Summary

Nepal is a landlocked country prone to range of disaster due to its varied geographical altitude, diverse climate, and active seismic zone. Globally, Nepal is the most disaster-prone nation and has experienced multiple natural disaster, which have had an enormous adverse effect on the national economy and standard of living. Despite social works about three decades of history and majority of populations being at the risk of multiple natural disasters, up until now, there is no any specific, tangible, and comprehensive social work framework related to disaster context. Thus, this presentation will explore about disaster in Nepal; and subsequently, discuss why there is urgent need to integrate disaster into Nepali social work pedagogy and praxes. Through such efforts, Nepal's social work education will be improved and strengthened, and social workers will be better equipped to contribute in the field of disaster risk, and vulnerability management. This presentation will also discuss why Nepali social workers need to network and partner with diverse stakeholders such as civil society, community development workers, and policy makers to effectively respond to disaster in Nepal. 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Disaster, disaster governance, disaster partnership, disaster and social work, Nepali social work, Nepal

Summary

Nepal is in a threat of multiple natural disasters due to its fragile landscape, geoclimatic conditions, and active seismic zone leading to significant economic and human losses and hinder the country's overall development. Despite the fact that social work has a three decades of history and that the majority of Nepali populations are vulnerable to multiple natural disasters, up until now, there has been no systematic efforts to understand disaster related policy from a social work perspective. Given this, this presentation will first discuss about the disaster situations in Nepal. Then, it will critically explore about relevant plans, policies, and programs relating to disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery. And finally, this presentation will entail how Nepali social workers can participate; and simultaneously, can promote and strengthen better policy frameworks to deal with disasters in Nepal. In essence, this presentation will not only provide guidelines to Nepali social workers about how they can engage with disaster and policy but also it will help social workers elsewhere with similar contexts to better think and link disaster, policy, and social work. 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Disaster, disaster governance and policies, disaster and social work, Nepali social work, Nepal

Summary

Sex education is lacking in Nigeria’s social work education curriculum and course contents because of aversion to sex discourse in Nigeria and other African countries. This may leave social work students underprepared for sexual and reproductive health practice. Our study investigated social work students’ opinions on learning about sex education and the uncharted territories of contemporary sex-related issues such as abortion, sex work, pornography and sex toys as part of social work training. Data were collected from 28 students using semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed thematically with the aid of NVivo 12. Findings revealed that students were interested in general sex education because of its impact on reproductive health. However, irrespective of growing social work interest in contemporary sex-related issues, the country’s prevalent conservative culture led to many students displaying resistance to learning about abortion rights, the protection of sex workers, and the destigmatization of pornography and sex toys. Given the growing importance of these issues, we recommend the inclusion of sex education in the social work curriculum and course contents and (re)training of social work students on current standards of practice in sexual and reproductive health.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Social Work education, Social Work education, sex education, curriculum

Summary

Social services are strongly linked to the core of democracy, and have a significant impact on the rights and wellbeing of citizens facing structural disadvantage. However, support from social services does not always fully meet complex needs and may even be directly unhelpful.Challenges arise when citizens are not involved in the definition and assessment of the social problems they face and on possible actions to address them. People who are voiceless due to multiple discrimination are often excluded from the public space where democracy takes place and collective action is decided.\ Therefore, we may raise questions on whether democracy really exist in social services, and on how citizens can shape the work of services that should support social rights.\ Based on the ongoing European Project RESPONSIVE (HORIZON-CL2-2022-DEMOCRACY-01-02), this paper aims to explore the normative construction of participation and responsiveness to citizens’ voice in policy discourses in the Portuguese context.Preliminary results, collected through a documental-based approach in four social sectors (mental health, disability, child protection, and youth at risk), reveal that opportunities for citizen’s input are generally more focused on indirect representation. Even in this form of participation, there seems to be an incoherence between policy ambitions and practical outcomes. This gap may suggest an institutionalized pattern of tokenistic or just inconsequent participation, whose likely inducing factors will be discussed.\ Based on the results, and on the RESPONSIVE project design, we propose an analytical scheme that contemplates different levels of participation and responsiveness and how they interconnect. This will pave the way to clarify how the research will proceed towards an action-research approach aiming to promote citizen’s knowledge and agency in social services.\ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Participation, \ Responsiveness, Voice, Social Services, Portugal

