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Introduction To Social Welfare

This course provides an introduction to the development of social welfare policy in Canada. It will examine social and human rights reactions to social problems, with a focus on poverty and economic disadvantage. Students will explore the role of social workers in influencing policy development and working to change existing structures. The methods of forming social policy at the legislative and grassroots level will also be considered. The course aims to explore how individual problems relate to larger socio-economic and political issues, and how poverty is an issue of equity.

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Fred Mukonda
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151 views2 pages

Introduction To Social Welfare

This course provides an introduction to the development of social welfare policy in Canada. It will examine social and human rights reactions to social problems, with a focus on poverty and economic disadvantage. Students will explore the role of social workers in influencing policy development and working to change existing structures. The methods of forming social policy at the legislative and grassroots level will also be considered. The course aims to explore how individual problems relate to larger socio-economic and political issues, and how poverty is an issue of equity.

Uploaded by

Fred Mukonda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Social Welfare

course overview

This course provides an introduction to the development of social welfare policy in Canada.
Social and human rights reactions to social problems in general will be examined, as well as
poverty and economic disadvantage in particular. The role of the social worker in influencing
policy development, including working to change the structures that currently exist, will be
explored. The methods of forming social policy at the legislative and grassroots level will be
considered.

Course Content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course.

 Social policy decisions are related to the protection and affirmation of human
rights. Public sentiment influences who is safeguarded by legislation and the
consequences for those who remain oppressed.
 Individual problems are related to larger socio-economic political issues. This includes
the need for both personal and social change: the need to explore and reflect on each
individual’s life (personality, gifts, needs, and motivation) and the structural context of
society (class, gender, race, age, government institutions).
 Poverty is an issue of equity. Although all people face some risk of being poor, people
who are marginalized face significantly higher risk.
 Understanding societal attitudes, the political process, relevant legislation, and the social
welfare delivery system and policy are prerequisites for providing direct service and for
advocating on behalf of recipients of service.
 Models of change need to be appropriate for diverse populations depending on factors
such as history, culture, and ability to be empowered within the legal, political, and social
structures of society.
 The delivery of social welfare is not an inert enterprise, and at both the practical and
theoretical level the social worker adopts an active role to advocate on behalf of clients
within formal and informal mechanisms of providing help.
 Both beginning and experienced practitioners need to be aware of their own values,
political agendas and potential biases within their role as professionals.
 The impacts of globalization and privatization continue to erode the universal delivery of
social welfare across Canada and the notion of equal access for all is under threat.
 Social policy may be formed at different levels in society and the social service
practitioner can be an active agent of change within this process.

Methods of Instruction

 Lecture
 Group exercises
 Student presentations

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