Welfare State and Social Services Overview

Welfare State

• A system where the government protects the health and well-being of its citizens.
• Key elements include government powers related to social services, grants, taxes, pensions, and other forms of social safety nets.

Issues Faced by Citizens

• Economic: Decreased income, increased prices, job loss.
• Personal Integrity: Disability, illness, violence, homelessness, substance use, discrimination.
• Family Survival: Separation, caring for elderly family members, children's needs.

Social Services

• Examples: Child protection, women's shelters, counselling.
• Regulations: Rules, regulations, laws, and administrative directives govern social welfare activity.
• Medicare: Government-funded healthcare program.

Income Security

• Examples: Job benefits, worker's compensation, social assistance, old age security.
• Programs: Initiatives stemming from social welfare policies, programs for new doctors.
• Delivery: Public and private welfare services provided by non-profit and for-profit organizations.

Social Programs

• Universal Programs: Accessible to specific categories of citizens based on their right to citizenship (regardless of income).
• Selective Programs: Eligibility determined through a means test or need assessment.

Approaches to Social Welfare

• Residual View: Focuses on limited government intervention. Needs are primarily met by families and the market economy. Benefits are low-level.
• Institutional View: Government plays a robust role. Focuses on ensuring a standard of living, addressing health inequalities, and emphasizing civic responsibility.

Global Definition of Social Work

• Practice-based Profession: Combines practical application with academic study.
• Social Change: Promotes social change, development of social cohesion, empowerment, and liberation.
• Engagement: Engages individuals and structures to address life challenges and enhance well-being.
• Principles: Adheres to principles like social justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversity. Employs theories and lenses to understand situations.
• Multiple Truths: Recognizes the existence of multiple truths and narratives.

Foundational Principles of Social Work

• Social Change & Justice: Advocating for social change and justice.
• Problem Solving: Utilizing problem-solving skills and approaches.
• Person in Environment: Considering the individual within their social, economic, and political context.
• Empowerment: Promoting empowerment and self-determination.

Types of Social Work

• Direct Practice: In-person work with individuals and families, often through publicly funded social service agencies.
• Indirect Practice: Working with organizations to develop and evaluate social policies and programs.

Levels of Social Work Practice

• Macro Practice: Focuses on organizations, communities, policy advocacy, and system-level change.
• Mezzo Practice: Works with groups and communities.
• Micro Practice: Direct practice with individuals and families.

Considerations for Social Work

• Colonial Legacy: Social work is directly linked to the colonial history of the profession.
• Reconciliation: Engaging with Indigenous history, truths, and working with Indigenous peoples.
• Burnout: Social work can be challenging and lead to burnout due to exposure to trauma.
• Community Care: Community care and resources are crucial for coping with stress and managing burnout.
• Stress Symptoms: Social work stress may manifest as intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, and arousal symptoms.
• Self-Care: Importance of self-care strategies like awareness, practicing boundaries, and self-compassion (ABCs of self-care).