The course probes the formation of social policy in the United States from its very first cultural and religious roots. Starting with the transition from hunter-gatherer groups to agrarian villages, the course will examine the passage of the Poor Laws that shaped social policy through the colonial period until the beginnings of the 20th century, when the challenge of making the industrial city livable gave rise to the development of the welfare state. As part of this transformation, the provider of social welfare shifted from the local community to the state to the federal government. The course ends with an exploration of the debate regarding the role of government in the late 20th century: should it foster entitlements or self-sufficiency? This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy.
This course is part of the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
Offered By
Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners SpecializationColumbia UniversityAbout this Course
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessWhat you will learn
Differentiate the roots of public aid including the “deserving poor” and the “undeserving poor”
Explain technological transformation has impacted on work, incomes & families to understand the needs of those seeking services and to reform system
identify the role of privilege and White Supremacy in the social welfare systems to transform the system to a more inclusive structure
Honors: Summarize and critique readings to professionally interpret them. Develop a research plan for a professional policy analysis.
Skills you will gain
- - Distinguish the values inherent in each social policy initiative
- - Critique components of a social policy based on their effectiveness at meeting the goals stated in the initiative
- - Develop social welfare policy analysis and reform proposals
- - Differentiate alternative approaches to social policy problems
- - Formulate practice strategies to overcome the historic biases in social welfare programs
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for Business
Offered by
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Early Roots of Social Policy
Roots of US Social Policy
The beginnings of the welfare state
Safety nets versus entitlement
Reviews
- 5 stars90%
- 4 stars10%
TOP REVIEWS FROM US SOCIAL SERVICES: WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
The content was presented in an interesting way that was easy to understand. Excellent course!
About the Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners Specialization
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
