Running Head: Welfare State in America

Welfare State

Abstract

In 1977, then Budget Director for the state of New York, Peter Goldmark, offered his thoughts regarding social welfare programs. “Welfare”, he said, “is hated by those who administer it, mistrusted by those who pay for it and held in contempt by those that recieve it.” Goldmark was certainly not alone in his assessment of social welfare programs. Indeed while the notion of using public funds to help the destitue get back on their feet in a noble concept for left-leaning idealists, in practical application, it has generated more controversy from both sides of the American political aisle than it has addressed poverty in America. This contorvery has become more heated in light of the two recessions and the housing collapse of late 2009.

For this research paper, I will be going the history of Welfare in America. The purpose of this research paper is to look at how and why welfare became a policy and how it has changed since its inception. The sources that I have used are from published literature. In conclusion, the reader will have better knowledge on welfare, the history and changes.

I first became interested in the subject of Welfare after working for the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family services; where I met with families and processed their eligibilty for: Food Stamps, Ohio Works First (cash assistence) and Medicaid. Unfortuanlty, durning my training as a case worker no history was given, I did not know that AFDC (aid for dependent children) had become TANF (Temporary Aid For Needy Familes). Looking at the names I wanted to know how did policy change when the name changed and when? As I can recall my parents were never on government assistence and if they had been, I being a child was not privy to familes financial status. Welfare, a public policy concept in which programs