Field Of Welfare Research Articles

A Systemic Lifecycle Approach to Social Policy Practice in Social Work: Illustrations from Irish Child Welfare and Parenting Research and Practice

AbstractThe aim of this article is to outline a systemic lifecycle approach to social policy practice in social work. Evidence from the field of parenting and child welfare within an Irish context will be used for illustration. We avail of the work of Nancy Fraser to provide the theoretical framework. Drawing from approaches used mostly in public policy education, we demonstrate how social workers can engage at different stages of that policy lifecycle. In the discussion, we outline possibilities for and challenges to embedding social policy practice in social work education by reflecting on the processes of mediating between recognition, redistribution and representation. We argue that social policy practice should be a constant in social work. This approach should favour parity of participation and collaborative leadership from social work with regard to networking and promotion of different levels of participation with multiple ‘public spheres’. We conclude that the development of social policy practice work as a constant in social work will lead to greater ability to mediate between policies and the individuals affected by them. This would, we believe, enhance greatly the potential for social work to achieve its laudable but still illusory aims of promoting social justice.

Las adicciones en los ambientes laborales: la imperiosa necesidad de renovación del actual enfoque

El tratamiento de las adicciones en los entornos laborales, hasta el momento, no tiene una adecuada respuesta en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico perpetuando un marco disciplinario y entrando en contradicción con el marco institucional que trata las adicciones y consumos problemáticos de drogas, sean legales o ilegales, desde la perspectiva de enfermedad. En este sentido, se debería de dar un paso más allá hacia el ámbito de la seguridad, salud y bienestar laboral. En efecto, pese a que las adicciones pueden ser ocasionadas por una multitud de factores o causas, donde sin duda alguna el componente individual o de la persona es muy relevante, además, es imprescindible atender también a los factores ambientales y del entorno, entre los que se encuentran los lugares de trabajo. De ahí que este estudio se centre en esa nueva perspectiva de tutela preventiva de los trabajadores, lo que supone la implicación de la empresa en un problema que le atañe, eliminando la visión acerca de que las adicciones como una cuestión extralaboral y únicamente asistencial.

Studi Kualitatif Keberadaan Penyakit Kusta di Desa Dendun Kecamatan Mantang Kabupaten Bintan

Indonesia is in the third position in the world with the most leprosy sufferers after India and Brazil. Leprosy is commonly found in developing countries, as a result of the country's limited ability to provide adequate services in the fields of health, education, and socioeconomic welfare for the community. Dendun Village in Mantang District had the most cases of leprosy, 5 (five) cases in the Bintan Regency area in 2018. The study was used as a qualitative approach with a case study method. Content analysis was used in the analysis process of this research. Testing the results of research used source triangulation by cross-checking data with facts from other sources (informants) and triangulation methods by collecting data through in-depth interviews with informants and reviewing documents. The level of knowledge, negative stigma, adherence to treatment, history of contact with leprosy sufferers, and access to health services were important factors for the existence of leprosy in Dendun Village, Mantang District, Bintan Regency. Patients are expected to comply with the treatment program seriously to prevent transmission, cure, and recovery due to diseases carried out by the Bintan District Health Office and Mantang Puskesmas.

Three conversation practices illuminating how children’s views and wishes are explored in care proceedings: An analysis of 22 children’s spokespersons’ accounts

Abstract There is a growing literature on how children are heard in the field of child welfare, often with indications of how difficult it may be to fulfil their right to be heard. This article examines children’s spokespersons’ accounts of speaking with children in care proceedings about their views and wishes. The study consists of interviews with 22 children’s spokespersons in Norway. Study findings question whether children in care proceedings understand the invitation to voice their wishes as confined to matters relating to the proceedings. Based on their accounts of their practices, spokespersons tend to respond to children’s wishes with efforts to orientating them to their current situation and a negotiation that will make the wishes more feasible in the eyes of the representative. The spokespersons’ accounts of the conversations display conversational dynamics in which children’s views and wishes are explored, through types of practices identified as practices of fidelity, of structuration and of argumentation. The understanding of conversation dynamics that these findings provide may further meaningful engagement and enable a more attentive exploration of children’s views and wishes. The findings provide important insights for professions that bear the task of enabling children’s participation.

