Ontario Welfare System

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses concerns regarding the ability of service delivery models (SDMs) to give support to socio-economically challenged families and individuals in the community. The paper continues and relates that, although there is recognition of the need for welfare reform, policy changes have devolved in its efforts to support disenfranchised and socially excluded vulnerable groups. At the same time, the Ontario Ministry of Finance believes that the welfare restructuring will help the most vulnerable. In the course of this paper, these opinions are assessed and their subsequent impact on welfare services in Ontario determined. The research focuses mainly on the impact of the reforms on child welfare services and income support services for low-income families. The criteria used for the research is whether the reforms have increased the social inclusion and capacity of clientele receiving these services.

Outline:
Introduction
Welfare reforms
Impact assessment and evaluation
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The issue of welfare is not an issue that can be discussed without the need to delve in social, economic and political issues. Canada in general has been sensitive to social demographics and developments however there is also the realization that current demands on social services are stretching resources thin. Though there has been a number of a research highlighting the challenges of the current Ontario Works SDM, there is still significant room to facilitate the improvements. As it is, despite significant efforts to improve services and their delivery, the clientele of Ontario Works feel deficiencies in welfare services. There is no denying that there are parties who abuse welfare services, but this should not be the burden of people who really need welfare support. The prevailing perception is that policies have not just been unable to alleviate welfare concerns but have exacerbated concerns and limited the capacity of welfare services to respond to developing demands."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alaggia, Ramona, Jenney, Angelique, Mazzuca, Josephine and Redmond, Melissa (2007). In Whose Best Interest? A Canadian Case Study of the Impact of Child Welfare Policies in Cases of Domestic Violence. Brief. Treat. Crisis Interven., November (7): 275 - 290.
• Berger, Philip B. (2001). Science misapplied: mandatory addiction screening and treatment for welfare recipients in Ontario. Can. Med. Assoc. J., August (165): 443.
• Bouguet, D. (2002). Convergence in Social Welfare Systems: What Are We Talking About?. Comparing Dynamics of Transformation of Social Protection Systems in Context of Globalization and European Construction. Oslo Norway: Welfare Reforms for the 21st Century - Second Conference
• Herd, Dean and Mitchell, Andrew (2002). Discouraged, diverted and disentitled: Ontario Works New Service Delivery Model. Toronto: Community Social Planning Council of Toronto and the Ontario Social Safety Network
• Human Resources and Social Development Canada (2000). Reconnecting Social Assistance to the Labour Market. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/cs/sp/hrsdc/edd/reports/2000-000437/page04.shtml

More papers on Ontario Welfare System:

• Analytical Essay # 132573 : "Social Policy Brief: Ontario Single Parents on Welfare"
• Essay # 131433 : "Improvements in Cultural Sensitivity and the Child Welfare System"
• Term Paper # 100672 : "Urban Poverty in Toronto"

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