Strengthening Social Welfare Administration Practice in India: A Context Centric Social Work Approach

Author(s):  
Alex Akhup

Abstract This article explores the possibility of strengthening social welfare administration practice in social work training and education to respond to complex and varied issues located within Indian social reality keeping in view the people in concrete situations of vulnerabilities. Based on the case analysis approach, it situates the history of social work education and practice closely linked to the social welfare administration practice in Mumbai School of Social Work. The experience in this school reaffirms the contribution of social work administration practice towards welfare and development of people, and suggests the need for strengthening the practice suited to the changing needs of the time. Learning from this experience, this article argues for a positive recognition of context centric approach in social work practice.

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Staniforth

INTRODUCTION: The University of Auckland MA in Sociology (Option II–Social Welfare and Development) (“the Programme”) was a qualifying social work programme that admitted students from 1975 to 1979. This article describes this programme and some of the issues that led to its short-lived tenure.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 staff and students who had been involved with this programme. One person, involved in the accreditation of the Programme was also interviewed, and one person provided feedback in an email. Information was also obtained through archived University of Auckland documents, reports, and various forms of personal correspondence provided by June Kendrick. FINDINGS: The Programme was championed by the Head of the Department of Sociology (David Pitt). There were resource limitations and philosophical tensions within the Department about the qualification. There was little support for its continuation at the end of a three-year grant and after the departure of David Pitt. The New Zealand Social Work Training Council accredited it after its discontinuation.CONCLUSION: The Programme made a valuable contribution to the profession of social work and social work education and forms an important part of the history of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand. 


Author(s):  
Hamido Megahead

Although professional social work in Egypt has a 100-year history, there is a dearth of information in English about social work in Egypt and other non-Western countries. Five domains of social work in Egypt are (1) the international flow of Western social work practice into Egypt, (2) modern social work, (3) social work research and social work interventions, (4) social work education, and (5) fields of practice. These five domains that inform modern social work in Egypt were produced from international flows of Western social work practice into Egypt. It was also produced from social work research and social work intervention. Modern social work also comes from teaching bachelor of social work students professional social work courses. Social work knowledge was adapted, authenticated, and indigenized to meet local context. These five dominated themes have been detailed and explained. International flows of Western social work practice into Egypt include transmission (transplantation), authentication, and indigenization. Modern social work in Egypt includes social work practice and social welfare policy. Social work research has included explanatory, descriptive and experiment social work research studies. Social work intervention has included social work intervention of aiming at solving problems and stressors and social work intervention of aiming at applying resources for change. Fields of social work practice includes family and child Social Work and school social work. Social work education is focused only on Bachelor of Science in Social Work covering the professional social work courses group work practice, social casework practice, community organization, social welfare planning, policy and administration, fields of social work practice. A synthetic approach that knits together these five themes entail that modern social work has been produced from international flows of Western social work practice into Egyptian context. It is also produced from social work research and social work intervention. Modern social work also comes as results of teaching Bachelor Social Work (BSW) students the professional social work courses.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002087282110489
Author(s):  
Abhijeet Mishra

This article discusses a brief history of ‘modern’ social work in India before 1936. I present how abstract conceptions of scientifically informed and organized social work practice were brewing in colonial India, along with attempts to assemble or organize it. I use these accounts to further present certain nuances on the modalities of imported social work knowledge that dominated social work education in India after 1936.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Knight

BSW and first-year MSW students from one school of social work were surveyed to determine the influence that the perception of the practice instructor's professional experience had on that individual's teaching effectiveness. Results indicate that practice experience, particularly current experience, did enhance students' evaluations of their instructor's teaching effectiveness. The perception of the instructor's practice experience also was linked to several other attributes that enhanced teaching effectiveness, most notably serving as a role model to students and engaging in classroom behaviors that helped students apply their classroom learning. The results underscore the importance of instructors being knowledgeable about the field curriculum and suggest the need for caution when interpreting findings related to teaching effectiveness in social work education.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 684-686
Author(s):  
Marilyn L. Flynn ◽  
Michal Sela-Amit

The social work profession has adopted science and empirical evidence as the means of validating discovery. As the commitment to science has intensified, interest in the use of arts in practice has grown as a counterpoise and an effort to justify other forms of knowledge and human experience. A roundtable was held in summer 2017 to examine whether the arts have a distinctive place in social work practice. It has been acknowledged that the arts have played a role in the history of the profession, however, remained neglected and marginalized in social work education. Roundtable participants argued that creativity, necessary disruption, and transformation have been lost to the field as a result. It is possible that social work education might be reimagined with new underpinnings of science, social innovation, and the arts. It should not be assumed that outcome measurement is not possible; however, measures would have to be rethought.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. i-iii
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Adamek

