Social Work Model Research Articles

Social work practice during times of disaster: A transformative green social work model for theory, education, and practice in disaster interventions

Social work practice during times of disaster: A transformative green social work model for theory, education, and practice in disaster interventions

Coping with parental migration: A qualitative study on the social adaptation of left-behind children in Henan, China

This study explores the key challenges faced by left-behind children and examines their coping strategies, with the aim of proposing methods to enhance their social adaptation. Employing qualitative in-depth interviews, the research gathers data from left-behind children in rural areas, identifying a spectrum of coping strategies related to parental migration and evaluating their effects on social adaptation. These strategies include acceptance, environmental adaptation, the use of social media platforms like short-video apps, seeking social support, engaging in recreational activities, emotional self-regulation, and maintaining a positive outlook. The study offers a fresh perspective and framework for the social adaptation service system and advocates for the development of a social work model tailored to rural left-behind children.

Social Work Practice During Times of Disaster: A Transformative Green Social Work Model for Theory, Education and Practice in Disaster Interventions

Social Work Practice During Times of Disaster: A Transformative Green Social Work Model for Theory, Education and Practice in Disaster Interventions

Engaging and retaining clients in AOD treatment: young people’s perspectives

ABSTRACT Finding ways to engage and retain young people in treatment for substance use is important in disrupting trajectories of dependence and long-term addiction. Research speaks to the complex interplay of system, client, and clinician factors influencing treatment attendance. This study used a qualitative approach to explore the views of clients (young people [n = 19] and their carers [n = 5]) on the enablers to treatment engagement and retention. Four themes were identified. First the power of first impressions in facilitating trust for young people accessing support. Second, the impact of caseworkers’ approach which acknowledge contextual influences on substance use. Third, young people’s appreciation for AOD workers who shared responsibility for initiating and building trust. Finally, the influence of patient and slow-paced case management styles on treatment attendance. Findings illustrate the importance of humanising approaches to AOD service provision, creating safe spaces in traditionally clinical and stigmatised environments, where biomedical models of care have dominated. The study highlights the potential incongruence between AOD workforce requirements/expectations, and the conditions needed (and sought after) to effectively support young people via good practice social work models.

Book Review: Social work practice during times of disaster: A transformative green social work model for theory, education and practice in disaster interventions by Dominelli Lena

Book Review: <i>Social work practice during times of disaster: A transformative green social work model for theory, education and practice in disaster interventions</i> by Dominelli Lena

Innovative fieldwork education in Africa

My remarks focus essentially on the theme of social work education in Africa. I observe that social work education per se has two prongs – classroom instruction and field practicum. I then indicate that the paper is interested in the practicum component of social work education. It notes that in the context of Africa, there has been a clarion call for relevance in social work on the continent. To this end, terms like Ubuntu and indigenisation, have emerged in the context of the discourse on the quest for relevance of social work on the continent - concepts which are consistent with a developmental social work model. My argument is in order to successfully promote the development approach in social work, change has to begin in the education component. The challenge though is that some institutions of education and training in social work, have purported to be promoting the developmental social work education approach, when in fact, the practicum component of their education and training programmes is not consistent with the developmental approach. Apparently, some social work educators are not very clear in terms of what the developmental approach entails, while others are curtailed by institution culture and policies. I then argue that in order to produce a cadre who is well versed in the developmental social work approach, the fieldwork practicum component has to be consistent with the key tenets of the developmental approach. Six models of the developmental social work approach to fieldwork placements are presented as examples of the kind of field placements that would go with the developmental approach. Advantages of the developmental type of placements are briefly explored. HOW TO REFERENCE USING ASWDNET STYLE Mupedziswa R. (2024). Africa Day Indaba 2022 – Innovative Fieldwork Education in Africa. presentation made during Africa Day Indaba 2022. African Journal of Social Work, 14(3), 126-132. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v14i3.3 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

Book Review: Social Work Practice During Times of Disaster: A Transformative Green Social Work Model for Theory, Education and Practice in Disaster Interventions

Book Review: Social Work Practice During Times of Disaster: A Transformative Green Social Work Model for Theory, Education and Practice in Disaster Interventions

