Social Service Providers Research Articles

Renewable energy communities as public architectures and socio-ecological infrastructures

Three years after their establishment in the Italian regulatory framework, the Renewable Energy Communities (CERs) can be an important resource for architectural and urban design, combining decarbonisation and climate resilience objectives with the provision of new public spaces and social services, the reduction of energy poverty and the dissemination of a new environmental culture. In such a setting, the production networks spread over buildings and elements of urban equipment are connected to the new central venues constituted by the hubs, the heart of the community. Starting from the case study of the San Giovanni a Teduccio district in Naples, the Horizon Europe KNOWING project aims to define a replicable model to support a strategic vision for 2050.

Wellbeing and healthcare access for sexuality and gender minority secondary school students with long-term health conditions

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence of long-term health conditions (which includes disorders such as asthma and diabetes, lasting six months or more) among sexuality and gender minority youth (SGMY) within Aotearoa New Zealand, and report on SGMY access to health care services. MethodWe used data from a population-based survey (Youth’19) of 7,059 secondary school students in Aotearoa New Zealand. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations of five sex, gender and sexuality groups: heterosexual cisgender females (n = 3,127, 44.30%); heterosexual cisgender males (n = 2,934, 41.64%); sexuality minority cisgender females (n = 659, 9.34%); sexuality minority cisgender males (n = 216, 3.06%); and gender minority adolescents (n = 123, 1.74%), and the selected outcome variables (i.e., general health, long-term health conditions, difficulties accessing healthcare and talked to a health provider privately). ResultsGender minority adolescents reported the highest odds of having a long-term health condition (adjusted Odds Ratio/aOR = 6.69, 95% Confidence Intervals/CI 3.89–11.42) compared to heterosexual cisgender males. Sexuality minority cisgender females and males also had significantly higher odds of having a long-term health condition compared to heterosexual cisgender males. Gender minority youth reported the highest odds of experiencing difficulties accessing health care (aOR = 3.99, 95% CI 2.50–6.36) compared to heterosexual cisgender males. Sexuality minority cisgender females and males were also significantly more likely to experience difficulties accessing healthcare than heterosexual cisgender males. ConclusionSGMY are more likely to report a long-term health condition compared to their peers and access to health care for SGMY is constrained. Health and social care service providers need to ensure their provisions are safe, accessible, inclusive, and appropriate for SGMY.

Context Matters: The Implications of the Mode of Service Provision for Structural and Relational Integration of Refugees in Ghana and Ethiopia

Abstract The ever-increasing protracted refugee situations globally have put local integration of refugees into hosting societies high on the international agenda. While recent international frameworks have called for a deeper integration of refugees through the mainstreaming of refugee service provision into national service provision systems, little attention has been paid to the structures and arrangements—the so-called opportunity structures—specifically to how these can either promote or impede integration into host countries. We focus on the mode of social service provision to refugees and how this shapes the context of refugee integration in Ghana and Ethiopia taking into account the implications for structural and relational integration of refugees. We hold the view that mainstreaming service provision to refugees in camps into national systems does not necessarily lead to better refugee integration outcomes. Differences in the quality-of-service provision between humanitarian actors and hosting countries have the potential to determine integration outcomes.

Securing Moral Authority: A Cross-National Analysis of Protestant Engagement in the Implementation of Morality Policies in Western Europe

Churches have a hard time defending their moral values in the political sphere of an ever more secular and liberal Western Europe. A largely neglected means of navigating this crisis is through the Church’s role as a charitable provider during the implementation of morality policies. This paper examines this type of church involvement from a cross-national and cross-sectoral perspective. We describe the activities of Protestant churches in four morality policy areas in three European countries: Germany, England, and Denmark. The variation in religious engagement observed in these areas and countries appear to be driven by the churches’ room to maneuver and their policy congruence with state goals, whereas governance capacities are secondary. Thus, the provision of social services can still serve as a means by which Protestant churches can exert moral authority, especially if these social services are related to moral issues.

