Social Work Model Research Articles

Respite care as a social service for families with children with severe and multiple disabilities

The article is devoted to the study of the social services for families raising children with severe and multiple disabilities – "Respite Care". The implementation of the social service is aimed at providing legal representatives of children with severe and multiple disabilities with the opportunity to take a break from performing their duties, taking care of the child. The subject of the study is the possibilities and difficulties of implementing "Respite Care" as an innovative social service for families raising children with severe and multiple disabilities in the Altai region. The implementation of the social service is analyzed in the context of the ecosystem model of social work and normalization theory, paying special attention to ensuring decent living conditions for families of people with disabilities. The authors present the results of an empirical sociological study, the main empirical method of which was the survey of specialists of social service organizations, non-profit organizations and volunteers of the Altai region. The article discusses the definition of the "Respite Care", its content, the authors analyze statistical data on child disability in the Altai region. Based on the results of the study, both the possibilities and difficulties of implementing "Respite care" as an innovative social service for families raising children with severe and multiple disabilities in the region are identified, namely: training of specialists; development of methodological and consulting support for specialists; inclusion of social service in the state list of social services.

Innovation of Social Work Model Based on Big Data Analysis of the Internet of Things

The explosion in the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices simply reflects how the growth of big data overlaps perfectly with the growth of the Internet of Things. With the advent of the era of big data, the continuous development of our country’s economy, and the continuous progress of society, the development of social work is also influenced by economic and social development and continues to go hand in hand, making corresponding contributions to the development of our country’s society. Meanwhile, the gradual imbalance between social development and economic development has put much pressure on social work organizations. The research on the social work development model has aroused the concern and discussion of some experts and scholars in recent years. In our paper, we aim to analyze the characteristics of social work models, the role of social work institutions, and the problems of social work models and combine them with qualitative research and quantitative research to make the questionnaire survey method. The results of the survey show that the effective percentages of “satisfaction” and “very satisfied” for “your enthusiasm for work” and “sense of accomplishment that your work brings you” are 68.0% and 58.7%, respectively. It can be seen from this that social workers have a strong sense of experience in the overall work when performing specific tasks.

Transformation of the model of social work in institutions of a rehabilitation profile in the context of a new social reality

Transformation of the model of social work in institutions of a rehabilitation profile in the context of a new social reality

Erratum to: A Leadership Model for Social Work: Drawing on Health Care to Inform Social Work Leadership

Erratum to: A Leadership Model for Social Work: Drawing on Health Care to Inform Social Work Leadership

Study on the Development Path of Mass Organizations in Henan Province: Based on the Empirical Analysis of Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing

In the new era of the reform of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the vast background, in Henan Province mass organizations, social organizations to participate in social management, service the masses about the practice in research, reviewing of Henan Province mass organizations, social organizations to participate in social management and service innovation of the present situation and the problems, it is concluded that Henan Province’s mass organization and construction system is complete and advanced, the Party and the masses service center has been fully covered, and the work is supported by the initial establishment of “online groups,” and the information level has been improved. The shortcomings are the “idle” phenomenon of grassroots mass organization service center, the insignificant role of safeguarding group interests, the lack of innovation in grassroots mass organization work, and the lack of network platform construction of mass organization. This study conducts an empirical examination of mass organization reform in typical cities such as Beijing, as well as growing cities such as Shanghai and Chongqing, based on the issues and benefits of Henan Province. This paper proposes four suggestions for the reform and development of Henan Province’s mass organizations, based on their successful experience, including the construction of a system of leadership of the Party committee of the mass organizations, the strengthening of capacity building of the mass organizations, the construction of the social work model of the mass organizations, and the strengthening of the construction of “online mass organizations.”

