Personal Reflection on Social Welfare in Canada: A Student's Viewpoint

This essay presents a student's personal reflection on the Canadian social welfare system, tracing its historical evolution and the shift in focus from indigenous people to immigrants. It highlights the significance of social welfare programs and their impact on the lives of Canadians. The author discusses their personal connection to social work, emphasizing their passion for poverty eradication and housing programs, and their desire to support both immigrants and indigenous people. The essay also outlines the author's strengths, such as patience and determination, as well as their limitations, such as emotional responses. Furthermore, it details their past experiences in community development and rehabilitation, and their aspirations to continue working in these areas. The essay also mentions the areas of social work practice, such as medical treatment and nursing, where the author might feel uncomfortable. The essay concludes by referencing relevant literature on Canadian social work and immigration.

Running Head: PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL
WELFARE
PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL WELFARE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL WELFARE
The history of social welfare in the country of Canada was restricted to the indigenous
people during the middle of nineteenth century when the immigrants started entering Canada. At
that time, the social welfare policies of the government were not in favor of the immigrants.
Naturally, social welfare programs conducted by the non-government organization also focused
on the socio-economic problems of the indigenous people only which included the
unemployment problems, poverty and also the lack of the basic amenities like food clothing and
proper shelter due to the advent of the immigrants (Hick, 2006).
From the above discussion, it can be realized that, one of the most important
characteristics of Social welfare programs in Canada is, its biasness to the problems of the
indigenous people. This was due to the baseless myths of the citizens of Canada regarding the
immigrants (Hick, 2006).
The value and focus of social welfare started changing during late 1800s, as the
biased nature of social welfare programs strted encouraging collisions and clashes within the
country of Canada during late 1800s.This made the private and government organization
working for social welfare,to focus on the wellbeing of the immigrants. Thus the period before
1890 indicated a change in the focus of the social welfare programs, which was popularly known
as the era of moral reform. Thus the characteristics of social welfare of Canada became multi-
dimensional from one dimensional, flexible from rigid (Hick, 2006).
As the statement of personal fit with the disciplines of social work, I can say that,
sincemy childhood, I feel an urge to serve to the mankind, which boosted me to study masters of
social welfare. As I studied social welfare, I learnt about the three basic types of human rights,
different types of income securities, public income security programs that can be provided to the

2PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL WELFARE
poor people, policies for settlement of house and many other programs, which can actually serve
to the needy people of the society and contribute to the betterment of the same.
My preferred level and field of practice will be, the poverty eradication and housing
programs. More specifically, I want to look after the fact that, every people of Canada, either
immigrants or indigenous should be provided the basic necessities of life. Along with this I will
also join NGOs, which encourage addicts from lower socio-economic standard to participate in
self development and rehabilitation program, so that they are able to find their creative sides and
nourishes it , also utilize their creativity to select a suitable profession, and become self
dependent (Hick, 2006).
The strengths, which I have developed, are-patience, love for the deceived, determination
to make a better society, prudency in taking decision to conduct a systematic social welfare
programs and fighting spirit so that I can fight for them who are deceived of basic human rights.
Along with this, I have also inculcated moral values, to look after the fact that, no rights
provided to the deceived section of the society are misused.
My limitations are-my emotions and informal approach to conduct a social welfare
programs.
In spite of all these limitations, I believe that, the strengths as well as values, which I
have inculcated within me,will provide me enough opportunities for the exploration of my
educational and career goals and aspirations.
The areas of practice, I already worked in, are, community development and
rehabilitation for the drug addicts. I also aspire to work in the same areas of practice, in future.

3PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL WELFARE
Thearea of practice or particular client group with, which I might feel uncomfortable
are,medical treatment and nursing.

4PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL WELFARE
References:
Hick, S. (2006). Social work in Canada. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing.

5PERSONAL REFLECTION TO CANADIAN SOCIAL WELFARE
Bibliography
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immigration policy in Canada. International Migration Review, 50(2), 352-384.
Gilroy, J. (2018). Critical issues in child welfare: Perspectives from the field. In Community
Approaches to Child Welfare (pp. 25-44). Routledge.
Gulasekaram, P. (2018). Immigration federalism. In Controversies in American Federalism and
Public Policy (pp. 151-170). Routledge.
Straubhaar, J., & Davis, S. (2018). Drumming and digital inclusion: music, identity formation,
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