Challenges For Social Work Research Articles

The trouble with thresholds: Rationing as a rational choice in child and family social work

AbstractThe financial crisis of 2008, has led central governments in industrialized nations to seek to reduce public expenditure at the same time that demands upon the welfare state are increasing. Using the example of statutory social work with children and families in England, this article explores whether the concept of rationing might be a more useful way of describing practices at the front line that seek to meet the objectives of policymakers, while also being financially responsible. In doing so, the article challenges social work to see austerity as less of a descriptor of the straightened financial times we live in but rather as an ideology that is seeking to reshape the very nature of the welfare state and to push responsibility for dealing with the consequences of these decisions away from politicians and policymakers onto front line staff.

Public Health Social Work as a Unifying Framework for Social Work's Grand Challenges.

Introduced in 2013 by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, the Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW) implicitly embrace a public health perspective. However, the lack of a specific overarching conceptual framework creates a challenge for moving the GCSW from concept to practice. In this article, authors propose that public health social work (PHSW) provides a unifying framework for moving the GCSW from concept to practice. Authors undertook a review of the literature, including a review of published literature and all Web sites and other Web materials focused on the GCSW. Three GCSW were selected to illustrate the utility of PHSW and the social work health impact model (SWHIM): (1) stopping family violence, (2) eradicating social isolation, and (3) achieving opportunity and justice. Using a wide-lens PHSW approach, the illustrations focus on actions that can influence populations through strengthened environments and multilevel interventions. The public health field reflects the rigorous science behind the theoretical models, community-based approaches, and attention to effects of social determinants of health at the population level. Because health and inequalities are the focus of many of the GCSW, incorporating both public and population health, together with the SWHIM, can help provide structure to achieve collective goals.

Practical Support for Caregivers in Navigating Financial Issues Associated With Dementia

Dementia is a destructive, debilitating, and progressive terminal disease. Palliative care has potential to ameliorate some of the devastating effects for both client and family. In consideration of the Grand Challenges for Social Work, social workers can provide prevention and assistance in supporting individual and family well-being through addressing the practical problems associated with dementia. This field note provides a brief narrative of the challenges I discovered when navigating the minutiae of unraveling the financial affairs of a relative with dementia.

Stripping the Wallpaper of Practice: Empowering Social Workers to Tackle Poverty

The relationship between deprivation and health and educational inequalities has been well evidenced in the literature. Recent UK research has now established a similar social gradient in child welfare interventions (Bywaters et al. 2018) with children living in the most deprived areas in the UK facing a much higher chance of being placed on the child protection register or in out-of-home care. There is an emerging narrative that poverty has become the wallpaper of practice, “too big to tackle and too familiar to notice” (Morris et al. 2018) and invisible amid lack of public support and political will to increase welfare spending. This paper will examine poverty-related inequalities and how these affect families. It will discuss the importance of recognising that poverty is a social justice issue and a core task for social work and outline the range of supports that may be available for families to help lift them out of poverty. Finally, it will describe the development of a new practice framework for social work in Northern Ireland that challenges social workers to embed anti-poverty approaches in their practice. The framework emphasises that poverty is a social justice issue, seeks to provide practical support and guidance to re-focus attention, debate, and action on poverty in times of global economic uncertainty and give social workers the tools to make it central to their practice once again. It reinforces the need for social workers to understand and acknowledge the impact of poverty, and to advocate for and support those most in need. It aims to challenge and empower professionals to tackle poverty and inequality as an aspect of ethical and effective practice.

Supporting Field-Based Education in Political Settings

ABSTRACTThis article presents findings from a qualitative study of social work students who participated in an intensive block placement in a state legislature. Findings explore what students perceive as the central learning outcomes from field placements in political settings and how they navigate aspects of practice that may differ in critical ways from other social work practice settings. Findings identify challenges social work students face when placed in a political environment as well as strategies and supports students use to navigate these challenges. We discuss implications for creating and sustaining effective social work field placements in political settings to further students’ policy practice competency.

Social Work Doctoral Program Administration: Current Status, Information Needs, and Capacity to Address Persistent Critiques

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to identify doctoral administration and education standards, practices, policies, and related gaps in knowledge, and consider them in the context of persistent social work challenges. A literature review was conducted, and focus groups were convened at the 2016 conference of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work, focusing on cultural climate; faculty, staff, program, and higher administration; student admissions; student preparation; and student products. Major themes from the study include doctoral education remains understudied and unexplored, existing research is outdated, and focus groups fill research gaps and provide practical solutions. Findings suggest strategies for those in doctoral education to be better informed and simultaneously shape the profession.

