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1
Jönsson, Jessica H. "Localised Globalities and Social Work : Contemporary Challenges." Doctoral thesis, Mittuniversitetet, Avdelningen för socialt arbete, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-21587.
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Recent global and structural transformations, a West-centric development agenda and the triumph of neoliberal politics have led to destructive consequences for many local communities and individual life chances. The global dominance of the West-centric development agenda, with its roots in the colonial past, has created uneven developments and an unjust world in which Western countries continue to gain advantages and increase their prosperity. Although a minority elite in many non-Western countries share the same interests as Western countries and their global organs, the majority of people in these countries are suffering from increasing socioeconomic inequalities. As a result of the dogmatic belief in a singular and West-centric modernity and its practices, many problems are considered to be the result of non-Western countries’ inabilities to complete the project of modernity in accordance with Western blueprints. This has also influenced social work as a global and modern profession. Social problems are often individualised and the reasons behind many inequalities are increasingly related to non-Western people’s individual shortcomings and traditional cultural backgrounds. In Western and non-Western countries equally are the neoliberal structural and institutional transformations ignored and social problems of individuals and families defined as a matter of wrong and deviant actions and choices. The main objective of the dissertation, which is constituted of four articles and an overall introduction and summary, is to examine the consequences of recent neoliberal globalisation based on the belief in a single and West-centric modernity and development agenda and their consequences for social work facing increasing global inequalities. The following research questions have guided the work: ‘How can social work play an effective role in combating social problems and otherisation, marginalisation and increasing inequalities in a globalised world?’, ‘How does the global development agenda function within the local arenas of social work?’, ‘Are development projects improving people’s life chances in local communities in non-Western countries?’, ‘How informed and responsive are social workers towards the global context of local problems?’ The work is based on a qualitative design using qualitative content analysis for analysing data collected through interviews, participant observations and official documents. The results show that irrespective of where and in which context social problems are appearing, since local problems often have global roots, a global perspective to local problems should be included in every practices of social work in order to develop new methods of practices in an increasingly globalised field of work. Destruction of local communities, forced migration from non-Western countries, and marginalisation of people with immigrant background in Western countries should not be considered only as local problems, but also as problems with their roots in global structural inequalities which reproduces global social problems with local consequences. It is argued that social work should consider the dilemmas and problems connected to the taken for granted West-centric theories, understandings and practices of social work in order to develop new methods of practices for combating social problems, marginalisation and increasing inequalities in a globalised world. Such a position includes practicing multilevel social work, social work in global alliances beyond the division of East and West, and mobilisation against neoliberalism and the retreat of the welfare state. This requires critical standpoints against the relationship between the global context of the neoliberal ideology and practices in a Western-dominated and postcolonial world and the daily practices of social work.Localised Globalities and Social Work: Contemporary Challenges
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Wilson, George. "Developing social work education : theoretical uncertainties and practical challenges." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.603565.
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The main aims of this critical analysis are to demonstrate that the submitted seventeen papers comprise a body of work that satisfies the requirements for the degree of PhD by Published Works. Focusing on papers that have been most significant in my learning trajectory, the submission evaluates the contribution of the published works to the advancement of social work education and the current educational reform process in the UK. Together with exploring uncertainties and challenges that present barriers to improving qualifying education, the critical analysis considers how obstacles to development might be overcome. In addressing the submission's main theme of developing social work education the critical analysis focuses on three sub-themes that have been recurring areas of interest in my work: • The value and utility of key educational paradigms including reflective practice and evidence-based practice both from a theoretical perspective and based on learners' operational experience of these concepts; • Student experience of qualifying level social work education and different stakeholder perspectives on the quality and effectiveness of provision: • The challenges and opportunities for promoting social justice, producing critically reflective practitioners and delivering a functional training agenda. The submission begins with a thematic overview of my published works. This is followed in Chapter two by an analysis of values and theoretical ideas that have informed my research and publications. Chapter three outlines the origins of particular papers and discusses the interrelationship between the collected works. Chapter four critically evaluates the methodological approaches used in research projects on which papers are based. Chapter five presents a critical appraisal of the significance and originality of the corpus and its contribution to scholarship. The submission concludes by reflecting on my learning and indicating possible directions for future research and theoretical development.
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Arroyo, Roberto G. "System Challenges for Bilingual Clinical Social Work in Forensic Settings." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7113.
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Little information exists about challenges that bilingual clinical social workers face when engaging individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in forensic settings, which may influence the efficacy of services provided. Bilingual clinical social workers in the U.S. state of South Carolina lack operational guidelines to assist people with LEP who are involved in forensic matters. The purpose of this study was to explore challenges that affect delivery of bilingual clinical social work to people with LEP in forensic settings. Ecological systems theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. Purposive and snowball sampling methods led to the participation of 6 licensed bilingual clinical social workers who met the criterion of experience in the provision of services to people with LEP in forensic settings, either in Spanish or American Sign Language (ASL). Data were collected using semistructured interviews through phone calls and videoconferencing platforms. Interviews were transcribed and reviewed by participants to ensure accuracy. Collected data were organized, processed, and analyzed through thematic analysis to identify emerging themes. Key themes included: financial constraints; low-priority for LEP clients; lack of community support; issues with service access; cross-agency collaborations; and laws, policies, and initiatives. The findings of this study may lead to positive social change by substantiating the importance of additional support for bilingual social workers in the form of education, supervision, and continued training. With support and collaboration, bilingual social workers may be able to enact social change to overcome challenges in the provision of services for LEP individuals.
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Jackson, Nicole Denise. "Practice Challenges Among Social Work Mitigation Specialists and Interprofessional Supervision Methods." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6049.
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Social work supervision is a core component of the social work profession that is often absent for social workers in interprofessional teams. In capital defense practice settings, social workers are hired as mitigation specialists to work as members of the legal team. Informed by systems theory, the purpose of this action research study was to explore the practice challenges of social work mitigation specialists (SWMS) and how an interprofessional-focused supervision approach could be applied to resolve those issues. Six SWMS employed with capital defense agencies in Georgia and Texas were interviewed. Using a thematic coding analysis, several key themes emerged: (a) role navigation, (b) ethical dilemmas as practice challenges, (c) increased competence, and (d) team cohesion as dynamics that will improve with the implementation of an interprofessional-focused supervision approach. These findings provide understanding as to how supervision can be tailored to guide SWMS and other social workers in interprofessional settings. Recommendations for future research involve developing supervision guidelines for social work practice in interprofessional settings. Adhering to these suggestions might provide insight as to how interprofessional teams can work collaboratively, improving practice approaches and interventions to alter systems of service delivery and client outcomes. This provides the opportunity to effect social change by impacting individual practitioners and clients, as well as organizations, systems, and from a political perspective.
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Branhammar, Elin, and Angelica Edström. "Social Work with Street Children in Iringa, Tanzania : Challenges and Possibilities." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för juridik, psykologi och socialt arbete, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-23768.
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There is a large number of children living or spending most of their day on the street. The situation for those children is harsh since they for example do not get their basic needs met. Several organizations’ work includes interventions towards street children in their programmes, but the amount still increases every year. The aim with this study is to examine and explore which challenges the OVC-program face when working with street children, and how these challenges are addressed in their daily work. A qualitative approach was chosen where observations and interviews with personnel were conducted at the OVC- program in Iringa, Tanzania. The result shows that it is hard to know if the program’s goal – to reduce the number of street children in Iringa region – is reached as it is newly implemented. However, the program’s evaluation shows a positive trend. Focus in the work to fulfil the goal is primary the personnel’s attitudes towards the children. The result also shows that an empowerment- based approach is used in the daily work. By combining control and participation the possibility to help the street children to achieve autonomy increases. One challenge in the work is that this control limits the freedom on the street that the children desire. Consequently the relation between control and participation is important to create a successful intervention.Det finns ett stort antal barn som lever eller spenderar merparten av sin dag på gatan. Situationen för dessa barn är svår, bland annat då deras basala behov inte blir tillgodosedda. Trots att många organisationer arbetar med interventioner riktade mot gatubarn ökar antalet varje år. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka och utforska vilka utmaningar OVC-programmet möter i arbetet med gatubarn, samt på vilket sätt dessa utmaningar hanteras i den dagliga verksamheten. En kvalitativ ansats har valts för att besvara studiens syfte, där observationer och intervjuer med personal har genomförts på OVC-programmet i Iringa, Tanzania. Resultatet visar att programmets mål, att reducera antalet gatubarn i Iringaregionen, i dagsläget är svårt att uttala sig om då det nyligen är implementerat. Dock visar programmets utvärdering på en positiv utveckling. I arbetet mot att nå målet ligger fokus främst på personalens bemötande gentemot barnen. Resultatet visar även att ett empowermentbaserat arbetssätt tillämpas i den dagliga verksamheten. Genom att kombinera kontroll och medbestämmande skapas möjligheten att hjälpa gatubarnen till ett autonomt liv. En av utmaningarna i arbetet är att denna kontroll begränsar barnens frihet som de upplever och värdesätter på gatan. Därmed är relationen mellan kontroll och medbestämmande viktig för att skapa en lyckad intervention.
