Social Work Support for Welfare Reform: The Latest Surrender in the War on Poverty

The call for welfare reform is not new In 1964, the National Association of (Atkins, 1986; "Welfare Reform," Social Workers (NASW) issued a con 1987). Dissatisfaction with the welfare ference position paper that called for system—in particular, the Aid to Famiadequate income as a matter of right for lies with Dependent Children (AFDC) all families (Patterson, 1986), and in program—has existed for more than 25 1968, social workers argued against the years, and almost every administration mandatory work features of the Work during that time has promulgated a welIncentive program (Abramovitz, 1988). fare reform agenda. What is new is that In 1972, NASW again issued a state both liberals and conservatives agree ment on public welfare that indicated that welfare reform means providing the Association's support for "a national mechanisms for greater numbers of curincome policy with a guaranteed annual rent and potential recipients to find and income," (Galper, 1975, p. 108), and sustain employment (McFate, 1988). during the 1978 welfare reform debates, Although liberals argue that these proNASW criticized President Carter's posed mechanisms must include eduProgram for Better Jobs and Income cation and training programs and proposal and stated that mandatory supportive services, and conservatives work requirements were unnecessary argue for some form of mandatory work and stigmatizing (Weil, 1978). experience, both groups agree that "inIn contrast with these historical posi creasing the capacity of families to care tions, the 1987 NASW delegate assem for themselves through jobs" (American bly voted that they would not directly Public Welfare Association, 1987, p. 6) oppose mandatory work requirements should be the cornerstone of current in welfare reform proposals but rather welfare reform strategies. Both groups would state simply that "voluntary par aiso express confidence that welf are-toticipation' ' be an integral part of welfare work programs can move people out of reform ("Take Public Social Policy poverty and off the welfare rolls. Stands," 1988). In addition, the NASW The social work profession has joined legislative agenda approved by the Na in the call for welfare reform. However, tional Board of Directors in January 1988 in contrast to their historical stance on stated that the association's welfare welfare reform, which placed the reform lobbying efforts will focus on greatest emphasis on governmental legislation that ensures "availability of guarantees of a minimum income for all adequate services to support those mak families (Briar, 1969; Erlich, 1969; Haring the transition from dependence to ris, 1969; Miller & Roby, 1971), social gainful employment" ("NASW Lobby workers have united with other constiting Agenda," 1988, p. 7). The agenda did uencies in supporting the concept that not include initiatives for ensuring individual self-sufficiency through minimum standards of living or for op employment should be a major strategy, posing mandatory work requirements. Social work traditionally has criticized Unfortunately, this change in focus is the government's emphasis on labor not accompanied by convincing evi force participation by recipients of aid dence that welfare-to-work strategies and has built its welfare reform agenda are an effective means for eliminating around the goal of eliminating poverty, poverty. Nor is there reason to expect the current economic structure's abili ty to ensure all families an adequate standard of living through employment.