A Postcolonial Feminist Perspective on Traditional Birth Attendants and Management of Pregnancy Complications Among Indigenous Women in Rural Nigeria

The work of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the Global South continues to be pivotal to the operations of rural healthcare services, especially as formal healthcare services often malfunction in rural communities, as in rural Nigeria, where TBAs preponderantly conduct deliveries among Indigenous women. This study examines TBAs’ management of delivery complications in rural Nigeria among Indigenous women using a sample of TBAs and TBAs’ service users. The study adopts a qualitative methodology involving focus groups of TBAs’ service users and interviews of TBAs to determine TBAs’ effectiveness in managing obstetric complications, considering their differentiation in terms of service competence. The study apprehends the phenomenon through a postcolonial feminist theoretical lens. The results show that TBAs have differential capabilities in the management of cases and their perception and interpretation of problems determined whether physical or metaphysical strategies were employed in their work. While some TBAs competently managed the presented cases, others invited either TBA colleagues or traditional resource persons to assist in such dire moments. Even though the TBAs—victims of patriarchy and colonial subjugation—continue to be marginalized and subjugated by male-dominated colonial and neocolonial power structures, they have significantly transformed their values to create a model for rural social work that provides social and emotional support to Indigenous women in rural spaces. The study therefore identifies a social policy and social work imperative for ideas sharing between different forms of Westernized healthcare practitioners and TBAs to engender the best health outcomes for rural Indigenous women.

Overcoming Bureaucratization. Rethinking the Social Work Model in Dialogue with Roma

Social Work was born to find and implement actions that succeed at alleviating or overcoming human suffering. Far from this objective, the scientific literature has highlighted that, during the pandemic, the serious situation of disadvantaged communities, including much of the Roma community, has underscored the historical evolution of the discipline towards bureaucratization. However, more research is needed to identify and analyze the actions through which many Social Work professionals have had the opportunity to rethink the current hegemonic model of social intervention. This study analyzes the main characteristics of some such actions. This research has been carried out following the communicative methodology through 40 semi-structured interviews to Social Work professionals in social services, educational centers and civic organizations. Results show that a constant dialogue with Roma communities, overcoming bureaucratization by changing intervention to co-create the best solutions, and a professional and human commitment at the service of people are common characteristics of those actions. These findings illustrate elements with which some Social Workers have been able to rethink the social intervention model they previously followed, allowing them to transform such model and regain the origins of the discipline towards finding the best solutions to improve the situations and lives of many Roma people.

A Brief Introduction into Scriptural Grounding of Contemporary Social Work

Social work, as a model of welfare practice in contemporary society, is based on the mutual aid principle of those in need or in a situation of vulnerability. Its historical foundations can be identified from the ancient writings, including the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments. This paper brings to the attention of the students from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, the Social Work specialization, but also of those concerned with a deep social-theological knowledge, the perspective of a theoretical analysis, but also that of a good practice model for contemporary social work based on the examples existing in Holy Scripture. Also, the focus is on developing, through study, professional skills that provide for the projection and elaboration of a discourse based on sacred texts (verbal and written exposure), but also the correct statement of the doctrine of the Church and the means transmitted by it for the perfecting of the person and of the world in the context of a constantly changing society. Thus, through this comprehensive analysis, the paper highlights the relevance and sustainable impact of the teachings and practices of social work in the Old and New Testaments on contemporary issues solvable through social justice, christian love, solidarity and community responsibility.

Evaluation of the Rural Interprofessional Behavioral Health Scholars Program to Expand Public Health Workforce Capacity During COVID-19

ABSTRACT Mental health and substance use are growing nationwide public health concerns being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, there is a dire shortage in the public health workforce. This paper shares the design and mixed-method outcome evaluation of a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET)-funded rural, interprofessional, behavioral health training program (RIBHS) delivered during COVID-19 at one southeastern US public university. Twenty-six advanced year MSW students completed the RIBHS program. Data were collected from trainees via pre/post surveys and two focus groups. Trainees’ self-reported statistically significant increases in teamwork, behavioral health, and rural practice competencies. Trainees also described how COVID-19 shaped their experience in the RIBHS program. The RIBHS program prepared trainees with the competencies needed to address the growing behavioral health crisis in the US and can serve as a training model for other social work and related public health workforce initiatives.

