Social Work Perspective Research Articles

Kreativne tehnike u socijalnom radu - refleksija studenata na nastavni predmet

Creative techniques as procedures for stimulating creativity and expression, which allow one to become aware of feelings, thoughts, and other contents from their own experience with the help of the media have recently found adequate application and produced solid results in social work. The academic course unit of Creative Techniques in Social Work, which is taught at the Study Programme of Social Work at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Banja Luka, is designed so that students, in addition to theoretical content, acquire skills and initial experiences in their practical application. The paper presents the results obtained by applying the focus group method, which featured the students of the Study Programme of Social Work. The content of the focus group activities is the students' reflection on the following: the content of the course unit, the teaching method, the involvement of students in the implementation of tasks, and the possibility of using creative techniques in social work. The analysis of the content of the focus group work shows that the students perceive this teaching method as innovative, since it requires their active approach to work and participation, and it allows elaboration of topics considered important for their profession, which opens new perspectives in social work with clients. According to the students, this course unit enables them to gain their own experience of using certain techniques and the media, gives them an opportunity to express themselves creatively, to develop critical thinking, as well as to become more sensitive towards problems of social work.

Policy and legal framework on protecting children’s rights in Latvia and Sri Lanka

The article focuses on comparing policies and legislation, that affect social-work professionals in implementing children’s rights of Latvia and Sri Lanka. It attempts to disclose legal framework of the two countries in different socio-cultural, economic and geographical contexts (European and South-Asian) on implementing children’s rights, with base of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This study analyses local policies, laws, institutional structure and its implementation processes. Policy review has been made by a content analysis, empirical research conducted doing expert interviews (n = 10) focusing on implementation process. Similarities and differences are discussed between two contexts with the standpoint of global perspective of Social work as a global profession. Research results reveal that both countries have sufficient level of policies and legislation to adapt UNCRC, and established specific government bodies for ensuring children’s rights. At the same time differences are identified in application of Foster Families, Engagement of children in employments, Children employed as domestic servants, Corporal Punishment to children, in Policy implementation process in Latvia and Sri Lanka.

Making the Case: Adding a Social Work Perspective to a Case Study in a Veterinary Practice

Making the Case: Adding a Social Work Perspective to a Case Study in a Veterinary Practice

Agricultural Farmers Training in Nepal: A Review of Social Work Perspective

Social workers can mediate in the agricultural process on two crucial levels- first, it can familiarize the local people with the new technologies, information, training, available subsidies, and facilities either by the state or by institutions and organizations, secondly, it can use first-hand knowledge of the condition of the farmers to understand the need of the hour and convey the same to the policymakers. We have seen how many farmer’s agitations and movements have been successfully organized in our country on a large scale, but still, two major lacunae in this whole process have limited the impact of these movements on a much greater scale- one, there is a dearth of larger social consciousness among the masses regarding the problem of farmers in general and these movements in specific. Social workers need to take this burden on their heads to ensure that not only the information is disseminated smoothly and effectively but also a larger audience can be built who not only can be aware of the condition of farmers but can also empathize with it, thus providing the base of mobilization of these groups for future causes.

SOCIAL WORKER PERSPECTIVE ON WORKING CONDITIONS, SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE PROFESSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS ADVANCEMENT

ABSTRACT Social work represents an applied profession and academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, empowerment and emancipation of individuals. This paper aimed to gain an insight into the perspective of social workers on working conditions and social attitudes towards the profession, with recommendations from professionals for advancing its current position. The thematic analysis was applied within a qualitative research framework. Research results indicated negative perceptions on working conditions among research participants – social workers in Croatia – pinpointing issues, such as financial insecurity, understaffing, inadequate office space, shortage of business vehicles for field visits, an excessive scope of work and administrative burden, disrespect for social workers’ dignity, and difficulties in establishing cooperation with service users. Social workers’ recommendations for addressing these issues concerned: improving working conditions (amendments to the legal framework, employment of professional staff and professional training), improving workplace security (reinforcing the public official status and increasing security staff), and promoting the social work profession, involving enhanced media relations, consistent communication and raising public awareness through best practices from the organisations and institutions in the system. Key words: social work; working conditions; perspectives; society

