International Social Work

The Dame Eileen Younghusband Lecture is presented every two years at the joint world conferences of international social work. In 2016 it was presented in Seoul and was based on the conference theme ‘promoting the dignity and worth of people’. The lecture includes a review of heroes, legal, political and social successes, and challenges for sexual and gender minorities around the world. It challenges the binary of gender and sexuality. The privilege of social work is to choose either to challenge or to reproduce oppression based on sexuality and gender, and protect the dignity and worth of all peoples.

The misalignment between economic strengthening opportunities and women’s agency is especially salient given the connection between women’s economic empowerment and household well-being. Using Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2014 data, we examine married women’s agency in household economic decision making. Women who are less likely to characterize abusive patterns of behavior as problematic and women reporting emotional abuse are less likely to report economic autonomy in the household. Furthermore, data indicate little congruence in perceptions of wife’s household economic autonomy between couples. These findings point to the need to understand the interplay among structural factors, gender, marital status, and the financial well-being of married persons.

Drawing upon the findings of my doctoral research, this article examines social workers’ understanding and interventions related to the promotion of citizenship in Chile. The study involved documentary analysis and 26 semi-structured interviews with social workers who, employed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), implemented state policy for addressing poverty and social exclusion. The findings indicate that social workers understood citizenship as the exercise of individual rights mainly. At the same time, strategies employed by some social workers to oppose resistance to such neoliberal reworking of citizenship were identified. Suggestions are made with respect to the development of Chilean social work from a critical perspective.

After the eruption of the crisis and the imposition of strict austerity measures, a number of grassroots solidarity initiatives emerged in Greece. The growth of Solidarity Clinics (SCs) emerged as an answer to the lack of primary health care for around 2.5 million people who were excluded from the national health system. This article presents and discusses the findings of a research project conducted from May 2014 to September 2014 in Greece. The aim and profile of SCs as well as the involvement of social workers in the initiatives are presented and discussed within the framework of the role of social work.

This study explores the differences in the financial and psychological satisfaction of three age cohorts and the factors contributing to those satisfaction levels among Korean baby boomers and older workers. The data of 1555 participants came from the Korean Welfare Panel Study from wave 1 (2006) to wave 8 (2013). The Chow test and multiple regressions were utilized to explore whether impacts differed by birth cohort and to identify unique factors associated with financial and psychological satisfaction. The results showed the ‘satisfaction paradox’ – a positive relationship between age and the financial satisfaction. Moreover, working longer played an important role in reducing depression, but not in increasing financial satisfaction.

This study provides a comprehensive literature review of food insecurity in social work. A search of peer-reviewed scholarly articles yielded 1686 abstracts with relevance to food insecurity. While there has been a rapid increase in the number of articles written on the topic of food insecurity since 1955, there has been a disproportionate interest in the issue in the Global North. The authors found that the literature clustered around five key themes: food access, food insecurity for vulnerable groups, food policy, food systems and interventions. Relevance of these findings to social work practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Resilience has predominantly been investigated as an individual’s response to adversity and, at the level of the collective, how communities respond to a direct threat. The social work literature investigating social resilience as a response to the challenge of subtle, pervasive and divisive social threats is limited. This article presents the findings of research conducted in two Australian communities with young people who experienced marginalisation; it investigated how sustained social resilience could be evoked in response to the disadvantage they experienced. Six themes that reflect the expression of social resilience emerged from the data and provide insights for social workers practising with communities facing chronic adversity.

This study explores the meaning of job burnout to social workers within the Salvadoran cultural context using qualitative data from 68 respondents. The themes that emerged during the study suggest that the most widely used three-dimensional conceptualization of job burnout developed by Maslach and colleagues (e.g. emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) is applicable within the Salvadoran context.

Human trafficking is a major social justice issue, with sex trafficking the most documented form. It depends on vulnerable and oppressed women who are bartered as commodities in an extremely profitable global market. Given their victimization, the loss of dignity, and the complete violation of the human rights of these victims, sex trafficking has major implications for the social work profession. Using a case study approach, this article explores sex trafficking policy and its implementation in Cyprus, a country that has been named a destination country for trafficking victims. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model, the factors impacting policy, its implementation, and social work involvement are explored.

