SWSD 2024

#0094 | Activating a Sustainable Teaching-Learning Philosophy for Ethical and Meaningful Practice

Larry Owens ¹ ; Jay Miller ² ;

Erlene Grise-Owens ³

1 - Western Kentucky University. 2 - University of Kentucky. 3 - The Wellness Group ETC.

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Summary

Ethical practice in any arena, including social work education, requires intentional and ethical development of practice across a career. This presentation conveys how to develop a comprehensive teaching-learning philosophy from articulation through implementation to evaluation and sustainment. Using literature and teaching-learning experiences, we describe a structured framework with pragmatic steps for using a teaching philosophy to inform, engage, and evaluate teaching-learning. Participants begin to apply these steps through interactive interchanges. We discuss how an activated teaching philosophy can be used to generate and maintain accountable, relevant, ethical, and meaningful teaching-learning. We describe practical uses of an activated philosophy.Faculty need resources that sustain career-long growth. Likewise, faculty face increasing challenges. Our framework for an activated teaching-learning philosophy has broad applicability for educators across careers and contexts. The framework is embedded in best practices (e.g., Scholarship of Teaching-Learning) and informed by varied contexts and teaching experiences. An integrated philosophy promotes ethical practice, ongoing commitment, engaged competency, and meaningful purpose for educators. Also, we discuss how the framework can be used to build successful portfolios for promotion and tenure purposes. We explore how the framework can be used to inform unit and university-wide activation of a philosophical approach, which supports institutional effectiveness and public accountability. We articulate a specific, adaptable framework. Critical questions and considerations for each aspect of the framework guide preliminary development of a viable philosophy. These exercises include structured reflection on and practical ideas for enacting the teaching-learning philosophy framework. We hope to provide energizing inspiration, along with pragmatic strategies, for activating a philosophy that will inform and animate ongoing practice in social work education that sustains.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Teaching-Philosophy, Social Work Education

#0095 | Self-Care as Essential in Navigating Challenges in Social Services

Erlene Grise-Owens ¹ ; Mindy Brooks-Eaves ² ;

Larry Owens ³

1 - The Wellness Group ETC. 2 - Kentucky State University. 3 - Western Kentucky University.

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Summary

Social service workers navigate increasingly challenging working conditions. Regardless of role and context, practitioner well-being is an essential aspect of social work. Indeed, we, the presenters contend that self-care is a human right that needs reclaiming. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared burnout an emerging crisis. Professions such as social work are particularly affected. Systemically, burnout affects practitioner well-being, organizational effectiveness, community capacity, and, ultimately, sustainability of our profession. Thus, burnout is an urgent consideration. Self-care is a necessary response to addressing burnout.We, the presenters, envision a future where burnout is rare, and professional practitioner well-being is standard practice. We offer strategies toward that aim. The presentation begins with contextual considerations, including clarifying the systemic relationship between self-care, organizational wellness, and community care. Whilst recognizing the dire need for macro attention, the presentation focusses on self-care as a foundational necessity and empowering antidote to professional burnout. We underscore that self-care is an ethical imperative for competent practice. Self-care is not just a buzzword or fluffy extra. It is a crucial element of effective practice. Based on growing research and grounded practice, we conceptualize a wholistic framework and provide pragmatic strategies for effective self-care. Like any practice skill, self-care compels building competence. Sustaining competence in self-care requires self-awareness, consistent attention, realistic integration, wholistic approaches, and accountable intentionality. Our presentation provides meaningful and practical ways and resources to achieve these requirements.A sustainable future of our profession’s capacity and impact depends on promoting practitioner well-being. And, practitioners are human beings; attention to our own well-being is both ethical and essential.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Self-Care, Burn-Out, Practitioner Well-Being

#0096 | Organizational Wellness as an Emerging, Critical Arena of Social Work Leadership

Jay Miller ¹ ;

Larry Owens ² ;

Erlene Grise-Owens ³

1 - University of Kentucky. 2 - Western Kentucky University. 3 - The Wellness Group ETC.

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Summary

Social services occur in increasingly complex settings and challenging working conditions. Burnout and staff turnover plague the profession and stymie progress. These factors impact practitioners (micro), clients, organizations, communities, and, by extension, the viability of the profession. Attaining the social development goals and aims of the profession of social work requires attention to the well-being of practitioners and their working conditions.Organizational wellness involves intentional efforts to improve working contexts and conditions. By extension, organizational wellness initiatives serve complementary aims to address professional stress, prevent escalating burnout, retain an effective workforce, and support meaningful careers in social services. Based on our published scholarship, practice experience, and consultation engagement, this presentation shows how social work is ideally situated and ethically compelled to lead organizational wellness efforts. We provide a tested, explicit, and adaptable framework for leaders to use social work competencies in conceptualizing, planning, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining organizational wellness. Through interactive dialogue, participants will understand the impact of organizational wellness in the social work profession as a human rights concern. Further, they will appreciate the pivotal non-profit leadership role for social work in organizational wellness. Finally, participants will acquire an explicit framework for using social work competencies to pragmatically and effectively lead in the design and development of organizational wellness. Wholistic approaches to organizational wellness is an emerging arena for addressing working conditions. Social work is both uniquely situated and ethically compelled to take on a leadership role in this arena of social services. This presentation will provide the grounded understanding, informed perspective, and practical tools foundational for that critical leadership.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Organizational Wellness, Social Work Leadership

