The Black Power movement has often been portrayed in history and popular culture as the quintessential "bad boy" of modern black movement-making in America. Yet this impression misses the full extent ...of Black Power's contributions to U.S. society, especially in regard to black professionals in social work. Relying on extensive archival research and oral history interviews, Joyce M. Bell follows two groups of black social workers in the 1960s and 1970s as they mobilized Black Power ideas, strategies, and tactics to change their national professional associations. Comparing black dissenters within the National Federation of Settlements (NFS), who fought for concessions from within their organization, and those within the National Conference on Social Welfare (NCSW), who ultimately adopted a separatist strategy, she shows how the Black Power influence was central to the creation and rise of black professional associations. She also provides a nuanced approach to studying race-based movements and offers a framework for understanding the role of social movements in shaping the non-state organizations of civil society.
Celebrating World Hearing Day Sahoo, Soumick
Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU,
09/2023, Volume:
16, Issue:
3
Journal Article
THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER IN THE ADOPTION GIURGIU, Laura Rodica; CALIN, Floricica Mariana
Scientific Annals of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Iaşi. New Series SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK Section,
12/2022, Volume:
15, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has caused feelings of fear and an unprecedented state of uncertainty especially for children or adults at risk. The effects of isolation and the risk of ...infection can be particularly severe for those who are part of vulnerable groups, people who lack their families, and emotional or financial support. The social distancing and quarantine caused anxiety, depression, and a deterioration in physical health. A considerable number of institutionalized people do not have digital knowledge or devices to maintain virtual contact with outside world or with social services providers. In our paper we studied the effects of the interruptions or delays in the processing of application files for adoption, which occurred as a result of stopping activity of specialized social workers and institutions. Our research focused on the adoption process after the pandemic, when the procedures could be re-opened, and the children who had to wait so long, were able to meet their families again.
Our sample included a group of 30 social workers, experimented in the adoption field. A survey and an Interview Guide have been used, in order to achieve the goals and to validate the hypotheses of the research.
Objective. To evaluate the BIZI program, a Spanish-language gatekeeper training program with a novel online self-learning format that is brief and open-access. It was developed as part of the suicide ...prevention strategy in Euskadi (Spain) to improve community-based suicide prevention. Methods. A group of experts from different fields created the program and tested its usability in a preliminary phase. A single-group design was used for the evaluation, with repeated measurements (before, immediately after, and after three months). Online questionnaires were used to evaluate the program's impact on core competencies for gatekeepers, as well as adherence to content and user satisfaction. Community agents (educators and social workers, among others) who responded to an invitation sent by regional public health coordinators were included in the study. Results. In total, 728 people accessed the training, and 86% completed it; 569 people completed the assessment (81.2% women, mean age 41.4 years). The core gatekeeper competencies of attitude, self-efficacy, and knowledge improved significantly, and improvement was sustained greater than or equal to 3 months in a subsample (P = 0.0001). Conclusions. The results are promising and suggest that BIZI is useful in improving the capacity and willingness of community agents to identify people at risk and refer them