Such work as this involves special knowledge and skills and re quires education and training of a professional nature. Whereas, in an earlier day, any person of "good intentions" and with a desire "to do good" was regarded as qualified to engage in social work, it is now generally recognized that special training attained through colleges, universities, and schools of social work is essen tial. There were in 1939 approximately 4o schools of social work in the United States, and a professional organization known as the American Association of Social Workers which had I ',coo members. Membership in this organization is based upon a high professional standard.
Classification of Agencies.—The activities known as social work are conducted by both public and private agencies. The pub lic agencies are established by law as an integral part of the Gov ernment and are supported by taxes. The private agencies, on the other hand, are established by voluntary action and supported by voluntary contributions rather than through taxation.
Public Agencies.—With the enactment of the Federal Social Se curity Act (1935) and other social legislation there has taken place a tremendous expansion of public social services and an in creased recognition of governmental responsibility for social wel fare. The Federal Government operates and supervises a vast net work of agencies concerned with a wide variety of social services. These include emergency employment, public assistance to the needy, social insurances, employment services, child welfare, pub lic health, service to aliens, farm programs, housing and planning, education, recreation, and prisons and parole. Some of these activities are administered directly by Federal agencies, while others are carried on by State agencies with Federal financial aid. The State and local units of government have adopted variations of these programs to meet their local needs.
Private Agencies.—The types of social service activities con ducted by private agencies vary greatly from community to com munity. In general, they supplement the available public services depending upon the local needs and conditions. For example, with the increasing expansion of public relief activities, the private family welfare agencies are concerning themselves more and more with service activities rather than financial and material aid to the needy.
the needy unemployed, aged, blind, dependent children, veterans, travellers, non-residents and transients, farmers, and students; disaster relief for those affected by floods and other catastrophes; social insurances, such as old age insurance, unemployment com pensation, and workmen's compensation.
Institutional or Custodial Care.—Under this classification are institutional care of the aged, children, and the sick ; shelter care for homeless, transient, non-resident men, women, children.
Case Work Services, Personal Counsel, Protective Services.— Under this classification are general case work ; specialized services rendered in connection with courts, schools, clinics, hospitals; child guidance; child welfare services, including the protection of children and foster home placements; probation, parole, legal aid, and social treatment of delinquents and criminals.
Medical Care and Health Services.—Under this classification are public health ; public health nursing, medical care to per sons in their own homes, visiting nursing service; hospital and clinic care ; school health services ; social hygiene ; birth con trol; prevention and treatment of blindness and deafness, services to crippled children ; maternal and child health services; mental hygiene.
Group Work this classification are recreation work in community centres, settlements, churches, young people's centres, and playgrounds ; boys' and girls' club activities ; youth programs; adult education.
Vocational this classification are vocational education, guidance, placement, and rehabilitation.