The Social Service Programs Branch (SSPB) was formed in 1975 as the result of a reorganization which combined the former Social Allowances and Services Branch and the Developmental Programs Branch. The Branch's mandate was to ensure the maintenance of a "social safety net" for Canadians by supporting the provision of social assistance to persons whose economic circumstances are inadequate to meet their needs, or whose social circumstances expose them to the risk of poverty, isolation or dependency. The major components of this safety net are provided by the Canada Assistance Plan (CAP), a federal-provincial cost-sharing arrangement by which the federal government contributes funding to the provinces to defray the costs of provincially-organized social assistance programs. In addition to the provisions of CAP, the Branch provides grants and contributions to promote and maintain the continued participation of Canadian senior citizens within the community, and to develop and demonstrate new, innovative and effective community social services. The Branch also advises federal and provincial officials, voluntary organizations and consumer groups on a variety of issues such as adoption, family and children's services, community development, voluntary actions, and rehabilitation. In March 1993, SSPB merged with the Health Services and Promotion Branch and became known as the Health and Social Programs Branch (HSPB), and in the fall of 1993, portions of the Branch were transferred to the newly-created Department of Human Resources Development (HRD), where they form the Social Development and Education Branch.
The records in this accessioin consist of administrative files covering such subjects as: acts and legislation, particularly social service legislation; committees (including the General Committee of Officials Reporting to the Federal/Provincial and Territorial Deputy Ministers of Social Services, the Federal/Provincial Conference and its working groups, meetings of Deputy Ministers of Welfare, and Interprovincial Conferences of Ministers of Welfare); cooperation and liaison with other government agencies; audit reports of SSPB functions; and various studies on social welfare subjects.
