scholarly journals THE HIERARCHY AND TYPOLOGY OF FAMILY SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 304-310
Author(s):  
Ivana Loučková ◽  
Alice Gojová
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Family Social Support ◽  
Social Support Services ◽  
Effective Network

This article examines the importance of family social support networks and their implications for social services. Social support networks are a significant factor in effective assistance to families. This research uses an integrated strategy and factor analysis to identify stakeholders of social support services and the extent in which these services are considered important by families in terms of solving their problems. Our findings show that assistance to families is expected in three levels. The first involves direct interpersonal relationships (between family members and friends) and when this level fails, the network of professionals and experts is the next provider. An effective network of support services to families "stands and falls" with active family relationships. Where family relationships are absent or dysfunctional, they are compensated by second and third levels of this support. In a developed network of support services, social workers should have tools available to support all three levels. In view of these findings, a trend emphasizing approaches in favor of families solving their own problems rather than professional dominance of such is worth investigating.

scholarly journals Toronto’s Portuguese-speaking community potential for creating a social support-networks for breast cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Maheu ◽  
Margareth Santos Zanchetta ◽  
Abinet Gebreegziabher Gebremariam ◽  
Mary Rachel Lam-Kin-Teng
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Religious Institutions ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Social Support Services ◽  
Limited Sensitivity

An ethnographic study explored ideas about the possibility of creating social support networks for breast cancer within the Portuguese-speaking community in Toronto (Canada). Nineteen men and women from Angolan, Brazilian and Portuguese communities informed about a social support network with a focus on enabling versus challenging conditions for its construction. The fundamental components in creating social support networks were: the demystification of breast cancer and its prevention, emphasis on health education, mobilizing volunteers and direct social support to women living with breast cancer. The potential enabling factors were the participation of older women as social leaders, and the utilization of schools and religious institutions. Perceived barriers were: breast cancer believed to be women’s disease, lack of knowledge about its cure/ rehabilitation, as well as a limited sensitivity to cancer. Social support networks should consider the communities’ diverse cultural and tangible needs, as well as more informal social support services.

Implementation of a computer-assisted face-to-face intervention for mapping the social support networks of patients with severe mental illness in routine clinical practice: Analysis of the appropriateness and acceptability of the intervention

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110589
Author(s):  
Pablo Nicaise ◽  
Hélène Garin ◽  
Pierre Smith ◽  
Sébastien d’Oreye de Lantremange ◽  
Laurent Leleux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
The Social

Background: Social support is a key dimension of personal recovery for patients with severe mental disorders. Although clinicians and health professionals should monitor the social support resources of patients in order to provide effective treatment, no specific tool or intervention exist for that purpose. Egonet is a computer-assisted intervention for health and social services that enables the mapping, assessment and fostering of patients’ social support networks. Aims: This paper describes the intervention and evaluates the appropriateness and acceptability of its implementation in a clinical setting. Method: We described the computer-assisted intervention. We used a questionnaire to assess how appropriate and acceptable clinicians found a preliminary version to be. We also collected patients’ level of satisfaction with their social support networks before and after the intervention and carried out qualitative interviews. Results: Egonet is made up of four components: (1) a computer-assisted interview for mapping social networks, (2) a remote data server, (3) a data-mining module and (4) a customisable reporting tool. Egonet was implemented for 232 patients by 91 clinicians from five services. The intervention was perceived by clinicians as appropriate and useful for clinical practice, although it was noted that considerable effort was required to obtain its benefits. Patients were slightly more satisfied with their social support after the intervention than before, and expressed the opinion that more attention should be paid to the social support network. Conclusions: EGONET is appropriate and acceptable for use in work related to the social support networks of patients with psychiatric disorders.

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