Showing papers in "International Social Work in 1991"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe and analyse the professional/occupational preferences of graduates in social work regarding client populations, areas of service, and tasks and methods of intervention in Social Work practice.
Abstract: The objectives of this research were to describe and analyse the professional/occupational preferences of graduates in social work regarding client populations, areas of service, and tasks and methods of intervention in social work practice. Preferences were rank ordered and prestige scales were developed. The prestige scales reflect the interest level in working with specific client populations, in certain types of social service agency and in using specific methods of social work intervention. The scales provide information about the interest level of each preference in comparison to other preferences, indicating the rate of the difference between the preferences. A recurrent concern in social work has been the abandonment of
62 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the KMT attempted to develop the economic and military capacities of Taiwan in order to counterattack the mainland by deploying troops from the mainland to Taiwan in early 1949.
Abstract: Owing to their defeat by the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War, the KMT’s troops began to withdraw in early 1949 from the mainland to Taiwan. Many skilled political, economic and military leaders, who would later contribute greatly to the development of the island, accompanied the central government to Taiwan. Learning from their failure on the mainland, the KMT attempted to develop the economic and military capacities of Taiwan in order to counterattack the mainland.
14 citations
TL;DR: Dementia is defined as the impairment of intellectual function usually as a result of diffuse structural disease of the brain, with a steeply rising incidence of dementia syndromes with increasing age.
Abstract: Dementia is defined as the impairment of intellectual function usually as a result of diffuse structural disease of the brain. There are two types: the Alzheimer-type of non-vascular brain failure and the arteriosclerotic dementia of vascular brain failure. In the UK, the prevalence rate of dementia among the young-old group between 65 and 79 years old is estimated to be 6.5 percent, and among the old-old group, 80 years and above, it is more than 20 percent (Gray and Isaacs, 1979). In Hong Kong, specific data on the prevalence rate of the elderly suffering from mental disorder are not readily available. In 1984, Dr V. Tiggelen estimated that the prevalence rate of mental disorder among the elderly aged 65 years and above is about 20 percent. Roughly half of this number suffers from functional psychiatric disorders, or mainly from depression; the other half is related more to organic mental disorder, with a steeply rising incidence of dementia syndromes with increasing age; for example, in the 60-70 age group it is estimated at 3-5 percent; in the 80 plus age group, it is estimated at 20 percent (Hong Kong Council of Social Services, 1987). The aged population will increase in the coming years: the number of persons aged 80 years and over in Hong Kong
14 citations
TL;DR: In the case of as mentioned in this paper, a mother living in Egypt is searching for the son she has not seen since the boy's father knocked her unconscious and snatched him from their Texas home, and she has no way to enforce her US custody order because Egypt has not signed the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.
Abstract: Judy has lived in Egypt for the past two years. Marginally employed and receiving some financial support from her parents, she is searching for the son she has not seen since the boy’s father knocked her unconscious and snatched him from their Texas home. The three years since their marriage fell apart have not been easy for Judy. She is not fluent in Arabic, and she is fighting for her rights as a parent within a social and legal system that places authority over the family in the hands of fathers. She has no way to enforce her US custody order because Egypt has not signed the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.
13 citations
TL;DR: There is a growing awareness, world wide, of the need for indigenization and authentization of social work education and practice as discussed by the authors, which requires the development of education and practices which are drawn from local sociopolitical and economic contexts.
Abstract: There is a growing awareness, world-wide, of the need for indigenization and authentization of social work education and practice (Cossom, 1990; Freire,1970; Midgley,1981; Stein,1973; Walton and Abo El Nasr, 1988). This process requires the development of education and practice models which are drawn from local sociopolitical and economic contexts. Working and living in the South African sociopolitical system creates ethical and practical dilemmas. ’Racism’ defined as the assertion of inherent superiority of particular racial or ethnic groups over others (Van den Berghe, 1967) permeates all aspects of public and private life in South Africa through the institutionalized apartheid system. The South African government has used direct legal intervention to organize people’s personal lives. The Population Registration Act, No. 30 of 1950 with Proclamation 123 of 1967 introduced nine so-called racial categories into which people had to be classified. Although, as Burman (1986) pointed out, the concept of race has been discredited as a meaningful biological classification system, it has marked sociopolitical implications in South African society. In terms of the Group Areas Act, No. 41 of 1950 (as amended), each group may live only in separately allocated areas. Except for private schools, children may attend school only with members of the same ’racial’ group. Although apartheid legislation is changing, ’colour and ethnicity legally determine where one may live, where one may visit, where one is educated, and whom one may love’ (Dawes, 1985). Apartheid directly conflicts with the values of the social work profession, yet social work agencies, and thus social workers, are funded through racially divided social welfare structures and there is
11 citations
TL;DR: In fact, many educators are clamouring for the indigenization of social work education as discussed by the authors, based on the idea that students and practitioners face culture conflicts when attempting to apply western theoretical models to their practice.
