Social Welfare programs, as discussed in the preceding pages, are intended to render assistance to people suffering from one or the other problem of physical, material want, mental distress, and emotional disturbance.

Main Headlins

Social Welfare Programs

Millions of people all over the world are confronted with the serious and incapacitating problems caused by extreme poverty, frustration due to lack of educational and job opportunities, tensions and anxieties arising from inter-generation and cross-cultural conflicts, the breakdown of the joint family system which provided social and emotional security, the problem of migrants from rural to urban areas and the recent phenomenon of terrorists and militant activities in addition to the havoc caused by natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, droughts, and famines and the wars among different groups in the countries which have recently been emancipated from foreign yoke or are engaged in their fight for independence and the disaster caused by the recent Gulf War.

Methods and Mechanism of Social Welfare

The methods and mechanisms for social welfare of these inflicted, disadvantaged, and distressed people differ from country to country depending upon the magnitude of clientele needing welfare services, the infrastructure and other paraphernalia available to render these services, and above all the resources available in terms of finance and the trained manpower.

The usual methods are the employment of government departments, corporations, non-government agencies, and voluntary organizations for meeting the needs of people through institutional and non-institutional means, consisting of assistance through various social security approaches like social insurance and social assistance in the form of pensions, provident funds, gratuity, grants, rehabilitation centers for the disabled, the drug addicts, delinquents, children and women in distress, old people homes, etc.

Understanding Social Welfare and Social Work

Social welfare includes the basic institutions and processes related to facing and solving social problems—these problems which affect a large number of people and which require some kind of concerted group effort to resolve. In this sense, social welfare includes not only qualified social workers but also untrained personnel who are employed in public welfare, probation, and other areas in which social problems are being faced and resolved.

Role of Social Work in Social Welfare

Thus, social work is the upper professional echelon in the social welfare hierarchy and constitutes a method of great significance in the dispensation of social welfare services. Social work seeks to enhance the social functioning of individuals, singly or in groups, by activities focused upon their social relationships which constitute the interaction between man and his environment.

These activities can be grouped into:

Restoration of impaired capacity
Provision of individual and social resources
Protection of social dysfunction

In short, social work as a profession aims to develop the capacity of individuals, groups, and communities to solve their problems.

Methods of Social Work

There are three recognized methods in social work:

Case Work
Group Work
Community Organization

Additional Enabling Processes

In addition, there are two related services that are usually not classified as methods or processes, although they require distinct skills. They are:

Research and Evaluation
Administration

These are also known as enabling processes.

Collective Social Work

Social Case Work

According to Mary Richmond, the pioneer of scientific social case work, social case work consists of those processes which develop personality through adjustments consciously effected, individual by individual, between them and their social environment. Hamilton is of the view that case work is characterised by the objective to administer practical services and offer counselling in such a way as to arouse and conserve the psychological energies of the client—actively to involve him in the use of the service toward the solution of his dilemma.

Case work is thus a method of helping people based on knowledge, understanding, and the use of techniques skillfully employed in helping people to solve problems. Case work is based on the principles of acceptance, self-determination, and confidentiality.

Principle of Acceptance – Refers to the attitude of the worker, his respect for the client as an individual, giving him a sense of security and encouraging him to speak about his problem frankly.
Principle of Self-Determination – Allows the client to decide for himself rather than deciding for him.
Principle of Confidentiality – Implies that the relationship between the caseworker and the client is based on trust, and whatever is revealed is kept confidential unless shared in the interest of the client with his permission.

Techniques of case work consist of:

Development of client-worker relationship
Helping the client to express himself freely
Diagnosing the cause of the problem
Treating the cause through ego support, developing confidence, environmental manipulation, etc.

Case work is used in a variety of settings such as:

Child care and child guidance institutions
Schools and colleges
Medical and psychiatric settings
Family welfare and marriage counselling centres
Institutions for the old, infirm, and handicapped
People suffering from addiction, character disorders, and emotional disturbances

Group Work in Social Work

Group work, the primary method of social work, is based on the assumption that individuals cannot live in isolation and need each other. It is a method of working with people in groups (two or more people) for the enhancement of social functioning and for the achievement of socially desirable goals.

Konopka explains that group work is an approach consciously directed toward developing the individual’s greatest capacity while relating him to the group, learning when he is to contribute, and when he has to withdraw.

Principles of Group Work

Group work lays strong emphasis on:

Individualism – Recognizing the importance of each member in the group.
Participation – Encouraging involvement in group activities to reach full potential.
Self-Worth – Fostering a sense of value within the group.

Techniques Used in Group Work

Using knowledge of individuals and their group associations to effect change
Employing programs and creative activities such as crafts, games, and other media
Encouraging participation to smoothen individual differences and address complexes
Helping individuals release tension and anxieties through appropriate tasks
Developing a positive self-image, right attitude, and behavior towards problems

Comparison of Case Work and Group Work

It is evident from the above discussion that while case work is an effective method of dealing with individual cases on a one-to-one basis, group work is designed to treat clients within a group setting.

