scholarly journals SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS SOCIAL WORKERS IN FRONT-LINE PRACTICE

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-25
Author(s):  
Susan Burke
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Service Organizations ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Western Perspective

Indigenous peoples have been reclaiming jurisdiction over their child welfare services and Western society has been increasingly acknowledging that Indigenous peoples are in the best position to provide these services. While the number of Indigenous social workers has historically been low, especially when compared to the population they serve, their numbers seem to be on the rise. In spite of that reality, most social service organizations continue to operate from a Western perspective, with little attention paid to the ways in which they must change in order to provide space for the Indigenous social workers they employ. This study explores the experiences of nine First Nations and Métis social workers in British Columbia (BC). The researcher, a Métis scholar and former child welfare social worker, conducted data collection and analysis through a Métissage framework, using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed nine themes, including the need for (1) Knowledgeable leadership that supports autonomy; (2) Flexibility in practice; (3) Policy that fits both Indigenous and Western paradigms; (4) Relationships with other supportive social workers; (5) Support to navigate overlap between the personal and the professional; (6) Set standards/experienced co-workers; (7) Equitable workplace resources; (8) Respect regarding Indigenous identity, and; (9) Supports to maintain wellness. Recommendations suggest how this information can be used by organizations to better support the Indigenous social workers they employ.

scholarly journals How Area Agencies on Aging Contribute to Social Connection for Older Adults in Rural America

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 616-616
Author(s):  
Claire Pendergrast
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
New York ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Service Organizations ◽  
Upstate New York ◽  
Rural Aging ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Abstract Social ecological models of health identify intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy-level contexts as social factors influencing individual and population health outcomes. However how institutions such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) shape rural older adults’ social networks and influence health is little explored. This research examines institutional influences of social networks for rural older adults, particularly the social connections resulting from their AAA services and programs. AAAs are local social service organizations that coordinate home- and community-based supports. Our 2020 case study of a rural AAA in upstate New York involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with AAA staff, volunteers and participants included key themes related to older adults’ social networks, social wellbeing, and physical and mental health. Our findings have both theoretical implications for rural community social structure as experienced by older adults, and practical implications to build AAA’s capacity to address social isolation for rural older adults. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Rural Aging Interest Group.

scholarly journals First Nations Women Workers' Speak, Write and Research Back: Child Welfare and Decolonizing Stories

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Reid
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Women Workers ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
Aboriginal Peoples ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
First Nations Women

This research is a similar study to Gold’s (1998) study on the promotion of physical and mental health of mainstream female social workers in child welfare. Six First Nations women Child and Family Service (CFS) Social Workers (FNWCFSSW’s) who work in First Nations agencies gathered with me to share individual and collective stories about our CFS experiences. First Nations women and I discussed the impacts of our work on our holistic health, how we coped with the work, and strategies to deal with the issues that we face. This study outlines the research process that we engaged in, and, essentially weaves together the challenges, resilience, innovations, and unique experiences of First Nations women CFS Social Workers in a First Nations setting under a delegated authority model. As a result of these discussions five major themes were identified. The five themes that emerged from this study include the stress of dual accountability, the stresses of unrealistic expectations and multiple roles, the emotional costs and benefits of the intensity of the relationships, the fact that meaningful work gives strength and how the women coped and maintained their holistic health. This study reveals the important need for future participatory research to be conducted with FNWCFSSW and First Nations peoples. Ultimately, this paper speaks to the importance of changing the nature of along-term colonial relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples within the child welfare system and in dominant mainstream research processes.

scholarly journals Jordan’s Principle: Reconciliation and the First Nations Child

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
Colleen Sheppard
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Residential Schools ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Child Welfare Services ◽  
Reconciliation Commission ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
Nations Child ◽  
The Individual

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was mandated to “document the individual and collective harms” of residential schools and to “guide and inspire a process of truth and healing, leading toward reconciliation.”  The stories of survivors revealed the intergenerational and egregious harms of taking children from their families and communities. In seeking to redress the legacy of the residential schools era, the TRC Calls to Action include greater recognition of self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, as well as numerous recommendations for equitable funding of health, educational, and child welfare services.

Social Work and Social Entrepreneurship: Opportunities for Synergy and Social Change

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-198
Author(s):  
Rukshan Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Social Service Organizations ◽  
The Media ◽  
Media Reports ◽  
Private Support

Today's world faces unprecedented complexities. Governments, businesses, and nonprofits have far to go in solving these problems. The economic recession of 2007 exposed a significant decline in public and private support for social services (Pitt- Catsouphes & Berzin, 2015) and the need for social workers to facilitate new ways of addressing the complex, interwoven problems of poverty, racism, social inequity, and discrimination. Now more than ever, social workers need to understand how social services can utilize new strategies with new solutions to address these issues (Berzin, 2012). ). Shuman & Fuller (2005) coined the phrase “revolution will not be funded,” indicating that nonprofits all over the country must devise new incomegenerating strategies to empower disadvantaged groups. Although the media reports that the U.S. economy has rebounded, foundations and governments still expect social service nonprofits to leverage new forms of revenue to fulfill their missions. There is also some uncertainty about how nonprofits will be funded long term as local, state, and federal government dollars dry up. In addition, some claim that social service organizations develop complex programs that do not match the interests of funders (Foster, Kim, & Christensen, 2009).