International experiences in social work education have become more common in the last few decades. The literature has shown these experiences to improve students’ cultural competency, intercultural communication, and work habits. The literature focuses on diffused learning experiences, where students visit and hear from local agencies. This article offers a consulting model as an alternative experiential learning method. Master’s level students at the Boston College School of Social Work report improved cultural competence and also the development of hard skills, such as collaboration, that will transfer to future social work employment.

This article presents the evaluation of a staff exchange program between a US and a German non-profit social service agency. The program’s 12-year history, challenges, and successes are presented. Focus group and in-depth interview findings include the following: (1) support from leadership and staff impacts sustainability, (2) development of collaboration principles is key for continued partnership, (3) financial input seems small when compared to outcomes, (4) traveling abroad and hosting fosters positive learning experiences, (5) agencies learned to better position themselves and increased their retention, and (6) themes among staff include observing, reflecting, and learning from each other. Suggestions for replication are made.

This study explored predictors of functionally dependent Korean older adults’ mental health. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using a sample of 1234 subjects. Findings show a subject’s functional dependency, pre-existing depression, objective financial status, and stressful life events are risk factors. This analysis yielded unexpected findings of a limited protective effect of social support from family members compared to a significant effect of intrapersonal resources. These findings suggest an emergent transition within East Asian culture about individuals and family dynamics and a need for an alternative approach to culturally competent social work practice with East Asian populations.

This study aims to develop a scale for measuring professional social work values with particular relevance to the Chinese context. The Chinese social work values scale consists of five dimensions, including basic rights, social responsibility and justice, self-determination, mutual care, and potential for change. The findings of this study indicate that the Chinese social work value system has minor differences in specific constructs and in the ranking order of value dimensions from Western models. Empirical evidence further demonstrates that fair recognition is given to each dimension by Chinese social workers, though generally with less commitment to social work values.

The aim of this article is to begin a comparison between an emerging ‘science of social work’ in the United States and German-speaking countries (Switzerland, Germany, and Austria), with the intention of moving the discussion forward. It is found that the ‘science of social work’ is more developed in German-speaking Europe than in the United States, but that similar conclusions have been developed in both contexts. However, scholars of the two continents only rarely refer to one another’s work, and the lack of communication between the two groups is hurting the discipline as a whole.

This article compares field supervision in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to practices in a major city in England in order to contextualize the academic training of students. It considers practical dimensions and incorporates a qualitative study carried out in England exploring how the process of supervision in social work affects student learning and development from the supervisor’s perspective. In the study, particular attention is paid to field support provided to students and to practice educator qualifications. The results support the importance of placement supervision and the role of practice educators and supervisors in the overall social work education process.

Even though Japan has become notorious for trafficking women from other countries, advocacy networks among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are forming. Such networks can potentially bring about changes in policy, further advance responses to victims, and stem the flow of exploited people to Japan. This study examines how advocacy networks are forming in Japan to address human trafficking both within Japan and between Japan and other nations. Findings show the unique conditions influencing the emergence of such networks, as well as mounting challenges NGOs face as network members, especially in working with NGOs outside of Japan.

Defining the nature of social work can be both complex and nebulous. This article seeks to analyse the three historical strands to the subject: (1) the centralisation of poor relief, (2) the development of the philanthropic ‘settlement’ movement and (3) the proliferation of charitable outreach projects into the community. In so doing, it examines social work and social change, the interface of social work and the law, and the tensions and contradictions within the law governing social work and practice. The boundaries between society, the law and social work practice appear ambiguous, and changes within the state and law have left paradoxes.

This article reports on a study that examined how fieldwork education in Southern and East Africa was responding to the developmental social work agenda. The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews with key informants from 15 social work programmes in 11 different Southern and East African countries. It investigated whether the social work fieldwork placements on offer provided practical experience of a developmental approach to social work practice. The study showed the creativity and enthusiasm with which social work educators were embracing the goals of developmental social work education, despite the pitfalls and limitations of doing this within fieldwork resource constraints.

