This chapter presents a brief history of commu-nity social work practice in North America from its pre-professional beginnings in the 19th century to the second decade of the 21st century. The chapter focuses on the evolution of methods of social planning, community development, and com-munity organizing, and the creation of community social services. It provides an assessment of the chal-lenges facing community practice today.
PRE-PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY WORK (1800-1865) As soon as the first European settlers landed on the shores of the North American continent, commu-nity was a central focus and concern. Their survival depended on the maintenance of strong, close-knit communities that provided structure and mutual aid and met settlers' needs for affiliation. The first community-based social welfare program in what became the United States was created by the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam (a colony settled in 1609 that later became New York), which established a voluntary collection to be distributed among the needy poor (Stern & Axinn, 2010). In