Social services

[2] Prior to industrialisation, the provision of social services was largely confined to private organisations and charities, with the extent of its coverage also limited.

[3] Social services are now generally regarded globally as a 'necessary function' of society and a mechanism through which governments may address societal issues.

[4] The provision of social services by governments is linked to the belief of universal human rights, democratic principles, as well as religious and cultural values.

[6][4] The main groups which social services is catered toward are: families, children, youths, elders, women, the sick, and the disabled.

[1][4] What is considered a ‘social service’ in a specific country is determined by its history, cultural norms, political system and economic status.

[1] This means that they may be implemented to provide assistance to the community broadly, such as economic support for unemployed citizens, or they may be administered specifically considering the need of an individual – such as foster homes.

[1] These may extend to drug users, young offenders and refugees and asylum seekers depending on the country and its social service programs, as well as the presence of non-governmental organisations.

[8][3] In the nineteenth century, as countries industrialised further, the extent of social services in the form of labour schemes and compensation expanded.

[10] In Germany, Otto von Bismarck also introduced a large amount of social welfare legislation in this period.

[3] The first group, consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay, developed social insurance schemes in the late 1910s and the 1920s.

[3] The second group, consisting of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, implemented these social services in the 1940s.

[3] Average expenditure on social services programs in as a percentage of GDP in these states is 5.3%, which is significantly lower than that of Europe and North America.

[5] Due to rising levels of social inequality in the 1950s following the reformation of the Japanese economy, the incumbent Liberal Democratic Party legislated extensive health insurance laws in 1958 and pensions in 1959 to address societal upheaval.

[12] Additionally, the countries with the perception of high-quality public services, specifically Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, scored the highest on levels of happiness.

[15] One paper conducted within China indicates that social services in the form of direct financial assistance does not have a positive impact on the reduction of poverty rates.

[15] (threshold set at 40% of United States median household income)[13] (1970–1997)[14] The table below displays the welfare spending of countries as a percentage of their total GDP.

[19] OECD data reveals that the provision of universal health coverage leads to significantly positive outcomes on society.

[22] The issues in which social services attempt at preventing for children include substance abuse, underemployment and unemployment, homelessness and criminal convictions.

[27] Social services have expanded worldwide through the introduction of economic stimulus packages, with governments globally committing US$130 Billion as of June 2020 to manage the pandemic.

The provision of education services is an example of a social service. For more, see Public Education .
Volunteers at Meals on Wheels preparing food. This is an example of an organisation which provides the social service of food assistance . This non-governmental charity provides the sourcing, preparation and delivery of food to disadvantaged peoples, such as the homeless .
Illustration of industrial-era child labour, depicting a girl pulling coal up a mineshaft. The Factory Laws and labor movements in the late nineteenth century aimed at limiting and ending child labour in Europe.
A photograph of a 10-year-old girl in 1912 employed in child labour . Through the passage Factory Acts, the severity and commonality of child labour decreased.
Japan's economic expenditure on core social services post WWII, sourced from the Japanese Government's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare [ 11 ]
The absolute poverty rates of various countries before and after their introduction of welfare [ 13 ]
The relative poverty rates before and after the introduction of welfare of various countries [ 14 ]
The above graph displays social spending as a percentage of yearly GDP in OECD countries in 2015.
The topmost graph displays spending on social services as a percentage of yearly GDP in OECD countries from the period between 1880 and 2016.
The above graph displays social spending as a percentage of yearly GDP in OECD countries in 2015.
Total healthcare cost per person . Public and private spending. US dollars PPP . $6,319 for Canada in 2022. $12,555 for the US in 2022. [ 18 ]
This graph displays, adjusted for inflation and PPP price differences between countries, the relationship between life expectancy and healthcare expenditure. US average of $10,447 in 2018 . [ 21 ] The US does not provide a universal health care program, but introduced the Affordable Care Act in 2010. For more, see Healthcare in the United States .
A photograph of a doctor in 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak . Social services and social workers played a central role in the response to the pandemic.