Eleven Tips to Lighten the Load: Optimizing the Blessing of Family Caregiving

This informal piece offers tips to family caregivers, based on my personal experience as a social work educator who temporarily moved in with my mother, who lives with dementia. Lessons learned are distilled into 11 tips that are respectfully offered to other social work educators who have the blessing and the challenge of caring for their older loved ones.     

Comparison as a Universal Learning Action

This article explores ‘comparison’ as a universal metasubject learning action, a key curricular element envisaged by the Russian Federal State Educational Standards. Representing the modern learner’s fundamental pragmatic skill embedding such core capacities as information processing, critical thinking, robust decision-making, and effective problem solving, the universal learning action of ‘comparison’ has become a new professional challenge for educators, in terms of both understanding the underlying theoretical framework and ensuring that appropriate instructional models are deployed. The author seeks to clarify either of these aspects by providing a plain discussion of how the basic mechanisms of comparison as a cognitive device can be incorporated into clear and simple classroom aids and algorithms supporting goal-directed learning.     

On “Being” and “Doing”: Supervising Clinical Social Workers in Case-Management Practice

As clinical social work has increasingly become synonymous with reflective psychotherapeutic intervention, case-management practice is often perceived as an impediment to the consolidation of a professional identity as a clinical social worker. The clinically oriented case manager is faced with the difficult challenge of addressing the inseparable psychological and environmental needs of clients while meeting the expectations of relevant agencies and institutions. In the supervisory process of case-management practice, clinical social workers have a unique opportunity to consolidate their professional identity as they directly address the dialectic between the individual's maturational processes and the larger facilitating environment. Using illustrations from supervisory relationships, this article discusses the specific challenges of clinical supervision in case-management practice.     

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.     

Public Attitudes Toward Immigration in the United States and Canada in Response to the September 11, 2001 "Attack on America"

In this paper, we describe recent trends in attitudes toward immigration in North America, and we suggest how these attitudes are likely to be affected by the September 11, 2001 "Attack on America." We begin by explaining why public attitudes toward immigration are important, and describe recent trends in these attitudes in the United States and Canada. Then, we apply psychological perspectives to predicting how these attitudes are likely to change in response to the events of September 11th. In particular, we describe expected short-term changes in immigration attitudes and expected long-term trends. We conclude by suggesting that an understanding of the psychological processes underlying unfavorable attitudes may assist in counteracting these effects; we also suggest that policy makers will be faced with the difficult task of balancing the need for a sense of security for members of the national group, and maintenance of the positive features of current immigration policies.     

The Political Role of Social Work: Grasping the Momentum of Working Through Interorganizational Networks in Belgium

ABSTRACT

This article explores how social workers deal with the ambiguity that arises from their ability to transform the private needs of individuals into issues of public concern. It is argued that the current shift towards joined-up working, which is epitomized by the creation of interorganizational networks, could encourage new opportunities for social work. These horizontal and nonhierarchical forms of cooperation serve as platforms for debate to ensure regular discussions about the causes of and potential solutions to complex societal problems. This article relies on a case-study of bottom-up networks in two Belgian cities where social workers from various policy fields voluntarily joined forces to look after hard-to-reach groups of homeless people. The primary data were obtained from document analysis, semi-structured interviews with network participants, and direct observations of network meetings. These data were analyzed by conducting a directed content analysis. The examination shows that the joint creation of welfare services leads to substantial debates among social workers about the criteria which homeless people must meet in order to be provided with welfare services and primary care. The paper shows that despite being aware of differing viewpoints by their engagement in such debates, social workers are reluctant to challenge the dominant conceptualizations underlying their own day-to-day practices, and that this impacts on the potential to induce local policymakers to take further action with regard to reducing homelessness.     