Abstract: not culturally, politically and economically suited to meet the needs of developing countries. In fact, many educators are clamouring for the indigenization of social work education. Their quest is based on the idea that students and practitioners face culture conflicts when attempting to apply western theoretical models to their practice. The search for indigenization is a modern phenomenon among educators in developing countries, including India. Indigenization is generally concerned with macro-, community-oriented, developmental issues. Casework, which is still a much needed form of social
11 citations
TL;DR: Brown and Pizer as discussed by the authors reported that approximately fifty million Americans fall below the poverty line at some time during a given year, while more than thirty-three million are impoverished over any twelve-month period.
Abstract: Approximately fifty million Americans fall below the poverty line at some time during a given year, while more than thirty-three million are impoverished over any twelve-month period. The disparity between rich and poor is greater in the United States than all but one other industrialized nation. No other developed country has so many poor people or treats them so badly as we do (Brown and Pizer, 1987).
10 citations
TL;DR: A shifting of the key element within youth correction away from those comprehensive institutions established in the nineteenth century towards a range of community-based forms of intervention such as attendance centres, intensive probation, community service orders and youth project centres has been advocated since the 1960s as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Since the 1960s, government reports, legislation and policy statements throughout Britain, North America and Australia have consistently stressed the intention of keeping young people out of custodial institutions. All have advocated a shifting of the key element within youth correction away from those comprehensive institutions established in the nineteenth century towards a range of community-based forms of intervention such as attendance centres, intensive probation, community service orders and youth project centres. Critiques of institutional intervention centred on the belief that institutions were expensive, brutalizing, stigmatizing, dehumanizing, encouraged recidivism and were essentially criminogenic rather than rehabilitative. The movement to decentre the prison and the institution and effect their replacement with community alternatives was united by the assumptions that institutions are ineffective they neither deter
9 citations
9 citations
TL;DR: The promotion of non-violent social change has become increasingly popular among diverse scholarly disciplines since the early 1960s as discussed by the authors, and social workers have been trying since 1963 to relate their professional knowledge of non violent social change processes to the issue of war and peace.
Abstract: The promotion of peace education has become increasingly popular among diverse scholarly disciplines since the early 1960s. As a community social worker and social work educator, I have been trying since 1963 to relate my professional knowledge of non-violent social change processes to the issue of war and peace.’ In fact, I was stimulated by something Eileen Younghusband wrote in 1963. She put this issue within the context of the rapid and almost universal social change which had resulted from technological innovations since the Industrial Revolution began in the West. The latter greatly increased mankind’s muscle and thinking capacity, but ’we found no such means to enlarge his ... heart, and ... this widening imbalance in man’s development means that the benefits conferred by his mind may be negated, by the infantile and uncivilized responses of his emotions (Younghusband, 1963). Like many others, I begin with the assumption that service disciplines like social work, as well as the behavioural sciences, are capable of reducing this gap between ultra-sophisticated technology and social/emotional immaturity. I have found support in the writings of such colleagues as Addams (1983), Crane (1986), Hamilton (1958), Knopka (1953) and Lundy (1987). For example, every social worker ’knows’ that: 1. Being powerful or winning wars (like being dominant and winning family arguments) is not enough to guarantee peace. Acquiescence of the loser does not create trust relationships, only dependency and resentment. There is no normal living without
8 citations
TL;DR: The existing research literature, primarily conducted in the USA and UK, has largely been centred on the family's stresses and responses to the ill family member (Hatfield and Lefley, 1987), finding that what most often is a severe predicament for the family in adjusting to the exigencies of caring for a mentally ill son or daughter as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: families who care for their mentally ill sons or daughters. Much of the interest generated has been due to the growing self-help movement for families of the mentally ill, the deinstitutionalization movement and increasing professional recognition of the family’s own burden in caring for their mentally ill child. The existing research literature, primarily conducted in the USA and UK, has largely been centred on the family’s stresses and responses to the ill family member (Hatfield and Lefley, 1987). Findings have depicted what most often is a severe predicament for the family in adjusting to the exigencies of caring for a mentally ill son or daughter. Typical of the stresses that a family faces, as reported in these studies, are the unpredictable and frequently bizarre behaviour exhibited by their child, the societal stigma and isolation, financial problems, disruption of household routines and social activities and difficulties in dealing with professional helping systems. Family responses have been described in these studies as including feelings of exhaustion, guilt, shame, depression, anxiety and helplessness. Families often search for the meaning behind the increasing debilitation of their child and can often suffer psychosomatic symptoms including insomnia, fatigue and hypertension. Some studies have also noted strain and disruptions in marital or family relationships (Potasznik and Nelson, 1984; Creer and Wing, 1975; Hatfield, 1978; Doll, 1976; Vine, 1982). All of these studies have been