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Limon, Emilee. "CHALLENGES MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS FACE THAT LEAD TO BURNOUT." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/687.
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ABSTRACT
This study explored the challenges medical social workers face that lead to burnout. Currently, there is literature on burnout among health care providers and social workers, but not specifically on social workers in the medical field. The current study aimed to fill this gap in literature. Due to the lack of literature, the study used an exploratory, qualitative design. The study utilized individual interviews with a non-random purposive sample of nine medical social workers currently employed at Kaiser Permanente’s Fontana/Ontario Social Services Department. Interviews with participants were recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions were analyzed using thematic analysis. Major themes that emerged were organizational challenges, challenges working in multidisciplinary teams, working in the medical field, and limited resources. The study’s findings aim to increase awareness of the issue of burnout among medical social workers and to contribute to the implementation of interventions or policies within health care settings to prevent burnout among medical social workers.
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Rivera, Moret Maritza. "Experiences and Challenges of Social Workers Providing Services to Elderly Veterans." Thesis, Walden University, 2019. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=13813740.
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The social work practice problem of this doctoral action research project was the unmet mental health needs of veterans 65 and older in Puerto Rico. This action research project explored the experiences and challenges of social workers when they offer mental health services to veterans 65 and older. This study was framed using social support theory, integrating the 3 core elements of tangible support, emotional support, and informational support. The data collection technique included a semistructured interview protocol used in a focus group setting. Purposive sampling was used to identify 9 participants who were licensed social workers in Puerto Rico. Through content analysis, the findings were coded and organized into the following themes: educational background; ethics and wellbeing aspects; evaluation, interventions, and treatments; professional social and cultural competencies; social support experiences; multidisciplinary service coordination processes; and the elderly veterans’ unmet needs. The results of this study could be used by social workers and administrators to contribute to positive social change through the improvement of social work practices and the development of innovative knowledge when intervening with veterans 65 and older and their families in Puerto Rico.
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Gallegos, Kenny, and Leslie Stephanie Romero-Gallegos. "RESIDENTIAL COUNSELORS AND DUAL-STATUS YOUTH CHALLENGES AND RESILIENCY." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/714.
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This study explored the common challenges that residential counselors face when working with dual-status youth, which we defined as any youth with at least one open case with the child welfare system or juvenile justice system (or both) and who have previously had a case with the latter in their lifetime. Data were collected through qualitative interviews with their residential counselors across five different residential treatment centers in southern California.
The most common challenges reported by the residential treatment counselors included multiple roles, role limitation, dual-status youth behaviors, deficiency in training, management, and preparation when working with dual-status youth in a residential treatment facility. This study also found that counselor resiliency served as a buffer against these common challenges.
Findings from this study highlight the importance of considering the challenges residential counselors face while working with their dual-status youth clients in residential treatment facilities because it may affect their clients overall treatment. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of continuing to conduct research on short-term residential therapeutic center policy changes; as well as, the experiences of social workers with dual-status youth clients in residential treatment facilities who are served by residential counselors.
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Rivera-Moret, Maritza. "Experiences and Challenges of Social Workers Providing Services to Elderly Veterans." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6658.
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The social work practice problem of this doctoral action research project was the unmet mental health needs of veterans 65 and older in Puerto Rico. This action research project explored the experiences and challenges of social workers when they offer mental health services to veterans 65 and older. This study was framed using social support theory, integrating the 3 core elements of tangible support, emotional support, and informational support. The data collection technique included a semistructured interview protocol used in a focus group setting. Purposive sampling was used to identify 9 participants who were licensed social workers in Puerto Rico. Through content analysis, the findings were coded and organized into the following themes: educational background; ethics and wellbeing aspects; evaluation, interventions, and treatments; professional social and cultural competencies; social support experiences; multidisciplinary service coordination processes; and the elderly veterans' unmet needs. The results of this study could be used by social workers and administrators to contribute to positive social change through the improvement of social work practices and the development of innovative knowledge when intervening with veterans 65 and older and their families in Puerto Rico.
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Woodside, Sarah Jean. "Social Mission or Revenue Generation?: Challenges and Opportunities in Social Enterprise from Competing Institutional Logics." Thesis, Boston College, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:106872.
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Thesis advisor: Eve SpanglerSocial enterprises are nonprofit, for-profit or hybrid organizations that use business methods to create social change (Dees 2007; Light 2005; Martin and Osberg 2007; Neck, Brush, and Allen 2009;). If it succeeds, the social enterprise model could prove to be a viable pathway to greater social justice in an era of decreasing funding for government services and nonprofits (Emerson and Twersky 1996; Harding 2004; Murphy and Coombs 2009; Wilson 2008). However, skeptics worry that the perils of privatization, bottom-line thinking, and deceptive marketing potentially embodied by the “business methods” that social enterprises employ may undermine the potential of this new approach to solving social problems (Bateman and Chang 2012; Farmer 2009; Nega and Schneider 2014). The three articles that make up this dissertation examined the ways social entrepreneurs perceived and managed tensions between social mission and market institutional logics. Their ability (or lack thereof) to reconcile these contradictory imperatives could contribute to whether social enterprises ultimately succeed or fail as vehicles for positive social change. Social Entrepreneurs at the Crossroads: Four Approaches to Responding to Dual Institutional Logics suggests that the widely accepted characterization of social entrepreneurs as compassionate individuals motivated to address intractable social problems innovatively (Alvord, Brown and Letts 2004; Lehner and Germak 2014; Mair and Marti 2006; Miller, Grimes, McMullen and Vogus 2012) is simplistic. From in-depth interviews with twenty (inter)nationally recognized social entrepreneurs I derived four distinct categories: Disillusioned Dreamers, Social Capitalists, Do-Somethings, and Bridgebuilders. Half of these respondents did not perceive tensions between logics; another quarter did not wrestle with the tensions they perceived. Only the Bridgebuilders perceived tensions and then persisted in focusing on both logics and sets of actors to harness synergies. As a result, only Bridgebuilders offer a truly hybrid model for social mission work within the current economic context, whereas the others hew toward a single dominant logic. One Size Does Not Fit All: Legal Form and US WISEs focuses on work integration social enterprises (WISEs), organizations that address the chronic unemployment of marginalized populations. The data demonstrated that contrary to the expectation that WISEs would exemplify “contested” organizations (Besharov and Smith 2014), eight of the ten WISEs studied did not experience significant conflict between social mission and market logics. Rather, WISEs generally had one logic that dominated their operations: a market logic in for-profit WISEs and a social mission logic in nonprofit WISEs. Workers’ employability emerged as an important variable, with for-profit WISEs creating jobs for more employable populations and nonprofits offering job training and “wraparound” services to harder-to-employ populations. Only two WISEs experienced substantial tensions, when social entrepreneurs attempted to prioritize a job training/services mission within a for-profit form. This data demonstrates that a job creation approach aligns best with a for-profit WISE form and a job training/services approach to a nonprofit WISE form. However, neither form has succeeded in creating a system-transforming model that successfully combines revenue generation with a robust training/services/job creation mission. This suggests that breaking traditional nonprofit and for-profit patterns to deliver substantial market and social mission outcomes within a single organization is a significant challenge. Stakeholder Resistance to Social Enterprise Hybridity examines how social entrepreneurs perceive the support of key stakeholders in their attempts to balance competing social mission and market logics. Despite evidence of social interest in ethical capitalism, this data suggests that well-resourced stakeholders push social entrepreneurs to prioritize price, revenue generation, and measurement. This includes both traditional organizational stakeholders and hybrid-specific stakeholders. Customers and clients demanded low prices and high value. Donors demanded quantification and impact measurement. Investors expected market rate financial return. Finally, social enterprise gatekeeper organizations (fellowship granting bodies) were focused on the market logic characteristics of sustainability, scale, and entrepreneurial ability, pushing the field toward market logic modes of operating. Social entrepreneurs generally responded by acquiescing to pressure to emphasize a market logic in their interactions. Counter to current literature that suggests social entrepreneurs should problem-solve to avoid single logic dominance, social entrepreneurs generally allowed price, business strategy, competition and measurement to shape their interactions with stakeholders. Given the importance of stakeholder buy-in for organizational legitimacy, the field of social enterprise needs to find a way to create and capture stakeholder support for dual logics rather than depending on individual social entrepreneurs to withstand the push toward marketization. Overall, despite persistent efforts at creative solutions to social problems by some individuals, the research shows a strong undertow for social enterprises to adopt business logics and business models
Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016
Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Sociology
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LIMA, ADILSIMAR SARAIVA MACIEL. "NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF MANAUS (AMAZONAS, BRAZIL): LIMITS AND CHALLENGES TO THE SOCIAL WORK." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2011. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=18272@1.