Vulnerability to heatwaves: a scoping review of prevention programs. Results from the ENBEL project

Abstract Background This study, conducted as part of the European ENBEL project (Horizon 2020), aims at synthesising the scientific evidence on heat health preventive measures targeting vulnerable populations, considering other environmental co-exposures, such as air pollution, wildfires and droughts. Methods A scoping review was performed on Medline and Embase (Ovid) through search terms on clinical and social vulnerabilities, health outcomes (morbidity, mortality, hospitalisation), heatwaves, droughts, air pollution, wildfires, and preventive measures. Records in English published between 2000 and 2023 were included and screened according to PRISMA guidelines. Results 8608 records were retrieved, 5895 of which screened after duplicate removal. 51 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The interventions, mainly targeting workers (from agriculture, healthcare, waste management, firefighting and military sectors) and school athletes, were the most evaluated preventive measures. The role of hydration, rest in the shade, cooling cloths and food, and acclimatisation procedures were highlighted for both groups. On the other hand, local prevention plans, mainly from high-income Countries, focused on the elderly, adults in poor health conditions, homeless and institutionalised people. The implemented measures concentrate on cooling interventions, provision of health care and social services, education and information campaigns. Regarding co-exposures, a study on prevention for firefighters and one on the implementation of Clean Air Centres in California for people vulnerable to heat and smoke were retrieved. A search of the grey literature will be performed to avoid publication bias. Conclusions There is still limited evidence on the effectiveness of preventive measures aimed at protecting vulnerable subgroups from heat-related health effects. The present findings can help orient the public health agenda and research priorities on climate changes adaptation measures. Key messages • Heatwaves are more frequent due to climate change, putting vulnerable population at risk. Developing plans and programs aimed at reducing negative health outcomes related to heat should be a priority. • Hydration, rest, and acclimatization procedures reduce heat-related illnesses in workers and athletes. Local prevention plans for the elderly show the role of education and information.

Coordination of family’s care in an evidence-based nurse home visiting program

ABSTRACT Interprofessional care coordination within evidence-based prevention programs like Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) is necessary to meet family needs and maximize program impact. This study aimed to describe the coordination of families’ care in the NFP home visiting context. We used an adapted grounded theory approach and purposively sampled seven NFP sites. We conducted telephone interviews with 95 participants: 51 NFP staff (54%), 39 healthcare providers (41%), and 5 social service providers (5%). All interviews were recorded, transcribed, validated, and analyzed in NVivo11. Many community providers in all sites described their knowledge of the characteristics of the NFP intervention, including the strength of its evidence to achieve outcomes. Care coordination was dynamic and changed over time based on client needs and staff willingness to work together. Effective care coordination in the NFP context from the provider perspective is driven by shared knowledge, integrated systems, mission alignment, and individual champions who value the program.

Ресурсные центры как инструмент государственной поддержки социально ориентированных некоммерческих организаций (на примере города Москвы)

The study is intended to raise the problem of how to analyze the activities of NPO resource centers as one of the main state support tools for socially oriented non-profit organizations as providers of main social services in the city of Moscow. As part of the conducted research, the main directions of work of the resource center of NPOs in Moscow on the issues of property, information, consulting and educational support of socially oriented organizations of the city were considered. The presented results make it possible to identify the best practices in the organization of state support for SONPOs in the conditions of the economic crisis and development of the social sphere in the city of Moscow. The conducted analysis of the activities of the Resource Center of NPOs in the city of Moscow allowed to systematize the work experience of the State Budgetary Institution of Moscow “Moscow House of Public Organizations” in the field of interaction and support of socially oriented projects.

Adapting an evidence-based mindfulness-based intervention for sheltered youth experiencing homelessness

ObjectivesYouth experiencing homelessness (YEH) face challenges that impact their physical, mental, and social wellbeing, emotion regulation, and coping. Mindfulness reduces stress and improves resilience, emotion regulation, and executive functioning. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) teach the practice of mindfulness to foster present-moment attention without judgement and enhance self-observation and self-regulation, resulting in greater awareness of thoughts and emotions and improved interpersonal relationships. One such intervention, .b, has been shown to lower stress among youth. While a pilot study of .b among sheltered youth found the intervention to be feasible, the need for modifications was identified to improve its relevance, accessibility, and incorporate a trauma-informed approach.MethodsWe used the ADAPT-ITT (Assessment, Decisions, Administration, Production, Topical experts, Integration, Training staff, and Testing) framework to adapt the .b mindfulness intervention to YEH living in an emergency shelter. Nine focus group discussions (n = 56), key informant interviews (n = 8), and beta testing with five youth working group sessions (n = 10) identified needed modifications.ResultsAdaptations to the curriculum and delivery modality were made to approximate the average length of stay in the shelter; integrate trauma-informed care approaches; increase diversity of images by race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and increase the relevance of the audio-visual components.ConclusionsYouth and the health and social services providers who care for youth generally liked the core concepts and presentation of the curriculum. Using the ADAPT-ITT framework, minor, yet important, changes were made to increase the relevance, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention. Next steps are to conduct a randomized attention control pilot study to assess feasibility and acceptability.