Wartość w rodzinie czy rodzina jako wartość ? - w perspektywie pracy socjalnej

<b>Wprowadzenie.</b> Rodzina od wieków stanowiła podstawę życia społecznego. Obecnie, nie tylko jej konstrukt, ale także samo postrzeganie jej jako wartości w życiu społecznym, uległo przeobrażeniom. Szczególnie ma to miejsce w obszarze benefi cjentów pracy socjalnej, czyli rodzin doświadczających różnych problemów i dysfunkcji. <b>Cel.</b> Celem artykułu jest ukazanie postrzegania wartości rodziny, przy uwzględnieniu obszaru działań pomocy społecznej. <b>Materiały i metody.</b> Materiał teoretyczny zakresu wartości rodziny został uzupełniony badaniami jakościowymi. Przeprowadzone zostały one na grupie 20 pracowników socjalnych. W pracy zastosowano następujące narzędzia: scenariusz wywiadu pogłębionego. <b>Wyniki.</b> Rodzina jest specyfi cznym obszarem działań pracy socjalnej. Rodziny korzystające z pomocy, według pracowników socjalnych, często nie dostrzegają wartości w jednostce, którą współtworzą. Według badanych, wartość istnieje sama w sobie i ma wpływ na wsparcie wewnątrzrodzinne oraz procesy zmagania się z problemem. <b>Wnioski.</b> Jednostka rodziny powinna być dodatkowo wspierana przez pracę socjalną w aspekcie postrzegania swojej wartości.

Exploring Dementia Care in an Acute Care Setting: Perspectives of Social Workers and Nurses

Older adults can benefit from using patient portals. Little is known whether the perceptions and use of patient portals differ among diverse older adult populations. The aim of this study was to assess the difference in perceived usability of patient portals, self-efficacy for using patient portals, and patient portal use between two adult samples aged 65 years or older. One sample was recruited from a health care system, including hospitals and clinics (n = 174), and the other sample was recruited from nationwide communities (n = 126). Conducting a secondary data analysis using two survey datasets, this study performed a series of linear and ordinal logistic regression analyses. The health care system sample had a higher mean number of chronic diseases and proportion of recent hospitalization than the community sample. The health care system sample showed higher perceived usability, self-efficacy, and usage frequency of patient portals compared to the community sample. eHealth literacy was a significant predictor of perceived usability and self-efficacy. Perceived usability was another significant predictor of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy and health condition variables significantly predicted the more frequent use of patient portals. Compared to the health care system sample, the relationship between perceived usability and use of patient portals was stronger and significant in the community sample. These findings suggest that approaches for promoting patient portal use should consider personal characteristics and health conditions of diverse older adult populations. Future research needs to focus on assessing the impact of using patient portals on older adults’ health care outcomes.

Widowhood and associated risks in under-resourced communities: A Social Work Perspective

The perpetual growth in the population of widows globally signals the need for systematic research and interrogation of the phenomenon of widowhood. Under-resourced communities have been side-lined from imperative investigations and systematic documentation to inform practice. This article discusses the risks associated with widowhood in under-resourced communities of Binga District in Zimbabwe. Following a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological research design, purposive sampling was employed to engage ten widows in one-on-one in-depth interviews. Data were analysed thematically and backed up by existing literature to provide thick descriptions. The findings of the study indicated that widows were exposed to an arsenal of health, psychological, social and economic risks. Many of the risks associated with widowhood are exacerbated by lack of supportive environments and provision of conducive environment to trigger proper adaptation mechanism especially among the young widows in under-resourced communities. The conclusions reached were that widowhood risk factors continue to increase among widows in under-resourced communities impacting negatively on optimal living and adaptation with the widows’ circumstances.

