Mainstream Agencies Research Articles

A Social Network Analysis of Interagency Collaboration in the Mental Health Sector in Toronto, Canada: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Supporting Black Youth in Recovery

Objective: There is minimal research on mental health service providers’ perspectives on existing interagency relationships, collaboration, and caring for Black youth. We sought to characterize interagency relationships between Mainstream and Black-focused mental health agencies in Ontario, and their impact on service providers’ ability to provide culturally safe care for Black youth.
 Research Design and Methods: A mixed methodological approach was used to explore service providers’ perspectives on the collaborative nature and presence of relationships, communication, and influence in the mental health sector. An online survey was disseminated to service providers in Toronto, Ontario between March 2020 and April 2020. 7 focus groups were conducted in Toronto between May 2020 and December 2020. Focus groups were conducted with Black youth, families/caregivers, community, and service providers. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and visualized in the form of social network analysis using Gephi, while Nvivo 12 was utilized to identify and analyze themes from the qualitative data.
 Results: Findings included a lack of interagency collaboration, infrequent Mainstream-Black agency collaborations, Mainstream agencies’ disinterest in future partnerships with Black agencies, and feelings of unpreparedness amongst service providers to provide culturally safe care to Black youth or referrals.
 Conclusions: Collaboration between mainstream agencies is common in the sector. There is a paucity of Black-focused agencies and Black service providers in the existing social networks. A limited understanding of the systemic impacts anti-Black racism at the agency and service provider level might be impairing service providers’ ability to support the mental health recovery of Black youth.

How well prepared are we for disaster? The perspectives of informal carers of people with disability

Informal carers of people with disability are disproportionately impacted by disasters; assisting their person with disability, negotiating their safety, as well as ensuring their own safety and needs are met. Despite a growing body of research to enable mainstream agencies to include people with disability in disaster risk reduction (DIDRR), informal carers are often overlooked. This study explores informal carers’ experiences of disasters in Australia, focusing on their capabilities, preparedness and support needs. Informal carers reported actions they would take to maintain independence, the type of support they would need to evacuate or shelter in place, and advice they consider useful for informing education and training of other informal carers and the emergency services.

Gender and entrepreneurship amongst refugee women entrepreneurs in Glasgow, Scotland

Background: Entrepreneurship studies reveal that despite significant progress made by women entrepreneurs, the gender gap in entrepreneurship is unlikely to be closed. It continues to be observed in both developed and developing countries, as many women-led businesses still face lower average business outcomes than male-owned businesses. This study investigates the impact of gender and entrepreneurship amongst refugee women entrepreneurs in Glasgow.
 Research purpose: The aim of this study is to deeply understand how gender and entrepreneurship affect the motivation of refugee women entrepreneurs. To achieve this aim, three objectives were developed: (1) To understand the motivational factors that make refugee women become entrepreneurs. (2) To identify the key challenges faced by refugee women entrepreneurs in establishing their own businesses. (3) To provide recommendations for policy aimed at helping refugee women develop their entrepreneurial activities.
 Methods: A qualitative study was conducted based on semi-structured face-to-face interviews with ten interviewees, involving six refugee women entrepreneurs and four mainstream agencies. Purposive sampling was employed in recruiting four participants, while two more were recruited through ‘snowball’ sampling. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using the Nvivo software. 1
 Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed that refugee women entrepreneurs were motivated by both push and pull factors. Similar findings by Kone, Ruiz, Vargas-Silva (2019) indicated that refugee entrepreneurs have a greater tendency to start their own businesses due to positive factors such as greater entrepreneurial ambition, but also because of negative factors, such as lacking opportunities in the labour market due to discrimination. Finance was cited as the major barrier faced by all respondents, a situation which is shared by all entrepreneurs. However, refugee women entrepreneurs experienced other acute problems, such as a lack of access to the market, a lack of management skills, poor social networks, and a lack of family support.

CEO duality and tax avoidance: Empirical evidence from Greece

Using a unique dataset, with matched tax returns and corporate governance features at the firm level, we estimate the impact of consolidating or splitting the chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of the board (COB) positions on corporate tax avoidance. Contrary to the empirical findings provided by concurrent finance research, policy-makers’ beliefs, and anecdotal evidence from around the world, we argue that CEO duality has a negative effect on corporate tax avoidance, at least as far as the Greek business environment is concerned. Our findings are consistent with what mainstream agency theory and psychology suggest about the role and impact of groups in risk-taking activities and decision-making processes in general.

