Social Work Literature Research Articles

Addressing Anti-Black Racism: The Roles of Social Work

ABSTRACT Anti-Black Racism (A-BR) has led to recent and highly publicized killings of African Americans (AA). Still absent from the professional and scientific social work (SWK) literature are multilevel descriptions of recommendations for advancing AA racial justice (AARJ). First, the manuscript provides a brief summary of historical forms of American structural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal racism. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted to aid social workers in resolving ambiguity regarding the SWK profession’s role in advancing AARJ. Multilevel, nuanced recommendations for policy, clinical practice, and educational SWK interventions are provided. The recommendations are diverse and can be implemented across multiple levels of SWK practice. For the social work profession to reach its potential, it must recognize and use its distinctive qualities for advancing AARJ.

Hospital social workers’ contributions to increasing health literacy among parents of acutely and critically ill children

ABSTRACT Hospital social workers often engage in health literacy activities to support patients’ and families’ functioning and adjustment to illness, but social work literature has seldom used health literacy terminology. This paper reports on a qualitative study of paediatric hospital social workers’ understanding of the needs of parents with acutely ill children and how their contributions may accommodate these needs to strengthen parental health literacy. Utilising systematic text condensation, the study reveals four themes: (1) understanding of medical information, (2) counselling and service coordination, (3) emotional needs, and (4) timing of information. The findings suggest that hospital social workers make valuable additions to health literacy.

Social work and economic justice in Aotearoa New Zealand

The social work profession is dedicated to the promotion of social and economic justice, but often has a limited appreciation of what economic justice actually looks like either in theory or practice. Economic justice, a form of distributive justice, assesses how fairly economic resources are distributed in a society. Currently, in Aotearoa New Zealand, both income and wealth inequality have reached historically high levels. Inequality research has demonstrated a causal link between inequality and a host of social and health issues that, while they impact society as a whole, affect the nation’s most marginalised populations to an increasingly greater degree. Social work literature in Aotearoa New Zealand has limited research in this area. This introductory article will begin with an overview of concepts related to economic justice, such as distributive justice, income inequality, and wealth inequality. Following this is an overview of the 2020 Economic Justice Online Forum and an exploration of the implications for social work.

Remodelling the curriculum of social work in India

ABSTRACT In the four scores of social work in India, education in the professional discipline has grown substantially, from being a diploma course to a doctoral degree. The curriculum too has evolved. Though some issues and problems such as inadequate contributions, lacking contextualization, thematic restrictions, etc., sometimes restrain advancements resulting in a narrowly defined curriculum of social work literature in the country. The article discusses social work education and curriculum in the Indian context. It is primarily based on a review of literature of articles and chapters published across various journals and books in India and abroad and discusses social work education and curriculum in India. Attempts have been made to examine the social work curriculum, why it needs to be reassessed, and what new could possibly be added to extend the realm of the discipline.

Social work, Max Weber and ethical irrationality

AbstractThe tension between organisational demands and the substantive aspects of social work practice can pose a significant challenge for social workers because their professional positioning places them in the middle of what appear to be conflicting and irreconcilable demands, especially in contexts where organisational accountability seems to dominate practice. Although the implications of this tension have been discussed within the social work literature, the specific characteristics have not received much attention. This article explores this tension by drawing on Max Weber’s concept of ‘ethical irrationality’. Ethical irrationality refers to the historical and cultural conditions that have made way for the tension between formal and substantive rationality and how these qualities have the potential to shape and even distort ethical conduct. In an ethically irrational world, ethical conduct involves risk and uncertainty and, for ethical agents, this often means resorting to using risky means to achieve ethical ends. This issue is particularly relevant for social workers in statutory contexts where professional ethics require practitioners to engage with and challenge organisational norms and procedures. A conceptual tool aimed to assist practitioners in managing this tension is developed.

Social Workers’ Sensual Bodies during COVID-19: The Suspended, Displaced and Reconstituted Body in Social Work Practice

After more than a year living with COVID-19 restrictions, the UK Governments have now published their ‘recovery strategies’ in which social care has been considered as key to plans for post-COVID-19 recovery in England and the devolved nations. Emerging literature has already explored the ethical and practical challenges facing social workers during COVID-19 and how social work practice has been re-created to embrace hybrid ways of working. To add to this discussion, a secondary qualitative data analysis was performed on a subset of data (280 responses submitted by 176 social workers) collected from the British Association of Social Workers’ (BASW) survey on social work during COVID-19, to explore how social workers’ sensual bodies had been responding to challenges arising from the pandemic. Drawing on sociology of senses and social work literature on tacit knowing and practice wisdom, we will present how social workers’ sensual bodies have been suspended, displaced and re-constituted during the first UK national lockdown, leading to sensual compensation and sensual overload that impacted on social workers’ practice. In striving towards a ‘better normal’, we offer key insights to implement hybrid social work practice and protect against the shortfalls that it might bring to the profession.