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A crescente expansão das atividades sociais efetivadas pelas Organizações Não-Governamentais (ONGs) têm sido constante nas sociedades contemporâneas. Este modelo de intervenção social traz como pano de fundo a redefinição do papel do Estado, aliado ao predomínio da lógica mercadológica e suas conseqüências sociais. No Brasil, o cenário não é diferente, na medida em que o Estado legitima a ação dessas ONGs por meio do estabelecimento de parcerias que possibilitam que suas responsabilidades sejam desenvolvidas através da efetivação de ações sociais coordenadas pelas ONGs. Nesta dissertação buscou-se traçar o perfil das Organizações-Não-Governamentais localizadas na cidade de Manaus/AM, assim como dos profissionais de Serviço Social que atuam nessas organizações, com o objetivo de coletar dados que possibilitassem conhecer os desafios e possíveis limites impostos a esses profissionais. Neste sentido, foi feita uma pesquisa com as assistentes sociais que desenvolvem seu trabalho junto a ONGs que mantêm convênio com a Secretaria de Estado de Assistência Social do Amazonas. Para dar suporte teórico às propostas neste trabalho, foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico e documental acerca do tema. Os resultados encontrados levam a concluir, ainda que preliminarmente, que o Serviço Social não ficou imune às mudanças societárias em curso, desde a década de 1990. Antes, sofre diretamente, seja nas requisições que lhes são direcionadas pelas mudanças na fatia do mercado de trabalho que lhe cabe, pelos impactos gerados pelas relações que se estabelecem entre Estado, mercado e sociedade, que vai se (re) construindo na atualidade.The increasing expansion of the social activities accomplished by the Not-Governmental Organizations has been a constant in the societies contemporaries, this model of social intervention brings as deep cloth of the redefinition of the paper of the State, social ally to the predominance of the marketing logic and its consequences. In Brazil the scene is not different, in the measure where the State legitimizes the action of these ONGs by means of the establishment of partnerships that they make possible that its responsibilities are repassed and thus developed through to take the effect of social actions co-ordinate by the ONGs. In this thesis the objective is to trace the profile of Organization-Not-Governmental of Manaus AM, as well as of the professionals of Social Service who act in these ONGs, in order analyzing the limits and the challenges taxes to these professionals. For in such a way, a research with the Social Assistants will be made who develop its work next to ONGs that they keep accord with the State secretary of Social Assistance of Amazon (Brazil). To give theoretical support to the constant reflections in this work, a bibliographical and documentary survey concerning the subject was carried through, object of this study. Thus, one concludes briefly that the Social Service was not immune to the society changes, but that it suffers directly, either in the solicitations that are directed to them, either for the changes in the slice of the work market that fits to it, the impacts generated for the relations that if establish between State, market and society, that goes if (reverse speed) constructing in the present time.
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Cervantes, Danya Brenda. "Kinship Support Group: Addressing Grandparent Caregiver Challenges." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/332.
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Grandparent caregivers to their grandchild(ren) is a growing population that is not completely understood. This study explored the challenges faced by grandparent caregivers to their grandchild(ren) and how being part of a kinship support group can help in addressing the challenges. A qualitative research design was used for the purpose of gathering first account narratives from the participants in the study. California Family Life Center, a kinship support agency was contacted and allowed the researcher to reach out to grandparents who were interested in taking part of the study. Seven participants took part in this study. This study concluded that grandparent caregivers are presented with challenges such as: an impact in their social life, making adjustments to their retirement plans and learning to cope through support from the kinship support group. The Loss and Grief Theory and Erikson’s Developmental Stages, generativity vs. stagnation provided an analysis and a better interpretation from the data collected from the participants. Results from the study suggest that being part of a kinship support group for participants has been beneficial to them as they come to better understand their current situation through the kinship support group. Nevertheless, the challenges are still present in their everyday lives. Implications for practice, policy and research are also discussed.
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Navarrete-Campos, Adriana. "MUSIC THERAPY AMONG THE ELDERLY: WHAT SOCIAL WORKERS NEED TO KNOW." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/313.
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The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of music therapy among the elderly. This qualitative study utilized interviews as a means to extract themes from the experiences of music therapists who have provided music therapy to the elderly. Results were transcribed to written form. Qualitative analysis procedures were followed to identify themes and subthemes. Areas of particular interest to the social work profession were the emotional, social, physical, and mental benefits and challenges of music therapy among the elderly. Through the guidance of systems theory and the concept of holism, spiritual benefits and challenges were also introduced.
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Habeeb-Silva, Rebecca Joie. "Resettlement Challenges for Refugees in the United States." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/285.
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This study explored the resettlement-related challenges that refugees encounter in the United States (U.S.). It utilized a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews with three refugee families from different countries of origin: Afghanistan, Burma, and Iraq. The interviews were analyzed through a system of coding and categorization in order to develop themes of commonly reported challenges across participants. Six dominant themes of resettlement‑related challenges were identified: employment, financial insecurities, bureaucracy, English language competency, family separation, and unfulfilled expectations and hope. The participants also reported that these challenges had negative effects on their mental health and described feeling worried and depressed. The data was conceptualized utilizing Berry’s (2008) acculturation framework, and it was found that the families utilized the acculturation strategy of integration. Recommendations are provided for volunteer programs in which Americans assist newly resettled refugee families as well as for policies that are more adaptive to refugees’ needs and that uphold the values of diversity and create a welcoming environment for refugees.
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Ford, Jacqueline Yvonne. "Challenges of Child Trauma on Adoptive Families' Social and Emotional System." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/885.
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Adoption-focused psychoeducation is deemed essential in maintaining the permanency of traumatized children within a new family unit. However, adoptive parents of traumatized children struggle to find training to address their unique concerns. Guided by the lens of psychodynamic theory, the purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by adoptive families of traumatized children. Special focus was placed on the social and emotional relationships of the adoptive parents of traumatized children, to identify the realistic expectations towards attachment from the families' perspectives. Fifteen families were randomly selected to participate in this study from a group of 30 parents who adopted traumatized children in Arizona. A phenomenological approach was utilized to gather information from face-to-face and telephone interviews. The data analysis utilized the horizontalization approach which highlighted significant statements that were classified into codes. Thematic categories were drawn and summarized. Textual descriptions evolved from the thematic groups acknowledging their experiences and how these lived experiences guided their decision to adopt a traumatized child. Verification techniques, data mining, journaling, clustering, brainstorming, and peer reviews were used to ensure the quality of data. Emergent themes emphasized the need for adoption-focused training specific to traumatized children. Further research on this phenomenon should determine the significance of specialized psychoeducational training versus general foster care training, before and after adoption. Positive social change may result in tailoring existing training programs to meet the needs of families who adopt traumatized children.
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Henwood, Penelope. "Adoption : parents' perceptions of facilitating factors and challenges in the development of the relationship with their baby." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20700.
