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Evolution of Welfare Systems in Early 20th Century America

Explore the development of public versus private welfare services in the early 20th century, from the origins of the modern welfare system to the enactment of Widows' Pensions. Discover key milestones such as the establishment of the U.S. Children's Bureau and the Sheppard-Towner Act.

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Evolution of Welfare Systems in Early 20th Century America

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  1. Development of the modern welfare system Early 20th Century

  2. Public v. Private • Pendulum swayed back and forth throughout U.S. history • By late 1800s welfare work mostly private – COS, Settlement Houses • Could the two work in harmony?

  3. Origins of Current Public Welfare System • 1909 White House Conference on Dependent Children • Supported by social workers and sponsored by Theodore Roosevelt • The beginning of social work’s domination of child welfare issues

  4. Purpose of Conference • Bring together leaders and their experiences • Develop a thorough plan for care of dependent children • “Home life is the highest and finest product of civilization” and “children should not be deprived of it except for urgent and compelling reasons.”

  5. Importance of foster care and adoption • Cottage type living if in institutions

  6. Establishment of U.S. Children’s Bureau • Supported by social workers, especially those concerned with child labor • Opposed by businesses, who feared it would end child labor • Initially placed in U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor with a budget of about $25,000

  7. Children’s Bureau was mainly charged with investigating and reporting conditions • Headed by Julia Lathrop, social worker • Politically savvy, she first tackled infant mortality as an issue • Passage of Sheppard-Towner Act (1921) led to child and maternal health centers nationwide

  8. Sheppard-Towner • Opposed as socialist (fear that government would come into home) • Opposed because headed by women’s efforts • Brought the federal government into child welfare through health through federal grants in aid to states

  9. Widows’ Pensions/Mothers’ Aid • Another spin-off from 1909 conference • Children should reside at home and not be put in institutions or for adoption when widowed moms could not support • Anti-delinquency (mom should supervise) • End the separation of mother and child for reasons of poverty alone

  10. Also thought to be less costly (mom and child in institutions) • Opposed because it would transform charity into entitlement • Beginning of gendered welfare state (OASDI benefits men and means tested benefits women)

  11. Widows’ Pensions Enacted • 1911 Missouri enacted for “full time mothers with dependent children” • In 1919, 39 states had such laws • By 1935, all but SC and GA • Return of public home relief • Foundation for Title IV of SS Act (AFDC) – needy children cared for in own homes

  12. Part of a Broader Movement • Progressives also sought end to child labor • Also compulsory social insurance, workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age insurance (labor union support) • Women’s suffrage (1920) • Prohibition (1919)

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