Options of support for primary schools´ pupils with mental disabilities with highlights on social and educational aspects in the Czech Republic

This paper focuses on legal and inclusive changes in Czech´s primary schools´ environment. Since 2016 Czech´s primary schools are including in the education of more pupils with intellectual disability. The following text is introducing the tools which support the idea of common education such as supportive adjustments, use of assistive services. Furthermore, it presents a reflection of this modern approach from perspectives of special pedagogy and social work.

Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on increasing the risks of children's addiction to electronic games from a social work perspective

Children are among the social groups most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because they have found themselves forced to stay at home, far from their schoolmates, their friends, and far from all the activities they used to do before the pandemic. so, it was their only refuge for recreation during their stay in Home is staying in front of the screens of tablets, smartphones, and computers to play electronic games for long hours, and there is no doubt that the sudden shift in the lifestyle of children during the Covid-19 pandemic had serious consequences and risks threatening their stability at all levels. In light of that, the current study aimed to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on increasing the social, psychological, behavioral, and health risks of children's addiction to electronic games from a social work perspective. This study falls under the type of descriptive-analytical studies that are based on describing the reality of the problem under study. The study sample included 289 children in the age group 6–17 years in the first grade to the twelfth grade at school. The researcher designed a questionnaire that reflects the four risks facing children to assess these risks. The results showed is that the value of all impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the increasing risks of children's addiction to electronic games came to a total weight of (27907), weighted relative weight of (80.47%). This indication is High, indicating that the level of impact is High for the Covid-19 pandemic on the increase in all types of risks of children's addiction to electronic games. It ranked first " Behavioral Risks " at 91.15%, It is followed by the ranked second “Social risks " at 85.5%, Then came third place " Psychological Risks" at 80.91%, and in finally in fourth place " Health Risks" at 64.28%, which necessitates the need to take a set of serious measures by educating parents to monitor the content of electronic games that their children play, especially violent games, in addition to, reduce the number of hours the child spends practicing these games, and to encourage parents to form a bridge of communication and constructive dialogue between them and their children, and that parents put controls and restrictions on their children's practice of electronic games to confront abnormal behavioral, psychological and social patterns such as aggression, violence, deception, lying, imitation, vigilance, physical stress, poor eyesight, distance from practicing religious rituals, academic delay, introversion, depression, intolerance, selfishness, sadness, isolation from society, social withdrawal and lack of forming social relationships and lack of communication with others. The researcher took care that the results of the current study are very accurate and representative of the reality of the research problem, in light of the researcher's emphasis on the commitment to observe ethical rules to ensure the confidentiality of data. finally, the current study will greatly benefit researchers interested in the field of childhood and its problems and they will rely on its results and recommendations in how to protect children from the dangers of electronic game addiction in light of the Covid-19 crisis in particular.

Needs of Children and Families during Spring 2020 COVID-19 School Closures: Findings from a National Survey.

Despite extensive reports during the COVID-19 pandemic of the academic challenges facing students, and the effects of online learning on academic achievements, we have little information regarding the needs and difficulties of K–12 students and their families from a social work perspective. The present article shares findings from a nationwide survey of 1,275 school social workers (SSWs) reporting on their clients—schools, children, and families—during the spring 2020 COVID-19 school closures. SSWs indicated that the children and families they served had significant unmet basic needs, including for food, healthcare, and housing. Poverty and mental health compounded pandemic difficulties, which were associated with the sociodemographic makeup of schools. Student engagement in social work services during the closures was significantly lower than prepandemic levels, generally due to unmet material needs. Several policy and practice implications arise from these findings, including a need for additional services for students and families, a plan to address structural inequities in our schools and communities, coordinated outreach to reengage missing students, and recognition of the strong work being done by school staff coupled with a need for additional supports and resources to combat persistent inequality.

