Showing papers in "International Social Work in 2020"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors draw on findings of an international study of social workers' ethical challenges during COVID-19, based on 607 responses to a qualitative survey, and consider regional contrasts, the "ethical logistics" of complex decision-making, the impact of societal inequities, and lessons for social workers and professional practice around the globe.
Abstract: This article draws on findings of an international study of social workers’ ethical challenges during COVID-19, based on 607 responses to a qualitative survey. Ethical challenges included the following: maintaining trust, privacy, dignity and service user autonomy in remote relationships; allocating limited resources; balancing rights and needs of different parties; deciding whether to break or bend policies in the interests of service users; and handling emotions and ensuring care of self and colleagues. The article considers regional contrasts, the ‘ethical logistics’ of complex decision-making, the impact of societal inequities, and lessons for social workers and professional practice around the globe.
145 citations
TL;DR: The social work profession, more than any other, is most hurt by the rampaging coronavirus (aka, COVID-19) pandemic given the scourge's pernicious impact on society's underserved and undervalued po...
Abstract: The social work profession, more than any other, is most hurt by the rampaging coronavirus (aka, COVID-19) pandemic given the scourge’s pernicious impact on society’s underserved and undervalued po...
80 citations
TL;DR: The rate at which the coronavirus (aka COVID-19) pandemic is exterminating thousands of people and leaving millions sick has pushed the International Federation of Social Workers to call on scholar...
Abstract: The rate at which the coronavirus (aka COVID-19) pandemic is exterminating thousands of people and leaving millions sick has pushed the International Federation of Social Workers to call on scholar...
79 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of undergraduate social work students about their experiences with remote learning during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is presented, where the authors present findings from a survey.
Abstract: This article presents findings from a survey of undergraduate social work (Bachelor of Social Work [BSW]) students about their experiences with remote learning during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In...
47 citations
TL;DR: Despite increasing acknowledgment that the social work profession must address environmental concerns, relatively little is known about the state of scholarship on environmental social work as discussed by the authors, despite increasing acknowledgment of environmental concerns.
Abstract: Despite increasing acknowledgment that the social work profession must address environmental concerns, relatively little is known about the state of scholarship on environmental social work. This s...
45 citations
TL;DR: During the COVID-19 emergency response of "staying the blazes home" in Nova Scotia, Canada, frontline social workers worked tirelessly "out of the home" to secure safe dwellings for those on the st...
Abstract: During the COVID-19 emergency response of ‘staying the blazes home’ in Nova Scotia, Canada, frontline social workers worked tirelessly ‘out of the home’ to secure safe dwellings for those on the st...
36 citations
TL;DR: Burnout has become part of everyday vocabulary as mentioned in this paper and during the time of COVID-19, burnout was no longer exclusively associated with job-related stress, but rather with a broader range of stressors.
Abstract: Burnout has become part of everyday vocabulary. During the time of COVID-19, burnout is no longer exclusively associated with job-related stress. Our current climate is entrenched with unprecedente...
35 citations
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inequality of social support systems worldwide, revealing the gaps that further marginalize vulnerable people, despite the fact that sex workers are adversely affected as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inequality of social support systems worldwide, revealing the gaps that further marginalize vulnerable people. Despite the fact that sex workers are adversely ...
31 citations
TL;DR: The Covid-19 virus does not recognize different governments, money, ideologies, national boundaries, ethnicity, class or identity as discussed by the authors, but it does recognize people from the East to the West, and from the North to the South, living in one interconnected world and as one humanity.
Abstract: Once in a century, in the era of global warming and globalization, there are international warnings about the outbreak of the virus Covid-19. People from the East to the West, and from the North to the South, are facing increasing threats from potential isolation, infection and even death. We are uncertain about when it will end and where outbreaks might occur, or who is afflicted. Human interactions are tempered by uncertainty and even fear that a colleague or ourselves could unknowingly be contagious. Our lives are changing. We have been reminded that acts of nature bring such widespread pandemonium to everyday life. All of this brings home the stark reality that we live in one interconnected world and as one humanity. The virus does not recognize different governments, money, ideologies, national boundaries, ethnicity, class or identity. Our response must be as one Global Village, and social work can help lead this.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored how staff and students in the School of Human Services and Social Work at Griffith University in Australia responded to these challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland.
Abstract: Penetrating perceptions and fostering cultural connections: Universities in Australia rely heavily on income from international students to stay financially viable, as international student income makes up the shortfall of government funding for Australian universities. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many international students studying in numerous countries faced racism, starvation, homelessness and an inability to pay their tuition fees. This article explores how staff and students in the School of Human Services and Social Work at Griffith University in Australia responded to these challenges during the pandemic in Queensland.
29 citations
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the socio-economic and health dimensions of many societies across the world as discussed by the authors, and for those in urban informal settlements, direct and indirect negative impacts of the p...
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the socio-economic and health dimensions of many societies across the world. For those in urban informal settlements, direct and indirect negative impacts of the p...
TL;DR: There will be a surge in persons developing bereavement complexities in future years, with a direct correlated link to COVID-19, with experts predicting the pandemic will ultimately claim hundreds of thousands of lives.
Abstract: The death rate that we are seeing from COVID-19 is unimaginable, with experts predicting the pandemic will ultimately claim hundreds of thousands of lives. The death toll has already far exceeded t...
