scholarly journals Radical Self-Care for Social Workers in the Global Climate Crisis

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith C F Powers ◽  
Sandra Engstrom
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Sustainable Communities ◽  
The World ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Climate Crisis

Abstract Gradual environmental degradation, more extreme climate change events, and related environmental injustices affect individuals and communities every day. Social work entities around the world are increasingly highlighting professional responsibilities for addressing the global climate crisis. Often, social workers experience vicarious trauma from work with those immediately affected. Working within the context of the global climate crisis brings further risk. Social workers may be personally affected, or experiencing their own challenges, such as climate anxiety and eco-grief. Thus, radical self-care is a dire need as social workers promote sustainable communities and environments and seek ecological justice for all. This article discusses the health and mental health impacts of the compounding factors of the climate crisis, modern technology, and current political contexts. Activism for change and ecotherapeutic strategies are presented as radical self-care for social workers, in both academic and practice-based settings. These strategies are essential for recognizing, legitimizing, and addressing the need for radical self-care practices in the global climate crisis.

Development and Initial Validation of the Self-Care Practices Scale

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn J Lee ◽  
Shari E Miller ◽  
Brian E Bride
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Practices

Abstract Self-care is regarded as essential for effective social work practice, offsetting occupational stress and promoting well-being and resiliency among practitioners. However, the literature reveals a notable absence of psychometrically sound instruments to measure self-care. The purpose of the present study was to describe the development, refinement, and construct validity of the Self-Care Practices Scale (SCPS). The piloted version of the SCPS is a 38-item instrument designed to measure frequency of engagement in personal and professional self-care practices. Data were collected through mailed surveys from a random sample of master’s-level clinical social workers and members of the National Association of Social Workers (N = 492). Analysis supports the construct validity of an 18-item SCPS with two subscales that demonstrate strong internal validity. The SCPS is useful for social work educators, practitioners, and administrators to ascertain frequency of self-care practice and build a stronger culture of self-care. The role of SCPS in future research is discussed.

Corporate social responsibility as relief from responsibility

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Herlin ◽  
Nikodemus Solitander
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
The World ◽  
Crisis Discourse ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Climate Crisis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to get a deeper understanding how not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) discursively legitimize their corporate engagement through cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) in general, and particularly how they construct legitimacy for partnering with firms involved in the commodification of water. The paper seeks to shed light on the values embedded in these discursive accounts and the kind of societal effects and power relations they generate, and the authors are particularly interested in understanding the role of modernity in shaping their responsibilities (or lack of them) via various technologies and practices Design/methodology/approach Drawing on critical discourse analysis (Fairclough 1995), the authors analyze the discursive accounts of three water-related CSPs involving the three biggest bottled water producers in the world (Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Danone) and three major non-profits (The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Wildlife Foundation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Findings The NPO’s legitimate their corporate engagement in the water CSPs through the use of two global discourses: global governance discourse and the global climate crisis discourse. Relief from responsibility is achieved through three processes: replacement of moral with technical responsibility, denial of proximity and the usage of intermediaries to whom responsibility is outsourced. Originality/value This paper explores the processes of legitimizing accounts for CSPs, particularly focusing on NPO discourse and their use of CSR elements and the consequences of such discursive constructs, and this has received little to no attention in previous research.

scholarly journals ECO-PESANTREN AS THE PANACEA FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: LESSONS FROM NURUL HARAMAIN NW LOMBOK ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-121
Author(s):  
Abdul Quddus
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Boarding School ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Ecological Concept ◽  
The World ◽  
Ecological Values ◽  
Climate Crisis

This paper examined the ecological concept and its implication at Nurul Haramain NW Lombok Islamic boarding school in response to the world climate crisis. Boarding schools have the potentials to bridge the environmental conservation initiative amid the secular science phenomena. This study employed a descriptive-explorative approach using a qualitative methodology. Thus, theoretically, this study was anchored in Mary Evelyn Tucker and Vasudha Narayan's theories of eco-theology in addressing the climate crisis. The findings showed that Nurul Haramain NW Lombok Islamic boarding school had implemented a sustainable lifestyle based on the ecological values in the Al-Quran and Hadith, in which Tuan Guru as the environmental conservation foreman.   Keywords: Eco-Pesantren, Climate Change, Environmental Crisis, Educational Theology, Eco Theology

Assessing The “Millennial Self-Care Obsession” Among Social Workers: #NotSoMuch

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732095435
Author(s):  
J Jay Miller ◽  
Erlene Grise-Owens
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Care Practices

