New Deal For Lone Parents - Case Study Example

The Welfare Reform and Lone Parents in Poverty Module 4SW033 November 12, Introduction Social reform policies in the UK have altered the development of distinct groups in society and are reflective in how various social groups are affected. A policy that has altered the social care among individuals is related to single parents that are suffering from poverty. The historical background that has developed from those who are in poverty because of being single is one which is continuously on the agenda of social work reformers and policies from institutions and governments, specifically because of resources and needs that are specific to this group. The national practice that is associated with this as well as the way in which the policies for single parents in poverty are known to affect families and communities in a positive or negative manner, dependent on the reforms of the time. History of Political Agendas and Single Parents in Poverty The definition of lone parents in poverty is based on those who are unemployed or who receive low levels of income through their employers. The outcome of this is based on lone parents who have to rely on state funding to receive assistance for their home or child support from ex – partners. The poverty levels are higher among women who are taking care of children specifically because of the role in the family based on the mother as care giver. The most common problem is related to divorce or women becoming pregnant before marriage. The number of women and men that have become lone mothers has drastically increased from the 1940s. The number in the 1950s was at 25% of lone mothers by the age of 40. The 1960s had the same figure; however, the age of becoming a lone parent was at the age of 30. Those born in the 1970s became lone mothers by the age of 25 with 15% who were single by this time (McKay, 12: 2002). The number of those in poverty in the UK is higher than other places in Europe, specifically in places such as Sweden. It is noted that empowerment programs and policies are in place to ensure that lone parents don’t reach a level of poverty, specifically by providing resources to ensure they are cared for monetarily with a focus on resources needed for children and adults (McKay, 15: 2002). The changes in age group as well as the continuous rise in lone parents in poverty are one that is not only based on the fluctuations in the household. There are also several distributions that are linked to the growth of the country, economic stability that is available and the activities on a social level. In the mid-1940s, the increase of lone parents in poverty was attributed to the emergence out of the war and the changing attitudes of those that were a part of the culture. Widows and women who were divorced were the driving force during the time. More specifically, policies were developed based on social policies and the welfare state. The response from the government was to focus on humanitarian concepts and to change the economic components based on the definition of the welfare state (Alcock, 7: 2008). The 1950s through the 1980s saw an increase specifically because of economic fluctuations and the inability to have sustainable growth for women and men who were single parents and needed assistance with work. The social stigma of raising a family and working was not accepted within society, which didn’t provide single parents with the capability of working. More important, economic reforms were required to change the growth within the economy. During this time, this was not sustainable and led to complexities with human development (Seymour, 7:2000). The main contribution which has historically created a response to those in poverty is based on human development and social capital. By increasing the amount of available social capital, there is the ability to take individuals out of poverty and to change the association that is a part of the injustices of lone parents in poverty. The developments in the 1940s began with human rights, equity and justice among those who were in need with a specific focus on women who had moved into a poverty level because of changed family conditions and from having children to care for. Emphasizing human rights and responsibility to future generations was the foundation the UK used when looking at the social capital of society. Trade agreements and human development was then incorporated, which included developing the macro-economy in the UK. A welfare system was initially started to support lone parents as well as healthcare and social benefits which could be given to society. A National Health Service, new trade systems that were implemented with GATT and the WTO and training programs to assist women to get out of poverty are some of the initiatives taken from this time frame. These reform programs are similar to those in Sweden, specifically because of trade systems and resource development that is defined internationally. However, the initial development of human rights, development of trade and health remains the same today as in the 1940s, which complicates the programs available in the UK (Seymour, 27: 2000). Policies and National Practice The policies and practice that has been implemented nationally is currently affecting various concepts that are associated with those in poverty. The social work practice is affected first by the policies and expectations for helping those that are in poverty and who are living as lone parents. The first set of policies and national practice is based on the continuous focus on the welfare reform, which is designed to move as money individuals out of poverty as possible. The New Labour approach is one that is continuing to be used and reinforced with social work practice and national expectations. The main focus is to create a policy which focuses on citizenship and participation within society. More important, there is a pressure to create accountability to those that are in poverty and to use this to begin to move several out of the living situation. By creating new opportunities for citizens through the community and policies, there is the ability to move toward constitutional change within society (Powell, 40: 2002). Another set of policies that have emerged within the social work practice and through national regimes is focused on the conditions of lone mothers and children to provide the correct assistance. Child welfare is one of the main policy implementations, specifically which is initiated through the UN. Health reforms that allow children to get assistance without payments, as well as ensuring that children get basic benefits so they can receive the proper care are some of the concepts which are contributing to new expectations and policies among social workers. The current focus is to find a way to redistribute resources to children and lone parents, specifically so the support and benefits can be provided in the correct manner while resources and other components can be considered. The child poverty in most areas is currently at one of the higher ratios at 21%, which means that children, especially of lone parents, need to be considered for social support through the policies and implementation of basic programs for care (Vleminckx, Smeeding, 410: 2001). The legislation and legalities which are following the social work practice has been developed from the social welfare reform that has been announced. Working tax credits, welfare to work programmes and initiatives to raise employment among lone parents are the primary considerations. The policy and formation which has developed comes from indicators used to reform