Public Social Policy and Social Work Practice.

The article explores the role played by social workers in society of the United States. No element in the history of social work can claim greater significance than the part played by social workers in gaining acceptance of measures to advance the standard of life of the American people. The social worker often fails to appreciate the breadth of the public social policy areas relevant to his practice, which may be defined as those that affect social welfare functions under public auspices, such as social insurance, public welfare rehabilitation services and recreation program. Social policies derive from executive legislative and judicial sources of governmental authority at federal, state, and local levels. The expansion in public welfare services and other governmental programs has widened the policy forming scope of administrators. While administrative functions derive their authorization from legislation, many public social policies are shaped by the executive element in government.