The Newer Deal: Social Work and Religion in Partnership

by Ram Cnaan, Robert Wineburg (With), Stephanie Boddie (With)

Overview

As the federal system of entitlements and social services long provided by New Deal–era programs is dismantled and shifted to the states, the religious community finds itself relied upon more than ever to assist with social services for the needy.

The Newer Deal calls upon religious-based organizations and the social work–social service community to put aside their differences and forge a "limited partnership" to provide the social and welfare services that millions depend on. The proposed partnership focuses on joint care for those in need—with attention to services for people of color, gays and lesbians, women, and programs for community empowerment and economic development—while maintaining the values and other interests each partner traditionally holds.

The authors discuss different types of religious-based social services and draw on case examples and research findings to show how the religious community's role in providing social services is stronger than ever. They examine the relationship between the religious and the social work–social service communities, as well as the issues that have divided the two, and explain the ways in which concern for the poor is integral to the major faith groups.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231116244
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	11/29/1999
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	0.00(w) x 0.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ram A. Cnaan is an associate professor of social work at the University of Pennsylvania and has published over two hundred articles in social work, psychology, and sociology journals on the topics of religion and social work, administration, and community organization. He is the director of the Program for the Study of Organized Religion and Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work. He has also coedited The Impact of Information Technology on Social Work Practice.

Table of Contents

Part 1. The Challenge of Devolution and the Promise of Religious-Based Social Services: An Introduction
1. The Ambivalent Coexistence of Social Work and Religious-Based Social Services
2. What Do We Mean by "Religious-Based Social Services''?
3. Religious-Based Social Services in Social Work Literature and Education
4. Reasons for the Rift Between Social Work and Religious-Based Social Services
Part 2. Provision of Religious-Based Social Services: Theological Underpinnings, Historical Trends, and Current Findings
5. Theological Teaching and Emphasis on Helping the Needy
6. Religious Roots of America's Social Services System
7. Religion and the Quality of Life of Individuals
8. Religion and Social Services Provision at the End of the Twentieth Century
9. Empowerment and Organized Religion
10. Religious-Based Social Services Provision: Findings from Local Studies—Greensboro
11. Religious-Based Social Services Provision: Findings from Local Studies—Philadelphia
Part 3. The Challenge Ahead
12. Political and Societal Trends in Social Services Provision
13. Toward a Limited Partnership for a Newer Deal

What People are Saying About This

Reverend - James P. Wind

The Newer Deal is a brave book, arriving just in time for a society searching for new ways to organize its practices of compassion and care. Ram A. Cnaan presents both a provocative analysis of the past century's estrangement of social work from religion and a bold proposal for a new, limited partnership between these two indispensable caring communities that suddenly face a very different America. This book provides surprising resources and sobering reality checks for policy makers, social workers, religious leaders, and all who strive for the common good.

F.M. Loewenberg

This is an important book that will be of interest to anyone who is concerned with the dramatic social policy changes taking place in contemporary America. As the federal government transfers responsibility for the welfare of citizens to the states and to local communities, the role of religious-based agencies has again become increasingly important. Cnaan has made a major contribution in analyzing their role, as well as the ambivalent relationship between the social work profession and the religious community.

F. M. Loewenberg

This is an important book that will be of interest to anyone who is concerned with the dramatic social policy changes taking place in contemporary America. As the federal government transfers responsibility for the welfare of citizens to the states and to local communities, the role of religious-based agencies has again become increasingly important. Cnaan has made a major contribution in analyzing their role, as well as the ambivalent relationship between the social work profession and the religious community.

— F. M. Loewenberg, author of Religion and Social Work Practice in Contemporary American Society

Rev. James P. Wind

The Newer Deal is a brave book, arriving just in time for a society searching for new ways to organize its practices of compassion and care. Ram A. Cnaan presents both a provocative analysis of the past century's estrangement of social work from religion and a bold proposal for a new, limited partnership between these two indispensable caring communities that suddenly face a very different America. This book provides surprising resources and sobering reality checks for policy makers, social workers, religious leaders, and all who strive for the common good.

— Rev. James P. Wind, Ph.D., president of the Alban Institute, Inc.

Editorial Reviews

This is an important book that will be of interest to anyone who is concerned with the dramatic social policy changes taking place in contemporary America. As the federal government transfers responsibility for the welfare of citizens to the states and to local communities, the role of religious-based agencies has again become increasingly important. Cnaan has made a major contribution in analyzing their role, as well as the ambivalent relationship between the social work profession and the religious community.

F. M. Loewenberg

The Newer Deal is a brave book, arriving just in time for a society searching for new ways to organize its practices of compassion and care. Ram A. Cnaan presents both a provocative analysis of the past century´s estrangement of social work from religion and a bold proposal for a new, limited partnership between these two indispensable caring communities that suddenly face a very different America. This book provides surprising resources and sobering reality checks for policy makers, social workers, religious leaders, and all who strive for the common good.

James P. Wind

Cnaan and his collaborators provide us with a welcome overview of the deep and complex connections between religion and social service provision in the United States. . . . Overall, Ram Cnaan and his colleagues have given us a clear-headed and valuable book on the complex connections between religion and social work, one that is essential reading not just for social work professionals but for anyone interested in this subject.

Mark Chaves

Having seen dramatic social and political changes in the United States over the last two decades that have caused a slowing of social progress toward caring for all citizens, Cnaan (social work, U. of Pennsylvania) addresses the ways that other forces have stepped in to fill the social welfare gap. He examines the historical precedent of religiously based social services, reviews the social work literature to determine the extent to which the role of the religious provision of social services has been addressed, and concludes that more research and course content should address the role of religious-based social services in order to create a partnership between social work and religion. Paper edition (11625-X), $26.50. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews