Disability Culture and Cultural Competency in Social Work

Despite recognition of the importance of cultural and social diversity in social work education and practice there is a dearth of social work literature related to disability culture. A review of disability studies literature indicates that the disabled people's movement already affirms and celebrates the existence of disability culture as characterized by several agreed upon assumptions: disability culture is cross-cultural; it emerged out of a disability arts movement and its positive portrayal of disabled people; it is not just a shared experience of oppression but includes art, humour, history, evolving language and beliefs, values and strategies for surviving and thriving. Essentialist concepts of culture, as represented in assimilationist and pluralist social work approaches, provide social workers with the false belief that there are cultural competencies that one can develop that are sufficient to become more culturally sensitive. However, analysis of the critical theory underpinning disability culture demonstrates that an understanding of cultural politics is fundamental to social work education if it is to support the work of the disabled people's movement in demystifying and deconstructing the norms, discourses and practices of dominant culture which are represented as neutral and universal.     

“We believe in you,like really believe in you”: Initiating a realist study of (re)engagement initiatives for youth not in employment,education or training with experiences from northern Sweden

Due to a scarcity of rigorous evaluations and to commence a realist study addressing the lack of knowledge about the workings of interventions directed towards "NEET" youth, this research aimed to understand how and under what circumstances (re)engagement initiatives are expected to facilitate the social integration of young people who are in a situation that prevents them from entering into studies or work. By conducting the first phase in realist evaluation, qualitative interviews with five managerial stakeholders from two northern Swedish initiatives and reviews of documents were carried out for data collection. Using thematic analysis and retroductive reasoning, an intervention-context-actors-mechanisms-outcomes configuration was developed to elicit an initial programme theory that explained how the initiatives were presumed to operate and under what contextual contingencies. The results indicate that the intervention is expected to improve the youths’ wellbeing and engage them in work or studies by strengthening their competence and confidence in a caring and collaborative context. To incorporate the diverse voices and heterogeneous experiences of youth themselves, and ascertain whether the intervention works as intended, for whom, in what conditions and why, the results now need to be tested in selected cases and refined in subsequent phases of evaluation research.     

社区党建的路径选择——一种社会学的思考

社区党组织建设是加强基层党组织建设和构建和谐社会的重要组成部分。但在社区的建设中也要强调社区的自组织,实现社区的内源性发展,这两者在一定程度上是相互冲突与矛盾的。与以往的关于社区党建的研究不同,本文关注社区党建与社区建设的博弈。对此,笔者从社会学的视角出发提出了一种全新的干预模式,以期实现社区发展与社区党建的协调。     

经验介入模式初探

在教师专业化成长过程中存在的问题是理论知识与生活经验脱节、理论的抽象性缺陷、直接经验的零散化、在规范化中迷失个性、事务性劳动替换专业修养。解决这些问题要在多方面做出努力,其中就包括经验介入模式的探索。经验介入模式建立在行为主义学习理论、社会学习理论、建构主义学习理论和教学认识论的基础上,把学生的理论学习当成知识建构的过程,知识内化和外化的过程,在构建教学经验场的活动中,在场的教师和不在场他者经验在学生教学理论知识的构建中具有不可代替的作用。     

论养老机构中社会工作的介入——基于南通市养老机构的实证调查

随着我国人口老龄化趋势的日益加剧,养老问题逐渐成为一大社会问题,而且影响着经济社会的持续快速发展。但在当前形势下,居家养老模式已经受到现代社会发展的严重冲击和挑战,社区养老模式才刚刚起步,各种机制设施还有待进一步健全、完善。在新旧模式的转换过渡中,机构养老便成为解决养老问题的重要力量。本文通过对南通市养老机构的实证调查,发现了南通市机构养老存在的一些问题,提出了在养老机构中介入社会工作的设想。     

Using the Personal Computer in Disaster Intervention

We describe in this paper the contributions of the personalcomputer to a rural mental health program designed to address disaster-induced psychological problems following a flood. The computer served a vital role in several areas. First, we were able to use the computer in desktop publication of pamphlets for disaster survivors. Second, we used the computer for managing data to assess the needs of survivors, evaluate effectiveness, and generate reports. And third, we used the computer to mail letters to all survivors, providing them with updated information regarding available services and continuing concerns. In evaluating the success of the program, we conclude that the computer enabled us to implement a program that was inexpensive, responsive, efficient and effective.     

基于优势的学习困境学生社会工作干预策略初探——以北京市DC区HZ中学某个案为例

优势视角是于20世纪八、九十年代在西方社会工作领域兴起的一种实践工作取向。它注重案主的优势与潜能,挖掘案主所处环境中的资源,提倡合作、陪伴的互动关系,坚持发展与成长的服务方向。目前,这一工作手法已被运用于多种人群中,学习困境学生是教育、心理、社会工作等领域始终关注的重要群体。在本文里,笔者阐述了该理论的基本假设和主要概念,介绍了研究的方法、对象和相关设计,提出通过3I——I have、I am、I can的策略来实施干预,最后对整个介入过程进行了反思和总结。     

运用综合治疗模式介入个案社会工作

传统个案社会工作往往在理论上运用个别治疗模式,社会工作实践中使用多个,未能充分发挥其作用。该个案综合分析案主问题,伊始确立多种治疗模式综合介入,协助案主分析自身问题,有次序有步骤地帮助案主克服困难,解决学习生活问题。通过心理疏导及学习实践,改善了原有精神面貌及学习生活状况,达到治疗效果。     

The Self-Exclusion Experience for Problem Gamblers in South Australia

Abstract

Increased prevalence of problem gambling has accompanied the spread of gaming venues in many parts of the world. One intervention to minimise the impact of harmful patterns of gambling behaviours is self-exclusion, where patrons can elect to ban themselves from a gaming venue or its gaming facilities for a specified time period. While self-exclusion programs are widely available, little research has been conducted into their operations and efficacy, particularly from the self-excluders’ perspective. This paper presents findings from 35 survey responses and 23 interviews with gamblers who had self-excluded through a centralised service in South Australia. They identified key program shortcomings as low publicity, limits on how many venues they could self-bar from, and inadequate venue monitoring for breaches of self-barring orders. Nevertheless, the centralised service, staffed by trained psychologists and located away from gaming venues, which allows multiple venue barring in one application, appeared advantageous over programs that require people to self-exclude directly from individual gaming venues. Most respondents (85%) had ceased or lessened their gambling in the 12 months following self-barring. Nevertheless, some continued to struggle to manage their gambling, reflected in breaches of their orders and gambling in venues from which they were not excluded.     

In sickness and in health: An exploration of spousal support and occupational similarity

Abstract

While many studies of interventions have focused on their content and immediate effects, less research has focused on the processes that may explain these effects. The purpose of this study was to show how process evaluation can be used to interpret the results of an intervention study in four industrial canteens in Denmark. Two canteens acted as intervention groups and two as comparison groups. Effects were measured by surveys before and after interventions, and observations and interviews were conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of processes. Analyses were conducted based on the responses from 118 employees. Results showed, contrary to expectations, improvements in working conditions and well-being in one intervention group and in one comparison group, whereas no improvements were found in the two remaining groups. Data from the process evaluation enabled a meaningful interpretation of these results, raising the possibility programme failure rather than theory failure, and thereby constituting an example of how process evaluation can shed light over the factors that may influence outcomes in controlled intervention studies.