Multicultural social work practice and South Asian migrants in Hong Kong

This paper explores how multicultural social work responds to the needs and structural issues faced by South Asian migrants in Hong Kong. Three working approaches, namely, the problem-solving approach, the strengths-based approach, and the rights-based approach are identified from our empirical data. The analyses demonstrate the generally insufficient awareness of the practice in critically addressing existing policies and power relations based on race. Moreover, there is a lack of critical reflection on the notion of culture and social workers’ ethnocentric biases. This paper argues that this insufficient awareness could lead to reinforcement of the existing social exclusion of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. Using Hong Kong as an example, this paper reflects on the implications of applying Western-based literature and practice model in a non-Western society.     

Resilience for dropout students with depression in secondary schools in Hong Kong: parental attachment,hope and community integration

ABSTRACT

The objective of this qualitative research is to better understand school dropout students with depression in Hong Kong and how they overcome their adversities. Three girls and five boys participated in the study. The results showed that the Hong Kong cultural context was affected by school competition and the effect of mental health labelling. Jaspers’ phenomenology was utilised to understand the phenomenon of school dropout and depression. The findings illustrated the importance of secure parental attachment, substitute secure attachment, hope, supportive environment and community integration in helping dropout students with depression to overcome adversities. A resilience model for school dropouts with depression is proposed for improving professional practice in Hong Kong.     

Mainstreaming Equality: Implications of the Provision of Support at Home for Majority and Minority Ethnic Older People

This paper explores the potential impact and practical difficulties of mainstreaming equalities in support at home for minority and majority ethnic older people, drawing on two linked empirical research projects. Social care providers have long faced difficulties in catering for diversity of need. Recently, diversity within minority ethnic groups has increased, and there is now a statutory duty to promote equality. Research findings illustrate the complexity of exclusionary processes, with particular reference to the example of health care. There is a gap between the high‐level commitment to mainstreaming equality and people's lived experiences. Autonomy and choice are central to community care legislation, policy and practice guidance, but in reality, the research shows that choices are limited for both minority and majority older people. More user‐focused approaches and grassroots involvement may offer ways forward, despite some limitations of current models. In conclusion, the potentiality of a broad mainstreaming equality perspective is highlighted, but challenges include a need for a more grounded approach, better engagement with user groups and a need to focus on understanding issues of implementation.     

A systematic review of studies on ethnic minority youth development in Hong Kong: an application of the ecological framework

Abstract

Ethnic minority young people play a significant role in the socio-economic growth of an ageing society with a decreasing fertility rate. The successful social integration of individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds within a society is a core value of the social work profession. This study examines the understanding of ethnic minority youth development in Hong Kong using a systematic review methodology. Risk prevention and positive promotion factors were identified using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework. Articles were searched through multiple databases in English, and 36 academic articles were reviewed. These studies mainly examined the risks of academic failure of these students in Hong Kong while few focused on the positive directions of multidimensional youth development. Future social work research and practice should examine positive youth development for ethnic minorities which can inform social work practice in Hong Kong and within other East Asian traditionally ethnically homogeneous societies undergoing significant changes in ethnic diversity.     

Differential Impacts of Stressful Life Events and Social Support on the Mental Health of Mainland Chinese Immigrant and Local Youth in Hong Kong: A Resilience Perspective

Based on a resilience perspective, this study attempted to explorethe risk and protective factors influencing the mental healthof immigrant and local youths in Hong Kong. A structured questionnairewhich consisted of The Chinese Adolescents Life Events Checklist,The Perceived Satisfaction of Social Support Scale and The BriefSymptoms Inventory was used. Two hundred and ten local and immigrantyouths between the age of 15 and 20 were individually interviewedby the trained interviewers. Contrary to our hypotheses, thefindings revealed that immigrant youth had better mental healthand similar levels of stress than local youth. Moreover, peersupport was found to exert a strong impact on the mental healthof immigrant youth. While ‘Interpersonal relationshipdifficulties’ was identified as a common risk factor facedby local and immigrant youths, immigrant youth faced additionalrisk factors in relation to a change to a new school and parentalconflicts. On the other hand, endurance of hardship, socialcompetence and peer support were considered as the protectivefactors that might be associated with better mental health inimmigrant youth. The implications of this study included: toadopt a resilience perspective to understand the protectivemechanisms that enhance the mental health of immigrant youth;to develop a national strategy to build up the interpersonalrelationship skills of youth in a society; and to organize specificprogrammes to strengthen the peer system and tackle parentalconflicts in immigrant youths.     

