A Brief History of Social Work (for Social Work Month 2015)
Summary
TLDRThis script chronicles the influential pioneers of social work, highlighting their advocacy for social justice and transformative impact on society. From Jane Addams' establishment of Hull House to combat poverty, to Mary Richmond's foundational work in social casework, and the tireless efforts of figures like Florence Kelly and Robert Hunter in labor and child welfare legislation, the narrative weaves a rich tapestry of resilience and advocacy. It underscores the profession's evolution and its pivotal role in shaping cultural attitudes towards poverty, social mobility, and welfare, inspiring continued commitment to social justice.
Takeaways
- π The social work profession has a rich history of advocacy and challenging systems that hinder social mobility.
- π Jane Addams was a pioneer in social work, establishing Hull House and advocating for social justice, which earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.
- π Settlement houses, like Hull House, focused on addressing the root causes of poverty and provided services to immigrants and marginalized groups.
- π Mary Richmond's research laid the foundation for social casework, emphasizing a person-centered approach to care.
- π World War I provided opportunities for social workers to apply their skills in new settings, such as the Red Cross's Home Service.
- πΆ Florence Kelly's work led to the creation of the first factory law prohibiting child labor and the establishment of the National Child Labor Committee.
- πΈ Lewis W. Hine's photographs of child labor helped to galvanize states into passing laws banning the practice.
- π¨ Eda Wheeler's case against child abuse in 1874 led to the creation of the first child protection agency, the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
- π± The Great Depression highlighted the role of social workers in public service and shifted cultural attitudes towards welfare as a federal responsibility.
- π Social workers played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for education, employment opportunities, and voting rights.
- π₯ The integration of social work in healthcare settings began in the early 20th century, emphasizing the importance of considering patients' social factors in treatment.
Q & A
What is the significance of Jane Addams in the social work profession?
-Jane Addams is a leading social reformer and a lifelong champion of social justice who founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889, which was part of the settlement house movement aimed at providing marginalized people with access to healthcare, education, and political power.
What was the purpose of the settlement house movement initiated by Jane Addams?
-The settlement house movement, including Hull House founded by Jane Addams, was dedicated to addressing social problems such as infant mortality, factory working conditions, housing, and sanitation, and to giving immigrants and other marginalized people in cities access to essential services and political power.
Who was Mary Richmond and what was her contribution to social work?
-Mary Richmond was a researcher who focused on poverty and social ills. Her book 'The Social Diagnosis' formed the basis of social casework, which is the precursor to today's person-centered care approach in social work.
How did World War I provide opportunities for social case workers?
-World War I provided unique opportunities for social case workers through their involvement in war-related activities such as the Red Cross's Home Service, where they applied their skills to address problems faced by servicemen and their families.
What was Florence Kelly's role in labor laws and child labor?
-Florence Kelly worked at the Henry Street Settlement and conducted surveys on working conditions in local factories. Her research led to the passage of the first factory law in Illinois prohibiting child labor under 14. In New York, she introduced the white label designation for employers following labor laws and safety standards and led campaigns that resulted in the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
Who was Robert Hunter and how did he contribute to the fight against child labor?
-Robert Hunter was a social reformer who commissioned Lewis W. Hine to photograph child labor in America from 1908 to 1912. Hine's images, which depicted the harsh realities of child labor, helped galvanize many states into passing laws banning child labor.
What was the first case against child abuse in the United States and who brought it?
-The first case against child abuse in the United States was brought by Etta Wheeler in 1874, involving a child named Mary Ellen Wilson. Wheeler's efforts, with the help of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, led to the creation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
How did the Great Depression impact the social work profession?
-The Great Depression gave the social work profession a national stage, with the American Association of Social Workers testifying before the Senate on the crisis. Many social workers moved into public service, and the cultural attitude towards welfare shifted, making it a widely recognized responsibility of the federal government.
What role did social workers play in the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s to the 70s?
-Social workers played significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement, initiating programs in education and community-based planning, encouraging major corporations to hire more African Americans, and fighting for school desegregation, voting rights, employment opportunities, and public accommodations.
Who was Irena Sendler and what was her impact?
