Application of social work in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for children: A case study from Abkhazia

Social work and the Sustainable Development Goals for children and families

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) announced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include 17 goals and 169 targets for global advancement in a range of social, economic, environmental, political, and health arenas. These goals were developed through the experience and critique of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ended in 2015 and guide the UN’s plans and priorities until 2030. Some of the SDGs include ending poverty and hunger, combating inequity, promoting gender equality, and creating sustainable, inclusive economic growth by 2030. Social work has a presence in all these spheres and a strong potential to advance these goals for many reasons. With the COVID-19 pandemic increasing children’s risk from isolation, school closures, violence and abuse, family stress from lockdown, suicidal ideation, food insecurity, and many other social impacts, social work’s role in advancing the SDGs is particularly crucial. First, social work brings a unique approach in its effort to work across systems (individuals, community, government, private sector, and civil society), promoting the systemic change necessary to achieve the ambitious SDGs. In addition, social work practice that is guided by ‘culture complexity thinking, can help accomplish the SDGs in a culturally contextualized and anti-oppressive way (Zimba, 2020). Social work is rooted in values such as justice, equity, and undoing oppression and marginalization, while using strengths-based and empowerment approaches to address factors across multiple systems (IFSW, 2018) and it is already practiced informally and formally around the globe.

Therefore, a more visible and engaging use of this profession would aid in achieving the SDGs. Children and families are key populations that cut across nearly all SDGs, including ending violence against children (SDG 16.2), birth registration for all (SDG 16.9), reducing child poverty (SDG 1.2), access to early childhood development (SDG 4.2), child mortality (SDG 3.2), primary and secondary education (SDG 4.1), and child malnutrition (SDG 2.2). Research shows that the recognition of early life determinants for children determines future economic, health, and mental health determinants in later life (Coll-Seck et al., 2019). Healy (2017) discussed the importance of social workers’ role in advocating for the SDGs, while Jayasooria (2016) and Cox (2019) examined contributions of social work on specific SDG topics such as gender equality or aging. Globally, social work is practiced in various formal and informal roles with children and families, within government, community, and non-profit fields. Generally referred to as a social service workforce, social workers contribute to advancing SDGs through advocacy, education, direct service provision, and policy. However, not all countries have formalized the profession of social work or developed systems of social work training or licensing.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), along with other UN agencies, has emphasized the crucial role of the social service workforce – with social workers as a leading professional cadre – in reaching SDG targets (Collins, 2019; UNICEF, 2019). UNICEF views the SDGs as a complementary framework to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ‘which guarantees every child the right to a healthy, safe and sustainable future as well as the right to be heard on issues and decisions that will affect that future’ (UNICEF, 2020: para 1). As a means of advancing these complementary SDGs and CRC frameworks, UNICEF has become a leading UN agency focused on strengthening the social service workforces and social work profession by building specific goals in their strategic plan (UNICEF, 2018). Highlighting the need to strengthen the social service workforce, UNICEF initiated and supported the launch of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance (the Alliance), a network of more than 2200 individual members, including governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, and professional associations in 136 countries (Collins, 2019). Since its launch in 2013, the Alliance has been mapping and assessing social services in various regions of the world, publishing the results in its annual State of Social Service Workforce report since 2015. A call for action by ‘Strengthening the Social Service Workforce to Better Protect Children and Achieve the SDGs’ at both national and global levels, recognizes the workforce’s importance in addressing developmental challenges faced by the world. In addition, guidelines have been developed to support UNICEF regional and country offices’ investment in strengthening the workforce (Collins, 2019). Social work training has become an important component of this agenda. The role of social workers in alleviating the challenges induced by the historical, social, economic, political, justice, climate-related contexts are well recognized and underscored. The field has learned that it is feasible to develop the social work profession through the provision of training to existing social service practitioners and paraprofessionals in countries with no formal social work education.

Dominelli (2020) delineates the crucial roles social workers have played globally during the pandemic which aligns with and promotes the SDGs. Some examples include gatekeeping access to services such as vaccination, promoting community health and mental health, advocating for equal access and care during the pandemic, working on structural and policy changes for economic empowerment due to the financial impact of the pandemic, and providing essential services like food and shelter. Nonetheless, it has also become difficult practicing social work during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social workers, like other frontline workforce professionals globally, have faced challenges in terms of physical access to communities and people, using the Internet to practice work remotely, and a lack of personal protective equipment to practice. In addition, a lack of proper training on practicing during a time of crisis and availability of proper support systems are all aspects that need to be addressed to allow social workers to thrive during a time when they are needed the most. As we describe in the following case study, strengthening existing professional social work networks combined with social work training can aid in improving the protection of child and family wellbeing and advance the SDGs, especially during these times of crisis.