Summary Despite the importance of self-care to social work practice, misnomers about the construct persist. One misperception is that millennials are overly focused on self-care and engage in high-levels of self-care, to the detriment of performing work duties. This study examined the self-care practices of social work practitioners (N = 3079) in the United States. Researcher investigated self-care practices across five domains: Professional Support, Professional Development, Life Support, Cognitive Awareness, and Daily Balance. Findings Overall, data suggest that social workers in all generations engaged in moderate amounts of self-care. Analyses revealed that millennials engaged in significantly fewer self-care practices related to Professional Support and Daily Balance, when compared to Generation X and Baby-boomer participants. While not statistically significant, millennials scored lower across all other self-care domains. Applications This is the first known study to explicitly investigate generational differences in self-care within any professional discipline. Within the next five years, millennials will make up nearly 75% of the world’s workforce. Findings from this research suggest the need to reshape prevailing anecdotes about self-care and millennials. Further, data offer insights to organizations looking to better support social workers of all generations in engaging in self-care.

scholarly journals Amplified injustices and mutual aid in the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 147332502097332
Author(s):  
Finn McLafferty Bell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
The World ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Ways Of Being

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing injustices in the United States, which is exemplified in Ypsilanti, Michigan. However, the pandemic also provides an opportunity to re-imagine existing ways of being in the world, and mutual aid networks that have provided for people's basic needs during multiple crises while also working towards more radical change provide an opportunity for social workers to examine their relationship to “helping.” The author uses their personal experience with a local mutual aid network to examine the power and possibility of mutual aid, particularly in times of crisis, as well as sources of social work resistance to decentralized and non-professional forms of helping and caring. These lessons are carried beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to their consequences for the looming climate crisis.

Exploring the self-care practices of social workers in Poland

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
J. Jay Miller ◽  
Zuzana Poklembova ◽  
Monika Podkowińska ◽  
Erlene Grise-Owens ◽  
Beáta Balogová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Self ◽  
Care Practices

scholarly journals Progressive Politics and Humanistic Psychology in the Trump/Coronavirus Era

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 778-791
Author(s):  
Elliot Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Self Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Humanistic Psychology ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Progressive Politics ◽  
Turbulent Times ◽  
The World ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

In this article, the author discusses the relationship of progressive politics to humanistic psychology in the Trump/Coronavirus era. The harsh realities of personal fears and severe challenges to our mental health evoked by both the United States presidency of Donald Trump and the coronavirus pandemic are described initially. Then, a number of self-care practices that are consistent with the basic values of humanistic psychology and that we can undertake to help us meet these harsh realities are illustrated. Next, the author describes his own personal engagement and self-care in the world of progressive politics and humanistic psychology in the context of the Resisting Trump movement. The article concludes with the author suggesting that perhaps it may be worthwhile for politically like-minded others to also consider finding ways of merging their progressive politics with humanistic psychology in order to enhance their self-care through these turbulent times in the Trump/Coronavirus era.

Self-Care Practices of Self-Identified Social Workers: Findings from a National Study

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay J Miller ◽  
Erlene Grise-Owens ◽  
Larry Owens ◽  
Nada Shalash ◽  
Molly Bode
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Secondary Trauma ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
National Study ◽  
Care Practices

Abstract Self-care can be an important tool in assuaging professional burnout, workplace stress, vicarious or secondary trauma, and other deleterious employment circumstances. Despite this importance, few studies have examined self-care among social work practitioners. This exploratory study examined the self-care practices of self-identified social workers (N = 2,934) throughout the United States. Primary data were collected with an electronic survey. Data indicate that social workers in the sample engage in moderate self-care practices. Analyses revealed group differences in self-care by several variables including geographic locale of participants’ primary place of employment, race, educational level, and social work licensing status, among others. Significant predictors of self-care included perceived health status (self-report), education level, being a supervisor, and financial status. Overall, findings from this study indicate the need for a systemic response to improving self-care practices among social workers.

The Ten Principles of Trauma-Informed Services and Application to School Environments

2019 ◽  
pp. 58-66
Author(s):  
Eileen A. Dombo ◽  
Christine Anlauf Sabatino
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Self Care ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
School Social Workers ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
School Environments ◽  
Trauma Informed

For a school to be considered trauma-informed, the services and care must be provided in the context of an organization-wide approach grounded in an understanding of trauma and its consequences, with a focus on strengths, healing, and resilience. This requires a shift in the questions that are asked about children who have trouble learning or who interrupt the learning of others. Instead of asking a child, “what’s wrong with you?” the question becomes, “what happened to you?” Chapter 5 addresses the ten principles of trauma-informed services and delves into ways school social workers can create trauma-informed environments in educational settings to prevent children from being triggered and experiencing trauma in schools. Information and resources on self-care and vicarious trauma for school personnel are provided. The connection between culture and trauma is also explored.

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