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Lack of proficiency in writing and research among social work students has increasingly concerned social work educators and practitioners. Given the significance of written communication with clients and emphasis on evidence-based practice in the field of social work, it is critical to assess students’ competence in both writing and research. However, deficit-based approaches to assessing writing and research competence have disadvantaged students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This pilot study aims to assess writing and research proficiency of HBCU master’s of social work (MSW) students through empirical analysis of their capstone papers and surveys from educators to provide implications for developing a writing and research manual for social work programs at HBCUs. Ten capstone papers were randomly selected and qualitatively analyzed; nine faculty and one field supervisor completed the survey, and their respondents were analyzed using cross-case analysis. Analyses of the capstone papers identified two themes for writing and research domains, respectively: (1) weakness in developing statements and lack of knowledge of writing style and (2) plagiarism and lack of understanding of research structure. Moreover, analyses of the surveys revealed four themes regarding assessment of writing and research skills among students struggling with basic writing mechanics, indicating that HBCU MSW students may have potential and capacity for learning, as evidenced by their ideas and critical thinking skills. These findings suggest both teaching- and research-oriented programs could employ the proposed writing and research assessment manual, as well as a writing and research lab/center for improving writing and research skills among their students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirituality is an important factor in the lives of many people in China. Yet, little information exits on how to address Chinese clients' spiritual beliefs appropriately. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by articulating a roadmap for working with client spirituality in an ethical and professional manner. Rationales for administering a spiritual assessment are provided along with a brief overview of the process and options for conducting such assessments. The paper concludes by reviewing two prominent spiritual interventions that may resonate with many Chinese clients, both in China and other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social workers began the new millennium enmeshed in a climate of change. Educators are revisiting debates about how best to conceptualize the social work curriculum. Clients are facing a wide range of problems as they confront the uncertainty of daily life. These conditions call for a "sustained, critical examination of the profession" and "our definition" of social work (Call for Paper, 2000). In response to this current crisis in social work, this paper examines the profession's primary mission, purpose, and central focus. It discusses select social influences that necessitate the continued reconceptualization, if not renewed definition, of our educational and practice approaches. The author asks: Can the profession come together with an overarching purpose? Can the profession claim to have a common base to social work practice? and What is the impact of socioeconomic forces on social work practice and education? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social work profession has become critical in assisting victims of violent crime at social service agencies in South Africa. Social workers have been spearheading efforts to help trauma victims at the expense of their mental health. For Black South African social workers, the mental burden of working with victim collides with historical trauma to create new ways of experiencing mental health challenges. The study aimed to explore the experiences of social workers working with victims of violent crime at select social service agencies in Johannesburg. The study was qualitative in nature and a case study design was used. Data was collected using in-depth interviews. The researchers used purposive sampling and data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results from the study showed that Black South African social workers working in the field of violent crime face challenges such as prolonged sadness, emotional exhaustion and vicarious trauma. All these psychological problems are amplified by the fact that social workers in South Africa work under strenuous conditions. This increases the impact of psychological problems on social workers. Therefore, this paper argues that when the psychological effects of working with victims of violent crime, intersect with historical trauma, it produces unique ways of experiencing trauma for Black South African social workers. This study has strong implications for research about the health and wellbeing of social work practitioners working with trauma victims. The study exposes the need to prioritize the wellbeing of social workers especially those working in contexts with a traumatic past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore Congolese refugees and asylum seekers' survival strategies in South Africa, the focus of this paper will be on the role of the social worker. The paper is part of the study that was conducted on Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa post-war or conflicts. The study employed a qualitative research method and a descriptive case study of 10 female Congolese refugees living in Yeoville, Johannesburg South Africa. The participants have lived in South African for less than five years and there were 30–40 years of age. Data were collected by means of one-on-one in-depth interviews in the form of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used in the selection of participants. Thematic content analysis was used in analyzing the data collected. The paper provides recommendations on what role can social workers play can in mental wellbeing interventions. This study also contributes to a better understanding of mental wellbeing issues of Congolese refugees and asylum seekers. Ethical approval for this research study was obtained from the Department of Social Work Human Research Ethics Committee (Non-medical) of the University of Witwatersrand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes traces of masculinity by examining Malaysian sports news, centralizing the discussion on emotions in sports news discourse. Specifically, it compares the depictions of male and female athletes in newspaper texts and (co)-construct masculinity and varying notions of emotion through