Community Service Chapter One Introduction to Social Welfare
I. The Reaction of Others
A. Whether based on personal experiences or value orientation, people often possess strong opinions
concerning expenditures for social welfare programs
II. Aspiring for an enlightened view
A. Place yourself in the "role of the other"—someone experiencing difficulties or having limited resources and in
need of help or assistance
B. As an aspiring social worker, or someone just interested in human services, the ability to entertain social
conditions and life circumstances from multiple vantage points is critical.
1. Approach the topic of social welfare with a sense of inquiry, skepticism toward commonly held
beliefs, and respect for the social realities of others
2. Push yourself to question the obvious, what people call "common sense," and seek a broaer
understanding of what constitutes human need and social welfare.
III. Conceptualization of social welfare programs
A. Social Welfare programs usually refer to systematic efforts aimed at addressing human needs and providing
opportunities (social, economic, education, health, and otherwise) thorugh the provision of some form
of aid,
assistance, and/ or service
1. Mistakenly, "Social welfare programs are often seen as programs for the poor, but there are many
social services that people may need regardless of their income and social status."
B. While many people continue to think of social welfare in terms of services addressing basic family support
(e.g., monetary assistance to needy families, food stamps, unemployment insurance, subsidized housing, and
medical needs), other types of social welfare exist to serve the middle and upper classes.
1. These programs include a federal fiscal welfare system (e.g. tax deductions for dependents, medical
expenses, childcare, and college expenses) and occupational welfare programs (e.g., company-
based
bonus systems, employer provided health care benefits, reimbursement for moving costs, and
tuition
reimbursement).
2. Interestingly, it appears that "social welfare programs serving the middle and upper classes receive
more government funding and face fewer budget cuts than programs serving only poor people
IV. Corporate Welfare
A. It is also important to note that the United States is heavily engaged in corporate welfare programs—
government subsidies, benefits and/or tax breaks for companies and corporate officials
1. Large companies are formidable lobbying entities
2. They invest heavily in efforts (e.g., through political support and contributions) to secure and sustain
governmental backing for their specific interests.
3. Corporate welfare comes in many different forms, including tax abatements, various forms of tax
write-offs, subsidized loans, the creation of tax free zones, and special subsidies
4. When companies and corporations struggle to make-ends-meet, for whatever reasons, they often
turn to the government for help.
