Social Service Organizations Research Articles

A validation study for measuring Asian- and Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions in neighborhoods using business listing data and potential implications for health

Ethnic enclaves influence the health of Asian American and Hispanic or Latinx/a/o populations, likely via neighborhood social, economic, and built environments. To facilitate studies aiming to disentangle these specific neighborhood mechanisms, we describe the creation and validation of two novel measures—Asian-serving and Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions (SCIs)—to estimate the social, cultural, and economic character of ethnic enclaves in California. Business listing data were used to identify SCIs or businesses that promote cultural and social identity, including arts, civic, historical, religious, social service, and membership organizations. Keyword searches of business names were used to identify potential Asian- or Hispanic-serving SCIs. An online audit of 1,627 businesses within 12 cities confirmed the validity of using keyword searches to assess whether census tracts were high or low in Asian- or Hispanic-serving SCIs (sensitivity: 63%–100%, specificity: 86%–95%; positive predictive value: 63%–89%). In exploratory regression analyses, high presence of SCIs (compared to low presence) may be associated with neighborhood-level health indicators, including greater percentages of residents who had an annual checkup in majority Asian census tracts and lower percentages of residents who were current smokers in majority Asian and Hispanic census tracts. This approach advances methodology in measurement of neighborhood sociocultural environments.

Negotiating quality in open youth work: Balancing standardisation and individualised support

Formal quality assurance procedures in social service organisations are usually closely linked to issues of efficiency and effectiveness. However, there are often doubts as to whether such procedures can also be used profitably for the development of educational practice. In particular, tensions arise between the need for standardisation and comparability of output data on the one hand, and the often low-threshold and individualised support of young people on the other. Drawing on an empirical study in the field of youth work, the article addresses this problem of conflicting quality expectations in state-funded social and educational institutions. Based on expert interviews with youth work practitioners and drawing on neo-institutionalist theoretical concepts, it analyses which strategies and practices are used in open youth work to deal effectively with such contradictory quality expectations. Using a typology of different processing methods, the results show that an important aspect of professional quality action can be seen in the empowering behaviour of professionals and their context-specific interpretation and transformation of external requirements.

A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to Identifying Facilitators and Barriers to Social Service Utilization for Food Pantry Clients in the South Bronx

Noting the importance of food assistance programs to low income families in New York City (NYC), the research questions for the present study were: (1) What are the facilitators and barriers to social service utilization for food pantry clients in the South Bronx?, and (2) Does receiving food pantry services serve as a point of entry for social service utilization? We surveyed 218 food pantry clients at a community-based, social service organization based in the South Bronx. Our findings indicate that being aware of local social services was the strongest predictor for utilizing social services. Social service utilization was also predicted by high use of the food pantry (weekly or more); high levels of food insecurity, depressive symptoms; and the ability to communicate ef-fectively in English. Given rising inflation costs and the continued higher expenses as-sociated with food consumption in the United States generally and in NYC specifically, our findings suggest that food pantry sites in the South Bronx bear the potential to be vital entry points for social service referral and utilization, particularly for the screen-ing and assessment of depressive symptoms. Given these findings, nonprofit leaders and social service funders should prioritize capacity building of food pantries as sites for the delivery of health promotion interventions and social services.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults Who Participate in Group Physical Exercise Program.

The COVID pandemic exposed the vulnerability of older adults in myriad ways and social service organizations faced unprecedented challenges in safely providing support for older adults. Since 2007, Hawai'i Healthy Aging Partnership (HHAP) has offered Enhance®Fitness, an evidence-based program to reduce the risk of falls and promote health among older adults. Due to the pandemic, all the Enhance®Fitness sites had to close and stop offering the program. The HHAP started to provide alternative activities remotely in May 2020. To explore the pandemic's impact, the feasibility of online exercise programs, and the support needed among older adults to stay physically active, HHAP surveyed existing Enhance®Fitness participants and received 291 responses (59% response rate). The study used frequency distributions, comparison of means, and chi-square to analyze the survey data. Findings showed that the shutdown of the group exercise program during the pandemic led to a health status decline, a reduction in physical activities, and a shift from group to individual physical activities among older adult participants. Most respondents tried the remote exercise opportunities during the pandemic and would consider joining the remote programs in the future. However, about one-fourth of the respondents did not participate in remote exercise activities due to the lack of electronic devices, internet access, or interest in remote activity formats. To ensure equitable access to physical exercise programs for older adults in the post-pandemic era, it is critical to address the access challenges and resources needed for providing multiple programming options.

