Abstract
This paper studies the historical background and main philosophical differences between the Charity Organization Society (COS) and the Settlement House Movement. It shows how Mary Richmond and Jane Addams affected the development of social work. The paper’s aim is accomplished by evaluating their contribution, methods, and philosophies related to the development of social work as a recognized profession. Moreover, it ventures into my standpoints concerning the social work heroes and their long-lasting effect on current practices. As a result, the paper seeks to offer a holistic appreciation of the changing dynamics in social work and the lasting impact of Richmond, Addams, and their movements.
Introduction
The Charity Organization Society (COS) and the Settlement House movement became the pioneering developments in the history of social work. Their legacies are reflected in the difference between the social work philosophies and methodologies they advocated and the current social work practice today. Jane Addams and the equally great Mary Richmond, who changed the scope of social work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were at the front line of these (important but tough) movements. This research paper exposes the historical background and philosophical differences between the Citation Organization Society and the Settlement House Movement. Richmond and Addams played the role of building the bridge. As part of a holistic overview of the field that includes their approaches, specific methods, and various philosophies, we would like to explore the myriad of social work’s development nuances. Along with the above, this paper will also focus on the personal views regarding these figures and their role in contemporary social work, which is important for the bigger picture and understanding their field.
Mary Richmond: A Champion of Organized Charity
Mary Richmond was one of the first leaders of organized charity, and her contribution to developing social work as a profession has never been forgotten. As a Quaker born in 1861, the Quaker principles and nurturing atmosphere of her family were influential factors that molded her early life. The humanistic approaches she was influenced by were the cornerstone of her lifelong commitment to social justice. The Charity Organization Society in Baltimore, where Richmond was located, became where her idea of tackling poverty more methodically started to be developed (Suppes & Wells, 2017). Here, she caused radical turns in casework techniques, and as a result, the appearance of social work practice will forever be different. The fact that she came up with individualized assessments and multidiscipline interventions was a big change in the existing paradigms, creating a more client-centered culture in social work.
Besides that, her notable work “Social Diagnosis,” currently depicted in the social work textbooks, is another example of her legacy in our field. In this landmark paper, she described in detail the fundamentals of casework, emphasizing ethical standards that are the building blocks of the profession (Suppes & Wells, 2017). By explicit exposition, she gathered good practice guidelines and a very plausible and convincing picture of the social workers acting ethically. Her tireless struggle for professional standards and educational changes served as a source of inspiration for the development of social work education programs around the country. Richmond laid down this spirit of ambition for excellence as a standard and created a learning environment of continuous development. To this day, she is embedded in the thoughts of education and practice of social work, even after her lifetime.
Mary Richmond’s unmatched influence in the COS movement and social work signifies her as a legendary luminary. The journey of Richmond from those Quaker values in her childhood to the casework methodology was a reflection of the power of individual agency and collective effort in the pursuit of social justice. Her groundbreaking work, “Social Diagnosis,” symbolizes her ongoing legacy, setting the course for social workers to come. Their unique leadership style, defined by her unwavering professionalism and vision, has made her a symbol of inspiration for all who are selflessly dedicated to the enlightened cause of social justice and human welfare.
Jane Addams: A Trailblazer in Social Reform
Jane Addams became a leading figure in social reform with her first move as the founder movement of Settlement House. Born in 1860 to a Quaker family that was liberal and in touch with the problems of the time, Addams developed a keen sense of empathy and social responsibility from an early age. Those formative years became the ground where she developed the love of advancing the status of the downtrodden and fighting for social justice. Her proactive approach found a channel in creating the Hull House in Chicago, a renowned enterprise that solves many-faceted issues of immigrants living with limited resources (Ripatti-Torniainen, 2020). Hull House allowed Addams to go beyond charity by creating a supportive neighborhood encompassing all kinds of people.
At Hull House, Jane Adams’s new social welfare method, which embraced material help, cultural growth, educational enterprises, and the civil rights movement, was born. Through promoting a culture of diversity and a collaborative spirit, Addams gave power to people to fight for their rights and come out with impressive changes to their living conditions. Also, being steadfast in civic duties and advocacy for progressive causes made her a prominent worldwide person recognized as an important voice of the late 19th and early 20th-century progressive movement (Deegan, 2017). Through the self-sacrifice in her work, Addams not only shaped the world of social work but also left a permanent trace in ours, from which following generations of social reformers draw strength in the struggle for a better world.
