Jane Addams: History Of Social Work

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Writing 100 Research Paper History of Social Work Jane Addams Social work is defined as “organized work directed toward the betterment of social conditions in the community as by seeking to improve the condition of the people to promote welfare of children, etc.” (Dictionary.com) Social work is a profession that deals with the good of mankind. Since the nineteenth century, social workers were formed, seen in the form of “friendly visitors” and church members, just trying to help their neighbors. “At the beginning of the century “visitors” practiced a rudimentary form of social work that endeavored to lessen the burden of the poor through direct relief and prayer.” (Huff, pg 1, chap.2) The main goal of these caring people was to bring God…show more content…
“In her teens, Addams had big dreams- to do something useful in the world. Long interested in the poor from her readings of Dickens, and inspired by her mother’s kindness to the Cedarville poor, she decided to become a doctor, so that she could live and work among the poor.” (Wikipedia, Jane Addams) Addams was inspired to do great things as a young woman, and would soon become the change that she wanted to see in the…show more content…
First were children. “The most obvious needs of neighborhood children around the Hull-House were for stimulation, adequate nutrition and sanitary living conditions.” (Lundblad, 664) Addams knew that something needed to happen in order to protect the children; children are the future. She has to make it known to the public, that problems are arising to the society’s children, and she did just that with the help of an associate. “In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt invited Addams to a conference in Washington, DC to consider the best type of care to be given to dependent children.” (Lundblad, 664) Her associate, Julia Lanthrop soon became “the first director of the U.S. Children’s Bureau, approved by President William Howard Taft. She addressed material and infant problems as well as the social, economic and health problems of all children.” (Lundblad, 664) Together, Addams and Lanthrop were on their way to helping the needs of growing children
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