#0097 | The Importance of Self-Care for Respecting Diversity through Joint Social Action

Mindy Brooks-Eaves ¹ ;

Erlene Grise-Owens ² ; Jay Miller ³

1 - Kentucky State University. 2 - The Wellness Group ETC. 3 - University of Kentucky.

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Summary

Across the globe, social workers practice in diverse environments. Contexts and other considerations vary geographically, culturally, philosophically, and pragmatically. However, the well-being of practitioners is a consistent core facet that crosses all boundaries and applies in all situations. This presentation considers: How does diversity affect our own self-care and, by extension, our abilities to join others in social action?Social service workers have human experiences, dynamics, and stressors that affect us, including historical and generational trauma. Most social workers bring diverse, intersectional social identities that have been marginalized in compounding ways. We operate in systems embedded in toxic and multi-faceted oppressive dynamics. Self-care includes learning about how these dynamics affect clients and communities and how they affect us—in our practice roles and as human beings—and developing skills for addressing them. Fostering our own awareness, knowledge, and self-compassion helps us reject biases, offset internalized oppression, and advocate for oneself. Likewise, self-care must include celebrating the strengths of our diverse cultural identities. Dominating cultures insidiously create narratives and structures that exclude, minimize, and/or problematize diverse identities. The resilience, “ways of knowing,” and connections of diversity are strengths that nurture our well-being. Celebrating these facets of diversity iteratively restores and builds our own coping, competence, courage, and compassion. Universally, all humans need rest, nutrition, hydration, movement, connection, and meaning. Attending to these universal human elements is essential self-care. Concomitantly, we must honor our diverse identities, particular life experiences, personal circumstances, specific preferences, distinct values, and so forth. Each of us must identify both universal and unique aspects of our self-care. Respecting diversity includes being attentive to our individualized situation. When we care for selves, individually, our joint connection is stronger, healthier, more effective and more meaningful. Together, through practicing self-care, joint social action is strengthened and practitioner well-being flourishes.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Self-Care, Diversity, Social Action

#0857 | Strengthening the child protection workforce in Romania: key findings and future implications for social workers

Mihai-Bogdan Iovu ¹ ; Elena-Loreni Baciu ² ;

Florin Lazăr ³ ; Conțiu Tiberiu Șoitu ⁴ ; Maria Cristina Ghiță Hăncean ⁵

1 - Babeș-Bolyai University. 2 - West University. 3 - Univeristy of Bucharest. 4 - Alexandru Ioan Cuza University. 5 - UNICEF Romania.

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Summary

Social work is often described as a helping profession and in the context of child protection services, the kind of ‘help’ on offer requires a high level of professionalization. According to the Romanian national statistics, in 2022, a total of 42.029 children were registered in the child protection system, with ¼ being placed in residential centers while the rest were provided different family-type services. Therefore, there seems to be a significant demand for highly skilled professionals in the child protection system whereas the social workers are of critical importance to the successful implementation of public policies and programs for children.\ This presentation draws on a recent quantitative study carried in 2022 focusing on the assessment of the social service workforce in Romania. A total of 20999 respondents participated in the survey and declared a wide variety of job titles. Approximately one third of the total sample (6814) declared working primarily with children from the child protection system, social workers being the largest professional group (25,6%). Therefore, the current study focuses on the results gathered from the 1298 Romanian social workers delivering services to children registered in the child protection system.\ Overall, several key aspects may be immediately drawn from these data. First, diversity in gender, location, and sector remains limited among Romanian social workers delivering services to children, with the workforce dominated by women and being concentrated in urban areas and in public sector. In terms of level of education, regardless of location, nearly 1:5 social workers do not have a BSW. These preliminary findings\ have the potential of providing valuable insights for the development of a comprehensive\ strategy to strengthen the workforce in the child protection services focusing on education, recruitment, continuous training, and retention.

Keywords (separate with commas)

workforce, child protection, Romania

#1283 | Los impactos del proceso de privatización de los hospitales universitarios en Brasil en práctica profesional de trabajadores sociales

ISADORA VITORIANO ¹

1 - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE.

