scholarly journals Career Choice, Barriers, and Prospects of Asian American Social Workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Kenny Kwong
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Glass Ceiling ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Ethnic Discrimination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The U.S

The current study explored factors influencing career choices of Asian American social workers and assessed if their personal characteristics and career-related experiences affected their perceived glass ceiling, perception of ethnic discrimination, and perception of career prospects.  A total of 208 Asian American social work administrators, supervisors, practitioners and graduate social work students participated in a comprehensive online survey.  Participants provided basic demographic and career-related information and completed a set of measures to explore their reasons of choosing social work as their career, and their career perceptions and prospects.  Correlation analyses and multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of their perception of ethnic discrimination, perceived glass ceiling, and perception of career prospects.  The findings showed that altruistic reasons were very important to extremely important in their choice of social work as their career.  Social work idealism was found to associate positively with both altruistic reasons and professional concerns of choosing social work.  There was a significant relationship between participant’s immigration status and family influence on their career choice.  Those who were not born in the U.S. were more likely to be influenced by their family in their career choice than those who were born in in the U.S.  Those whose parents were not born in the U.S. were more likely to be influenced by their family expectations on their career choice than either of their parents was born in the U.S.  Perceptions of organizational fairness was found to be a strong predictor of perceived glass ceiling, perception of ethnic discrimination, and perception of career prospects. Implications of the findings for social work education and future research were discussed. 

scholarly journals Practice in a Pandemic: School Social Workers’ Adaptations and Experiences During the 2020 COVID-19 School Disruptions

2021 ◽  
pp. 104438942110098
Author(s):  
Michael S. Kelly ◽  
Rami Benbenishty ◽  
Gordon Capp ◽  
Kate Watson ◽  
Ron Astor
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
School Social Work ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Virtual School ◽  
School Social Workers ◽  
Traditional Practice

In March 2020, as American PreK-12 schools shut down and moved into online learning in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, there was little information about how school social workers (SSWs) were responding to the crisis. This study used a national online survey to understand how SSWs ( N = 1,275) adapted their school practice during the initial 2020 COVID-19 crisis. Findings from this study indicate that SSWs made swift and (relatively) smooth adaptations of their traditional practice role to the new context, though not without reporting considerable professional stress and personal challenges doing so. SSWs reported significant concerns about their ability to deliver effective virtual school social work services given their students’ low motivation and lack of engagement with online learning, as well as significant worries about how their students were faring during the first months of the pandemic. Implications for school social work practice, policy, and research are discussed.

Satisfaction with the Social Work Profession: A Ten-Year Analysis of Undergraduate Students' Perceptions

1997 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 835-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Hanson ◽  
James G. McCullagh
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Perceived Satisfaction ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
The Social

A 10-yr. study of 746 social work undergraduates' perceived satisfaction with seven factors related to their career choice suggested high satisfaction with social work as a career; with the purposes and functions of social work, and the students' initial volunteer experience. There were no significant changes in satisfaction over the 10-yr. period, which findings parallel those of other studies in which similar methods have been used with practicing social workers.

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.

Comparing the Effects of Different Story Types and Speakers in Hepatitis B Storytelling Videos

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-821
Author(s):  
Julia M. Alber ◽  
Chari Cohen ◽  
Amy Bleakley ◽  
Sanam F. Ghazvini ◽  
Brenda Trang Tolentino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Personal Story ◽  
Personal Stories ◽  
Severity Scores