corpus-assisted discourse analysis, including the ways in which these depictions on 'emotion' can help social workers in sport. By extracting a specialized corpus known as Malaysian Sports News, manual qualitative analysis paired with corpus linguistics techniques is used. The results will reveal sporadic examples of emotion-centered expressions that describe sports as a depiction of stereotypes of masculinity. We begin by locating past studies and making their connections, adapting some of the many research rigors by paying attention to specific findings that have been reworked in other important, global perspectives of social work. By focusing on corpus-assisted discourse analysis of athletes in newspapers, convergence and divergence between male and female athlete reporting highlighting implications of masculinities on social workers in sports and the recent 2018 APA Guidelines on Boys and Men can be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores, through the use of narrative data, ways in which older parents respond to the realization that they never will become grandparents. Stated reactions range from unresolved grief and anger to happily finding substitute ties to relief in having a retirement free of caretaking and gift giving expectations. While the research literature and popular media focus on the importance of grandparent roles from the perspective of the child, little attention is paid to either the importance of this role to the grandparents themselves or the magnitude of grandparent deprivation of this role in the lives of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of burnout in the field of social work is a significant challenge to staff retention. This paper addresses the necessity of self-care in the prevention and treatment of burnout amongst social workers. Self-care is important for social workers who wish to maintain healthy, balanced lives. It is also argued that social workers who do not practice self-care are not able to provide the best possible services to their clients. For these reasons, self-care is necessary both from an ethical and personal standpoint. Specific steps for developing an individualized self-care plan are presented. This begins with the creation of a self-inventoryutilizes the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory. This is followed by a sample of self-care techniques that social workers can use. The techniques are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all self-care practices, but rather a sample of practices from various areas of social worker's lives to demonstrate the expansive and diverse nature of self-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of HIV and AIDS have devastated families and communities in South Africa. The scourge has also left many children orphaned in the country. Given the vulnerability of orphaned children, social workers are in the forefront of ensuring that these children are cared for and protected from any harm. Hence, the purpose of this paper was to explore the role of a social worker in issues related to children orphaned by AIDS in their middle childhood. This study was situated within a qualitative research paradigm utilizing purposive, non-probability sampling of 10 participants recruited from Potchefstroom in the Northwest Province of South Africa. A semi-structured interview schedule was employed as a research tool, and in-depth one-on-one interviews were adopted as the method of data collection. A thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data collected during the interviews. The main findings point towards the need to educate children about HIV and AIDS and to empower their caregivers. The primary conclusion drawn from this study is that social workers play various key roles which contribute towards the well-being of orphaned children. Recommendations are posed in relation to social work service providers, government interventions, and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mental health needs of college students are steadily on the rise, which compels mental health service providers and educators to explore innovative ways to provide more collaborative, supportive, and interdisciplinary service models of practice and professional training. Graduate programs in social work and counseling are at the crux of producing internship training programs to help accommodate the influx of students with persistent mental health concerns across a variety of needs and cultures. This article describes an interprofessional internship program structured and designed to meet the clinical training needs of master's level students matriculating in social work and counseling who aspire to provide mental health services in higher education settings. The interprofessional internship training model proposes an innovative interdisciplinary approach to field education which may result in positive training outcomes and learning experiences for social work and counseling students. This paper discusses the model's emphasis on individual and interdisciplinary group supervision, objectives of the internship experience, internship site criteria, and professional and personal benefits to pre-service social workers and counselors. Recommendations for training and limitations of the model are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offering an understanding of specialized service needs of those becoming homeless because of the death of a parent or parental figure, this project is set in Detroit’s urban context, where residents face economic hardship and intergenerational poverty. In this study, we analyze the voices of practitioners (n = 5) and men (n = 5) who have experienced parental death as a contributing factor to homelessness in Detroit, Michigan. Findings include the following: (1) the impact of death and dying experiences on these men and (2) the role of care networks in these men’s lives, particularly when these men have and lack “default” caregivers after death of a parent. This community-based research project was a result of a partnership between a local agency serving persons experiencing homelessness, where the practitioner initiated the project with the researcher. The paper concludes with implications for social work practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper considers the contexts and motivations as to why some social work students engage in lesbian and gay rights activism. To explain electoral and protesting modes of activism, this study utilized variables from resource, mobilizing, and framing theories of political participation to explain activism related to gay and lesbian rights. After gathering data on 159 undergraduate social work majors, regressions suggest that