Social Work Study Research Articles

Health and healthcare use of homeless population: Evaluation study of joint social work and healthcare provision

BackgroundHomelessness as an extreme form of poverty perpetuates and exacerbates health inequalities. People experiencing homelessness face a mortality rate 10 times higher than that of the general population, with an average age of death at 45. There is a significant disconnect between the mainstream healthcare system and the specific health needs of people experiencing homelessness, leading to substantial human and economic costs. ObjectiveThe objective of this evaluation study is to assess the impact of an intervention in nurse-led healthcare outreach services to people experiencing homelessness on their utilization of healthcare services. DesignThis study is a part of research program aimed at assuring health equity of most vulnerable members of a society. Detailed understanding of barriers to care is a necessary precondition for improvements in healthcare use. DataThe study analyzes data on hospitalization and emergency department visits by people experiencing homelessness across three cities in Czechia from 2014 to 2021. MethodsA quantitative difference-in-differences approach is complemented by insights from field studies in these three cities. ResultsThe intervention in people experiencing homelessness outreach led to a reduction in both hospital admissions and the emergency visits by people experiencing homelessness, alleviating pressure on health service capacity and reducing associated healthcare costs. Enhanced primary nurse-led healthcare outreach, along with cross-sectoral integration and activation, has lowered the barriers to accessing essential healthcare services. ConclusionA pivotal policy outcome of this study is the establishment of an insurance provision that allows medical doctors to claim additional costs incurred in treating people experiencing homelessness from a public insurance system.

What Is Our Added Value? A Systematic Analysis of Epidemic Narratives in the Social Work Literature

Abstract This article addresses social work’s singular conceptual and analytical contribution to the field of epidemics. A systematic literature review was conducted to analyze how social work studies overlap to construct epidemic narratives. The author collected 601 articles from the Social Services Abstracts database and carried out a targeted search within 20 social work journals. Five epidemic narratives were identified: (1) a psychosocial consequences narrative, (2) a social work competence narrative, (3) a social risk factors narrative, (4) a misinformation narrative, and (5) a power matrix narrative. Results highlighted the social success of psychosocial perspectives prevalent in classic public health narratives. This understanding relies on a “politics of access” perspective and advocates for the improvement of current social services. The findings revealed that social work does not have a conceptual specificity in the field of epidemics but, rather, its current distinctive contribution mostly lies in its use of social work–centric inquiries that analyze social work practices and describe the consequences experienced by social work actors during epidemics. The author argued that the social work literature could benefit from analyses informed by a “politic of emancipation” that are less prominent in the analyzed studies. Avenues for future research are considered.

Social services trauma?

The essay puts forward the thesis that contemporary Polish social services (social work) suffer from a kind of trauma, the source of which is their cutting off from their historical roots and, consequently, the deprivation of a tradition that has institutional continuity. This state of affairs is one of the sources of their continuing weakness. Polish social services traditions emerged in the period up to the outbreak of World War II, and they were formed by three strands – three types of institutionalized social practice, each of which also had its own development potential. These were: the social care strand growing out of the experience of 19th-century public charity, the people's house movement, and the social work strand developed in the 1930s among graduates of the Study of Social and Educational Work. As a result of the War, and then stalinism, almost all of this output was destroyed; the institutional continuity of the people's house movement and social work was irretrievably broken, only the tradition of social care was referred to. Within this framework, the profession of social worker was created in the 1960s – so to speak – from scratch, the institutional design of which was – and remains today – based on the 19th-century model of visitors of the poor.

A Black American Nutrition Scholar and Advocate: My Journey.

I started my journey as a nutrition scholar in 1974 when I began PhD studies at Cornell University. My journey has been rich with opportunity. I engaged in research on diet-related risks for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, partly motivated by my strong commitment to addressing health disparities affecting Black Americans. Obesity became my major focus and would eventually involve both US and global lenses. This focus was also linked to other dietary intake issues and health disparities and drew on knowledge I had gained in my prior study and practice of social work. I positioned myself as a bridge builder across nutrition, epidemiology, and public health, advocating for certain new ways of thinking and acting in these spheres and in the academy itself. Life skills honed during my formative years living within racially segregated contexts have been critical to any successes I have achieved.