to specialized resources. Its novel format gives it important advantages over other more common gatekeeper training programs, facilitating its dissemination in low-resource environments. It is the first program of its kind whose effectiveness has been demonstrated and also the first available in Spanish. Keywords Suicide prevention; community; professional training; internet-based intervention. Objetivo. Evaluar el Programa BIZI, un programa de formacion de guardianes o gatekeepers (GTK, por su sigla en ingles) en espanol y con un formato novedoso en linea, autocompletado, breve y de acceso libre desarrollado como parte de la estrategia de prevencion de suicidio en Euskadi (Espana) para mejorar la prevencion del suicidio desde entornos comunitarios. Metodos. Un grupo multicomponente de expertos creo el programa y probo su usabilidad en una fase preliminar. Para la evaluacion se utilizo un diseno de grupo unico y medidas repetidas (antes, posinmediato y a los tres meses). Se evaluo su impacto en las competencias GTK basicas con cuestionarios en linea, asi como la adherencia a los contenidos y satisfaccion. Se incluyeron en el estudio agentes comunitarios (educadores y trabajadores sociales, ente otros) que respondieron a una invitacion enviada por los coordinadores comarcales de salud publica. Resultados. En total, 728 personas accedieron a la formacion, y 86% la finalizo. Completaron la evaluacion 569 personas (81,2% eran mujeres, la edad media fue de 41,4 anos). Las competencias GTK basicas de actitud, autoeficacia y conocimiento mejoraron de manera significativa, y la mejora se mantuvo greater than or equal to 3 meses en una submuestra (P = 0,0001). Conclusiones. Los resultados son prometedores y sugieren la utilidad de BIZI para mejorar la capacidad y la disposicion de agentes comunitarios para identificar a personas en riesgo y derivarlos a recursos especializados. Su formato novedoso le confiere ventajas importantes respecto de otros formatos GTK mas habituales, y facilita su difusion en entornos de escasos recursos. Es el primer programa de este tipo cuya eficacia ha sido demostrada y tambien el primero disponible en espanol. Palabras clave Prevencion del suicidio; comunidad; capacitacion profesional; intervencion basada en internet. Objetivo. Avaliar o Programa BIZI, um programa de capacitacao de gatekeepers em espanhol com um formato inovador on-line autoinstrucional, breve e de livre acesso, desenvolvido como parte da estrategia de prevencao de suicidio em Euskadi (Espanha) para melhorar a prevencao de suicidio em ambientes comunitarios. Metodos. O programa foi desenvolvido por um grupo multidisciplinar de especialistas, e sua usabilidade testada em uma fase preliminar. Para a avaliacao, foi utilizado um delineamento de grupo unico e medidas repetidas (antes, imediatamente apos e aos tres meses). Foram utilizados questionarios on-line para avaliar o impacto sobre as competencias basicas do gatekeeper, a adesao ao conteudo e a satisfacao. Fizeram parte do estudo os agentes comunitarios (educadores e assistentes sociais, entre outros) que responderam a um convite enviado pelos coordenadores de saude publica da comarca. Resultados. O programa de capacitacao foi acessado por 728 pessoas e concluido por 86% delas. Um total de 569 pessoas concluiu a avaliacao (81,2% do sexo feminino, idade media de 41,4 anos). As competencias basicas do gatekeeper relativas a atitude, autoeficacia e conhecimento melhoraram significativamente, e essa melhoria se manteve em uma subamostra por um periodo de 3 meses ou mais (P = 0,0001). Conclusoes. Os resultados sao promissores e indicam a utilidade do BIZI para melhorar a capacidade e a disposicao dos agentes comunitarios para identificar pessoas em situacao de risco e encaminha-las para recursos especializados. Seu formato inovador confere vantagens importantes em relacao a outros programas de gatekeeper mais comuns e facilita sua disseminacao em ambientes com poucos recursos. Esse e o primeiro programa desse tipo com eficacia comprovada, alem de ser o primeiro disponivel em espanhol. Palavras-chave Prevencao ao suicidio; comunidade; capacitacao profissional; intrevencao baseada em internet.