Jane Addams’ social reform legacy has the attributes of a trailblazer in the Settlement House Movement that she led herself and her unfailing commitment to the core principles of community-based social work. Her Hull House establishment was just a humble beginning to show her dream of holistically helping needy communities by empowering citizens and fighting social injustice (Shields et al., 2023). The everlasting effect of Addams’s strivings spans to present advocates for social activism, as the essence of her teachings remains valid in the quest for a more balanced society.
Philosophical and Methodological Contrasts
The Charity Organization Society (COS) and the Settlement House Movement presented two very different ideologies and methods to solve social welfare problems at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The COS crystallized on a moral uplift of low-income people and relied on a hierarchical charity method. By following the precepts of systemic charity, the COS actively investigated and assessed people who needed help and saw poverty as a result of poor morals (Popple & Leighninger, 2019). It emphasized personal responsibility and the need for individual improvement to help people experiencing poverty through more tailored interventions. The COS depended on volunteer “friendly visitors” who were upper-class members, mostly to give moral counseling and help the destitute, which typified the paternalistic attitude toward charity.
However, in sharp contrast, the Settlement House Movement, championed by people like Jane Addams, followed the principle of mutual aid and solidarity in the community. Emphasizing that charity is not about moral correction, settlement houses focused on developing a sense of collective empowerment among residents. By providing communal living spaces in poor urban neighborhoods, the settlement workers were at the heart of the marginalized and, hence, were consciously oblivious to the social status between themselves and the beneficiaries (Suppes & Wells, 2017). In contrast, they facilitated self-help actions and mutual support so that the residents could handle the systemic inequities and act for social reform. Besides, settlement houses functioned as cultural convergence and social engagement centers, generating inclusivity and social unity among the diverse immigrant groups.
The opposing approaches of the COS and settlement homes illustrate the dual ideas of social support and citizenship. While the COS took on a one-on-one methodology coupled with moral counseling, Settlement Houses focused on community development, starting with grassroots organizing and collective action. COS’s organization of charitable institutions and professionalized casework became the platform on which social work as a formalized profession is developed. Nevertheless, the Settlement House Movement was the starting point for community-driven social responses to social reform, resulting in a generation of activists and organizers who strongly believed in social justice (Petrukhan-Scherbakova & Chernukha, 2020). At the core of this tendency of movements is an ongoing tension between paternalistic charity and community empowerment.
Personal experiences and favorite pioneer social worker.
Mary Richmond and Jane Addam’s contributions show us a perfect picture of a social work professional. At the same time, the professionalism and structured intervention of Richmond contrasted with the community activism and grassroots organizing of Addams. As a student seeking to climb up in the field of social work, I find inspiration in the never-dying spirit of Jane Addams. She personifies all my ideals of dedication to social justice and approachable community building. Addams’ political approach to social changes becomes a guiding star for searching strategies to solve and implement difficult situations in real social work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the work of the Charity Organization Society and the Settlement House Movement led by Mary Richmond and Jane Addams has been a central part of the social work profession’s history. While Addams and Richmond had disparate ideas, their influence spread deep in the field of social welfare and in the philosophy and practices that still live on among practitioners for generations. In this way, the struggle for equality and justice is still going on in both the past and the present through a comprehensive and critical inquiry into the achievements made.
References
Deegan, M. J. (2017). Jane Addams, social reform, and the symbolic interactionists. Jane Addams and the Men of the Chicago School, 1892–1918, 105-142. doi:10.4324/9780203788073-5
Petrukhan-Scherbakova, L., & Chernukha, N. (2020). The main aspects of the activities of charitable organizations in the legacy of Mary Ellen Richmond. Intellectual Archive, 9(4). doi:10.32370/ia_2020_12_13
Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2019). Social work, social welfare, and American society.
Ripatti-Torniainen, L. (2020). The transformative public of Jane Addams. Journalism, 23(6), 1285-1300. doi:10.1177/1464884920958583
Shields, P. M., Hamington, M., & Soeters, J. (2023). Chapter 8: Legacies of Jane Adams and W.E.B Du Bois. In The Oxford Handbook of Jane Addams. Oxford University Press.
Suppes, M. A., & Wells, C. C. (2017). The social work experience: A case-based introduction to social work and social welfare (7th ed.). Pearson.
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