The “welfare-to-work” movement of the 1990s was a pivotal moment in the nation’s perception of poverty and social welfare policy. After decades of stigmatization of both those in poverty and the policies designed to help, federal action sought to shift society’s responsibility for the poor from the government to the individual. The culmination of this process was The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
In this Discussion, you analyze this policy through varied contexts that are relevant to the tenants of social welfare policy and to practice.
This Discussion also begins a common requirement to provide context in a concise way when discussing a policy. The ability to quickly note or explain a key historical factor contributing to the social problem or policy can help establish relevance. Remember that the goal when doing this is to provide context, not to establish a complete timeline or narrative.
To Prepare
· Review the Learning Resources, including those focused on the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996).
· Reflect on the background you have discovered leading up to this act—the history or the prevailing societal attitudes at a given time, for example—and determine how to sum up what is most relevant in 2–3 sentences.
ASSIGNMENT BELOW
· Describe the historical context of the policy in 2–3 sentences.
· The goal is to concisely point to an important historical event for context rather than conduct a deeper historical analysis.
· Identify the population the policy serves.
· What programs fall under this policy?
· Explain how the policy aligns with or does not align with the social work mission and values.
· Explain how society’s perception of vulnerable or marginalized populations relates to the development of this and other policies to address poverty.
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