Objective. To evaluate the BIZI program, a Spanish-language gatekeeper training program with a novel online self-learning format that is brief and open-access. It was developed as part of the suicide ...prevention strategy in Euskadi (Spain) to improve community-based suicide prevention. Methods. A group of experts from different fields created the program and tested its usability in a preliminary phase. A single-group design was used for the evaluation, with repeated measurements (before, immediately after, and after three months). Online questionnaires were used to evaluate the program's impact on core competencies for gatekeepers, as well as adherence to content and user satisfaction. Community agents (educators and social workers, among others) who responded to an invitation sent by regional public health coordinators were included in the study. Results. In total, 728 people accessed the training, and 86% completed it; 569 people completed the assessment (81.2% women, mean age 41.4 years). The core gatekeeper competencies of attitude, self-efficacy, and knowledge improved significantly, and improvement was sustained greater than or equal to 3 months in a subsample (P = 0.0001). Conclusions. The results are promising and suggest that BIZI is useful in improving the capacity and willingness of community agents to identify people at risk and refer them to specialized resources. Its novel format gives it important advantages over other more common gatekeeper training programs, facilitating its dissemination in low-resource environments. It is the first program of its kind whose effectiveness has been demonstrated and also the first available in Spanish. Keywords Suicide prevention; community; professional training; internet-based intervention. Objetivo. Evaluar el Programa BIZI, un programa de formacion de guardianes o gatekeepers (GTK, por su sigla en ingles) en espanol y con un formato novedoso en linea, autocompletado, breve y de acceso libre desarrollado como parte de la estrategia de prevencion de suicidio en Euskadi (Espana) para mejorar la prevencion del suicidio desde entornos comunitarios. Metodos. Un grupo multicomponente de expertos creo el programa y probo su usabilidad en una fase preliminar. Para la evaluacion se utilizo un diseno de grupo unico y medidas repetidas (antes, posinmediato y a los tres meses). Se evaluo su impacto en las competencias GTK basicas con cuestionarios en linea, asi como la adherencia a los contenidos y satisfaccion. Se incluyeron en el estudio agentes comunitarios (educadores y trabajadores sociales, ente otros) que respondieron a una invitacion enviada por los coordinadores comarcales de salud publica. Resultados. En total, 728 personas accedieron a la formacion, y 86% la finalizo. Completaron la evaluacion 569 personas (81,2% eran mujeres, la edad media fue de 41,4 anos). Las competencias GTK basicas de actitud, autoeficacia y conocimiento mejoraron de manera significativa, y la mejora se mantuvo greater than or equal to 3 meses en una submuestra (P = 0,0001). Conclusiones. Los resultados son prometedores y sugieren la utilidad de BIZI para mejorar la capacidad y la disposicion de agentes comunitarios para identificar a personas en riesgo y derivarlos a recursos especializados. Su formato novedoso le confiere ventajas importantes respecto de otros formatos GTK mas habituales, y facilita su difusion en entornos de escasos recursos. Es el primer programa de este tipo cuya eficacia ha sido demostrada y tambien el primero disponible en espanol. Palabras clave Prevencion del suicidio; comunidad; capacitacion profesional; intervencion basada en internet. Objetivo. Avaliar o Programa BIZI, um programa de capacitacao de gatekeepers em espanhol com um formato inovador on-line autoinstrucional, breve e de livre acesso, desenvolvido como parte da estrategia de prevencao de suicidio em Euskadi (Espanha) para melhorar a prevencao de suicidio em ambientes comunitarios. Metodos. O programa foi desenvolvido por um grupo multidisciplinar de especialistas, e sua usabilidade testada em uma fase preliminar. Para a avaliacao, foi utilizado um delineamento de grupo unico e medidas repetidas (antes, imediatamente apos e aos tres meses). Foram utilizados questionarios on-line para avaliar o impacto sobre as competencias basicas do gatekeeper, a adesao ao conteudo e a satisfacao. Fizeram parte do estudo os agentes comunitarios (educadores e assistentes sociais, entre outros) que responderam a um convite enviado pelos coordenadores de saude publica da comarca. Resultados. O programa de capacitacao foi acessado por 728 pessoas e concluido por 86% delas. Um total de 569 pessoas concluiu a avaliacao (81,2% do sexo feminino, idade media de 41,4 anos). As competencias basicas do gatekeeper relativas a atitude, autoeficacia e conhecimento melhoraram significativamente, e essa melhoria se manteve em uma subamostra por um periodo de 3 meses ou mais (P = 0,0001). Conclusoes. Os resultados sao promissores e indicam a utilidade do BIZI para melhorar a capacidade e a disposicao dos agentes comunitarios para identificar pessoas em situacao de risco e encaminha-las para recursos especializados. Seu formato inovador confere vantagens importantes em relacao a outros programas de gatekeeper mais comuns e facilita sua disseminacao em ambientes com poucos recursos. Esse e o primeiro programa desse tipo com eficacia comprovada, alem de ser o primeiro disponivel em espanhol. Palavras-chave Prevencao ao suicidio; comunidade; capacitacao profissional; intrevencao baseada em internet.
