Social Welfare in America - Research Paper Example

Social Welfare in America The concern of the US federal government is to protect its citizen from social conditions (Lader 212), which would influence their lives. This belief has driven many legislatures in United States to instigate social policies, which cater for various groups that need support from the government. Entrenching the social welfare programs in the federal laws has been one of the bold steps that legislatures have taken to cushion the citizens. Concern of the welfare program is to create a society the underprivileged have a good life to lead (Greenberg & Watts 46). Social issues such as state of economy, unemployment, housing, Medicare among other social programs have been the concern of the welfare program. The paper will explore the history of welfare programs in United States. The great depression of 1930s had devastating effects to the citizens of United States. Legislatures of that time took an initiative to create Social Security act in 1935, which influenced programs such as pension schemes, address issues touching on the unemployed, and children welfare (Alexander 5). Cushion families from financial difficulties was the intention of the social security act. The government stability depends on its ability to address factors influencing the wellbeing of its people. President Roosevelt’s regime lingers in the minds of the Americans whenever they discus social security programs. US legislatures amended the social security act in 1939 to cater for unemployment compensation (Tushnet 125). Unemployed are susceptible to hard life conditions, which can drive them into committing social crimes as a means to cater for their needs. The program intended to provide stipends, which would cater for their basic needs. Federal government created agencies, which could oversee welfare programs in United States. The agencies created through 1939 social security act include Department of Health and Human Service (HHS), Labor Department, Education, Agriculture, and Urban Development and Housing (Caputo 231). Each department addresses issues affecting US citizens. For instance, the department of agriculture addressed influences that originate from agricultural production in the nation. Education department ironed issues, which influenced acquisition of education in the United States. Historians believe that US welfare has been able to address critical issues, which influence human development (Handel 143). In 1965, US passed a social welfare act, which influenced the lives of elderly persons in the nation. The intention of the act was to compensate old persons by creating a kitty, which would cater for their wellbeing. The elderly have the challenge when it comes to finances, which would settle their bills in the society. The elderly compensation program has enabled many elderly persons to lead a positive life after retirement. In 1996, US government passed Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Epstein 46). The intention of the act was to address poverty effects in the society. The growing number of the poor in US was worrying and the government had to develop strategy, which could influence their lives. The act gives the federal government the power to direct funds to various states to cater for the poor. Assisting the poor accords human rights because the government has the mandate to protect the poor (Reintsma 212). Largely, the protection of the poor as stipulated in the in the constitution is a reality through this act. Medicare provision to US citizens has elicited debates on how the poor could benefit from the welfare program. The provision in the Medicare program is to ensure the US citizens can access quality healthcare. The program is in line with United Nations requirement, which intends to improve human health care as a basic requirement (Zastrow 136). Medicare social welfare program dates back to the time of President Johnson when United States had to compensate war veterans and their families for their contribution to their nation. Federal government has demonstrated commitment to the Medicare program extending its mandate to cater for citizens who live in poverty (Alexander 6). The essence of this program is to improve standard of life. Housing assistance welfare program addresses concern of housing problems that US citizens have been meeting. Housing Community Development act passed by the federal government in 1980s sought to improve housing crisis in the nation (Epstein 224). The intention of the act was to create an alternative system, which would enable citizens in middle-income families to acquire facilities in housing through taxes and loans. During President George H. W. Bush administration, US legislatures passed a housing act in 1990 (Tushnet 156), which sought to increase the amount channeled to support housing program. The act responded to needs of the citizens who trod in poverty. The housing act of 1990 provided for a block grant to poor US citizens. The Tax Reform Act passed by the US government in 1986 influenced taxation of low-income houses (Caputo 98). The view of this social welfare was to reduce levies paid in the low-income rental houses. The growth in US population creates a great challenge to the government. The response to its challenges includes instigating a long-term strategy, which would create sustainability in the housing sector. The tax reform has experienced some changes in 1990 and 1994 where the government granted opportunity to developers to increase their constructions of new houses (Lader 256). US government has been able to initiate social programs, which cater for the needs of children and people living with disabilities. The 1996 act on Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation has created a comprehensive framework of handling issues affecting lives of children coming from poor families (Greenberg & Watts 69). The welfare program addresses how children can acquire education, healthcare and other necessities. Child welfare draws a lot of support of charitable organizations and other institutions, which are contributing towards making the society a better place. Policies influencing existence of child welfare do influence creation of institutions, which handle children (Handel 123). Federal government created social work department to address challenges that disabled, children, elderly, and mentally ill faced. The provision in the social work department influences the amount of budget that the federal government channels in the above department (Zastrow 236). Answering to the needs of the above group has been a concern of US legislatures who have strived to create policies, which would influence the social structure. For instance, Improving America’s Schools act created in 1994 reorganized the education sector to recognize the needs of the disabled and children from poor families (Alexander 6). The professional programs embraced in various programs today depend on the policies, which instituted them. In conclusion, the US social welfare has undergone historically changes geared towards improving human life and increasing observation of human rights by the federal government. The social security act instituted during President Roosevelt regime has been the foundation to structural development in the social welfare. Federal government has been able to improve housing standards, education standards, rights of the handicapped, and lives of the poor. Provision of basic human wants has influenced the direction that federal law take when instituting policies touching bon these areas. Work cited Alexander, A. Chauncey. Distinctive Dates in Social Welfare History. Web 10 April 2012 from http://wwwpersonal.umich.edu/~mdover/website/Social%20Welfare%20Policy%20Main%20Folder/DistinctiveDates.pdf Caputo, K. Richard. U.S. Social Welfare Reform: Policy Transitions from 1981 to the Present. New York: Springer. 2011. Print. Epstein, M. William. The Dilemma of American Social Welfare. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. 2011. Print. Greenberg, Brian & Watts, S. Linda. Social History of the United States, Volume 1. Amsterdam: ABC-CLIO. 2009. Print. Handel, Gerald. Social Welfare in Western Society. Transaction Publishers. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Print. Lader, Curt. Barron's AP United States Government & Politics. New York: Barron's Educational Series. 2010. Print. Reintsma, Mary. The Political Economy of Welfare Reform in the United States. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. 2007. Stern, J. Mark & Axinn, June. Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need. New Jersey: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. 2007. Print. Tushnet, Mark. Weak Courts, Strong Rights: Judicial Review and Social Welfare Rights in Comparative Constitutional Law. Kentucky: Princeton University Press. 2009. Print. Zastrow, Charles. Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Empowering People. New Jersey: Cengage Learning. 2009. Print. Read More