Trend Analysis on the Application of Social Work Professionalism: The Case of Refugee Child-Focused Humanitarian Organizations in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigated the trend in the application of social work professionalism in delivering child-focused social work services for refugee children within Ethiopian refugee camps. The study seeks to understand the how the various constituents of social work professionalism has been applied by child-focused humanitarian organizations between the years of 2017 to 2023. A time series trend analysis model employed along with a mixed-methods approach across three refugee camps selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. The research investigates how social work services align with professional standards and the challenges faced by practitioners. Findings reveal significant caseloads, resource constraints, and ethical dilemmas in service prioritization. However, positive trends emerge, including the implementation of the Child Protection Minimum Standards framework, a client-centered approach, and growing collaboration with the families of refugee children. The study translates these findings into actionable recommendations for strengthening social work practice, including increased funding, caseload management strategies, prioritizing child participation, and fostering inter-agency collaboration. A proposed model generated through the study visually depicts key challenges, positive trends, and recommendations to improve child-focused social work services through the lens of professional ethics in refugee settings. This research underscores the importance of a multi-pronged approach to ensure high-quality, ethical services for all refugee children.