Description
Book SynopsisWhen social workers arrived on the scene after the Halifax explosion it marked the beginning of the transition from a charity model of social welfare to a profession of trained and paid social workers. The newly arrived social workers had to practise their skills in the context of Halifax's prevailing class structures, where, traditionally, well-off volunteers passed judgment on their poorer neighbours and great care was taken not to improve the conditions of people beyond their station in society. This work reflects on the lessons the profession of social work took from its work in rebuilding the lives of Haligonians and the lessons still to be learned from this experience.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Development Of The Social Work Profession to 1917 * Social Conditions in Pre-Explosion Halifax * Early Social Welfare in Halifax * "The Hinges Blow off Hell": The Explosion * The Relief Effort and Social Work Response * Pensions, Property and Oppression * The Successes: Child Welfare and Public Health * The Legacy * Appendix A - Highlights of Developments in Social Work * Bibliography * Index