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The study explored the experiences of parents around their adoption process and relationship-building with their babies. It considered their motivation to adopt and their expectations of what that would entail. Challenges and facilitating factors were examined with regards to how their relationship with their child, rarely new born when placed, grew and developed. The study used Ecological and Attachment theories as theoretical frameworks. This research was conducted using a qualitative research design. Twenty participants (ten adoptive couples) were selected using purposive sampling by an adoption agency and interviewed from a semi-structured interview schedule. Each interview was recorded using a Dictaphone and transcribed by the researcher. Data was thereafter analysed using qualitative methods, specifically analytic induction and open coding. The findings of this study highlighted the complexities of the non-normative transition to adoptive parenthood necessary for many who expected to become parents naturally. The stressors involved include micro and macro preferences for biological kin, fears of not being able to love a child not born to oneself and insecurity around the child returning to their biological parents. It was found that the screening process played a valuable role in lessening these fears, creating support structures and working through loss related to infertility.
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Ogden, Cindi. "A study of the social, economic, cultural and self esteem challenges that influence how African-American youth learn and develop." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2010. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/217.
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This study examines the social, economic, cultural, and self esteem challenges that influences how African-American youth, between ages 12 and 17 years old, learn and develop in Metropolitan Atlanta. These youth were from a southeastern, urban Atlanta area, and they originally came from middle to low income backgrounds. The research study participants were composed of a diverse population of youth. They were also between ages 12 and 17 years old. Survey questionnaires utilized a four point continuum Likert scale. It also included face to face interviews and observations by the researcher to insure appropriate instructions were understood. Additional research data, statistics, and media were used. The findings of the study indicated that this population, though resilient, would better cope, learn, and develop under alternative circumstances as suggested.
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Monare, Nthabiseng. "Exploring the perceived challenges of single mothers with children diagnosed with autism disorder in the junior phase at Vera School." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20072.
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This study aimed to explore the perceived challenges of single mothers with children diagnosed with Autism who are in the junior phase at Vera School, focussing on key struggles which they face in caring for their children. Emphasis was on parental stresses during their children's diagnostic processes as well as lack of availability and accessibility of resources about Autism Spectrum Disorder. A qualitative research design was used to carry out the research, and purposive sampling was utilised to select the sample for this study. The sample comprised of 15 single mothers. A semi-structured interview schedule and a voice recorder were used to conduct the interviews. The research was conducted at Vera School, Rondebosch in Cape Town. Findings were drawn from the responses of the participants and compared with literature from previous studies. These findings indicated that single mothers of children diagnosed with Autism lack support to cope with the demands of caring for their children. This was highlighted in the early stages of assessment, making a diagnosis, and during early intervention of their children in a special needs school. Multiple roles, financial constraints and stigma were primary sources of parental stress, as pointed out in this study. Limited resources such as long waiting lists for admissions at special schools and aftercare facilities were highlighted as a great need.
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Rendon, Romyna A. "Work-Life Balance Among Working Married Women: What Social Workers Need to Know." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/374.
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This project explored the way working mothers cope with home, work, family demands as well as self-care. It mainly focused on the balance they have been able to achieve in their lives as working women, wife, and mothers. This study used qualitative research to examine the challenges these women face in their working and personal lives, the support systems they rely on to fulfill their multiple roles, and the strategies and coping skills they utilize to maintain work and family life balance.
This study used an interview format with a qualitative method based. In this approach, primarily open-ended questions were used. The major focus was to explore and then compared participants’ responses to those questions. This method was chosen because it allows for a comparison of different experiences of a common topic
The challenges discussed by the working women included: (a) work schedule, (b) time constraints and (c) exhaustion. The participants relied on the following support systems to fulfill their multiple roles: (a) husbands, (b) grandparent and family, (c) co-workers, and (d) bosses. Finally, the strategies the working women used to achieve work/family balance included (a) planning, (c) faith, and (d) accepting limitations.
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Åberg, Emma, and Tiina Riipinen. ""Shit happens, now we just have to adapt and survive" : Perceptions of residential drug rehabilitation workers on Covid-19 challenges." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för socialt arbete och kriminologi, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-36606.
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The aim of this thesis was to explore what challenges the Covid-19 pandemic has posed on residential drug rehabilitation practices in Sweden from the perceptions of the workers and how these challenges are managed. This was studied through three semi-structured qualitative interviews. The data collected from these interviews was analysed through thematic analysis and the theory of functionalism. The results found that recommendations such as social distancing could not be perfectly upheld within the residential familiar environments, but workers have found a way to adapt these recommendations to suit their clients and still minimize the spread of Covid-19 without risking the quality of the rehabilitative practices. This in addition to accepting the situation for what it is, helped to also minimize any fear of infection one may have had. The workers emphasised that the ways they manage challenges is more important than the challenges themselves.
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Singh, Sanaya. "Challenges faced by women for vertical mobility in politics : a comparitive study between Sweden and India." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för socialt arbete och psykologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-11226.
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The aim of this thesis is to explore the challenges women face for vertical mobility in politics in India and Sweden, the similarities and differences. Gender empowerment and equal opportunities are essential features for an egalitarian society, development, national and international peace. Promoting gender empowerment through women’s effective participation in politics is a structural interventional approach in social work. However studies show women face numerous obstacles in achieving political representation. Gender inequality, inequitable division of labour, cultural attitudes, electoral systems are some reasons which subjugate women and limit their representation in public life. Sweden and India differ immensely in all of these factors and more. However, similarity in these nations is the low representation of women councillors in key decision making positions in governance; resulting in exclusion of women’s interests and issues in public policy. In-depth interviews conducted with six respondents from both nations analysed in a feministic framework reveal cultural, ideological, socio-economic and political structures as common challenges. Social work interventions in all these spheres can lead to sustainable empowerment for women. Keywords; Gender empowerment, structural social work, women’s political representation, vertical mobility in politics, India, Sweden
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Bergström, Östling Louise, and Elin Fält. "Social work with female rape survivors : An exploration of what challenges social workers may experience in their work with female rape survivors and the strategies and methods used in this work." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för socialt arbete och psykologi, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-23416.
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The aim of this study was twofold. First, to explore what challenges social workers may experience in their work with female rape survivors. The second aim was to explore how social workers work with females who have survived rape. A qualitative research design was chosen, and semi-structured interviews with social workers were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to structure the findings. Four themes were found in connection to challenges; feelings of shame and guilt among rape survivors, the criminal proceedings, to not be able to help all survivors and lastly potential threats to social workers’ own wellbeing. The findings regarding methods were that the social workers adapt their work strategies based on the needs of the survivor. The social workers used strategies focused on reducing feelings of shame and guilt and normalizing symptoms.
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Hamlin, Allyson Foster. "A Phenomenological Study on the Challenges Experienced by Kinship Adopters." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5628.
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This research addressed the social and emotional challenges kinship adoptive families have encountered when their adopted child's trauma symptomology surfaces. The unique relationship between the adoptive relative and the kinship child offered a different view on the coping techniques used by kinship families and uncovered areas where resources could support permanency. In this phenomenological study, 12 interviews with relative adoptive parents guided by the attachment and family system theories, offered insight to what fosters or degrades the bond with the adopted child. Using post-adoption resource events, service agencies, and community resources, this study recruited participants through flyers posted on websites, agency waiting areas, public bulletin boards, and email distribution. The self-selected respondents learned more about the study to decide if they would participate. The data reached saturation after 12 interviews and the transcribed accounts were reviewed with each corresponding participant. Using NVivo 11 to organize the data,, the transcribed interviews were compared to discover themes inherent to the adoptive relative parent(s). Learning about kinship challenges after adopting a child exposed to maltreatment, neglect, or pre-adoptive trauma and the methods used by these families to overcome thoughts of dissolution or their discovery of areas that would benefit from supportive resources may contribute to the understanding of successful kinship adoption. The implication for social change is the decrease in dissolution rates of the adoptive relationship, thereby creating permanency outcomes in the lives of the children and creating a system of care that is proactive to societal needs and influential in providing for future generations.
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Nwachukwu, Precious Tobechukwu Toby. "A comparison study of challenges facing effective social work practice and administration in bucolic areas in both South Africa and Nigeria." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1579.