POLICIES AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IN INDIA: AN ASSESSMENT BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

To prevent the Covid-19 effect, governments across world have imposed lockdown besides the other preventive measures. Undoubtedly, lockdown has affected the world adversely in terms of economy and human resources. But, India being a country of diversity where people of different caste, class, race, and ethnicity live is affected greater than other countries. Due to diverse socio-economic structures, living standard of Indian is unequal. This inequality forces underprivileged sections to migrate for livelihood and better opportunities to other places. The lockdown in India which was with a purpose to prevent community spread of Covid-19 resulted in the greatest exodus of migrant labour and their hunger, disease and death on the roadside. Owing to the socio-economic structure and also Covid-19, Indian govt. has been launching various welfare schemes to cope up the situation and uplift the marginalised sections. But the exodus and its results during Covid-19 pandemic not only expose the reality but also raise some questions as to why exodus occurred only in India. Why did numerous die during the reverse migration? What schemes and programme did government launch? And most importantly, how these schemes are implemented before and during lockdown? What is the attitude of mainstream society and state agencies towards these marginalised groups in terms of schemes and their implementation? To map this, before and during lockdown, scrutinizing some autobiographical narrative and incidents, this paper attempts to explore the schemes/programmes and their implementation. The exploration proves that there is a crystal clear biasness in policy formulation and their implementation. Consequently, study may help the governments and civic society in near future in formulation such programmes and their result-oriented execution.

Expanding the horizons: connecting gender and fisheries to the political economy

Since 1990, papers presented at successive women/gender and fisheries conferences of the Asian Fisheries Society have followed a pathway trodden by other fields of gender research. Starting with noticing androcentrism in fisheries, the conferences proceeded to noticing the omissions and adding depth of detail on women’s roles and their contributions. Adding gender perspectives then helped to identify politicized policy and power structures and recognize the importance of accounting for intersectionality, as well as propose transformation. Historically, this work is rooted in the broader scholarship on gender and fisheries, in which the positions of women are dictated by the prevailing political economy of fisheries, itself embedded in the global political economy. Despite the greater insights, the position of women has changed little. The time is therefore ripe for gender and fisheries researchers to broaden their horizons and develop a feminist fisheries political economy agenda to better support activism for gender equal fisheries. A foundation for such work has already been laid in fisheries from the gender studies and activism of fisheries restructuring under globalization. The global feminist political economy project also has paved the way. The global project can be adapted to guide three major fisheries research areas. The first is understanding the gendered structures in fisheries economies as embedded in the gendered global economy. The second key is specifically assessing fisheries economic policies and practices using the lens of women’s rights in the fish value chain, from production inputs to rights of access to fish and fishing, and to women’s position in post-harvest processing and marketing. The third is examining the unpaid and household economy in which a great deal of women’s fisheries and reproductive work in the household and community is done. As the new research agenda and its link to activism may not be embraced by some mainstream agencies already studying gender and fisheries, do we need to create feminist fisheries political economy think tanks with greater flexibility?

Colonization, whenua and capitalism: experiences from Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACTThe English Laws Act, passed in 1858, declared the Laws of England applicable in New Zealand and cemented the hitherto alien ideology of land as property. Part of this ideology was the separation of tangata from whenua along with the separation of ownership of land from ownership of water. Māori, as tangata whenua – people of the land, made no such distinctions. Ownership affects how people ‘manage’ whenua (land), make decisions and account to the legal system. Under English law, financial considerations are at the forefront. In contrast, Māori kaitiakitanga values are concerned with the interests of land, understanding that the best interests of people will follow. Despite stark contrasts between the ideology of land as property and the ethics of kaitiakitanga – obligation, sustainability and nurture – Māori engage with mainstream agencies and lead by example in efforts to promote the wellbeing of people and environments in a unified approach. This paper outlines competing paradigms, changing relationships and challenges faced by communities who seek to nurture and respect whenua in the face of colonization. Interview data from Māori involved in community land-based initiatives illustrates past and present struggles and what some possibilities might be for the future.

A Call to Action: Re-imagining Social Work Practice With Unaccompanied Minors

In the decade leading up to 2012, approximately 8,000 Unaccompanied Minors (UAM) arrived annually at the Southwestern border of the United States. Since then, the number of arrivals has drastically increased, surpassing 14,000 between October 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018 alone. The needs of UAM concerning mental health, education, social, and legal counseling often differ from the needs of other Latinx and immigrant populations. However, recent instability in the protections and services tailored to UAM are channeling these youth and their families into mainstream agencies. This article is a call to action for social workers who may now encounter UAM for the first time in their practice. Drawing from almost twelve years of practice experience working with UAM and their families, as family case managers, community liaisons, program managers, grant administrators, and training facilitators, we review needs, services, and promising practices for social work practice with UAM. Recommendations include providing education to parents and caregivers about UAM’s rights, U.S. laws and regulations, and service availability; building trust and rapport with families; creating welcoming schools; practicing cultural openness; hiring diverse staff; and fostering partnerships with local service providers.