Chronic hepatitis B, a condition associated with severe complications, disproportionately affects Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Increasing testing among this population is critical for improving health outcomes. This study compares different types of video narratives that use storytelling techniques to an informational video (control), to examine whether narratives are associated with higher hepatitis B beliefs scores and video rating outcomes. A sample of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults ( N = 600) completed an online survey where they viewed one of four video conditions, three of which included storytelling techniques and one with informational content. Results indicated that parental stories received significantly higher perceived effectiveness ratings ( M = 3.88, SD = 0.61) than the older adult personal stories ( M = 3.62, SD = 0.74), F(3, 596) = 3.795, p = .010. Parental stories also had significantly higher perceived severity scores ( M = 3.83, SD = 0.69) compared to the young adult stories ( M = 3.73, SD = 0.74) and the informational videos ( M = 3.83, SD = 0.69), F(3, 596) = 7.72, p < .001. The informational videos ( M = 4.10, SD = 0.65) received significantly higher message credibility ratings than the older adult personal stories ( M = 3.84, SD = 0.70), F(3, 596) = 4.71, p = .003. Follow-up tests using Bonferroni correction revealed that parental stories ( M = 3.98, SD = 0.64) and young adult personal stories ( M = 3.934, SD = 0.76) scored significantly higher on speaker ratings than the older adult personal stories ( M = 3.698, SD = 0.77). Results suggest that storytelling has the potential for connecting with a specific audience in an emotional way that is perceived well overall. Future research should examine the long-term impact of hepatitis B personal story videos and whether the addition of facts or statistics to videos would improve outcomes.

scholarly journals We Are What We Read

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 841-856
Author(s):  
Emily Tillotson ◽  
Susan Smith ◽  
Cheris Brewer Current
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Strong Commitment ◽  
And Gender ◽  
School Of Social Work ◽  
Implicit Curriculum ◽  
The U.S

A school of social work devised a process to assess the implicit curriculum by auditing the required readings to identify the race and gender of the authors. As a profession, we espouse a strong commitment to social justice and diversity. Yet we know that there are limitations to our objectivity and that auditing is a valuable tool that can reveal biases. The concrete data provided by an audit can help reveal and disrupt entrenched patterns. The audit was conducted by reviewing the syllabi for required BSW and MSW courses. For each text, we collected the names, gender, and race for each author. Across all programs, authors were disproportionately White as compared to the general U.S. population, professional authors, professional social workers, and students in the programs. Similarly, men were over-represented as compared to all of the benchmarks, except for the authors in the BSW program, which was more feminized as compared to the U.S. population. This assessment process adds to the existing toolset by measuring current levels of representation—including over and underrepresentation. It is hoped that auditing will prove an effective tool for doing antiracist and anti-oppressive assessment, however an audit can only reveal where work is needed.

Hypertension Among Asian Americans: Associations With Measures of Acculturation

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiao Lu ◽  
Hwa Sim ◽  
Hee-Soon Juon ◽  
Sunmin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Asian American ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hypertension Prevalence ◽  
English Fluency ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Multidimensional Effects ◽  
The U.S

 We examined the association between multiple measures of acculturation and objectively measured hypertension among three Asian American groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 584 Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese adults. Acculturation was measured by years in the U.S., English fluency, and self-rated identity. Hypertension prevalence was 29.1%. Individuals who self-rated as “bicultural/westernized” were less likely to have hypertension as compared to those who self-rated as “Very Asian”. In the subgroup analysis, significant association between acculturation as measured by self-rated identity and hypertension was only observed among Chinese participants. Future research can benefit by acknowledging the multidimensional effects of acculturation on hypertension.

Social Workers’ Impact on Policy Through Regulations: A Case Study of the U.S. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 146801732110103
Author(s):  
Susanny J Beltran ◽  
Vivian J Miller ◽  
Tyrone Hamler
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Writing Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Term Care ◽  
The Social ◽  
The U.S

Summary Involvement in the political process in the United States is critical for social work professionals, as social policies dictate funding and programming in social work practice. Yet, there is little to no focus given to the regulation writing process in the social work literature in the United States. This article contributes to the scant body of knowledge that addresses the regulatory process from a social work perspective. A brief overview of the regulation writing process is provided, followed by a case study using the regulations for the U.S. Older Americans Act Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to illustrate the process. Findings A total of 85 comments, submitted to the Federal Register docket, were analyzed using content analysis. Findings reveal that comment submissions varied greatly in terms of length, source, and input. Notably, findings indicate low participation from the social work profession. Application The open comment period of the regulation writing process offers a free, but effortful, window of opportunity for social workers to engage in post-legislative advocacy. There is a need to support the involvement of the social work profession in the regulation writing process, through practice and training enhancements.