In the West, case workers are increasingly turning towards group treatment. The ideological roots of social group work can be traced to self-help and informal recreational organizations such as:

YMCA & YWCA
Settlement settings
Jewish centers in the USA
Democratic ideals of equal benefits in society after the Industrial Revolution

Subsequently, this method was introduced in social work schools across the USA, Great Britain, Canada, and other parts of the world and was successfully used in problem-solving.

Application of Group Work in India

In India, group work has largely remained confined to classrooms in schools of social work and has not been widely applied in real-world settings, even in hospitals and institutions. However, group work can be effectively utilized for India’s development objectives through programs in:

Health
Family Welfare
Education
Housing

Various Organisations

Community Organisation in Social Welfare

Communities of various kinds and sizes suffer from varying kinds of social ills. While case work deals particularly with individual-to-individual relationships and group work utilizes the group as a tool for bringing changes in personal and group living, community organisation is the method for working with the community as a whole.

Ross defines community organisation as a process by which a community:

Identifies its needs or objectives
Develops the confidence and the will to work on these needs
Takes action to address them
Develops cooperative and collaborative attitudes in the process

In brief, the community is the primary client in community organisation for social welfare. The community may refer to a:

Neighbourhood
City
State
Nation
International community

Role of a Community Organiser

A community organiser plays a crucial role in:

Establishing relationships with community members
Conducting surveys to assess the needs of the community
Involving people in planning and fundraising
Implementing social welfare programs and other services

Historical Background of Community Organisation

The first efforts at community organisation for social welfare were initiated in the United Kingdom during the 19th century to combat acute poverty.
The United States of America adopted this method in the early 20th century.
Developing countries, including India, have been using it for social development and welfare programs.

Significance of Community Organisation in India

Community organisation is particularly important for India, as village communities require significant assistance to improve their living conditions. It is also vital in addressing issues faced by:

Slum dwellers
Scheduled castes and tribes
Landless labourers
Peasants
Impoverished metropolitan areas

Challenges in Rural Development Programmes

India’s rural development programmes, such as the Community Development Programme and National Extension Services launched in the 1950s, failed to achieve desired results due to:

Lack of an effective community organisation approach
Poor implementation strategies
Limited participatory planning

Need for Community Organisation in Development Programs

To ensure the success of key programs such as:

Adult education
Community health initiatives
Integrated rural development
Village industries promotion
Employment opportunities for the poor
Anti-poverty programmes

It is imperative to adopt community organisation methods along with participatory planning and development approaches.

The Assessment

Definition of Research

Research is defined in Webster’s New International Dictionary as:

Careful or critical enquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles
Diligent investigation to ascertain something

The Encyclopedia of Social Sciences defines research as:

“The manipulation of things, concepts, or symbols for the purpose of generalizing to extend, correct, or verifying knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in the construction of a theory or in the practice of an art.”

Social Research and Its Importance

Social research is a systematic enquiry regarding social situations and problems. It involves:

The process of obtaining social facts
Methodical enquiry into social phenomena

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Methods and Techniques in Social Research

Various methods and techniques are employed to gain a deeper understanding of social functioning and to control/reduce social problems. These include:

Statistical methods
Historical analysis
Social surveys
Ecological methods
Case method

Definition and Purpose of Evaluation

Evaluation is a scientific approach used to assess the achievements of a programme. Its main objectives are:

To provide objectively systematic and comprehensive evidence
To determine how well a programme meets its intended goals

Significance of Research and Evaluation in Social Planning

The application of evaluation studies contributes to:

A science of social planning
A more rationally planned society
The improvement of social and psychological theories of change

Research and evaluation studies provide valuable insights into different social problems to ensure the effective implementation of welfare programmes.

Role of Government and Institutions in Research and Evaluation

The following government ministries and organizations provide financial assistance to support research and evaluation:

Ministry of Welfare
Department of Women and Child Development (erstwhile)
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Central Social Welfare Board
State Welfare Advisory Boards

These institutions fund universities, voluntary organizations, and social sciences research institutes to conduct research related to:

Scheduled castes and tribes
Various fields of social welfare
Social defence and policy
Social development

Social Management

Importance of Administration in Social Welfare

Administration plays a crucial role in social welfare because:

Policies and programmes alone are not sufficient without proper implementation
Financial allocations need efficient administrative mechanisms
Well-trained and motivated staff are essential for success

Definition of Social Welfare Administration

Social welfare administration can be defined as:

“The process of transforming social policy into social services by implementing programmes effectively.”