Bureaucrats are important symbols of the governments that employ them. Contrary to popular stereotypes, they determine much about the way policy is ultimately enacted and experienced by citizens. ...While we know a great deal about bureaucrats and their actions, we know little about their development. Are particular types of people drawn to government work, or are government workers forged by the agencies they work in? Put simply, are bureaucrats born, or are they made?InBecoming Bureaucrats, Zachary W. Oberfield traces the paths of two sets of public servants-police officers and welfare caseworkers-from their first day on the job through the end of their second year. Examining original data derived from surveys and in-depth interviews, along with ethnographic observations from the author's year of training and work as a welfare caseworker,Becoming Bureaucratscharts how public-sector entrants develop their bureaucratic identities, motivations, and attitudes. Ranging from individual stories to population-wide statistical analysis, Oberfield's study complicates the long-standing cliché that bureaucracies churn out bureaucrats with mechanical efficiency. He demonstrates that entrants' bureaucratic personalities evolved but remained strongly tied to the views, identities, and motives that they articulated at the outset of their service. As such, he argues that who bureaucrats become and, as a result, how bureaucracies function, depends strongly on patterns of self-selection and recruitment.Becoming Bureaucratsnot only enriches our theoretical understanding of bureaucratic behavior but also provides practical advice to elected officials and public managers on building responsive, accountable workforces.
Abstract
This study was intended to explore the experiences of social workers in Community Welfare Centres for People with Disabilities (CWCPDs) to understand their practices and challenges during ...COVID-19. It considered the essential role that CWCPD social workers play in responding to ‘new normal’ settings. Zoom interviews were conducted with twenty supervisory and manager-level social workers of CWCPDs nationwide. This study showed the unexpected cross-regional nature of risks and burdens. The high level of uncertainty and complexity allowed for the centres to operate safely under the COVID-19 legislation and for them to change and deliver alternative service provisions. Social workers had to develop new ways to deal with unprecedented risks, challenges, and dilemmas within ‘the new normal’. COVID-19 means that centres must recalibrate their relationships with service users, communities and the government. CWCPDs need to change their service provision model from a large group-centred to a person-centred model to meet individual demands. Changes are needed in terms of clarity of communication, the application of step-by-step guidelines to service provisions and a shift away from an exclusive focus on quantitative performance needs in how centres are evaluated. In all these processes, both close cooperation and support from local authorities are needed.
Background
Evidence from disease epidemics shows that healthcare workers are at risk of developing short‐ and long‐term mental health problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about ...the potential negative impact of the COVID‐19 crisis on the mental well‐being of health and social care professionals. Symptoms of mental health problems commonly include depression, anxiety, stress, and additional cognitive and social problems; these can impact on function in the workplace. The mental health and resilience (ability to cope with the negative effects of stress) of frontline health and social care professionals ('frontline workers' in this review) could be supported during disease epidemics by workplace interventions, interventions to support basic daily needs, psychological support interventions, pharmacological interventions, or a combination of any or all of these.
Objectives
Objective 1: to assess the effects of interventions aimed at supporting the resilience and mental health of frontline health and social care professionals during and after a disease outbreak, epidemic or pandemic.
Objective 2: to identify barriers and facilitators that may impact on the implementation of interventions aimed at supporting the resilience and mental health of frontline health and social care professionals during and after a disease outbreak, epidemic or pandemic.