Influence of Access to Credit on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Turkana Central Sub-County

The role of micro and small-scale enterprises sector in the development process has been at the Centre of Women's Entrepreneurship in Kenya. Women's access to credit has been of concern but studies have not been conclusive creating a need for a study to be done. The purpose of study was to investigate the socioeconomic factors influencing women’s entrepreneurship development in Turkana Central Sub-County. The objectives of the study were to examine how access to credit influences women’s entrepreneurship development. The study was anchored on Liberal Feminist Theories. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The study employed simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The target population was 39,427. Krejcie and Morgan's table of 1970 was utilized to determine a sample size of 380 respondents. A questionnaire and Interview guide were used to collect data. Supervisors and peers from the Department of Social Work and Development studies ascertained validity of the instruments. 10% of the target population was used for the purpose of pilot study to ascertain the reliability of research instruments, by use of Cronbach Alpha, which was r=> 0.7. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis whereby qualitative data was grouped together, organized into emerging themes and reported. Findings were presented using frequency distribution tables. The findings of this study indicate that 80% of the respondents agreed that women entrepreneurs were facing challenges in accessing credit. The study concluded that access to credit, has an influence on women entrepreneurship development. The study recommends that the government should enhance women entrepreneurs access credit. The findings are useful to the national government, county government, financial institutions and the community in terms of policy formulation in promoting women’s entrepreneurship development

The impact of bureaucracy and managerialism on relationship‐based practise: A mixed methods study of frontline social work in Northern Ireland

AbstractCombining quantitative data from a national survey (n = 252) with qualitative interviews with frontline social workers (n = 16), this manuscript examines the ways in which bureaucracy and managerialism has impacted social work in Northern Ireland, with specific attention to relationship‐based practise. Although policy documents emphasise the importance of relationship‐based practise, quantitative and qualitative data demonstrate social workers are spending increasingly more time on administrative tasks to the detriment of direct work with service users. A whole institutional response is necessary to develop conditions conducive to placing relationships at the heart of practise, and promotion in practise guidelines and policy documents alone is insufficient.

NON-PARTICIPATION OF GRADUETES OF THE SOCIAL WORK IN THE LABOUR MARKET

The problem of non-participation of graduates in the labour market prevails in the field of social work. Non-participation in the labour market is equated with non-employment on the basis of the available education in social work area. Although social work studies are carried out by most higher education institutions, to which not a small number of graduates enter every year, but the need for social workers in the labour market remains. The aim of this study is to analyse the non-participation of social work graduates in the labour market. The study involved 8 social work graduates who graduated from X higher education institutions and did not enter the labour market in accordance with the acquired profession. According research data, non-participation is influenced by changing motivation to work in the studies process, which influences dissatisfaction with professional activities.

Revisiting longitudinal qualitative studies in social work: considerations for design and methodological insights.

This paper undertakes an analysis and discussion of the methodological challenges and insights derived from three longitudinal qualitative studies, all conducted in Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic and subject to comprehensive theoretical-methodological reflection processes centred on their respective designs. This analysis makes a significant contribution to interdisciplinary discussions within social research, with a particular emphasis on longitudinal trajectories. First, we present a comparative analysis of three studies in social work, utilising Saldaña's questions addressing changes and learning in longitudinal studies. The first study explores the labour trajectories of researchers, the second focuses on the educational trajectories of students, and the last examines therapeutic alliance trajectories between social workers and families within the child protection system. Following this, we delve into the methodological decisions made by the research group during the execution of these longitudinal studies. This encompasses an examination of participant involvement, temporal definitions of the adopted designs, and the most suitable methodological tools for analysing change processes over time. The outcomes of this comparative analysis reveal the distinctive characteristics of the three longitudinal studies, providing insights into how the time dimension is explored within them. We highlight key criteria essential for consideration in longitudinal qualitative research, particularly regarding participants and methodology. In conclusion, we advocate for an expanded reflection within the realm of longitudinal qualitative methodology, encompassing aspects such as design choices, approaches to data analysis, integration of technology in information processing, and strategies for maintaining participant engagement.

