Social Service Workforce Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa

Schmid, Jeanette

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcx072

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Alternative views are not consistently represented in mainstream academic publications because other ways of producing, gathering and disseminating knowledge are overlooked; as a result, traditional literature reviews have limitations as the basis of conceptualizing alternatives to dominant social work (Kovach et al, 2015;Schmid, 2017;Smith, 2012). These processes typically result in dominant Western perspectives being privileged and may impact insights.…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This discourse ensures a focus on risk management, dysfunction, and cure, as opposed to prevention and capacity-building (Harris, 2006;Lombard, 2014;Patel, 2015;Sewpaul, 2014;Weaver & Congress, 2009). Contexts where social work is new or still being strengthened may be particularly susceptible to the uncritical acceptance of seemingly immutable dominant constructions of social work, thereby entrenching universal notions of social work Schmid, 2017;Yip, 2013). Additionally, the increased presence of international agencies in the global South (Schmid, 2017) and the greater mobility of social workers (Beddoe & Fraser, 2012) reinforces the argument for universal and, by implication, standardized social work.…”

Section: Resistance To Standardization and Universalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contexts where social work is new or still being strengthened may be particularly susceptible to the uncritical acceptance of seemingly immutable dominant constructions of social work, thereby entrenching universal notions of social work Schmid, 2017;Yip, 2013). Additionally, the increased presence of international agencies in the global South (Schmid, 2017) and the greater mobility of social workers (Beddoe & Fraser, 2012) reinforces the argument for universal and, by implication, standardized social work. These trends are exemplified in the case management model actively promoted by international actors such as the Global Social Service Alliance (Schmid, 2017).…”

Section: Resistance To Standardization and Universalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the increased presence of international agencies in the global South (Schmid, 2017) and the greater mobility of social workers (Beddoe & Fraser, 2012) reinforces the argument for universal and, by implication, standardized social work. These trends are exemplified in the case management model actively promoted by international actors such as the Global Social Service Alliance (Schmid, 2017). Indigenous, decolonized helping strategies frequently are an expression of resistance to such aspects of globalization and the uni-directional professional imperialism of Western social work (Dominelli, 2012;Midgely, 2008;Yan & Tsang, 2008).…”

Section: Resistance To Standardization and Universalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, partnerships offer credibility and facilitate knowledge transfer from the global South to the North if they promote, acknowledge, and disseminate local research by local scholars and Indigenized research approaches as equal to Western forms of knowledge, (Kebede, 2014;Kovach et al, 2015;Midgley & Conley, 2010;Nimaggadda & Martell, 2008). However, partnerships must be scrutinized to ensure the agenda is not one of internationalization of social work or professional imperialism (Gray & Hetherington, 2013;Midgley, 2008;Razack, 2012;Schmid, 2017). Multi-level, intentional support is thus needed to facilitate contextualized social work education.…”

Section: Supporting Contextualized Social Work Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Pulling Together the Threads

Schmid

Morgenshtern

2019

csw

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dominant social work approaches are increasingly problematized. In many contexts mainstreamed social work practices and knowledges are inappropriate and eclipse alternative ways of knowing, being, and doing. Moreover, dominant approaches, promoted through professional imperialism, may be harmful, perpetuating colonial perspectives, ignoring structural conditions, underlining social control, and advancing decontextualized individualism. In order to become relevant to local populations, social work must build on traditional helping strategies and use contextualized worldviews/knowledge(s) to shift focus to parochial concerns. The authors explore alternative social work paradigms, paying attention to Indigenized, Indigenous, culturally authentic, local, developmental and decolonized models. The authors then conceptualize contextualized social work. This synthesized approach allows for the centering of Indigenous/local knowledge(s), an engagement with the impact of colonization and oppression, and responsiveness to local conditions. The authors consider specifically contextualized social work education, noting emergent literature regarding practice exists, but less so in the area of education. The distinguishing features of such education are highlighted, and policy supports identified. It is recommended that contextualized social work education be promoted to ensure future social work practitioners are able to work in a meaningful, relevant and respectful manner in all contexts.

show abstract

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resistance To Standardization and Universalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resistance To Standardization and Universalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resistance To Standardization and Universalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Supporting Contextualized Social Work Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Pulling Together the Threads

Schmid

Morgenshtern

2019

csw

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Changing Public Perceptions and Supporting Improved Working Conditions for the Social Service Workforce: Expert Perspectives from a Global Delphi Study

Akesson

Milne

Canavera

et al. 2021

Journal of Social Service Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Other people’s children and the critical role of the social service workforce

Desmond

Watt

Tomlinson

et al. 2022

Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As any caregiver will attest, understanding the needs of your child is a complicated business. Understanding the varied needs of a population of children with whom you have no direct contact is near impossible, yet it is the challenge policy makers, government planners and donors face when making policy or selecting interventions to fund and implement. They cannot unpack each child's individual needs and so must predict what is most important for a given population and which services should therefore be prioritised. Priority setting can be simplified by assuming that the needs of other people's children are hierarchical. If needs are hierarchical, basic needs, such as food and shelter, must be met before it is possible or necessary to consider higher order needs, such as belonging and self-actualisation. This conceptualisation justifies a focus on basic needs and decision makers can ignore higher order needs and the complex interventions they may require, because both are assumed to be of secondary importance. We suggest that assuming needs are hierarchical and thus focusing on basic needs is a mistake. By drawing on examples from the literature, we outline how children, our own and other people's, have non-hierarchical needs thus caring for them is a balancing act, best done by those close to them. This conceptualisation of need highlights the importance of families and therefore how policy makers wishing to support children with whom they are not in close contact should focus on creating an enabling environment for families. For a subset of families who are struggling, additional family strengthening interventions may be needed. In the relatively rare cases that such interventions are insufficient as family function is severely compromised, more intensive interventions may be necessary, but must be undertaken with great care and skill. Social services are critical because they have a potential role along the continuum of need, from initial identification of problems, to service access and then direct support. They have the potential to facilitate the intensive interventions when they are required, and while they are not required by all, for some of the most vulnerable children they are essential. The quality standards of such a service will be key in meeting the needs of other people's children.

show abstract

Social Service Workforce Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 6 publications

References 47 publications

Pulling Together the Threads

Pulling Together the Threads

Changing Public Perceptions and Supporting Improved Working Conditions for the Social Service Workforce: Expert Perspectives from a Global Delphi Study

Other people’s children and the critical role of the social service workforce

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About