‘What’s important to me is to get people moving.’ Fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems

ABSTRACT Resilience is considered an important solution to problematic personal debt. European debt policy and research generally focuses on the financial resilience of individuals against life events that may generate debt problems. However, many studies overlook the social dimensions of resilience with regards to tackling problematic personal debt. In this article, we therefore explore the meaning and practices of fostering social resilience in people with severe debt problems, from the perspective of social workers, debt counsellors and volunteers working in a disadvantaged urban community in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We conducted a case study and used qualitative research methods. The findings reveal that debt problems may lead to a state of inertia in people; an incapability to move, act on or change direction within a given situation. Social workers try to foster social resilience by generating a form of movement in this inert state, and by moving along with people as they work on their debt problems at their own pace and in their local environment. This endeavour involves three interactive practices: taking the lead, activating and connecting. We conclude that fostering resilience is less about tackling debt problems head-on, and more about nurturing positive change in people’s everyday lives and actions.

The Importance of Multiculturalist Social Work Practices in the Prevention of Hate

The phenomenon of crime has become a situation that is seen in Turkey as well as in the world and that is desired to be prevented by various criminal sanctions, and at the same time, it has begun to be examined as a social problem in terms of dealing with environmental causes in committing crime. In this respect, the phenomenon of crime has also entered the field of interest of the social work discipline. When the literature is examined, it has been seen that violent incidents and crime rates have increased in Turkey in recent years, and hate speech and hate crimes targeting various groups have become increasingly widespread among these increasing phenomena. Hate crimes, which are based on prejudice and discrimination, have become an important, social and contemporary problem that needs to be tackled in terms of various disciplines and formations. Although social work practices in crime are generally included in rehabilitation services, social workers have a duty to prevent crime for social peace and trust. In this respect, in this study, first of all, definitions of hate speech and hate crime will be made, and the data on its place in the national literature and its visibility in the world and in Turkey will be mentioned, then to reveal the importance of multiculturalist social work and hate crimes, and it is aimed to develop suggestions for the prevention of hate crimes with a multiculturalist social work perspective. As a result, it is thought that multiculturalist social work, which adopts cultural sensitivity and respect for differences as a principle, and social workers trained with this perspective will contribute to the prevention of hate crimes. For this, it is recommended to add prejudice and anti-discrimination courses to all education programs, especially social work education programs, to establish multicultural awareness from the early period, and a multiculturalist perspective should be adopted by other institutions and organizations, especially the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

Social innovations in rural communities in Africa's Great Lakes region. A social work perspective

In Africa's Great Lakes region, many rural communities face serious challenges including chronic poverty, lack of infrastructure, high unemployment, inadequate education systems and healthcare services, as well as a fundamental absence of public social protection mechanisms. In some contexts, rural dwellers suffer from the additional burden of armed conflict and political violence. Yet, rural populations show remarkable indications of resilience and exhibit innovative ways of handling their problems by themselves. Some of these approaches can be qualified as social innovations.With its focus on the role of social work in rural social innovation processes, this article aims to contribute to some under-researched aspects at the intersection of social innovation, rural studies, and social work practice. Empirical evidence of rural social innovations is based on a regional study on indigenous and innovative models of problem solving in five African countries. Here, the focus is on two case examples from Uganda and Rwanda. For Uganda, a community-based concept of household clusters to promote rural development called akabondo is presented. The example from Rwanda is called umugoroba w'ababyeyi and refers to a family strengthening and community development program that has been mainstreamed into government policies. This model is located in the challenging context of a post-genocide society.A critical analysis of these models refers to the question whether they fall into the category of a social innovation; to major players in implementing such innovations; to their impact on rural communities and the wider society; as well as to challenges facing such innovations.

Workers needed to foster improved academic performance: Perspectives of social workers and education officers in Ghana

This study examines the perceptions of social welfare and education officers in Ghana about school social work practice and its possible contributions to improving academic performance at the basic level of education. Qualitative data were collected through two focus group discussions with social workers and education officers. Participants expressed views that school social work interventions are needed to strengthen the bond between the home and the school, help students deal with psycho-social problems, and reduce the burden on teachers. Suggestions were also made on the best ways to foster the practice of school social work in Ghana. Theses coalesced around three core themes: active engagement of stakeholders, a robust funding mechanism to develop and sustain social work interventions in schools, and a long-term agenda to train and recruit more school social workers.