Development of Social Work Education in Nepal: A Historical Review

Social work is not a new discipline in Nepal. However, it is slowly expanding professionally and currently faces various challenges. Including need to rely on modern techniques, cultural distancing from the environment and strategies because there is not a professional social work model in Nepal. In addition, difficulties include a lack of training, guidelines, and instruction at the governmental level; absence of functioning associated social organizations’ ethics, and accountability on the part of social workers. This study seeks to address issues impeding professionalism to protect service users. The search engines Google, Google Scholar, Google Book, ProQuest, and Eric, etc. were used in this study. Two primary themes were studied: the challenges and implications of social work education in Nepal. To discuss findings, content analysis of the themes was employed. This study finds that social work practice needs to be properly regulated and accredited. The social worker should promote social work practice and instruction. Social workers ought to be recognized by the government to increase funding in the field. The Nepalese social work model can be developed with the help of practitioners and even service users. The vision for Nepalese social work should be to get the profession recognized and strengthen the association of social work.

Organizational and Systems Factors Impacting the Adaptation of a Child Welfare Practice Model from the UK to Finland

ABSTRACT The study focuses on a government-initiated project designed to implement the Systemic Practice Model (SPM) in Finland. The SPM is an adaptation of the UK Reclaiming Social Work (RSW) model, which aims to deliver systemic practice in children’s services. Interviews with key change agents were used to examine how and why the RSW model was adapted to Finland and the potential factors influencing its implementation at system and organizational levels. The findings indicate that challenges associated with central government’s adaptation and dissemination of the model percolated down to implementing agencies. The results emphasize careful preparation and academic-practice-collaboration in future initiatives.

La integración de conocimientos teórico-prácticos desde la experiencia de profesionales del Trabajo Social en la formación del estudiantado a través de metodologías activas y participativas

In undergraduate studies in social work, a series of competency objectives related to the theoretical, methodological and attitudinal knowledge contemplated in the discipline’s educational curriculum are established, as set out in the White Paper on the Degree in Social Work. The incorporation of active and participative methodologies in the teaching-learning processes favours student acquisition of these contents. Likewise, in the teaching-learning processes, the use of didactic resources that connect theoretical knowledge with the exercise of professional practice favours student understanding of the curricular subjects. This study aims to analyse the impact that theory has on social intervention for active social workers in order to create theoretical-practical content for the subject of Introduction to Social Work Models at the University of Granada. The methodology applied incorporates documentary work and the development of three discussion groups, in which 18 active social work professionals participated. The analysis of the speeches generated in these groups has served as a resource for the development of a flipped-classroom with students taking the Introduction to Social Work Models course at the University of Granada. The analysis has been conducted around three categories: the value of theory in professional practice; roles, purposes and theoretical models underlying social work; and the social work of the future. The results show how social work professionals attach great importance to theory as a guide in their professional practice, preferably approaching it from systemic and humanist theoretical models and opting for the recovery of community and critical-transformative theoretical approaches.

The Administrative Burden Framework: A New Horizon for Research and Practice in Social Work?

Social work is widely recognized as a human rights profession. The commitment to protect and advocate for social and economic rights has been incorporated into official definitions and codes of ethics of the profession globally, undergirding social work models and services. However, despite the overwhelming recognition of the importance of social work advocacy, a unified framework for research and practice has not been agreed upon, and new challenges to welfare states have somewhat contested the existing, primarily European advocacy framework built on the literature on take-up of social and economic rights. The purpose of this integrative context review is to introduce the administrative burden (AB) literature as a potential framework for meeting social work advocacy challenges by emphasizing a subjective viewpoint, a multifaceted understanding of the bureaucratic encounter, and the secondary effects of burden. The article concludes by identifying directions for future research and practice concerning the nexus between AB and social work.