Cultural competence in social work practice: Exploring the challenges of newly employed social work professionals

ABSTRACT The Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) mandate that social workers engage diversity and difference to practice cultural competence. Because the social work profession serves a diverse population that includes humanity’s extensive list of intersecting backgrounds and identities, the very essence of cultural competence comprises fundamental complications in its overall conceptualization, construct, and application of theory to practice. The purpose of this study explored the challenges newly employed social workers faced in practicing cultural competence relative to their experiences as novice professionals. The sample included 20 participants who recently graduated from accredited CSWE MSW programs and were newly employed in the field of social welfare. Through qualitative research methods, data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and one focus group. The findings emphasized the multifaceted nature of cultural competence and highlighted (a) areas for growth in feelings of inadequacy, (b) frustration with fundamental organizational barriers, and (c) prejudice from clients.

Implementing smartphone technology to support relational competence in foster youth: a service provider perspective

ABSTRACT The field of child welfare continues to search for effective ways to mitigate risks foster youth often encounter. Research discoveries about the importance of attachments and relational competence for foster youth support greater well-being. However, little is known about the use of smartphone technology and companion software in foster care as a method in promoting relational competence. This qualitative implementation study sought to explore the perceptions of child welfare providers and other stakeholders regarding how smartphone technology facilitated the ability of foster youth to become more connected with trusted adults. Research results reveal challenges associated with child welfare officials’ purposeful issuance and utilisation of smartphones. Stakeholders and providers viewed these challenges as learning opportunities. Three critical themes uncovered—relationship building, youth empowerment, and normalcy—provide direction for how smartphone technology might be more efficiently tapped relative to future child welfare initiatives.

Twitter Comment Predictions on Dues Changes BPJS Health In 2020

The Social Security Administering Body (BPJS) is a facility established by The government in providing services to citizens in The field of health welfare. The Spirit of cooperation in the utilization of health services which is very much currently a constraint in the budget is still insufficient in covering health services as a whole. For this reason, government policy is following with PERPRES No. 75 in 2019, the Government officially raised the BPJS Health contributions for 2020. The increase in BPJS Health contributions certainly caused a lot of comments. Namely Twitter, one of the social media that is used by the public to express disapproval or support for this government policy. This study, testing was carried out related to the prediction of comments from social media on community responses to the increase in BPJS Health contributions taken by the government. In the test carried out 3 (three) input algorithms. For every single algorithm including getting results through the K-NN method with an accuracy of 71.83% and AUC value of 0812, for the Naïve Bayes method produces an accuracy of 81.63% and AUC value of 0586. As for the C 4.5 method, the accuracy is 65.37% and the AUC value is 0628. While testing conducted through the Ensembles Vote method which combines the 3 algorithms above gives the best results with an accuracy of 80.10% and AUC value is 0871 for Twitter comment predictions.

Punishment to Support: The Need to Align Animal Control Enforcement with the Human Social Justice Movement.

Simple SummaryThe current emphasis on enforcement and punishment in animal control policy has disproportionately negative impacts on low-income communities in the United States (US), particularly people of color. In this way, animal protection efforts are perpetuating many of the same inequities under examination in the human social justice movement. Reallocating the resources that have historically gone towards enforcement in communities to efforts that provide support in addressing the root causes of animal welfare concerns is needed to improve outcomes for pets in historically underserved communities.Due to inherent and systemic biases, animal control policies in the US are over-enforced in low-income communities and communities of color, resulting in worse health outcomes for the pets in these communities. These outcomes are exemplified by higher confiscation, relinquishment, and euthanasia rates, lower return to owner rates, and extended lengths of stay in animal shelters. The Humane Communities framework operationalizes One Health and One Welfare concepts to comprehensively address issues of inequity at both the individual and structural levels to improve animal control policy and outcomes. Person-centered and culturally competent policies and programs that focus resources on addressing root causes of pet health and welfare issues as opposed to an emphasis on code enforcement can create more positive, scalable, and sustainable improvements in human, other animal, and environmental health and welfare outcomes. This shift from punishment-oriented approaches to support-based models of animal control aligns the animal welfare field with the modern human social justice movement.