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Summary

En Brasil, la adopción del neoliberalismo difundió la necesidad de modificar el Estado y su forma de intervención en lo social, produjeron procesos de privatización de las políticas sociales. Entendemos que eso revelan, en realidad, una expansión capitalista sobre el sector de servicios públicos como nuevas áreas de valorización, lo que ha alterado la prestación de estos servicios y la gestión de la fuerza laboral. Los servicios públicos de educación y salud de los hospitales universitarios, que pasaron por un proceso de privatización a partir de 2011 y que continúa hoy, son administrados por una empresa pública de derecho privado, la Empresa Brasileira de Servicios Hospitalares (EBSERH), insertándolos, así, en línea con el estándar de acumulación flexible y la industria 4.0. La gestión de la fuerza laboral de trabajadores sociales se ha visto impactada por salarios asociados a la productividad, además de cambios en el proceso de trabajo con un mayor control de las actividades realizadas, facilitado por el uso de tecnologías digitales, como, por ejemplo: definiciones de las metas del servicio, exigencias de agilidad, calidad y seguridad, que, sin embargo, no están pensadas en la satisfacción de las necesidades de los usuarios, sino en la economía del gasto público. Tales medidas afectan en la relativa autonomía y dirección social de la intervención de este profesional. Así, entendemos que las relaciones de producción capitalistas, la producción de plusvalía, han predominado en el proceso de trabajo en detrimento de la garantía de los derechos sociales y la satisfacción de las necesidades sociales. Con ello, conducen a la pérdida de referencia de la salud y la educación como bien público no transable, pasando a un paradigma de exigencias de economía del fondo público y de la valorización del capital como propósito de la ejecución de estos servicios.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Privatización, servicios sociales, trabajadores sociales

#0710 | The Intersection of Various Types of Family Violence in a Sample of South Asian Immigrants in The U.S.: The Influence of Physical & Emotional Sibling Violence

Nathan Perkins ¹ ;

Abha Rai ¹

1 - Loyola University Chicago.

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Summary

No research has examined the influence of physical and emotional sibling violence (SV) on other types of family violence in a sample of South Asian immigrants in the U.S. To address this gap, 674 South Asian immigrant participants who had at least one sibling in childhood were obtained from a survey distributed on multiple sub-Reddit pages. Participants responded on their experiences with SV (perpetration and victimization of physical and emotional), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV), and in-law abuse (IA). Demographics, correlations, and two regression models were run to examine potential associations of SV on IPV and IA when controlling for demographic variables and ACEs.\ \ Participants had a mean age of 28.38 years, 42.3% were female, 38.9% were 1st generation immigrants, and 79.1% identified as heterosexual. Correlations between all types of violence (SV, ACEs, IPV, IA) were significant at p\<.001. No differences were found on differences in types of violence by gender. For IPV, the model was significant (F=465.73, p\<0.001, R2=.82) with gender, SV, ACEs, and IA significantly associated one’s experiences of IPV. For IA, the model was significant (F=459.69, p\<0.001, R2=.82) with generation status, SV, ACEs, and IA significantly associated one’s experiences of IA.\ With SV preceding IPV and IA in time, results demonstrate the need to include SV in understanding the violent experiences of South Asian immigrants. SV was correlated with all other types of violence and was associated with IPV and IA in this sample. Social workers working with SA immigrant populations should consider including SV in their assessments to ensure all potential forms of violence that one may experience are accounted for. Finally, psychoeducation of SV among South Asian immigrants is also warranted to inform children, adults, and families of the potential ramifications of SV.\

Keywords (separate with commas)

family violence, South Asian immigrants, sibling violence, in-law abuse, domestic violence, adverse childhood events

#0721 | An Examination of Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence & Protective Factors in Childhood in a Sample of MSW Students

Nathan Perkins ¹ ; Jennifer Shadik ² ; Marjorie Colindres ¹

1 - Loyola University Chicago. 2 - Ohio University.

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Summary

Research specifically examining protective factors, including healthy relationships, against the occurrence of physical and emotional sibling violence (PESV) are scant. This research study is the first of its kind to examine protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs) in relation to PESV in a sample of MSW students. Using data from a sample of MSW students across the U.S. (n=428), participants responded to items on PACEs, ACEs (Total Score, Abuse-subscore, Neglect-subscore, Household Challenges-subscore) and experiences of PESV in childhood as both perpetrator and victim as well as demographic questions. Correlations and linear regression models were run to examine associations between PACEs, ACEs, and experiences with PESV.\ Of the sample,\ 88.8% identified as female, 71% identified as White, and 67.3% identified as heterosexual with participants having a mean age of approximately 29. Correlations between PACEs, ACEs (Total Score, Abuse-subscore, Neglect-subscore, Household Challenges-subscore) and experiences of PESV in childhood (perpetrator and victimization) were significant with the PACEs score being negatively correlated with all other variables. In the first regression model (F(4,411)=12.04,\ p\<.001,\ R2=.11) Abuse-subscore and Household Challenges-subscore were significantly associated with PESV-perpetration with the Neglect-subscore approximating significance. In the second model (F(4,411)=22.95,\ p\<.001,\ R2=.18), the Abuse-subscore and Neglect-subscore \ were significantly associated with PESV-victimization. In neither of the models was PACEs significantly associated with PESV type.Research examining PACEs in relation to PESV requires attention to assess those aspects of childhood which may help prevent PESV from occurring. Future research should examine PESV and PACEs with diverse and international samples to better understand those factors which help buffer against PESV in childhood to inform prevention and interventions strategies aimed at addressing PESV. Furthermore, efforts to educate MSW students in the U.S. and internationally are warranted to address this form of family violence in all families across the globe. \

