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Scientific philanthropy - An historical approach that contributed to the rise of social work - the idea that charities should become organized in order more systematically to deal with the problem of poverty. It emerged from ideals of social reform and social progress, which were increasingly influenced by scientific methods and approaches.

Scoop - The scoop refers to the massive removal of Aboriginal children from Native families and communities and placement into non-Aboriginal foster and adoptive homes. This took place mostly in the 1960s.

Scrip system - The situation among the Métis in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, was unique. The Métis in western Canada could seek to become status Indians by aligning themselves to certain treaty areas or they could take scrip. The scrip system entitled the bearer of a scrip certificate to either land or money; in exchange, the person who took scrip gave up all further claims to land. Although the scrip system offered to the Métis was different from the treaty-making process for Indians, the result was the same.

Selective programs - Target benefits to those determined to be in need or eligible based on a means test (sometimes called an income test) or a needs test.

Self-help community - A self-help community consists of non-professional persons with similar problems or difficulties (for example, those living with addiction, disability or unemployment, or coping with illness or the death of a loved one) who provide mutual support and exchange information.

Self-help or peer groups - The acquiring of information or the solving of one's problems without the direct intervention of professionals or experts, through independent reading or by joining or forming a group comprised of others who also have the problem.

Settlement houses - A movement that began in the late 1800s in which the middle and upper classes lived with the poor and advocated for better social and working conditions. The purpose was to bring the educated middle class and even the charitable upper class or gentry to live among the urban poor in working class neighbourhoods.

Sex - This refers to the biological differences between women and men (see also gender).

Sexism - Similar to the dynamics of racism. Males are believed to be superior to females and when this belief is put into action it leads to females being treated as objects, the last to be hired, first to be fired, being paid less for equal work.

Sexual abuse - Any sexual exploitation of a child whether consented to or not. It includes touching of a sexual nature or any behaviour of a sexual nature towards a child.

Sexual orientation - One's sexual attraction toward members of either one's own sex or the other sex.

Social change mandate - This social change mandate of social work means working in solidarity with those who are disadvantaged or excluded from society so as to eliminate the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society.

Social constructionism in relation to sexual attraction - The approach that socio-cultural experience is given primacy in the construction of a homosexual identity and role. Social Constructionism gave rise to perspectives of choice and lifestyles, challenging the innate deterministic understanding of sexual orientation as advanced by essentialism.

Social development model of international social work - Social workers who hold to this approach seek primarily to address the immediate causes of human degradation, powerlessness, and social inequality and to guide collective action toward the elimination of all forms of oppression, injustice, and violence. They are concerned with the fuller participation of people at all levels of the political and economic systems of their countries and with fostering social, political, and economic systems that are more humane, inclusive, and participatory.

Social gospel movement - A movement that began in the 1880s and was directed toward a more socially-oriented church among the Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist churches. It advocated for improved living and working conditions and basic social justice.

Social insurance - A type of income security program in which participants make regular payments into a fund from which they receive benefits if the risk covered by the insurance occurs. These programs follow the insurance principle of shared risk. Many will contribute with the understanding that not all will necessarily need to access the benefits of the program.

Social oppression theory - In contrast to the personal tragedy theory of disability, the social oppression theory of disability argues that the problems faced by people with disabilities are not the result of physical impairments alone, but are the result of the social and political inequality that exists between disabled people and able-bodied people

Social policies - The rules and regulations, the laws and other administrative directives, which set the framework for state social welfare activity.

Social programs - A detailed outline of state activity which follows and implements a specific social welfare policy. A social program outlines the funds to be spent and the purposes for which they will be spent.

Social security - This is sometimes used as a substitute for the term social welfare or income security. It is generally an American term, but has been also used by Canadian governments. For example, Social Security in Canada, published in 1994 by the federal government uses the term to refer to both income security and social services. In Canada when the term is used, it usually does refer to both income security and social services. But, the term social welfare is more widely accepted.

Social services - Non-monetary personal or community services provided by the state and non-profit organizations for members of the community, such as daycare, housing, crisis intervention, support groups for women experiencing abuse.

Social structures - This refers generally to wider social institutions, policies and systems in society - such as the economic system (capitalism, social class), the political system (democratic rights), family relations (patriarchy and gender inequality), ideologies and belief systems (religion, racism, ageism, ableism, homophobia), etc.

Social survey research - Towards the end of the nineteenth century, social survey research was beginning to be used to highlight the extent of poverty and inequality in Canadian cities. Early studies by social researcher/reformers, such as J.J. Kelso in Toronto and J.S. Woodsworth in Winnipeg, contributed an understanding of poverty and what to do about it. Royal Commissions also contributed to increased awareness and a growing interest in social service and social work.

Social Union Agreement of 1999 - The Social Union Agreement of 1999 between the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories is the umbrella under which governments will concentrate their efforts to renew and modernize Canadian social policy. So far, several social welfare initiatives have been established under this framework: National Child Benefit, the national children's agenda for child care, and services for persons with disabilities.

Social welfare - This refers to how people, communities and institutions in a society take action to provide certain minimum standards and certain opportunities. It is generally about helping people face contingencies. Social welfare comprises a range of institutions involving both the provision of programs of income security and social services.

Social welfare model of international social work - The more conventional social welfare model of international work is based on the notion that basic social welfare services should be developed in all countries to meet basic human needs. Social workers following this model of international practice are mainly concerned with the satisfaction of basic social and material needs of people (e.g., to minimal standards of living, access to at least basic health, education, and to other essential social services).

Social work practice - Work, consisting of a series or process of interventive actions, that is of benefit to those in need, especially work undertaken by trained staff. It may consist of social work with individuals, group work or community work. Social work is an action-oriented field in which individual and social change play key parts.

Social work with individuals - Social work with individuals is directed at helping individuals, using counselling and other one-on-one methods.

Social worker roles - In performing their day-to-day work, a social worker is expected to be knowledgeable and skillful in a variety of roles. The role that is selected and applied should ideally be the role that is most effective with a particular client in the particular circumstances.

Stages of group development - For successful group work intervention, it is also important to know how to identify the stages of group development. The intervention tasks for group work will be quite different depending on the type of group (for example, self-help or treatment), but the stages of group development will often be the same for each type of group. By identifying the group's stage of development, workers can better help the group meet its needs and goals.

Stereotype - A set of beliefs or perceptions of groups of people, or ideas held by a number of people, often not based on fact.

Suffragette movement - The suffragette movement campaigned for the right for all women to have the right to vote.

Suicide risk - This refers to the likelihood that a person will take their own life as a result of the social and psychological circumstances in which they find themselves. For example, the suicide risk levels of gays, lesbians and bisexuals is now an area of grave concern. 

Sustainable development - Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Systemic discrimination - The operating policies, structures, and functions of an on-going system of normative patterns which serve to subjugate, oppress, and force dependence of individuals or groups. This involves establishing and sanctioning unequal rights, goals, and priorities and sanctioning inequality in status as well as access to goods and services.

Systems theory - The theory that is the foundation for the generalist approach to social work. An approach that assumes that the human being is made up of smaller subsystems, such as cells and organs; but that the human being is in turn part of larger systems, such as family and society.

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