Page Sixty-seven

THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, Sepfeinber 20. 1946

Community Service as at Profession

Social Work Now Requires
Study and Understanding

By BLUMA LEVIN

Editor's Note: Miss Levin was associated for 15 years with the
Chicago Welfare Administration before returning to Detroit. Previously,
she was a social worker on the staff of the United Jewish Charities here
for five years. She also practiced law in Detroit before going to Chicago.

fare for a, young woman with a
child in distressing circumstances,
under the then existing "Board
of Child Welfare Law," because
there was insufficient proof of her
marriage, which automatically
morally disqualified her.
Today social problems are re-
ferred to in the language of psy-
chology and psychiatry. In former
years a recipient of relief was
referred to as "applicant" and
reference was made to his moral
values. Today we refer to him as
a "client" and stress is laid upon
the relationship of worker and

Social work, broadly speaking, is rendering assistance
to those who need help in some form or another. Its origin
goes back many centuries, as there always existed a desire
on the part of more fortunate persons to help those less
client.
fortunate.
Scope of Social Work
In early times, when communities were small, mutual

With the many advances in so-
aid Was one of the natural func-,.,
cial work, the field has been ex-
tions. It was practiced sponta- experience as a social worker, I tended in many directions; and
neously in the form of simple. cannot help but emphasize the
phases,
neighborliness, but in an unor- decided change in the approach in recognizing its various
activities have been
ganized fashion. When the com- and attitude on the part of those the major
munities became large and in- administering relief toward the divided into three categories—
cluded various elements, mutual recipients. For many years there case work, group work and com-
aid had to be organized on a had been a widespread belief that munity organization.
Case work is regarded the most
more sympathetic basis.
assistance must be given in the highly developed. and forms the
The Poor Law passed in Eng- light of deterring and discour- basic program of such agencies
land during the reign of Queen aging pauperism and with an ob- as public and private family wel-
Elizabeth was created to replace jective of promoting self-reliance. fare organizations. social service
the charitable services of the me-
Harshly Administrated
departments of hospitals and clin-
dieval church and guild. Although
The relief granted was inade- ics, visiting teachers of schools.
the law has since been modified. quate for the most part, and at probation departments of courts'
certain principles with regard to times so harshly administered that and child placing agencies.
residence and the establishment the recipient was subjected to con-
Social Planning.
of eligibility still prevail.
siderable hardship and humilia-
Under "Group Work" we have
Early Relief Societies
tion. Such an attitude naturally settlements, recreational centers.
Early in the 19th century, in- created a great deal of criticism etc., which provide education and
against
social workers as well as recreation, and promote the gen-
terest was aroused on the part
eral welfare of the community.
of a group of socially minded per- against charitable institutions.
Finally, there came a realiza-
Under "Community Organiza-
sons to relieve the inhuman treat-
tion
that
social
work
is
not
mere-
tion" we have social planning, the
ment inflicted upon persons im-
ly
the
relief
of
destitution,
but
promotion of programs fostered
prisoned. and to devise ways and
means of decreasing pauperism also, where necessary, to prevent by Councils of Social Agencies.
any
maladjustment.
This
involves
Community Chests and other or.
and alleviating some of the ex-
isting distress. This resulted in discovery of causes, formulation ganizations.
of
policies,
proper
planning
for
A significant development in
the creation of a number of so-
cieties, among which were the modifying the environment, to- the field of social work is the
gether
with
scientifically
devel-
expansion of public social work
Society fQr the Prevention of
Pauperism and the Association for oped treatment of those persons in recent years, particularly since
as
well
as
groups,
who
fall
below
the onslaught of the depression.
Improving the Conditions of the
the accepted standard of our con- when private philanthropy alone
Poor.
By 1840 there were about 25 cept of civilized life. Social work could not scope with the tremen-
relief-giving societies in New York in earlier days failed to recognize dous need. Then there came a
alone. Some of these societies that one's life could not be guided realization that the problems of
gave assistance only to certain by rules and regulations; that in destitution, health. recreation.
groups, others to specific classes order to deal with one's difficul- control of delinquency. child wel-
of dependents. In general the re- ties it is necessary to have a sum fare, etc., were not only the con-
lief given was admiriistered with- total knowledge of his life and cern of private agencies. but that
of the entire public. Hence the
out system or policy which cre- habits.
A Decided Charge
general opinion shifted in favor
ated a great deal of criticism
Social work treatment thus un- of public social work, as evidenced
in the community.
dement a decided change. In re-
Investigate Situation
As a result, public-spirited men (erring to applicants, such terms
formed a committee to investigate as "paupers," "indigents," ''fallen
the situation and make a report women," etc., have been discarded.
of their findings. and a more objective and scien-
Conditions were found to be so title approach has developed. The
ON THE NEW YEAR
grave that immediate changes had unmarried mother was faced with
to be made to establish a prop- grave difficulty inasmuch as the
M. E. O'BRIEN
erly functioning program. The moral aspect played an important
State Director
societies as they existed acted in- part in determining the eligibility
dependently o7 each other, which for the proper kind of assistance.
MORRIS FISHMAN
caused duplication, affording an Today the unmarried mother is
opportunity for unscrupulous in- , her children are entitled to the
General Agent
dtviduals to obtain relief from. recognized as a human being and
Reprewel.111111•ea
many sources at the same time. same rights and privileges as
of the
There was a lack of proper dis- those born in wedlock.
New Terminology
criminat ion.
personal
contact.
At this point I should like to
sympathy and counsel.
To remedy these failings and cite an instance in the winter of
abuses. Charity Organization So- 1930 while in the employ of the,
cie,ies were created. patterned Social Service Department of a
;36 Lafayette Bldg
after the one founded in London Settlement in New York City. I
CA. 5343
in 1867. The principles of these was unable to obtain aid from
societies included a system of in- the Department of Public Wel-
vestigation. home visiting. regis-
tration of applicants, adequate
relief and volunteer services. The
first such organization in this
country was established in Buffalo
in 1877. At the end of 1892 there
were 93 charity organizations.
MOUNT CLEMENS. MICHIGAN
Attitude and Approach
During the 19th century the
prevailing social philosophy was
.....S2e n is You new gear's greelin 93
in a measure unsympathetic. but
experience gained in the course
Unexcelled Set vice
of years brought about a decided
Elegant Rooms
Kosher Cuisine
change. The word "Charity" has
taken on a different connotation
World Famous Baths
and has come to be regarded as
for the Cure of
an undesirable term. We have had
Rheumatism.
considerable development in the
Arthritis, Sciatica.
field of public assistance, but we
High Blood Pressure
no longer refer to this field as
PHONE
"Public Charities," but as "De-
MT. CLEMENS 1563
partments of Public Welfare."
As I recall my many years of