Keywords (separate with commas)

sibling violence, family violence, siblings, MSW students, protective factors, ACEs

#0741 | A New Role for Social Workers - Professional Companionship for Older Adults

Therese Odle-James ¹ ;

Karene- Anne Nathaniel-DeCaires ²

1 - The University of The West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, West Indies. 2 - The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

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Summary

With the steady growth of the world's ageing population social workers play a pivotal role by providing specialized services to strengthen the current care management systems especially “wrap around” services and in-home care for older adults and other persons who may be restricted in their home. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the government of the island nation of Barbados in the Caribbean embarked on a programme to help mitigate the effects of isolation on older adults living alone or lacking frequent visits from family by providing paid companions. Recently published research conducted on this programme concluded that companionship is not necessarily provided by relatives or carers due to the demand of other caregiving duties and that companionship can significantly improve older adults’ quality of life. Although the programme has proven to be a success in meeting older adults' needs due to a limited number of suitable personnel available many older adults are unable to access this social service. This conceptual paper considers whether professional social workers have the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to provide companionship as a service to older persons. Social work training can provide the necessary skill development, core values, and knowledge acquisition to add to the slate of roles social workers can play by including professional companionship to older adults. The future development of social workers as companions to older adults is not only relevant during the pandemic time but as an avenue of effective practice in the continuum of at-home care for older adults. The purpose of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of paid companionship for older adults in relation to social work practice theory with a view to recommending it be included as a social work role.

Keywords (separate with commas)

social work practice, paid companions, quality of life, older adults

#0520 | Une diversité de points de vue pour un projet disciplinaire commun : le travail social

Amelie MAUGERE ¹

1 - Université de Montreal.

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Summary

La profession de travailleuse sociale et de travailleur social (TS) est relativement nouvelle et trouve ses principaux débouchés dans les réseaux publics des services sociaux et de santé et les organisations communautaires. La légitimité d’une offre de formation dans le milieu de l’enseignement supérieur comme discipline pratique est aujourd’hui bien ancrée. Dans ce milieu académique, les étudiant.e.s sont initié.e.s à la valeur de la théorie, de la science et de la recherche empirique pour l’intervention sociale, ainsi qu’à leur limite du point de vue d’une pratique éthique (Harper et Dorvil, 2013). Pourtant, la plus-value de cette profession et de la formation dans les milieux académique et de pratique est mal connue ou repose souvent sur des malentendus. Notre analyse des frontières du travail social et de leurs déplacements (Maugère, 2023) s’appuie sur l'examen d'archives (Farge et Foucault [1982], 2014) et sur une démarche visant à importer adéquatement une conceptualisation intelligente d’une discipline appliquée : la criminologie (Pires, 2008). Elle ne renonce ni au projet scientifique de s'émanciper des erreurs et des illusions (Boltanski, 1990) ni à la mise en délibération démocratique des valeurs et des normes d’intervention (Karsenti, 2013) qui orientent l'action des TS. Du point de vue pratique, notre problématisation entend contribuer à la croissance identitaire collective des TS et à faire connaître, au-delà de cette communauté, la part d’unité et d’unicité du projet spécial de connaissance et de praxis du travail social. Cette part d'unicité et d'unicité est liée à la prise en compte des interactions dynamiques entre l’individu et son environnement (Fédération Internationale du Travail Social, 2014) et a le potentiel de soutenir un monde plus juste et amical pour le vivant (Latour, 2021).

Keywords (separate with commas)

Travail social, discipline, praxis, pluralisme, émancipation

#0536 | A diversity of points of view for a common disciplinary project: social work

Amelie MAUGERE ¹

1 - University of Montreal.

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Summary

The profession of social worker and social worker (SW) is relatively new and finds its main outlets in the public networks of social and health services and community organizations. The legitimacy of a training offer in the field of higher education as a practical discipline is now well established. In this academic environment, students are introduced to the value of theory, science and empirical research for social intervention, as well as their limits from the point of view of ethical practice ( Harper and Dorvil, 2013). However, the added value of this profession and training in academic and practical circles is not well known or is often based on misunderstandings. Our analysis of the boundaries of social work and their displacements (Maugère, 2023) is based on the examination of archives (Farge and Foucault [1982], 2014) and on an approach aimed at adequately importing an innovative conceptualization of a applied discipline: criminology (Pires, 2008). It renounces neither the scientific project of emancipating oneself from errors and illusions (Boltanski, 1990) nor the democratic deliberation of the values and standards of intervention (Karsenti, 2013) which guide the action of TS. From a practical point of view, our problematization intends to contribute to the collective identity growth of TS and to make known, beyond this community, the share of unity and uniqueness of the special project of knowledge and praxis of social work. This part of unity and uniqueness is linked to the consideration of the dynamic interactions between the individual and their environment (International Federation of Social Work, 2014) and has the potential to support solidarity and more friendly world for the biodiversity. (Latour, 2021).

