Children, Substance Abuse and the Role of Social Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabo Diraditsile ◽  
Omogolo Mabote
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Design Data ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Institutional Review

The study determined children’s experiences of and views on substance abuse, and the role of social work practice. It adopted a quantitative approach using a descriptive survey design. Data were collected using structured questionnaires with a total of 100 randomly selected students from the Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School in Botswana. The data were coded and quantitatively analysed using SPSS. A research permit and permission to enter the school were obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the University of Botswana, and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Furthermore, parental or guardian informed consent was obtained before the data collection. The findings reveal that various illegal substances widely used by students manifested in psychosocial issues. Moreover, it was also affirmed that despite government programme interventions designed to end substance use in schools, the situation remained unabated. This paper recommends that social workers contribute to this area in order to play a greater role in advocating for their clientele to receive the most effective interventions so that they can fight substance abuse. The paper concludes that generating reliable empirical data will increase awareness on the subject with the aim of making schools a conducive and better environment for students.

scholarly journals Emotional intelligence as a part of critical reflection in social work practice and research

2021 ◽  
pp. 147332502110247
Author(s):  
Mari D Herland
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Emotional Aspects

Social workers often experience higher levels of burnout compared with other healthcare professionals. The capacity to manage one’s own emotional reactions efficiently, frequently in complex care settings, is central to the role of social workers. This article highlights the complexity of emotions in social work research and practice by exploring the perspective of emotional intelligence. The article is both theoretical and empirical, based on reflections from a qualitative longitudinal study interviewing fathers with behavioural and criminal backgrounds, all in their 40 s. The analysis contains an exploration of the researcher position that illuminates the reflective, emotional aspects that took place within this interview process. Three overall themes emerged – first: Recognising emotional complexity; second: Reflecting on emotional themes; and third: Exploring my own prejudices and preconceptions. The findings apply to both theoretical and practical social work, addressing the need to understand emotions as a central part of critical reflection and reflexivity. The argument is that emotions have the potential to expand awareness of one’s own preconceptions, related to normative societal views. This form of analytical awareness entails identifying and paying attention to one’s own, sometimes embodied, emotional triggers.

scholarly journals Opportunities to “Make Macro Matter” through the Grand Challenges for Social Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 104438942097248
Author(s):  
Samantha Teixeira ◽  
Astraea Augsberger ◽  
Katie Richards-Schuster ◽  
Linda Sprague Martinez ◽  
Kerri Evans
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Grand Challenges ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
The Social ◽  
Macro Social Work ◽  
Instrumental Role

The Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative, led by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW), aims to organize the social work profession around 12 entrenched societal challenges. Addressing the root causes of the Grand Challenges will take a coordinated effort across all of social work practice, but given their scale, macro social work will be essential. We use Santiago and colleagues’ Frameworks for Advancing Macro Practice to showcase how macro practices have contributed to local progress on two Grand Challenges. We offer recommendations and a call for the profession to invest in and heed the instrumental role of macro social work practice to address the Grand Challenges.

Meeting the Placement Needs of Jewish Children

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Golda Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Anti Semitism ◽  
Jewish Children

There is little published literature on the placement needs of Jewish children in Britain. Golda Smith seeks to redress the balance, beginning with a brief historical summary of the experiences of Jews in Britain, including the roots of anti-Semitism. The article goes on to discuss the diversity within Jewishness, the importance of religion in children's understanding of their identity, the role of family customs and the implications of such issues for social work practice. Smith concludes with a call for all placement workers to have access to training and information about the placement needs of this neglected group.

PEDIATRICS AND SOCIETY

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1960 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-725
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Single Unit ◽  
External Factor ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Children’S Hospital

These observations from social work practice in a children's hospital have their counterpart in the practice of many wise physicians. Such a physician intuitively senses the importance of the mother' feelings about rearing her infant, and he treats the mother and child as a single unit. While intuition is of great value, systematic attention to the role of the mother is sorely needed, as the mother is the primary external factor affecting the infant's welfare.

Culture and Social Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 7-26
Author(s):  
Alejandra Pallamar ◽  
Sanjee Dahal
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Anthropological Research

In this chapter, we investigate the concepts of culture and explore the role that culture plays in contemporary social work practice. This chapter highlights the historical construction of the concept of culture from 1990 to 2000 and contemporary understanding of culture across disciplines. We explore the idea of culture in anthropological research, in sociological research and in the fields of psychology and communication. Considering the expansion of market in all spheres of life, the chapter will examine how social work intersects with other disciplines to look at culture and consider cross-cultural issues. We link the importance of the role of culture in the field of social work.

scholarly journals Attaining Theoretical Coherence Within Relationship-Based Practice in Child and Family Social Work: The Systemic Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1219-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Coulter ◽  
Stanley Houston ◽  
Suzanne Mooney ◽  
John Devaney ◽  
Gavin Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Systemic Theory ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Fidelity Model

Abstract Social work practice has an essential, yet ambiguous, relationship with theory. This state of affairs is currently evident in the range of contemporary relationship-based practice (RBP) models being applied within Child and Family Social Work. This article argues that there is an urgent need for a theoretically coherent conceptualisation of these models to enable social work practitioners to embrace their common precepts and so enable more effective interventions. In contrast to attempts to show the distinctiveness of current models for reasons of fidelity, model identity and marketing, this unifying approach advocates for recognition of the commonality and complementarity of contemporary RBP models. The article argues that systemic theory which applies a social constructionist orientation can provide this coherence, helping social workers develop their practice in an informed way. In making this case, the emergent evidence base is noted and recommendations are made about how greater convergence and complementarity can be promoted. This article contributes to the debate about how practice and policy should be guided by theoretical ideas of coherence, alongside more utilitarian ideas advocating the importance of evidence and effectiveness.

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