economic resources failed to explain participation in gay and lesbian politics. Instead, the predictors of gay and lesbian activism more closely aligned with four key variables: educational attainment, communicating with full-fledged activists, having an ability to recognize heterosexism, and maintaining a commitment to social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the U.S Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion in 1973, intense controversy over access, legality, and morality has persisted ever since that landmark decision. National opinion data collected from 1975 to 2007 show that a majority of Americans support a woman's right to an abortion, but this right is increasingly under attack, and recent proposed changes to abortion access are not in line with how most Americans feel. This paper considers public opinion trends in the sharply divided arenas of abortion, partial-birth abortion, and adolescents' rights to access abortion with a critical eye to social work practice. We explore several opportunities for social workers to advocate for clients, including legislative advocacy, reform through litigation, social action, and social policy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was to identify, screen, and assess homeless veterans through outreach for domestic abuse services. This study focuses on 507 homeless veterans, from 2002 to 2007 identified in a homeless shelter and a transitional housing program. Homeless veterans completed the Domestic Violence/Abuse Screen (DV/AS) and psychosocial assessment. The majority were males, African American, divorced, Army, Vietnam, substance-dependent, and homeless, while the minorities had combat-PTSD; were charged and convicted of domestic violence; were on supervised parole or probation; had juvenile records; were victims of domestic violence during rearing; had a perpetrator relative; had prior domestic violence treatment; and were referred for domestic abuse treatment services. There is a lack of research evidence for the effectiveness for screening of homeless veteran partner violence. This sample shows the benefit of integrating domestic abuse screening into homeless programs and more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the types of challenges social work students face and how practicum performance is impacted by them. Secondary data related to 125 social work students in a course in human behavior in the social environment were analyzed. More than one-fourth of students reported a parent with mental health and substance abuse problems. Students' self-reported substance abuse problems (9%), and mental health problems (16%). Sixty-two percent of students reported some problem in their family of origin. Regression analysis showed that performance during the second semester of the first-year practicum was influenced by current and early family experiences and that by the second year of the MSW program, there was no impact on field. This manuscript explores some of the possible ways that social work students overcome and manage personal challenges that impact their field placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professionals throughout America work to reduce the number of drug abusers in our society. Drug abuse is a very familiar topic that receives a great deal of attention from the media and health care organizations. The information provided in this paper emphasizes the lack of attention that professionals receive as they struggle with substance abuse. This paper focuses on studies and the lack of research pertaining to the treatment of social work professionals with drug abuse problems. Implications for practice and recommendations are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public child welfare agencies have long been perceived as key training and employment settings for professional social workers in the United States. Nonetheless, within the last 30 years, concern has been raised with respect to the perceived "de-professionalization" of many public social service jobs, making a large portion of social work positions in public child welfare unappealing to the professionally educated. In California, popular support for increasing the numbers of MSWs in public child welfare led to the creation of the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) in 1990. Using survey data collected between 1992 and 1998 from a complete population sample of all entering and exiting students in accredited graduate programs of social work in California (n = 5,793), this study examines the influence of a plethora of variables (socio-demographic variables, professional motivations, past practice experiences, and school/program attended) upon the likelihood that MSW students will be interested in a career in public child welfare. Further, the employment of stochastic models is used to examine the stability of MSW students' interest in public child welfare and the impact, if any, that graduate education and field education experiences (elements of professionalization) have on each respondent's desire to work in public child welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the mental health characteristics of 428 Black students from 43 different fields of academic study to determine if there was a relationship between student mental health concerns and their selected field of academic study. Additionally, this study considered the possible impact of racialized stress on the development of Black collegians' mental health concerns. Holland's theory on career choice was examined as an explanation for career choice decisions and critical race theory was explored as the reason Black collegians might experience certain mental health concerns. Students from the professions of social work, psychology and nursing represented 33% of the students seeking mental health counseling, suggesting common racialized experiences as a factor in career choice decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigration is among the most controversial social issues and hotly contested political topics in the United States today. This paper presents a review of the nation's attitudes toward immigration and the many facets of this issue—governmental policy, economic impact, current immigration levels, and illegal immigration. A review of the recent literature is presented, along with the results of opinion polls conducted by the Gallup Organization on the topic of immigration. Implications for social workers are included to help guide social work practice in providing services for this diverse population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the literature on the disability movement in Africa is quite limited, this paper sheds