Effective knowledge translation approaches and practices in Indigenous health research: a systematic review protocol

BackgroundEffective knowledge translation (KT) is critical to implementing program and policy changes that require shared understandings of knowledge systems, assumptions, and practices. Within mainstream research institutions and funding agencies, systemic and insidious inequities, privileges, and power relationships inhibit Indigenous peoples’ control, input, and benefits over research. This systematic review will examine literature on KT initiatives in Indigenous health research to help identify wise and promising Indigenous KT practices and language in Canada and abroad.MethodsIndexed databases including Aboriginal Health Database, Bibliography of Native North Americans, CINAHL, Circumpolar Health Bibliographic Database, Dissertation s, First Nations Periodical Index, Medline, National Indigenous Studies Portal, ProQuest Conference Papers Index, PsycInfo, Social Services s, Social Work s, and Web of Science will be searched. A comprehensive list of non-indexed and grey literature sources will also be searched. For inclusion, documents must be published in English; linked to Indigenous health and wellbeing; focused on Indigenous people; document KT goals, activities, and rationale; and include an evaluation of their KT strategy. Identified quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods’ studies that meet the inclusion criteria will then be appraised using a quality appraisal tool for research with Indigenous people. Studies that score 6 or higher on the quality appraisal tool will be included for analysis.DiscussionThis unique systematic review involves robust Indigenous community engagement strategies throughout the life of the project, starting with the development of the review protocol. The review is being guided by senior Indigenous researchers who will purposefully include literature sources characterized by Indigenous authorship, community engagement, and representation; screen and appraise sources that meet Indigenous health research principles; and discuss the project with the Indigenous Elders to further explore the hazards, wisdom, and processes of sharing knowledge in research contexts. The overall aim of this review is to provide the evidence and basis for recommendations on wise practices for KT terminology and research that improves Indigenous health and wellbeing and/or access to services, programs, or policies that will lead to improved health and wellbeing.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42016049787.

The complexities of cultural support planning for Indigenous children in and leaving out‐of‐home care: the views of service providers in Victoria, Australia

AbstractIndigenous children and young people are over‐represented at all stages of the Australian child protection system. Policy and legislative initiatives exist in the state of Victoria, Australia aiming to support the connection between Indigenous children and young people in state care and their culture and community. This exploratory research involved focus group consultations with seven child and family welfare agencies to investigate the impacts, barriers, benefits and limitations of cultural support planning for Indigenous young people in, and leaving care in, Victoria. Findings indicated that cultural planning was of value when it could be completed. However, various shortcomings of current systems were identified including limited resourcing of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to generate plans and provide direct and secondary consultation services to implement plans, difficulty gathering information for plans and some Indigenous young people expressing disinterest in connecting to their culture and community. Complexities in the relationships between the Indigenous and non‐Indigenous agencies that aimed to support Indigenous young people in care were also acknowledged. Participants identified a number of strategies to improve outcomes, such as facilitating better relationships between agencies, promoting opportunities for ongoing cultural training for staff in mainstream agencies and improving the resourcing of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to deliver planning and to support cultural connections.

An exploration of inter-organisational partnership assessment tools in the context of Australian Aboriginal-mainstream partnerships: a scoping review of the literature.

BackgroundThe need for better partnerships between Aboriginal organisations and mainstream agencies demands attention on process and relational elements of these partnerships, and improving partnership functioning through transformative or iterative evaluation procedures. This paper presents the findings of a literature review which examines the usefulness of existing partnership tools to the Australian Aboriginal-mainstream partnership (AMP) context.MethodsThree sets of best practice principles for successful AMP were selected based on authors’ knowledge and experience. Items in each set of principles were separated into process and relational elements and used to guide the analysis of partnership assessment tools. The review and analysis of partnership assessment tools were conducted in three distinct but related parts. Part 1- identify and select reviews of partnership tools; part 2 – identify and select partnership self-assessment tool; part 3 – analysis of selected tools using AMP principles.ResultsThe focus on relational and process elements in the partnership tools reviewed is consistent with the focus of Australian AMP principles by reconciliation advocates; however, historical context, lived experience, cultural context and approaches of Australian Aboriginal people represent key deficiencies in the tools reviewed. The overall assessment indicated that the New York Partnership Self-Assessment Tool and the VicHealth Partnership Analysis Tools reflect the greatest number of AMP principles followed by the Nuffield Partnership Assessment Tool. The New York PSAT has the strongest alignment with the relational elements while VicHealth and Nuffield tools showed greatest alignment with the process elements in the chosen AMP principles.ConclusionsPartnership tools offer opportunities for providing evidence based support to partnership development. The multiplicity of tools in existence and the reported uniqueness of each partnership, mean the development of a generic partnership analysis for AMP may not be a viable option for future effort.

