Why a blog series on the History of Prevention? Because understanding the history of prevention services in the U.S. provides insight into the services that society has historically valued and funded, as well as highlights areas for prevention services to be improved through the implementation of the Family First Act.
In History of Prevention: Part 1, we learned that, in the 1800s, prevention services involved providing a safe place for children ot reside where they would no longer experience abuse.
A shift takes place: In the late 1800s, "Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty for Children" realized that the greatest harm to children comes from poverty
What caused the shift?
- Networks of organized women learned that most. children living in orphanages and foster care were given up by their mothers, who lived in poverty , and were not actually orphans
- Women activists began lobbying for states to provide aid to lone mothers
Prevention in the 1910s-1960s: Prevention grows to include keeping children in low-income families with their parent(s)
What did this look like?
- Mother's Pensions: By 1920, forty states had implemented Mothers' Pensions, which were state supplied cash payments to widows that allowed them to care for their children in their own homes
- Note: Many discriminatory practice meant these pensions only helped a tiny portion of those who needed them and did not provide enough funds to adequately support both mother and child
- Aid ot Dependent Children: Many states went bankrupt due to the Great Depression and, therefore, were unable to continue funding Mothers' Pensions. In 1935, Mother's Pensions became a federalized program, called 'Aid to Dependent Children' under Title IV of the 1935 Social Security Act
Throughout history, how society provided prevention services was impacted by what they viewed as the problem and the solution. In the 1910s-1960, the problem was poor parents giving up their children or having their children removed and the solution was providing those parents with financial support to help them provide for their children.
Stay tuned for our next blog in this series, “History of Prevention Services: Part 3” coming soon!
Want to learn more about the history of prevention? Check out our sources and additional resources below:
Check out the whole series!