Street-level social workers and social policy: A historical case-study in Israel

Abstract The social work profession is committed to combating poverty and promoting social justice. However, there is ongoing debate about whether the provision of material assistance should be a core function of social workers. In response to recent calls for reintegrating material assistance and emotional care, this study examines the role of street-level social workers in Israel in the 1970s and their involvement in the policy process that led to the passage of the Income Support Law. Based on twenty semi-structured interviews with social workers and archival sources, the study concludes that while social workers viewed poverty and material assistance as complex issues, they played a crucial role in advocating for a separation between material assistance and psychosocial care. Their active involvement in the policy process and their professional support for this significant change were crucial in reshaping Israel’s social assistance framework, challenging previous assumptions about the limited influence of street-level bureaucrats on policy. The study offers a more nuanced understanding of how social workers can shape policy and contribute to contemporary debates on poverty and social work.