Q1. Discuss briefly the history of social work in UK and USA. Or Elucidate the applications of social case work in various settings with a suitable example.
- Elizabethan Poor Law (1601) set UK's early state responsibility for the poor.
- Charity Organization Societies (COS) pioneered systematic casework in UK and USA.
- Settlement Movement focused on community engagement and social reform (Toynbee Hall, Hull House).
- Mary Richmond developed 'Social Diagnosis', advancing scientific casework in USA.
Answer: The history of social work is deeply rooted in the socio-economic conditions and reform movements of the United Kingdom and the United States, evolving from informal charity to a professional discipline. Both nations share parallel developmental trajectories, influenced by industrialization, urbanization, and poverty. In the UK, the origins of social work can be traced back to the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, which established the principle of public responsibility for the poor. This legal fra...