Case study: Developing social work for child protection in Abkhazia

The application of social work in achieving the SDGs for children and families can be observed through the example of the post-conflict territorially contested Republic of Abkhazia. Located in the Caucasus region, Abkhazia has a population of 242,826 people (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, 2021). Seeking independence from Georgia after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the country experienced war from 1992 to 1993. The Republic of Abkhazia is currently recognized by five countries, while most of the UN member states consider it part of the Republic of Georgia. The country’s budget depends mostly on tourism, agriculture, and aid from Russia.

UNICEF has worked in Abkhazia since 1994 with a mission ‘to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential’ (UNICEF, 2003). Abkhazia’s disputed status limits UNICEF’s ability to function to full capacity within the country and creates significant barriers to its work. UNICEF cannot officially collaborate and negotiate with the de facto Abkhazia government or provide support at the policy level, which is one of the major implications of working with the UN non-member government. Instead, UNICEF conducts its basic functions and mission to support children and families through fostering bottom-up initiatives.

Research commissioned by UNICEF and World Vision found that children and families’ health, education, and psycho-social needs were not being fully met with the existing systems and resources in Abkhazia (Cherepanov, 2015; Malanciuc and Dunn, 2015). Professional social work was not historically practiced in Abkhazia, but practitioners from other disciplines, such as law enforcement inspectors, paraprofessionals at the community level, and non-profit organizations performed some functions of social work. The initiative to develop the social work profession within the Child Protection System was guided both by the UNICEF Global Strategic Plan commitment to the SDGs and assessment of existing needs in the country.

Given the limited ability of UNICEF in the country and frequent changes in the government, the preparation stage, including negotiations with the de facto Inter-Ministerial Committee, as well as the development of the Social Work System Framework and Training Curricula, lasted 2 years. The process of recruitment of the first pilot cohort and provision of a 3-month intensive training of the first cohort of 15 social workers began in 2017 and continued with the second cohort of 20 social workers in 2019. The participants in the pilot project had varying backgrounds in pedagogy, psychology, business, journalism, medicine, and law. The training was developed and led by social work educators and practitioners from the United States and Russia. Training content focused on topics of social work practice relevant to vulnerable children and families, such as social work theories and methods of practice, case management, child protection, basic psychological support, and advocacy methods among others. After completing the training, participants were subsequently hired to practice in all eight districts of Abkhazia. While funded by UNICEF, they were hired by a local NGO, with a plan of funding takeover and employment by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection post completion of the pilot stage.

Due to the nascent stage of the social work profession in Abkhazia, the current practitioners’ approach is more holistic rather than divided into various fields of practice, therefore comprising tasks that integrate micro, meso, and macro levels of practice to promote the SDGs for children and families. Understanding the needs of the profession, the training that was provided to social workers was also comprehensive and integrative of various levels of social work practice. Thus, one of the key components of the training curriculum on the macro and meso levels of practice included advocacy. Advocacy strengthens systems through the promotion of policies and programs that engage communities and coordinate existing resources. During the stage of needs assessment, and the process of setting up social work practice, it became clear that many of the existing institutions of child welfare in Abkhazia were found to be outdated and fragmented. By supporting the creation of social work advocacy practice, UNICEF contributed to strengthening the child welfare system; improving the coordination of services for children; as well as raising awareness in Abkhazian society about the issues of poverty, positive parenting, school dropout, child abuse and protection, gaps in the social inclusion of children and adults with disabilities, and mental health issues. Such awareness did not only increase access and use of necessary services in the communities but also heightened governmental attention to these problems.

Although the official status of UNICEF in Abkhazia does not allow it to directly support stronger institutions and policies for the protection of children (SDG#16), it did so by providing support for and increasing the capacity of social workers through on-the-job training and supervision. In turn, social workers advocated for social change and better social policies, thus contributing to strengthening existing institutions. Practicing social workers have been actively promoting social awareness and understanding of the issues related to equality and justice for children. Their roles have especially been important in addressing these issues that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social workers have been conducting awareness-raising campaigns on positive parenting and positive discipline to prevent child abuse and neglect which is on the rise globally due to the pandemic; advocating for the rights of all children by increasing and strengthening the services and resources at the community and central government levels; and collaborating with lawmakers, media, and other influential stakeholders to promote policies and solutions on various issues affecting child and family wellbeing. Within these last 3 years, these pioneering social workers have built connections and are well-known within the highest level of decision-making circles in Abkhazian society. Social workers’ efforts have amplified conversations about child wellbeing and mobilized several lawmakers to reconsider old bills regarding the care of orphaned children and/or children left without guardianship. Also engaging civil society, social workers are participating in round tables and meetings organized by media and local and international NGOs (Akilova, 2018). Social workers are commonly featured in media programs on the role of child welfare in Abkhazia. They have also been raising awareness about their services among the population, both by word of mouth and through institutions, including charity foundations, local administrators, schools, medical institutions, law enforcement, and so on. The increasing number of cases per social worker, as well as anonymous reports and self-referrals, demonstrate increased awareness about the services, as well as people’s trust in social workers. They have successfully advocated for opening branches of various service organizations that did not have a presence in certain districts of Abkhazia. Social workers have been critical in raising awareness about public health issues related to COVID-19, promoting safe behavior during the pandemic, as well as contributing to equal access to information and psycho-social support to all, reaching especially vulnerable at-risk children and families.