This article contributes to the development of indigenous knowledge around therapeutic interventions for bereavement in non-western settings. Interventions are explored through 18 qualitative interviews with indigenous therapists in the Sub-Saharan African country of Uganda. Aspects of the therapeutic process are examined along with clients’ presenting problem and the ways in which clients make sense of their loss and express their grief. Ugandan therapists identified contradictions between their indigenous practices and western assumptions embedded in bereavement counselling theory and practice. These indigenous accounts indicate ways in which existing therapeutic approaches might best be modified for use in non-western and pluralistic societies.

Families in the Occupied Palestinian Territories face political and social problems that reinforce poverty and undermine well-being. Since the limited self-governance era, Palestinian National Authority implemented anti-poverty reforms, including national cash transfers; yet, little is known about how social assistance is perceived by beneficiaries. This exploratory study analyzed transcripts from interviews with Palestinian heads of households. Families were unclear about eligibility requirements and frustrated with funding changes. Cash transfers did not cover basic living requirements, forcing painful budget choices. Participants characterized social workers as generally effective but offered suggestions for program improvement. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Healthcare service is a highly trusted field but necessitates a trust relationship with service users. In this field, medical social workers are crucial service providers. In this study, exploratory research was conducted to investigate the meaning of trust from the perspective of medical social workers in Taiwan. The findings are presented as follows: (a) relationship-based trust, (b) trust in the medical system and (c) the potential role for trust and anti-oppressive practices. According to the research results a conclusion was deduced and practical recommendations are proposed.

This article describes the perspectives of alumni of National Civic Service (NCS) in Israel on its impact at the individual level. We compared 250 young women who were identified as youth at risk with 295 mainstream volunteers. Overall, the two groups show similar outcomes that are typical to this developmental stage of life. Yet youth at risk experience more difficulties. While NCS aims at increasing equality between groups, it seems that it is not enough to bridge the gaps between the groups. The findings imply a need for a continued intervention to accompany the at-risk alumni that would leverage the progress made during the NCS period.

The purpose of this article is to generate meaningful understanding of the mental health informal carers’ experience and to identify a possible approach to social work intervention. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative analysis was used for data collection. The findings reveal that most of the informal carers are female adult. They experience stress, domestic violence, social exclusion as a result of the caring role, and fear of stigma. Cultural and religious factors must be considered when translating the caring role. The findings suggest implications for social work practice at a community level, utilizing a familial and support-group approach, with a practice that is sensitive to gender and religion.

The aim of this study was to find out what can be learned from Finnish social work preparedness to develop future interventions and use of social capital in disasters. The data consisted of municipalities’ social sector’s disaster preparedness plan documents. Quantitative content analysis was used as the research method. The analysis was based on the concept of social capital and its forms of bonding, bridging, and linking. The results show that micro-level social work and bonding social capital were emphasized. Bridging and linking social work to disaster-related structures should be developed and social capital enhanced pre and post disasters.

Family members play an important role in caregiving with more emphasis on early intervention for people suffering from mental illness. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study examines the effects of a community mental health intervention project (CoMHIP) on burdens of caregivers who have family members with suspected mental illness. Results showed that family caregivers’ burden and psychological stress level had been reduced (p < .001). The caregivers subjectively experienced a significant reduction in stress regarding the caregiving subscales, supervision, tension, worrying and urging after seeking CoMHIP service. Findings for the study have implications on social work interventions regarding family caregiving of people with suspected mental health problems.

As critical discussions on the internationalisation of social work continue, the importance of preparing social work students undertaking international study is increasingly recognised. This article describes the preparation process developed for a group of Australian students undertaking international study experiences in Asia. In particular, the content of an online ‘Intercultural Learning Module’ is discussed, highlighting a process that moves beyond notions of cultural competence towards a critical appreciation of cultural diversity, imperialism, racism and privilege. Critical reflection on self and culture to develop intercultural practice skills is discussed and student reflections on the value and impact of these materials presented.

