SOCW 2121: Social Welfare in Canada

• Define social welfare and describe its relationship to social service programs and to individual well being
• Understand how different political ideologies frame social welfare in Canada
• Understand the process of social policy development from problem identification to policy implementation
• Describe historical socio-political factors that have influenced the major phases of social welfare provision in Canada
• Describe the range and organization of social service agencies that are responsible for providing social welfare programs to Canadians
• Explain the various roles that professional and non professional helpers provide in the delivery of social welfare and their influence in promoting change in policy development
• Recognize the incidence and impact of poverty on Canadians and the associated issues for people living in poverty
• Critically think about the feminization of poverty and how social welfare policy can reinforce issues of dominance and inequality
• Understand the umbrella concept of child welfare in social welfare policy; as well as the implications of child maltreatment and the social welfare response
• Examine the changing social knowledge about older Canadians; the current population indicators and the social policy framework
• Understand the historical aboriginal social welfare policies and their effect on aboriginal people's lives today
• Consider how immigration policies and social welfare policies support or exclude members of racialized groups in their integration, or social inclusion, in Canada
• Review Canadian attitudes and beliefs towards people with physical and mental disabilities and the perspectives that inform national policies

• Module 1: Introduction to Social Welfare Policy
• Module 2: History of Social Welfare in Canada
• Module 3: Canadian Labour Market Policies
• Module 4: Poverty and Well-Being
• Module 5: The Welfare and Well-Being of Women and Families
• Module 6: The Welfare and Well-Being of Canadian Children and Youth
• Module 7: Social Welfare and Mental Well-Being in Canada
• Module 8: The Welfare and Well-Being of Indigenous People
• Module 9: Social Welfare of Immigrants and Racialized Minorities
• Module 10: Social Welfare and Older Canadians
• Module 11: Social Welfare and Well-Being of People with Disabilities (Diverse Abilities)
• Module 12: Global Well-Being and Social Justice

The following materials are required for this course:

1. Hick, S. & J. Stokes. (2021). Social Welfare in Canada: Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice (4th Ed.). Thompson Educational Publishing.
   Type: Textbook. ISBN: 978-1550772814

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the Mandatory Final Project.

Please note that for this course to apply to the completion of the Human Service Diploma, students must obtain a grade of 60%, or higher, overall in the course.

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.