some light on its current status in one particular African country: Egypt. Due to its history and location within North Africa, Egypt's culture is a mixture of Middle Eastern/Arab and indigenous African elements and influences. The following literature-based overview is designed to highlight such issues as societal attitudes, disability laws, and governmental control and management in the context of a service delivery system designed for disabled people. In conclusion, implications for social work practice are mentioned, and some recommendations to close the existing service gaps are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS; Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2004) is an easy to administer [7-item self-report measure of secondary trauma. Bride et a!. (2004) reported a measure of three domains of traumatic stress specifically associated with secondary exposure to trauma: intrusion, avoidance, and arousal. The STSS was reported to have high levels of internal consistency reliability and indicated evidence of convergent, discriminant, and factorial validity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reliability and validity of the STSS with a national, random sample of mental health social work- ers. To assess the fit of the data to the three-factor structure proposed by Bride et al., a confirmatory factor analysis was performed on data from 275 social workers who indicated exposure to client trauma. The model fit the data adequately although high factor intercorrelations strongly suggest a unidimensional scale. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis of a unidimensional scale and a second order factor analysis yielded similar results. Findings indicate the need for further scale validation. Challenges remain for measuring and distinctly differentiating between secondary trauma symptoms of arousal, avoidance, and intrusion. Implications and suggestions for future research a!e discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the theoretical frameworks of ecological systems theory, intersectionality, and multi-dimensionality to examine the dynamics of the environment as it relates to the development of Black adolescent females who grow up in urban settings. Frameworks such as intersectionality and multi-dimensionality specifically urge attention to multiple identities and social categories related to race, sex, and class that impact the everyday life for people of color. We argue negotiations regarding multiple identities are unique for Black adolescent females. It is important to explore these frameworks as developmental processes are impacted by navigating systems and power dynamics that may stifle the developmental process for Black adolescent females. This review specifically addresses barriers and milestones unique to urban Black adolescent female development that targets 21st century challenges. Implications for social workers at each ecological domain are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging experiences are multidimensional, and social workers need to know theoretical perspectives on aging which are useful in understanding the diversity of experiences of individuals in later adulthood. This article describes and discusses four theoretical perspectives on aging which are not usually presented in Human Behavior and the Social Environment textbooks but which contribute to understanding of diversity in later adulthood: Atchley's continuity theory; Fisher's age-independent periods; Stoller and Gibson's perspectives on gender, race and ethnicity, class, and the life course; and Friend's theory of successful aging of gay men and lesbian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child well-being is particularly relevant to South African social workers given the country's high rates of violence, poverty, inequality, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, and poor schooling outcomes. Guided by a social constructivist theoretical lens, and located within an interpretive qualitative research design, the aim of the study was to determine whether children's drawings and teacher interviews can differentiate qualitatively between children with positive well-being and those with compromised well-being. Children aged 6–8 years whose parents/caregivers were recipients of Child Support Grants (CSGs) were asked to draw a picture of themselves and their families and teachers were asked about the children's functioning. Findings from triangulation of drawings and interviews suggested that while a firm diagnosis of emotional, behavioral, or cognitive disorder could not be reached, it was possible to differentiate between children with positive well-being and those whose well-being appeared to be compromised by developmental delay, learning difficulties, emotional problems, behavioral problems, and/or social issues. It is therefore recommended that social workers make greater use of children's drawings and educator interviews as assessment tools. However, one should not rely solely on children's drawings, but should rather combine drawings with child and educator interviews. Findings also highlight the need for South African social workers to develop indicators that are culturally and ecologically applicable to African children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work research and literature in the area of supervision tends to focus on the supervision of field education students. Less attention is given to the supervision of social work practitioners and there is almost no information that examines how social workers become supervisors. This exploratory study interviewed 27 practicing social work supervisors across different fields of social work practice in Western Canada. The participants included 15 supervisors with a graduate degree and 12 supervisors with an undergraduate degree. The supervisors completed a brief questionnaire that was followed by a structured interview. Supervisors were asked how they came to be social work supervisors. Thematic analysis of the supervisors' responses revealed three pathways to supervision: task exposure, supervision by happen chance, and deliberate decision. The responses suggested that additional focus on supervision might be included in undergraduate education and that universities, professional associations, and employers pay more attention to succession planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of our understanding of human behavior and development has a foundation in animal research. However, many social workers do not have experience in biological research methods and therefore may not understand how and why this research is employed, or how it has benefited our practice. The purpose of this