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A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, 2017An analysis of the social service practitioners’ practice tools in Africa towards the enhancement of professional responsibility to the client system is essential including investigating the ethical dilemmas experienced by the practitioners daily. These tools serve as sources of evaluating social work practice and administration that spur practitioners to provide a virtuous professional service and as enlightenment for the effective, efficient and reflective practice. The National Association of Social Workers (2008) and the South African Council of Social Service Professional (SACSSP, 2005) and their ethical values and principles served as this study principal document that directed this research venture. The researcher sought to understand the nature and extent of the challenges facing social work practitioners and administrators and compared their experiences within two different geo-political zones of Africa. Hence, the research philosophy engaged the “diamond metaphor,”in the sense it is multifaceted and within a blended research paradigm. It depicts the uniqueness and value of each study area. The study employed the comparison-evaluative approach depicting a Multi-Phase-Transformative mixed methods research design characterised by a six way dimensionalapproach of explorative, evaluative, descriptive, comparative, qualitative and quantitative approaches in order to reconnoiter the experiences of social work practitioners 135 and 47 administrators which in total 182 respondents from three different regions namely: KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) and Lagos State and Imo State (Nigeria). Each setting for data collection differs within a multi-level mode and each data including the tested hypotheses were refined to actualise the subject situation and the analytical discussion of the methodology components. Data that was gleaned from the dispersed research tools used for the study were analysed by the utilisation of descriptive statistics, multiple comparisons and post hoc test correlations in testing the stated hypotheses with the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 21.0). However, the thematic gleaning of the responses was deciphered through discourse analysis (Soini and Birkeland, 2014:215-216; Gross, Alba, Glass, Schellenberg and Obrist, 2012:3). The findings of the study revealed that rural social work interventions are directly weakened by a poor support system that the social workers experience, thus, the lack of proper literacy and qualification levels in the rural areas largely contributes to weaker social work interventions in both Nigeria and South Africa. Furthermore, the study revealed that administrators avail themselves to more continuous professional development than the social workers do, while the overall qualification attributes for the respondents needed upgrading to cater for specialised areas. The study revealed that the lack of the analysed and aligned training needs of individual practitioners serves in fact to clog personal development plans which the subsequently affects the development of work plans and the signing of performance agreement job descriptions, thus, the policies are not then applied. The study’s results indicated that the administrators’ gendered pattern impacted significantly on the ethical code outcome in the study areas. Outcome analysis confirmed that thesocial workers’ understanding of ethical code application has significantly correlated with their integer years of practice experience, whereas, the perceived difficulties presumably had partial correlations within the study areas. Moreover, the ethics concerning the integrity of profession, the professional responsibility, the service delivery and the competence/confidentiality explained for the integer years of practice experience. Furthermore, the integer years significantly ensure that social workers are coping with ethical dilemmas on familiarity and their professed complaint anxieties on the Ethical Code in the three study areas. Conversely, the study advocated for the assimilation of interactional justice approach that would enhance advocacy on social justice, human rights and professional accountability as well as stimulate competence within the bucolic social worker’s career. Social justice cognizance should be visible within the equity on performance. The study’s recommendations included advocating for quality rural social work interventional support and improvement on qualification and literacy level in the rural areas; also that there should be the recognition of a greater prioritisation of NASW/SACSSP ethical codes. As such, experienced practitioners should mentor newer practitioners to enhance effective and efficient professional responsibility with client-systems. Additional studies should explore the professional responsibility of practitioners amid the Service Charter for Victims of Crime (victims’ charter) designed to uphold social justice and to nurture a human rights philosophy in guaranteeing the material, psychosocial and emotional needs of victims. Hence, further research on utilising the study’s finding models for urban domain and proper professional training, adherence to these models and awareness of legal ethics is recommended. Further studies should focus on examining administrators-practitioners relationship outcome to policies regulations as they are geared towards the Code; likewise to inspect social entrepreneurial activity using the Service Delivery Model to re-bolster industrial social work.
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Richey, Chastity. "Challenges in Discharge Planning with Adolescents Receiving Recurring Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4943.
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Mental health is a growing concern for adolescents. Billions of dollars are spent annually on mental services for youth. Many adolescents experience abuse, suicidal ideations, psychotic disorders, substance abuse, and other challenges. Recurring inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations are increasing among adolescents. The recurring admissions impact adolescents significantly socially, psychologically, and financially. Social workers are a vital part of this treatment process from admission to discharge. The research question asked what were the issues and challenges social workers encounter when conducting discharge planning with adolescents receiving recurring inpatient psychiatric treatment. The purpose for this doctoral project was to carefully examine the discharge planning process while identifying ways social workers can positively impact the process. Key concepts for this project were adolescent, inpatient hospitalization, recurring hospitalization, and discharge planning. Systems theory was used to inform the project. This action research study allowed social workers to share their experiences and perspectives about the role of social workers in discharge planning. Seven participants were identified using purposive sampling. One focus group provided data for project. Data analysis consisted of in vivo and process coding. Four participant-inspired themes identified related to issues and challenges in discharge planning include (a) adequate resources, (b) insurance restrictions, (c) rapport with adolescents, and (d) parental participation. Social work practice and positive social change implications include establishing follow-up protocol for all adolescent discharges from inpatient settings and increasing the use of encouragement and engagement strategies for rapport building with adolescents.
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Svedberg, Linda. "Grandparents Left with AIDS-orphans; Challenges and Strategies Handling Poverty and Stigma." Thesis, Mid Sweden University, Department of Social Work, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-91.
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By 2010 it is estimated that one third of the African children will be orphans as an effect of HIV/AIDS. The crisis is already a fact and most orphans are absorbed by the extended family where the grandparents become the primary caretakers. This qualitative study was carried out in Kenya to explore the situation of these grandparents and to define their current resources and needs. Eight grandparents living in rural village or urban slum caring for their orphaned grandchildren were interviewed. The results showed that these families live under extremely poor conditions lacking food, other vital neccesities and a basic social network. Local churches and support groups emerged as the grandparents main sources to enhance strength and support. Key factors causing the acute poverty is HIV-related stigma and lack of access to land.
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Allibhoy, Zaheen. "South Asian American strengthening family program discussing the challenges of acculturation| A grant proposal project." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1527871.
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The purpose of this grant was to design a psychoeducational workshop for South Asian immigrant families. The literature review goes over cultural factors that play a part in making the transition difficult to immigrating to a Western country. A search for potential funders was done by going on California State University Long Beach library website. This allowed the grantwriter to create a list of potential funders. The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation's focus on children, families, culture, and the underserved populations made it the best choice. The grantwriter chose to collaborate with the South Asian Network in Artesia, California. It is a nonprofit organization that has the ability to serve people in nine different languages. Actual submission of this grant was not required for the completion of this project.
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Chirwa, Masauso. "Inclusive Education : A Study of Opportunities and Challenges for Children with Disabilities. A case of Zambia." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för socialt arbete, SA, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-12230.
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Aranki, Sandra. "A qualitative study of international social work challenges in an area affected by conflict : The example of East Jerusalem." Thesis, Ersta Sköndal högskola, Institutionen för socialvetenskap, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:esh:diva-4200.
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The aim of this study is to gain a greater understanding of how the social work with children and adolescents are performed in addition to the challenges social workers face in a context affected by conflict. East Jerusalem is according to international law occupied, the children and adolescents in the area are highly exposed for the consequences of the occupation. The empirical data for this thesis were collected at a center for children in East Jerusalem where I conducted qualitative interviews with the help of a semi-structured interview guide. Based on my interviews I had a result that describes the methods and the challenges of the social work within the work at the selected center which is located in an area highly affected by conflict. The social workers at the certain center assess each patients need for help to resolve psychosocial problems in the families. Their work was conducted by various methods such as for instance: individual- and group therapy, play therapy, outdoor activities, and dance lessons. The social workers expressed that it was important for the outcomes of their assignments to work together with the whole families and then especially the mothers. Many of the social workers pointed out the importance to develop gender issues and worked to increase the equality among boys and girls through mixed group activities among the children. The results of the study shows that the perceived main challenge among the social workers were founded in the political situation although factors as family-relationships, culture and the public schools for Palestinians turned out to be of importance for the progresses in their work. Those aspects were in many cases seen as problematical and arisen as a direct consequence of the occupation in the area. The results also shows that the social workers experienced all of these factors as interdependent. The results are analyzed through the theory: “The ecology of human development” which were created by Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979). The last part of the thesis contains conclusions, a discussion of the results and suggestions for new research, it ends with my own reflections of the work performed for this study.