Mixed-race people and social work: a critical literature review

ABSTRACT The social work profession has regulated ethical guidelines that require social workers to understand the impacts of service users’ racial and cultural affiliations and identities. However, social work practitioners have been under-informed regarding how mixed-race identity in a monoracial society affects mixed-race service users and the related impacts in social work practice with this population. This literature review evaluates the peer-reviewed, published social work literature on how mixed-race people have been represented to inform social work practice; of the literature analyzed, a majority of sources were from the U.S.A. and Canada. The authors identify key themes and provide critical discussion on the findings, followed by suggestions regarding how research gaps can be filled and the implications for practice.

Questioning identities: social service workers transition to being social work students

ABSTRACT Australian universities are situated within a capitalist economic and social context where self-interest and self-responsibility is seen as paramount. Students pay high fees and manage complex lives to meet the demands of higher education and after their degree they may face uncertain employment prospects. Preparing social work students for their professional roles and a professional identity has been topical in social work literature in recent years. Less studied is how neoliberal discourses and material realities position students and the impact of this on those who have been in social service positions and are returning to the student role at university. Drawing on Foucault’s concept of ‘technologies of the self’ and the notion of identity being in progress and context dependent, researchers based at Deakin University interviewed Master of Social Work (MSW) students about their sense of identity in making the transition from professional social worker to being a student. Findings show they are impacted by relationships, material realities (named here as student experience) and the goals or outcomes they sought in choosing to become students. Within these, we identify they adopt both enthusiastic and ambivalent positionalities.

Evidence Based Social Science in China Paper 2: The History and Development of Evidence Based Social Work in China

ObjectivesTo present the history and potential for development of evidence-based (EB) social work in China. Study design and settingThe conception and methodology of EB social work is a potential strategy to support high quality development of social work in China. This article documents and analyzes the progress of EB social work in China. We focus on current research, reasons, challenges, and strategies. ResultsEB social work started late in China. The number of EB social work literature and systematic reviews has increased since 2004. The development of EB social work has been uneven nationally with few practitioners and decision makers involved. However, more and more social work researchers received training in evidence-based practice through national workshops and conferences. ConclusionEB social work faced various challenges, but there are now more opportunities for EB social work development in China. Researchers, practitioners, managers and decision makers are encouraged to work together to establish a thorough methodological system and use existing evidence as much as possible when carrying out social work programs and services.

Whitewashing of Social Work History

Severe racial inequity has characterized the incorporation of ethnic minorities’ contributions to U.S. history and advancements (Sandoval et al., 2016). These disparities are inextricably connected to White Supremacist ideologies and practices, and are perpetuated in higher education through textbooks, pedagogy, and research. Social work, like many disciplines, teaches about its early roots with a whitewashed historical lens. Indeed, review of the social work literature reveals the scarcity of attributions to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). Without a more racially diverse perspective on social work’s history, social work scholars promote and sustain White Supremacy. The implications of this are crucial since social work education is predominantly populated by privileged White students who adopt this mentality, unaware of Black, Brown, Latino, Asian, Native or Other ethnic “Jane Addams” who have massively promoted the social welfare of communities for decades without historical recognition or the privileged positions of Addams and Richmond. Historical distortions also potentially discourage BIPOC social work students’ self-efficacy and future efforts to contribute and excel in the discipline. To properly address this issue, social work history must be refaced with a more equitable and just lens. This review seeks to address the gap in the literature pertaining to the need for a greater integration and infusion of racially diverse social work historical contributions in several ways. Recommendations will be made for future research in this area to dismantle racist perspectives in social work history, and strategies will be offered to help social work educators and researchers address this critical issue.

De-Centering Whiteness Through Revisualizing Theory in Social Work Education, Practice, and Scholarship

Institutions that frame social work education and prepare future practitioners are firmly rooted in hegemonic philosophies and practices that perpetuate colonization, oppression, and white supremacy. In recognizing that white supremacy is a mechanism of social control, that our current social structure is grounded in liberal-patriarchal capitalism, and that social work conforms to prevailing social norms, we, as social workers, must acknowledge our complicity in perpetuating a white supremacist master narrative (Pewewardy & Almeida, 2014). The white supremacist ideology inherent within Western social work literature, teaching methodologies, and practice strategies only serves to perpetuate an oppressive system. This structure does not envision social workers as agents of change, but rather as essential cogs of the status quo who foster client dependence on a system that is inherently marginalizing. One mechanism for disrupting the white supremacy that has become a master narrative in social work is to create a counter-narrative (Pewewardy & Almeida, 2014). This paper creates a counter-narrative by using the pyramid of white supremacy framework (Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, 2008; Tuzzolo, 2016) to critique social work and deconstruct post-racial fallacies ascendant within the profession, and re-visualizes ecological systems framework as a mechanism for de-centering whiteness in social work scholarship, practice, and education.

