I am learning so much from the readings.  Trattner "From Poor Law to Welfare State" has taken us on a deep exploration of how policies were formed and how people were treated.  This week three things I learned from Chapters 5-8 were:

1.) The development of the Public Health Movement caught my attention due to I currently work in the          Public Health field.  I found it interesting that the need for Public Health in the United States was                   recognized in 1692 with the Massachusetts Poor Law enactment and did not officially begin until the             founding of the American Public Health Association in 1872.  The American Public Health Association was influenced by the English Public Health Act of 1848.  By 1879 the National Board of Health was created.  Massachusetts was the first State to develop it's own Board of Health, eventually other States followed.  Over the years, Public Health in the reading discussed addressing concerns with Cholera,typhoid, leprosy, malaria, bubonic plague, dysentery, diphtheria, tuberculosis, AIDS, and HIV. It was interesting to see that Public Health has evolved from no training to trained professionals.  Per today's standards at least a Bachelor's Degree is required.  Public Health has journeyed a long way.

2.) In chapter 6, child welfare was discussed.  In 1740 the first orphanage was set up In Savannah Georgia.  It was interesting to learn the perception of the population.  Children were viewed as nuisances until behavior science developed in the nineteenth century recognized them as future assets.  Many laws have been enacted to protect children.  The protection of children is still a very important issue today.

3.) Chapter 8 discussed "The Settlement House Movement."  I found this to be a very interesting concept of getting the poor and rich to live closely together in society together.  The intentions were for the rich to influence the poor in the efforts of eliminating poverty.  What actually occurred was the discovery of social, ethnic, and prejudice barriers within society.  The National Urban League, pension assistance, youth groups are some examples of programs that developed during this movement.  The rich and middle class moved out of the cities into the urban areas, leaving minority groups in the inner city.  Even though the settlement house movement did not achieve what it had expect to, social barriers were recognized and in time are being addressed.

Critical thinking question:

After reading the history of policy making for the poor, what issues do you see today effecting the poor that could be improved on and how would you go about implementing it?

Three informative and useful things I learned this week was how to use Voice Thread, how to use my Weebly web page, and from the readings a very informative look at policy where it was lacking and how far it had come.

I learned more than two things in this week's readings. Past history classes when discussing policy just told about the policy, who influenced it, and when the policy was enacted. I enjoyed reading the journey that chapters 1-4 took us this week. First thing I learned was the up and downs of treatment of the poor in England and carried over to the 'New Colony'. Some felt human decency obligation to take care of your own. As a human race, taking in the poor and helping them with food, shelter, and to get them on their feet again. While others looked at the poor as a nuisance and treated them as criminals, beating them to death ect. The second thing I learned about in the readings this week was Dorthea Dix. I was impressed with the era she lived in having the courage to not only recognize the poor conditions of the mentally ill but to do something about it. She could have worked in her home state of Massachusetts instead she took her crusade to other Southern States. Her concern and love for caring for others superceeded the fact that a white Yankee women was traveling into slavery dangerous territory. What a brave determined individual and thanks to her efforts has effected today's policies. Thank you to her for not giving up. Even though she felt she failed she still improved a failing system.
The items I learned this week can be used in Social Work by helping those in need of representation to ensure everyone is treated equally as a human being not by race, socioeconomic status, mental illness, and to stand up for what you feel is right not to give up. Your efforts may help others even if it benefits a few, succeed or fail one tryed their best. One persons cruseude may be the difference for a better life of others.