UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE HELEN BADER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN SOCIAL WORK

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1 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE HELEN BADER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN SOCIAL WORK SW 931 Theories of Poverty and Social Welfare Policy for Children and Families Semester/Year: Spring, 2012 Instructor: David J. Pate, Jr. Office: Room 1058, Enderis Hall Classroom: Enderis Hall, Room 1166 Phone: (414) Fax: (414) Course Description Students in this three-credit course analyze and explore the nature, extent, and demographics of contemporary poverty, together with major policy and program responses to poverty. The course will examine populations most at risk of poverty, the dynamics of poverty, and trends in poverty rates over time. Attention will also be given to the types of anti-poverty programs that have been implemented since 1935 that underscores the extent of disagreement about the causes of poverty, the situation of the poor, and the role of the government in encouraging income redistribution and social change. Pre-requisites Students enrolled in this course must have doctoral student standing and/or signed permission of the instructor. Specific Course Goals and Objectives The primary objective of this seminar is to increase students ability to critically analyze current social welfare policies in the context of poverty in the United States. Moreover, seminar participants will acquire an understanding of selected current U.S. social policies and improve their fluency in writing about and discussing social welfare policy issues and related research. The goals of the social work doctoral program include preparing students to make contributions to the profession as researchers, scholars, and educators. Toward this end, the objectives of this course include students demonstrating the following: Demonstrate a general understanding of the policy process and social welfare; Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between poverty and race; Demonstrate an understanding of the role of research and policy analysis; Demonstrate an understanding of the application of qualitative and quantitative research methodology for addressing policy relevant questions; Demonstrate an ability to frame policy relevant research questions and conclusions.

2 Course Content This single course only begins to cover the range of substantive areas in social welfare policy. The topics covered in this class and in student presentations will serve as examples of social welfare policies and approaches to reducing the incidence of poverty and the analysis of poverty policy. We will consider conceptual and technical issues in the measurement of poverty and the implications of demographic change for social welfare policy. The policies and problem areas covered are central to social welfare policy, but are not comprehensive. However, the theories and techniques considered are applicable across problem areas. Course Requirements As a doctoral seminar, it is expected that students will take an active role in their own learning process and in that of their peers. Therefore, it is expected that readings will be completed in a timely fashion and that students will participate appropriately in class meetings. All papers will be presented and discussed in class, on a schedule to be determined. Students are responsible for either ing copies to the instructor and the rest of the class. Student grades in this course are based on the following criteria: Written Policy Brief % Oral presentation of policy brief % Weekly Critiques..40% Class participation (includes written questions % concerning papers by other students) PLEASE NOTE: Except under exceptionally extenuating circumstances, grades for papers will be automatically reduced by one-half grade point for each day they are late. Policy Briefing and Presentation A policy brief on one aspect of social welfare policy will be required. There will be no final exam. Scenario Your boss, a newly elected representative (or a newly appointed executive branch official) has asked for a briefing on your selected topic. You can assume that she/he has an informed newspaper reader's grasp of the topic, but may know very little of the details of current policy. If your boss is a legislator, assume he/she is particularly interested in alternative policies that require legislative action; if an executive branch official, assume she/he is particularly interested in the implementation of existing legislation. (Obviously, you select your boss according to where the action is or needs to be regarding your topic). Your boss has asked for several briefings, so has limited time for each topic: 25 minutes maximum, of which at least 5 minutes should be set aside for questions. Because of the tight timeframe, you may want to use visual aids of some sort to provide more information than can be presented verbally.

3 Begin your presentation by informing us if you are reporting to a national, state, or local official, and if you are reporting to someone in the legislative or executive branch. You will be evaluated on your coverage of the following four questions: 1. What is the social problem underlying the social policy area, and why is it important? 2. What are the current policies? 3. What are their advantages and disadvantages? 4. What are some alternative policies? All policy briefs will be presented and discussed in class, on a schedule to be determined. Students are responsible for either ing copies (using D2L) to the instructor and the rest of the class. In preparation for the presentations, the other students in the class are required to submit, in writing, five questions for every policy brief on the day it is presented to the class. The school faculty will be invited to hear your presentations. As an aid to students, an annotated bibliography is also required. The annotated bibliography will be graded as a part of the final policy briefing. Weekly Critiques Complete 4 weekly critiques of the readings. Reading critiques should be ten pages maximum (double spaced), Times Roman, 12 point font, and one-inch margins and about half devoted to integrative summary comments (demonstrating familiarity with all the required readings for the week), and about half to critical responses or questions. Given 12 weeks of readings (except for the first class) each student may skip 7 weeks. For credit, critiques should be received by the instructor and your fellow classmates as an attachment via D2L no later than 6 pm Monday. Students consistently completing the assignments at the expected graduate level will receive a final grade of A-. Students completing outstanding assignments will receive an A. Students generally completing assignments, but not consistently meeting graduate level standards, will receive a B. Students who do not complete 6 critiques will receive one-half less than the grade earned for the critiques that are submitted. Texts/Required Reading Sources Charles Murray. Losing Ground New York: Basic Books Piven, Francis Fox and Richard Cloward. Regulating the Poor. New York: Vintage Books Liebow, Elliot. Tally s Corner: a study of Negro streetcorner men. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; 2nd edition Iceland, John Poverty in America: A Handbook. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