The therapeutic alliance in context: Institutional factors that impact social work with families

The therapeutic alliance is among the factors associated with positive results in therapy and has been extensively studied in psychotherapy. However, it has received less attention in social work and family intervention. Considering that such intervention occurs mainly within the framework of institutions and public policies, this article aims to identify the contextual factors that facilitate or hinder the therapeutic alliance between family members and social workers within the child protection system, taking the Chilean protection system as a case study. This longitudinal study followed six professional–caregiver dyads for 11 months using various qualitative techniques. The facilitating factors included the strengths approach of the child protection agency, family participation, a friendly work environment, and external supervision from a senior social worker. Among the obstacles were the high numbers of cases per professional, the undervaluing of their work, excessive workloads, stigma towards the system, and the mandatory nature of services. Facilitating factors were linked to the initiatives of the protection agency, while limitations were related to the type of welfare system. Similar obstacles and facilitators were found at the international level regardless of the kind of child protection system. The study concludes with recommendations for decision-makers and social worker educators.     

The Impact of Self-Esteem Group Work Practice with Rural Elementary Male Students

The present pilot study examines the effect of a social work self-esteem group as a method for improving the self-esteem and classroom behavior of disruptive male students in an elementary school in rural Georgia. Teachers, educators, and administrators in school systems across the nation are continuously bombarded with a disproportionate number of students who fail to display acceptable standards for appropriate classroom behavior, particularly male students. Research efforts have been directed toward identifying effective social work practice interventions that will bring about meaningful proactive changes to elementary student populations who exhibit such behaviors. A validated outcome measure was included in an uncontrolled pretest–posttest design to determine quantifiable changes. Findings from this study show that after the social work group intervention, posttest scores tended to be lower than pretest scores, which would indicate that there was a notable improvement in elementary students’ self-esteem and class behavior between pretest and posttest assessments. Implications for social work practice are discussed.     

Some Conditions for Effective Work with Groups

Summary The principal point being made in this article is that a groupleader or therapist, by his own decisions and actions, can substantiallyinfluence (though not absolutely control) the likelihood ofthe group's success and effectiveness. Some facilitating decisionscan be made and some activities undertaken before a group begins.These include deciding whether or not to conduct a group ina particular setting; exploring the attitudes of one's colleagues;conducting preparatory discussions with potential group members;deciding how many staff will be present; deciding at what intervalsto introduce new members; etc. Other decisions cannot be made,or actions taken, until after the group is under way; or theymust be undertaken after the group has started because theywere overlooked beforehand. These include helping a group toestablish a consensus by encouraging the expression of expectations,reservations, and underlying concerns; reassessing a group whichseems to have gone stale; initiating discussions with colleagueswhen covert resistances on their part become apparent. The four issues discussed here set the stage and constitutethe context for the group's work. Appropriate attention to them,and management of them, will facilitate but not guarantee thegroup's success. Many further situations arise in the courseof the group's life which may alter its character and course. Nevertheless, many groups which provide a disappointing experiencefor both group members and leaders could be retrieved if theseissues were kept in mind. To summarize: A group is more likely to be successful if it is conducted inan organizational or institutional context in which other personnel,not directly involved with the group, nevertheless accept andsupport its aims and general procedures, and value its potentialcontribution to the shared goals of the organization or institution. A group is more likely to be effective if a consensus—whichmay be implicit—can be established within the group aboutits aims and procedures. Lack of clarity, persistent splitswithin the group, or identification of the leader as adversary,all work against the best interests of the group. Structuralfactors such as size, duration, composition, constancy of membership,and ratio of staff to members, influence the character and effectivenessof the group. A group which has lost its usefulness can and should be terminatedor reconstituted with a different mandate     

Family Psychoeducation for Hepatitis C Patients and Their Families: Recommendation for Clinicians

PsychoEducation Responsive to Families for Persons coping with Hepatitis C (HCV-PERF) is a multifamily psychoeducation group model designed to help patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) and their families navigate the illness and improve their readiness for treatment. The purpose of this article is to provide information and recommendations for clinicians interested in using the HCV-PERF model. The article provides details of the intervention model and presents thematic categories that evolved from analysis of interviews with clinicians with experience conducting and facilitating HCV-PERF groups. Based on these findings, recommendations were developed to inform and guide the use of HCV-PERF.     