TL;DR: In this article, the COVID-19 pandemic evoked a disruption to social work (SW) practice education and this brief note describes discoveries made in teaching SW practice virtually.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic evoked a disruption to social work (SW) practice education and this brief note describes discoveries made in teaching SW practice virtually. One example is Virtual Practice Fr...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the results of a strategy to disseminate best social work practices during periods of social lockdown in Spain, in a climate characterised by post-truth, misinformation.
Abstract: In this article, we present the results of a strategy to disseminate best social work practices during periods of social lockdown in Spain, in a climate characterised by post-truth, misinformation ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and identify the implications for future research and practice. But they focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of social work literature focused on natural disasters that primarily examines social work interventions, the effects of disasters and social work education. Future social work research and practice needs to focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters.
TL;DR: The distinction between border policing and the provision of basic social rights has been discussed in this article, where a dual character of firewalls is defined: to ensure that no information collected with the purpose of safeguarding...
Abstract: Firewalls are clear divisions between border policing and the provision of basic social rights. They have a dual character: to ensure that no information collected with the purpose of safeguarding ...
TL;DR: In this paper, social workers' experiences of working with refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey are discussed, where the major practice challenges are being unprepared for tele-social work, a decrease in financial resources, increasing barriers to resources, and threats to refugee children's wellbeing.
Abstract: This short essay aims to share social workers’ experiences of working with refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Three of the authors work in different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in different cities. NGOs play a vital role in the delivery of psychosocial support services to refugees in Turkey and have been inevitably affected by the pandemic. The major practice challenges are being unprepared for tele-social work, a decrease in financial resources, increasing barriers to resources, and threats to refugee children’s wellbeing. Finally, suggestions are made for the near future.
TL;DR: In this article, the positive and negative impacts of co-worker and manager relations on child protection is discussed. But, the authors focus on the negative impacts on co-workers and managers.
Abstract: Child protection is a stressful occupation that can result in burnout and job exit for some social workers. This article will focus on the positive and negative impacts of co-worker and manager rel...
TL;DR: For instance, the authors observes an increasing awareness of geographical inequity in knowledge creation and dissemination, an interest in research by scholars from the global South, and debates about the e...
Abstract: Social work is observing an increasing awareness of geographical inequity in knowledge creation and dissemination, an interest in research by scholars from the global South, and debates about the e...
TL;DR: The Australian Association of Social Workers has campaigned for many years for the registration of social workers in Australia, but with little success to date as discussed by the authors, and critically examines the registration process.
Abstract: The Australian Association of Social Workers has campaigned for many years for the registration of social workers in Australia, but with little success to date. This paper critically examines the k...
TL;DR: The use of information and communication technologies has greatly expanded and has far-reaching implications for social work practice as discussed by the authors, and an international review of the literature is presented in this paper.
Abstract: The use of information and communication technologies has greatly expanded and has far-reaching implications for social work practice. Following an international review of the literature, this stud...
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the engagement of a wide range of professionals in responding to clinical, social and economic issues as discussed by the authors, while the clinical expression of the pandemic have generated str...
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the engagement of a wide range of professionals in responding to clinical, social and economic issues. While the clinical expression of the pandemic has generated str...
TL;DR: The COVID-19 crisis has meant the suppression of face-to-face educational activity in most countries as discussed by the authors, and social workers must guarantee the educational community their suppor...
Abstract: The COVID-19 crisis has meant the suppression of face-to-face educational activity in most countries. Faced with this situation, social workers must guarantee the educational community their suppor...
TL;DR: The social work profession is increasingly concerned with human movement due to environmental changes and has issued a call to develop appropriate interventions to support the vulnerable groups that are affected by environmental changes as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The social work profession is increasingly concerned with human movement due to environmental changes and has issued a call to develop appropriate interventions to support the vulnerable groups tha...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors summarized the situation of unaccompanied child (UAC) refugees in Greece in 2017/2018 and noted the number and characteristics of these children, the challenging situation in respondin...
Abstract: This article summarizes the situation of unaccompanied child (UAC) refugees in Greece in 2017/2018. It notes the number and characteristics of these children, the challenging situation in respondin...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the social work response to COVID-19 in Albania and discuss social workers' engagement in governmental and non-governmental agenci...
Abstract: We provide an overview of the social work response to COVID-19 in Albania. After introducing the country situation, we discuss social workers’ engagement in governmental and non-governmental agenci...
TL;DR: This work examined overlaps between the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV epidemic using an intersectional stigma framework through the lens of Critical Race Theory to identify solutions to mitigate impact among African Americans.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the health disparities and structural racism among African Americans. We examined overlaps between the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV epidemic using an intersection...
TL;DR: The problem with current social work practice in Africa is that following its development in the West, it came to Africa grounded in values and ideologies stemming from capitalism, social Darwinism as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The problem with current social work practice in Africa is that following its development in the West, it came to Africa grounded in values and ideologies stemming from capitalism, social Darwinism
TL;DR: The results explore the patterns of abuse as well as the factors and circumstances that motivated South Asian women to change in the context of the stage that they were in as per the Landenburger model.
Abstract: This qualitative study was conducted with a convenience sample of 20 South Asian women experiencing domestic violence in the United States. The results explore the patterns of abuse as well as the factors and circumstances (i.e. turning points) that motivated South Asian women to change in the context of the stage that they were in as per the Landenburger model (binding, enduring, disengaging, and recovery). The four themes that emerged from the interviews and analysis are (1) ‘Timing and Frequency of abuse’, (2) ‘Methods of control – financial, isolation and suspicion’, (3) ‘Cycle of Abuse’, and (4)’ Turning Points – motivation to change’. Implications for practice and policy-level changes for abused South Asian women in the United States are discussed.