the welfare state and to begin to lower percentages. The expectations from the legalities is based on policies that move lone parents into the workforce and which provide general care for children in poverty. The regulation of this goes into social work practices, specifically because the formation of those who need assistance in the community is based on the programs that are developed and the expectancy to use these in a certain manner. The legalities are then furthered with working tax credits, which are designed to assist those in poverty to have the necessary assistance through various reforms (Gregg, Harkness, Smith, F38: 2009). Values and Principles for Social Workers A main component that social workers are using to create value and new principles is to stop lone parents from remaining isolated from the community. The family, neighbours and volunteers that are in the surrounding community can all connect to those that have been excluded for living in poverty because of status. It is known that the more in which an individual is able to move into social inclusion within a society, the more likely that opportunities may be available to change the situation. Currently, the exclusion which is occurring is based on the place, population and governance of a specific area. This is not able to incorporate more resources for lone parents with children and leaves those that are disadvantaged remaining in a welfare state. Local economies can shift this to create new values among those that are considered lone parents in poverty while basing the welfare regime on incorporating resources for those that are suffering economically. Resources may include training and education, employment opportunities, health resources and family assistance for working parents (Percy – Smith, 12: 2000). The component of using resources within specific neighbourhoods and social worker regulations also are defined through extra services that can be provided by volunteers working with the welfare reform. The organizations which can be used with volunteers are based first on the National Health Service that is available to children and lone parents. Other volunteer organizations for health can also be used. Welfare organizations outside of the government are also existent, specifically which are provided through the New Labour policies implemented by the UK. The social inclusion that is available at this level is based on employment and training that is available. Volunteer organizations and communities often have different ways to regulate these needs while providing more options for lone parents who need to emerge into a different profession. The more in which organizations can be used for progression among those in poverty, the better an outcome will be available for those that are suffering from poverty (Jordan, 527: 2001). How the Policies Affect Society The main components that are defining the welfare reform as well as social action are one that is seeing positive responses from those in society. It is known that the welfare reform that began in 1996 in the UK has led to immediate responses from communities, specifically by making them more active in terms of providing resources to lone parents in poverty. The activity is one which has increased specifically because of policies which are designed to empower those in the community and to change the levels of action that are in the community. It is also noted that when the local and state regulations and policies don’t offer the same responses, it lessens the affects in society as more communities don’t focus on the needs of those living in poverty as lone parents. The community sustainability fluctuates dependent on the policies and expectations at different levels. To offer more with reforms, social workers are required to carry more responsibility in finding resources for those that are affected by poverty while using areas such as churches and communities to stimulate changes for resources within the community (Hungerman, 72: 2005). The main affects within society from the policies and from the expectations of social workers is one which also is fluctuating because of the dichotomy that is noted within society. Even though there is a New Labour movement and expectations to empower lone parents in poverty, there are also contradictions that are associated with this. The focal areas of comparison include individual rights and communal responsibilities that are a part of the social reform. Even though the New Labour is designated to assist those in poverty and to begin changing the welfare levels, communities and individuals are responding in different manners. Many individuals believe that they have the right to not respond to those that are in society. There is also the belief from communities in relation to responsibility and how this affects the individual. The attitudes about the underclass and the resistance to assist those in society are leading to a contradiction with the new reforms and policies. The resources and components that should be available are limited to the community ideologies, specifically because social workers have to work toward levels of inclusion to provide the correct resources and opportunities to empower lone parents living in poverty (Prideaux, 85: 2001). Conclusion The different aspects that are a part of the social reform and policies for lone parents in poverty are creating several new opportunities and regulations for resources, as well as levels of resistance in the community. The historical and ideological developments that have come from UK policies and social worker reforms have been designed to empower those in poverty and to begin to alter the main components in society. The principles and values are required to be met by social workers, such as through the implementation of reform programs, health assistance and better employment opportunities. As the welfare reform continues to be propagated through policies, political affiliations and communities, it is leading to a changing understanding of what is needed for those in poverty as well as changing the resources available to those in the community. At the same time, the policies are not meeting with certain types of community ideologies. The differentiation which is occurring is based on the need to continue to reform the problems and policies with the welfare state of lone parents while changing social and community attitudes to provide the correct type of assistance. References Alcock, Pete. (2008). Social Policy in Britain. New York: Macmillan. Gregg, Paul, Susan Harkness, Sarah Smith. (2009). “Welfare Reform and Lone Parents in the UK.” The Economic Journal (119), (535). Hungerman, DM. (2005). “Are Church and State Substitutes? Evidence from the 1996 Welfare Reform.” Journal of Public Economics (17), (2). Jordan, Bill. (2001). “Tough Love: Social Work, Social Exclusion and the Third Way.” British Journal of Social Work (31), (4). McKay, Stephen. (2002). “The Dynamics of Lone Parents, Employment and Poverty.” University of Bristol. Percy – Smith, Janie. (2000). Policy Responses to Social Exclusion: Towards Inclusion? Philadelphia: Open University Press. Powell, Martin. (2002). Evaluating New Labour’s Welfare Reforms. UK: The Policy Press. Prideaux, Simon. (2001). “New Labour, Old Functionalism: The Underlying Contradictions of Welfare Reform in the US and UK.” Social Policy and Administration (35), (1). Seymour, Jane. (2000). Poverty in Plenty: a Human Development Report for the UK. UK: National Lottery Charities Board. Vleminckx, Koen, Timothy Smeeding. (2001). Child Well – Being, Child Poverty and Child Policy in Modern Nations. UK: The Policy Press. Read More