Keywords (separate with commas)

Social work, discipline, praxis, science, emancipation, pluralism, solidarity, biodiversity (human and non-human)

#1125 | Spatial renovation, human change and community revitalization: an action research on the sustainable development of a Chinese village

XI LAN ¹ ; Hok-Bun Ku ¹

1 - Applied Social Science Department, Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

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Summary

In recent decades, rapid urbanization and industrialization of China siphoned young population in the rural, leaving behind large number of elderly and women and a stagnation rural society. In mainstream discourse, \ these “left-behind population” have often been perceived as “unproductive” and the symbolic of rural decline. This study will demonstrate an alternative approach to rural revitalization through a case of action research based on local left-behind groups.\ In 2017, a transdisciplinary action research team consisting of social workers, designers, anthropologists, and villagers initiated\ a\ project named “House of Dreams”\ in a northern Chinese village, aiming at sustainably reviving the declining village through participatory community spatial renovation.\ \ With the perception that space is the embodiment of local culture, human relations and collective representation, this action research team utilized local space to mobilize, solidarize and empower left-behind groups. The team refurbished a group of abandoned dwelling caves that encompassed villagers’ collective memories and local culture as an educational public space of the village, attempting to revive the local assets and rebuild the cultural confidence of villagers. As recycling local waste materials was the principle of “House of Dreams”, materials acted as a medium of mobilization and empowerment. Villagers’ solidarities were reactivated in the process of material collection and local craftsmen transformed from ordinary labor to creative masters of waste building through waste rebuilding practices. When House of Dreams primarily completed reconstruction, villager organizations initiated by left-behind groups operated and managed this space in a means of solidarity economy. In the renovation process, left-behind groups played the most critical role and became the proactive builders of their community, having explored a pathway of sustainable community development. This study will present this community participation and change process and the contribution of transdisciplinary action research in achieving sustainability development goals.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Spatial renovation; community sustainable development; action research; rural China

#1526 | Social and individual aspects involved in Internet addiction among high school students

Marijana Majdak ¹ ;

Helena Vusić ²

1 - University of Zagreb, faculty of Law. 2 - University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law.

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Summary

Although Internet addiction is still under research, individual and social variables play an important role in determining the level of Internet addiction. Due to the growth and development of an individual in adolescence, young people are more susceptible to excessive use of the Internet and developing addiction to it. The aim of this research was to examine the connection between Internet addiction, loneliness, social support and peer pressure in high school students. A total of 105 students from 1st to 4th grade took part in the research; 43 high school boys, 59 high school girls and 3 students who didn't express their gender, from gymnasium and vocational schools, including economists, CNC operators and trade school. Students filled out the questionnaire via a web survey during teacher's class. Research indicates that Internet addiction is significantly positively correlated to loneliness and peer pressure, and negatively correlated to social support. The results show that high school students who show a higher level of Internet addiction also show a higher level of social and emotional loneliness. Also, high school students who show a higher degree of Internet addiction also show a higher level of perceived pressure to conform to the peer group. In addition, high school students who show lower levels of Internet addiction reported higher levels of support from family, friends, and significant others. Lastly, peer pressure, especially loneliness and social support, proved to be significantly related to each other. The obtained results can contribute to the education of social workers about the existence of Internet addiction and the development of a comprehensive prevention program, as well as the development of a treatment program for Internet addiction among young people. In conclusion, the consequences that this addiction leaves on individuals gives room for continued research, both in social work and in other sciences.\

Keywords (separate with commas)

Internet addiction, social support, peer pressure, conforming, loneliness\

#0074 | Addressing Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South: A Participatory Community-Engaged Research Approach for Social Work

Colleen Fisher ¹

1 - University of Alabama at Birmingham.