Police perceptions of defunding and redirecting calls for service: A qualitative analysis

The concept of “defunding the police” calls for municipalities to divert monetary resources away from police departments toward other social services to limit the scope of police response. Although this approach has gained traction, current research fails to gauge how police officers perceive “defunding arguments” and the feasibility of diverting calls to other social service providers. This study utilized 15 semi-structured in-depth interviews to investigate police perceptions of the defund the police movement. Using thematic analysis, we identified three emergent themes across the interviews. These themes included distrust of the police, extended scope of the police, and caution toward redirecting mental health calls away from police departments. This study offers insight into the complexity of diverting mental health calls away from police departments. It also sheds light on the recurring nature of domestic violence responses within their respective communities.

Priorities for the development of the social field in Ukraine and its legal regulation in the context of adaptation to European standards

A functioning democratic regime that can meet the basic needs of citizens and guarantee material security for the vulnerable and most vulnerable segments of the population is the primary foundation of the European path of development of Ukraine. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the key goals of the state social policy of Ukraine in the context of the implementation of European Union standards and examine the current state of implementation of declared social and legal principles on the territory of the Ukrainian state. The leading methods of the study were methods of analysis and generalisation, through which the existing conflicts of the normative foundation in the field of social protection were identified, and a comparison method, the use of which demonstrated the existing shortcomings of the development strategy. investigating social priorities, the authors identify the main strategic goals of state social regulation, the main omissions of modern social policy, and the primary causes of the current social crisis. Therewith, the current state of the legislative social framework is investigated and an objective assessment of the implementation of European legislation in the national regulatory field of Ukraine is provided. Therewith, positive trends in establishing social justice by declaring gender equality and overcoming discrimination and integrating information systems into the provision of social services were analysed, and practical recommendations for successful euro adaptation, the decisive task of which is to improve the quality of life of Ukrainian citizens, were provided

Підтримування військовослужбовців запасу України: соціально-економічний та психологічний аспекти

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that retired servicemen are the category of the population that needs special treatment, in particular for active combatants who were and performed their military duty in the area of the anti-terrorist operation. Therefore, the task of the state is to provide them with the necessary amount of socio-psychological and professional support, in particular in the field of employment.
 The purpose of the article is to study the problem of supporting Ukrainian servicemen in the socio-economic and psychological aspects.
 The problem of social and psychological support of servicemen discharged to the reserve is actualized. The main directions of their social and psychological support by the state are investigated. The provision of services of the State Employment Service of Ukraine (SESU) to citizens from among servicemen who took part in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) (ATO / JFO) is analyzed; acquisition of the status of the unemployed among the servicemen who took part in anti-terrorist operation / environmental protection; the number of servicemen who participated in the anti-terrorist operation / environmental protection and received work with the assistance of the SESU; the number of servicemen who participated in the anti-terrorist operation / environmental protection and underwent professional training with the assistance of the SESU; the number of persons, among servicemen, who took part in the anti-terrorist operation / environmental protection and took part in public works and temporary works with the assistance of the SESU; the number of servicemen who participated in the anti-terrorist operation / environmental protection and were covered by career guidance services with the assistance of the SESU. Recommendations for increasing the level of their employment at the macro level are proposed.
 It was found that the process of transition of servicemen from military service to «civilian» life is accompanied by many crisis moments, in particular, the problem of their employment in the modern labor market is deteriorating, which is associated with low competitiveness; the need for job search and new professional activities; increasing fear of change, etc. Negative socio-psychological consequences have been identified, including suicide attempts, antisocial behavior, alcoholism as a departure from reality and, as a result, conflict with society, friends, relatives, family members, unjustified risk-taking, and so on. These negative aspects require the support of servicemen (ATO / JFO) released to reserve, in particular through their socio-psychological and professional rehabilitation.
 Measures for socio-psychological and professional rehabilitation of servicemen, which are proposed in the article, are relevant today, in particular: monitoring of such persons, control and analysis of the provision of social services to them; introduction of distance learning and online learning through the Prometheus educational project; providing free English language training; introduction of a crowdfunding platform project, which allows future entrepreneurs to undergo training and receive funds to start their own business, etc.