Human Service Organization (HSO) Study of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in Health and Community Welfare Services in Bandung City

This research is motivated by the importance of the HSO's task in improving social welfare efforts or providing social welfare services to individuals, groups, families and communities who experience social problems or as a "Human Service Organization". To bring about changes in attitudes and behavior and improve the community's ability to be able to solve the problems they face and carry out their social functions appropriately. Social organizations have various functions. As for the function of social organizations, especially in order to help the government or participate in carrying out management functions, this can be because social service organizations currently still tend to focus on charity and are not based on profit (non-profit oriented). This situation allows for quite a large influence in the service process to the community. Therefore, the existence and functioning of PMI will continue to be developed through good organizational management so that it can reach more people and be sustainable. Compiled from various research that has been carried out previously, the problems at PMI include the availability of a digital information system that can provide real-time data on blood needs and availability, human resources managing financial reports, reduced regeneration of PMI volunteers, team organization or governance. management, availability of blood stock and blood quality at certain moments, and limited donors who finance the PMI program (Dewi et al., 2022; Hernimawati et al., 2020; Khoiri et al., 2021; Lendryono, 2022; Rakhman et al., 2019) This research will describe how HSO management practices and collaboration practices exist at PMI Bandung City in Health and Community Welfare Services.This research is motivated by the importance of the HSO's task in improving social welfare efforts or providing social welfare services to individuals, groups, families and communities who experience social problems or as a "Human Service Organization". To bring about changes in attitudes and behavior and improve the community's ability to be able to solve the problems they face and carry out their social functions appropriately. Social organizations have various functions. As for the function of social organizations, especially in order to help the government or participate in carrying out management functions, this can be because social service organizations currently still tend to focus on charity and are not based on profit (non-profit oriented). This situation allows for quite a large influence in the service process to the community. Therefore, the existence and functioning of PMI will continue to be developed through good organizational management so that it can reach more people and be sustainable. Compiled from various research that has been carried out previously, the problems at PMI include the availability of a digital information system that can provide real-time data on blood needs and availability, human resources managing financial reports, reduced regeneration of PMI volunteers, team organization or governance. management, availability of blood stock and blood quality at certain moments, and limited donors who finance the PMI program (Dewi et al., 2022; Hernimawati et al., 2020; Khoiri et al., 2021; Lendryono, 2022; Rakhman et al., 2019) This research will describe how HSO management practices and collaboration practices exist at PMI Bandung City in Health and Community Welfare Services.

We Rely on Relationships: Homeless Service Providers' Experiences in Coordinating Care Transitions During COVID-19.

Care coordination occurring across multiple sectors of care, such as when professionals in health or social service organizations collaborate to transition patients from hospitals to community-based settings like homeless shelters, happens regularly in practice. While health services research is full of studies on the experiences of case management and care coordination professionals within health care settings, few studies highlight the perspective of nonclinical homeless service providers (HSPs) in coordinating care transitions. This study explores the experience of nonclinical HSPs, employed in a large homeless service agency in New York, United States, responsible for coordinating care transitions of patients presenting to a homeless shelter after hospitalization, with attention to COVID-19 impact. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with providers at three hierarchical levels (frontline, managerial, and executive). The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The implementation science framework Normalization Process Theory was used to structure semi-deductive coding categories. The findings included three major themes that highlight promoting and inhibiting factors in care coordination, including a reliance on informal relationships, the impact of strong hierarchical structures, and a lack of collaborative cross-sector information exchange pathways. Altogether, findings offer insights from an infrequently studied professional group engaging in cross-sector care coordination for a high-risk population. Operational insights can inform future research to ensure that the implementation of interventions to improve cross-sector care coordination is evidence-based. This study of nonclinical HSPs facilitating care transitions demonstrates the importance of understanding this critical provider population. Opportunities for acute care case managers and administrators include the importance of relationships, reciprocal education on the differences in work settings, and the need for administrative structure to ensure complex clinical information is effectively translated.

