Social work and hospitality: An oral history of Edith Stolzenberg

ABSTRACT

Edith Richman Stolzenberg (1913–2004) was the first woman to be hired as a social worker in Hartford Public High School in Hartford, Connecticut. In a career that spanned 60 years and much of 20th-century social welfare history, she was motivated by the social justice tradition of her Jewish upbringing and the religious value of hospitality to advocate for children and families. As we enter a harsh new era for social services, this oral history explores the radical possibilities for integrating social work goals and religious values.     

Perceptions of transition-related health and mental health services among transgender adults

The opportunity to live authentically is critical for the well-being of transgender individuals. For many this requires accessing transition-related services. Current knowledge of transition-related care is limited. This study aims to elucidate experiences and needs of transgender individuals (N = 65) related to (a) therapeutic support, (b) medical care, and (c) aspects of living authentically in order to inform the development and delivery of trans-affirmative services. Findings reveal challenges accessing health care providers with trans-specific competency; gaps between critical aspects of transition-related care and receipt of services; and heterogeneity of experiences and needs. Recommendations for improving transgender-affirmative services are provided.     

Linking family engagement with a rights perspective: macro factors influencing practice

While child welfare practitioners in many countries are struggling to develop methods of effective family engagement, they operate within different national and cultural contexts that influence, both positively and negatively, the ability to engage with families. Increasingly, international comparisons are necessary to further understanding of the development of social work practice. This is particularly necessary because most countries utilize international frameworks (such as the United National Convention on the Rights of the Child) to provide guidance in the development of policies, programs, and interventions. Each country (and locality) struggles to advance practice to be more effective and humane. Our paper offers a comparative analysis focused on family-oriented and rights-based frameworks of different countries. Based on a review of current national policies and a review of the literature regarding family-based practices, we examine similarities and differences among four countries: the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and South Korea. These countries were selected because they have some similarities (advanced industrialized democracies, professional social work, and formal child protection systems) but have some differences in their social welfare systems (policies, specific practices, and socio-cultural context). These differences can be utilized to advance understanding regarding the promise and potential for family engagement strategies. We then discuss the utility of this comparison for theory-building in the arena of child-care practice and conclude by identifying the challenges and limitations of this work.     

Evidence-based practice in Chinese social work: overcoming language and developmental barriers

This scoping review followed Cochrane guidelines to comprehensively assess the use and understanding of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Chinese social science literature. We conducted a research across three electronic databases and three major social science journals for the studies published between 2004 and 2016. Chinese social work literature demonstrates a precise understanding of EBP defined as a process, but it lacks comprehensive discussions about EBP that extend beyond basic principles and process definitions. We identified language barriers and developmental issues for social work in China that contribute to these incomplete discussions. We examined the importance of broadening and enriching the discussions around EBP, especially for Chinese educators, researchers, and clinicians involved with empirically supported treatments. We also consider the implications of our findings for the development of social work in China.     

革命与更化:立国时刻的治体重构

中国政治传统中积累了深厚的立国智慧，注重统一、安定之后的政教重建。古典革命本身意味着社会政治风化的向善提升、最终指向政治共同体精神的教化变迁。更化就代表了政治体致力于善治的文明化转变。儒家传统对于更化有全盘复古和与时损益两种激缓进路，渐进调适论在历史中更显出实践稳健性。政治更化着眼于立国构造中政治精英群体的养成，以此影响立国精神与政治权力再分配，体现出兼顾政治信念与宪制结构的治体论意识。文教振兴因此有其宪制蕴涵。更化立国的政治技艺，避免全盘复古的激进变法冲动，也避免将政治转型急切聚焦于政体制度的大规模改变。这是我们理解中国政治变迁的关键维度。     

文化认知中定向思维模式的建构与解构——以中国少数民族文化范式为研究视阈

定向思维模式的建构与解构实际上反映出认知结构的二重性特征，两者在文化认知活动中可互为挹注共存于对立统一关系里。因此，对中国少数民族文化范式的研究，不仅要重视建构之功能催生的符号化文化构成，还应关注解构之功能显现的非常见的文化元素。同时，只有弄清楚定向思维模式的建构与解构在文化认知中的意涵，才能明确定向思维模式的“趋向”和“专注”特点以及“惰化”和“孤立”倾向，从而为牵及民族文化事项的认知固化与迁移提供理论工具并用以指导多元文化实践。     

Open Dialogue: Frequently Asked Questions

Open Dialogue is an approach to working with people and their families experiencing psychosocial distress. Interest in Open Dialogue in Australia has been growing recently, raising questions about its adaption and implementation to local contexts. This article is an attempt to answer some of the frequently asked questions we have encountered in training and discussions about Open Dialogue. We attempt to provide responses to questions of how Open Dialogue is different to what is done already, how it fits with current approaches, how you know if you are doing it, whether it is passive or just about doing reflections, issues about including the social network, and concerns about the evidence base. This article aims to present a variety of viewpoints in relation to these questions and to hopefully further discussions on how Open Dialogue can be implemented and adapted to Australian health care and social care contexts.     

“三全育人”视域下本科生导师制的实践探索

推行本科生导师制符合高等教育的基本规律，是真正体现教书育人本质，引导学生成长成才、创新人才培养方式、创新学生教育与管理模式的重要举措。M校紧扣立德树人根本任务，聚焦全员、全过程、全方位育人的体制机制建设，通过推行“以宿舍为单元的本科生导师制”来构建新型师生关系，充分发挥教师在“思想教导、专业辅导、生活指导、心理疏导、学术引导”等多方面的作用，强化实践教学环节中的实践能力培养，不断满足学生个性化培养的需要；通过严把本科生导师选聘入口关，明确本科生导师的工作职责，规范本科生导师工作方式，建立健全本科生导师考核评价和激励约束机制来规范和保障本科生导师制的良性运行，促学生健康成长成才。     

基于OBE理念的学前教育专业实践教学体系构建与实施

高校学前教育专业实践教学在教师教育改革、学前教育改革以及师范类专业认证深入开展的时代背景下,面临实践教学培养目标不清晰、实践教学内容滞后于幼儿园实际、实践教学环节缺乏整合以及实践教学评价随意单一等问题,基于OBE“产出导向”理念,构建以培养学生保教实践能力为核心的实践教学目标体系、“三级循环式”内容体系和保障体系。在实施过程中,倡导理论教学与实践教学并行、加强校地深度合作和开展专业实践活动,以期促进学生保教实践能力的提升和学前教育专业实践教学效果的提高。     

高职院校学前教育专业学生顶岗实习满意度现状调查

顶岗实习是学前教育专业综合性最强的实践教学环节,学前教育专业学生顶岗实习的满意度情况关乎顶岗实习工作的质量。本研究通过自编满意度调查问卷对湖南省五所高职院校参加学前教育顶岗实习学生进行调查,发现学生对顶岗实习总体满意度比较高,学生对公办园的满意度显著高于民办园,学生顶岗实习满意度会影响学生的从业意愿。