Summary

In Brazil, reproductive rights are limited, despite the incessant struggle of women’s movements. With one of the strictest legislations on abortion in the world, Brazil is among those with the highest use of modern contraceptive methods among women, being the highest in Latin America. The most widely used methods are birth control pills (29.7%) and tubal ligations (14%), according to a 2019 UN report. This paper aims to problematize, after quantitative data, the high use of sterilization in women, in a context of weak reproductive rights, including the illegality of abortion, in Brazil. According to the family planning law, sterilization must obey a regulation that foresees a series of criteria. Among them, it is stipulated that the woman must be attended by a multidisciplinary team that includes social workers. In this sense, the actions of these professionals are questioned, since data collected from official websites of the Health Ministry point out that black and indigenous women, from poorer regions of the country, have been the most sterilized since 2008, with an increase between 2016 and 2019. In a scenario of economic and political crisis, with reduced funding for social policies, it is relevant to address the issue, since the demand for sterilizations tends to grow, even more if pregnancy termination is not a possibility. However, the discussion about abortion is avoided by social workers, with the justification of the limit placed by the 1940 legislation. It is necessary that social workers begin to debate the legalization of abortion as a women’s health and life issue, not only because abortion is among the four greatest causes of maternal mortality in the country, but because all women should have the right to decide when to have children and should be able to change their minds at any time during their reproductive age.

Keywords (separate with commas)

reproductive rights, sterilization of women, abortion.\ 

Summary

Immigrants constitute 15% of the U.S. population. Immigrant experiences are influenced by a multitude of factors, including federal policies, which shift with changing administrations. Yet, little is known about the comparative experiences of immigrants under the two most recent presidents, both of whom maintained a heavy focus on immigration. The study we present is the first one to make this comparison. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 1st and 2nd generation immigrants under both the Trump (n=490) and Biden (n=306) administrations. Sampling for each survey included non-probability quota and convenience techniques. Survey questions inquired about immigration-policy stress, discrimination, resilience and border stress. For policy-related stress, race/ethnicity significantly correlated with policy-related stress under Trump, with White participants having lower scores compared to Black. Women were also found to have less policy-related stress under Trump. For discrimination, White participants reported less perceived discrimination compared to Black/African American participants. Women reported lower perceived discrimination compared to men under both Trump and Biden though race/ethnicity was not significant under Biden. In terms of resilience, White participants had higher scores compared to Black/African American participants, though race/ethnicity was not significant under Biden. Finally, border stress was lower among women than men under both Trump and Biden. For race/ethnicity, White participants had lower border stress than Black/African American participants under Trump. Findings expand upon previous literature that highlights stress associated with exclusionary immigration policies, which were more prevalent under the Trump administration. Social workers should engage in policy advocacy to reduce the burden placed on immigrants of color in exclusionary policy contexts. They can influence positive attitudes among Americans to allow for more social harmony and acceptance of immigrants in the U.S. To support immigrant integration, the study team intends to develop an awareness intervention for social workers engaging with immigrants.