Leadership in Social Work: Basis for Promotion of The Heads of Social Work Institutions in China

The call for studies on social work leadership has been raised since then. Various leadership models from the business literature were adopted in social work literature but had not been analyzed thoroughly to determine their appropriateness with social work mission and values to advance the social work agenda. In China, nearly 8,000 social work service organizations (SWSOs) were developed quickly in the end of 2017 which offered both opportunities and challenges for social work administrators who were observed to practice transformational leadership often. Apparently, a Chinese version of transformational leadership was developed by Li & Shi (2005) based on the four-factor structure anchored on Chinese culture of moral integrity, leadership charm, vision motivation, and individualized consideration which was the study’s framework. The study investigated the transformational leadership of heads in social work institutions in China as basis for their promotion. This inquiry filled a perceived gap in the scant literature regarding leadership of Chinese social work heads. Also, it analyzed the organizational conditions and management of heads in social work institutions. The study involved 193 heads from 5 social work institutions in China who were mostly female with 1-5 years of service as a professional social worker with specialized educational background. Through quantitative descriptive, comparative, and correlational methods, the results showed that social work leaders always experienced transformational leadership. However, the heads presented numerous challenges that called for improved guidelines on their promotion. Thus, the output of the study was developed.

Evaluation of Employee-Customer Relations in Social Organisations

Abstract The article reveals the problems of employee-customer relations in social organisations, identifies the principles of employee-customer relations that influence the activities of organisations in complex conditions of external and internal circumstances. The article defines the importance of the professionalism of the employee in the development of mutual relations with the client, in the creation of a certain system of communication, which contributes to the successful operation of a social service organisation. The qualitative research reveals the importance of the relationship between employees and clients in a social service organisation. The research was carried out using a semi-structured interview method, which enabled a more targeted approach to the problem. The research involved 5 subjects – social workers. The results of the study allow a deeper understanding of the importance of the relationship between the worker and the client for the functioning of social service organisations.

A conditional crowd out/in model of government funding on giving of money and time: evidence from social service organizations in China

Existing literature has studied the impact of government funding on donations to nonprofits, proposing and testing different theoretical models, including crowd-out, crowd-in, and inverted U-shaped models. However, there is no consensus regarding whether or under what conditions government funding crowds out or crowds in donations to nonprofits, and little is known regarding whether and how government funding influences time donations. Existing evidence focuses on Western contexts and may not be applicable to non-Western contexts. This study used a random sample of Chinese social service organizations and proposed a more nuanced and complex conditional crowd-out/in model of government funding on donations to nonprofits, extending the testing to both financial and time donations in China. The results from extended regression models with instrumental variables indicate that government funding levels crowd out money donations, while dependence on government funding has an inverted U-shaped effect on money donations. Both the level of and dependence on government funding have curvilinear crowding-out effects on time donations. More importantly, the level of and dependence on government funding have significant interactive effects on both money and time donations. These novel findings make significant theoretical contributions to the literature and have important practical implications for policymakers and nonprofit managers.

Kompletterande, kompenserande och komplicerande

Complementing, compensating and complicating – informal organisation in Swedish child fare work The child welfare work within the Swedish personal social services (PSS) is clearly marked by formalisation and specialisation. It is guided by a diversity of national and local guidelines, while different units assume responsibility for specific tasks (e.g., intake, investigation and decision, or care and treatment). A risk of service fragmentation has been identified as a substantial downside to these organisational settings. However, prior research has mainly focused on formal organisational structures and how work is ‘supposed to’ be carried out. Less attention is paid to informal organisation, namely how work is ‘actually performed’ on day-to-day basis, which has been identified as an important but often overlooked aspect for understanding organisational performance. Therefore, the aim was to describe and analyse the influence of informal organisation in child welfare cases. Non-participating observations and group interviews were conducted in 11 Swedish municipalities. The findings show that informal organisation can ‘grease the wheels’ in child welfare cases: firstly, by complementing formal structures and offering alternative channels for collaboration and information exchange; and secondly, by compensating for gaps in areas of responsibility within the formal organisation, such as when staff offer informal care and support, even though their work is supposed to specifically focus on investigation and decision making, or individual social workers assume an informal case management role. Nevertheless, informal organisation was also found to complicate work, as unregulated and informal areas of work also allow the conflicting interests and work logics among different units and their staff to unfold. The findings are finally discussed in relation to the future organisation of social services.

