The Wisconsin Welfare Council (WWC), now the Wisconsin Council on Human Concerns, has gained recognition as one of the outstanding organizations of its kind, both on the basis of its program, and its representative membership. It has always provided a medium of expression not only for professional social workers, but also for public-minded citizens concerned about the development of sound welfare programs in Wisconsin.
Organized in 1881 as the Wisconsin Conference of Charities and Corrections, it became the Wisconsin Conference of Social Work in 1918, and in 1941 changed its name to Wisconsin Welfare Council. In 1973 the Council re-incorporated under its current name. The Council was the first state welfare conference organized in this country, the first to employ a full-time paid secretary, and the first to inaugurate regional conferences.
The Wisconsin Conference of Charities and Corrections devoted its program to the care of the insane, management of institutions, the causes and treatment of pauperism, and the work of the State Board of Charities and Reform. Membership was open to anyone who was officially connected with public or private charities or corrections institutions in Wisconsin, as well as lay persons who were merely interested in these subjects. The four years following World War I marked a period of considerable growth for the organization. On March 1, 1920 the first full-time executive secretary was engaged. A series of regional conferences was held throughout the state, and the membership increased rapidly. The Council was unofficially connected with the University of Wisconsin Extension Division from 1920 until 1944.
During the 1970's the council experienced financial difficulties due to a substantial loss of United Way support. At this time the council had to submit its budget each year to individual Wisconsin chests, and it became increasingly difficult to persuade these agencies to support an agency which only provided indirect service. In the 1980's the council continued its basic functions while attempting to broaden its funding base and increase its statewide membership. More recently, the organization has been funded by the United Way; Aid to Wisconsin Organizations; and revenue from various forums, conferences, grants, and memberships. The council has continued to publish its monthly newsletter, Capital Comments, and to concern itself with promoting social welfare causes.
More recently, the functions and purposes of the Wisconsin Welfare Council have been to disseminate public information on social welfare and legislation, through publications and state and district conferences; to act as a central statewide planning body for fact-finding and research; to coordinate local and state welfare planning; and to promote higher standards of professional service.
The Council was closely allied with the Wisconsin Community Chests and Councils, Inc. (WCC&C), which was organized in 1946 as a successor to the State War Fund. The WCC&C promotes mutual assistance and exchange of information between local community chests; assists local communities in dealing with social problems through better community organization, planning, and financing; evaluates the services of agencies seeking Chest support; coordinates fund-raising; and develops better public understanding of social welfare services. With such similar purposes, the WCC&C and Wisconsin Welfare Council agreed in 1947 to share the same state headquarters and staff. Administrative, clerical, and field services were to be provided by Council staff in exchange for financial support from local Chests. This arrangement continued after re-incorporation in 1973.
Several histories of the council may be found in the Other Records section of the collection's Part II.