Care and support for older people with intellectual disabilities beyond the pursuit of ageing ‘in place’: towards constructing a space to be(long)

ABSTRACT Whereas population ageing has been a much debated issue over the last decades, the political and scientific awareness of the longevity of adults with intellectual disabilities is considered relatively new. When the situations of older people with intellectual disabilities are coming into focus, attention has especially been drawn to medical aspects or to expected challenges of their ageing for health and social service providers. In that vein, a prominent yet rather wicked issue has been the question whether either disability care or elderly care services are the right place to meet their needs. This article discusses findings of a qualitative research study that aimed to reconstruct and investigate 10 care trajectories of ageing people with intellectual disabilities. Based on open interviews with the individuals themselves and with significant others from their formal and informal networks, we identified mechanisms in society that allow or deny older people with intellectual disabilities access to certain care settings or welfare provision. Moreover, we discovered concerns, interests and aspirations that are often left unseen. This shows the necessity to go beyond the debate of ‘ageing in (or out of) place’, and challenges us to create opportunities and strategies to create ‘a space to be(long)’.

How Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Diagnoses Navigate Poverty Post-emancipation: The Complex Roles of Community Mental Health Services & Informal Social Support.

Serious mental health diagnoses are prevalent among youth who "age out" of foster care by reaching the maximum age for child welfare service eligibility. Post-emancipation, little is known about how youth engage in community mental health services, or leverage informal social networks, to navigate independence. Twenty emancipating youth completed three interviews over 16months. All emancipated into poverty; most lived alone and initially connected to adult community mental health teams. Four service use and informal support profiles emerged from analysis: (1) Navigators (n = 2) actively used mental health services and provided limited informal support; Treaders (n = 9) passively used mental health services and heavily exchanged informal support; Survivors (n = 5) used mental health services when in crisis and heavily provided informal support; and Strugglers (n = 4) avoided mental health services and took resources from informal connections. Findings have implications for both child and adult mental health and social service providers.

Šeimų, globojančių neįgalų asmenį, socialinės pagalbos poreikio analizė

The article analyzes the social assistance needs and emerging challenges of families caring for a person with a disability. During the research, the need for provided general social services (information, consulting, mediation and representation) and other services (financial, psychological assistance, physiotherapist services, adapted technical and household assistance, medicinal and nursing measures, communication) became evident. The need for informational, economic and geographical accessibility of social assistance and the need for inter-institutional and inter-sectoral cooperation, provision of daily social care services and continuous communication with a social worker in providing assistance to families caring for a person with a disability have been determined. Keywords: social services, social assistance, needs for social services.

Characteristics of post-overdose outreach programs and municipal-level opioid overdose in Massachusetts.

Post-overdose outreach programs have proliferated in response to opioid overdose. Implementing these programs is associated with reductions in overdose rates, but the role of specific program characteristics in overdose trends has not been evaluated. Among 58 Massachusetts municipalities with post-overdose outreach programs, we examined associations between five domains of post-overdose outreach program characteristics (outreach contact rate, naloxone distribution, coercive practices, harm reduction activities, and social service provision or referral) and rates of fatal opioid overdoses and opioid-related emergency medical system responses (i.e., ambulance activations) per calendar quarter from 2013 to 2019 using segmented regression analyses with adjustment for municipal covariates and fixed effects. For both outcomes, each domain was modeled: a) individually, b) with other characteristics, and c) with other characteristics and municipal-level fixed effects. There were no significant associations (p<0.05) between outreach contact rate, naloxone distribution, coercive practices, or harm reduction activities with municipal fatal overdose trends. Municipalities with programs providing or referring to more social services experienced 21% fewer fatal overdoses compared to programs providing or referring to more social services (Rate Ratio (RR) 0.79, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.66-0.93, p=0.01). Compared to municipalities in quarters when programs had no outreach contacts, municipalities with some, but less than the median outreach contacts, experienced 14% lower opioid-related emergency responses (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.96, p=0.01). Associations between naloxone distribution, coercive practices, harm reduction practices, or social services and opioid-related emergency responses were not consistently significant across modeling approaches. Municipalities with post-overdose outreach programs providing or referring to more social services had lower fatal opioid overdose rates. Municipalities in quarters when programs outreached to overdose survivors had fewer opioid-related emergency responses, but only among programs with below the median number of outreach contacts. Social service linkage should be core to post-overdose programs. Evaluations should assess program characteristics to optimize program design.