Protecting White Interests: A Case Example of Interest Convergence in Policymaking

Although various policy analysis frameworks exist within the social work literature, fewspecifically address the racism inherent to policymaking processes. We propose interestconvergence as a conceptual lens for policy analysis to expose the racism inherent inpolicymaking. Transcripts from 19 public hearings of five bills sponsored during the 2017Nevada legislative session were included in the data analysis for this study. A thematic analysistook place at the latent level to identify underlying concepts, assumptions, and ideas within thedata (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Results indicate that the public testimony process and ultimateoutcomes of public policy making protect white interests which sustains structural racism. Inunderstanding the dynamics of interest convergence in policymaking, social work educators,policy advocates, and macro-practitioners would be better equipped to impact the policymakingprocesses focused on racial equity.

Borders: An International Comparative Analysis of Social Work’s Response

AbstractBorders play a profound role in human life. In many settings, land borders are highly permeable and provide little barrier to movement, communication and interaction. In other circumstances, borders are highly rigid, difficult to cross and can demarcate vast economic and social disparities. The widely differing circumstances related to border creation and maintenance have deep effects that are worthy of social work attention and engagement. There has been serious attention to issues of globalisation, immigration and human rights in the social work literature. Our focus on borders is related to, but distinct from these issues, and therefore, has something unique to offer. Increased globalisation has led to a major reconceptualisation in our understanding of borders. The COVID-19 epidemic demonstrates the limited relevance of borders in some circumstances (spreading of the virus) but the heightened relevance of borders in other circumstances (travel restrictions). Social work practitioners have a role in framing the understanding of borders and resulting policies. Our focus is to address the question: How has social work engaged with border issues? We examine three international cases and conduct a comparative analysis to examine similarities and differences. From the analysis, we draw conclusions to further understanding for social work.

Disaster Preparedness in Social Work: A Scoping Review of Evidence for Further Research, Theory and Practice

AbstractThe aim of this study was to understand the extent and nature of social work literature relating to preparedness in the context of natural disasters and to identify the implications for further research, theory and practice. A systematic scoping review explored scholarly databases pertaining to literature about social work and disaster preparedness, between 2000 and 2019; a total of thirty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from these articles to map the range and type of literature, and thematic analysis was undertaken to explore aspects of preparedness in greater depth. Analysis revealed a recurring theme regarding the need to foreground preparedness in social work and disaster practice along with recommendations that preparedness be more consistently enacted as an ongoing, localised, dynamic and dialogic process in order to better respond to a diverse range of community needs. Building on these findings, the authors highlight the need to challenge dominant discourses in social work and extend the conceptualisation of the profession in the context of disasters at both the intra- and inter-professional levels. By drawing on transformative, ecosocial approaches, the profession’s contributions to disaster practice, equity and justice in this complex context of global practice can gain visibility.

PRESIDENT'S SOCIAL FORESTRY IN IMPROVING COMMUNITY WELFARE

Indeed, Indonesia is a country that adheres to the notion of a " welfare state" with a "participatory welfare state" model which in social work literature is known as welfare pluralism. This model emphasizes that the state must continue to take part in handling social problems and the implementation of social security, although in its operation it still involves the community. The main goal of social forestry is the welfare or prosperity of the people. Locally, social forestry in Riau Province has an Indicative Map of Social Forestry Allocation (PIAPS) of 1.2 million hectares. However, the realization of social forestry achievements in Riau is far from the number of PIAPS. This achievement covers an area of 121,464.36 hectares with a total of 77 decrees and 24,136 households. Barriers to social forestry other than land conflicts, Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships (PSKL), Working Groups (POKJA), the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) and the Forest Management Unit (KPH) have different ideas in accelerating social forestry. If the achievement of social for restry is realized in accordance with the number of PIAPS 1.2 million hectares, it can help the community's economy so that the realization of community welfare in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

Appreciating the Fear of Conflict and the Possibilities in Disagreement

Abstract The present contribution seeks to strengthen the capacity of social workers to respond to the experience of potential or actual conflict. In this project, an initial stage involved scanning the available literature. This process yielded two general findings: (i) most of the available literature is specialist in nature and (ii) the available social work literature concentrates on conflicts between workers and clients. The second stage in the exercise develops a set of linguistic distinctions, for example that disagreement can be distinguished from confrontation. Building on this set, three vignettes are examined as concrete sites in which formulations of, and responses to, conflict are developed. An outline of symmetrical and complementary processes is then introduced. This theoretical material is central at the consideration of a final, more complex vignette—an engagement that consolidates, and then extends, the themes developed earlier in the paper. A general proposition is raised: deliberately engaging with the issue of conflict offers opportunities for personal and professional growth. More specifically, it is suggested that those who tend to avoid conflict can usefully experiment with leaning into, rather than away from, disagreement whilst those who tend towards directness can usefully practice behaviours that engage with difference more obliquely.