Keywords (separate with commas)

immigrants, policy, exclusionary, social workers

Summary

Background: New immigrants are one of most vulnerable sections of the Canadian society. Unable to enter Canada’s strictly regulated professions and trades, several skilled and qualified immigrants take up precarious jobs without adequate occupational health and safety training. When they sustain workplace injury, many of these workers experience challenges getting timely post injury support to recover and return to work. While the incidence of common mental disorders like depression and anxiety is known to be high among migrant workers, across the globe, there is limited Canadian research that has examined the mental health challenges experienced by new immigrant workers who take up precarious employment and sustain injury.  Objectives: The purpose of this research was to examine specific work challenges faced by new immigrant workers and the impact of these on their mental health and well being. Methods: Using an interpretive research approach and semi-structured face to face interviews, 42 new immigrant workers engaged in precarious work and from a range of industries operating in Alberta, Canada, were interviewed. A constant comparative approach was used to identify key themes across the workers’ experiences. Results: The findings reveal several work conditions, that adversely affected the mental health of these workers, before and after sustaining a work injury.  Conclusion: Based on the insights of study participants, inclusive policies, practices, and interventions informed by their needs and preferences are proposed that can improve the overall health and well-being of new immigrant workers in Canada. 

Keywords (separate with commas)

new immigrant workers, precarious work, mental health

Summary

Data from the 2020 census reports that Texas (USA) has added almost four million people to the total population in the last decade. While people of color drove approximately 95% of the population growth, Hispanic/Latino Texans are responsible for almost half of that growth. As Southeast Texas continues to promote disaster preparedness and works to strengthen community resiliency due to the common occurrence of natural disasters, it is imperative that we understand the experiences and perspectives of the Hispanic/Latino immigrant population as it relates to disaster and practice with this population. With literature explaining that culture influences perception of disaster preparedness, how people react during a crisis, coping mechanisms, natural support networks, trust for community authority figures, and knowledge of emergency procedures, professionals can infer that cultural factors play a direct role in a person’s capacity for resiliency in the face of disaster.\ This presentation will share the results of a qualitative research study that seeks to better understand the experiences and perspectives of self-identified Hispanic/Latino immigrants as they have endured and recovered from disaster in Southeast Texas. Using Photovoice and journaling samples, the data provided will give a visual representation of the ways in which immigrant populations are uniquely affected by disaster and can therefore impact and strengthen both practice and policy for professionals working within disaster management in our communities.\ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Hispanic/Latino immigrants, natural disaster, recovery, resiliency, culture, Photovoice,\ 

Summary

Increasingly post-secondary institutions are being called upon by governments and the public at large to demonstrate their contribution to positive social impact in communities, whether it be local, regional, national, or international. Schools of Social Work can contribute unique values, perspectives, strategies and experiences to this institution wide process. In 2021, Carleton University deepened this commitment launching their first university-wide Centre for Community Engagement, followed by the design and launch of a Strategic Plan for Community Engagement (SP4CE). Despite a long and expansive history of engaging communities rooted in its inception in 1942, the university was now poised to take stock of its past contributions, current state, and future responsibilities towards community members through the development of the Centre and plan. What does it take to develop such a Centre and plan? Who should be involved, when, and how to ensure inclusivity and representation of all aspects of our community? What can we learn from the experience, in and of itself, as a means of inclusivity and engagement? What stages were involved in developing a strategic plan, what worked well and not so well, and what might we do differently in looking back? What happens once the plan is released, what do next steps look like? Social work’s extensive community experience through field placements and establishing Memorandum of Understandings with community partners adds an important component to this collaborative methodology, which is not always full recognized in community-to-university impact.

Keywords (separate with commas)

institution-wide planning for community-campus engagement, inclusivity in university strategic planning and policy, dialogue and co-creation strategies in planning, planning implementation strategies, social work values in strategic planning

Summary

Historical and contemporary neoliberal contexts have resulted in (dis)Abled people across (dis)Ability communities encountering vast arrays of inequitable and oppressive experiences. Society is entrenched with barriers and inaccessible infrastructures, as evident through the lack of accessible housing and transportation, extensive wait times for health and human services, and complicated and convoluted (dis)Ability policies. These inequities perpetuate isolation and alienation for (dis)Abled people. Notwithstanding, biomedical health systems position medical professionals as experts, minimizing the voices and experiences of (dis)Abled people. In so doing, the biomedical model forgoes the structural elements of compounded trauma experienced through repeated ableist encounters within health care and human services systems. Furthermore, resiliency in its individualistic form, as constructed through traditional trauma-informed care approaches and neoliberal policies, can assert self-blame and additional internalized ableism upon (dis)Abled persons while negating societal responsibility pertaining to accessibility and inclusion. In this presentation, we unpack neoliberal-ableism and deconstruct resiliency and the biomedical model, while acknowledging the structural impacts of ableism experienced by (dis)Abled persons as we explore trauma experienced through (dis)Abled bodies. Practices that deconstruct resiliency and structural and neoliberal-ableism will be envisioned as the authors shed light on implications for social justice social work and (dis)Ability informed trauma practices. 