-Irena Sendler was a Catholic Polish social worker who saved the lives of about 2,500 Jewish children in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. She smuggled out children under the pretext of inspecting sanitary conditions and kept records of all the children to facilitate post-war reunions with relatives.
How did Ida Cannon, Dr. Richard Kit, and Garnett Isabelle Pelton contribute to medical social work?
-Ida Cannon, Dr. Richard Kit, and Garnett Isabelle Pelton helped establish the first social work department at the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1906. They created collaborative systems of practice that combined medical and psychological information with data about patients' living conditions, emphasizing the importance of considering a patient's social factors in their health.
Who was Sheila Ryan and what was her contribution to social work?
-Sheila Ryan was a social worker who committed her life to social justice, volunteering for the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee and participating in Freedom Summers. She earned master's degrees in social work and public health and became the director of a special needs clinic supporting children and families affected by HIV/AIDS, co-authoring several chapters in a psychology handbook.
Outlines
π Pioneers of Social Work and Advocacy
This paragraph introduces the vital role of social work in societal development, highlighting its history of providing support to the vulnerable and challenging systems that hinder social mobility. It focuses on Jane Addams, a social reformer and founder of Hull House, which was part of the settlement house movement aimed at improving the lives of immigrants and marginalized groups by addressing social issues such as health care, education, and political power. The narrative also touches on the contributions of Mary Richmond, whose research laid the groundwork for social casework, and Florence Kelly, who fought for labor laws and consumer safety. The paragraph concludes with the story of Robert Hunter and his efforts to expose child labor through photography, leading to legislative changes.
π‘ Advocacy and Social Reform Movements
This section delves into the impact of social work during the Great Depression, emphasizing its national recognition and the transition of social workers into public service roles. It mentions key figures like Francis Perkins and the shift in cultural attitudes towards welfare and poverty. The paragraph also explores the involvement of social workers in the Civil Rights Movement, with individuals like Whitney Moore Young Jr. and Dorothy Height playing significant roles. The narrative extends to international social work, exemplified by Irena Sendler's efforts to save Jewish children during the Holocaust. Additionally, it discusses the establishment of the first social work department in a hospital and the development of collaborative systems of practice, as well as the creation of the New York School of Applied Philanthropy, which later became Columbia School of Social Work.
π Resilience and the Legacy of Social Work
The final paragraph tells the story of Sheila Ryan, a dedicated social worker and advocate for social justice, who began her journey with the student non-violent coordinating committee and was involved in significant civil rights events. It recounts her arrest at the first-ever 'Sit-in at the White House' and her work in prison reform, peace in the Middle East, and radio. The paragraph highlights her academic achievements and her role in supporting children and families affected by HIV/AIDS as the director of a special needs clinic. It concludes with reflections on her impact, the resilience of the patients she served, and an invitation for the audience to continue the legacy of social work by adding their own stories to the profession's history.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Social Work
π‘Social Justice
π‘Settlement House Movement
π‘Advocacy
π‘Social Mobility
π‘Person-Centered Care
π‘Infant Mortality
π‘Factory Law
π‘Child Labor
π‘Great Depression
π‘Civil Rights Movement
π‘HIV/AIDS
Highlights
The social work profession has a history of providing social safety nets and challenging systems that impede social mobility.
Jane Addams, a leading social reformer, founded Hull House in 1889 as part of the settlement house movement.
Settlement houses aimed to address social problems such as infant mortality, factory working conditions, and housing sanitation.
Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, the first given to a woman.
Mary Richmond's research laid the foundation for social casework, emphasizing person-centered care.
World War I provided opportunities for social case workers to apply their skills in war-related activities.
Florence Kelly's work led to the first factory law in Illinois, prohibiting child labor.
Florence Kelly introduced the white label designation for employers following labor laws and safety standards.
Robert Hunter's work with Lewis Hine on child labor photography contributed to laws banning child labor.
Eda Wheeler's case against child abuse led to the creation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The Great Depression highlighted the role of social workers in public service and policy-making.
Social work influenced cultural attitudes, shifting the responsibility of welfare from private charities to the federal government.
