Social Welfare: Historical Development

Social Welfare Programs and Expansion

• Social welfare programs often grow during social and economic hardships to aid vulnerable populations.
• Key aim is to provide basic needs during economic and societal challenges like recessions or wars, including food, healthcare, and financial support.

Historical Development of Social Welfare in the U.S.

• Post-Civil War (1861-1865) programs offered aid to women and orphans.
• The programs were created in response to the loss of male family members after the Civil War, leaving women and orphans without financial support.
• Social Security was introduced to provide financial support for retirees, the unemployed, and the disabled during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
• The Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was created to support single mothers and their children, aiding families needing income.

Economic and Demographic Concepts

• The dependency ratio is defined as the number of workers relative to the number of retirees in the economy.
• A high dependency ratio strains social welfare programs like Social Security because fewer workers support a larger retiree population.

Medicare and Medicaid

• President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) advocated for the creation of Medicaid and Medicare while in office.
• Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65+ and those with specific disabilities.
• Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that assists with medical costs for low-income individuals, families, seniors, and the disabled.

Food Assistance Program

• The Food Stamp Program was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to reduce stigma.
• SNAP aims to provide nutritional support to low-income people/families.

Leadership

• Lee Zeldin is the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, confirmed on January 29, 2025.
• Linda McMahon is the Secretary of Education.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Doug Burgum is the Secretary of the Interior, confirmed on January 20, 2025.
• Doug Collins is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, confirmed on January 20, 2025.
• The Department of the Interior, established in 1849, is one of the oldest federal agencies.

Environmental Awareness and Legislation

• Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (1962) raised public awareness of pesticide dangers, particularly DDT, and influenced the environmental movement.
• Environmental protection saw foundational laws in the 1970s.
• These include the Clean Air Act (1970), Clean Water Act (1970), Endangered Species Act (1973), and Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Debates today center on their environmental protection implementation and interpretation, even though recent environmental protection laws have been less common.
• A consensus exists among scientists that burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming, leading to climate changes like rising sea levels and extreme weather.
• Renewable energy sources are seen as critical in combating climate change, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gases

The EPA’s Three E’s

• Environment: Protect the environment through sensible regulations.
• Economy: Environmental protection should not hinder economic growth.
• Engagement: Collaboration with state and local governments to enhance environmental efforts.

Landmark Cases

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, marking a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

U.S. Healthcare System

• Unlike Great Britain’s single-payer healthcare, the U.S. uses a mixed healthcare system.
• The U.S. system uses private health insurance and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
• The government directly provides and funds healthcare in single-payer systems.
• The U.S. involves a combination of public and private entities.
• Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65+ or those with specific disabilities.
• Medicare covers a range of services, hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs.
• Beneficiaries pay premiums, deductibles, and copayments, even though it is funded by taxes.
• Medicaid is a means-tested program for low-income individuals and families, regardless of age.
• Medicaid covers health services including hospital stays, doctor visits, and long-term care.
• It is jointly funded by the federal and state governments.
• Beneficiaries have little to no cost based on their income.
• Social Security: A government program that provides financial support to retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors, funded by payroll taxes.
• Beneficiaries receive monthly payments that are based on their contributions.

Health Insurance in the U.S.

• 54% of Americans have health insurance through their employment as a benefit from their employers.
• In single-payer systems, the government provides and pays for health care, and health care providers are government employees.
• The U.S. has a hybrid system of private and public funding for healthcare.
• The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 provided subsidies to individuals, making it easier for people to purchase health insurance

Education Policy in the U.S.

• State and local governments have primary control over education policy, including funding, curriculum, and overall administration.
• Federal education policy focuses on protecting girls and ethnic minorities from discrimination.

Landmark Legal Cases and Legislation in Education

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment, leading to desegregation.
• Title IX of the Civil Rights Act (1972) guarantees gender equity in education for equal access to school programs.

Education Administration in Texas

• Texas State Board of Education: Composed of 15 elected members responsible for setting school curricula and choosing textbooks.
• Local School Boards: Elected bodies that manage local education policy, select superintendents, and oversee daily school operations.
• Texas State Board of Education (SBOE): Elected by voters, consists of 15 members representing districts and oversees public education.
• Edgewood v. Kirby (1989): The Texas Supreme Court addressed school finance and ruled the state's funding system unconstitutional because it created wealth disparities, leading to funding changes.
• Education policy is dominated by state and local governments.
• The Federal government focuses on discrimination against women, minorities, and children with special needs.
• Mainstreaming requires children with special needs to be integrated into the regular classroom.
• Brown v. the Board of Education ended racial segregation of schools.
• Title 9 requires schools to fund programs for girls equal to boys.
• Linda McMahon is the U.S. Secretary of Education.
• State Board of Education has 25 elected members and chooses school topics.
• Local school districts decide on teacher salaries, discipline, buildings.
• Edgewood v. Kirby (1989) TX Supreme Court required equal funding.
• The Robin Hood plan requires rich districts to share wealth with poor districts.
• Governor Abbott would like the legislature to adopt school vouchers.