TL;DR: Affirmative action refers to public policy, the purpose of which is to enable the discriminated minorities and other population groups to achieve full equality with the majority of counter groups.
Abstract: Affirmative action refers to public policy, the purpose of which is to enable the discriminated minorities and other population groups to achieve full equality with the majority of counter groups. India, since Independence, has implemented affirmative action policy in respect to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes (OBCs). The scheduled castes include castes, races or tribes which have been declared as such by the President of India under the constitutional authority granted to him by Article 341(1) of the Constitution. They represent those communities which have suffered discrimination in the social, economic, educational, political, cultural and religious life of Indian society and have been treated as ’outcasts’ or ’untouchable castes’ in the Hindu caste system. They have been segregated in isolated neighbourhoods, given menial occupations, been denied civil rights, education and participation in the political, cultural and religious areas of society. They constitute about 17 percent of the Indian population. Scheduled tribes include those groups declared by the President as scheduled tribes in accordance with Article 342( 1 ) of the Constitution. The scheduled tribes have remained secluded in forest and hilly areas of the country,
TL;DR: An international expert meeting on client access was held in Surrey, UK under the auspices of the Department of Health and Social Security and the European Centre for Social Welfare Training and Research (Munday, 1987) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: to personal social services records is rooted in the principles of a democratic society freedom, self-determination and privacy. Access can be viewed as a client right (Cohen, 1982; Prochaska, 1977), as a means of enhancing practice interventions (BASW, 1980), as a way of improving record keeping (Cohen, 1982; Ovretveit, 1986) and as a mechanism through which multiple levels of accountability can be achieved (Gelman, 1989). In March of 1987 an international expert meeting on client access was held in Surrey, UK under the auspices of the Department of Health and Social Security and the European Centre for Social Welfare Training and Research (Munday, 1987). Representatives from fourteen countries (Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, West Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom) participated in the meeting which explored developments and experiences with access policies.
TL;DR: Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream of things that never were, and say: 'Why not?' (Robert Kennedy, 1925-68) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream of things that never were, and say: 'Why not?' (Robert Kennedy, 1925-68)
TL;DR: The Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education (APASWE) as mentioned in this paper was established to promote internationally high standards of social work education by dissemination of ideas at conferences and in training workshops, through research and publication and by exchange of teaching materials.
Abstract: It is now sixty years since the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) was established to promote internationally high standards of social work education by dissemination of ideas at conferences and in training workshops, through research and publication and by exchange of teaching materials. Not surprisingly, since the resources of IASSW have come mainly from the United States and Europe, the models of social work projected have reflected the values and concepts derived from those cultures. In the early 1970s, however, recognition of some special features in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America led to the establishment of regional associations. Social work educators in the Philippines and India gave the lead to the establishment of the Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education (APASWE) which, at present, has members from fourteen countries. Despite considerable diversity associated with the nature and extent of economic development and with cultural, social and political factors, there is evidence that social work in Asia and the Pacific has come to view social development rather than individual change as the more relevant goal and, in each country, social work has assumed indigenous features. The commonalities in social work have been its values, associated as they are with concepts of human dignity and social justice, and principles relating firstly to the need for study and research to identify the social problems to be addressed in the context (country) in which they occur, and secondly, the need to develop strategies of action to address those problems in ways consonant with the context. Thus, in responding to indications that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) sought to reintroduce social work education, APASWE did so with awareness of the dangers of cultural imperialism, that is the imposition of the ideas of a more established profession on one emerging in a different culture.