ON THE DISCOURSE OF THEOLOGY AS A MEDICAL SCIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF CARITATIVE SOCIAL WORK

Social work theory and practice today follow a concept born in mid-19th century industrialised society; however, it is not the sole concept. Even since the fourth century, an alternative concept of caritative social work (CSW) has been known, and it is currently embedded in the European Social work model. The article shows the therapeutic potential of the concept of CSW based on the Judaeo-Christian model, which is based on the revelation of Biblical and patristic anthropology elaborated since the first decades of the Christian era (mainly in Alexandria and Antioch, ancient centres of learning). Today, with the Covid-19 crisis, and with European society undergoing traumatic experiences, described as alienation, unemployment, depression, etc, the therapeutic potential of CSW should be recalled by social work professionals. The therapeutic potential of CSW is revealed through an interdisciplinary approach. Patristic anthropology is an interdisciplinary approach showing ways to encourage human social activity, encompassing both personal and societal perspectives. The concept of deification provided by Judeo-Christian anthropology touches the ontological structure of man, and is described as a method for the proper conceptualisation of the complexity of the client’s problem, without ignoring its spiritual aspects. The potential of CSW is helpful for people in a society who are at risk to recover from setbacks.

Management of Hydrocarbon Burns: Considering Mental Health and Biochemical Abnormalities.

Volatile substance misuse, particularly the inhalation of hydrocarbons, is a growing issue globally. Consequences of volatile substance misuse, both acute and chronic cause cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and central nervous system damage. Whilst the effects of hydrocarbon abuse have been reported, the combination of intoxication with hydrocarbon and burns sustained has not yet been presented. A retrospective case series of patients who presented in the last 5 years to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with hydrocarbon-related burns in the context of illicit use was undertaken. Our aims are to present to the wider scientific community the high morbidity and mortality of hydrocarbon burn injuries and why this tertiary Burns Unit feel it most appropriate to medically stabilize these patients prior to definitive surgery for their burn. All patients that presented with acute hydrocarbon intoxication and sustained concomitant burns had significant psychiatric disorder and substance abuse history and three of five had either not eaten in several days resulting in acute malnourishment, refeeding syndrome or had evidence of chronic malnourishment with deranged electrolytes and hypoalbuminemia. Their definitive burns surgery was delayed where appropriate in order to facilitate medical stabilization as they were too high risk of cardiac membrane instability, electrolyte derangement, and/or respiratory compromise to undergo safe general anesthetic and burns debridement. We propose a multidisciplinary team approach, utilizing not only our Burns Unit care model of physiotherapists, psychologists, social work, and burns trained nurses and surgeons but also Intensive Care, Toxicology, Addiction medicine and General Medical physicians in the management of these patients.

Реальний стан і перспективи реформування системи соціального забезпечення

The article analyzes the theoretical approaches and features of the definition of the concepts of «social security», «social work». Two main theoretical models of social work are considered, namely: a socially-oriented model based on assistance on the part of the State, from trade unions and social protection bodies, and a psychologically-oriented model, which is based entirely on optimizing clients’ own efforts to overcome a crisis situation. The peculiarities of street social work in the field of social security both in the domestic space and abroad are examined. The presented work is regarded as: a method of social work; the main direction of the social policy of the State; social assistance and support of citizens; a method consisting in providing social services to their customers on the street. The main directions and principles by which social work should be carried out are indicated. Prospects for further research at the level of analysis are the study of the peculiarities of the organizational foundations for the implementation of street social work in wartime. In the applied aspect, specific mechanisms and technologies of social work in the field of social security remain insufficiently studied. It is necessary to develop a system of the State-controlled standards of social services and a classifier of social services, which will allow in the future to clearly define the main components of each social service and calculate its cost. It is also necessary to improve the reform of the current system of social protection and social security in terms of taking into account the provision of assistance by categories of expenditures.

