A praxis and Research Agenda for Multicultural Human Services Organizations

Human services organizations in the United States are currently faced with the problems of a diminishing and shifting resource base coupled with increasing demands for services. In addition, national demographic changes with increasing social diversity, and a rise in racial, ethnic, gender and other group-based tensions have posed special challenges for human service organizations. By tracing the history of social work approaches to working with ethnic minorities, this paper argues that responses to environmental flux have in fact been inadequate in addressing issues of social inequalities and injustices. We articulate a vision of socially just and diverse human services organizations that are both empowering and empowered. We call these Multicultural Human Services Organizations (MHSO). We spell out praxis and research agendas that continue the social justice-social diversity mission that is central to our vision.     

Identifying and implementing pathways for organizational change – using the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families as a case example

Change within social work organizations is incessant. This has implications for senior managers and elected members who have to manage these changes. The Department of Health has introduced new guidance entitled the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families ( Department of Health 1999a ). The guidance is based on a number of principles that require an attitudinal shift in terms of assessing ways of safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. This paper describes strategic approaches to the effective introduction of the framework within social services departments and other child welfare organizations. Two models have been adapted from practice: the actual framework for assessing children and their families and the Protchaska and DiClementi model of change. These models complement each other. The adapted Assessment Framework provides a structure to assess the readiness of the organization for the implementation of the new framework. The model of change provides a schema for planning, implementing and reviewing the introduction and operation of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Although the focus of the paper is the introduction of the new guidance , the models can be utilized by senior managers in any social care organization who are facilitating major changes in the organization.     

From Birth to Death: A Social Monitoring Framework from New Zealand

The paper begins by outlining the development of social indicators work and social monitoring at the national level in New Zealand and comments on how this relates to the international movement. It describes the 'key' indicators/life stage approach developed by the New Zealand Planning Council in the early 1980s. This exercise continues from a university base and the fourth report in the series, entitled Tracking Social Change in New Zealand was published in early 1998. Examples are presented to show how the results can be used to highlight the policy implications of changing social trends.     

Social Sources of Failure in Education: The Case in East and Southeast Turkey

The efficiency of education in East and Southeast Turkey (E&SE) has long been a subject of debate. Both regions are similar to each other and different from the other regions in terms of economy, culture, ethnic origin, and languages spoken. Sahin (1997) studied the efficiency of education in the E&SE and proposed that illiteracy is significantly the highest in both regions, the female student population is significantly lower, and students are significantly less successful in nationwide general proficiency examinations (OSS and OYS) compared to all the other regions. Social sources of failure were studied in terms of the distinguishing characteristics of both regions, from both practical and theoretical standpoints. The findings indicated inequality of educational opportunity rooted in geographical, economical, social (cultural, linguistic), and political factors.     

世界人口格局中的中国人口转变及其特点

20世纪 50年代以后的中国人口转变与西方传统人口转变有许多不同之处 ,具有自身的特点 ,即转变的迅速性、控制干预性、不彻底性、不稳定性、不平衡性。把握新时期稳定低生育水平的决定是将我国人口转变进行到底的重要措施和手段 ,是实现人口可持续发展的重要步骤     

韩国人口老龄化与老年人社会保障

随着近几十年生育率的持续下降及平均寿命的不断提高 ,韩国人口逐渐出现了老龄化趋势。到下世纪初韩国人口老龄化进程将进一步加快。韩国人口老龄化的显著特征 ,就是在急剧的现代化过程中 ,还没来得及健全老年人社会保障、福利、医疗、保健等制度的情况下将迎来迅速的人口老龄化 ,从而使全社会面临着不断增长的老年人福利、医疗、保健需求     

浅议当前农村养老保障体系中的缺陷和问题

目前农村家庭养老矛盾重重 ,面临农村养老保障由家庭养老向社会养老逐渐过渡的问题。在统筹社会养老基金时 ,应考虑农村养老保障体制转换成本问题 ,应由集体经济和国家负担部分转换成本。家庭养老以精神激励为主 ,但也要实行有效的监督。社会养老基金统筹可采用浮动制的收费办法 ,以弥补保费收缴水平偏低的矛盾     

民族历史构建与现实社会因素(续)

保安族在50年代被正式识别为一个民族,对其族源曾有多种观点。但是在建国50年后,保安族的历史和族源观被再次重构,这个过程既反映了现实民族关系对历史书写的映射,也反映了民族精英在历史重构中的能动性。对保安族的这个实例的分析可以帮助我们更深刻地认识现实社会因素能够如何影响民族历史的构建,这个案例所反映出来的族群历史建构模式对于研究我国的"民族历史建构和族群群体的认同结构也颇具启发意义。     

《水浒传》的"社会风俗史"意义及其"精神意象"

《水浒传》特殊的“集体累积”成书过程,决定了它是“历史成份”极其稀薄的“英雄传奇”小说,其绾结短篇的特点,使众多“英雄好汉”的出身经历和聚义故事成为这一鸿篇巨制的主体内容。这些主要源于宋元民间“说话”的故事,保留了大量社会生活“原生态”的描写,使《水浒传》在一定程度上具有了“社会风俗史”的意义。在漫长的成书过程中,《水浒传》不仅在叙事艺术上经历了反复锤锻,同时也积淀、凝聚了“近古”以来中国社会广大民众普遍的观念意识和情绪心理,形成了带有时代特征的精神意象。     

被征地农民就业与参保意愿及政策建议——基于西安市调查的分析

通过问卷调研,对被征地农民的就业与参加社会保障的现状、意愿及其影响因素进行研究。首先,被征地农民的就业率低主要原因是缺乏市场竞争意识,就业意愿与就业能力有偏差。其次,政策宣传力度不够和被征地农民社会保障制度存在缺陷,是被征地农民参保意愿低的主要原因。除此之外,征地补偿标准不合理、被征地农民市民化程度低,是造成被征地农民"弱势"地位的深层次原因。对此,应根据被征地农民的需求,建立多种形式的就业培训和就业扶助,尤其扶持有意向的被征地农民自主创业;为实现与城镇社会保障的对接,应建立多层次的被征地农民社会保障体系。