A Tool for Assessing Truancy Risk Among School Children: Predictive and Construct Validity of the Risk Indicator Survey

ABSTRACT

The Risk Indicator Survey I (RISK I) is a screening tool used to identify the truancy risk level and intervention needs for frequently absent students. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis were used to examine the survey's validity. Sample included 6,239 elementary school children. The RISK I was reduced from 59 items to 32 items on 6 factor subscales, accounting for 49.59% of the variance in EFA. Results support the use of the RISK I as a valid truancy risk screening tool. Future studies should evaluate the RISK I survey tool with a more diverse population.     

A Study of the Relationship Between Innovation and Performance Among NPOs in Pakistan

Abstract

Innovation has become a core driver for the success and survival of organizations regardless of their size and nature. A plethora of literature has discussed the importance of innovation in profit-based organizations, while nonprofit organizations (NPOs) have generally been ignored in research. This study examines the influence of the sub-dimensions of innovation on the performance of NPOs. Data were collected through structured questionnaires using a sample size of 309 NPOs operating in the emerging market Pakistan. The hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS.21. The results indicate that process innovation and organization innovation have significant positive influence on the performance of NPOs, while product innovation and marketing innovation have insignificant influence on the performance of NPOs. NPOs are advised to give enough attention to process and organization innovation in order to boost their performance. Future researchers are encouraged to test the model in other environmental settings. Implications for practice were discussed.     

Association Between Unemployment Duration and Depression in the SouthWest Region of Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Unemployment has risen as an effect of globalization in the country of Turkey. To date, no studies have examined the association between the duration of unemployment and perceived mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the association between the duration of unemployment and the incidenence of depression among citizens in the southwest region of Turkey. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 908 unemployed individuals. The questionnaire gathered sociodemographic characteristics and employment-related circumstances. To measure mental health, a depression inventory was administered and group-wise t-tests and logistic regressions were conducted. The findings show that long-term unemployed persons had more episodes of depressive moods in the past 12 months when compared with the group of the short-term unemployed. In addition, depression levels were higher among the long-term unemployed compared with the short-term unemployed. It was estimated that the duration of unemployment and the measurement of depression had a positive correlation. Risk factors that increased depression in the short-term unemployed were gender (female), older age, and greater periods of unemployment. However, higher education, income, and having social insurance significantly decreased the risk of developing depression for both the short-term and the long-term unemployed. Future recommendations include supportive counseling to increase motivation levels and developing strategies to handle periods of unemployment.     

The HOPE Family Project: A Family-Based Group Intervention to Reduce the Impact of Homelessness on HIV/STI and Drug Risk Behaviors

The HOPE Family Project (HIV Prevention for Parents and Early Adolescents) is an eight- session, family-based group intervention modeled on three evidence-based curricula targeting HIV/AIDS and alcohol and drug abuse prevention. The design and implementation of the HOPE Family Project was carried out by an established community collaborative board. The project aims to educate and provide tailored support to families and their youth (ages 11–14), residing in homeless shelters, regarding HIV and alcohol abuse prevention. The group model proved successful in offering an informal social support network for families living in homeless shelters and improving family functioning and youth mental health outcomes.     

Public Satisfaction with the Health System and Popular Support for State Involvement in an East Asian Welfare Regime: Health Policy Legitimacy of Hong Kong

The legitimacy of social policies has gained increasing attention in the past decade, against the backdrop of fiscal austerity and retrenchment in many nations. Policy legitimacy encompasses public preferences for the underlying principles of policies and the actual outcomes as perceived by citizens. Scholarly knowledge concerning the legitimacy of health policy – a major element of modern social policy architecture – is, unfortunately, limited. This article seeks to extend the scholarly debates on health policy legitimacy from the West to Hong Kong, a member of the East Asian welfare state cluster. A bi‐dimensional definition of health policy legitimacy – encompassing both public satisfaction with the health system and the normative expectation as to the extent of state involvement in health care – is adopted. Based on analysis of data collected from a telephone survey of adult Hong Kong citizens between late 2014 and early 2015, the findings of this study demonstrate a fairly high level of satisfaction with the territory's health system, but popular support for government responsibility presents a clear residual characteristic. The study also tests the self‐interest thesis and the ideology thesis – major theoretical frameworks for explaining social policy legitimacy – in the Hong Kong context. Egalitarian ideology and trust in government are closely related to both public satisfaction with the system and popular support for governmental provision of care. However, the self‐interest thesis receives partial support. The findings are interpreted in the context of Hong Kong's health system arrangements, while implications for the territory's ongoing health policy reform are discussed.     