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Shifrin, Lori Beth. "Caring for HIV positive infants : Cotlands Hospice staffs' perceptions of challenges and stressors which they experience in the workplace." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10709.
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Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-69).
This study explored Cotlands Hospice staff's perceptions of challenges and stressors which they experience in the workplace, in caring for HIV infants. This aim of this study was to highlight some of the key struggles that healthcare workers are faced with in the HIV workplace in caring for HIV positive infants. The study also explored the participants' current coping strategies used to cope with stressors from within the workplace and supportive resources available to aid the participants were identified. Lastly unmet needs identified by participants were explored and discussed.
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Mukushi, Adam Tafadzwa. "Psycho-social challenges faced by caregivers of children with Cerebral palsy in Dzivarasekwa Suburb, Harare, Zimbabwe : implications for social work practice." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2390.
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Thesis(M.A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018Disability is most prevalent in low income countries and communities. Cerebral palsy c is one of the disabilities that is affecting a sizeable number of children in low income countries. This study sought to explore the psycho-social challenges faced by caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in Dzivarasekwa Suburb in Zimbabwe. The study had the following objectives: to identify the psycho-social challenges facing caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, to appraise individual characteristics of caregivers which predispose them to stress, social exclusion and other psychosocial challenges, to establish which coping mechanisms are employed by caregivers of children living with cerebral palsy in response to the challenges they are facing and also to suggest possible solutions/ strategies social workers may employ to improve caregiving of children with cerebral palsy. The study used a qualitative approach in exploring the psychosocial challenges caregivers face. The qualitative approach was useful as participants were able to participate freely giving a more realistic picture of their challenges. The research used an exploratory-descriptive case study design in exploring challenges faced by caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in Dzivarasekwa Suburb. Data was then collected using in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Participants were caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, a hospital psychologist as well as social workers for a local NGO supporting the rehabilitation work at a local hospital. Data were analysed used the Thematic Context Analysis method. The research concludes that caregivers are subjected to stressing conditions, lack the financial means of caring for a child with CP; caregivers employ negative strategies to the problems they face which include using the children to beg, prostitution among others. The study recommends that, government should lead initiatives for supporting children with disabilities and their families, formation of support groups for parents of children with cerebral palsy, and continuous training of frontline workers in disability to avoid burn out.
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Carrillo, Cabrera Ulises. "Ethnic fragmentation and social expenditure : notions of social solidarity and membership and the challenges of ethnic diversity." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2010. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:57f7e643-e4ae-4e3f-82e0-26a24255db4a.
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Does ethnic fragmentation negatively affect social expenditure? In this thesis, I examine why this research question, only partially tackled by the political economy literature, is also central for the social policy field. Using a sample of 156 countries, and controlling for variables that social policy theory postulate as essential to explain welfare provision, I offer evidence that higher levels of ethnic fragmentation lead to lower levels of social expenditure. On that basis, I present a theoretical framework that explores how this relationship can be explained. Ethnic fragmentation is presented as a variable that complicates the development of social solidarity and the notions of shared identity, and shifts social mobilisation from issues of economic redistribution towards ethno-cultural recognition. I also conduct a second series of statistical analysis that show that there is evidence to support the previous propositions. Additionally, using a different confirmatory test, I explore the correspondence between the levels of de-commodification that 18 welfare states provide, and the principles of blood descent (jus sanguinis) or civic ties (jus solis) that their respective national laws favour. The findings show that the welfare regimes with the most de-commodifying provision tend to favour ethno-cultural principles. Finally, I emphasize that the probable effects of ethnic fragmentation in an increasingly multicultural world, with its tendencies to put social integration and differentiation issues back on the agenda, are not a prediction of erosion of the welfare state, but an important element to take into account in the creation and robustness of shared identities and notions of common belonging when designing social policy.
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Nyatsanza, Memory Nyasha Lynnette. "Surrogate parenting : exploring the perceptions of challenges faced by grandmothers of AIDS orphans with regard to child rearing in Khayelitsha." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11699.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-75).The research investigated the perceptions of the challenges faced by grandmothers caring for AIDS orphans in Khayelitsha, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town. The aim of this study was to make a contribution to an understanding of the challenges faced by grandmothers who are performing a surrogate parent role. The research focused on the grandmothers? perceptions of the types of challenges they faced in caring for AIDS orphans as well as their perceptions of the causes of these challenges. Lastly the research aimed to investigate the strategies employed by the grandmothers in dealing with these challenges and to ascertain whether or not grandmothers are aware of existing resources that are available to assist them with their challenges.
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Contreras, Gabriela. "THE CHALLENGES FACING SINGLE HISPANIC PARENTS AND THEIR NEEDS TO IMPROVE FAMILY SERVICES." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/733.
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The purpose of this study was to explore the various challenges and needs single Latino fathers faced in different areas such as the parent-child relationship, personal, physical, mental, and the financial aspect. It also explored the father’s perspectives and needs of formal and informal systems. This study used qualitative design using face -to- face interviews. This study found that single Hispanic fathers had a really good relationship with their children despite cultural factors that would enable them to have a challenging relationship such as the lack of acculturation, machismo, and the different fatherhood values between Hispanic and American culture. Another major theme that came up was the use of family support and the need for more formal support from local and state agencies and organizations. This study will help social workers and other professionals learn and understand the needs and challenges single Hispanic fathers face which will help social workers be competent to work with this specific population. It is recommended that more formal support such as access to counseling centers, support groups, and father-child community activities are needed to support and sustain Latino single fathers.
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Andersson, Emmy. "Virtual Collaboration – The Paradigm of Modern Work Environment : Cohesion and Challenges in Distributed Teams." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-35728.
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This Master thesis is an exploratory study that had the initial aim to research leadership in distributed teams, but, which ended up changing the focus as a result of unexpected findings. Therefore, the study refocused on collaboration in distributed teams with the purpose to explore the work environment of distributed teams from a collaborative perspective, with the aim of trying to develop an in‐depth understanding of the factors that contribute and challenge the cohesion in these teams. Furthermore, our aim was to present our findings in a model, which would describe the collaborative environment in distributed teams. Our research design was a single case study with embedded cases, overall 13 interviews were conducted representing leaders and members of hybrid distributed teams, which gave rich and descriptive data of their collaborative environment. Our empirical findings showed that structure has a significant impact on collaboration. This led to another finding, which states that management skills are more relevant than leadership skills in the virtual context. Furthermore, we could also identify several challenges, which were not explicitly approached in previous literature. Limitations/Implications: Our research is limited to a single case study, therefore future investigations including several cases or companies from different industries would be advised to strengthen the findings. Our research project contributes to the existing literature, by extending the research field of collaboration in distributed teams, while also having implications for companies, which have employees across the world and thus, consider developing or implementing this specific work unit.
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Hasewinkel, Sian Elizabeth. "An exploratory case study at Timour Hall Primary School of the perception of parents of children with ADHD concerning their parental challenges and coping strategies." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13667.
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Includes bibliographical references.This phenomenological study seeks to understand challenges and resilient adaptations of parents of children with ADHD at a Primary School in Cape Town, and to examine the role of the school and the school social worker in supporting parents not only in developing parental resilience, but also developing resiliency in their relationships with the school as an adjunct to forging effective parent- school partnerships. The macro systemic background to this study is the Department of Basic Education’s policy on Inclusive Education, which calls for parent-school partnerships in educating vulnerable children. Two theoretical frameworks guide this study: resiliency theory, given the increasing calls for resiliency research in resource- poor contexts; and Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological framework, as ADHD is a complex phenomenon in which parents and school, both micro- and meso-systemically, buffer the impact of ADHD. The research methodology is an exploratory qualitative cross-sectional single case design with multiple respondents. Eighteen parents were the unit of study, selected according to a purposive and discriminant sampling design. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview schedule, and recorded during an in-depth interview. This study confirmed chronic and overwhelming personal and parenting challenges, but also challenges around medication, and parent-school interaction. Participants struggled more than they felt they succeeded, as adaptations shadowed and were overshadowed by, challenges. Participants increasingly used the services of the school social worker, and preferred to access personal help via their children’s mental health provider, underlining the importance of the school as an intervention site. Participants indicated that school social work services should provide counselling, a support group for parents, advocacy and mediation between parent and teacher/school, and develop opportunities for parent-school partnerships. School social work services were valued because they were based on knowledge and experience. Relationships with the school were tempered by ambivalence and frustration; participants wanted proactive teachers providing in-depth and accessible contact and trained in ADHD classroom management. Implications of this study for the school, the social work profession and the Department of Basic Education are discussed.
