SWRK 1001H Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Voluntary Sector, Corporate Social Responsibility, Occupy Movement
28 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
SWRK1001H: Introduction to Social Welfare
Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 – Lecture 5
Questions to Consider…
Why does free trade particularly affect low-income workers?
Are you engaged in politics? Why or why not?
Why buy up close to bankrupt companies, and then sell them off to open up again?
What happens to the workers, especially those who have been there for long periods of time, when
businesses close up shop?
**Mid 1990’s – at the height of downsizing social service departments and massive reductions in social
spending (programs and services)**
“Although social assistance programs were singled out for many reasons, the attack was fuelled by neoliberal
beliefs that welfare trapped people in long-term dependence on government; welfare was therefore seen as a
problem, not a solution, for needy Canadians.” (Greenwood, 2005; as cited in Chappell, 2014, page 102)
Where have we heard this before?
What does this mean in terms of how we identify and address “needy Canadians”?
1996 saw the development of “welfare-to-work” programs. Although these programs (linking benefits to
employment skills training, job mobility, etc.) lead to rising rates of employment, the poverty rate also rose
during 1990-2000 by 16.2 percent.
What are the pros and cons of using the tax system to meet people’s social welfare needs?
What do you know about the Occupy Movement?
Other Ways That the Government Reduces Accountability for Social Spending (and its impacts on wealthier
populations)
Corporate social responsibility: donations of a portion of company profits to charities not only
increases the services rendered by non-profit, voluntary sector agencies, but also boosts the
company’s image, attracting customers, shareholders and investors, ultimately increasing profits.
The voluntary sector: non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), voluntary, charitable, and/or not-for-
profit agencies who receive the majority of their funding from government but also rely on fundraising,
donations, and volunteer work to provide basic necessities for vulnerable populations.
The private sector: the “contracting-out” of service delivery. Competition ensues between private
sector agencies, to see who can provide the most amount and highest quality of services for the lowest
cost. Focus shifts from quality to efficiency.
If the government is providing services, the government is held responsible and accountable by the
public for the types and quality of services.
If the private sector is “hired” to deliver services… who are they accountable to?
Let’s say, for example, social assistance was administered by big business. What would be different?
Did You Know…?
That voluntary, non-profit agencies have a government issued “cap” which specifies that no more than
10% of agency work and/or funding is to go towards advocacy initiatives?
And that audits are administered at the will of government, at any point, without much notice?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
**mid 1990"s at the height of downsizing social service departments and massive reductions in social spending (programs and services)** Although these programs (linking benefits to employment skills training, job mobility, etc. ) lead to rising rates of employment, the poverty rate also rose during 1990-2000 by 16. 2 percent. Other ways that the government reduces accountability for social spending (and its impacts on wealthier populations) Corporate social responsibility: donations of a portion of company profits to charities not only increases the services rendered by non-profit, voluntary sector agencies, but also boosts the company"s image, attracting customers, shareholders and investors, ultimately increasing profits. The voluntary sector: non-governmental organizations (ngo"s), voluntary, charitable, and/or not-for- profit agencies who receive the majority of their funding from government but also rely on fundraising, donations, and volunteer work to provide basic necessities for vulnerable populations. The private sector: the contracting-out of service delivery.