Embedding sustainability in local welfare systems: bottom-up contributions from social workers and care professionals in public and third sector organisations

ABSTRACT Sustainability, and how it may be embedded in welfare systems and services, is a much-debated topic in social work studies, with implications for the role that social workers and other care professionals play in this process. Analysing a local welfare system, this paper investigates professionals’ experiences of the organisational dimension of social services, and potential factors supporting a service redesign informed to sustainability. Professionals’ perspectives on sustainability, and their views on structural factors, barriers and methodological tools influencing the establishment of sustainable service networks, are explored. Data is drawn from a study exploring views on sustainability in care professionals in Italy (Veneto region). Eight focus groups, involving n = 26 social workers and n = 12 care professionals in Public and Third Sector Organisations were conducted using a photo-elicitation technique. Interviews were thematically analysed and interpreted through Boetto’s ‘transformative eco-social model’ (2017). Results describe the structuring of the eco-social intervention network and the (un)sustainable system aspects. Participants highlighted the benefits of participatory planning approaches, community work, new economic models, and organisational cultures fostering meaningful work. We conclude that social care professionals have a key role in catalysing grassroots change, and local services are privileged settings for building a sustainable, generative welfare.

Structural Inequalities in Namibia and South Africa: A Critical Social Work Perspective

Namibia and South Africa share land and maritime borders and the interrelated structural challenges of poverty and socio-economic inequalities amidst progressive economic growth that are rooted in their apartheid past and contemporary economic development trajectories. Such inequalities are defined along racial, class, gender and other social locations that either grant privilege, power and access to socio-economic opportunities or result in marginalisation, oppression and resource deprivation. The rationale for this article is linked to the historic call for social work to intensify efforts in promoting social and economic equality. Despite Namibia and South Africa’s geographical proximity and their intertwined histories, there is a dearth of social work studies that offer a comparative critical social work perspective on structural inequalities in these former apartheid strongholds. While social work should actively engage in contesting the structural contradictions of poverty and inequalities amidst abundant resources, the reality is often that of the uncritical acceptance of existing socio-political inequalities, such that the profession’s enunciated commitment to social justice becomes perimetric. Thus, the article argues for the inclusion of critical social work approaches in social work education and practice against a backdrop of ideological divides, political trends and contextual factors that limit social workers’ critical and structural level engagement.

COVID-19 Research Trends in Social Work: LDA Topic Modeling Analysis in South Korea

This study utilizes LDA topic modeling to examine research trends related to COVID-19 within the field of social work, analyzing these trends through peer-reviewed articles from the Korea Citation Index database. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling, a statistical method for discovering abstract topics within a collection of documents, is applied to categorize and summarize the thematic concentration of the literature. Five themes have emerged: healthcare service and digitalized methods, exploring mental health status, qualitative approaches to social service program responses to COVID-19, evaluation of care services, and public service and program responses to COVID-19. Key findings reveal that the Korean social work academia focused on digital-based non-face-to-face services, evaluating the adequacy of public social services, and analyzing mental health and caregiving services during the pandemic. These findings indicate a reassessment of social work practices in response to the pandemic, underscoring the need to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by varied national responses. Additionally, the application of Python and machine learning in this research has shown significant benefits for social work studies, enabling a deeper analysis of complex, big data and facilitating more informed decision-making.

Procesi u superviziji studenata socijalnog rada

ABSTRACT Supervision of social work students as an integral part of the educational process is an integrated way of learning in which social work students apply their theoretical knowledge to field practice, and by reflecting on their experiences from practice in supervision, they improve their professional and personal development. This paper presents part of the results of qualitative research into the process of supervision of students. 10 supervisors of social work students who supervised undergraduate and graduate studies at the Social Work Study Center, Faculty of Law in Zagreb, University of Zagreb participated in the research. The research was conducted using a semi-structured interview method, and data processing used a thematic framework analysis. The results of the research show that supervisors use numerous methods, techniques, models and concepts in their work, emphasizing the educational function of supervision, which ranges from focus on the task to focus on the process of supervision. In terms of feedback, the supportive aspect of supervision dominates. Specific difficulties in supervision are mainly related to the organizational model of conducting field practice and coordination of activities with the educational institution. Also, the paper describes the peculiarities of the student supervision process in relation to other types of supervision that student supervisors recognized in their work. Key words: supervision of social work students; field practice; supervision process.

