Minding the Gaps and Challenging the Change in Social Work. International Research in Poland under Erasmus Mundus ADVANCES
Minding the Gaps and Challenging the Change in Social Work. International Research in Poland under Erasmus Mundus ADVANCES
Contributor(s): Agnieszka Naumiuk (Editor)
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, Pedagogy
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: international social work; social problems; activism; helping professions; social change
Summary/Abstract: A collection of research works concerning social work and conducted in 2015-2019 by students involved in various fields of social, educational and aid activity as part of Erasmus Mundus ADVCANCES (Advanced Development in Social Work) master studies. The major asset of the publication is the presentation of different aspects of social and educational support in Poland, as well as social work and other assistance activities from the multicultural perspective in view of global changes and international education. The texts written by authors who have practical experience gained in their own countries and who are pursuing international careers inspire discussion on different aspects of social work all over the world. Increasing mobility of researchers, practitioners and users of assistance activities forces changes in thinking about the objectives and functions of these initiatives, which should be enriched by the outside perspective. There is no better way to discuss the identity of discipline, the variety of attitudes and universality of aid standards than recognising the diversity of perceiving the same phenomena. The researchers, students, academics and practitioners will find here many interesting issues, which can stimulate further discussions, research and social practices related to providing assistance to other people.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-4987-1
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-4979-6
- Page Count: 280
- Publication Year: 2021
- Language: English
Sharing Experience and Learning in Doing International Research
Sharing Experience and Learning in Doing International Research
(Sharing Experience and Learning in Doing International Research)
- Author(s):Agnieszka Naumiuk
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:17-30
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:global social work; joint master’s degree program; international studies; aims of social work
- Summary/Abstract:The article explores the experience of implementing the international studying program ADVANCES (Advanced Development in Social Work) in terms of the challenges and dilemmas in designing and realizing joint education & research programs. The program exposes the difference between ‘the talk’ and ‘the walk’ in the global social work concept building of human and institutional capacities, on the one hand, and merging theory and practice in preparation to contemporary social work profession, on the other. It also brings to light the process of integrating models and understandings of how international collaboration in higher education could look like (and be delivered worldwide). The ADVANCES program, which integrates the theories and practices that were formerly approached separately in social work, creates a context for the European (and, by extension, international) status of social work, while its respective components, such as the experience of social work institutions and their beneficiaries, contribute a new, global value to the discussion by demonstrating the ‘diverse universe’ of helping professions offers.
Social Work and Labor Migration
Social Work and Labor Migration
(Social Work and Labor Migration)
- Author(s):Jeany Rose P. Teguihanon
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:33-52
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:children left behind; families left behind; maternal migration; crisis of care provision; social welfare
- Summary/Abstract:Labor migration is considered circular and recurrent in various parts of the world and involves the interchange between its costs and benefits. The trade-offs between cost and benefits are often most critical to female migrants based on their position in the family as primary caregivers of children, and their vulnerability in society. This paper explores the understanding of the impact of mother’s migration on families and children left behind and the social work strategies available. The research shows that although remittances are very beneficial to families, their negative implications on child and family welfare cannot be disregarded. While some countries have established support for women, their families, and their children, there is still a need for a deepened understanding of the socio-cultural and political factors that affect social action. Therefore, it is essential to conduct further research to identify gaps in policies and services and develop more appropriate micro, mezzo, and macro interventions that utilise bilateral or multilateral cooperation among various local and international social work actors. For this study, the notion of children left behind refers to children whose parent(s) have migrated (external or internal migration) for work, and who are left behind in their home country or community. They may be left behind in the care of the remaining parent, relatives, friends, or by themselves.