Key Dates and Information

• March 17: Education policy is dominated by state and local governments.
• The federal government focuses on discrimination against women, minorities, and children with special needs.
• Mainstreaming requires children with special needs to be integrated into regular classrooms.
• Brown v. Board of Education ended racial segregation in schools.
• Title IX requires schools to fund programs for girls equally to boys.
• Linda McMahon is the U.S. Secretary of Education.
• A State Board of Education with 25 elected members chooses school topics.
• Local school districts decide on teacher salaries, discipline, and buildings.
• Edgewood v. Kirby (1989) TX Supreme Court required equal funding.
• The Robin Hood plan requires rich districts to share wealth with poor districts.
• Governor Abbott supports school vouchers.
• Social welfare programs tend to expand during social and economic distress.
• Support for women and orphans was enacted after the Civil War (1861-1865).
• Social Security and Aid for Families with Dependent Children started in the 1930s.
• Social Security is popular, but the elderly population is growing more rapidly than the younger population.
• The dependency ratio is the number of workers supporting retirees.
• Fertility rates are declining in developed countries as women have career and professional opportunities

LBJ's Impact

• Lyndon Johnson (president from 1963-69) created Medicaid and Medicare.
• France is experiencing a crisis due to the president’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64.
• Food stamps is now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• Work and drug testing are requirements for beneficiaries of means-tested programs.

March 20 Key Government Programs

• VA benefits, CHIP, Medicaid, and the ACA are key programs.
• Robert Kennedy, Jr. is the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary.
• The Great Society programs Medicare (for the old) and Medicaid (for the poor) passed in 1965.
• LBJ (Texas State class of 1930) was U.S. president from 1963-69.
• Medicaid is means-tested, meaning an income level makes people eligible.
• The Affordable Care Act of 2010 included protections for people with preexisting medical conditions.
• The ACA included a mandate to purchase insurance and subsidies to buy insurance.
• The ACA survived challenges Defore the U.S. Supreme Court and efforts to end it when Republicans controlled the presidency, Senate, and House from 2017 to 2018.
• 54% of Americans get their health insurance through their employment.
• In single-payer systems, governments provide and pay for health care; the U.S. is a hybrid system.
• The Affordable Care Act of 2010 gave subsidies to purchase insurance.
• State and Local governments dominate education policy
• Federal school policy focuses on protecting girls/ethnic minorities.
• Brown v. Board of Education: Ended Segregation and US Supreme Court said segregation violated the 14th Amendment
• Title 9 of the Civil Rights Act guarantees gender equity for girls
• The Texas State Board of Education has 15 elected members and sets school curricula/textbooks
• Local school boards are elected and choose superintendents and set local policy

March 31 School Boards

• State Board of Education is elected by voters in 15 individual districts.
• The SBOE chooses textbooks, curriculum topics, and graduation requirements.
• Local school boards choose superintendents and decide on teacher pay, benefits, discipline, and buildings.
• Some local school board members are elected by individual districts; Latinos prefer individual districts.
• Edgewood v. Kirby (1989): the Texas Supreme Court said the education system violated the state constitution.
• The Robin Hood plan requires rich (Top 10%) districts to share money with poor districts.
• A Nation at Risk report led to four reforms like No Pass, No Play.
• Governor Abbott wants school vouchers to pass the Texas legislature in 2025.
• House Republicans from rural areas voted against ESAs in 2023, and some lost their primaries.
• VA benefits, CHIP, Medicaid, and the ACA are key programs
• Xavier Becerra of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the Secretary
• Great Society programs Medicare (for old) and Medicaid (for poor) passed in 1965.
• LBJ (Texas State class of 1930) was U.S. president from 1963-69
• Medicaid is means-tested means below an income level are eligible
• Affordable Care Act of 2010 included protections of people with preexisting conditions
• The ACA included a mandate to purchase insurance and subsidies to buy insurance.
• The ACA survived challenges before the U.S. Supreme Court and efforts to end it when Republicans controlled the presidency, Senate, and House from 2017 to 2018.