scholarly journals Professional Standards and Training of Staff for Different Levels of Social Work: on the Issue of Adapting Educational and Professional Standards

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
V.V. Sizikova ◽  
O.A. Anikeeva
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Standards ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Educational Standards ◽  
Social Service Organizations ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
The Social ◽  
Structured System ◽  
Different Levels

The formation of a national framework of qualifications for social professionals is an incomplete process. The replenishment of professional standards raises the question of adapting and forming a single structured system for training personnel of specialists in the social sphere. The article discusses the practice of developing educational standards for different levels of social work, connecting educational standards and professional standards for social workers, specialists of social workers and heads of social service organizations on the basis of continuity and continuity.

Opinions Of Social Workers And Social Pedagogues About Their Professional Responsibility While Interacting With Clients

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edita Jezerskytė ◽  
Vilma Žydžiūnaitė
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Professional Responsibility ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Social Service Organizations ◽  
Social Pedagogy ◽  
Purposeful Sampling ◽  
Social Pedagogue ◽  
Social Pedagogues

Abstract Professional responsibility of social worker and social pedagogue is related to social, psychological, moral, educational, material and / or financial and other aspects. Then which aspects within the professional responsibility are worth to both specialists? The object of the research is the professional responsibility of social worker and social pedagogue. Research questions in this study are the following: What aspects are meaningful for social workers and social pedagogues within their professional responsibility while interacting with clients? Are these aspects overlap for social worker and social pedagogue or differ? The research aim is to explore the opinions of social workers and social pedagogues about their professional responsibility within their occupations. The questioning survey was performed at schools and social service organizations in five regions of Lithuania. Research participants were chosen according to purposeful sampling and in research study were asked to participate only social workers and social pedagogues who have experience in their professional (social work or social pedagogy) activities not less than five years. Data were collected by applying the questioning survey (2014 year) using the questionnaire with closed-ended questions. For data analysis were used the Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, 21.0). Findings showed that the self-perception, help to clients, professional ethics, trust are the components of professional responsibilities in the daily professional practices of social workers and social pedagogues. Conclusions highlight the idea that social workers and social pedagogues as responsible professionals must realize themselves not only as professionals, but also as human beings who must find the ways to connect with the diversity of clients.

Being a social worker in the unrecognized villages in Israel

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732095856
Author(s):  
Nuzha Allassad Alhuzail ◽  
Mahajne Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Professional Role ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Minority Population ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Social ◽  
Institutional Aggression

Summary This qualitative study presents the experiences of social workers whose clients are the inhabitants of unrecognized Bedouin Arab villages in Israel. Bedouin Arabs are an indigenous people, a minority population residing throughout Israel. Half of those in the south of the country inhabit villages that are not recognized by the authorities. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted over two years by both researchers with 25 social workers, recruited by the snowball method. The interview guidelines included one open-ended question and 10 more-specific questions. Findings The findings provide perspectives on postcolonial social work and social work with indigenous peoples. The social workers report that they are caught between their personal values and professional values, between Israeli law and the institutional aggression against their clients –which greatly limits their ability to fulfil their professional role. They say they are working in a “grey area” in which the policy is unclear. This adds another layer of complexity to their work but also allows for freedom and creativity. The findings point to a lack of suitable intervention programs. Applications Learning about the experience of social workers in conflict areas Learning about the experience of social workers in a clash of values Learning about the significance of unclear policy and its implications for the functioning of social workers in conflict areas.

scholarly journals Exploring the Perceptions of and Experiences with Traditional Foods among First Nations Female Youth: A Participatory Photovoice Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2214
Author(s):  
Rebecca Hanemaayer ◽  
Kimberley Anderson ◽  
Jess Haines ◽  
Kitty RLynn Lickers ◽  
Adrianne Lickers Xavier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Traditional Food ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Traditional Foods ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Photovoice Methodology

Traditional foods contribute to the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples. Many Indigenous Peoples within Canada have expressed a desire to consume more traditional foods; however, there are a number of barriers to doing so. Southern and urban communities face unique challenges associated with traditional food consumption. To address these concerns and build on community interests in a Haudenosaunee community in Southern Ontario, a participatory research project was initiated. This community-based study utilized Photovoice methodology to explore the perceptions of and experiences with traditional foods among local youth. Participants ranging in age from 15–22 (n = 5) took photos of their local food environments, including locations where foods were acquired, consumed, prepared, or shared during two seasons of the year. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect participants’ stories behind 8–10 self-selected images. A thematic analysis was subsequently utilized to identify patterns and themes illustrated by the photos and interview content. The youth conveyed contextual understandings of traditional foods and a preference for these items, despite their limited consumption, preparation or harvesting of these foods. The youth also identified the important influence of families and communities on their individual perceptions and experiences with traditional foods. Recommendations to reduce barriers to traditional food choices among youth are made.

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