Jane Addams Influence On Social Work

Social Work was officially started in the 19th century as a movement within the U.S and the U.K. After the end of feudalism, the poor were regarded as a danger to the societal order. Due to this apparent threat, the government created the Poor Law and made a system that would provide help for them. Societies were put in place in order to provide assistance to those in need. In the late 1800’s a new system came to action in order to help the poor and sick. Born in this century was one of the most, if not the most, prominent professionals in the social work profession. Jane Addams was a founder of the United States Settlement House Movement in hopes of establishing settlement houses for middle-class social workers who volunteered in poor urban

Her works are still remembered in the United States. The Hull House is now a museum. Every year on the same day, December 10th, she is remembered and celebrated. I also learned that the social work department of the University of Illinois at Chicago is named after Addams. (Jane Addams College of Social Work). She has written many books in her time as well. For example, maybe her most famous book was/is Twenty Years At Hull House. This book is about her accounts of the existence of poverty during the Industrial Revolution. It also includes a little bit of her biography. She grew up with a wealthy father. She attended Rockford College but left because she wanted to study medicine and help the poor. She was a very sick child and this led to her inability to finish med school but that didn’t stop her from wanting to help the poor. She traveled to world constantly being in the presence of poverty. At one time she even lived in the vicinity of the poor to try and understand so she could help. When she returned was when she and her friend founded the Hull House. She has had many accomplishments in her lifetime. In conclusion, Jane Addams, a social theorist of democracy, left her mark on society through her many works in the social work field. Her primary concerns focused on protecting the poor and working with them to make a better life for each and every one of the people she serviced. Addams’ main focuses were identity, community, and politics. Addams will never be forgotten. Gone, but never