According to Kruse, administration seeks to:

Mobilize resources of an agency
Translate purposes into efficient and effective services

Functions of Social Welfare Administration

Social welfare administration involves:

Applying professional standards and competence
Ensuring successful implementation of social welfare programmes
Managing official and voluntary social agencies

Government’s Role in Social Welfare Administration

To ensure effective social welfare administration, the Government of India has:

Established the Ministry of Welfare
Set up State Departments and Corporations for social welfare
Provided grants to voluntary agencies through the Central Social Welfare Board

Education and Training in Social Welfare Administration

To meet the growing demand for trained professionals, several institutions offer social welfare administration as part of their curriculum. These include:

Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, Bombay (1936)
Delhi School of Social Work (1947-48)
School of Social Work, University of Baroda
Various universities and postgraduate colleges

Additionally, institutions like the Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay, have introduced independent courses in Social Welfare Administration.

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Various Programmes

Familial Model

In all societies, the family plays an important role in social welfare provision, for example in child-rearing and care of the aged and disabled. Public policy emphasis on the role of the family varies considerably. The best example of an advanced society where a very high value is still placed on the role of the family is France, which, though like other countries, has public health welfare pension and social insurance mechanisms.

However, family structures are still relatively strong, and many social needs met elsewhere by government programmes are still met by the family. In developing countries like India, the Joint Family system, despite its decline due to various factors, continues to be the main support for economic security, especially of the unemployed, children, and old people.

Residual Model

The best example of this model is the United States, where the predominant view has been that public provision for old age, unemployment, and illness should be confined to a residue of the poor and needy. For the bulk of the population, welfare services can best be secured through the private market, particularly through insurance. Therefore, the most important and characteristic American social welfare programmes are the state public welfare systems, which provide many kinds of benefits to the poor.

Mixed Economy Model

In West Germany, by far the most important part of the social welfare system is the contributory insurance plan. The German social insurance system has provided a very successful forum for cooperation between the government, social administrators, banks, insurance firms, and individual entrepreneurs. For those unfortunate enough to fall outside the insurance system, such as immigrants, the disabled, and the long-term unemployed, residual provision in the form of non-contributory benefits is much less generous.

Model of State Control

The Soviet Union is the most conspicuous model of state control. The whole of social insurance, residual welfare, personal social services, and the bulk of medical treatment are organised by local or provincial authorities or by local councils. For Western observers, the most interesting aspects of the common welfare system are those that are not found at all or are found only in a minimal form in the West.

The Quantum and Quality

Influencing Factors

The quantum and quality of social welfare programmes cannot be uniform in different countries due to variations in their populations, stages of development, economic and financial resources, magnitude and size of the clientele to be served, forms of government and their policies, needs, and aspirations of the people, and the nature of their organisations. Additionally, the availability of organisational and administrative paraphernalia to administer the welfare programmes, and the manpower resources or properly qualified, trained, dedicated, and motivated personnel, along with the presence of voluntary organisations to supplement government efforts, play crucial roles.

Common Welfare Services

All governments, irrespective of their ideologies, are committed to providing minimum welfare services to their people. These programmes relate to family welfare, child and women welfare, youth welfare, the welfare of the handicapped, delinquents, drug addicts, minorities, weaker sections of society, ex-servicemen, criminals, the aged, prisoners, victims of terrorists and militants, etc. This list is by no means exhaustive and is bound to increase with population explosion and other emerging challenges.

Challenges in Developing Countries

Developing countries, where welfare services lag behind the standards achieved by developed nations, would face unbearable strains in the emerging scenario. The additional burden of social welfare services is also inevitable due to new phenomena such as terrorist and militant activities, natural calamities, and forced migration due to religious or ideological persecution.

Government Agencies and Voluntary Organisations

Government agencies and voluntary organizations engaged in delivering welfare services determine the methods and techniques according to the needs of their clients and the situations of their problems. Recognized social work methods such as casework, group work, and community organization are generally used for social welfare, along with research, evaluation, and administration to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of their programmes.

Global Models of Social Welfare Services

Social welfare services worldwide can be classified based on the emphasis they lay on certain aspects and the beneficiaries they cover into the familial, residual, mixed economy, and state control models. These models are likely to undergo changes with shifts in the structure of governments, political and economic ideologies, and the thinking about better utilisation of financial resources.

Familial Model: Exemplified by France, where a high value is placed on the role of the family.
Residual Model: Best represented by the United States, where welfare services are secured through the private market.
Mixed Economy Model: Seen in countries like West Germany and Britain, where both contributory insurance plans and residual provisions exist.
Model of State Control: Exemplified by the Soviet Union, where local or provincial authorities organise social insurance and welfare services.

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Future Considerations

Countries like Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Sweden, and other Scandinavian nations, along with former communist countries in Europe, face the challenge of restructuring their welfare services because of political and economic changes. The ongoing shifts in government structures, political and economic ideologies, and the need for better utilisation of financial resources will continue to shape the landscape of social welfare programmes globally.