Working with Street Children through Capabilities Cards
Working with Street Children through Capabilities Cards
(Working with Street Children through Capabilities Cards)
- Author(s):Bessie Gebarski
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:53-76
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:street children; wellbeing; capabilities; social work practice; participatory research
- Summary/Abstract:The study presents the results of the explorative research with street connected children in Warsaw. The capabilities cards were created by the researcher as tools for communication with children utilizing the list of central human capabilities as created by Martha Nussbaum and are a unique operationalization of the approach in social work with vulnerable populations. Employing qualitative methods, the aim of this study is to hear street connected children’s voices about their capabilities and wellbeing and to test whether the use of language of capabilities can help the children to understand better their wellbeing and aspirations.
Examining Social Support Service from the Perspective of Adolescent Mothers
Examining Social Support Service from the Perspective of Adolescent Mothers
(Examining Social Support Service from the Perspective of Adolescent Mothers)
- Author(s):Binbin Wang
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:77-92
- No. of Pages:16
- Keywords:social work; adolescent mothers; social support; feminist approach
- Summary/Abstract:Adolescent motherhood is a global issue which attracts much controversy and misreadings. Based on a case study in Poland, this research revealed the strong influence of socio-cultural context upon social service provision. From the interviews with adolescent mothers and helping professionals, the lack of social support, along with the legal barriers and discrimination from helping professionals and society, are identified as some main issues to be improved. Drawing on the feminist approach, this research calls for a critical review of the dominant discourse on adolescent motherhood. It also suggests that open discussions and actions are needed in addressing adolescent mothers’ needs. The possibility of establishing user-led organizations is also discussed.
African Elderly Refugees’ Perspectives on Needs Assessment and Response Processes in Refugee Camps in Uganda
African Elderly Refugees’ Perspectives on Needs Assessment and Response Processes in Refugee Camps in Uganda
(African Elderly Refugees’ Perspectives on Needs Assessment and Response Processes in Refugee Camps in Uganda)
- Author(s):Benard Ogwok
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:93-109
- No. of Pages:17
- Keywords:migration; elderly refugees and their needs; social workers; social intervention programs; refugee camps in Uganda
- Summary/Abstract:Globally, older refugees have been receiving minimal attention due to their limited involvement in expressing their needs and because of limited statistics provided on this group. This study employed a research design using qualitative approach to understand how older refugees perceive the process of needs assessment and social support in Ugandan refugee camps. Three Focused Group Discussions involving 21 older refugees (12 female and 9 male) and 5 in-depth interviews involving social workers were conducted in the Bidi-Bidi and Adjumani Refugee camps. The findings of the study show that older persons perceive themselves as being selectively supported, while they also notice that there are no clear criteria to identify their needs which are not prioritized, support groups exclude some of the older refugees, and there are no specific organizations that work with older refugees. On the other hand, social workers reported some methods used by them in assessing the needs of older people, such as legal aid clinics, community-based volunteers, and focused group discussions. The study concludes by emphasizing that all interventions implemented by social workers and their agencies during social emergencies targeting older people, and the positions (voices) of older refugees as service users, should take precedence over the conventional routine activities that do not create much positive change in their lives. The recommendation is that older people should feel included in all decisions that target them throughout intervention programs or support projects cycles.
Migrant Empowerment from State-Funded Financial Support
Migrant Empowerment from State-Funded Financial Support
(Migrant Empowerment from State-Funded Financial Support)
- Author(s):Norhainah C. Abdul Aziz
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:113-127
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:“Rodzina 500 plus” program; financial programs; migration; empowerment-oriented social work
- Summary/Abstract:Contemporary social policies and programs increasingly favor financial support due to its cost-effectiveness and reported positive effects towards program beneficiaries, including their empowerment. Empowerment as a focal concept in social work highlighted in its newest global definition is considered useful to test the effectiveness of social interventions making up for deficiencies of evaluation tools. Whilst there is a strong literature on the impact of various financial programs, the relation of empowerment and the use of cash were not widely discussed. Moreover, the existing research is confined to general impact evaluations of poverty, income, and gender discussions on the beneficiaries considered as vulnerable. There is an absence of literature on the effects of financial programs addressed to specific population groups that are non-vulnerable yet equally exposed to risks and marginalization in society. This is a qualitative study using the “Rodzina 500 plus” program in Poland as a case to investigate the relation of the use of cash in financial programs to the perceived empowerment of migrant families of Filipino and Mixed Filipino-Polish beneficiaries. The findings of this study demonstrate that empowerment is strongly affected by the use of cash, however various factors related to the subjects’ distinct identity as migrants defined their overall empowerment experience. This study aims to promote empowerment-oriented social work practice while elevating the voice of the marginalized social groups, such as migrant families.