Keywords (separate with commas)

neoliberal ableism, (dis)Ability policies, inclusive practices, (dis)Ability informed trauma practices, resiliency deconstructed

Summary

Ensuring fairness and justice between different generations, both in terms of their rights and opportunities is an important public policy goal. Support of the civil society organizations and other stakeholders is crucial in this regard.  It involves assessment of present actions on future generations and making decisions that are sustainable and beneficial in the long run. By educating communities and individuals about intergenerational equity and its importance, social workers can raise awareness about the impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on different generations, promote dialogue and understanding between generations, engage in pertinent community development initiatives, advocate for groups in vulnerable situations, and promote solidarity between generations.Organizing intergenerational dialogue involves creating spaces and opportunities for individuals from different age groups to come together and engage in meaningful interactions. Creating a diverse group  of stakeholders in terms of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential in this regard,  enriching the dialogue, and promoting intergenerational solidarity. Intergenerational “lens” is important in conceptualizing the programs that aim at creating opportunities for different age groups to interact and engage with one another. Mentoring initiatives, community service projects are useful in promoting the shared learning experiences, building opportunities for individuals from different generations to share experiences and understanding, while enhancing mutual collaboration.Given that population ageing can affect social cohesion and intergenerational solidarity, it is vital to avoid generational tensions by promoting understanding, empathy, and cooperation between different generations. Development of comprehensive strategies and programs that involve a range of policy options important for all generations, and bringing together people from various age groups, could be facilitated through adoption of forward-looking legal frameworks and intergenerationally- sensitive legislation. 

Keywords (separate with commas)

intergenerational equity, solidarity between generations, intergenerational dialogue, policy options

Summary

Immigration policy is complicated, especially in regard to undocumented immigrants in the United States. For decades, the Statute of Liberty has represented a beacon of hope for the global community, and a symbol of inclusion in the land of opportunity. Yet, immigrant groups are often pushed to the margins of society by a social exclusion process, which promotes a lack of opportunities, choice and not being part of the democratic process of social inclusion. The experience of social exclusion can be defined as a process that involves the lack or denial of resources, rights, goods and services, and the immigrant groups’ inability to participate in broad social relationships and activities (United Nations, 2016).This paper addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, a relational conceptualization of social exclusion and essential workers, and the significance of undocumented immigrant contributions during the pandemic in the U.S. and Europe. Presenters address the continuous divestment of “categorical” immigrant populations by the Trump administration, the lack of responsiveness by the U.S. Senate and other global countries to the needs of undocumented immigrant essential workers. Future directions include social inclusion policies and measures that respect the human rights and dignity of diverse immigrants. A partnership among government, employers and essential workers is necessary for the undocumented to come out of the shadows and become part of the social fabric. In global societies, undocumented immigrants work at higher rates in essential critical infrastructure sectors than native born citizens. COVID-19 exposed the systemic undervaluing of work that is now clearly understood to be essential for societal survival. As essential workers, immigrants fill gaps in the world economy and workforce, improve labor market efficiency and support the aging population.  A social work call to action is needed to promote social inclusion measures for immigrants working in essential services is a global concern.  

Keywords (separate with commas)

Immigration policy, undocumented essential workers, COVID 19 pandemic, social exclusion, human rights. 