Stress as a Threat and a Challenge for Social Workers and their Profession

Hlavním cílem předkládaného příspěvku je představit stres jako jednu z dlouhodobě významných hrozeb 21. století, a to především v kontextu výkonu profese sociální práce. V návaznosti na to dále představit tzv. copingové strategie aneb způsoby, jakými se jedinci - sociální pracovníci - mohou se stresem vypořádávat. Na stres je v rámci článku pohlíženo jako na potenciální výzvu. V souvislosti s tímto je kladen důraz na všímavost jakožto jeden z mnoha možných nástrojů převrácení hrozby stresu na výzvu, tedy efektivní práce se stresem. Nejsou opomenuty jak možnosti pěstování všímavosti v každodenním životě sociálních pracovníků, tak ani možná úskalí související s jejím praktikováním, na která je zapotřebí upozornit.

The lifeways we avoid

PurposeIn the context of increasing interdisciplinarity in academia and professional practice, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the contribution of information science (IS) to education and practice in social work (SW), specifically in the area of disabilities at the workplace. As a case in point, a work environment of academia and faculty members with disabilities and their managers are chosen. The paper also stands to improve interdisciplinary understanding between IS and SW.Design/methodology/approachCombining SW and IS perspectives and building off selective exposure, cognitive dissonance and uncertainty management theories, the paper looks at one of the root-causes of continuous workplace discrimination against and bullying of people with disabilities – information avoidance (IA).FindingsThe paper conceptualises discrimination and bullying as an inherently information problem, for which an SW solution could be proposed. Two types of information are noted to be avoided: information about disabilities and information about the effect of discrimination and bullying on employees with disabilities. The paper distinguishes between defensive and deliberate IA, each of which poses different challenges for social workers who are likely to intervene in the cases of bullying and discrimination in their capacity as workplace counsellors and advisors.Originality/valueIt is the first known paper that explores the intellectual and practice-based synergy between SW and IS in application to change-related interventions and preventative plans that counteract discrimination against people with disabilities at the workplace. It proposes creative solutions for intervention, including bibliotherapy. It also opens up a broader conversation on how critical the knowledge of IS is for social workers.

Right-wing Populism and Social Work: Contrasting Ambivalences About Modernity

Right-wing populism has become a major feature of the politics of many Western countries, and poses particular challenges for social work. This paper explores the contradictory relationships of both social work and right-wing populism to Enlightenment Modernity. Each embraces some elements of modernity but retreats from others. This analysis suggests that apparent commonalities—rejection of globalisation, empowerment rhetoric and opposition to neo-liberalism—are more apparent than real. On this basis, the paper argues that attempts by social work either to dialogue with or to accommodate the right-wing populist agenda are both futile and dangerous. Rather, it is important for social work not only to take a strong stand against neo-liberalism, but to also to articulate significant alternatives to the right-wing populist dystopia, and engage in principled activism, based on the values of social justice and human rights, and to work towards the realisation of such alternatives at community level.

Social Work Challenge: Sex Workers and their Families in Prague and South Bohemia Region

Social Work Challenge: Sex Workers and their Families in Prague and South Bohemia Region

Self–care practices among social workers: do they predict job satisfaction and turnover intention?

ABSTRACTThe current health and mental health care delivery system in the United States strives to provide efficient quality care at a lower cost. This cost-effective approach and recent budget cuts have created new challenges for social workers. This study explores the relationships between self-care strategies, role stress, job autonomy, and job satisfaction and turnover intention. Four-hundred sixty-nine social workers were surveyed to assess multiple measures of self-care including professional support, professional development, coping strategies, and professional resilience, and their effects on job satisfaction and turnover intention. Role stress and job autonomy were also examined in relation to job satisfaction and turnover intention. The results supported the main hypotheses that claimed that self-care strategies are associated with both job satisfaction and turnover intention. The author discusses the important implications of these findings in education and training of both students and practitioners.

Social Work Grand Challenges: Leaders' Perceptions of the Potential for Partnering with Business.

Social work's ability to address complex societal problems such as those identified in the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare's Grand Challenges for Social Work is reliant on being innovative in how we prepare social workers and how we collaborate with others, including business. This research seeks to understand how leaders of major social work organizations perceive potential partnership with the business sector-including both possible threats and opportunities. Interviews were conducted with those serving on the Council on Social Work Education's Leadership Roundtable. The research explores how emerging partnership models can be helpful and ways in which the profession can prepare practitioners for better partnering with the business sector. Qualitative findings identify four key strategies to address the grand challenges and enhance partnerships: (1) more interdisciplinary work is needed, (2) social work students need to be adequately equipped for collaborative work, (3) a cohesive message is needed from the field, and (4) the potential benefits for partnering with business outweigh the risks.