GREETINGS

Franklin Life
Insurance Co.

by the passage of the Social Se- social work has brought about
curity Act in 1936.
many changes. The social worker
Social Work as a Profession
is no longer referred to as a
Social work as a specialized kindhearted uplifter or a hard-
profession, for which scientific
ened reformer, but as a trained,
and technical training is required,
came into being 45 years ago. skilled case worker, with a defi-
Untrained persons with limited nite interest in the profession as
knowledge were accepted in the such. The individual who chooses
field up to about 20 years ago. this vocation today is on the same
In 1897 summer classes were in- basis as one who selects law or
stituted by the New York Charity teaching as his life's work. It is
Organization Society to increase regarded as an interesting voca-
the efficiency of social workers. tion which challenges one to give
In 1903 courses were extended to the best in him, and from which
six months, and the following it is hoped security of tenure as
year the New York School of well as adequate remuneration
Philanthropy was established for will be found.
students without experience.
t_Hebrew Correspondence Course
About the same year, the late
A correspondence course in ele-
Dr. Graham Taylor of the Chi- mentary and intermediate Hebrew
cago Commons, prominent in de- will be given by the Histadruth
veloping the Chicago Institute of Ivrith of America, immediately
Social Science, sponsored the or- after the High Holy days. All
ganization known as the Chicago dents desiring to acquire the iudi-
School of Civics and Philanthropy ments of Hebrew, or to cont:niie
as part of an extension of the Hebrew studies by correspondence.
University of Chicago. Today it is should write to the 1-1: , t2(.- :;:th
a regular department of the Uni- Ivrith. 165 W. 46th St.. N ew Yr•)
versity, known as the "School of
Social Service Administration."
Studied in Colleges
The trend for professionalizing
social work has continued. By
1928 there were about 40 schools'
of social work in the United
States and Canada, all of which
belong to the National Associa-
tion of Schools for Social Work.
and 10 of which u ere strictly'
graduate schools. Now almost all
universities and colleges have as
Part of their curriculum subject , '
in sociology and social work.
Field Work is now an impor-
tant part of the curriculum of all I
P. L. Kanter
social work schools. In 1934 only
150 hours of field work were re- I
I PI,ury n«
quired for a graduate course. In
1936, 300 hours, and today any-
where from 800 to 1.000 hours of
1626 David Stott Elder.
field work are necessary.
As in every field of endeavor.

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