4 2009. Massey, Douglas S. and Robert J. Sampson (eds.) The Moynihan Report Revisited: Lessons and Reflections after Four Decades. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Small, Mario Luis, David J. Harding and Michele Lamont (eds). Reconsidering Culture and Poverty." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences. 629 Supplemental Reading: Students with long-term research interests in the area of poverty and welfare will find it useful to become familiar with all of the readings. The majority of these books might also be useful to acquire and read (some are all available for purchase through HYPERLINK " or thorough inter-library loan from the University of Wisconsin library system. Elijah Anderson. Streetwise: Race, Class and Change in an Urban Community. (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1990) Kathryn Edin and Laura Lein. Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work. (New York: Russell Sage, 1997) David Ellwood. Poor Support (Cambridge, MA.: Harvard University Press, 1988). Sara McLanahan and Gary Sandefur. Growing Up with a Single Parent (Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press, 1994). Daniel Moynihan, Timothy M. Smeeding, and Lee Rainwater. (Editors). The Future of the Family. (New York: Russell Sage, 2004). Ana Chin Lin and David R. Harris. Eds. The Colors of Poverty. (New York, New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2009) Lisa Dodson. The Moral Underground: How Ordinary Americans Subvert An Unfair Economy. (New York: New York, The New Press, 2009). Maria Cancian and Sheldon Danziger. eds Changing Poverty, Changing Policies. (New York, New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2009) Diana DiNitto. Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy. (Allyn and Bacon: Boston. 2007). Phyllis J. Day. A New History of Social Welfare. (Allyn and Bacon: Boston, 2006) William J. Wilson. When Work Disappears; The World of the Urban Poor. (New York: Alfred Knopf Press, 1996) William J. Wilson. The Truly Disadvantaged (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1987)

5 Melvin L.Oliver and Thomas M. Shapiro. Black Wealth/ White Wealth: A New Perspective on Racial Inequality. (New York, New York, Routledge, 1997) Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh Off the Books:The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006) University Policies The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has developed policies related to a variety of areas that are pertinent to the success of a students academic career. The Secretary of the University Web site ( HYPERLINK " describes the following University policies on: Students with disabilities Religious observances Students called to active military duty Incompletes: Discriminatory conduct: Academic Misconduct: Complaint procedures: Grade Appeal procedures: Other: The final exam requirements, the final exam date requirement, etc. Learning Environment Students may utilize the computer lab of the Schools of Enderis (1044 Enderis) while registered for this course. The primary method of communication with the class will be through the D2L website for the class. Information regarding participation by students with disabilities, accommodations for religious observances, academic conduct/misconduct, incomplete grading policies, complaint procedures, grade appeal procedures, sexual harassment and safety policies, and other standing policies/procedures is available either in the doctoral student handbook, the campus website ( or ask at the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare reception desk (11 th floor Enderis). Class Schedule Week One January 25, 2012 Introduction Course overview, including of paper topics, student responsibilities, grading, and introductory discussion of poverty and welfare issues. William J. Wilson. (1996). The American Belief System Concerning Poverty and Welfare (Chapter 7). In When Work Disappears; The World of the Urban Poor. New York: Alfred Knopf Press. pp

6 Lamont, Michelle and Mario Luis Smalls. Cultural diversity and anti-poverty policy. (unpublished document) Week Two February 1, 2012 Definitions and Boundaries of Social Welfare Policy (Poverty focused) Reading: Iceland, Chapters 1-2, 7 Wolff, Chapter 15 Public Policy and Poverty Alleviation (Handout) Week Three February 8, 2012 Race and ethnicity - The classic report written for the sole purpose of internal discussion under the President Johnson administration but was leaked to the public and caused a major discussion on family structure, race, and its correlation to poverty. Report: The Negro Family: The Case For National Action Office of Policy Planning and Research United States Department of Labor March 1965 (Daniel Patrick Monyihan) Week Four February 15, 2012 Poverty Theories D. Moynihan. (1968) The Professors and the Poor. In On Understanding Poverty: Perspectives from the Social Science. Daniel Moynihan (ed.) New York: Basic Books Inc. Cultural/Behavioral Models O. Lewis. (October,1966). The Culture of Poverty, Scientific American. O. Lewis. (1968) The Culture of Poverty In On Understanding Poverty: Perspectives from the Social Science. Daniel Moynihan (ed.) New York: Basic Books Inc. Institutional/Structural Models E. Anderson. (1992). The Story of Joe Turner, The Public Interest Streetwise: Race, Class and Change in an Urban Community. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press)