Governance codes and types of issuer: a global study

We study the relationship between the types of issuer and the contents of the governance codes in the new–institutional theory, using a global sample of over 70 national governance codes. We hypothesise that the code recommendations are influenced by the isomorphic pressure to embrace new social practices, exerted by the different types of issuer. The findings show that codes issued involving multiple stakeholder groups and organisations in hybrid committees are more likely to: 1) include recommendations that take into account multiple political and social institutional demands; 2) adapt the mainstream agency–theory–based governance model to the national setting. Overall, the policy–making negotiations among different stakeholder groups in the local institutional setting appear to be determinant in shaping the recommendations of the code and in improving the promotion of good governance among firms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically investigate the relationship between the types of issuer and the contents of codes, in a global sample.

Founding of Ethnic Programs and Agencies for Asian Americans: An Exploration of Strategies & Challenges

This article uses the multiple case study approach to explore the intent, experience, and implementation of Asian-based programs/agencies by their founders. Four major themes were identified in this study that included start of agency, services and outreach, challenges, and factors for successes. Specifically, start of agency included vision and action, needs assessment, and structure. Subthemes within services and outreach involved focus of services on a specific ethnic group, need for outreach, and support of mainstream agencies. Challenges faced by founders consisted of staffing, resistance of ethnic community, and funding. Factors that contributed to success included passion, background, and skill development.

Health priorities and perceived health determinants among Western Australians attending the 2011 LGBTI Perth Pride Fairday Festival

Although data exist demonstrating poorer health indicators on a range of health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) people, there is little information as to how this group perceives the relative importance of different health issues or what the underlying reasons behind poorer health may be. A self-completed survey was administered to people attending the October 2011 LGBTI Perth Pride Fairday Festival. Three hundred and fifty-one people completed the survey, resulting in a total of 335 useable surveys. One hundred and seventy-eight participants identified as female, 145 as male, four as transgender and eight as other genders. Depression, anxiety, excessive worry or panic attacks and problems in family relationships were reported as the most important individual health issues, whereas depression, suicide and HIV/AIDS were seen as the most important health issues affecting the LGBTI community. Discrimination was rated the most important social factor impacting on the health and well being of this community. When members of the LGBTI community were asked to rank health issues of importance both individually and as a community, the results indicate that mental health issues are of prime concern. Discrimination and the stress of living as part of this minority group were seen as contributing to this. Health promotion and public health need to be responsive to these issues if real gains are to be made in reducing the health inequities affecting this group. So what? This research highlights the link between social justice, social inclusion and health outcomes. The health of LGBTI people is rarely considered by mainstream agencies, despite poorer health outcomes. Sensitive and targeted public health interventions that resonate with the community and that acknowledge the impact of being part of this marginalised group are required.

Education for diversity: the role of networking in resisting disabled people’s marginalisation in Bangladesh

This article examines the role networking has played, at local and national levels, in facilitating communication between key actors involved in challenging the marginalisation of disabled people from education and from wider Bangladeshi society. Efforts to promote awareness of the importance of including disabled children in their local schools have gained ground at national level through a complex web of networking relationships, including government departments concerned with education and social welfare, disability-focused NGOs and mainstream development agencies and networks. The article explores the experience of blind people, (in their role as members of self-help groups linked to Community-Based Rehabilitation programmes in rural areas) in supporting disabled children to access their local school, and in ensuring their safety. Some evidence is provided for the role of networking in challenging marginalising policies, in accessing services (including financial benefits), and in resisting marginalisation. In considering this evidence, the authors debate the different forms and meanings of networking in societies which prioritise collectivity and interdependence, rather than individualism.

Not Just Talk: What a Psychosocial Primary Care Mental Health Service Can Do

This descriptive study reports on the development of an inner-city, multi-disciplinary primary care mental health service which expanded its mainly problem-based casework approach to incorporate a well-being focus in the form of community development, health promotion, teaching and training. Work undertaken over one year (2006–2007) with a total of 762 service users is examined for the service population's profile and the range and type of direct work undertaken, with examples. Indirect work is outlined to illustrate the service's collaboration with other mainstream and third-sector agencies. Mutual learning across settings and disciplines was central to this mixed, psychosocial portfolio. The team's work reflected their perspective that mental disorder and mental health are embedded in community processes, and that policies and services which seek to remedy mental disorder by individualised therapies or risk management alone may fail to address the connectedness of service users' mental health with their material, social and personal environments.