Summary

While the WHO considers climate change the greatest challenge facing humanity in the 21st century, the Global Agenda of Social Work and Social Development highlights the importance of social work’s role in the promotion of sustainable communities and environments. Increasingly, social work educational resources are expanding, and educational standards concerned with the environment-ecology are becoming more explicit. However, in francophone Quebec (Canada), the shift required is seismic, as environmental degradation and the climate crisis are rarely evoked in relation to social work education or practice. Furthermore, these crises are not necessarily understood in relation to the devastation and exploitation of indigenous territories, as well as the disproportionate effects on racialized and marginalized communities. Our presentation will present the findings from an exploratory study conducted in Québec to unearth what is known and being done in relation to “green” (signifying the broad umbrella of environmental-ecological considerations) social work. This study was guided by the following research question: How are “green” notions and issues taken up within social work education and practice in Quebec? Further, what are the most relevant and promising concepts and practices related to climate/environmental justice, social inequality/justice, decolonization, and environmental sustainability to promote a “green” paradigm shift in social work theory, education, and practice in Quebec? Conducting focus groups with social work practitioners, educators and students, the research objectives explored :1) what is known about the intersections of environmental-ecological notions and social work theory, education, and practice; 2) what is being done to “green” social work education and practice; and 3) what perspectives encourage the development of a “green” shift within social work theory, education, and practice, in Quebec. This project adopted an anti-oppressive lens to explore “greening” social work, fundamentally upending social work's modernist thinking to inspire a paradigm shift.   

Keywords (separate with commas)

Ecosocial, green social work, practice, education

Summary

The role social work within the context of climate change is to build community expertise  in ways that enhance their ability to prepare and recover from the negative effects of climate change. Literature over the past 30 years suggests that building community resilience is important in mitigating the disastrous effects of climate change and preparing communities for building sustainable futures. The aim of this study was to examine how social workers in Trinidad and Tobago view their roles in climate change and their experiences in building community disaster resilience in  communities affected by disasters caused by climate change such as flooding. The findings show (1) the ways social workers view their roles in building resilient communities to prepare and recover from the effects of climate change (2) the challenges or barriers they encounter in integrating resilience approaches into their practice in communities and (3) the strategies used by social workers which support communities ‘bouncing back’ or  ‘bouncing forward’ from climate change disasters. The findings also show that current approaches do not challenge inequalities and structural barriers which hinder the building of community disaster resilience in Trinidad and Tobago. The study also makes recommendations for strengthening social work education to prepare social workers for their role in climate change and disaster management and concludes with a call for social workers to adopt a more critical approach to building community resilience.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Climate change, community disaster resilience, social work, capital development framework,  critical resilience praxis 

Summary

By the end of 2022, over 108 million people had been forcibly displaced. Most were displaced because of war, conflicts, government persecution, and violence. The number of people displaced last year because of climate disasters is minimally estimated at 32 million. These are difficult numbers to obtain due to varying data collection methods within each country.\ Social workers are crucial workers and researchers to address how climate changes affect individuals, families, and communities. Our ecological theory enables us to understand multi-system factors that contribute to climate crises, as well as the multi-system perspective to be effective in helping individuals, families, and communities, not just during the crisis, but mitigating future crises and caring for those most affected.My international research on culturally-effective health and behavioral health for refugees, has deepened my understanding of the toll forced migration takes on those fleeing and on those accepting them into the new country. The pandemic, supply chain problems, and climate crises has made it clear that our world is interconnected and we are not citizens of a nation as much as we are global citizens whose lives are dependent on each of us working toward a common goal.Social workers need to lead the global effort. This presentation draws from research on forced migration, the ecological theory, and the voices of social workers working in areas devasted by climate crises (ie, floods, fires, heat, droughts). I will present what we know about forced migration and how to provide best practices for those relocating, as well as how to support communities that host the forced migrants. I will demonstrate why our theoretical base prepares us to be effective activists, and how we can work toward solutions. I will present the voices of social workers already working with climate crises.\ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Refugee, Forced Migration, Climate Crisis, Social Work, Ecological Theory, Human Rights