Vulnerable Adults in the Privately Rented Sector in England: A Snapshot of Current Practice Issues

In the UK, in common with many developed countries, there is a crisis in the provision of adequate, affordable and quality housing. This paper discusses how an unprecedented rise in the privately rented housing sector has impacted on housing security for vulnerable adults and the challenges for social work emerging from this situation (The core definition of ‘vulnerable adult’ from the 1997 Consultation ‘Who Decides?’ issued by the Lord Chancellor’s Department, is a person: ‘Who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of disability, age or illness; and is or may be unable to take care of unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation’. This definition of an adult covers all people over 18 years of age.). We report on a scoping review of the relevant literature and a subsequent online survey of practitioner’s views on the challenges and possible solutions to this issue. Together these provide a snapshot of practice issues and concerns which can be used to promote further debate and help shape recommendations.

The grand challenges of social work: Deaf children in the child welfare system

Deaf children involved with child welfare systems are often overlooked both in terms of tracking and service delivery. These systems frequently do not offer accessible and equitable services to deaf children. The current paper explores this in terms of the Social Work Grand Challenge: Healthy growth and development of all youth. Literature regarding child welfare services for deaf children is discussed. Recommendations are proposed for prevention and intervention efforts which will promote the healthy development of deaf children involved with child welfare systems.

Exceptional and Necessary: Practicing Rights-Based Social Work in the USA

This paper argues that it is critical for social workers to become familiar with the larger set of human rights—including social and economic rights—and put them into practice because respecting and validating these rights has the potential to transform our clients, our societies, and our social work profession. Beyond arguing the importance of human rights, this paper will provide needed human rights background, as well as specific guidance for social workers and educators about how to take a rights-based approach to professional social work practice. Though the article focuses on the US example, global readers may find the analytic framework employed here useful for understanding the challenges social workers in their own countries face when adopting rights-based approaches. In all countries, social workers must analyze the legal and cultural specificities that promote—or limit—human rights and how the local context may encourage or challenge rights-based practices. Overall, a rights-based approach to practice has the potential to offer social work—a profession oriented to social well-being—the opportunity to take leadership, and become the point profession on economic, social, and cultural rights.