Which messages about healthy and sustainable eating resonate best with consumers with low socio-economic status?

Consumers with low socioeconomic status (SES) eat less healthy and sustainable diets than consumers with higher status. This is attributed, at least in part, to inequalities in health communication. An online survey with 134 socioeconomically disadvantaged consumers in Italy was conducted to test the effectiveness of tailor-made communication material (infographics) about healthy and sustainable eating (HSE). Participants were recruited at two social supermarkets by a social service organisation as well as via a crowdsourcing platform. Participants found information about HSE delivered through infographics moderately effective in increasing motivation, capability, and opportunity for HSE, and moderately useful and likely to impact their behaviour. Certain messages were more effective than others for native consumers, while migrants showed more indifferent responses to the various messages and manifested lower motivation to shift towards HSE, limited access to and seeking of nutrition-related information, and lower trust in information sources. Selecting which messages to deliver strategically, while also considering differences between segments of the target audience and their preferred sources and channels for communication, is promising; yet, structural changes related to food's affordability and availability are also needed to facilitate an effective communication.

Using a strength-based approach to social work with minority groups: The case of at-risk young-adult Arabs in Israel.

Social workers have a significant role in empowering clients to discover their own strengths as well as strengths in their environment and to achieve social justice on behalf of oppressed populations. The goal of this exploratory qualitative study was to broaden our knowledge on strength-based approaches in working with minority and collectivist societies via the perspectives of 20 social workers and 19 managers of social service organizations and departments who work with at-risk young-adult Arabs throughout Israel. Thematic analysis revealed that social workers consciously try to identify young adults' assets and resources at both the personal and environmental level, despite the major structural barriers in these young adults' lives (i.e., due to intersectionality). Also, they use their collaborative relationship with the young adults as a mechanism to induce hope, a sense of responsibility, a sense of agency, and empowerment. The discussion addresses the study's findings concerning the literature on strength-based approaches, highlighting the advantages and challenges in using such approaches when working with these populations. Recommendations for practical implementation propose the integration of thorough training in strength-based approaches into the professional socialization of emerging social workers. Moreover, it is suggested to establish a guiding principle by implementing a systematic assessment that aligns conceptually with strength-based approaches. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Neighbourhoods and Social Cohesion: Why Neighbourhoods Still Matter

This study analyses the connection between neighbourly relations and social cohesion. These concepts obviously overlap to a certain degree, but it is not clear how they are related. The crucial questions are if and how neighbourly relations can promote social cohesion. To answer this, a qualitative study based on interviews (n = 4 0) was conducted to examine neighbourly relations in two urban districts in Germany. Both districts are characterized by high levels of social segregation and cultural diversity but differ from each other in terms of the extent of resident turnover, the availability of local social service organizations, and their respective urban development profiles. The results show that there is a close connection between residents' perceptions of social cohesion and inclination for social participation in the neighbourhood. Local social service organizations and associations can play a critical role in facilitating the social encounters that create such perceptions. Basically, neighbourly relationships are influenced by the local conditions, especially by the extent of fluctuation but also by neighbourly behaviour, which promotes social cohesion at the neighbourhood level.

