MODULE 3: Residual & Clinical

• • Residual vs. Institutional model: The dichotomy described by H.L. Wilensky and C.N. Lebeaux comprises two concepts of social welfare.
  • assumes that peoples' needs are met primarily by their family and the market. Only after these institutions have clearly failed should the social welfare structure come into play; 
  • and once individuals’ problems are ameliorated, reliance should return to the family and the market.
• • Minimal Government Intervention: The limited provision of social welfare does not require much government intervention. Responsibility for welfare can be given to non-governmental bodies such as Catholic Social Services, volunteer homeless shelters, or other private, nonprofit possibly religious) organizations, which may or may not receive government funds.
• • Selective Programs: Residual welfare systems usually use selective programs, that is, programs available only to those who meet specific (usually income-related) criteria. Such "means-testing" is considered cost-efficient because only those who are "truly needy" receive assistance. 
• Safety Net (Encyclopedia's definition): The residual model views social welfare as being primarily a safety net function in which programs are temporary substitutes for the failures of individuals and institutions.
• • Residual welfare provision: The idea that the public should provide social services and public assistance only to those people, because of unusual circumstances, are unable to receive needed help through the family or the normal social structure and marketplace.
• English Poor Laws (1601)

  • The poor laws gave the local government the power to raise taxes as needed and use the funds to build and maintain almshouses; to provide indoor relief (i.e., cash or sustenance) for the aged, handicapped and other worthy poor; and the tools and materials required to put the unemployed to work.
• Poor Law Amendment Act (1834):

  • This legislation transformed the English Poor Laws, emphasizing a residual approach by establishing workhouses for the able-bodied poor and providing minimal relief outside of these institutions. It aimed to deter dependence on public assistance and promote self-reliance.
• National Assistance Act (1948):

  • This act introduced means-tested assistance for those not covered by National Insurance, such as the elderly, disabled, and unemployed. It exemplified a residual approach by providing targeted support to specific groups deemed most in need.
• Local Government Act (1972):

  • This legislation decentralized social services provision in England and Wales, devolving responsibility to local authorities. While aiming to improve efficiency and responsiveness, it reinforced a residual approach by relying on local discretion and resources to address social needs.
• Welfare Reform Act (2012):

  • This legislation introduced significant changes to the UK's welfare system, including caps on benefits and the introduction of the Universal Credit system. It reflects a residual approach by prioritizing work incentives and reducing reliance on state support.
• Elizabethan Poor Laws (1601):

  • While originating in England, these laws influenced early American poor relief efforts. They emphasized local responsibility for providing assistance to the poor and needy, with a focus on distinguishing between the deserving and undeserving poor.
• Civil War Pension Acts (1862 onward):

  • Initially providing aid primarily to disabled veterans and their families, these acts exemplified selective aid targeted at a specific population in need, namely Union veterans and their dependents.
• Social Security Act (1935):

  • While establishing key social welfare programs such as Old Age Assistance and Unemployment Insurance, the Social Security Act initially had a residual character. It focused on providing support to specific groups, such as the elderly and unemployed, rather than creating a comprehensive social safety net.
• Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) (1996):

  • This welfare reform legislation introduced work requirements and time limits for receiving benefits, reflecting a residual approach that emphasizes individual responsibility and temporary assistance rather than long-term support.
• During the Spanish colonization period in the Philippines, the residual approach to social work was characterized by the reliance on religious charities, the patronage system, the establishment of almshouses and hospices, and the promotion of religious festivals and practices that included acts of charity.
• • Hospicio de San Jose - originally to house the aged and orphans, the mentally defective, and young boys requiring reform, but later limiting admission to children who were discharged and later, to be adopted or employed
• • Royal Decrees and Regulations
  • Royal Decree of 1594 (Recopilación de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias) – This decree outlined provisions for the care and treatment of the indigenous population in the colonies, including healthcare, education, and assistance to the poor and needy.
• Law of Indies (1573) - The Laws of the Indies contained provisions related to social welfare, including the establishment of charitable institutions, regulations for the care of the poor, and guidelines for the distribution of relief and assistance.
• During the American occupation of the Philippines, the residual approach to social work continued to prioritize selective assistance, reliance on private charity and philanthropy, and limited government intervention in social welfare provision.
• • Asociacion de Damas Filipinas – organized by civic-spirited women to help destitute mothers and their children
  • 1926: The association founded a Settlement House on Rizal Avenue, Manila, patterned after Jane Addam’s Hull House in Chicago.
• • 1917: Associated Charities of Manila was founded. Objectives include the provision of material relief and employment to the deserving, based on the study of the conditions and needs of applicants
• • 1933 Frank Murphy became Governor-General → administration of social welfare in the Philippines was marked by significant developments
• CHALLENGES