Editor’s Acknowledgment of Service to JSSWR

Previous articleNext article FreeEditor’s Acknowledgment of Service to JSSWRPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreThe peer-review process is critical to ensuring the quality and rigor of the work published by the Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research (JSSWR). Peer reviews are the core of good scholarly publishing and a hallmark of all reputable, respected journals. The peer reviewers listed here contributed their time and talents during 2017 to review manuscripts, provide thoughtful and constructive critiques, and encourage authors to produce their best work. These reviewers have played a vital role in maintaining the standards of the Journal and promoting rigorous social work research. Indeed, the time and effort that our peer reviewers dedicate to providing well-considered reviews is a priceless gift not only to JSSWR but also to the social work field. The responsiveness of our reviewers has enabled JSSWR to maintain its commitment to rapid review of manuscripts, with authors receiving a decision within 38 days of submission. As a gesture of our appreciation to the referees who have unselfishly given of themselves, we would like to formally thank them for their service to JSSWR.Shauna AcquavitaEdward AlessiMustapha AlhassanDavid AnsongElizabeth ArmstrongAmber BahorikAnnahita BallAaron BanmanAnita BarbeeDavid BecerraSusanne BeckerJennifer BellamyKia BentleyBret BlackmonAmy Blank WilsonAaron BoultonNatasha BowenDavid BrennanCharlotte BrightMary Ellen BrownChristina BruhnAlicia BungerThomas ByrneWilliam CabinCarl CastroJulie CederbaumPajarita CharlesShirley ChauDing-Geng ChenXinguang ChenGina ChowaMary CollinsKatie CotterDavid CramptonMatthew CuellarJami CurleySandra DanzigerAngeleique DayCarolyn DaytonBruce DeForgeEllen DeVoeOtima DoyleJeffrey DraineAmy DworskyShaun EackGretchen ElyMatthew EppersonCaroline EvansRyan FarmerGina FedockKristin FergusonTerri FriedlineRachel FuscoJohn GallagherJennifer GeigerZvi GellisSandy GibsonAshley GivensJeremy GoldbachLiliana GoldinKeith GreenErick GuerreroBaorong GuoMing-Hu HanCarolina Hausmann-StabileJulia HenlyDan HermanJulieta HernandezAndrea HetlingJoseph HimleJun Sung HongMichin HongTyriesa HowellHsun-Ta HsuJin HuangAidyn IachiniJames JaccardChristian Gonzalez JaworskiThomas JohnsonTiffany JonesKirsten KainzShanna Katz KattariAmber KellySuzanne KernsNidhi KhoslaB. K. Elizabeth KimDong Ha KimPeter KindleBryn KingKaren KolivoskiAlfgeir KristjanssonTravis LabrumMichael LambertSusan LambertJungeun Olivia LeeJuyeon LeeLia LevinKendra LewisYuhlong LioMelissa LippoldBrianna LombardiEllen LukensYan MaJennifer ManuelKatherine MarcalJeanne MarshBrandy MaynardBowen McBeathMichael McCarthyMichelle MunsonJulie NagoshiChristina NewhillNicole NicoteraWilliam NugentHyunsung OhMary OhmerDavid OkechNathanael OkpychJulianne OktayRene OlatePhilip OsteenJung Min ParkJose Parra-CardonaDanielle ParrishBrian PerronCarrie Pettus-DavisMegan PielStephen PimpareTamara RadohlVirginia Ramseyer WinterKaren RandolphAlexandra RedcayEric RiceNathaniel RiggsMaria RodriguezRoderick RoseBenjamin RothDavid RothwellDouglas RughChristopher Salas-WrightAlison SalloumHani SamawiRebecca SanfordAndrea SavageAbigail SewellJanet ShapiroTerry ShawJama SheltonMicheal ShierHee-Choon ShinChengshi ShiuNatasha SlesnickRichard SmithSusan SorensonLinda Sprague MartinezGail SteketeeTara StevensColette StreetMarla StuartKristie ThomasAaron ThompsonAllison ThompsonElizabeth TiptonLisa TownsendTonya VanDeinseStijn VandeveldeMichael VaughnChristopher VeehDexter VoisinNelson WallsMaria WathenKristina WebberKai WeiBridget WellerKelly WhitakerTraci WikeJeffrey WilsonJessica WojtalikYing-ling WongMichael WoolleyFrank WorrellChristopher WretmanQi WuQiaobing WuShiyou WuXiaoling XiangJoanne YaffeMarci YbarraJaehee YiSusan YoonMansoo YuLisa ZerdenGuest Editor Special AcknowledgmentThe JSSWR editor and associate editors extend their deepest gratitude to those who serve as guest editors. Guest editors take on a crucial role in ensuring the quality of content in special issues and topical sections. As part of their role, guest editors not only endeavor to select the highest quality articles from the best researchers in the field but also seek to ensure that the articles published reflect important or emerging research in the field. We thank Edwina S. Uehara, University of Washington, for her service as guest editor of the 2017 special section on implementation of the Grand Challenges for Social Work. Previous articleNext article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research Volume 9, Number 1Spring 2018 Published for the Society for Social Work and Research Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/696357 © 2018 by the Society for Social Work and Research. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Osteoporosis Patients with Fall-Related Injuries in Residential Environments: Challenges for Social Work

The study describes the osteoporosis patient’s need of support from medical social workers because of risks and injury events in residential environments. The study includes qualitative interviews of patients and a survey of medical social worker visibility in the media. Findings show that patients feel a lack of knowledge, recognition, and moral respect from the environment. Support from a medical social worker is significant, and activation in a patient association and an osteoporosis school is seen as employing valuable information channels. However, these have a fairly limited visibility in the media, when it comes to describing support opportunities and preventive work.

Active Ageing and Demographic Change: Challenges for social work and social policy. Book Review

Active Ageing and Demographic Change: Challenges for social work and social policy. Book Review

Historical Overview of Black Suffering in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: Depth of Contemporary Social Work Challenges

This article is an overview of how slavery created a contemporary psychological and emotional condition in Black Americans. As a case study, this manuscript reviews how black history shaped Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States of America (USA) to fair the worst for Black residents: low school graduation rates, income levels, homeownership, net worth, and available savings, high unemployment rates, high chronic disease mortality rates, and low life-expectancy.

Grand challenges for social work

As the current UK government ‘dismantles for improvement’ as part of the neoliberal project (Tunstill, 2016), this article introduces the concept of the Grand Challenge Initiative, which seeks to identify ambitious yet achievable goals for society that mobilise the profession, capture the public’s imagination and require innovation and breakthroughs in research and practice to achieve change and real transformation. This article outlines a clear rationale for a Grand Challenge Initiative approach within the UK, draws upon the experience from other professions and social work within the US, and finally calls for broad and deep participation of social work thought leaders and practitioners to participate in and identify the Grand Challenges facing our society and social work today.