Social Welfare Institution

Cissy Cai
What is Social Welfare Institution?
● Social welfare institution refers to non-profit organizations and charities that
provide help and opportunities for people in need.
● It includes categories such as senior citizens, orphans, the unemployed,
substance abusers, ex-convicts, homeless people, etc.
● Programs exist are designed to help those who have no other support
system, or for those who have hit rock bottom and have no other way to get
their life back together.
History of Social Welfare Institution
● A similar idea first started with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who mainly
focused on creating jobs for the massive amount of unemployed workers, and
federal aids for the poor and the children.
● The first major step in creating social welfare programs was enactment of the
Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 by the Parliament of England, which
authorized government provision for the poor residing in local parishes.
● Demands of more prevention of poverty grew as more and more people
realized the benefit it brought to the society
● Significant development of large influx of immigrants, low wages, slim
housing, spread of diseases, and child labor became more aware by the
public to speak up and take action.
History of Social Welfare Institution
● The final step of the modern social welfare was determined by the impact of
the Great Depression, the New Deal, enactment of the Social Security Act
and the domestic programs known as the Great Society.
● The efforts of individuals, religious groups, and non-profit organizations in
history have strengthened the fabric of American society and improved the
quality of life for mass amounts of people.
How do members of society perceive your institution?
● Members of society that do not belong to any of the categories under social
welfare perceives this institution as unfitting to the rest of the society.
● People who often know nothing about social welfare institution will
automatically judge the members in this institution poorly, or not belonging to
societal norms.
How do members of the institution perceive itself?
● People under the social welfare institution often feel like its a second chance
in life, a do-over from the past mistakes or unfortunate situations that
individuals have experienced.
● Members of this institution believe that these programs exists as great
opportunities for people who have hit rock bottom, some way or others, to get
back on their feet, and rejoin society again.
How has the institution changed over time?
● Social welfare institutions have greatly changed overtime, as the more and
more beneficial these programs have become the bigger the population have
gotten over the long period of time.
● More non-profit organizations have began their help because in present days
it is more likely for groups to become independent and maintain programs like
this either with funding liek fundraisers or donations, or the interchange of
helping one and another.
How would I improve the social welfare institution?
● More funding by fundraisers or donations, instead of one big leading group
that controls the programs from its full potential.
● Promote and focus more on the non-profit organizations such as Delancey
Street Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, Guidestar, etc.
● Create more activities to become more involved in the society.
● Maintaining help and support for all and not exclude any individual will bring
the society together as a whole.
● Instead of using the involvement of money, provide help and support in other
actions such as training or physical/psychological activities.
Does social welfare institution work better for some members of society?

● Social welfare institution usually includes program that work for all members
of the society, and covers all areas of support needed.
● Some individuals might fit in better with one program over the other due their
personal struggles and background history, but the overall institution provides
help and opportunities for all members of the society in need.
 Functionalist Theory for Social Welfare Institution in
American Society
Functionalism sees society as a complex system that works together to form
solidarity and stability. Social welfare institution exist to maintain these qualities for
all, instead of just those who are fortunate. Durkheim believed that in a social
structure, there is the division of labor as well as anomie, social welfare institution
demonstrates all levels of society and their tasks that need to complete in order to
maintain balance within the society.
 Conflict Theory for Social Welfare Institution in
American Society
The conflict theory in social welfare institution would be the competition for limited
resources from the outside members of the society, like Marx believe that social
order is maintained by domination and power. This goes against the social welfare
institution as this institution believes in equal opportunity for all to succeed rather
than just the fortunate few that are able to rise to the top. The conflict theory
oppose to the goal of social welfare institution because resources are limited in
this society, and instead of fairness and equality, conflict theory goes against the
purpose of social welfare institution.
Works Cited
Bosma, H (1989). The Social Welfare Institution: An Analysis of Its Position and Function within the Societal Model.
University of Calgary. Retrieved from
http://www.ucalgary.ca/sw/ramsay/papers2/Bosma-89-social-welfare-institution-1.html

Social welfare | List of High Impact Articles | PPts | Journals | Videos. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
https://www.omicsonline.org/scholarly/social-welfare-journals-articles-ppts-list.php

http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/statisticaldata/yearlydata/yb2004-e/html/23ie.htm

Lnmon, K. Social Welfare as a Social Institution.

http://udc.libguides.com/c.php?g=670955
Works Cited
Culture and Society. Reading: Conflict Theory and Society. Lumen. Retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-sociology/chapter/reading-conflict-theory/

E. Clifford Brennen (2013) The Social Welfare Institution: An Introduction, 2nd Ed., by Ronald C. Federico. D. C. Heath,
Lexington, Mass., 1976. 370 Pp., Journal of Education for Social Work, 14:2, 123-125, DOI:
10.1080/00220612.1978.10671513

Nichols, G. The People's First Social Welfare Institution for the Aged: a Chinese nursing home. NCBI. Pubmed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10266593