Audio Lecture #2

Social welfare is the institutionalization of social policy that pertains to those health, social and well being issues, problems, and needs of people in our society. Typically this relates to the health, education and welfare of people. Later in the course, you will review the major legislative acts over the past 40 years that have served to shape our social welfare institutions. The importance of social policy is that it greatly impacts the institutions of social welfare where social works are employed. Thus, policy impacts who we serve, how we serve them, and other issues impacting our accountability in providing services. While we may well spend the vast majority of our career as a therapist providing direct services, social policy will greatly impact how we work, who we work with, and what we are paid. In this presentation, pay particular attention to the concepts of the residual and institutional perspectives of social welfare. This will also be covered in your textbook readings. Further, pay attention to “the principle of lessor eligibility”. This principle holds that no person who receives welfare should receive more than the lowest paid working person in society.