manuscript is to (1) discuss the ethical issues involved in research with non-humans; (2) briefly summarize the history, benefits, and limitations of pre-clinical research for knowledge that is critical to social work practice, and (3) illustrate some of the most important current issues involved in the usefulness of animal models of research for social workers, specifically in the areas of maternal care and the childhood experience, and dementia. An understanding of these issues will provide social work researchers, educators, and practitioners a deeper understanding of the meaning and importance of the knowledge produced through animal research, as well as allow them to assess this knowledge more critically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite lack of strong empirical evidence about its effectiveness, community policing remains the approach of choice for police organizations in managing the complexity of crime and neighborhood disorder. It is also the preferred strategy for improving relations between police and racialized communities. Anchored in ongoing public conversations and protests about the tense relationships between police and racialized communities, this article offers a theoretical analysis of community policing. An overview of its objectives, principles, and use in Canada is first provided. Next, a critical reading of community policing is presented, which suggests that its end may be near, given that it has not fulfilled its promise of improved police-minority relations. Finally, the case of Abdirahman Abdi in Ottawa is discussed, to illustrate this failed promise. The author contends that, in the absence of a change model for transformation in police-minority relations, police social workers are an important but overlooked component of community policing. The article concludes with several recommendations, one of which is to employ police social workers in police organizations, since the challenge of community policing requires a multidisciplinary perspective that the police alone cannot provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how the teaching of group work field education can be developed through learning communities. The Bachelor of Social Work degree is being revised to include a wider social development focus against the backdrop of increasing socio-economic inequality. Given these changes, educators are encouraged to develop courses that promote active learning to engage students emotionally, cognitively and behaviourally as socially responsible citizens. Socially just pedagogy, informed by a convergent theoretical orientation that is able to hold multiple realities, forms of inequality, and agency, was used to underpin the field education course to achieve learning outcomes of critical thinking, reflection, reflexivity and an acute understanding of difference. In this exploratory qualitative study, the views of eight students and five external field supervisors are considered in relation to the introduction of the Ke Moja (I am fine, without drugs) programme to conduct group work at working class public schools. The focus was to foster greater awareness on substance use implementing a meso-practice group work intervention. Data were from a focus group with students and a semi-structured interviews with external field education supervisors. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings of the study suggest the potential of the programme to strengthen social work students’ awareness of the critical aspects of group work, the values and the ethics relevant to the profession and thoughtful citizenship. They also point to the limitations of the programme to engage with the socio-economic conditions that produce drug dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long-standing history of engaging the African-American community. In most instances, these institutions are located in predominantly African-American communities. This article intends to offer a discussion of a pedagogical approach used at an HBCU, located in a large mid-Atlantic city. The purpose of this macro-assignment was an effort designed to prepare BSW students for macro-practice with communities through participation in service-learning projects that involved community engagement with urban communities. Outcomes reflect that students have a vested interest in working with underserved communities, which exemplifies the School of Social Work’s mission; said mission is to fully prepare urban social work leaders who are committed to the alleviation of human suffering, social justice, and the improvement of the quality of life for diverse urban populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article examines student mentoring at historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs) through the lens of ecological theory. By examining the person’s human behavior on a micro level and the HBCU on a macro level, the researchers will examine faculty mentoring as a positive influence that assists students in advancing their educational pursuits. Specifically, this article examines how the faculty mentor assists students with navigating the various outer and inner forces that may impede more functional behaviors as they transition to graduate school. This information is important in helping to codify and promote the unique role that HBCU faculty and administrators play in the lives of their students from a student perspective. This article will help to demonstrate why the HBCU experience is not only valued, but necessary in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standing on the hope of the initial social work course from 1914 at Morgan College, this article provides insight into the significant learning outcomes of contemporary students in advanced social work practice with urban African American families. This research introduces the conceptual framework of urban womanist social work pedagogy as an inclusive practice-informed knowledge produced through the rituals, traditions, values, culture, and resilience of historically disenfranchised communities. Urban womanist social work teaching methods honor truth telling from the ones who have lived there. Urban womanist social work affirms transformative-centered research, teaching, and scholarship produced through institutions such as historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s). The students’ reflective narratives reveal a process of transformation, centered in the freedom standpoint, which includes recognizing the location and context of their individual and collective identity as African Americans in the profession of social work. Urban womanist social work pedagogy cumulatively equips our students with intergenerational