Whitney Moore Young Jr. and Dorothy Height were key figures in the Civil Rights Movement.
Irena Sendler, a social worker, saved the lives of about 2500 Jewish children during the Holocaust.
Ida Canon, Dr. Richard Kitt, and Garnett Isabelle Pelton established the first social work department at a hospital.
Janet Thornton's work demonstrated the impact of social factors on medical care and disabilities.
Sheila Ryan's commitment to social justice included volunteering, activism, and contributions to the special needs clinic.
Sheila Ryan co-authored chapters in a psychology handbook and was remembered for her humanity and intellect.
Transcripts
[Music]
our country is vibrant and strong
because it has been woven from people's
stories into a compelling Narrative of
struggle renewal and success the social
work profession has a distinguished
history of not only providing social
safety nets to the most vulnerable but
also challenging systems that impede
social Mobility this presentation is a
journey through the pioneers of Social
Work who wo the first threads of
advocacy into the fabric of our
profession if there is a hub around
which the social work Universe turns it
is Jane Adams a leading social reformer
of her day and lifelong champion of
social justice in 1889 she founded Hall
house in Chicago part of the settlement
house movement dedicated to giving
immigrants and other marginalized people
in the cities Access to Health Care
education
sports activities and political power
settlements focused more on the causes
of poverty than on the flaws of the poor
some of the social problems addressed
were infant mortality Factory working
conditions housing and sanitation
conditions and truancy some of these
investigations led to social
policy throughout her life she threw her
energies into such activities as gaining
the vote for women and the international
National peace movement she was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 the first
given to a woman though in the United
States her pacifist views gained her the
reputation of being one of the most
dangerous women in the
[Music]
country Mary Richmond's research on
poverty and other social ills in her
book The Social diagnosis formed the
basis of social casework or what we
would today call person centered care
World War I provided unique
opportunities for social case workers
through their work in war related
activities such as the red cross's Home
Service led by Mary Richmond casew
workers applied their skills to problems
faced by servicemen and their families
Richmond's most important contribution
was her insistence that care was a
partnership where the social worker
would work with people's strengths to
craft appropriate respons to a person's
[Music]
needs before Florence Kelly began her
work in 1899 at the Henry Street
settlement on New York's Lower East Side
she cut her teeth with Adams at Hull
House where she surveyed working
conditions in local factories her
research LED Illinois to pass the first
factory law prohibiting children under
14 from being employed lyd in New York
she became Secretary of the national
consumers League responsible for
introducing the white label designation
which was granted to employers that
followed labor laws and safety standards
she also LED campaigns that resulted in
the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 which
regulated working hours and minimum wage
she established the national child labor
committee and her signature
accomplishment was the creation of
several organizations that set up
federal state Partnerships to combat
maternal and infant mortality and better
the lives of
[Music]
children Robert Hunter came from the
Chicago Hull House to join University
settlement in New York where he headed
Florence Kelly's National child labor
committee and commissioned Lewis W Hind
to photograph child labor in America
which hind did from 1908 to
1912 Hunter's employment of Hine led to
one of the most recognized set of images
in American culture the young people in
hines's photos give a stark and
uncompromising picture of the way the
economic system used anyone of any age
to generate its profits and these
pictures helped Galvanize many states
into passing laws Banning child labor it
took the federal government until 1938
to do the same thing
[Music]
Eda wheeler brought the first case
Against Child Abuse in the United States
in
1874 the child was Mary Ellen Wilson at
that time there were no laws Against
Child Abuse and although she went to the
police the courts and the church nobody
listened so she went to Henry Berg
founder of the American Society for the
prevention of cruelty to animals who
became an ally in her efforts wheeler
gathered documentation on the abuse and
recruited Witnesses while Berg contacted
New York Times reporters who published
detailed accounts and pictures of the
abuse Mary Ellen was removed from her
parents custody and her case led to the
creation of the New York Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children the
first Protection Agency in the world
later in life Mary Ellen got married had
two children and later adopted an
orphaned girl she died in 1956 at
[Music]
92 the Great Depression gave the Social
Work profession a national stage the