Social Work Study on the Impact of Climate Change Among Communities in Kampung Pantai Johor, Kedah

Climate change in Malaysia has led to the occurrence of flooding disasters that have a negative impact on all parties, especially the vulnerable groups, including the community in Pantai Johor Village, Kedah. Climate change refers to significant changes in average climate conditions or its variability over a long period (usually near or more). The flooding disasters have caused the Malaysian government to incur significant expenses to assist flood victims. Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted on ten respondents in Pantai Johor Village, Kedah, who were heads of households selected through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted to obtain the necessary information. All collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. The study findings indicate that flooding disasters have an impact on the community's life in Pantai Johor Village, Alor Setar, Kedah. The study found that all respondents stated that climate change has an impact on their lives. Climate change in this village has led to flooding disasters, affecting the community. For the first objective of the study, the researcher successfully answered it through discussions of the study findings. The conclusions that can be drawn by the researcher based on the study's objective, which is to examine the impact of climate change on the community in Pantai Johor Village, Kedah, are that climate change brings various negative effects on the community's life in the village. The climate change that occurs has caused economic problems and disrupted the well-being of the community.

Virtual Reality in Social Work Teaching - Two Approaches to 360° Videos and Collaborative Working

The use of virtual reality and 360° videos has been little researched so far, especially in social work studies and teaching. The reasons for this are the low prevalence of VR headsets in social work courses and the fundamental technological deficit in social work, which means the lack of clear causal chains within it. Professionals must adapt their practical knowledge to the individual framework conditions and problem situations depending on the case situation and field of work. In contrast, in simulation-based approaches, as used in the teaching of many rather object-oriented courses of study, fixed sequences of action usually lead to success. At the same time, 360° videos, with suitable didactic framing, can be used to convey case studies in an immersive manner that can then be continued individually, methodically developed and reflected upon. In the” Teilprojekt XR”, two approaches to the use of VR headsets were designed, the first enables remote collaboration, the second offers a chance for analysis and reflection using 360° videos. The first approach is Collaborative work using VR headsets, which is intended to be an addition to communication with existing video conferencing systems. It has the potential to counteract the previous challenges associated with zoom technology and create more proximity. The first few evaluation results (n=11) on the methodological implementation of collaborative work with VR headsets suggest that this approach can bring added value to students. However, getting started with VR headsets is challenging for students and only a few have taken up the offer so far. The integration of 360° videos in education has potential for social work, as the high degree of realism and immersion can improve the link between theory and practice. Students can thus obtain realistic insights into practical examples already during their studies and professionally reflect on their own perspective in the situations. The use of 360° videos using VR headsets has been tested and established in teaching in four seminars so far. The students experience the simulated case situations from the subjective perspective of the different protagonists and can thus more easily put themselves in their individual perspective. Didactically, these observations are professionally framed by teaching content taught in advance, group work in small numbers as well as a collaborative analysis and reflection within the seminar group. The results of the evaluation (n=60) of the integration of 360° videos into teaching are promising and show a clear potential for university didactics. A flow experience and an experience of presence were confirmed by the students when working with the 360° videos. Furthermore, the students reported that the methodological extension supported their comprehension of the course materials and validate the usefulness and advantages of using 360° videos during the seminars.

Reviewing the Evidence on Sibling Sexual Behaviour: Impact on Research, Policy and Practice.

This paper reviews recent research into sibling sexual behaviour (SSB). This is an emerging professional and community issue that binds together a limited evidence base across research, practice and policy in psychology, criminology, politics, social work and policy studies. The review will demonstrate that a multi-disciplinary, life course, family system approach is the most effective way of starting to develop interventions to prevent and respond to this issue. SSB has previously been researched as a form of intrafamilial abuse or sibling incest. As a result of this SSB is poorly and inconsistently defined as a concept, meaning that research, practice and policy are sometimes at odds with each other and need to pull together to develop a cohesive framing of the issue. This means that a lot of older research needs to be contextualised in new emerging frames of thinking and ways of working. Current research emphasises the importance of understanding the role of the family system in creating conditions where SSB can occur and its central role in preventing and stopping it from occurring. The research also stresses the importance of professionals understanding the family context of SSB and has the confidence to identify and work proactively with families in a multi-agency and cross-disciplinary way. The prevention of, and response to, SSB requires a multi-level, multi-disciplinary approach. Successful prevention of and response to SSB are as much about the family system as it is about the attitudes, behaviours and experiences of the siblings impacted by the abuse.