Three Models of Practice: Impacts on the De-escalation Role of Library Social Workers During Crises with Patrons Experiencing Homelessness

ABSTRACT Heretofore, models of library social work have primarily been described in terms of the employment status of the social worker (full or part time, employed by library or agency, etc.) rather than the programmatic structure of the services. This research study identifies and describes three different models of public library social work practice: The Signup and Summon Model; The Outreach and Summon Model, and the Social Work Center Model. Next, it explains how each model impacts the de-escalation role of the social worker during crises with patrons experiencing homelessness. The perceived impact of the social worker’s de-escalation role included patrons experiencing homelessness being less likely to interact with security and police and less likely to be excluded, arrested, or jailed. Using an embedded multiple-case study approach, the larger study from which this study is drawn spanned across three United States’ urban libraries with 107 distinct participants, 91 surveys and 46 in-depth interviews. Taking a comprehensive look at the role of social workers during the crisis, the views of six different roles are included: patrons experiencing homelessness, front-facing library staff, library police/security, chief executive officers, branch managers, and social workers.

Ubuntu-based social work: what can social workers in Global South learn from Ubuntu to promote children welfare in communities?

ABSTRACT This article uses the Ubuntu paradigms to reflect on the ways in which community-level values and frameworks can be recognised, strengthened and used to promote children’s welfare. We present a literature review and documented practical examples from African Ubuntu communities in Global South that strongly emphasise the collectivist approach in their ways of life. With a further examination of the Ubuntu philosophy, we identify common values and patterns that can be instrumental in fostering child welfare. These are volunteerism, solidarity, vigilance, morality and hospitality. We underline these informal standards as not only crucial to social workers providing interventions for children that belong to families and communities that are interdependent in nature, but as well present an Ubuntu social work model that can be a benchmark for social work practice with children and families in multicultural communities in Global North. The result is the humanisation of child protection systems and the development and strengthening of informal community protection networks.

EXAMINATION OF THE FAIR WORLD BELIEF OF PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Ministry of Family and Social Services is trying to implement effective and efficient social service models by trying to reach every member of the society, with the mission of developing and implementing holistic and fair social service models for the protection, strengthening and development of the individual, the family and our social values. The Ministry of Family and Social Services, which adopts supply-oriented working as a principle while reaching individuals, constitutes a large part of the working area of disadvantaged, fragmented families in need of social and economic support, and women, children and disabled individuals. Establishing the necessary communication with the families in question, carrying out the professional work, determining and implementing the appropriate social work model are among the job descriptions of the professional staff working as psychological counselors, psychologists, social workers, sociologists and teachers working under the ministry. Considering the family structures and case details of the mentioned professionals, they have witnessed many traumatic experiences directly or indirectly; The main purpose of this study is to examine how they look at events, how they keep their psychological well-being in balance or for what reasons, and how the just world belief systems affect all these experiences.

Preparing Social Workers for Emerging Roles in Police Social Work

ABSTRACT Schools of social work must prepare social workers to meet the demands of the rapidly emerging field of police social work. This article reports on the experiences of a social work program’s partnership with a police department. The authors identify an integrative practice model of police social work, specifying social work roles at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, as well as ethical issues. The model is based on the social work competencies and law enforcement best practices. The authors analyze the experiences of placing students directly into law enforcement settings and make recommendations to create successful experiences for students, social workers, and police. The importance of strategic partnerships, communication, trust, and support in building strong relationships is also highlighted.

Care of Persons With Disabilities in Social Work – is It Possible to Change the Approach From the Client to the Individual?

Social protection of persons with disability represents a topic that requires deep analysis of all significant aspects which include social approach, professional support, as well as the needs and capacities of an individual. This paper includes a theoretical framework for understanding social work models with persons with disability, as well as the underpinning critical social work paradigm. The authors used the above-mentioned theoretical framework to conduct the research and find the answer to the research question. Social workers that participated in this research were hand-picked due to their engagement in the health and social institutions that provide residential social care, and work with clients that are capable of actively participating and making decisions on their own during treatment. The method used for data collection in this research was the focus group method and in depth-interviews as a technic. The research findings presented in this paper indicate that traditional models, medical and social models of social work with persons with disability are being used in practice, with some elements of the third model – the embodiment model. The fourth contemporary model that enables the shift in the social work approach from client to person, using the embodiment model has not been recognized by the social workers that contributed to this research. It is also worth mentioning that the elements of the third and fourth social work models with persons with disability have been present in the social workers’ practice. This topic is very much current and requires attention from the science and practice of social work, facing new challenges and at the same time offering new potential directions for research in this social work field.