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HISTORY OF SOCIAL WORK IN USA
Social work in the USA developed through distinct historical phases,beginning with the
community-based charity in the colonial era and progression through organized
movements,professional training,and government welfare programmes .The following timeline outlines
these key stages,showing how each period shaped the profession’s focus and methods.
DURING 1600s-1800s(Colonial Period)
● Social work in the USA began in the colonial period ,drawing inspiration from the
Elizabethan Poor Law.
● In the 1600s and 1700s, welfare was primarily the responsibility of local communities
and churches and mutual aid societies formed by immigrants and ethnic groups for
self-help.
● During the 1800s alm houses and poorhouses for poor,elderly,disabled were developed.
DURING LATE 1800s(Charity Organization Movement,Settlement House Movement)
● The Charity Organization Movement emerged,aiming to coordinate charitable activities
and avoid duplication of services
● Friendly visitors assessed family needs and gave moral guidance. This period marked
the beginnings of systematic case work methods.
● The Settlement House Movement grew in urban areas,focusing on social reform and
community service.Hull House, founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr
in Chicago, became a model by offering education, health services, and cultural
programs for poor and immigrant communities.
DURING EARLY 1900s(Professionalization of Social Work)
● Social work began to professionalize. The New York School of Philanthropy, established
in 1898, later became the Columbia University School of Social Work.
● Mary Richmond’s 1917 book Social Diagnosis laid the foundation for modern casework
practice.
● The profession developed along two main paths:
- Casework - focus on individuals and families.
- Social Reform - focus on policy and systemic change
DURING 1930S(Great Depression &New Deal)
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● The Great Depression brought widespread poverty and unemployment, pushing social
workers into public welfare roles.
● President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal introduced large-scale social programs,
including the Social Security Act of 1935, which significantly expanded government
responsibility for social welfare.
DURING 1940s -1960s(Post- World War II Era)
● After World War II, the field shifted towards clinical social work, with an emphasis
on mental health, family therapy, and medical social work.
● The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s further shaped the
profession, as social workers became active in fighting racial inequality and
advocating for marginalized groups.
DURING 1960s-1970s(War on Poverty)
● President Lyndon B. Johnson launched programs like Medicare,Medicaid and Head
Start.
● Social workers engaged in community organizing and anti-poverty advocacy
DURING 1980s-1990s(Privatization & Specialization)
● A shift toward privatization of services and the growth of non-profit organizations.
● This era emphasized evidence-based practice and specialization, with many
practitioners focusing on child welfare, gerontology, mental health, and substance abuse.
2000s-Present (Modern Social Work)
● Social work in the USA continues to address complex social issues, including
homelessness, the opioid crisis, immigration challenges, climate change impacts, and
systemic racism.
● The profession emphasizes human rights, social justice, cultural competence, and
trauma-informed approaches, blending direct service with advocacy for policy change.