The Sharing Economy and Social Capital: The Fictional Expectations of Sociality in a Time Bank

This article looks at time banking ­– a system of exchange in which people trade services with one another using time instead of money as currency. Time banking is framed from a social work perspective as a social innovation that contributes to poverty alleviation and increasing inclusion. However, most such organizations fail to institutionalize as care providers and fail within the first three years. In this paper, I discuss a rare success story—a time bank in Nizhny Novgorod, the fourth largest city in Russia—which has been functioning for over 15 years and positioned itself as a non-charitable organization. I engage with sharing economy studies—a growing but ambiguous field—to explain the success of the time bank in Nizhny Novgorod. Research in the sharing economy has mostly concentrated on two extreme cases: business-to-customer operations or grassroots communities practicing radical alternatives to market exchange. The case studies have been united by an assumption that sharing economy organizations would generate social capital. However, there has been limited evidence to support this claim. In this article, I aim to test this hypothesis and explore whether the informal networks, norms of reciprocity and trust that are fostered among members of the Nizhny Novgorod time bank are the factors that explain the sustainability of this association. The study is informed by 22 in-depth interviews with the gatekeepers and members of this community. In the interviews, I paid attention to the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the structure of their social capital; the characteristics of the mode of exchange practiced in the community (the volume, direction, and range of services, the relatedness to professional activities and other spheres of life); their value set and worldview (egalitarianism, altruism, justice); and indicators of generalized trust. Results revealed that time bankers do not tend to create strong and sustainable relationships outside of the framework of the exchange. I put forward the following explanatory hypothesis: the calculativeness of time bankers, the market-driven valuations of ‘egalitarian’ service exchange and a unilateral attitude to the exchange are in conflict with a longing for Gemeinschaft—a community with strong bonding interdependence based on the norms of mutuality. This association failed to provide the conditions for generalized trust to emerge. The attempt to simultaneously create a tightly bonded community, but still answer the needs of the digital age resulted in a pastiche of a sharing economy platform. Beyond the case at hand, this study theorizes the rhetoric and reality of the sharing economy by summarizing the grounds for the expectations of generating social capital and explains why certain expectations could not be met.

The Social Services of Spain after the neoliberal period: Longitudinal analysis from the perspective of Social Work (2012–2018)

Abstract The article presents a longitudinal analysis of the Social Services in Spain during the period characterised by neoliberal policies (2012–2018), as well as the situation and reactions of the professional social workers. The quantitative results of three surveys promoted by the General Council of Social Work from Spain on data from 2012, 2013 and 2018 were compared. The sample allows extrapolating the results to all the social workers in Spain. There is a loss of effectiveness and a worsening of the quality of care of the social services. However, social workers do not attribute the deterioration of the system to the increased demand, but to the cuts, privatisation and outsourcing of resources. The professional discourse is critical: it departs from the narrative of punitive neoliberalism and denounces the violation of citizens’ rights. Professional practice reveals the ethical–political commitment in the system and the public militancy of social workers in Spain.

Quality of Life in the Time of Coronavirus from the Perspective of Social Work

The time of the coronavirus crisis has virtually affected every aspect of our lives. Nevertheless, the effects of the pandemic and related measures are most often discussed in the public sphere in the context of health and economic aspects of social life. Social work, due to its complex nature, makes it possible to look at problems in a broader context, and therefore its perspective seems to be suitable for drawing attention to the all-round consequences of the pandemic and their impact on the quality of life. The aim of this theoretical study is to discuss and draw attention to the risks related to the quality of life that arise from the covid-19 epidemic and associated measures from the perspective of social work. To take into account the broader perspective of the view of quality of life, the concept of capability approach and the resulting basic human potentials was used to analyse the current situation.