A Comparative Study of Child Abuse Risk Assessment in the United States and Korea

The perceptions and judgments of social workers who interview the child and family are especially significant factors in child abuse assessment process. The current study describes and compares child protection workers’ assessment processes in Korea and the USA through the use of case vignettes and in‐depth interview. The responses from social workers in these two countries were compared and discussed in the areas of: risk assessment; perception of the main problems; tolerance of corporal punishment; and judgments about appropriateness of interventions. Most revealing was that Korean social workers determined abuse based on their child abuse definition and the US Army FAP social workers determined abuse based on their definition, which was affected by legal standards and cultural differences. Korean social workers are more likely to remove a child from the home, even in mild cases, but US FAP social workers would recommend child removal from the home as a last option. The social workers that participated in this survey play a vital role in the safety of children in child protective services. Both countries can benefit from sharing information to improve the child protection services delivered. Social workers' professional judgment leads to objective and consistent outcomes and are less likely to compromise child safety in the decision making process.     

Exploring the Relationship Between Trust in Government and the Provision of Social Services in Countries of the Global South: The Case of Palestine

ABSTRACT

Using a data set combining two surveys that were conducted by Birzeit University in Palestine, the study investigates the role that trust in government plays in the provision of social services in Palestine (N= 1,314). The relationship between trust in government and selected sociodemographic characteristics is also explored. Results from the bivariate and regression analyses performed reveal that perceived trust in government is significantly related to government performance and a respondent's gender, income, education, and political affiliation. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.     

转型社会下的多重复合性风险——三城市公众风险感知状况的调查分析

在社会转型期,中国公众的主观风险感知呈现地区差异和多重复合等特点,三重复合-高度不确定性风险、两重复合-中度不确定性风险和单重-低度不确定性风险三种结构的社会风险共存。研究发现,公众普遍对低不确定性的单重风险感知最高,对高不确定性的三重风险感知最低;教育水平较高、社会地位较高的群体对高不确定性三重风险的感知程度较高,底层社会群体则对低不确定性单重风险的感知程度较高。从公众在三种感知结构的分布情况来看,中国公众的风险感知包含了对转型社会多重风险并存、交互影响和交互作用的认识,即成为中国社会转型过程的风险投射。     

Progress of the social service professions in South Africa's developmental social welfare system: Social work,and child and youth care work

This paper examines the progress of the social service professions delivering developmental social welfare in South Africa, a subject we have followed closely over the last 20 years. Being policy-driven, developmental social welfare stemmed from expert social analyses that resulted in technically oriented solutions, including the broadening of social service professions. Twenty years on, it is hard to see developmental social welfare, as envisaged in government policy, in action, since the practice reality does not differ drastically from the prior apartheid system with the government's heavy reliance on social security as a poverty-alleviation measure. The expanded social security budget has led to underfunded services and a crisis for social service professionals. This paper focuses on the regulated professions of social workers, and child and youth care workers. Our examination of critical issues for these occupational groups revealed that South Africa still has a long way to go in building a strong social service workforce.     

我国资本项目开放的风险管理研究--进程安排与制度建设

开放资本项目是实现一国经济全球化、金融自由化的重要层面与表现.随着中国进一步的市场开放以及经济改革的深化,人民币资本项目也必然面临着一个减少管制、扩大开放的问题.但是,在不完全具备开放条件的情况下过早、过急地放开资本项目管制将会面临诸多风险.对于包括中国在内的正在从资本管制走向资本项目开放的发展中国家而言,当前急需解决的是如何能够使转变过程中的风险降到最低,从而最好地利用金融自由化所带来的收益.     

