Policy Text Assignment - Social Welfare Policy Research

Question 1: During the nineteenth century, what were some beliefs and common practices/criteria from many religious social workers in relation to the relief assistance for the poor?

Question 2: Chapter 2, Social Welfare Policy Research: A Framework for Policy Analysis, touches on the topic of past policies that were well-intended but resulted in catastrophe. The 1919 U.S. Congress enactment of the law that prohibited the sale, transport, and manufacture of alcohol (Prohibition), had overall negative effects. How did this policy end up in this category of catastrophic?

Answer 1: In chapter 3 of the textbook, the section titled: The Rise of Social Work as a Profession, highlights some of the beliefs and practices of religious social workers during the nineteenth century. The section addresses the strict standards placed on families that were evaluated by religious social workers. According to the textbook, religious social workers esteemed spiritual guidance higher than material aid, for the poor. It was common for religious social workers to encourage families to sell all of their possessions so they would be able to receive relief. In addition, religious social workers often denied relief to families due to their belief that the families requesting assistance were “intemperate and not sufficiently contrite”.

Answer 2: While the goals of the policy enactment were to decrease crime, unemployment, instability within families, etc., the results of the policy were the opposite of said goals.

The organized crime industry grew as well as the illegal presence and attendance of and to speakeasies, all this to say, the Prohibition law did not curb alcohol related nightlife.