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Summary

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) represent an “urgent call for action” in 17 areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet (United Nations, 2016). The massive scale of any one of these goals necessitates cooperation and coordinated effort across all levels of society, from transnational bodies and governments to universities, third sector actors, and local communities. While a traditional development lens views research universities as “providers of knowledge, innovations and solutions” for the SDGs (SDSN Australia/Pacific, 2017), communities in low and middle-income countries where the SDGs are most critical are often viewed as passive recipients or sites for externally designed interventions (Dighe & Strode, 2019). Yet, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other community-based organizations (CBOs) have long been considered a force for alleviating social problems such as poverty in the Global South (Despard et al., 2018; St. Leger, 2008). Because the innovative interventions created by such local organizations in response to community needs are rarely evaluated (Hawk, 2015; Mason et al., 2014; Miller & Shinn, 2005), however, their impact on the SDGs and potential to be scaled-up for use in other settings remains largely unknown. Bottom-up evaluation (BUE; Chen, 2010) offers one strategy for addressing this problem. Bottom-up evaluation involves researchers (a) identifying promising interventions already thriving in a community, (b) collaborating with community partners to evaluate intervention viability and effectiveness, and (c) disseminating findings to build scientific knowledge of what works (or doesn’t) in the local context. This presentation will describe the BUE process using evaluation of an NGO-created intervention in Kenya as a case example. The presenter will explore the consistency of BUE with social work values (e.g., participatory inquiry; centering lived experiences of vulnerable groups) and, ultimately, its utility for advancing the SDGs in the Global South by drawing innovative community-driven interventions into the scientific knowledge base.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Sustainable Development Goals, bottom-up evaluation, community-engaged research, Global South, non-governmental organizations

#0089 | Building Program Evaluation Capacity for Sustainable Non-Governmental Organizations: A Case Study of the Jockey Club MEL Institute Project in Hong Kong

Steven Sek-yum Ngai ¹

1 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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#0914 | Exploring the Relationship Between Professional Vision, Professional Identity, and Professional Burnout among Social Workers in Mainland China

Yuk Yee Lee ¹ ; Qiumei Huang ² ; Jing Yang ³

1 - UOW College Hong Kong. 2 - Gratia Christian College. 3 - Department of Sociology, Guizhou University.

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Summary

China's rapid social transformation poses significant challenges for social workers in mainland China, who face emerging social problems and increasing complexity in social service demands. While social workers receive recognition for their crucial role in delivering social services, the expansion of the social work workforce is hindered by disparities in professional development, administrative influences on its growth, and the prevalent issue of social worker burnout. This study explores the relationship between personal vision, professional identity, and professional burnout levels among social workers in China. Understanding this relationship is essential for developing effective interventions and creating a supportive and sustainable professional environment. It also enhances teaching and learning models, supervision approaches, and social policies that are relevant to Chinese social workers and social work students. The study collected 499 online questionnaires through snowball sampling in various mainland Chinese regions, including Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Qingyuan, Shenzhen, Xi'an, and Inner Mongolia. Participants' professional vision, professional identity, burnout levels, and potential mitigating factors were assessed using three scales: Social Worker Professional Identity Scale (Zhou, 2012), Vision Scale (Chui, 1996), and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (Revised Version) (CBI) (Wu et al., 2020).The findings highlight a significant relationship between social workers' professional vision, increased professional identity, and reduced burnout levels. Social workers with a strong professional vision are more inclined to pursue the value of social work services, aiming to contribute to society, make meaningful contributions, and effectively lead their colleagues towards improved work outcomes. The research also revealed a negative correlation between professional identity and burnout levels. Those who received supervision from Hong Kong social work supervisors demonstrated higher levels of professional aspiration and professional ethics. Based on the research outcomes, this paper provides relevant recommendations in social work education and supervision to address challenges and support social workers in China.

Keywords (separate with commas)

social worker, professional identity, vision, burnout, social work training,\\ China

#1122 | ”This time round, you’ve got to get it right“ - Caregivers’ experiences of caring for young children of incarceration mothers.

Christine Chua ¹ ;

Siti Nur Farahiyah Abdul Karim ¹ ; Lee Beng Ang ¹ ;

Mavis Teo ¹

1 - KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

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Summary

Maternal incarceration often results in kinship care arrangements of their children. Family life is profoundly altered for everyone involved as they must adapt to new roles, routines, communication patterns and relationships, and potentially live in a new environment. Trauma from being separated from their mother can contribute to internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems among these children. For caregivers, the strain of caring for children in difficult circumstances can drain the caregiver’s internal and external resources. In the Singaporean social work context, what we know of the challenges of these caregivers comes from anecdotal experience, practice wisdom, and existing literature. In addition, limited studies exist in our local context. This study sought to understand caregivers’ experiences in caring for a young child of an incarcerated mother. Specifically, we wanted to understand the challenges caregivers encountered their resource networks and their support needs. The goal was to provide space and opportunity to hear the voices, feelings, opinions and experiences of this often overlooked group, especially when their and the children’s lives are greatly affected by policies and procedures that may not be designed with their needs in mind.The study employed a qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews to gain an in depth understanding of their unique experiences as caregivers. Thirteen face-to-faceinterviews were conducted with five fathers, seven grandmothers and one family friend. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and Template Analysis approach was used for data analysis. Findings reveal that caregivers struggle with unresolved grief with regards to mother’s pre-prison behaviors and experience relationship strains which compound during the incarceration period. Caregivers also struggled to talk to the children about their mother’s whereabouts due to uncertainty over age-appropriateness of disclosure and fear of stigmatization. Further results and the implications for practice will be presented at the conference.

