utilize a finding for practice must consider more than mathematical arguments. The place of practice considerations in decision making for utilization is discussed.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 16, No. 1 (March 1989)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

• A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING KNOWLEDGE UTILIZATION IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE - Craig W. LeCroy, Jose B. Ashford, & Mary Wirtz Macht
• CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCIENTIFIC SOCIAL WORK - Stanley L. Witkin & Shimon Gottschalk
• WHEN IS STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE MEANINGFUL? A PRACTICE PERSPECTIVE - Robert W, Weinbach
• WORK, VIOLENCE, INJUSTICE, AND WAR - David G. Gil
• STREET CHILDREN PROGRAMS IN LATIN AMERICA - Mark W Lusk
• THE LIMITS OF THE WELFARE STATE: NEW YORK CITY'S RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS - Joel Blau
• OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION OF A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT - Dennis L. Peck & John W. …

Injured Workers: From Statutory Compensation To Holistic Social Work Services, Pallassana R. Balgopal, Michael P. Nofz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite legal and technical advances in assuring safe work settings, on-the-job accidents still occur. These events, which impose emotional and financial hardships as well as physical injury, have been given minimal attention by social workers. Existing services to accident-injured workers include monetary compensation through federal and state programs, trade union negotiation for broader benefits, and counseling and referral provided by Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Yet each of these service areas falls short in establishing a holistic, personin-environment approach to the injury. Here it is argued that an ecologically based social work practice can address many of the shortcomings of existing …

Marginal Women Unite! Organizing The Disabled Womens Network In Canada, Sharon D. Stone

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper discusses the Disabled Women's Network's (DAWN) history, issues, goals, structure, organizing tactics and ongoing problems. DAWN is an example of the ability of oppressed people to organize and advocate for their rights against overwhelming odds.

Work, Violence, Injustice And War, David G. Gil

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This essay explores links between work, societal violence, social and economic injustice at home and abroad, and the propensity to resort to war. It clarifies the concept societal violence and traces its roots to coercively established and maintained exploitative modes of work, exchange and distribution. It suggests that overcoming violence in human relations requires transformations of work, exchange, and distribution in accordance with egalitarian, democratic, humanistic and ecological values in order to eliminate obstacles to human development. Social policies and political strategies toward these ends are discussed in the concluding sections of the essay.

Street Children Programs In Latin America, Mark W. Lusk

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The growing problem of street children is among the most important child welfare problems today. Estimates are that there are as many as 25 million street children in Latin America alone. This paper, which is based on over five months of fieldwork in Latin America, is a study of the problem of street children. Life on the streets is described in relation to the developmental stages of street children. The paper emphasizes the types of programs that have emerged as the countries of the region seek to ameliorate and prevent this social problem. A program typology is developed and discussed.

Official Documentation Of A Sexually Transmitted Disease (Std): An Empirical Assessment, Dennis L. Peck, John W. Bardo

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using data from clinic records of patients examined and treated at a public health facility, the reporting of unconfirmed cases is examined and the correspondence between public health profiles of patients at risk to sexually transmitted disease and the data are discussed. Implications relating to the findings and to public health policy are also discussed.

The World According To Nambla: Accounting For Deviance, Mary Deyoung

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) is a pedophile organization that advocates adult sexual behavior with male children. Given the considerable consensus in this society that such sexual behavior with children is exploitative and victimizing in nature, the techniques that NAMBLA uses to justify, rationalize and normalize its philosophy and its members' practices in order to avoid or neutralize censure and stigma, are of particular sociological interest. This paper uses Scott and Lyman's (1968) concept of "accounts" as a theoretical framework for the analysis of these techniques that are found in the publicly disseminated literature of the NAMBLA organization.

"New" Directions In The Welfare Reform Debate: The Problems Of Federalism, W. Joseph Heffernan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper reviews the problem of federalism and welfare and presents statistical data about the relative welfare practices among the states over the last 25 years. The relevance of these problems and practices to the current hopes for welfare reform and policy conflicts within Congress are discussed.

Health And Social Service Needs In A Northeastern Metropolitan Area: Ethnic Group Differences, Paul D. Cleary, Harold W. Demone Jr.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Data from a representative sample of Boston area residents were analyzed to examine differences among ethnic populations in perceived needs and use of services for eight problem areas. The areas studied were: employment problems; financial problems; problems of the aged living alone; alcohol problems; personal; family or marital problems; child behavior or education problems; the need for homemaker services; and the need for a home nurse. The results indicate substantial differences between perceived needs and reported use of services, and both those factors varied by ethnic identification.

The Relationship Of Race, Socioeconomic Status And Marital Status To Kin Networks, Ferol E. Mennen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Data from a purposive sample of families of elementary school children in New Orleans regarding contact and assistance with extended family members was analyzed to see if race, socioeconomic status or marital status predicted involvement in a kin network. Analysis of variance revealed that black and lower class families had higher levels of contact and black families had higher levels on one of the assistance measures. However when the distance from the extended family was used as a covariate the relationship disappeared. Marital status had no ability to predict.