scholarly journals Social Work Graduates Entering the Field of Gerontology During COVID-19: Exploring Perceived Readiness and Needs

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 390-390
Author(s):  
Susanny Beltran ◽  
Vivian Miller
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Gerontological Social Workers

Abstract Gerontological social workers (GSW) are on the frontlines supporting the biopsychosocial needs of older adults in hospitals, communities, and long-term care settings. However, it is unclear whether social workers (SW) are trained to meet the emerging needs of older adults during COVID-19. This study describes training received, perceived readiness, and training needs of GSWs new to the field during 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with recent graduates from U.S. SW programs. Survey questions explored training received and ongoing needs, perceived self-efficacy (adapted from the Geriatric Social Work Competency Scale), demographics, and confidence in ability to work with populations 55+. A total of 15 recent SW graduates specializing in gerontology completed the survey. Fifty-three percent of the sample held MSWs and over half (53.3%) were licensed social workers or registered interns. Nearly all participants (73.3%) reported taking an introductory aging course, and almost half (46.7%) completed coursework in aging and diversity, aging policy, and end-of-life care/bereavement; 80% completed fieldwork in aging. Participants report moderate skill in assessing issues related to losses or transitions (46.7%), and physical functioning (53.3%), and advanced skill in assessing cognitive functioning (60.0%), and caregiver stress/needs (53.3%). Nearly half of respondents who rated their training as good-excellent indicate being very-extremely confident (42.8%) in their ability to practice with older adults. Training needs among participants include disaster preparedness, telehealth, and coordination of scarce resources. Curriculum development and continuing education are necessary to support emerging gerontological social workers in their practice during COVID-19 and other emergencies.

scholarly journals Employment-Related Salaries and Benefits in Social Work: A Workforce Survey

10.18060/275 ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-94
Author(s):  
Suk-Young Kang ◽  
Judy Krysik
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Job Seekers ◽  
Administrative Roles ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Internet Surveys ◽  
Employment Experience

The purpose of this study was to develop a descriptive benchmark of social work employment in Arizona and to provide useful information to administrators, job seekers, and prospective social work students. The results, based on telephone and Internet surveys to a random sample of 463 NASW Arizona members, indicate that salary was positively related to level of education and years of social work employment experience. Salary was also higher for men than for women and higher for social workers with administrative roles compared to other roles. Access to employee-related benefits appeared widespread. Implications are provided for administration and future research.

scholarly journals Reviewing the benefits and challenges of overseas practice: Reflections upon coming home

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-88
Author(s):  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Allen Bartley
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The Social ◽  
Opportunities For Learning ◽  
Workplace Cultures ◽  
Benefits And Costs

INTRODUCTION: Given the diversity of practice and understanding of social work across the globe and its distinctive shape in specific national settings, practitioners working in a new country encounter different community, professional and workplace cultures which may pose challenges. This current study contributes to a larger programme of work undertaken to address the transnational nature of the social work profession in Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere. METHOD: The study aim was to explore the experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand qualified social workers who have practised in another country and have returned home. Participants in an online survey were recruited via an invitation to all members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. The questionnaire was designed to obtain broad data about the experiences of social workers in their overseas employment and perceptions on their return home. FINDINGS: Many participants had layers of transnational experience having practised as social workers in multiple countries. Participants reported overall satisfaction with overseas experiences which had provided professional opportunities for learning and development, and better pay and conditions. Coming home presented new challenges and interesting perceptions of social work in Aotearoa. IMPLICATIONS: Adjustment to new practice locations and, as shown in this small exploratory study, returning “home” can be disruptive to professional perspectives. While overseas practice is enriching, it carries with it both relocation benefits and costs, confirming earlier research. Better employer recognition of the challenges of returning social workers, and the enhanced skills they bring home may offset any dislocation experienced. 

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