Sifting historical sources – the thought of social work pioneers on the relationship social work & social policy in the Progressive Era

This paper summarises and develops the research project that we are developing at Catholic University of Portugal (Centre for Studies in Human Development) focusing on the thought of social work pioneers about policy practice... [ view full abstract ]

This paper summarises and develops the research project that we are developing at Catholic University of Portugal (Centre for Studies in Human Development) focusing on the thought of social work pioneers about policy practice and their civic engagement in the social reform initiatives in the context of Progressive Era.
By exploring and analysing the corpus of “Proceedings of National Conference of Charities and Corrections / National Conference of Social Work” this paper will present primary sources of the conference series from Mary Richmond, Jane Addams and other relevant figures of Settlement Movement and Charities. These sources will give rich insights into the intersecting discussions of the two supposedly different strands of social work and will show both conflicts and common convictions at the time, particularly the disputed role of social policy perspectives within professionalised social work and the articulation between micro and macro level approaches, direct intervention with individuals, groups and communities and social policy practice.


Keywords
Social Work, Social Policy, Social Reform, Addams, Richmond, National Conference of Charities and Corrections, National Conference of Social Work

This abstract is part of the workshop proposal
Reimagining the origins of social work – tracing forgotten interconnections