An Analysis of Older People’s Experiences and Conceptualizations of Community in Light of the Promotion of Well Being
An Analysis of Older People’s Experiences and Conceptualizations of Community in Light of the Promotion of Well Being
(An Analysis of Older People’s Experiences and Conceptualizations of Community in Light of the Promotion of Well Being)
- Author(s):John Ddembe
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:128-146
- No. of Pages:19
- Keywords:Older people; ageing experiences; well-being; age-friendly community; social environment; public and social spaces
- Summary/Abstract:This research project analysed older people’s experiences and conceptualizations of community to promote their well-being. This study highlights the importance of community as an important place for older people in ageing well and for their well-being. The initial assumption was that, from the viewpoint of living and working collectively, community and the social interactions it is host to-provided that these interactions are strong and well-established-not only gives older people a sense of attachment and belonging to their respective locality but also makes them emotionally, psychologically, physically, and socially healthy, and hence improves their well-being. The ultimate aim of this study was to analyse older people’s experiences and conceptualizations of community in order to promote their well-being and highlight community as an important place for older people in ageing well.
Towards Inclusion in Health and Social Assistance
Towards Inclusion in Health and Social Assistance
(Towards Inclusion in Health and Social Assistance)
- Author(s):George Sichone
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:147-166
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:health and social care; social work; wellbeing; intervention and biopsychosocial response
- Summary/Abstract:The literature shows that different social work approaches have been used in health care to generate different user experiences. However, there is limited empirical data on the implications for its practice in promoting health. The present study examines the pathways and implications for statutory social work approaches in promoting child health and family wellbeing. The provision of child and family allowance benefits and the integration of biopsychosocial model into health care planning, implementation, and evaluation through procedural, individualized, and progressive approaches seemed to characterize inclusive social work interventions and provided positive family health and social care experiences in Poland. However, at the system level, the limited coverage of benefits, policy inconsistences, and poor family empowerment mechanisms emerged as challenges in enhancing inclusive health and social care. The difference in value bases between social work, on the one hand, and the social assistance system characterized by insufficient professional knowledge of health care issues, work overload and bureaucratic procedures, on the other, tended to affect health care delivery. Finally, family inabilities towards positive health seeking behaviors, including poor self-reliance, were some of the common problems. This study demonstrates that the integration of the biopsychosocial model into welfare policy and social work practice could provide a solution to the challenges faced in promoting health. It is argued that effective health management can be attained if resources, global and local institutional and structural systems are mutually integrated with health care social work.
Social Activism in Transition
Social Activism in Transition
(Social Activism in Transition)
- Author(s):Aleksandra Belina
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:169-192
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:non-profit organizations; third sector; grassroots initiatives; social activism in Poland
- Summary/Abstract:Social work professionals are engaged in long-standing partnerships with NGOs in addressing the needs of people at risk of exclusion, as well as prevention and development of community capacity. The aim of this paper is to provide a qualitative analysis of the reasons behind the termination of voluntary and paid jobs done by volunteers and workers of non-profit organizations. The research discloses a phenomenon described as a ‘social activism in transition, ’which should be taken into account by helping professions. The analysis is based on two research periods: 2016–2017 and 2018–2019, when 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted among former volunteers and workers of non-governmental organizations in Warsaw. The chapter includes a critical literature review, description of the research methodology and conclusions that have emerged from the study, as well as some ethical concerns of qualitative research on civil society. The results showed that most of the researched nonprofit organizations struggle with a plethora of problems and obstacles related to managemental, financial, and relational aspects. The majority of the interviewed former workers and volunteers strove to situate voluntary and paid work in NGOs between legally framed, highly formalized activity attached to growing business standards, on the one hand, and unrestrained, mission-based acts of kindness and empathy, on the other.