Covering the birth of a nation: The rise of Saudi Arabia in The London Times, 1927–1937

Saudi Arabia is considered as one of the most conservative countries in the world with regards to the role of religion in shaping national politics. We use a history of Saudi Arabia and British imperialist policy to contextualize the framing of religion in news coverage of Saudi Arabia in The London Times between 1927 and 1937 to uncover themes that were available to British readers before and after recognizing Saudi Arabia as a nation on September 23, 1932. We found that religious fundamentalism was part of this coverage, providing one potential media framework for understanding Saudi Arabia that is consistent with current coverage and discussions. We also found instances of favorable framing of events and individuals, which seemed to intensify after Saudi Arabia's recognition as a nation.     

Women's responses to abortion: implications for post-abortion support groups

Family planning and abortion clinics are starting to recognize the importance of providing postabortion counseling as part of the overall follow-up procedure. The literature on the psychosocial consequences of abortion reveals that abortion is a positive, growth-producing experience for the majority of women. However, abortion can be a stressful and emotionally difficult experience for other women as a result of ambivalence over the pregnancy or abortion, lack of positive support from significant others, feelings of guilt and loss, and inadequate coping skills. This paper reports a model for postabortion support groups aimed at clarifying feelings, reducing alienation and isolation, facilitating appropriate mourning, increasing self-esteem, and bringing appropriate closure to the abortion experience. Since 1984, such groups have been offered by the University of Washington Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Abortion Birth Control Referral Service in Seattle, Washington. The groups, which meet weekly for 6 sessions and include 2-8 women, use discussions, role play, art therapy techniques, and psychodrama to alleviate abortion-related stress and effect changes in problematic ideas and feelings. Plans for the group developed out of the leaders' observation that women who returned to the Service for a second abortion often had not dealt with feelings or issues from the first procedure. Nonjudgmental acceptance of abortion as an individual choice has empowered many group participants to raise their consciousness about women's social status and take a more active role in decision making about their reproductive life.     

Developing somatic sensibilities for practices of discernment in interaction design

The recent turn in the field of human–computer interaction to design and the aesthetics of interaction has generated a renewed focus on the body as the fundamental site of experience. Interaction design researchers and educators are exploring how to design for the felt dimension of interactions with computing technologies, anchored in the sensing and feeling capacities of the lived body. An expanded view of aesthetics beyond the visual has led to calls for approaches that foster a somatic literacy for interaction design. Our focus in this article centers on the importance of incorporating somatic sensitization in design pedagogy, toward a more holistic approach taking advantage of the sapient capacities of the body as a tool for meaning-articulation. Through the presentation of our case involving a workshop comparing the notions of tactile sensing and felt-sensing, we discuss our strategies for including a somatic learning process in design education, particularly in the context of design evaluation and creativity. We discuss some of the challenges we have experienced in facilitating and developing somatic sensibilities for practices of discernment in the evaluation of the qualities of designed interactive technologies.     

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Academic Engagement of Students

Higher education around the world is undergoing serious transformations as a result of technological, social, and economic processes. Universities from various countries are trying to secure a competitive position for themselves on the international market for educational services. Currently thousands of universities from different countries are trying to enter the race to join the race for international rankings. In their quest to reach the top of the rankings some countries seek to follow the experience of other, more successful nations by adopting their “best” practices. It is not surprising that all countries wish to secure a prosperous future for themselves and take efforts to avoid remaining on the sidelines of world development. However, a factor such as culture or national mentality may undermine the strategies and transformation processes that are being developed.

The goal of this study is to conduct a cross-cultural analysis of the academic engagement of students from Russian, Chinese, Japanese, American, and British universities and determine the role that cultural differences play in existing educational systems. The study sample consisted of 26,648 Bachelor’s students who were enrolled at universities in the United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan, and Russia during the 2016–2017 academic year. We used data from the “Student Experience in the Research University” (SERU) international research project to construct an index of student class involvement on the basis of a factor analysis. The results of our univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that students from Japanese, Chinese, American, British, and Russian universities demonstrate qualitatively different levels of academic involvement, which depends on the organization of the educational process as well as the cultural traditions of these countries. Thus, the Chinese students turned out to be the least engaged, since they were not required to actively participate in class discussions or to discuss additional questions related to the course with the instructor. Russian and American students demonstrated the highest level of engagement compared with other students from countries in the survey.