During the 3 years of its existence, this project has resulted in increased societal knowledge of the issues of importance to child protection and social justice. These initial successes show the potential of social work to contribute to the SDGs. Social work in Abkhazia has awakened and strengthened outdated existing institutions and improved the referral and collaboration mechanisms between these institutions to build a strong child protection network (SDG#16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and SDG#17 – Importance of Partnership). Social workers have contributed to justice for and protection of survivors of child sexual abuse by advocating for the indictment of two high-profile perpetrators. In both cases, the abusers were known to law enforcement and the society at large, but due to their power status, a taboo on the discussion of the topic, and lack of evidence, they previously had avoided facing justice. Social workers empowered the children and their parents affected by the case, coordinated with other specialists, and brought attention to these cases within the relevant structures.

A critical responsibility of social workers includes case management, which allows for the coordination of resources and benefits within multiple systems to meet the needs of children and families. While managing cases, social workers collaborate with other service providers at the community and institutional level, increasing the efficiency of services, and providing holistic treatment. Overall, social workers have served a substantial number of families, which is an achievement given that social workers face numerous challenges, such as operating without an allocated budget for the provision of various services, an inability to rely on existing resources, facing ineffective practices in existing institutions, and initial community resistance to acknowledging any child welfare issues. In their day-to-day practice, social workers also contribute to SDGs #1 (No poverty); #2 (Zero hunger); #3 (Good health and wellbeing); #4 (Quality education); #5 (Gender equality); 8# (Decent work and economic growth) by assisting children and families to access opportunities and rights to reach their full potential. The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated poverty, hunger, poor health and wellbeing, lack of access to education, and economic decline in unparallel ways across the globe. Some of the issues practitioners address in their work include extreme poverty, unemployment of parents, lack of identity documentation, lack of access to quality education, marginalization of children with disabilities, school dropout, child labor, violence in the family, lack of access to physical and mental healthcare, poor parenting skills, and so on. Social workers mobilize existing resources, donors, volunteers, and state institutions. They also provide psychoeducation for families and individuals to understand the impact of not accessing services or support. While practicing within a limited budget, social workers have organized volunteers to aid the community centers with the management of donations and distribution of clothing, furniture, and food to support the needs of low-income families. Creating the supply of donations also helped social workers provide parents with access to resources, allowing them to better fulfill their responsibilities to protect children’s rights to education and proper care. Social workers have facilitated the process of application and receipt of identity documentation for several families who have been denied this right. As a result of the advocacy by social workers, the access of many families to health, mental healthcare, and education has been improved. Social workers have built referral pathways and a mandated reporter system that was lacking before the establishment of child protection services. In some districts, they have mobilized resources to hire mental health practitioners such as psychologists and psychiatrists to work with children and families in need.

Social workers have been critical in raising awareness about public health issues related to COVID-19, promoting safe behavior during the pandemic, as well as contributing to equal access to information and psycho-social support to all, reaching especially vulnerable at-risk children and families. Their role is critical in the promotion of wellbeing of children and families who are experiencing stressors caused by the pandemic, as well as in raising awareness among communities about protective measures, hygiene, and risks to health. Social workers have been providing mental health support to families and communities experiencing loss and anxiety.

Conclusion

Social work has an important role in policy, administration, community, and individual development – all with the potential to impact the promotion and implementation of the SDGs related to children and families. To use social work as a major tool in reaching SDG targets, it is imperative to develop social work training and education programs, promote professional development and networks, and provide budgetary support for the profession. The importance and influence of social workers in various aspects of social development should be recognized at the international, national, and local levels of government. Existing social work education programs should incorporate training on the SDGs as part of all curricula. Social workers are best equipped to promote the SDGs in the midst of the global pandemic because they (1) are trusted members of their communities, (2) are trained (or should be trained) in basic health and mental health concepts and practices, (3) advocate for the betterment of and social justice in their communities and for the improvement of policies, (4) are able to report and manage cases of abuse and neglect that are heightened during lockdown, (5) understand and voice the need for basic elements of survival and help communities fulfill these basic needs, and (6) are data sources to inform best practices, best policies, and successful programming and can translate the experiences of people and communities into actionable policies. Social work is the only profession in which practitioners are trained to work with and across systems integrating all the factors impacting the person-in-environment. Therefore, social work is one of the most fitting professions to promote the SDGs aimed to improve human welfare and environmental sustainability. The professional skills that social workers receive through training and practice on micro, meso, and macro levels of practice provide the necessary support to promote the achievement of the SDGs.