熊本地震における要配慮者に対する保健医療･福祉分野の災害対応に関する課題と対策:質的研究を通して

熊本地震における要配慮者に対する保健医療･福祉分野の災害対応に関する課題と対策:質的研究を通して

The emerging concepts of participation and belonging in social pedagogy

During the last few decades, the concepts of participation and belonging has frequently been used within the social welfare field in general, and within the field of disability research specifically. Additionally, in Scandinavia the concept of participation has become increasingly used in social work and social pedagogy programmes at universities. However, there’s rather little known about how participation can be understood and related to social pedagogy, since the concept has a broad range of meanings, e.g. a sense of belonging. This paper aims to identify and discuss understandings of participation and belonging with relevance for social work and social pedagogy. Empirical illustrations have been gathered with ethnographical methods and analysed in accordance with an interpretive tradition. It is argued that the concept of participation can be attributed to different meanings in different ideological, theoretical, and institutional practice contexts (e.g. schools that offer special needs programmes, the transition to working life, online social networking). Consequently, it’s a challenge to provide adequate definitions of the concept. The inference drawn is that the aspect of belonging as it relates to social participation can be attributed to its particular importance for social pedagogy. An implication for professional practice is the need to pay attention to alternative identifications that are not based on notions of a stable, constant sense of belonging to a categorical group.

Assessment of epidemiological situation of chronic hepatitis C in Samara Region

Research objective . Analysis of the features of the manifestations of the epidemic process of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in Samara Region from 1997 to 2018. Materials and methods . The data of official statistics were analyzed: the materials of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Consumer Protection and Human Welfare, the Office of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Consumer Protection and Human Welfare in Samara Region. Results . From 1997 to 2016, in the Samara region there is a periodic wave-like increase in the incidence of HCV with small decreases in indicators from 5.2 to 58.0 0 ⁄ 0000 – by 11.16 times (p < 0.01). From 2017 to 2018 there was a slight decrease in the incidence of HCV in Samara Region from 58.0 to 56.2 0 ⁄ 0000 . The maximum incidence of HCV of the children's population of Samara Region was noted in 2002 and 2012 and amounted to 7.1 and 7.2 0 ⁄ 0000 . The minimum incidence rate of HCV was observed in 2017 at 1,9 0 ⁄ 0000 . Studying features of manifestation of epidemic process of chronic hepatitis, risk factors is necessary for the subsequent development of actions for prevention of growth of a disease and to forecasting of development of incidence.

(Invited) Skin-Mimic Hydrogel Materials with Water-Perspiration Control for Soft Robots Developed by 3D Printing

In medical and welfare fields, the developments of robots and prosthesis with the touch close to the human skin are required. For those developments, the use of materials with a touch, softness, temperature, and moisture close to human skin is necessary. Hydrogels are materials with their high water content (90 ~ 95%) and softness (kPa to hundreds of kPa). However, hydrogels have some technical drawbacks such as high water evaporation rate, their touch and temperature different from that of human skin.We designed a flow channel inside the hydrogel to mitigate the mass loss due to drying of the gel by supplying and circulating warm water with a perista pump. The water absorption and evaporation of the gel were investigated for designing the optimum water channel dimensions. With this mechanism mass loss due to drying was decreased by 43%.We also fabricated a hydrogel hand using 3D printer. Inside the gel hand, bone parts printed with poly lactic acid are embedded. We are planning to make water channel in the gel hand and adjust the composition of the hydrogel to finally create a gel hand with a touch similar to the human skin. Figure 1

CONSTRUCT A STATE OF WELFARE (AN STUDY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF WELFARE THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN INDONESIA)

Poverty is still inherent in every aspect of human life, so it requires comprehensive, integral, and sustainable countermeasures. Indonesia has made a national commitment to eradicate poverty in the context of implementing sustainable development, where the government and all state apparatuses together with various elements of society bear the primary responsibility for achieving sustainable development and simultaneously alleviating poverty. International and national commitments strongly emphasize the importance of social security, especially as a strategy to deal with poverty in a systemic, institutionalized and integrated manner. The development of a social security system program to support the achievement of people's welfare needs to be seen as an effort to restore the community's ability to achieve their own welfare. In Indonesia, the development of a social network system as an alternative to improving people's welfare can be done by revamping the mechanism for implementing a social assistance program that is not centralized, which accommodates the diversity of local characteristics and demands as well as the integration and strong relationship between the management of economic development fields and the field of social welfare. In addition, the social security system needs to be strengthened as an infrastructure of social capital for the community towards a stable life.

Official controls on food safety: Competent Authority measures.