СОЦІАЛЬНЕ БЛАГОПОЛУЧЧЯ ЯК МЕТА ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ФАХІВЦЯ СОЦІАЛЬНОЇ РОБОТИ У ГРОМАДІ

The article proposes a systemic model of social work in the community under the conditions of implementation of the reform of power decentralization and self-organization. The development of the model is based on many years of research on the functional role of the community and various communities in solving social and psychological problems of social work clients. Empirical studies cover a wide range of social issues, namely: adaptation and integration of forced migrants in new communities; social re-adaptation of demobilized combatants; psychological and social assistance to families and persons in difficult life circumstances; organization of social and psychological support for students with limited functional capabilities; comprehensive assistance to families in local communities; implementation of support and development programs for families raising a child with disabilities, etc. These studies prove that despite all the differences in existing client problems, the effectiveness of social work largely depends on the degree of inclusion of clients in various communities and on the attitude of society or a specific community to these categories of people. On this basis, it is argued that in the conditions of the local community, the social work specialist (SWS) cannot limit his activity only to specific client requests, but must aim it to the well-being of the entire community, as an integral subject of life. Accordingly, three objects of SWS activity are distinguished - the structure of networks that exist in the community, the existing social status of families, and the social status of individuals that make up the community. For each object, a social work information support system is defined, which consists of blocks of sociological dimensions and psychological assessments, and becomes the basis for determining the content of the SWS activity. At the level of the general model, the content of the activity of the SWS is revealed through four leading components, according to each object: the purpose of the activity, the way of its implementation, the key toolkit of the work and the main empirical indicator of the effectiveness of the activity. It is proven that the activities of the SWS in the community are carried out in the form of social designing, programming of social development and planning of social activity of community members, aimed at increasing the general level of well-being and are implemented through specific measures. It is claimed that the implementation of this model leads to a change in the functional place and importance of social work in the community's life system and contributes to its formation as a basic unit of social life.

Identifying Barries in Implementing Policies on Human Resource Development for Social Work in Hospital Nowadays

Abstract: In 2020, the project “Development of social work as a profession in Vietnam for the 2010-2020 period” was considered the official beginning of social work profession in Vietnam. Then, the Ministry of Health developed social work models in hospitals based on the project “Development of social work as a profession in the health sector for the 2011-2020 period” according to Decision 2514/QD-BYT of the Ministry of Health dated July 15th, 2011. This is a new development in healthcare in Vietnam. To accompany the regular goal of improving the quality of medical services at health facilities of the health sector, social work in hospitals needs some changes for comprehensive development. The development of social work in hospitals, foremost, needs a system of professional social workers, both in quantity and quality, and appropriate policies which facilitate the implementation of social work models. The article described the current situation of social work development policies in general and social work in hospitals in particular, via analysis of policies on organizational structure, training and recruitment of social workers using survey data from two hospitals. From that, the paper identified obstacles in human resource development for social work in hospitals and proposed solutions to improve professional social work models at hospitals
 Keywords
 Social work, social work in hospitals, social work policy, human resource in social work.

Literature on Professional Social Work and Controversies Surrounding Roman Catholicism in the Republic of Ireland: Adapting the Dynamic Model

ABSTRACT Critical commentary on the literature addresses the relationship between Roman Catholicism and professional social work in the Republic of Ireland. The context is a series of highly publicized clerical-abuse scandals and controversies associated with institutional segregation. Focused commentary operates in two phases across six subthemes. Thereafter application of a dynamic model of social work progresses insights from the former review toward learning for practitioners moving forward. It is concluded that sensitivity to the implications of tragedies and controversies for survivors and their families remains an ethical imperative in Irish social work practice. Within this, sensitivity that goes beyond rhetoric and sentiment to achieve a meaningfully sensitive approach to practice is most needed and will be strongest when operationalized within set parameters.

A Leadership Model for Social Work: Drawing on Health Care to Inform Social Work Leadership

Abstract Leadership is a frequently used term, but these uses include various definitions and applications; these uses are sometimes contradictory. This definitional vagueness can be a particular challenge for professions, including social work. In comparison to other similar professions, there is a lack of leadership knowledge generation in social work. In addition, the organisational context in England has been challenging in recent decades, likely hindering development and application of leadership models. Health care has a broader empirical and conceptual development of leadership as a topic of examination. In health care literature, compassionate leadership is gaining momentum as a useful way of developing good clinical leadership. There is a strong tradition in social work of engaging with compassion as an element of social work values. We present models of compassionate leadership and consider their usefulness for the current social work knowledge base. We suggest that compassionate leadership may prove useful for social work practice and academia.