Keywords (separate with commas)

caregivers, young children, maternal incarceration, qualitative research, needs assessment

#0242 | SDGs implementation through Solidarity and Social Action in Community Level in Korea

Sug Pyo Kim ¹ ; Jung Mi Cho ²

1 - Daegu council on social welfare. 2 - Beommul community social welfare center.

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Summary

The theme of presentation is about "SDGs implementation through solidarity and social action in a community level in Korea". The presentation will be explained how important the solidarity and social action is for making a better community. The SDGs, also known as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals are consisted in 17 goals, along with the slogan "Leave no one behind." The presentation explains the role of solidarity can help achieve the goals at a level of the community welfare center. People live in a community is one of the important frontline in implementing the SDGs, and it is the place where the effect of achieving the goals actually occur. Community welfare centers have become an important hub for the community making solidarity with various stakeholders play a central role in community change and are still influential. In order to achieve SDGs in the community, Solidarity and social action at a community level must be practiced. There are many stakeholders such as public institutions and welfare centers, community groups, and volunteer organizations around SDGs should be established in consideration of these groups in a sense of solidarity.Community welfare centers can be a good platform for making solidarity to achieve SDGs. First, SDGs should be educated to local residents and improved understanding. Secondly, SDGs can be spread through promotion and resource development. It is necessary to vitalize SDGs in various ways. In order to develop man power and material resources, we have to set solidarity up with companies and civic groups can work together for sustainable community development. Thirdly, it should play a role in facilitating the implementation of SDGs within the community solidarity. I have conviction that, through solidarity and social action, we can realize the direction in which the world should move forward, "leaving no one behind."

Keywords (separate with commas)

SDGs, community, SDGs implementation through solidarity and social action in a community level in Korea, Community welfare centers, leaving no one behind

#0427 | Research on Long-term Care Policy for Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan: Study on Indigenous Network Collaboration Capabilities

Chien-Chou Hou ¹

1 - Chung Shan Medical University.

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Summary

This research focuses on examining the network collaboration capabilities of indigenous peoples in the context of long-term care policy in Taiwan. The study aims to explore the factors contributing to successful network collaboration among long-term care service organizations in indigenous areas and understand the external and internal capabilities of indigenous long-term care workers in network collaboration. By investigating these aspects, the research aims to shed light on the relationship between indigenous cultural values and their impact on external job performance.This study adopts a qualitative research approach. Data collection is conducted through individual in-depth interviews with indigenous long-term care workers and participatory observation notes. The research sites are the M'ihu Tribe and the Pasing Tribe in the Heping District of Taichung City, both of which have rich long-term care organizations engaged in service. A total of 10 indigenous long-term care workers from the Heping District of Taichung City, including case managers, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and cultural health station caregivers, are included in the study.The research findings indicate that the factors contributing to successful network collaboration among long-term care service organizations in indigenous areas include the organizations' proactive initiation of cooperation, maintaining respect for each organization, market differentiation between organizations, and establishing trust relationships. Regarding individual indigenous long-term care workers, the required external capabilities for network collaboration include actively extending collaboration invitations, building extensive relationships, maintaining a flexible and open mindset, leveraging organizational strengths, maintaining friendly relationships, regularly reviewing and reflecting on oneself, and facing conflicts courageously. The internal perspectives of network collaboration capabilities involve the accumulation of past experiences and the transformation and adjustment of family upbringing experiences.

Keywords (separate with commas)

long-term care policy, indigenous peoples, network collaboration, health and well-being

#0465 | A Story of ”Happiness" of a Mother Raising a Child with Disabilities “It’s joyful because I’m not expecting it”

Miho Maehiro ¹

1 - Musashino University/Ryukoku University Graduate School of Sociology.

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#0975 | Between International Policy and Local Practice: Service Providers’ Constructions of Domestic Violence in Context

Claire Willey-Sthapit ¹ ; Taryn Lindhorst ² ; Maya Magarati ³ ; Gita Neupane ⁴

1 - University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare. 2 - University of Washington, School of Social Work. 3 - University of Washington. 4 - University of Idaho.

