Social Welfare Policy: An Overview

What is Social Welfare Policy?

• It is government's response to human needs like food, housing, healthcare, and employment.
• Reflects political values, power struggles, and economic structures.
• Government action or inaction impacts social outcomes.
• Policies are either universal (available to all) or targeted (means-tested, limited in scope).
• Human services professionals advocate for and implement these policies.

Key Historical Milestones in U.S. Social Welfare Policy

• The New Deal in the 1930s saw Social Security and public aid given in response to the Great Depression.
• The Great Society in the 1960s introduced Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and expanded civil rights.
• The Reagan Era in the 1980s promoted "welfare dependency," leading to funding cuts and privatization.
• Clinton’s Welfare Reform in 1996 replaced AFDC with TANF, including work requirements.
• The Post-2000s era, which included the Great Recession and COVID-19, involved increased government intervention amid economic crises.

Competing Ideologies & Welfare Policy

• The Conservative Approach favors limited government, market solutions, and personal responsibility.
  • The Trump administration scaled back social programs.
• The Liberal Approach supports government intervention for social welfare and economic equity.
  • The Biden administration introduced the American Rescue Plan.
• The Progressive View promotes structural change, universal programs, and wealth redistribution.
  • "Medicare for All" and expanded child tax credits are examples.
• Trump's policies blend authoritarian nationalism with corporate welfare expansion, moving beyond traditional conservatism.

Power & Interest Groups in Welfare Policy

• Policymaking mirrors the influence of those in power and their definitions of social needs.
• Corporate Influence manifests in tax cuts, deregulation, and privatization.
• Social Movements, including labor unions and anti-poverty groups, support expansions.
• Political Polarization: 74% of Biden supporters are for bigger government, while 76% of Trump supporters for smaller government.
• Trumpism turned welfare policy into a political issue, mobilizing working-class discontent.

The Trump Administration’s War on Social Programs

• Social assistance programs faced cuts with SNAP reductions, Medicaid work requirements, and attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
• Priorities changed with bigger tax breaks for corporations and less direct aid for lower-income Americans.
• Social welfare was restructured to benefit business interests.
• Trumpism restructures the state to prioritize business interests and mobilize working-class resentment.

The Role of Human Services Professionals in Social Welfare Policy

• Advocacy and policy change are influenced through community organizing, lobbying, and direct engagement.
• Caseworkers assist clients with programs like Medicaid, TANF, and housing assistance.
• The NASW Code of Ethics requires social and political action to address inequities.
• Human services agencies played a critical role in emergency relief, addressing food insecurity, and assisting vulnerable populations during COVID-19.

Contemporary Debates & Future Directions

• Public Opinion on Government’s Role
  • 65% of Americans are for government-ensure healthcare coverage.
  • 79% are against cuts to Social Security.
• Ongoing Challenges include Social Security & Medicare solvency, Automation & Job Displacement, and Political Polarization.
• The GOP's stance on welfare has been reshaped by Trumpism, resulting in working-class conservatives opposing programs they depend on.

Conclusion

• Social welfare policy is shaped by economic crises, political ideologies, and social movements.
• The Trump administration focused on corporate interests using nationalist ideas, instead of direct aid.
• The Biden administration expanded social protections.
• Human services professionals are vital in shaping, implementing, and advocating for fair policies.
• Trumpism is a force that will continue to shape U.S. social policy debates.