Given our commitment to highlighting current issues, challenges, and responses within social work practice and education globally, the Spring 2021 issue of Advances in Social Work is pleased to present 11 full-length papers written by 40 authors from across the U.S. and Canada. We begin with four papers calling for greater involvement of social work educators and practitioners in arenas including information literacy, dyslexia, digital equity, and independent living. These papers are followed by reports on seven empirical studies in areas of practice as diverse as kinship care, legal representation, collaboration in a dental clinic, and dance and mindfulness. We hope you find these selections on emerging areas of social work practice and education to be informative and inspiring. Each contribution to this issue is introduced below. Sprecial Issue Alert: Just a heads up that our next special issue, Dismantling White Supremacy in Social Work Education, will be released in late summer 2021. With over 100 abstracts submitted, this special issue has garnered incredible interest. We are looking forward to bringing you 34+ original papers (our largest issue to date!) addressing ways that social work education can move forward positively and intentionally in ways that acknowledge the damage wrought by white privilege, promote racial justice and anti-racist practice, and embrace new ways of knowing, teaching, and learning. The Indiana University School of Social Work, through publishing Advances in Social Work as an open access scholarly journal, is grateful to play a role in knowledge production and dissemination in social work. We are continually amazed at the dedication and hard work of our social work colleagues globally who work tirelessly to advance social and economic justice. Marshall on, colleagues! Tribute to Retiring Board Members: Before closing, I would like to take this opportunity to express sincere appreciation to three outgoing AISW Board members who recently retired from the Indiana University School of Social Work: Dr. Karen Allen, Dr. Larry Bennett, and Dr. Bob Vernon. Your contributions to not only Advances in Social Work but to the IU School of Social Work and to the social work profession at large are very much appreciated. Special accolades to Dr. Vernon who has served on the AISW Editorial Board since its inception in 1999. Best wishes to each of you in your next adventures!


Author(s):  
Scott Giacomucci

AbstractThis chapter outlines a brief history of social work with groups including its place within the larger social work field and the landscapes of group work practice and education. Basic theory and concepts in social work with groups are presented including mutual aid, the centrality of relationships, and an introduction to the non-deliberative social work tradition. The presence of group work in social work practice has significantly increased due as research studies have piled up to support its efficacy. Nevertheless, at the same time, the presence of group work in social work education has steadily declined in the past several decades.


Author(s):  
Tatenda Goodman Nhapi

It has become important that social work confronts environmental challenges associated with climate change. Environmental social work is an approach to social work practice founded on ecological justice principles. A literature review was conducted to analyse social work’s contribution to robust responses to the impact of climate change in Zimbabwe. Despite an enabling legal and policy environment, the degradation of natural resources has become pervasive owing to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic dynamics. Institutions such as the Council of Social Workers Zimbabwe (Council of Social Workers), and the National Association of Social Workers Zimbabwe complemented by the four universities that offer social work training are found to contribute to social work when mitigating the impact of climate change in Zimbabwe. These strategies enrich social work’s responses to the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. This is achievable by engaging in research opportunities of applied action that explore communities’ public and social spaces. The article concludes by offering pathways for more proactive social work contributions towards mitigating climate change impacts in Zimbabwe.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 68-82
Author(s):  
Bridget Caffrey ◽  
Helen Fruin

The authors of this practice note acknowledge the centrality of practice learning in social work training in England. They recognise it is a defining feature of social work training. However they critically discuss the current model used to assess social work students on placement in England; a process prompted by research one of the authors presented at the 12th International Conference on Practice Teaching and Field Education in Health and Social Work, September 2018.The PN reviews persitant issues in the assessment of students on placement  and argues these have been exacerbated by changes to practice within the English  higher education system and social work practice. They argue the current system is fundamentally flawed and encourage the SW profession  to reflect using imagination and creativity to envisage alternative ways to assess students practice and to identify new ideas to pilot. 


Author(s):  
Willie Tolliver

Bogart Leashore (1947–2007) was dedicated to high standards of social work education, social justice and cultural diversity, sound social work practice, and the welfare of children. He was Dean of Hunter College School of Social Work from 1991 to 2003.


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