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Summary

One of the sustainable development goals is to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment, including the elimination of violence against women. The Nepal government has signaled its commitment to address domestic violence (DV) through the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1992, by signing onto the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA, 1995), and by legislating against marital rape (2002) and DV (2009). Yet feminist scholars have cautioned that DV must be understood within context (Lindhorst \& Tajima, 2008) and have also illuminated Western biases in discussions of violence against women forwarded by international institutions (Chowdhury, 2009; Heo \& Rakowski, 2014). This study employed critical discourse analysis to examine the constructions of DV used by service providers in Pokhara, Nepal, as compared with two major international policy documents which service providers cited: the BPfA and CEDAW (including general recommendations 19 \& 35). Fifteen Nepali language interviews and three focus groups were conducted with service providers representing diverse organizations addressing DV. Service providers and policy documents agreed in their conceptualizations of DV as a gender-based violence issue that included acts of physical, sexual, economic, and psychological violence, as well as various forms of control. However, service providers additionally emphasized denial of those rights and entitlements that were normally achieved through the family as DV. These forms of violence included withholding material and care support; denying belonging within the family; withholding legal documents; and abandonment or eviction from the home. These findings underscore the centrality of family for individuals' economic, social, and political well-being, the patriarchal risks women in particular must navigate (Kabeer, 2011), and the need for survivors and those who support them to attend both to short-term safety and long-term economic, social, and political security.

Keywords (separate with commas)

domestic violence, Nepal, critical discourse analysis, international policy

#0479 | Roles of Technology-Mediated Gamification on Youth Mental Health

Dora MY Tam ¹ ; Ron CW KWOK ² ;

SIU MING KWOK ¹ ; Sylvia YCL Kwok ² ;

Barbara Lee ³ ; Shauna Burke ⁴ ; Tara Collins ¹ ; Louise Ng ¹ ; Julia Kao ⁵ ; Jensyn Wallan ⁶

1 - University of Calgary. 2 - City University of Hong Kong. 3 - University of British Columbia. 4 - Western University Canada. 5 - University of British Columbia Okanagan. 6 - MacEwan University.

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Summary

Challenges for children and youth have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates of depression and anxiety doubling. It has highlighted the need to find innovative and accessible approaches to help and engage youth to find their own ways to solve mental health issues. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) and the Pathway for Participation Framework (Shier, 2001), a gamification-based (Seaborn & Fels, 2015) co-creation group project was conducted to engage youth in developing web application for the prevention of and intervention on mental health issues. Between April and July 2022, four web application co-creation groups were conducted with 29 youth (aged 12-17) in Canada. Each group met once for 2.5 hours. During the group meeting, the participants tested and discussed the strengths and limitations of two existing mobile apps developed to address youth mental health issues. They also reviewed and modified an app prototype developed by the project team, which was designed based on a market analysis of over 40 compatible products, for the next round of testing. Seven main categories of features were deemed by youth participants in this study as important considerations in the development of a web-based application or mobile app for addressing youth mental health issues, including: tracking one’s progress, providing mental health information, having a “sharing” function, relaxation exercise/games, simplicity of the device, personalization options, and engaging visuals. Findings of the program evaluation on the co-creation groups were positive and in alignment with the project objectives in the areas of developing the sense of worth, building social connections, doing something meaningful, working and problem solving with others, and having fun while struggling with the impact of the pandemic. The Use of technology-mediated gamification to support youth mental health will be further discussed in this presentation.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Youth, Mental Health, Technology

#1422 | Perceived Racial Discrimination, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Dissociative Symptoms among Black Americans in Rural Communities

Tenesha Littleton ¹ ; Sharlene Newman ¹ ; Joana Okine ¹ ;

Sherinah Saasa ²

1 - University of Alabama. 2 - Brigham Young University.

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Summary

Race-based stress, such as experiences of racial discrimination, is associated with dissociative symptoms, a common response to trauma exposure. Prior research is limited by a failure to control for non-race-based trauma and a focus on daily experiences of racial discrimination instead of collective experiences suggested by a historical trauma approach. Furthermore, less is known about Black Americans in rural communities. This study addresses these gaps by examining associations between perceived racial discrimination (PRD), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and dissociative symptoms among a sample of Black Americans living in underserved, rural communities in the U.S. South.This cross-sectional study collected data from 184 participants across 5 rural sites in Alabama. The Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale measured dissociative symptoms. The ACEs questionnaire assessed experiences of maltreatment and other forms of household dysfunction during childhood. A subscale of the African American Historical Trauma questionnaire measured PRD. Psychological distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety) was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between PRD and dissociative symptoms (0 = mild/no symptoms, 1= moderate/severe symptoms) while controlling for covariates.\ Nearly 10% of the sample had moderate or severe dissociative symptoms. The mean number of ACEs was 1.89 (SD=2.32). Twenty-two percent had ≥ 4 ACEs, above the national average of 17.3%. The mean PRD score was 8.81 (SD=4.76, range = 0-15). At the bivariate level, ACEs score and PRD was positively associated with dissociative symptoms. In the adjusted model, PRD was not associated with dissociative symptoms. ACEs score (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.12, 2.87) and psychological distress (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.92) was associated with higher odds of moderate or severe dissociative symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of timely assessment of childhood trauma and referral to mental health services in underserved communities.\

Keywords (separate with commas)

Race-based trauma, adverse childhood experiences, rural poverty, dissociation