Important Goals of Social Welfare

1. Humanitarian and Social Justice Goals - This goal of social welfare is rooted in the democratic ideal of social justice and is based on the belief that man has the potential to realize himself, except that physical, social, economic, psychological, and other factors sometimes hinder or prevent him from realizing his potentials. This concept submits that it is right and just for man to help man, hence, social services. This goal involves the identification of the most afflicted, the most dependent, the most neglected, and those least able to help themselves and making them the priority target for the investment of scarce resources.

2. Social Control Goal - This goal is based on recognizing that the needy, deprived, and disadvantaged groups may strike out, individually and/or collectively, against what they consider to be an alienating or offending society. Society, therefore, has to secure itself against the threats to life, property, and political stability in the community, which are usually presented by those who are deprived of resources and opportunities to achieve a satisfying life. Social services to dissidents and to juvenile and adult offenders exemplify the social control goal of social welfare.

3. Economic Development - This economic development goal prioritizes programs designed to support increases in producing goods and services and other resources that will contribute to economic development. The immediate beneficiaries of such programs may be the able-bodied, relatively better-off members of the community. Examples of social services which pursue economic development goals are:

• Social services which directly contribute to increased productivity among individuals, groups, and communities, such as counseling services for the youth and for the adjustment of workers to industrial settings; labor welfare services and facilities; services for the rehabilitation of handicapped workers; skills training for the unemployed and the underemployed, integrated social services for farmers;

• Social services prevent or relieve the burden of dependence on adult workers of such dependents as the very young and the very old, the sick, the disabled, etc., which could hamper their productivity. Examples of these are daycare centers, old age homes, health clinics, and rehabilitation centers;

• Social services which prevent or counteract the disruptive effects of urbanization and industrialization on family and community life and help identify and develop local leadership in communities. Examples of these are family life education services, leadership training programs, and various types of community services which enhance or develop self-reliance and therefore promote people's own capacities for problem-solving. 

Reference:
Lee-Mendoza, T. (2008) Social Welfare and Social Work. Central Book Supply