7 Week 5 February 22, 2012 Poverty Measurement Measuring Poverty The decision about who is poor and who is not poor is important. The current debate on the definition of poverty embodies a set of assumptions about what constitutes economic need. Furthermore, society (policy-makers) often decide who is or is not eligible for aid by our definition of poverty. Our ability to monitor the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce or eliminate poverty needs academic researchers be able to measure the extent of poverty before and after the interventions. Chapter 3, Iceland Wolff. Chapter 4 Poverty: Definitions and Historical Trends H. Gans. (1968) Culture and Class in the Study of Poverty: An Approach to Anti-Poverty Rresearch In On Understanding Poverty: Perspectives from the Social Science. Daniel Moynihan (ed.) New York: Basic Books Inc. U.S. Poverty Measurement: Blank, Rebecca How to Improve Poverty Measurement in the United States. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 27(2): Supplemental Resource: Citro, Constance F. and Robert T. Michael (Editors). (1995) Measuring Poverty: A New Approach Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. hyperlink: Week 6 February 29, 2012 Family Structure and Poverty William Julius Wilson (1987) The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Read: Chapters 1-3. Week Seven - March 7, 2012 Family Structure and Poverty (continued) E. Liebow. (1967). Tally s Corner: a study of Negro streetcorner men. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company. Read: Chapters 1-2,4 McLanahan, Sara, and Christine Percheski Family Structure and the Reproduction of Inequalities. Annual Review of Sociology 34: Week Eight March 14, 2012 Who are the Poor? K. Auletta. (1999) The Underclass. Winston, New York: The Overlook Press. Read: Introduction and Chapters 2 and 5. (originally published in 1982)

8 P. Jargowsky and R. Yang (2005). The Underclass Revisited: A Social Problem in Decline. Working Paper. (Washington, DC: Brookings Institute). Available from: March (Spring Break) Week Nine March 27, 2012 An economist approach to measuring poverty - income inequality and discrimination Guest Lecturer: Daniel Fuhrmann, Ph.D. Associate Scientist (Statistician) CABHR E. Wolff ( 2009). Poverty and Income Distribution 2E. Oxford, UK:Wiley-Blackwell Read: Income Inequality: Its Measurement, Historical Trends, and International Comparisons. (Chapter 3) pp Discrimination: Meaning, Measurement, and Theory (Chapter 12) pp Pager. D. and H. Shepherd. (2008). "The Sociology of Discrimination: Racial Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Credit, and Consumer Markets." Annual Review of Sociology 34: Week Ten - April 4, 2012 Social Control and Poverty - The classic book by Piven and Cloward critically examines the issues of poverty and "entitlement programs". Piven, Francis Fox and Richard Cloward. (1993) Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare. New York:Vintage Books. Read: Introduction and Chapters 4, 10-12(originally published in 1971) Week Eleven - April 11, 2012 Charles Murray (1994) Losing Ground: American Social Policy: Tenth Anniversary Edition. Basic Books (read in entirety) Week Twelve - April 18, 2012 Massey, D. and R. Sampson (2009). The Moynihan Report Revisited: Lessons and Reflections After Four Decades. The Moynihan Report and Research on the Black Community. Author: William Julius Wilson pp The Labor Market an Young Black Men: Updating Moynihan's Perspective Author: Harry Holzer pp Moynihan was Right: Now What? Author: Ron Haskins pp

9 Week Thirteen - April 25, 2012 Small, M., D. Harding, and M. Lamont. (eds.) (2010). Reconsidering Culture and Poverty The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, May, 2010 volume 629. Reconsidering Culture and Poverty Authors: Small, M., D. Harding, and M. Lamont. pp Beyond Deservingness: Congressional Discourse on Poverty, Author: Joshua Guetzkow pp New Life for an Old Concept: Frame Analysis and the Reinvigoration of Studies in Culture and Poverty. Author: Alford Young pp Week Fourteen - May 2, 2012 Policy Presentations Week Fifteen - May 9, 2012 Final paper (Writing Day) (rev )