Working with refugees - a manual for caseworkers and volunteers

The Australian Government encourages the regional settlement of refugees and it is expected that 45% of refugees to Australia be regionally located. Wagga Wagga, an inland regional city in New South Wales (NSW), a destination for both primary and secondary migration, offers settlement for refugees under the Australian Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) and the Settlement Grants Program. Refugees currently represent 1% of Wagga Wagga's 60 000 population. For people previously living in cities or crowded camps with a background of disruption, torture and trauma, relocation to rural areas of Australia is confronting, and they require dedication and effort from those supporting resettlement. Currently, caseworkers working for settlement agencies do not have formal training. Volunteers are offered induction days and information sessions but have training needs beyond this. Two projects were undertaken during 2007 and 2008. Refugee services in regional and rural NSW and their efficacy were reviewed, exploring models of care in four NSW locations and clarifying needs via a literature search. Training and resources available to caseworkers and volunteers were also investigated. The objective was to design and construct a basic manual addressing the needs of this workforce informed by a literature search and consultation with key stakeholders in refugee resettlement. Literature searches of electronic databases, relevant websites and journals informed the questions for participants of focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Additional data were obtained via self-report questionnaires from caseworkers, volunteers and mainstream agencies. Information was also disseminated to refugees, inviting community to participate in focus groups. Our study supported others noting difficulties associated with the settlement of refugees in regional Australia, and recommendations of improvements were developed using the social determinants of health. The supporting workforce encounters a multitude of issues when working with newly arrived refugees, including language barriers, client expectations and challenges in developing living skills. Workers reported that accessing refugees' information is time-consuming, and that available resources are fragmented. Refugees expressed frustration at being categorised but acknowledged the efforts of volunteers and caseworkers. Findings and feedback from the literature review, focus groups, consultations with resettlement stakeholders and interviews supported the concept of developing a basic manual and conversation-starter flashcards. The limitations of the developed manual are acknowledged, as is a need for agency specific information on common topics for volunteers, caseworkers and clients, is suggested. Volunteer and caseworker training should be expanded.

Inclusion and community: the work of a cross-sectoral UK programme to deliver inclusion policy

Introduction: In the UK, action across government on social inclusion has been a key feature of mental health policy since 2004. Its effective delivery at local level depends upon integrated action with and between services, their users, mainstream agencies and communities. Description: UK policy to address the exclusion faced by people with mental health problems was set out in the report of the Social Exclusion Unit in 2004 (1) and subsequently in a report of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit (2). Implementation of this policy has been led by the National Social Inclusion Programme (NSIP) (3). Addressing the social exclusion faced by people with mental health problems in many life domains and removing barriers to their partici- pation as active citizens in the multiple communities of which they are a part requires action which is highly integrated and co-produced, across government, within mental health services and with the communities that they serve. The session describes the experience of NSIP in meeting this challenge with-in the complex organisational environment of England's health and social care system. It reviews the outcomes of the programme and describes the structured mix of national, regional and local action programme that has been necessary to these outcomes. It details the importance of innovative leadership, cultural change in the workforce and new forms of engagement with communities in bringing about inclusion outcomes. It outlines the national and international development of networked university/service partnerships as a means of achieving these goals through evidence and practice.

The Benefits of a Culturally Specific Intimate Partner Violence Intervention for African American Survivors

In light of evidence and theorization of culturally specific factors contributing to intimate partner violence (IPV) within African American relationships and the Eurocentric approach many mainstream agencies take to service delivery, researchers have indicated a need for culturally appropriate IPV interventions for African American survivors to adequately address the issue of IPV within this community. The purpose of the current study was to qualitatively investigate how helpful a culturally specific IPV program, which targets the African American community, has been to African American female survivors. Results suggest that this culturally specific agency is successfully meeting the needs of these survivors.

The Asian Women's Counselling Service

In the summer of 2001 I was successful in applying for the post of Asian Trainee Counsellor with the Asian Women's Mental Health Project. This project had been set up by a mainstream counselling agency which provided counselling to women from disadvantaged backgrounds. One of the main functions of the post was to set up and develop a counselling service for women from the South Asian community in Bristol. The service would be the first of its kind to address the linguistic needs of the community by having a counsellor who would conduct counselling sessions in the three major Asian languages which are Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu; these and English or a combination of more than one language could also be used. It was important for the counsellor to possess a greater understanding and awareness of the cultural and religious backgrounds of the clients who were likely to access the service.