  • Inequitable Distribution: The residual approach may lead to unequal access to social services, with marginalized communities and rural areas often receiving inadequate support compared to urban centers.
• • Dependency on Charitable Institutions: Relying on private charities and religious organizations for social welfare can be problematic, as it may perpetuate dependency rather than empowering individuals and communities to address their own needs.
• • Stigmatization and Discrimination: Selective aid programs may stigmatize recipients and perpetuate stereotypes about poverty, leading to social exclusion and discrimination against marginalized groups.
• • Universal programs are not economically efficient in targeting funds, but may be considered politically efficient because the large number of recipients builds a broad base of support continuing the program. Thus, even if some people benefit from unrequired assistance, those who do truly need the program are not stigmatized by being helped.
• • Sustainability Challenges: Charitable initiatives and ad-hoc assistance programs may not be sustainable in the long term, as they rely heavily on external funding and volunteer efforts that may fluctuate over time.
• Reproduction Of Neoliberalism. 

  • Sinusuportahan ng CCTs and reproduction ng neoliberalism “by inducing individuals to internalize neoliberal norms of behavior that, presumably, can help reduce poverty and promote long-term economic growth” (Espinido, 2023)
• Strengths

  • Community Engagement and Empowerment: The residual approach can provide opportunities for community-led initiatives and grassroots interventions that empower local residents to address their own social welfare needs.
• Strengths

  • Flexibility and Adaptability: Charitable organizations and local initiatives can often respond more quickly and flexibly to emerging social needs and crises compared to government-run programs, providing nimble and innovative solutions.
• Strengths

  • Targeted Support for Vulnerable Groups: Selective aid programs can effectively target assistance to specific groups, such as the elderly, disabled, or victims of natural disasters, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.
• Strengths

  • Partnerships and Collaboration: The residual approach encourages partnerships between government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector entities, fostering collaboration and resource-sharing to maximize the impact of social welfare efforts.
• Strengths

  • Cultural Sensitivity and Customization: Community-based approaches to social welfare can be tailored to local cultural norms and preferences, ensuring that interventions are culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of diverse populations.
• Social Casework

  • Clinical social work practice and treatment is rooted in the casework method of the profession.
  • The primary historical aim of casework intervention was to restore, enhance or maintain the socio-emotional functioning of individuals and families who were experiencing distress at an intrapersonal, interpersonal or environmental level.
• Psychiatric Social Work

  • Many factors shaped the move away from what was then called this towards clinical social work as direct practice social workers sought to enhance their professional autonomy, ending practice subsidiary to psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and psychologists, becoming able to diagnose clients legally and in turn being able to practice independently.
• Mary Richmond

  • Informed by the nineteenth century principles of scientific philanthropy, casework—as a helping method within the profession of social work—was first conceptualized and codified by her
• Mary Richmond

  • Increased people’s awareness about the Charity Organization Society (COS) and systematized friendly visitors
• • Chestang (1980): “a helping activity aimed at assisting individuals, families, and groups in dealing with problems of social functioning” manifested in “intrapsychic or interpersonal functioning or... in transactions with the social environment.”
• • Frank (1980): “a process of treatment” [addressing] “the support, promotion, and increase of internal resources (psychic equipment) in people.”
• • Hartman (1980): in contrast to other professions, views people holistically and with great scope and complexity. She notes that clinical social work applies a person-in-environment perspective, addressing the personal and the social in assessment and intervention.