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Horn-Johnson, Tancy Clarissa. "Identifying life challenges of women at a branch campus through life course interviews| Implications for service delivery." Thesis, Capella University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10125257.
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An increasing number of women are returning to school as nontraditional students to complete their bachelor’s degrees. These women may have specific needs related to life transitions and re-entry into postsecondary education that traditional students do not. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of women who are nontraditional students, including their everyday supports and challenges. The guiding research question for this study was: Upon identifying the challenges for women at a branch campus, what changes can the university make to better serve the women? Study participants included 12 students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s program in social work. Participants also included four university social work faculty and five campus administrators from the study site. A participatory action research methodology was used to collect data from multiple stakeholders. Interviews with social work faculty and university center and branch campus administrators were conducted. Data were coded using open and axial coding. NVivo 11 was employed to help facilitate the coding of the data for the study in order to assure accuracy in identifying common themes. The two main themes to emerge from this study were Experiences and Challenges. Participants’ experiences included personal and academic. Personal challenges that the women described included abuse, childcare, and health. The two forms of abuse described were substance abuse and domestic abuse, and the health subthemes included personal and family issues. Women’s academic challenges included finances, academic writing, and class schedules. Study results may be used to raise stakeholders’ awareness of students’ needs, explore and change university processes, and develop workshops to assist nontraditional female students with career development and financial literacy.
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Riggio, Nicolette Rose, and Brenda Irene Avalos. "PARENTING CHALLENGES AND RESILIENCIES OF LATINO IMMIGRANT PARENTS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/469.
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Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. Thirty five percent of Latinos who are currently children will be contributing taxpayers and will be having a great influence on the future economy. Immigrant Latino parents must overcome significant challenges to ensure their children’s well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges and resiliencies of Latino immigrant parents. This study examines the resources Latino immigrant parents lacked and what knowledge and parenting skills they already obtained. This study specifically looked at Latino immigrant parents and their specific needs regarding parental knowledge and resources. This study used a qualitative design accomplished through the use of face to face and phone interviews. This study conducted 15 interviews with first generation Latino immigrant parents who resided in Southern California who migrated to the United States and had at least one child born in the United States. One major finding of this study was that Latino immigrant parents could benefit from school resources for their children such as tutoring, assistance with the college admission program and assistance with applying for scholarships and financial aid. Another major finding was that language was one dominant challenge and barrier that Latino immigrant parents faced that affected their ability to cope with the U.S school system. Based on the findings of this study one of the recommendations is to produce a policy that mandates the U.S school system to have translation services available for Latino immigrant families.
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Buyani, Nomathemba. "Challenges for implementing project planning in the NGO sector in the Overberg Municipality." University of the Western Cape, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/5011.
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Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW)Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) played a vital role in the history of the welfare sector in South Africa and are working alongside the government sector to combat social ills. The role of the NGO sector is to ensure the provision of a comprehensive network of social development services that enable and empower the poor, the vulnerable, and those with special needs. The ongoing financial shortages from NGOs were a growing concern for all the stakeholders in the welfare sector. The goal of this study was therefore to explore and describe the challenges in implementing project planning in the NGO sector. This study followed a qualitative research approach and used exploratory and descriptive research designs. Participants were purposely selected from the various NGOs in the Overberg Municipality. The data collection took place in focus group discussions and individual interviews with the aid of an interview guide. Data was analysed according to the eight steps of Tesch (in Creswell, 2003). Findings were verified according to Guba’s (1981) model of trustworthiness based on the criteria identified in Krefting (1991). The findings that were generated during the research study indicated that challenges for implementing project planning in the NGO sector had an impact on their service delivery. An enabling factor for implementing project planning and the writing of business plans was the fact that training in project management assisted project managers to market their services and permitted supervisors to fulfil different roles. The second theme that emerged from the study was disenabling factors or problems facing the planning and writing of the business plan. It demonstrated a lack of knowledge among social workers who lacked those skills and coordination and planning amongst NGO in the same area. The implementation of a basket of services influenced project outcomes, lack of resources and infrastructure for implementation of projects. The third theme that emerged from the study was stakeholders’ influence in project implementation and the influence on efficient and effective project outcomes. It included social work goals versus client goals, the relationship between the board members of the NGOs and social workers, the relationship between the Department of Social Development and social workers in the NGO sector, and relationships between the social workers and their supervisors. Recommendations included short- and long-term recommendations. It was concluded that NGOs experience challenges with regard to implementation of project planning.
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Okwuchukwu, Uchenna, and Mohamed Sheriff. "Experiences of first-generation West African parents on raising children in Sweden : Understanding the perspectives and challenges to enhance social work practice." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-36759.
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The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of first-generation West African parents raising children in Sweden from social work perspectives. The study investigated the experiences of first-generation West African parents raising children in Sweden that are of relevance to social work. In addition, what ways can social work in Sweden be enhanced to support first-generation West African parents raising their children in Sweden? The study was conducted through a qualitative research design since the focus is to interpret first-generation West African parents’ perspectives and to obtain an in-depth understanding of their experiences. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. The findings reveal that first-generation West-African parents face distinctive challenges when raising their children in Sweden to meet dogmatic and legislative requirements in relation to child protective services of the Swedish host society. Therefore, several means such as family therapy, educating the West African parents, cultural competence, etc. are proposed as tools to enhance social work practice. Better yet, they are proposed to ensure social inclusion for West African parents.
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Bellas, Noel. "Successes and challenges in implementing community art programs for youth in low-income communities : implications for social work practice." Thesis, McGill University, 2006. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=100738.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the successes and challenges in implementing community art programs for youth in low-income communities. The National Arts and Youth Demonstration Project (NAYDP) was initiated in September 2001 in five program sites across Canada. This article reports on the qualitative findings of NAYDP staff implementation journals that were utilized in the first term of the project. Findings suggest that community partnerships in program recruitment, youth management and engagement and survey administration were all key aspects in the ability of staff to deliver the program. Positive Youth Development (PYD) provides a guiding framework and implications for social work practice, education and future research are explored.
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LIMA, MICHELLE BORELY FERREIRA DE. "SOCIAL WORKERS CHALLENGES IN THE WORK WITH STREET CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN A RECEPTION CENTER IN RIO DE JANEIRO." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2008. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=13553@1.
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PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIROEsta dissertação tem por objetivo estudar os desafios de assistentes sociais que trabalham em uma Central de Recepção no município do Rio de Janeiro, voltado para o atendimento a crianças e adolescentes em situação de rua. Partimos da observação, em nosso cotidiano de trabalho, de que há um novo perfil de crianças e adolescentes em situação de rua. Ao longo dos últimos anos, temos constatado o crescente envolvimento desta população com o mundo das drogas, seja como usuários ou como parte do tráfico de drogas. Verificamos que este envolvimento, com freqüência, os leva à expulsão da comunidade onde residem. Destacamos ainda, como fenômenos atuais, o advento do uso do crack e a presença de um número maior de meninas em situação de rua. Como metodologia, utilizamos uma abordagem qualitativa, ilustrando nossa discussão com entrevistas realizadas com assistentes sociais e a diretora do Central de Recepção. Os resultados foram agrupados em quatro categorias, que são: (1) Visões das assistentes sociais sobre as políticas públicas e serviços oferecidos; (2) Questão da abordagem; (3) Falta de retaguarda e (4) Precariedade de infraestrutura no atendimento a este grupo; (4) O mundo das drogas: a grande incógnita?
