ted for in 1996 as an element of welfare reform).Social welfare in Colonial America was nonexistent, because of this charity was heavily relied on since there was no government policy to provide for the poor. A carry over from England was the establishment of almshouses or workhouses provided by indoor relief. This fit in well with the Puritan work ethic of the colonists.The next important period in the history of social welfare was the time between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It was during this time that a shift to outdoor relief occurred. Work relief programs and in-kind benefits now provided aid. Also during this time the voluntary sector rose and the emphasis was put on charitable institutions. It was in the large cities during the 19th century that various organizations were established to lessen the suffering of the poor. One of these organizations was the New York Society for the Prevention of Pauperism (1817), which used visitors to assess and respond to the needs of the poor. Another such organization was the Association for Improving the Condition of the poor (1843). This organization required an assessment of individuals’ needs so that relief agencies could be more effective. Also, Buffalo’s Charity Organization Society (COS) desired to organize charities to prevent duplication of services and to reduce dependency on charities.In addition to COS’, private charities came about to address special problem areas. An example of this was the Orphan’s Home Movement, which started institutions for children with deceased parents. Other special institutions were established for those who were mentally ill, deaf, and blind. At the end of the 19th century, states developed centralized agencies to ensure a better quality of care for those in institutions. Dorothea Dix promoted the establishment of federal institutions for the mentally ill, however the responsibility was left to the states. The ...