TL;DR: If genetic engineering develops as dramatically as its potential, demonstrated in agriculture and pharmacology, promises, personnel in medical and mental health settings, particularly social workers, will inevitably become genetic counsellors.
Abstract: as information develops in genetics and counselling about it is needed. Rauch has anticipated the need for knowledge about basic genetic concepts and the challenge to the profession of meeting the need for genetic services. These will explode as genetic engineering develops treatment for disease. Genetic engineering presents the thoughtful person with social, economic, legal and moral dilemmas, currently discussed in the scientific and popular press. ’The short-circuiting of centuries of evolution, the unpredictability of the effects of transplants, and the potential of life once created to be self-perpetuating and uncontrollable have stirred an ethical controversy’ (Barton et al., 1984: 60). If genetic engineering develops as dramatically as its potential, demonstrated in agriculture and pharmacology, promises, personnel in medical and mental health settings, particularly social workers, will inevitably become genetic counsellors. There already exist important advances in knowledge of the inheritability of traits leading to both physical and mental illness. Support groups have developed to help parents of children with fatal genetic diseases for whom no current treatment exists. Although much current work involves recombinant DNA research in drug development, work on tests which can predict familial illness continue. Experiments that contemplate genetic manipulation of the foetus in utero or of the chromosome structure of the carrier of a genetic trait for deleterious disease may materialize and present
TL;DR: This article provided an overview of the Spanish social service system and described the provision of social services in rural Catalonia, utilizing detailed field observations from two specific counties or comarcas in the province of Girona.
Abstract: This article provides an overview of the Spanish social service system and describes the provision of social services in rural Catalonia, utilizing detailed field observations from two specific counties or comarcas’ in the province of Girona. The research was carried out in the spring/summer 1989 and relied on observations of the daily activities of the local social workers, including home visits and client interviews. Interviews with localand national-level government officials, local physicians, priests and other significant members of
TL;DR: There is an increasing recognition that women who are confronted by the multiple roles of employee, child care provider, and housekeeper require support services such as maternity leave, and child care, flexitime (flextime), flexiplace and counselling services.
Abstract: multiple roles (Thoits, 1983), other findings point to women experiencing increasing levels of stress and strain (Krause, 1984). There is increasing recognition that women who are confronted by the multiple roles of employee, child care provider and housekeeper require support services such as maternity leave, child care, flexitime (flextime), flexiplace and counselling services. Some changes in the United States have occurred in recent years by the formulation of supportive public policies, for example, the mandatory designation of maternity leave as a disability by employers. In addition, employers are increasingly being called upon to provide support services to a segment of their employees who are rapidly being recognized as indispensable. The growth of employee assistance programmes and corporate child care are examples of such services. However, these developments have been modest, for example, employee assistance programmes are only available to 12 percent of United States employees (Quayle, 1983). Directions need to be taken in order to provide support for working mothers. At this time, the nature of these new directions
TL;DR: The family is the bedrock of all societal systems, complex as well as less developed, irrespective of their political and economic ideology as discussed by the authors, and the family is therefore viewed as an independent variable from which a number of actions are taken in choices of normative values, structural arrangements and behavioural patterns by individuals in society.
Abstract: The family is the bedrock of all societal systems, complex as well as less developed, irrespective of their political and economic ideology. Family is therefore viewed as an independent variable from which a number of actions are taken in choices of normative values, structural arrangements and behavioural patterns by individuals in society. Experiences in the USA and USSR vividly demonstrate the existence of a causal relation between families and how these dimensions
TL;DR: The value situation in child welfare is an unidentified terrain this article, and these are enmeshed in values, with an urge to comfort and hug the child and blame the parents.