This dissertation aims to study the challenges of Social Service Agents who work in a Reception Center in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. This Center is responsible for the reception and the referral of children and youth who were caught on the streets on their own. Based on our own experience, we start with the assumption that there is a new profile of children in the situation of the streets. In the last few years, we have observed that many of them have developed a growing involvement with the world of drugs, both as consumers and as participants of the drug trade. Many of them end up being forced out of their homes. In Addition, we would like to highlight two other aspects: the increasing presence of girls among the street population and the growing use of Crack by this group. Regarding the methodology, we used a qualitative approach and illustrated our discussion with interviews conducted with social workers and the director of the Reception Center. The results were grouped in 5 categories: (1) The social workers views about public policies and social services ; (2) Outreach work on the streets; (3) Lack of support; (4) Precariousness of infrastructure in services aimed at this group; (5) The world of drugs: the big enigma?
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Valladares, Siomara Evelin. "Challenges in the tenure process the experiences of faculty of color who conduct social science, race-based academic work /." Diss., Restricted to subscribing institutions, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1320974511&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=1564&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Wissel, Alanna Rey. "Working in Residential Childcare: What are the Challenges and Rewards?" Miami University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1386174131.
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Caballero, John. "CHALLENGES FOR MALE THERAPISTS WORKING WITH COMMERCIALLY AND SEXUALLY EXPLOITED FEMALE ADOLESCENTS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/696.
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The commercial and sexual exploitation of children has become a global multi-billion dollar industry over the past several decades. Throughout history, therapists from various backgrounds have not only advocated against child trafficking but also provided therapeutic services to victims of such an inhuman crime—most of whom are female adolescents. Compared to their female counterparts, male therapists have been assigned CSEC cases involving female clients in excessively lower ratios. Researchers, however, have not fully captured what has prevented the female CSEC population from drawing interests from male counselors. This study explored potential reluctance in male therapists with regard to working with female CSEC clients. Under the qualitative research paradigm, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight male therapists in Southern California. Results from the thematic analysis of the interview data demonstrated that male counselors are reluctant to work on a one-on-one basis with female CSEC clients due to (1) fear of sexual accusations and (2) lack of training. However, results also revealed that support from female colleagues can help dissipate the heavy clouds of fear associated with sexual allegations. Implications for social work and human service agencies were discussed.
Keywords: male counselor, commercially and sexually exploited children, social work, colleague support.
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Santana, Alejandra. "THE CHALLENGES THAT PROMOTORES FACE WHEN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROGRAMS." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/550.
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This qualitative study examines the challenges that community health workers or Promotores face when implementing their programs to produce better outcomes in the Latino community. Data collection was derived from five local promotores with an adequate knowledge base of expertise in promotores programs. Study themes focused on how promotores implement their programs, the challenges they face and providing professional and personal insight on working with the Latino community. Present day research emphasizes that promotores or the community health worker model approaches have been promoted as a strategy to address health disparities experienced by Latino communities in the U.S. These programs have been implemented in an effort to improve the health of Latino families and bring awareness to public health issues. However, not much is known about the challenges that they face when implementing these interventions. Study results indicated five emerging themes pertaining to the challenges that promotores face when implementing their programs and include: mental health stigma, recruitment, funding barriers, and lack of evaluation. Finally, suggestions for further research on promotores and the Latino community are discussed.
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Jones, Anita Payne. "Caregivers' Challenges in Accessing Services for Children with Autism." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7021.
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The perspective of the caregiver is vital to understanding the experiences of raising a child with autism, including the challenges faced in accessing services. The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of primary caregivers raising a school-age child with autism and to bring about an understanding of the challenges faced in accessing services. Resiliency theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants raising a child with autism in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Data were analyzed using Moustakas's descriptive approach. Results yielded 5 themes: overall experience, challenges, relationships, access to services, and stressors. Findings revealed effective ways to support caregivers through programs and services and highlighted the importance of supportive relationships and family connections. Implications for social change include opening conversations regarding the unique perspectives and needs of primary caregivers of children with autism, supporting awareness of the stressors associated in daily caregiving, and engaging in broader discussions regarding the importance of establishing supportive relationships among physicians, mental health providers, specialists, social workers and care managers in order to support the advocacy efforts of caregivers.
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Lindberg, Linnéa, and Jennifer Henriksson. "”Att man får lite påminna sig själv, det är jag som leder mötet” : En kvalitativ studie om socialarbetares upplevelser och hantering av tolkade möten." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för socialt arbete (SA), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-87012.
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The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze how social workers within social services experience and handle the communication as well as problems in interpreted meetings. Furthermore to examine the need for education for interpreter users. The aim was to get an increased understanding of interpreted meetings from social workers perspective and thereby inspire to improve the work to the benefit the client. The study was conducted in one municipality with six social workers, using qualitative semi-structured interviews. This method was chosen with the purpose to enable follow-up questions and in-depth answers. The analysis was based on the mathematical theory of communication and the theory about street-level bureaucracy. The results of this study showed that using only verbal communication becomes an uncertain element in the meeting. Our conclusion is that noise occurs in different ways in the interpreted conversation. Since the communication forms the basis for the personal treatment, the clients can consequently receive inferior treatment and support. Moreover, we found that problems in interpreted meetings are being handled differently by the social workers. One possible way is to place counterclaims towards the interpreter and take control over the meeting. Furthermore we found that social workers has a need for education in interpreted meetings but not in a extensive way. Our conclusion is that the lack of education and guidelines in interpreted meetings becomes an important part of social workers discretion and that there can be both positive and negative effects.
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Delibasic, Amina. "HONOR-RELATED VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION IN CHILD CARE INVESTIGATIONS : A qualitative study of the challenges and possibilities faced by social services when investigating honor related violence." Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för hälsa, vård och välfärd, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-55102.
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This Master’s project aims to explore the challenges and possibilities the social services encounter when investigating honor related violence in childcare investigations. Furthermore, the project is investigating social workers’ perceptions and experiences of honor related violence (HRV) and if that aspect of violence makes any difference to the investigation of child abuse. A qualitative approach has been used, where interviews were held with ten social workers. The project’s result and analysis has been divided into three themes: Social workers knowledge regarding HRV, working methods used when investigating child abuse with elements of HRV and the impact of the child perspective on different assessments concerning children in the same families. The results show that the social worker's knowledge has a significant role in how a case is handled by the social services. The lack of in-depth knowledge among social workers regarding HRV can have consequences for the work in various ways. The study also shows that there is a need for social services to develop treatments that are adapted to honor-related violence. Finally, the conclusion of this study shows that the current legislation in Sweden could be further developed.
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Lwemamu, Helen. "Gender and work challenges in the informal sector of Uganda : a study of disabled men and women in Mubende and Mityana districts." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8109.
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Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-157).
Compared to disciplines like gender and health, fewer studies have been done on disabled men and women's participation in the informal sector. This may be explained by the fact that for a long time, few disabled men and women in Uganda engaged or participated openly in income generating activities (IGAs). Many started getting involved in the 1990's and as the available literature shows, those who have done so are very enthusiastic and this has encouraged others. This study focuses on the gender and work challenges disabled men and women encounter in the informal sector of Uganda. The study is based on a review of existing literature and actual fieldwork carried out in the Mubende and Mityana districts of Uganda. It seeks to: (a) explore the types of business activities in which disabled men and women are engaged; (b) explore the nature of work challenges disabled men and women encounter in the informal sector and the nature of strategies they utilize to overcome these challenges; (c) ascertain the benefits that disabled men and women have gained in respect of participation in the informal sector; (d) establish the policies and laws that govern disabled men and women with regard to their work in the informal sector; and (e) establish how resources are allocated by various governmental and nongovernmental Organisations among disabled men and women in Mubende and Mityana districts. The study was carried out in Mubende and Mityana district, the central region of the densely populated disabled men and women. In this study in-depth interviews and focus group methods were used to collect qualitative data. Evidence from the study confirms that disabled men and women were engaged in similar IGAs although a few of them were engaged in different IGAs. The similarity in IGAs was likely to be a result of the limited range of IGAs that disabled men and women could engage in considering the nature of their impairments, limited finances and the limited skills that they had. The visually and hearing impaired men and women were mainly involved in a single IGA in the informal sector and most of the physically disabled men and women were engaged in multiple IGAs. This was linked to visually and hearing impaired men and women lacking or having insufficient capital and skills to engage in multiple IGAs, as compared to physically disabled men and women.