Clinician perspectives and sense of efficacy about the implementation of recovery-oriented practice in mental health

Abstract Recovery-oriented practice (ROP) is being steadily adopted worldwide. The current research examined the perspectives of clinicians about ROP pre-implementation at a clinical mental health service. The method was a survey consisting of fourteen questions regarding implementation of ROP and clinicians reported self-efficacy about work within a ROP framework. The research design was mixed methods couched within a narrative approach. It was exploratory and social constructivist in nature. This article explores quantitative data. Participants were 203 mental health clinicians from multidisciplinary backgrounds—including social work, nursing, occupational therapy, psychiatry, psychology, other medical and other allied health. There were 142 females, 46 males; 15 did not specify their sex. Results showed that clinicians perceived their practice was recovery-oriented 83.6 per cent of the time. Overall, 81 per cent chose the most recovery-oriented statement prior to formal training in ROP. This study concludes that clinicians are committed to the implementation of ROP. They do not believe ROP is easy to implement; however, they do believe it can be successfully implemented in the clinical treatment setting. With the support of stakeholders, these findings may be used to aid the ongoing implementation of ROP into the study service, and add to social work literature.

‘Surveillance Capitalism, COVID-19 and Social Work’: A Note on Uncertain Future(s)

Drawing on Shoshana Zuboff's (2019) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, along with additional sources not ordinarily referenced in the social work literature, the article examines some of the economic and political imperatives that are driving forward new surveillance practices. The aspiration is to provide conceptual coordinates enabling practitioners, educators and those receiving social work services to arrive at a theoretically expansive sense of what may be occurring across a societal canvas. The focus is on a cluster of five enmeshed themes: first, what Zuboff means by ‘surveillance capitalism’; second, why this form of capitalism has appeared so quickly over the past couple of decades; third, what the tech corporations, such as Google, seek to achieve; fourth, how surveillance capitalists aim to eliminate chance by refining technologies so as to try and constitute us as predictable human subjects; fifth, the trajectory of surveillance capitalist interventions and how they are ‘doubling down’ on the processes of data extraction. Zuboff’s book was completed prior to theCOVID-19 global pandemic and, in the latter part of article, it is argued that the current crisis will result in new forms of surveillance becoming socially embedded.

Social Workers’ Impact on Policy Through Regulations: A Case Study of the U.S. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Summary Involvement in the political process in the United States is critical for social work professionals, as social policies dictate funding and programming in social work practice. Yet, there is little to no focus given to the regulation writing process in the social work literature in the United States. This article contributes to the scant body of knowledge that addresses the regulatory process from a social work perspective. A brief overview of the regulation writing process is provided, followed by a case study using the regulations for the U.S. Older Americans Act Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to illustrate the process. Findings A total of 85 comments, submitted to the Federal Register docket, were analyzed using content analysis. Findings reveal that comment submissions varied greatly in terms of length, source, and input. Notably, findings indicate low participation from the social work profession. Application The open comment period of the regulation writing process offers a free, but effortful, window of opportunity for social workers to engage in post-legislative advocacy. There is a need to support the involvement of the social work profession in the regulation writing process, through practice and training enhancements.

Short-term study abroad programmes in social work: a scoping review of the literature on learning outcomes

ABSTRACT Study abroad programmes are an increasingly popular component of social work education worldwide and a range of claims have been made about the associated benefits of these programmes. To explore the nature and extent of current knowledge in relation to student learning outcomes, a scoping review of social work literature was undertaken. A comprehensive search of scholarly databases for peer-reviewed social work studies, which examined student learning outcomes during and/or after participation in a short-term study abroad programme revealed a body of literature, predominantly from the Global North, with a wealth of qualitatively rich information and in-depth reflection on student experiences. While enhanced learning and understanding of social work were identified as primary benefits, increased intercultural awareness and enhanced professional identity were discussed as additional benefits. Emergent themes also exposed some gaps in knowledge about the longer-term outcomes of short-term study abroad programmes as well as equity and access issues for students. Drawing on the findings of the scoping review, implications for ethical programme development and delivery are considered, including the nature of relationships between host and destination countries, and the need for more comprehensive, longitudinal and mixed-methods research to assess the learning outcomes for programme participants.