Ethnic Minority and Majority Social Workers Working with Ethnic Minority Clients: Culture-Bound Professional Interventions and Burnout among Arab and Jewish Israeli Social Workers

Purpose This study tests a new bicultural model of social work with ethnic minority clients. We examined how often social workers applied professional interventions rooted in the minority and majority cultures and how the choice of interventions affected the social workers' burnout. Methods: The study was conducted in Israel, and the research samples included Arab ( n = 300) and Jewish ( n = 210) social workers. Results: We found that Arab and Jewish social workers more often used interventions rooted in the minority than in the majority culture. More frequent application of both types of interventions was associated with a higher level of personal accomplishment in both groups of social workers. However, the connection between interventions rooted in the majority culture and burnout was positive among Jewish and negative among Arab social workers. Discussion: The implementation of the obtained results in social work practice with ethnic minorities is discussed.

Social work in Russia in the context of paradigm changes

The article determines the main trends in the development of theory and practice of social work and the education system in the conditions of modern Russia. The specific characteristics of the transition of practice from social patronage to individual work are revealed, the problem areas in Russian social work in the context of further development of the profession, theory, and the multilevel model of education are identified. The article examines approaches to the problems that are taking shape within the paradigm of social work and appear to be characteristic of the new stage of its institutionalization. The authors focus on the main contradictions within the Russian model of social work associated with the crisis of the social patronage model, the postmodern challenges of cognition theory, and new trends in the educational system.

Emerging directions of cognitive aging with HIV: practice and policy implications for social work

ABSTRACT Cognitive impairments have been endemic to the HIV epidemic since its beginning and persist to this day. These impairments are attributed to HIV-induced neuroinflammation, the long-term effects of combination antiretroviral therapy, lifestyle factors (e.g., sedentary behavior, substance use), neuro-comorbidities (e.g., depression), age-associated comorbidities (e.g., heart disease, hypertension), and others causes. Normal aging and lifestyle also contribute to the development of cognitive impairment. Regardless of the etiology, such cognitive impairments interfere with HIV care (e.g., medication adherence) and everyday functioning (e.g., driving safely, financial management). With more than half of people with HIV (PWH) 50 years and older, and ~45% of all PWH meeting the criteria for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), those aging PWH are more vulnerable for developing cognitive impairment. This article provides an update to a social work model to identify and monitor PWH for cognitive impairment. Within this update, the state of the science on protecting brain health and cognitive reserve within the context of neuroHIV is also presented. From this, implications for practice and policy to promote successful cognitive functioning in older PWH are provided.

Australian Social Workers’ Understandings of Technology in Practice

ABSTRACT Existing international research that tracks technology use in social work practice often focuses on specific forms of technology. The study outlined in this article explored Australian social workers’ understanding and use of technology related to their practice experiences more broadly. With a sample of 100 participants who had less than 12 months to 20+ years of social work experience, the study found that Australian social workers utilise technology without clear boundaries, policies, or professional access. It found that organisations prioritise technological resources for outcomes measurement rather than finding ways technology could benefit service user relationships. Social workers attempt to mediate practice tensions and complexities by understanding client-centred approaches rather than specific theories or social work models with technology. This study suggests that guidelines and conceptualisations for social work practice with technology require further development. This article argues for a social work–based understanding of technology as a context of practice, requiring social workers to navigate profession-specific knowledge, skills, and values to contribute to social work–led technology. IMPLICATIONS Technology in social work practice is yet to fully support client connection, engagement, advocacy, and interaction. Organisational contexts shape and often limit technology use by social workers, thus minimising the potential for social work–led conceptualisations and practice. Social workers individually navigate limitations presented by practice contexts without drawing on social work–specific knowledge of technology, inhibiting the profession from contributing to practice-led technology.