This study in the state of New South Wales, Australia, explored what Specialist Homelessness Services are currently implementing in regard to consumer participation, what is working and what barriers to consumer participation have been encountered by both service users and providers. Three staff members, one consumer volunteer and 10 homeless persons from three services were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that while consumers have some opportunities to participate, and that participation is beneficial, there were barriers to participation, such as staff attitudes and the nature of the consumer group. The implications of these findings for staff, consumers and future policy direction are discussed.

This pilot study examined levels of social capital and their associations with the health status of Burundian refugees, who have recently increased in number in the United States. The findings revealed that none of the study sample had received formal education with one exception, and approximately 46 percent of the sample reported that they could not speak English at all. The study sample had more contact with other Burundian refugees than with other ethnic group members. Bonding and bridging social capital were explored, but neither was significantly associated with the refugees’ health status. Further research directions are discussed.

This article explores the anti-LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex) campaigns’ rise to power at the United Nations (UN), nation state sovereignty (of the member states), and criminalization LGBTQI assembly and association. Emphasis is placed on how these arguments are implemented and affect the social and political landscapes of LGBTQI rights promotion. Findings from primary interviews (conducted with UN bodies, agencies, and affiliates) are critically analyzed. The article concludes by challenging the arguments posed against LGBTQI rights being taken up as human rights from a social justice perspective and social work’s role in protecting and supporting these marginalized populations in the international arena.

Based on survey data from a first nationwide assessment (n = 2093), we analyze the situation of Chilean prisons from an anti-oppressive, social work perspective. Our main findings reveal that many inmates experienced mistreatment from guards and/or from fellow prisoners, had limited access to in-prison programs, and reported poor infrastructure conditions. Inmates also identified priorities for improving prisons. Finally, we created an ‘oppression index’ and linked it to accessing in-prison programs, discovering that those with lower scores (less oppressed) tended to participate more frequently. Finally, we suggest some changes to the prison system and to the role of social work within it.

The experiences of diverse people present challenges and opportunities for knowledge production. The knowledge base undergirding social work has been found to be dominated by Anglo-American cultural values assumed to be universally applicable. The relevant texts on social work knowledge were examined. The analysis revealed that culture is the cornerstone of any society’s response to social problems, that the hegemony of Eurocentric paradigms remain intact, that there is complicity with the coloniality of power in knowledge production resulting in epistemic injustice, and that decolonisation and indigenisation are critical imperatives towards the achievement of global cognitive justice. A contrapuntal epistemology of social work is recommended.

To effectively prepare students for practice, macro social work educators need to keep pace with employers’ demands. This article reports findings from a survey of social work educators (n = 52) and macro practitioners (n = 184) in Texas to assess congruence in competencies perceived as necessary for macro practice. Findings reveal that both groups prioritize competencies related to interpersonal dynamics and leadership, program management, and community practice, and view financial management and public relations as least important. However, findings identify differences in practice competencies (e.g. policy practice, organizational management, and development), suggesting a need to better align educational and professional priorities.

International placements are uncommon for Aotearoa New Zealand social work students compared with many other countries. In 2015 five students undertook a 10-week placement in Cambodia. This article explores the students’ perspectives on the skills, knowledge and capabilities required for international placements. The findings from this study indicate that questions remain as to whether the associated challenges outweigh the advantages of international placement experiences. We recommend that working with tertiary institutions from countries with more established international placement programmes may be one way of addressing some of the challenges and advancing international placements for Aotearoa New Zealand students.

This article discusses the development of social welfare institutions in post-Soviet Georgia and the role of social work in this development, based on the ecological system perspective. Transactional processes are described to better understand challenges to social welfare reform and to professional social work. Two major fields, child welfare and criminal justice, are discussed in some detail, as they demonstrate constructive collaboration among various stakeholders. Areas for improvement in these and other fields are also considered, as are the challenges facing social work. A need for more active participation of the social work workforce as agents of change is highlighted.