Search methods
On 28 May 2020 we searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus databases and WHO Institutional Repository for Information Sharing. We also searched ongoing trials registers and Google Scholar. We ran all searches from the year 2002 onwards, with no language restrictions.
Selection criteria
We included studies in which participants were health and social care professionals working at the front line during infectious disease outbreaks, categorised as epidemics or pandemics by WHO, from 2002 onwards. For objective 1 we included quantitative evidence from randomised trials, non‐randomised trials, controlled before‐after studies and interrupted time series studies, which investigated the effect of any intervention to support mental health or resilience, compared to no intervention, standard care, placebo or attention control intervention, or other active interventions. For objective 2 we included qualitative evidence from studies that described barriers and facilitators to the implementation of interventions. Outcomes critical to this review were general mental health and resilience. Additional outcomes included psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression or stress; burnout; other mental health disorders; workplace staffing; and adverse events arising from interventions.
Data collection and analysis
Pairs of review authors independently applied selection criteria to s and full papers, with disagreements resolved through discussion. One review author systematically extracted data, cross‐checked by a second review author. For objective 1, we assessed risk of bias of studies of effectiveness using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool. For objective 2, we assessed methodological limitations using either the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) qualitative study tool, for qualitative studies, or WEIRD (Ways of Evaluating Important and Relevant Data) tool, for descriptive studies. We planned meta‐analyses of pairwise comparisons for outcomes if direct evidence were available. Two review authors extracted evidence relating to barriers and facilitators to implementation, organised these around the domains of the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research, and used the GRADE‐CERQual approach to assess confidence in each finding. We planned to produce an overarching synthesis, bringing quantitative and qualitative findings together.
Main results
We included 16 studies that reported implementation of an intervention aimed at supporting the resilience or mental health of frontline workers during disease outbreaks (severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): 2; Ebola: 9; Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS): 1; COVID‐19: 4). Interventions studied included workplace interventions, such as training, structure and communication (6 studies); psychological support interventions, such as counselling and psychology services (8 studies); and multifaceted interventions (2 studies).
Objective 1: a mixed‐methods study that incorporated a cluster‐randomised trial, investigating the effect of a work‐based intervention, provided very low‐certainty evidence about the effect of training frontline healthcare workers to deliver psychological first aid on a measure of burnout.
Objective 2: we included all 16 studies in our qualitative evidence synthesis; we classified seven as qualitative and nine as descriptive studies. We identified 17 key findings from multiple barriers and facilitators reported in studies. We did not have high confidence in any of the findings; we had moderate confidence in six findings and low to very low confidence in 11 findings. We are moderately confident that the following two factors were barriers to intervention implementation: frontline workers, or the organisations in which they worked, not being fully aware of what they needed to support their mental well‐being; and a lack of equipment, staff time or skills needed for an intervention. We are moderately confident that the following three factors were facilitators of intervention implementation: interventions that could be adapted for local needs; having effective communication, both formally and socially; and having positive, safe and supportive learning environments for frontline workers. We are moderately confident that the knowledge or beliefs, or both, that people have about an intervention can act as either barriers or facilitators to implementation of the intervention.
Authors' conclusions
There is a lack of both quantitative and qualitative evidence from studies carried out during or after disease epidemics and pandemics that can inform the selection of interventions that are beneficial to the resilience and mental health of frontline workers. Alternative sources of evidence (e.g. from other healthcare crises, and general evidence about interventions that support mental well‐being) could therefore be used to inform decision making. When selecting interventions aimed at supporting frontline workers' mental health, organisational, social, personal, and psychological factors may all be important. Research to determine the effectiveness of interventions is a high priority. The COVID‐19 pandemic provides unique opportunities for robust evaluation of interventions. Future studies must be developed with appropriately rigorous planning, including development, peer review and transparent reporting of research protocols, following guidance and standards for best practice, and with appropriate length of follow‐up. Factors that may act as barriers and facilitators to implementation of interventions should be considered during the planning of future research and when selecting interventions to deliver within local settings.
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