Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice.
Continue Reading »Search Results for: settlement movement
Madison House: Tops In Every Respect
This Is a Retrospective View About the Origins and History of a Settlement House on the Lower East Side of New York City written by Jeanne Talpers, Daughter of Philip Schiff, a Social Work Pioneer, Who Attended Madison House as a Youngster and Grew Up to Become the Headworker in 1934.
Continue Reading »Daniel Coit Gilman’s Contributions to Social Work
This article brings the reader some evidence of social work history that has at the very least been neglected. Most people when asked who are the founders of social work were will mention Jane Addams, Mary Richmond, the Abbotts and maybe Ida Cannon, Charles Loring Brace and S. Humphreys Gurteen. The name of Daniel Coit Gilman is never included in the list of the greats. The case I shall make to you today is that his contributions to helping create the profession were at least as great as those still listed.
Continue Reading »Vaile, Gertrude
Gertrude Vaile (January 20, 1878 – October 15, 1954): Social Worker, Public Welfare Administrator, Reformer and Pioneer in Social Work Education Introduction: Gertrude Vaile was a nationally recognized social welfare leader who was able to demonstrate that it was feasible and productive to apply casework principles and practices to the field of public welfare and…
Continue Reading »Paul, Alice Stokes
Alice Paul (1885 – 1977): Social Worker, Militant Activist and Suffragette Introduction: Alice Stokes Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding political achievements on behalf of women in the 20th century. Born on January 11, 1885 to Quaker parents in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the…
Continue Reading »Menken, Alice Davis
Alice Davis Menken (1870-1936): Social Worker, Pioneer In Penology, Jewish Activist and Humanitarian Alice Davis Menken was the third of seven children of an old Sephardic Jewish family. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Involvement in helping people came first through her helping to establish the Sisterhood of…
Continue Reading »Hoey, Jane M.
Jane M. Hoey (1892-1968) — Social Worker, Welfare Administrator, Government Official Introduction: Jane Hoey was a social worker, a welfare administrator and a government official. Her most significant contribution was as the Director of the Bureau of Public Assistance and later the Bureau of Family Services within the U.S. Social Security Administration. She was…
Continue Reading »Hathway, Marion
Marion Hathway (1895-1955) — Social worker and Educator. Marion Hathway was born in North Tonawanda, New York, July 31, 1895, the daughter of William W. and Alice R. Hathway. Her family later moved to Denver where she graduated from the Denver High School East Side with the class of 1911. She then went to…
Continue Reading »Hall, Helen
Helen Hall (1892-1982): Settlement House Leader, Social Reformer and Consumer Advocate. Introduction: Helen Hall directed University Settlement in Philadelphia, 1922- 1933 before succeeding Lillian Wald as director of Henry Street Settlement in New York City, where she remained until her retirement in 1967. She served with the American Red Cross in France during and…
Continue Reading »National Conference of Charities and Correction
National Conference of Charities and Correction (1874-1917): Forerunner of the National Conference of Social Welfare By John E. Hansan, Ph.D. The Beginning: In February 1872, Frederick H. Wines, secretary of the Illinois Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities, and Andrew E. Elmore, president of the Wisconsin State Board of Charities and Reform spent a…
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