Neil Brock, Social Worker: Twenty-Five Years Later, Janice Andrews

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article reviews the role of the social worker, Neil Brock (played by George C. Scott) in the TV series, East Side/West Side which aired in 1963/64. The series is placed within the context of the social, political, economic environment of the 1960s. The analysis includes how Brock's character was developed, the role played by NASW, responses to the series by TV critics and social workers, and the role of television in portraying a profession.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Psychiatric Symptom Expression Using Langner's Twenty-Two Item Index, Robert Nishimoto

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

An analysis of psychiatric symptom response using Langner's twentytwo item index was conducted across three cultural settings. Respondents were Anglo-American, Vietnamese Chinese, and Mexican. Some similarities did exist in response patterns and in those symptom items highly correlated with the total psychiatric screening score. Close examination revealed between-group differences indicating that not all twenty-two items were valid indicators of psychological disorder across cultures. The study highlights issues in the development and use of symptom checklists to measure and assess mental health constructs across cultures.

Community Mental Health: A View From American History, Mary Ann Jimenez

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The limitations of the movement for deinstitutionalization of the chronically mentally disordered have been the subject of a repeated series of investigations and analyses in the last 10 years. These critiques can be summed up in the undeniable observation that the chronically mentally disordered have by and large failed to benefit from deinstitutionalization in the ways that the original advocates and planners of this policy had hoped. The promise of community mental health, at least as articulated by the scores of witnesses before Congressional committees in the early 1960's, has not been realized for this population.

Unemployment And Social Integration: A Review, Loring Jones

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A review of the literature identifies the loss of work as a stressful life event that has been linked to a number of psychosocial ills. The paper examines the loss of social relationships, a major noneconomic cost of unemployment, as a major contributor to the development of those ills. Practice implications of this finding are identified.

Economic Motivators For Shoplifting, Joann Ray, Katherine Hooper Briar

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Shoplifting has been attributed to many psychological and physiological factors, especially when women are involved. This article examines the many factors that account for shoplifting behavior focusing on research findings which suggest economic and employment precipitants of the problem. Changes in policy and programmatic responses to shoplifters are suggested.

The Environmental, Economic, And Social Impacts Of Resort Development And Tourism On Native Hawaiians, Jon Matsuoka, Terry Kelly

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Hawaii is currently undergoing major changes associated with land and industrial development. A shift in focus from agriculture to tourism has led to massive land development throughout the islands in order to accommodate this growing industry. The people affected most by these environmental changes are the indigenous people of Hawaii who exist in close harmony with the land and sea. As natural habitats are destroyed, fish and other food sources disappear. This has profound affects upon the behavior and practices of Hawaiian people who must look to other means for subsistence. Changes in the environment are inherently tied to changes …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 15, No. 4 (December 1988)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

• "NEW" DIRECTIONS IN THE WELFARE REFORM DEBATE: THE PROBLEMS OF FEDERALISM - W. Joseph Heffernan
• THE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF RESORT DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM ON NATIVE HAWAIIANS - Jon Matsuoka and Terry Kelly
• A CROSS-CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM EXPRESSION USING LANGNER'S TWENTY-TWO ITEM INDEX - Robert Nishimoto
• HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS IN A NORTHEASTERN METROPOLITAN AREA: ETHNIC GROUP DIFFERENCES - Paul D. Cleary and Harold Demone, Jr.
• THE RELATIONSHIP OF RACE, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND MARITAL STATUS TO KIN NETWORKS - Ferol E. Mennen
• NEIL BROCK, SOCIAL WORKER: TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER - Janice Andrews …

The Frustrations Of Family Violence Social Work: An Historical Critique, Linda Gordon

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Contrary to the view that social work has been characterized by substantial shifts in treatment methods over the last hundred years, an historical study of case records from child protection agencies in Boston, 1880 to 1960, revealed very little improvement or change in the social-work response to family violence cases. The continuity in socialwork response rested, at its best, on workers' common-sense apprehension of the complex (intrapsychic, relational, and environmental) causes of family violence, and, at worst, on several constricting ideologies about proper family life: gender assumptions that made women's domesticity and mothering essential; and a public/private dichotomy which assumed …

Profits, Welfare, And Class Position: 1965-1984, Marcus D. Pohlmann

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The study utilizes an extended version of a Charles V Hamilton paradigm in order to estimate yearly income transfers between classes in America's system of "welfare state capitalism." Analyzing the period from 1965 to 1984, what becomes most obvious is the substantial annual transfer from the middle/working class to the owning class. The transfer rose to more than $150 billion by 1984-a full 10% of middle/ working class income. Yet when looking at the implications, an interesting paradox emerges. Although the amount of transfer has increased some over the period, it has not grown nearly as fast as the after-tax …