Investigating the Relationship between Family’s Food Security and Social Support Received by Bushehri Mothers with Children Aged 7-12


 
 
 Introduction: The high level of food insecurity in Bushehr has made it necessary to identify the factors related to food insecurity in families. This study is conducted to determine the relationship between received social support and household food security from the perspective of mothers with 7-12 children.
 Methods: In this controlled comparative study with a cross-sectional design, 153 mothers with children between 7-12 were selected with quota sampling method. First, First, the 18-item food security questionnaire regarding the United States Ministry of Agriculture was completed by mothers to create two safe and unsafe groups , and then, the social support questionnaire was completed by them.was completed , To analyze the results, the researchers applied logistic regression, descriptive statistics, chi- square and t-test. The level of significance was set at 0.05.
 Results: Of the 153 mothers who participated in the study, 36/6% had high-school education, and only 22/2% were employed. The families of mothers with higher education tended to be in secure food group (p=0/05, x2=10/22). Moreover, in the families with food security, the children’s average age was less than the families with food insecurity (P-value=0/03, t=-2/13). In 74.5% of the mothers, the amount of the received support was found to be high. Logistic regression showed a relatively insignificant and positive relationship (OR=1/02 and p=0/002) between the received support and food security from the mothers' point of view.
 Conclusion: Considering the insignificant relationship between household food security and the mothers’ received social support, other factors related to food insecurity, e.g. perceived social support and received social support in families aided by social service organizations should be explored.
 
 

Methodological Approaches to Assessing the Quality of Life of Older People in Russia

The paper presents the core findings of a study on improving methodological approaches to adequate assessment of dynamics of the quality of life of older people in Russia. The author has identified challenges in implementing some international recommendations on the topic thereon. These challenges resulted from differences in the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation and its ethnocultural traditions. The article defines domestic information and statistical base for studying the quality of life of the population, in particular, the older population.The author describes a system of basic indicators that includes key measures of health status of older people, their financial security and economic activity. Based on the proposed approach and official statistics, the situation with the older generation in Russia in 2010–2020 is analyzed. An assessment is made of the significance of both positive trends in improving the quality of life in the older generation (increased life expectancy, improved health, increased economic activity of the population aged 60 years and older), as well as unresolved problems, primarily, relatively low level of pensions compared to the subsistence level and high degree of interregional differentiation of pensions.The paper concludes with proposals concerning directions and sequence of organizational and financial measures aimed at improving the quality of life of pensioners, proposed by the author, based on specific results of statistical analysis. Among the top priorities are: indexation of pensions for non-working pensioners ahead of the inflation rate, indexation of pensions for working pensioners at 1/2 of the inflation rate, registration and, if necessary, organization of medical and social services for older citizens living alone.

Coproduction with peer support groups: A new approach to culturally responsive social services.

The disparity of access to suitable social services for people from culturally diverse backgrounds is receiving increased attention. Coproduction between service users and providers has the potential as an approach to improve the cultural responsiveness of social services. What remains unknown is how social service organizations can facilitate and support coproduction with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. This article examines how three disability support organizations in Australia worked with peer support groups run by people with disability and their families from Chinese background to improve the organizations'service provision. We collected qualitative data through observations of activities in the groups and semistructured interviews with group members and organization staff. We found that organizing peer support groups facilitated knowledge exchange between people from culturally diverse backgrounds and organizations to inform practice development. Five contributors to the knowledge exchange were as follows: (1)assigning staff responsibility for exchange and trust with the group; (2)encouraging the group to challenge practice and cultural norms; (3)identifying and supporting the capacity of peer facilitators; (4)fostering trust within the group; and (5)collaborating with other organizations. Cultural responsiveness means incorporating people's cultural preferences in support provision and addressing the negative influences of cultural norms on people.

The results of a comprehensive survey of incapacitated and disabled citizens, living in inpatient social service organizations for people suffering from mental disorders, for the possibility of increasing their civil status

The article presents the results of studying the clinical and social characteristics of partially incapacitated and disabled citizens in psychoneurological inpatient facilities; an assessment of the comprehensive work of the regional commission on the possibility of improving the civil status of patients is given.