Since December 14th, 2019, Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 has been replaced by Regulation (EU) 2017/625, which sets the activity of the official control on food safety, extending the scope of the previous regulation. The broader scope of the new regulation aims to ensure compliance across the European Member States in the Union in the fields of food, feed, animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products. The administrative measures that the Competent Authorities adopt following the finding of a non-compliance regarding food hygiene, should be take into account not only the risk assessment, but a series of criteria dictated by both European and national legislation and comply with the generals principles governing administrative action. The aim of this study is to conduct a legal analysis of: (i) the provisions set out in Regulation (EU) 2017/625 concerning executive actions in the case of noncompliance, and (ii) the criteria used to assess the appropriate remedial measures. The study was completed by analysing recent legal cases on food safety, which in many cases have censure the work of the Local Competent Authority, and has brought to light a distorted and uneven application of the legislation on food safety, especially in cases in which drastic measures had been adopted, such as the closure of the productive activities, which has a heavy impact on the food business operators in the food sector concerned. In addition to an incorrect application of the specific health legislation, there is also a violation of the principle of proportionality, of community origin. Indeed, the principle of proportionality, an essential factor in administrative review, which has been used as a leading criterion in the adoption of administrative measures by of the Health Authorities of the Competent Authority.

NOVELS OF CRIMINAL LEGISLATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF PANDEMIA

The relevance of the chosen topic is caused by changes in the current Russian administrative and criminal legislation in connection with the spread of a new coronavirus infection. Based on specific examples, the authors confirm that, in various constituent entities of the Russian Federation, a diverse practice of the application of such norms is emerging, which leads to the lack of a uniform application of the law. The subject of the study is legislative, doctrinal, interpretative provisions, as well as judicial investigative practice, reflecting the specifics of applying the law in the field of protecting citizens from the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. The purpose of the study is to analyze legislative novels and develop scientifically sound provisions to improve existing legislation and law enforcement practices in the field of counteracting encroachments in the field of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population. The main research method is the dialectical-materialistic method of cognition, which allows you to objectively and comprehensively consider the problems of legal assessment of offenses in the field of ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population. Along with it, general scientific research methods were used: analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, abstraction; special research methods were used: formal legal, interviewing. The work provides a detailed critical analysis of the composition of administrative offenses and crimes in the field of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population, explores the most important issues for law enforcement. In addition, the authors propose measures to improve legislation in this area. The criminological risks of introducing a system of immune passports are studied. The scientific novelty of the study is evidenced by the main conclusions and conclusions reached by the authors, containing recommendations for improving legislation in this area and the practice of its application. The independence of the conclusions made is confirmed by a comprehensive approach to the study of new norms of the current administrative and criminal legislation, as well as materials of judicial investigative practice.

Discourses and Themes in Adoption and Child Welfare Policies and Practices in the U.S. throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries

The current paper uncovered the pertinent discourses and themes of and about adoption in the United States throughout the following time periods: 1850-1919, 1920-1959, 1960-1979, and 1980-present. Emergent discourses were placed in their historical context(s) and served to illuminate the conversations and movements that informed prominent adoption discourses, policies, and best practices throughout history. Through illuminating salient discourse and themes of adoption throughout history, a better understanding of how the perspectives that professionals, politicians, practitioners, and social scientists often hold as fundamental have the potential to change over time was afforded. A critical historical analysis provides a foundation for those working in the field of child welfare currently, and adoption specifically, to critically interrogate how their own philosophies, practices, conversations, and policy work may impact the pertinent discourses and themes of and about adoption throughout the 21st century.

IMPLEMENTASI KEBIJAKAN GERBANG EMAS BERSINAR DALAM MENGUKUR IPM DI KABUPATEN TABALONG

In the last ten years the Human Development Index (HDI) in Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan Province has always been at the bottom of all regencies/cities, namely between 9th and 10th, this is very sad because it is contrary to the condition of Tabalong District which is rich in Natural Resource. In connection with this the local government is trying to find ways to improve HDI so that it can catch up with other regions. Gerbang Emas Bersinar Program, which began in 2015 by local governments targeting mainly in the fields of economy, health education and people's welfare, was able to improve the HDI of Tabalong Regency, which had always been ranked lower in the last few years, always in the top 5. This research will explain how tGerbang Emas Bersinar Policy can contribute to the improvement of HDI in Tabalong Regency.