Professionals unprepared: A critical appraisal of social work practice at the Drugs Abuse Rehabilitation Centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Social work is a practice-based profession that facilitates, enables, and rehabilitates the neglected segments of society facing various issues, including substance abuse. However, social workers' efficiency in substance use rehabilitation is constrained by several factors. Pakistan follows the imported theoretical models of social work, which face enormous challenges during implementation for lacking contextual understanding. This study examines professional social workers' role to examine the challenges in providing institutional service delivery in substance (drugs) abuse treatment centres in Pakistan. The study found that the social work theory and practice gap hurts services delivery in Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Centres through qualitative approaches. Training in social work theory does not adequately equip the students to provide the required social services at the drugs rehabilitation centres. Donor-driven social work drives and demotivated social workers testify to the mismatch between social work theory and practice. Indigenous philanthropy models and broadening institutional support could remedy the situation.

Afrocentric Social Work Practice Guidelines for Assisting African Clans Raising Children with Congenital Abnormalities

The entanglement of African people with a system of westernised social work alien to their world view produces a paradigmatic and epistemic crisis. Consequently, African scholars are called upon to employ evidence-based methods to develop contextually rooted theories and models for African social work. Despite the outcry and numerous texts amplifying the need for decolonised social work typologies, there is still a scarcity of locally developed social work approaches or models. The lived experiences of African clans raising children with congenital abnormalities offer a window into the untapped yet rich world of African ways of being and knowing. This article presents Afrocentric social work practice guidelines for assisting African clans raising children with congenital abnormalities. Guided by the “Africana existential philosophy” and the intervention design and development model, the author used data generated from an original study of African clans’ lived experiences to develop a set of Afrocentric social work practice guidelines. The development of these empirically based practice guidelines for Afrocentric social work may encourage more efficient, effective and responsive social work practice with this population. It is also anticipated that the guidelines may further expand on a decolonised social work curriculum and help to formalise the resurgence of indigenous knowledge systems in social work research, practice and training. These guidelines do not exclude other theoretical options but rather complement them and provide an alternative perspective from the Global South.

Acculturation Orientations, Professional Interventions and Burnout amongst Ethnic Minority Social Workers Working with Ethnic Minority Clients: A Case of Arab Citizens of Israel

Abstract In this article, we formulate a new bicultural model of social work with ethnic minorities. The suggested model connects acculturation orientations, professional interventions and burnout amongst social workers working with ethnic minority clients. We tested this model in a sample of Arab Israeli social workers (n = 299). The study results confirmed that ethnic minority social workers working with ethnic minority clients used interventions that may be classified as either rooted in the minority or the majority culture. Arab Israeli social workers used slightly more often interventions rooted in the minority than the majority culture; however, the two types of intervention were complementary rather than contradictory. Acculturation orientations of Arab Israeli social workers were connected to their choice of professional interventions. Specifically, a higher preference for separation was associated with more frequent use of professional interventions rooted in the minority culture. In contrast, a higher preference for integration was associated with more frequent use of interventions rooted in both minority and majority cultures. More frequent use of interventions rooted in the majority culture was associated with a lower level of burnout and a higher level of personal accomplishment, whilst more frequent use of interventions rooted in the minority culture was associated with a higher level of burnout. Based on the obtained results, an integrative approach to education and training of social workers and social work practice with ethnic minorities is advocated.

Even in Fateful Situations a Vital Optimism Remains: Social Work “Accompaniment” with Persons with Cancer

To advance a social work model for working with patients with diagnoses of cancer in diverse global contexts, this paper draws from qualitative research with clients diagnosed with cancer, and their social workers, in Lithuania. As in many countries, Lithuanian social work is a new profession, finding its way to helping people through many life stressors in a unique cultural context. The threat cancer presents – of dying from a protracted and painful illness – requires social work strategies, especially because many countries lack Hospice supports. Key aspects of the findings are the life crisis that a diagnosis of cancer presents, with great fear, anguish, and shifts in personal identity. Clients and social workers describe physical and emotional suffering and alienation from others. While some aspects of clients’ suffering cannot be alleviated by social workers, alienation can be, so here we focus on that possibility. The data from clients and social workers are used to revise crisis intervention theories to suit this unique type of crisis, and an alternative concept of “accompaniment” is offered to capture how social workers can reduce alienation. Drawing from the work of Farmer, Watkins, and O’Donoghue, accompaniment is compatible with strengths-based and wholistic approaches to practice and is adaptable for those with any belief system.