Disrupting the carceral narrative of gender-based and sexual violence

This discussion seeks to critically explore the white, colonial narrative of gender-based and sexual violence that has justified and facilitated increased carceral power in responding to the social issue. In particular, I aim to emphasise the ways in which carcerality obscures the complex histories and dynamics of gender-based and sexual violence in order to individualise and privatise the problem. To demonstrate these dynamics, I will analyse: (1) the characterisation of perpetrators of gender-based and sexual violence as violent ‘Others’; (2) the centring of white women’s narratives in justifying increases to carceral power and implementing criminalising policies; (3) the extension of the carceral gaze through social work service provision; and (4) the fallacies of postfeminism facilitated by carceral logics. This discussion will conclude with exploring the possibilities of abolitionist social work and anti-carceral feminism in challenging the white narrative and creating space for partial histories to emerge.

Evaluating a social and emotional well-being model of service piloted in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in Western Australia: an Aboriginal Participatory Action Research approach

IntroductionThe delivery of services to improve Aboriginal health and well-being must centre culture and integrate a social and emotional well-being understanding and approaches. These approaches are essential in increasing access...

Role of Jirga in Social Integration of Rural Farmers with Reference to Disputes Settlement in Water Distribution Practices

The present study was conducted in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with the intention of learning more about the function of Jirga in fostering social integration through the means of dispute resolution within the farming community with special focus on water distribution practices. The study found that a highly significant association was ascertained between role of Jirga in social integration and water distribution practice statements i.e., water distribution at clan level disrupted water cycle, Jirga allocate water rights among farming and non-farming community, hydrological changes and water lagging resultantly evoked for practicing Jirga, disputes over irrigation water among farming community could be addressed through Jirga, Jirga play role in rehabilitation of irrigation related infrastructure, Jirga maintain the unwritten roles of water distribution among the farming community, water is not stored for future disasters (water stress) for irrigation purposes among farming community, and there are unwritten water distribution rules developed by local community regarding water distribution for irrigation purposes. Thus, a holistic and institutionalized approach is the order of the day by disseminating the role of Jirga among social services providers, farming communities and conflict mediators through print, electronic and social media. Moreover, some micro and macro level policy recommendations were also highlighted based on the present study.

Transforming Care: Individual Social Work in Post-Conflict Zones for Children and Youth.

The significance of efficient social service provision has gained increased attention in war-affected regions following the Russia-Ukraine war conflict. The conventional method of establishing social services is currently facing criticism due to an increasing acknowledgment of the advantages associated with tailored and customised social work interventions, particularly in the context of children and young individuals. The article explores the notion of deinstitutionalization, emphasising its importance in post-conflict areas and emphasising the value of a personalised social work approach in promoting the welfare of children and young people impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war conflict. The present article is grounded in a comprehensive conceptual review of pertinent literature, encompassing books, journals, and related scholarly articles within the specific field of study. Research has endeavoured to ascertain the challenges and ramifications associated with the implementation of institutionalised social work practices. This study has also explored the potential pragmatic benefits of personalised social work interventions in areas of conflict, particularly focusing on children and adolescents. This article could also elucidate the key factors that should be taken into account while engaging with individuals, particularly children and young people, in regions characterised by war. The comprehensive endeavour would serve as a valuable resource for further examination, particularly in relation to the use of a personalised social work approach within the specific circumstances of recurrent invasions and civil conflicts.

Older adults’ experiences of ehealth in health and social care

Using the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance (UTAUT) model as a framework for this study, the aim was to describe how older adults assess digital services in terms of ease of use and quality in health and social care and how often those services are offered. Further, the aim was to describe how older adults receive support for service use, focusing on people aged 65 and over. A structured web-based questionnaire was used for data collection. The data (N=978) was analysed by quantitative statistical analysis. Most of the respondents found the digital services of health and social care easy to use. The function of the services was considered understandable. Respondents also felt that they could find the necessary information about the services. For the most part, they received service use help from their children or grandchildren. However, the role of health and social services professionals was less important. According to our findings, older adults received minimal support from health and social care professionals or employees in third sector organizations. Although, most respondents (70 %) needed support when using digital services. In the future, health and social care service providers should invest in increased digital services. In conclusion, we found that older citizens know how to use digital services in the health and social care context and they receive adequate help from their relatives in using them.