EAmmattilaisten osaaminen käyttöön sosiaali- ja terveydenhuoltoon

Digitaalinen teknologia muuttaa sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon työtä, asiakkaan palveluja ja siten myös ammattilaisilta edellytettävää osaamista. Pohjois-Karjalan ja Pohjois-Savon DigiSote -hankkeissa (ESR) kehitettiin sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon digitaalisia palveluja ja ammattilaisten osaamista. Hankesuunnittelussa luotiin käsite eAmmattilainen. Kehittämistyön tarkoituksena oli kuvata eAmmattilaisen tarvetta, tehtäviä ja osaamista sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollossa. Kehittämistyön menetelminä käytettiin nopeita kokeiluja ja työpajatyöskentelyä. Kokeilujen tavoitteena oli kehittää sosiaali- ja terveyspalveluja ja tunnistaa digitalisaation edellyttämät osaamistarpeet. Aineistoina eAmmattilaisen osaamisen määrittelyyn olivat hankkeiden tulevaisuustyöpajojen (n = 3) ja valmennustyöpajojen (n = 3) materiaalit ja digitaalisten palvelujen kokeiluraportit (n = 7), teemahaastattelut (n = 17) julkisen, yksityisen ja kolmannen sektorin johtotason edustajille hyvinvointialalla sekä asiantuntija-arviointi (n = 35) osaamisalueista ja -vaatimuksista. Tulevaisuustyöpajoihin osallistui sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten lisäksi asiakkaita, ICT-ammattilaisia, sosiaali- ja terveysalan opettajia sekä muiden hankkeiden edustajia (n = 73). Valmennustyöpajoihin osallistui sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisia ja esimiehiä (n = 70). Tekstimuotoinen aineisto analysoitiin induktiivisella sisällön analyysillä. Asiantuntija-arvioinnissa vastaajat arvioivat osaamisvaatimusten relevanttiutta ja esittivät korjaamistarpeita. eAmmattilaisen osaaminen nähtiin erikoisosaamisena, joka muodostui kahdeksasta osa-alueesta ja 34 osaamisvaatimuksesta. Osaamisalueista ja -vaatimuksista muodostettiin myös eAmmattilaisen osaamiskartta osaamisen arviointia varten. eAmmattilaiset kehittävät organisaatioissaan työtä ja digitaalisia palveluja sekä ohjaavat ja tukevat asiakkaita ja ammattilaisia käyttämään digitaalisia palveluja. Osa sosiaali- ja terveysalan ammattilaisista tarvitsee valmennuksen eAmmattilaisiksi. Täydennyskoulutuksena toteutettava modulaarinen valmennus mahdollistaa tarvelähtöisen ja työhön kiinnittyvän osaamisen kehittymisen kohti eAmmattilaisuutta.

Preparing the child welfare workforce: Organizational commitment, identity, and desire to stay

BackgroundSince 1995, Colorado has had a Title IV-E child welfare Stipend Program, most recently involving four universities in partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services. ObjectiveA ten-year cohort study was conducted to understand program graduates' experiences with organizational commitment, the impact of stipends on child welfare professional identity and desire to remain in the child welfare field. Participants and methodsThe mixed methods evaluation involved 245 stipend graduates from 2006 to 2016 from Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs and included an online survey and focus groups. ResultsResults indicate stipend graduates remained in the workforce beyond payback periods, felt prepared for the job, appreciated the skills and networks gained from their programs, and expressed gratitude for the financial assistance. Graduates identified workforce factors including peer support, supervisor support, and mobility in the agency as key retention sources for remaining in child welfare.

Measuring the quality of care in kinship foster care placements

Kinship foster care placements have become significantly more prevalent in both Canada and the United States. However, there are limited resources for child protection services (CPS) workers to assess the quality of the kinship caregiver placements. Although several measures exist to screen caregivers for general foster care, there are no instruments available for the assessment of quality in kinship foster care. Thus, the current study reexamined a kinship caregiver assessment using data from a study conducted at the Children and Family Research Center (CFRC). Inter-item and item-scale reliability coefficients were calculated for caregiver responses (N = 37) using Cronbach’s alpha and ordinal alpha through polychoric correlation matrices. Analyses revealed five distinct scales with good internal consistency (ordinal α > 0.75), suggesting a useful assessment tool. With the continuing shift to increased kinship placements, it is important that CPS workers have access to validated measures for this placement setting. Findings provide an innovative kinship caregiver measure to be used in the field of child welfare, and support further research in this area.