American Association of Social Workers
testified before the Senate on the
gravity of the crisis and many people
who began their careers in settlements
now moved into public service such as
Francis Perkins who became Secretary of
Labor Molly ducen a political organizer
for the Democratic party Aubry Williams
assistant Federal relief administrator
and Harry Hopkins an architect of FDR's
New Deal Social Works influence also
changed cultural attitudes about poverty
and Misfortune before the Great
Depression most people thought of
welfare as something poor people
received from Mostly private Charities
after the Depression providing welfare
for American citizens became a widely
recognized responsibility of the federal
government social workers like many
others from the 1950s to the 70s worked
in the Civil Rights Movement Whitney
Moore young Jr president of the National
Urban League from 1961 to 71 initiated
programs in education and
community-based planning and encouraged
major corporations to hire more blacks
Dorothy Height a key figure in the
struggles for school desegregation
voting rights employment opportunities
and public accommodations was called the
Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement
by President Barack
Obama Irena sendler a Catholic Polish
social worker with the Warsaw Municipal
Social Service saved the lives of about
2500 Jewish children in the Warsaw
Ghetto under the pretext of inspecting
sanitary conditions sendler and her
co-work workers smuggled out the
children sometimes disguised as packages
sendler kept records of all the children
in a jar so that after the horrors ended
they could be reunited with relatives in
1999 encouraged by a teacher whose
classroom motto was he who changes one
person changes the world entire students
in rural Kansas discovered irena's story
they exchanged hundreds of letters with
her and visited her several times
sendler started a tradition when the
first students went to Poland to visit
her she gave them each a necklace saying
no matter where you are or what happens
you will always have a piece of my
[Music]
heart Ida Canon Dr Richard Kitt and
Garnett Isabelle Pelton helped establish
the first social work department at the
Massachusetts General Hospital in 1906
with Canon being named the first Chief
of Social Work in
1914 together they created collaborative
systems of practice that mixed medical
and psychological information with data
gleaned about patients living conditions
Dr Kitt held that it was not possible to
restore patients to health without
considering what he called the
nonsomatic factors such as living
conditions Ida Canan professed that
social workers see the patient as a
member belonging to a family or
community group that is altered because
of his ill health a concept that is
still relevant to our practice
today in 1904 Presbyterian Hospital
placed a nurse as a social worker in the
Neurological Institute to assist
patients and focus on promoting Public
Health that same year saw the creation
of the New York school of Applied
philanthropy which later became Colombia
School of Social Work Columbia
Presbyterian Medical Center added a
social work department in the 1920s and
hired Janet Thornton as the first
director in
1924 Thornton published the social
component in medical care in 1937 to
demonstrate that improving a patient's
social factors would decrease the impact
of
[Music]
disabilities and lastly our own Sheila
Ryan who added the most amazing threads
to this fabric of Social Work history
Sheila died of cancer on January 20th
2013 when she was just 18 she began her
lifelong commitment to social justice
volunteering for the student non-violent
Coordinating Committee and going to
Mississippi for Freedom Summers voting
registration battles she was arrested at
the first ever Sittin at the White House
where she and others demanded to speak
to President Johnson about Selma Alabama
always active while in prison she
organized a prisoner a prisoner literacy
program in the 1980s Sheila worked for
peace in the Middle East wrote
extensively and co-hosted a radio
program Sheila also earned simultaneous
master's degrees in social work and
public health from Columbia University
and became director of the special needs
Clinic supporting children and families
affected by HIV AIDS along with other
special needs Clinic staff she
co-authored several chapters in a
psychology handbook
Dr Warren ning said at her funeral that
she was a fighter armed with her
humanity and her Exquisite intellect Dr
Jenny Havens also remembered her as a
true social worker loved and trusted by
her patients in an interview in 1999
Sheila described the Clinic's patients
as people whom the system considers
Expendable they've been beaten down and
traumatized their families have been
torn apart and still they won't give up
their will to survive not just in a
physical sense but as human beings is
inspiring this presentation has been a
brief journey through a family album
that helps us see where we come from and
inspires us to continue our work each
day let us add our own portraits to this
album as we weave threads of resiliency
and advocacy into the fabric of people
lives as well as into the fabric of our
profession's history
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