Visual Methods for Qualitative Research with Older Refugees: Reflection on Strengths and Drawbacks

Although older refugees have similar characteristics and vulnerabilities as other populations that have benefited from visual research methods, there is scarce evidence of these methods being used for qualitative social work studies with older refugees. In this article, we discuss the application of visual methods for social work research with older refugees for a better understanding of their experiences and challenges, highlighting how it can be evocative, improve discussions by reaching senses that ordinary interviews cannot grasp, avoid re-traumatisation during research, and build resilience and coping in older refugees. We propose that visual methods could address power dynamics that privilege researchers over participants like older refugees, thus empowering and ensuring older refugees control research processes. This can be crystallised by using visual methods in participatory research. We also outline the drawbacks and concerns of using these methods for research with this population. We conclude by presenting a discourse on how visual methods can advance social work knowledge for practice and social change.

Эмоциональное выгорание и стресс у социальных работников

<p style="text-align: justify;">The authors present an overview of the latest foreign studies on the problem of emotional burnout and occupational stress in social workers, clarify concepts, analyze trends and conclusions. It is especially important to observe the researches of the 2020s, when society was faced with new challenges (the COVID-19 pandemic, social conflicts and disasters), increasing the workload and stress for social workers. The article analyzes different approaches to the study of stress and burnout, including those in social work and empirical studies in different countries that show that social workers get a higher level of stress and, as a result, emotional burnout, than comparable professional groups. The conclusion about the impact of emotional burnout of social workers on their mental and physical health is summarized. The sources contributing to the occurrence of stress and emotional burnout are determined, which come from the practice of social work itself, are associated with contradictions between values and work requirements, as well as with the organization of the working environment. The necessity of early prevention of professional burnout in the social sphere through support is substantiated.</p>

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

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

The moral behaviour of single young women immigrants to Mandatory Palestine: Between nationalism, gender, and professionalism in social work

Summary Migration has always constituted a meeting point of opportunity, risk, and vulnerability. Concerns surrounding the sex trafficking of women have caused moral panic since the mid-1800s and led to social workers’ preventive initiatives and interventions in Europe and the United States. This article explores a historical moment in which Henrietta Szold, who headed the Social Welfare Department in Mandatory Palestine in 1934, decided to send social workers to the Jaffa and Haifa ports to welcome young, single immigrant women from Germany in the light of rumours of the moral dangers they faced upon entering the country. This feminist historical study of social work employed qualitative analysis of archival texts to investigate the professional decision-making processes involved in sending a social worker to the Jaffa port and the results of the decisions that were made. Findings The findings trace the course of events that took place in 1934 using three categories: the rumours, their investigation, and the results and implications of the investigations. The findings point to intersections of nationalism, gender, and professionalism in social work. Applications This article contributes to the evolving knowledge on moral panic in social work and reveals the historical practice used in social work policy and interventions in facing moral panic regarding young women immigrants.

Freedom as a Key Value of the Volunteer Movement

Purpose of the article is to find out the main content and ways of embodying freedom as a value of the volunteer movement in the context of analyzing the social motivation of human behavior in general. Theoretical basis. The theoretical basis of the research is the philosophical and anthropological understanding of freedom as a person’s creative overcoming of obstacles to establish his or her eccentric essence. Such a vision is embedded, in particular, in Karl Jaspers’ philosophy of existence, Helmuth Plessner’s philosophy of positioning in the world, and Paul Ricœur’s philosophy of rational choice of life path. Originality. The importance of freedom as a value, as well as other social values, is revealed and specified through the analysis of the values of the volunteer movement. In the desire of people engaged in volunteer work to achieve freedom through other values, the content of freedom as a basis for self-reproduction of the individual, community and society is revealed. Conclusions. Representatives of various humanities and social sciences have distinct research interests in analyzing the values inherent in volunteers. As members of a certain society and certain communities in this society, volunteers do not act outside the economy, politics and other spheres of public life, but reveal their freedom through creative and non-standard solutions to economic, political, and other problems. At the same time, research psychologists focus attention on the personal self-realization of a person, theorists and practitioners of social work study volunteers’ desire to gain recognition from peers and other small social groups, and representatives of sociology, political science and other social sciences focus their attention on such socially significant values of volunteering as patriotism, solidarity, etc. The task of social philosophy is to justify the desire to contribute to the public good, which is common to all volunteers. Representatives of philosophical anthropology look for the best social intentions inherent in a person as a member of society in volunteering. Analysis of the values of volunteering as a motivator of human behavior provides knowledge of socially significant values inherent in every member of society to a greater or lesser extent.