الممارسة المبنیة على الأدلة من منظور الخدمة الاجتماعیة الاکلینیکیة ووقایة الشباب الجامعی من السلوکیات السلبیة

ملخص البحث العربي : الممارسة المبنية على الأدلة من منظور الخدمة الاجتماعية الاکلينيکية ووقاية الشباب الجامعي من السلوکيات السلبية هدف الدراسة : تسعى الدراسة الى التعرف على السلوکيات السلبية لدى طالبات جامعة الاميرة نورة بنت عبدالرحمن والتعرف على السلوکيات السلبية لدى طلاب جامعة کولومبيا والفروق فيما بينهم والتعرف على النموذج الأکثر فعالية في وقاية الشباب من السلوکيات السلبية من خلال تطبيق خطوات نموذج او طريقة الممارسة المبنية على الادلة المنهجية: بلغ عدد أفراد العينة (266) من عينة من طلاب واعضاء هيئة التدريس والاخصائيين الاجتماعيين بجامعه الأميرة نورة وجامعة کولومبيا وقد استخدمت المنهج الوصفي المقارن و قد استخدمت الاستبانة أداة رئيسة للدراسة وحللت بواسطة البرنامج الإحصائي SPSS اعتمدت الدراسة على الإحصاء الوصفي، واختبار (ت)، ومعامل الارتباط بيرسون. النتائج :أن النموذج الأکثر فعالية في وقاية الشباب من السلوکيات السلبية هو تطبيق خطوات نموذج او طريقة الممارسة المبنية على الادلة بطرح أسئلة يمکن الإجابة عليها، بحيث تکون واضحة ومحددة وعلمية لها إجابات متاحة في محرکات البحث الألکتروني وفي البحوث والمجلات العلمية الخلاصة : العمل على تعزيز السلوکيات الايجابية والحد من السلوکيات السلبية لدى الطلبة الجامعيين بعدة طرق تتبناها الجامعة. الکلمات الافتتاحية ( الممارسة المبنية على الأدلة – الخدمة الاجتماعية الاکلينيکية ) ملخص البحث الإنجليري : Title: Evidence-Based Practice from the Perspective of Clinical Social Work and the Prevention of Negative Behaviors among University Youth Abstract Objective:. This study aimed at identifying the negative behaviors of the students of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and the negative behaviors of Columbia University students And the differences between them and to identify the most effective model in protecting youth from negative behaviors by applying the steps of the evidence-based model or method of practice. . Methodology: The number of sample members was (266). The sample consisted of students, faculty members, and social workers at Princess Nourah University and Columbia University. The study used the comparative descriptive approach and the questionnaire was used as the main study tool. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS Statistics program The study relied on descriptive statistics, T-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. . results: the most effective model that helps young people stop negative behaviors is the application of the steps of the evidence-based practice model or method through asking answerable clear, specific and scientific questions, with answers available in electronic search engines, scientific researches, and journals Conclusion:was to promote positive behaviors and reduce negative behaviors of university students using several approaches as adopted by the University. Keywords:Evidence-Based Practice - Clinical Social work))

Meanings of a client-employee relationship in social work: clients’ perspectives on desisting from crime

ABSTRACT In the context of social work, the importance of social interaction and the client-employee relationship in helping the client and supporting their desistance from crime are highlighted issues. Disengagement from crime requires self-motivation, as well as social support provided by social work professionals, NGOs and peers. This article asks what meanings people with a history of crime give to social interaction and the client-employee relationship from the perspective of desistance in different social work settings. The analytical starting point of the study is based on moderate social constructionism and Billig’s rhetorical analysis. The research data was collected by interviewing 26 people with a history of crime. The results showed that social work was seen differently in various social work settings. Social interaction was talked about from the perspectives of municipal social work and multiagency support, as well as a personal encounter that crosses the conventional practices of social work. An employees’ respectful and determined interaction, and the holistic support of NGOs as a community and peers was seen as significant in supporting desistance from crime. On the other hand, distant and formal encounters appeared to be challenging in the data. As a conclusion, desisting from crime is seen as a long-term and challenging process for the client, and thus, the aspects of continuity and genuine encountering in the client-employee relationship play a key role.