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Choose one of the following social work policy makers as the focus of your paper, and identify a signature social policy effected by that person: Jane Addams, Clara Barton, Dorothy Day, William Edward B. DuBois, Medgar Evers, Mary Richmond, Dorothea Spellman Harriett Tubman, Booker T. Washington.

Provide a brief background of the policy maker, including family and professional history. Describe the core tenets of the social policy developed by the policy maker upon which you focused. Explain the community needs for this policy. Describe the population/community served by this policy. Explain the process of developing and enacting this policy.

Describe how this policy addressed the needs of a population/community. Explain how this policy advocated for a population and served social justice. Discuss how this policy changed the community. Finally, analyze how this policy impacts social work practice today, citing Stern and Axinn (2018), Almond et al. (2011), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (2016a, 2016b) to support your discussion.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of social policies in the United States has been deeply influenced by influential social reformers whose efforts have significantly shaped social justice and welfare programs. Among these, Jane Addams stands out as a pivotal figure whose pioneering work in social reform and community activism laid the foundation for modern social work practice. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of Jane Addams’s life, her contributions to social policy, and the enduring impact of her work on contemporary social work.

Jane Addams (1860–1935), born into a wealthy family in Illinois, was a sociologist, social reformer, and activist committed to addressing social inequalities. Educated at Rockford Female Seminary and the University of Chicago, Addams was deeply involved in community service and social activism. Her most notable achievement was the founding of Hull House in 1889, a settlement house in Chicago dedicated to providing social services, education, and advocacy for impoverished and immigrant populations. Her work was driven by a belief in social justice, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and collective action to address social issues.

The core tenets of the settlement house movement, exemplified by Hull House, centered on providing direct services to the underserved, advocating for social reform through research and policy, and fostering community participation. Hull House served as a nexus for reform efforts addressing housing, labor rights, women’s suffrage, and child welfare. Addams’s approach emphasized that social workers must understand the cultural and social backgrounds of their clients and collaborate with communities to develop sustainable solutions. Her philosophy aligned with the broader Progressive Era reforms advocating for government intervention to correct social ills and promote social justice.

The community needs that prompted the establishment of Hull House stemmed from the acute poverty, overcrowded housing, and exploitation faced by immigrants and working-class families. The influx of immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries created a demand for social services that were neither provided by government nor private charities. Hull House aimed to bridge this gap by offering educational programs, healthcare, employment assistance, and legal aid. The population served primarily comprised newly arrived immigrants, especially from Eastern Europe, who faced language barriers, poor living conditions, and limited access to social services.

The process of developing and enacting socially responsive policies during this period involved grassroots activism, research into community conditions, and advocacy for legislative change. Addams and her colleagues documented social issues, lobbied policymakers, and mobilized public opinion to support reforms such as child labor laws, housing reform, and women’s suffrage. The settlement movement operated as an incubator for policy change, with Hull House serving as a model for subsequent social programs and legislation aimed at improving living conditions and expanding access to social services.

Hull House and Addams’s initiatives directly addressed community needs by providing immediate relief and fostering empowerment among marginalized groups. They served as platforms for advocacy that advanced social justice, particularly in promoting rights for women, children, and workers. Her emphasis on community participation and research contributed to a broader understanding of social problems, influencing policies that aimed for long-term systemic change. This approach helped shift perceptions from viewing poverty as a personal failing to recognizing structural causes requiring policy intervention.

Addams's work exemplifies advocacy for vulnerable populations and the importance of social justice, principles that remain central to social work today. Her policies and practice emphasized respecting human dignity, promoting social inclusion, and advocating for systemic reforms. Her legacy persists in the social work profession’s focus on community engagement, policy advocacy, and culturally competent practice. Modern social workers continue to build on her foundation by addressing persistent social inequalities through initiatives like affordable housing, healthcare access, and anti-discrimination policies.

In contemporary social work practice, Addams’s principles inspire efforts to empower marginalized communities and influence public policy. Social workers today engage in advocacy that mirrors her holistic approach—combining direct service with policy change. The ongoing relevance of her work is evident in initiatives aimed at expanding social safety nets, supporting immigrant rights, and addressing poverty. Her legacy demonstrates the vital role of social workers as agents of social justice and change, emphasizing the importance of community-centered approaches and systemic advocacy.

References

• Stern, M. J., & Axinn, J. (2018). Social welfare: A history of American response to need (9th ed.). Pearson Education.
• Almond, D., Hoynes, H. W., & Schanzenbach, D. W. (2011). Inside the war on poverty: The impact of food stamps on birth outcomes. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 93(2), 387–403.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2016a). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Eligibility. Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility
• U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2016b). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): To apply. Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/apply
• Hochschild, J. L. (2016). When work disappears: The world of the newly unemployed. University of California Press.
• Jensen, R. (2014). The welfare state: A reader. Polity Press.
• Trouillot, M. H. (1995). Silencing the past: Power and the production of history. Beacon Press.
• Reisch, M. (2010). Social work in a risk society: Social work and social justice in the context of planetary crisis. Routledge.
• Foote, K. E., & Goode, W. J. (2018). The practice of social work: A comprehensive worktext. Pearson.
• Atkinson, P., & Coffrey, S. (2015). Narrative methods in social work research and practice. Routledge.