Radical and Critical Approaches in Contemporary Social Work
Radical and Critical Approaches in Contemporary Social Work
(Radical and Critical Approaches in Contemporary Social Work)
- Author(s):Tinatin Tsertsvadze
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:193-224
- No. of Pages:32
- Keywords:critical social work; social activism; advocacy; civil society; social movements; NGOs; case-study; Eastern Europe; Poland; Post-socialist social work
- Summary/Abstract:Social workers often refer to social justice and overcoming oppression as one of the profession’s core values that are established as an ethical imperative. Such statements are emphasized in different documents about the profession on global as well as local levels. While many social work professionals are involved in the tireless fight against inequality and oppression, this research tries to challenge the professional statements that often are considered self-evident and explore how they are understood and incorporated in everyday practice.In today’s social climate when in many contexts social work is conducted primarily within state-run agencies, the concepts of radical and critical social work strategies for direct practice seem too theoretical or problematic to implement. Words such as social justice and oppression sound irrelevant for policymakers and the public, implying that radical and critical approaches in the field of social work are not vital or viable anymore. Therefore, this study takes Poland as a target country to explore the concepts of radical and critical approaches in contemporary social work by analyzing activism and advocacy-oriented practices in Polish civil society organizations. By applying the case-study methodology, field observations, and in-depth interviews with activists and social workers, this study also comes up with context-informed suggestions for the future social work practice to pursue the profession’s inherent aspiration towards social justice.
Exploring the Role of Narratives in Online Advocacy Work
Exploring the Role of Narratives in Online Advocacy Work
(Exploring the Role of Narratives in Online Advocacy Work)
- Author(s):Matthew William Biddle
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:225-246
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:advocacy; social media; narratives; social work
- Summary/Abstract:This article explores the intersection of social work, social media, and advocacy, specifically the use of narratives in online advocacy campaigns. Using a variety of methods, the study questioned NGOs, storytellers, and audiences on how they see the role of narratives as used in online advocacy campaigns. This article hopes to discuss if social media are used as a tool to correct the lacunas of past advocacy initiatives, namely, to empower storytellers. It will examine if e-advocacy is an empowering experience and if social media have permitted campaigns to include more diverse voices. In doing so, this article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the current trends in e-advocacy work and the role of social workers in this increasingly technologized field.
Exploring Social Work Practice in the Area of Social Entrepreneurship
Exploring Social Work Practice in the Area of Social Entrepreneurship
(Exploring Social Work Practice in the Area of Social Entrepreneurship)
- Author(s):Hue Thi Minh Dao
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Pedagogy
- Page Range:247-274
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:social work; social entrepreneurship; social enterprise; social work practice; social entrepreneur
- Summary/Abstract:Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a potential alternative to be explored and piloted in the recent years. This concept and its organizational form, known as social enterprise, have received much attention from social change deliverers, including social workers who have been coping with the challenges of neo-liberal discourse. This paper explores the congruencies between social work and social entrepreneurship by capturing and gaining insights into social work practice in some specific social enterprise settings. The research shows interconnections and complementarities between social work and social entrepreneurship, suggesting to social workers a potential for collaboration and adoption of social entrepreneurship, without being cautious of the remaining debates around its contested nature and complex formality. Thus, further research should be conducted to explore and affirm which definition, which approaches, and which areas of implementation are suitable to social work profession. Further research is also necessary to discover the insights of particular groups of social-workers-turned-social-entrepreneurs.