中华帝国治理的“不可能三角”与治乱周期:从“风险论”出发

本文由曹正汉提出的“风险论”出发,以威权政体政权存续的理论视角,探究中国治乱周期与统治者风险治理策略之间的关系,以及在治乱之间,统治者透过何种机制调节动态平衡以维系政权,又为何调节风险平衡机制在某些时候能奏效在另一时点上却失灵。藉由历史制度主义的时序分析,本文提出风险治理的“不可能三角”,以解释治乱周期的波动,并发现风险调节机制之所以越到朝代后期越难奏效,肇因于开朝初期统治者为防制政变风险所采取的政治吸纳策略。这些策略随着时间演化及一连串反应序列后,破坏了统治者用来防治民变及外患风险的机制,并进一步弱化了国家的基础权力,导致国家能力下降,风险平衡机制失灵,从而陷入统治危机。     

The role of the social innovation and entrepreneurship development fund in fostering social entrepreneurship in Hong Kong: A study on public policy innovation

Creating an enabling environment for social entrepreneurship in tackling complex socio‐economic challenges is at the forefront of government policy agendas globally. Although several policy mechanisms have been proposed to this end, whether and to what extent those policy mechanisms may (re)shape the social entrepreneurship environments have rarely been explored. By examining the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), a recent policy project aimed at fostering social innovation in Hong Kong, this article presents a rare empirical exploration to illustrate how public policies can potentially drive social innovation. We explore first the impact of the SIE Fund in fostering innovation among its funded social enterprises, and second, how the SIE Fund may have influenced Hong Kong's social entrepreneurship environment. Results show that the projects under the SIE Fund exhibit characteristics distinct from the social enterprises prior to the inception of the SIE Fund. In addition, evidence of innovations in terms of product, process, marketing, and innovation in developing new or improved social practices were also identified. This study illustrates how specific public policy mechanisms may potentially facilitate the diversification, inclusion, innovation, and expansion of the social entrepreneurship environment. Findings carry substantial policy implications, in particular to neighbouring East Asian societies typically characterized by a strong government, and face similar structural, demographic and socio‐economic challenges that necessitate innovative solutions.     

Depression Among Korean Immigrant Elders Living in Canada and the United States: A Comparative Study

Korean immigrant elders in North America experience a high level of depression. This study explored the correlates of depression among a sample of 245 Korean immigrant elders living in metropolitan cities in Canada (n = 128) and a southwestern state in the United States (n = 117), using a stress-coping framework. Results revealed discrepancies between the 2 subgroups. Years since immigration and number of health concerns were positively associated, and English proficiency was negatively associated with depressive symptoms among Korean immigrant elders in the United States; only health status was significant among Korean immigrant elders in Canada. Implications of the study are presented.     

Recruitment and Retention in a Parenting Intervention: A Case Study with Parents Aging Out of the Child Welfare System

ABSTRACT

Parenting interventions are efficacious in reducing child maltreatment and negative child behaviors, yet the recruitment and retention of parents, especially vulnerable parents, in such interventions can be challenging. Prior research identifies several ways to improve recruitment and retention including laying the foundation for the intervention, fostering relationships with parents, ensuring fit of the intervention with the intended population, and identifying barriers to parents’ participation. This case study presents a process of recruiting and retaining a vulnerable group of parents, specifically parenting youth aging out of the child welfare system. In addition to outlining the strategies used, lessons learned are highlighted. Parents expressed interest in the parenting intervention, experienced significant needs, negotiated great instability in their lives, and valued the social connections facilitated by the group intervention. Despite the research team following best practices and investing significant time and resources, recruitment and retention remained challenging. Implications for future work in this area are presented.     

在"枢纽"与"限界"之间的边缘人 民国时期边地汉人形象构建论说

民国时期,边地汉人在研究者的笔触之下被赋予了不同的形象。吴文藻、陶云逵等较早地接受了美国芝加哥学派社会学家罗伯特·帕克提出的“边缘人”理论,并从宏大国家叙事着眼,阐释了边地汉人的“枢纽人”作用。不过,李安宅、梁钊韬、费孝通等基于微观“边地日常”的观察表明,作为“限界群”的边地汉人的图利动机及其行为有时对边疆建设来说是一个“问题”。两种相互矛盾的形象表述直接或间接地与罗伯特·帕克的“边缘人”理论发生对话,揭示了民国时期国内社会知识精英所持边疆社会改造方法论的分歧。回到历史现场,无论是“枢纽说”抑或“限界说”,均表达了研究者对边地汉人的关怀和期待,同时亦反映了历史经验和现实利益交织下边地人群交往、交流、交融的复杂性。