The author emphasizes the need to take into account existing cultural aspects when developing educational strategies, interacting with foreign students in the classroom, as well as conducting comparative studies.     

Reflections on September 11: Lessons From Four Psychological Perspectives

Several of the major theoretical perspectives within psychology can contribute to our understanding of the September 11 attacks and their aftermath. An argument derived from the psychodynamic approach suggests that terrorism may be a product of ambivalence rather than anger. From an evolutionary standpoint, the resentment that breeds terrorism, and the altruism that has arisen in its wake, may be seen as two sides of the same coin. The decision theoretic approach suggests that in the attempt to prevent future terrorist attacks, we face a seeming tradeoff between civil rights and civil liberties. Finally, the personality development approach suggests that difficult times can help forge new moral leaders.     

Supporting Family Carers Through Telephone-Mediated Group Programs: Opportunities For Gerontological Social Workers

ABSTRACT

Telephone-mediated group programs are an important but under-utilized medium for reaching frail or disabled older persons' family carers who are in need of support. The primary purpose and style of group programs can range across a broad spectrum–encompassing educational, supportive and therapeutic types. Gerontological social workers are the members of the multidisciplinary care team whose training, experience and supervision makes them most suitable for facilitating this broad range of group types. Drawing on the experience of training a number of group facilitators, this article provides suggestions for social workers contemplating the use of telephone-mediated groups and highlights groupwork skills peculiar to conducting group programs via the telephone.     

Group Work with Hard-to-Reach Adolescents

Treatment of the adolescent population, especially delinquent and predelinquent youth, has been a difficult challenge in the mental health field. Traditional treatment modalities not suited to unmotivated, verbally unsophisticated teenagers have generally bypassed them. We describe here the adaptation of streetwork and therapeutic activity group practice to this population. Focus is on the flexible use of member initiated program selection as a dynamic group work tool.     

教育期望中的班级效应分析

班级是中国基础教育领域重要的组织设置。利用“中国教育追踪调查”（CEPS）数据,应用分层线性模型,本研究关注班级设置,包括班级组织结构和班级氛围,对初中生教育期望的影响。研究结果表明,在多个组织结构变量中,班主任的受教育程度和教龄对学生教育期望影响显著,但任课老师的资历影响不显著;在多个班级氛围变量中,学生的教育期望既受到班级客观学业水平的影响,亦受到师生之间互动关系的影响。此外,在控制了班级氛围变量后,师资配置对学生教育期望的影响不再显著。总之,在以往研究重点关注个体、家庭和学校影响的基础上,本研究将对教育期望的研究进一步拓展到学校内部的班级环境,并发现师生之间建立的紧密互动关系及良好的班级氛围对学生的教育期望发挥着最重要的影响。     

Caregiving Around the Clock: How Women in Nursing Manage Career and Family Demands

Nursing is considered a woman friendly profession; however, career advancement in nursing, as in other fields, is predicated on masculine models of promotion, making mobility difficult for working mothers. To learn more about how women negotiate caregiving responsibilities at home and at work, focus groups were conducted with 26 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and aides. Three themes emerged from these discussions: tension between the value nurses assigned to paid caregiving and societal devaluation of this work; "costs" of paid caring and emotional labor on family life; and the presence of both obstacles to and opportunities for career advancement. Caregiving experiences were shaped by professional status. Implications for women's well being and career advancement are discussed.     

Linguistic competence/language access services (LAS) in end-of-life and palliative care: a social work leadership imperative

Despite the mandated and moral imperative to advance linguistic competence in all health care contexts, leadership that addresses this area of practice and study in end-of-life and palliative care is not readily obvious. Because social work is ideally suited to lead efforts to advance linguistically-accessible end-of-life and palliative care, social workers are encouraged to assume the challenge. This article focuses on topics that are elementary yet central to discussions on language diversity and leadership initiatives to advance language access in end-of-life and palliative care contexts: importance and function of language, extent of language diversity, inequity related to language diversity, mandates and standards related to language access, and approaches and competencies that contribute positively to language access.