Abstract: Any discussion of child welfare issues concerning maternal deprivation, abandonment and child placement brings to the surface intense feelings of hate and pity, anger, hopelessness and helplessness, with an urge to comfort and hug the child and blame the parents. Practice in child-welfare calls for feelings, and these are enmeshed in values. The value situation in child welfare is an unidentified terrain.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that women's overrepresentation in the poverty population and their relatively low earning capacity across cultures cannot be attributed to individual deficiency but rather to multiple factors including gender stratification of the labour force and the dual responsibilities of women as caregivers and wage earners.
Abstract: Social work’s long-standing emphasis on the contextual nature of individual problems is also reflected in the gender-sensitive practice principle, ’the individual is political’ (van den Bergh and Cooper, 1986). Women’s overrepresentation in the poverty population and their relatively low earning capacity across cultures cannot be attributed to individual deficiency but rather to multiple factors including gender stratification of the labour force and the dual responsibilities of women as caregivers and wage earners. These issues are relevant for social work researchers, policy-makers and practitioners who need to be concerned with how comprehensive child care policies, equality policies, such as equal pay or equal work, and other gender-specific policies affect the welfare of women clients. The way in which gender-specific policies are advocated in the
TL;DR: In this paper, Okennotifa et al. proposed to integrate the US social welfare organizational structure into its own social welfare system, even though the US system is not nationally controlled like Nigeria's.
Abstract: General background Sierra Leone and Nigeria are developing countries with numerous national problems that require their authorities to focus on social, political, educational and environmental issues. Colonialism left behind a legacy of social welfare systems irrelevant to the social needs of the masses because they were originally designed to meet not the needs of the colonies, but those of the colonial masters (Okennotifa, 1978: 200). After independence, Sierra Leone and Nigeria inherited the outdated social welfare systems left by colonial administration. However, Nigeria compounded the problem by integrating the US social welfare organizational structure into its own social welfare system, even though the US system is not nationally controlled like Nigeria’s. Authorities in both Sierra Leone and Nigeria have worked at the national level to make social welfare and social work more relevant to contemporary national social development. Both countries conceptualize social welfare as an institution that addresses housing, education, health, welfare, labour and employment, prison, youth and sports (Background to Sierra Leone, 1980; Nigerian Development Plan, 1975-80) through two divisions: the Division of Community Development and the Social Services Division. Sierra Leone and Nigeria’s basic objectives of social welfare
TL;DR: A review of the issues concerning setting up social work specializations in India can be found in this paper, where the authors present a survey done by the University Grants Commission UGC, 1980) showed that the total number of specialization papers offered at the schools of social work varied from two to nine.
Abstract: It is observed that the specialization curricula across schools of social work in India lack the basic principles of curriculum organization such as uniformity in the core concepts of a particular specialization (Desai, 1981 ). A survey done by the University Grants Commission UGC, 1980) showed that the total number of specialization papers offered at the schools of social work varied from two to nine. This nebulous state of affairs has led to a need for a review of social work specializations in India. This paper presents a review of the issues concerning setting up social work specializations in India. It provides
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a carefully marshalled analysis of the causes of schizophrenia, focusing on the social, domestic and political needs of those defined as schizophrenic, and the consequences of this are seen most clearly in the realm of intervention.
Abstract: and biochemistry, diet, season of birth, viral infection, social stress, life events and family structure. Not one of these explanations has met with a consensus as to the origins of the disorder. Worse than this, the search for an elusive medical model cause has blighted commitment to alternative types of approach. The consequences of this are seen most clearly in the realm of intervention where, for example, the social, domestic and political needs of those defined as schizophrenic go largely unaddressed. Unlike the works of the 1960s critics, this is a carefully marshalled analysis of our
TL;DR: Although it is hard to know how far this was due to treatment and what part was played by so-called spontaneous remission as discussed by the authors, many families sought further help after the programme was ended, so the writers question the appropriateness of crisis theory and the sufficiency of crisis intervention for many abused children.
Abstract: although it is hard to know how far this was due to treatment and what part was played by so-called ’spontaneous remission’ (i.e. children’s recuperative processes and the responses of other people). Many families sought further help after the programme was ended, so the writers question the appropriateness of crisis theory and the sufficiency of crisis intervention for many abused children. There are some thoughtful recommendations for practice and further research. They might have added that there is a need for better knowledge and evaluation of the nature of sexual abuse and professional responses to it outside North America, which remains the main source of systematic social work information in this area. Whereas this book will be useful