Street-level bureaucrats in the professional context of primary care social services in Spain

PurposeThis study aims to identify the street-level approaches of professional workers in complex public social service organisations when attending to social assistance claimants.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a multifaceted approach comprising documentary analysis, semi-structured individual interviews (17) and focus group discussions (8) with qualified frontline social workers from primary care social services in Tarragona.FindingsSocial workers embodied three specific sets of cognitive, normative and emotional dispositions when attending to people with low incomes. First, the compassionate approach conceives clients as defensive regarding social services and emotionally vulnerable because of deprivation. Second, the instructional approach frames clients as being baffled by a new, precarious, institutional and economic context. They also lack information, abilities and the proper mindset to conceive of and attain available welfare and occupational resources. Third, the enforcement approach tends to define clients as suspicious, trying to obtain an excessive and unfair advantage of the welfare system that would eventually hamper their social opportunities.Originality/valueResearch thus far has tended to define public social assistance programmes in Southern welfare state contexts as mostly inefficient and hardly relevant residual social policies. The street-level approach shows that social workers try to resist the mere administrative processing of benefits, which is a professionally troubling and organisationally unsustainable way to proceed. They attempt to help clients by providing inclusive content in order to implement their benefits.

Avoiding Burnout with Compassionate Accompaniment: A Novel Approach to Training, Selecting, Managing, and Regulating Frontline Workers

Abstract A significant amount of nonprofit work happens on the “frontlines”—interacting directly with clients and developing relationships with them in unpredictable and complex social service settings. As a result, frontline work tends to result in high degrees of burnout among staff, manifesting in emotional exhaustion and cynicism towards clients, as well as poor health for workers and ongoing turnover for organizations. How do frontline workers avoid burnout and attrition while doing effective work with clients? Informed by an inductive qualitative research study of frontline workers across 10 social service organizations, this policy brief first presents two approaches to frontline work that I witnessed, both of which have negative impacts on staff and clients. These approaches align with extant scholarship on street-level bureaucracy. I then present a third approach, drawing from a practice of compassionate accompaniment I observed in my research, and which avoids the commonplace negative outcomes. This approach aligns with literature from liberation theology, as well as abolitionist organizing, decolonizing approaches, and feminist theory. Inspired by the practice of compassionate accompaniment, I propose four policy suggestions involving novel processes of training, selecting, managing, and regulating frontline workers to reduce staff burnout and increase their effectiveness with clients.

Smoking Cessation Support in Social and Community Service Organizations: Potential Activities, Barriers, and Facilitators.

Social and Community Service Organizations (SCSOs) are a potential setting to reach and support people with a low socioeconomic position who smoke, yet smoking cessation is not widely supported by SCSO professionals. This study aims to identify SCSO professionals' (1) potential activities to support smoking cessation and (2) barriers and facilitators in undertaking these activities. Between July and November 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 professionals recruited through SCSOs in Amsterdam North, including participation workers, welfare workers, parent and child counselors, budget coach, debt counselor, welfare work, community sports, and community center coordinators. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach. Eight activities were identified that could support the client either directly (ie, recognizing smoking clients, discussing smoking and smoking cessation, referring clients, providing smoking cessation counseling, offering help around services) or indirectly (ie, collaboration with relevant network partners, implementing smoke-free environments, enhancing professional skills). Various barriers and facilitators were identified related to the (1) client and their environment (ie, clients' readiness and social environment), (2) interaction between professional and client (ie, topic sensitivity), (3) professional (ie, professional is non-smoker, knowledge, and self-efficacy), (4) professionals' work environment (ie, necessity, responsibility, priority, and time), and (5) smoking cessation services (ie, availability of appropriate services and referral process). There is potential for SCSO professionals to support smoking cessation, but several barriers hinder their efforts. To address these barriers, it is essential to take into account the factors that SCSO professionals believe facilitate the provision of smoking cessation support. This study provides insight into how the potential of SCSOs in Amsterdam North to support smoking cessation efforts among people with a low socioeconomic position can be harnessed. Barriers were found at multiple levels (client, professional, client-professional interaction, and organizational) and these findings imply that stakeholders across these levels will need to prioritize smoking cessation to facilitate and stimulate SCSO professionals in supporting smoking cessation. A concrete action would be to offer SCSO professionals additional training in conversational skills to discuss smoking. As a prerequisite, easily accessible and suitable smoking cessation services should be available in the neighborhood.