knowledge that inform their assessment of critical issues in Baltimore’s African American communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding microaggressions can aid learners in exploring the complexity of contemporary racism. The concept of microaggressions refers to subtle acts of discrimination stemming from various individual and societal factors that combine to perpetuate often unintentional and unconscious acts of racism. Although much is known about microaggressions, there are few educational tools on the subject described in the literature, particularly within the field of social work. We have developed a workshop to be used with both social work students and professionals on how to recognize and interrupt microaggressions. The workshop content includes a biopsychosocial framework for understanding subtle racism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the significance of three macro social determinants (i.e., family, neighborhood, and school factors) on the educational aspirations and integration of social work minority undergraduate students using a qualitative study of 40 interviews. Two research questions were raised: (1) how did family, neighborhood, and school contextual factors account for the participants’ postsecondary education in social work, a study that places more emphasis on the attainment of humanitarian goals over future economic outlook? and (2) what roles did family, neighborhood, and school play in shaping these participants’ postsecondary educational aspirations and integration? Overall, educationally resilient participants received strong family support but also encountered social roadblocks, stigmatization, and racial discrimination in the mainstream culture. Ironically, these social challenges also served as the major driving forces that inspired them to pursue their postsecondary education and major in social work. The findings of this study urge the general public and higher educational settings to develop more cultural sensitivity, validate unique contribution, and promote equality of cultural diversity among minority social work students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Afrocentric paradigm in social work is an important professional development towards rendering social work practice more culturally competent. Grounded in a critique of Eurocentric models of social science and social work practice, the paradigm draws heavily on the shared cultural values and practices of traditional Africa that have been articulated most poignantly in Cheikh Anta Diop’s two cradle theory. The Afrocentric paradigm also relies on the shared experiences African-Americans have had with Eurocentric domination since the initiation of the transatlantic slave trade and their efforts to contest the inimical effects of this form of oppression. This article provides a historical overview of the Afrocentric paradigm and examines its relationship to social work. It also offers some ideas about the future viability of the paradigm within the new era of oppression by incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Complex historic and structural constraints disproportionally disadvantage many low-income immigrant youth in the United States. This conceptual article summarizes scholarship on how local context influences their development and argues that the social work profession needs to attend to the diverse settings where immigrant youth are coming of age to design effective interventions. We use three recent studies of different environmental contexts—urban neighborhoods, suburban municipalities, and high school classrooms—to illustrate how they influence the trajectories of immigrant youth. We argue that the social work profession needs to recenter the person-in-environment perspective toward more context-focused interventions to support immigrant youth. We conclude with areas for further research to advance the profession’s understanding of immigrant youth development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Veterinary social work (VSW) is the provision of services at the intersection of veterinary medicine and social work practice. Based on scholarly literature and practice experience, four competency areas are identified for social workers attending to the human side of the human-animal bond: grief at the loss of an animal companion, compassion fatigue in the animal services fields, the connection between animal and human violence, and animal-assisted interventions. This review explores how the four competency areas of VSW have evolved, to what extent these services are being provided, and in what realms these services exist. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A code of ethics is a contract between professionals that emerges when an occupation becomes recognized in a formal manner and individuals share moral ideals regarding their contribution to the common good. Since the first code of ethics was approved by the National Association of Social Workers in 1960, ethics have provided an important framework for social work practice. This article presents a brief overview of the history of social work ethics and poses areas for future thought and consideration as the challenges and risks to practitioners continue to increase in what has become a litigious environment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents an original perspective of Cuba and its people, which cannot be seen in the U.S. Cuba. Topics discussed include commitment of Cuban socialism, Cubans to social work, actions taken by Cuban President Raúl Castro towards the globalization of the island by modernizing tourism and encouraging entrepreneurialism.

This article discusses an “orientational” study of the perceptions of school social workers regarding gender-variant students and the impact of their presence on the discourse about gender identity. The findings indicate that gender-variant students are becoming more known and visible in public schools but that they do not make up a homogeneous group. Moreover, the study seems to show that the discourse about gender remains extremely limited, in part due to a linking of gender identity with sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The International Federation of L'Arche is made up of intentional, ecumenical, faith-based communities where people with and without developmental disabilities live together. Data on the worldwide federation offers an understanding of L'Arche communities that celebrate and encourage diversity and solidarity. Characteristics of clients and assistants as well as the daily running of homes reveal the inner workings of the program. Through assessing strengths and weaknesses, it is shown that even though L'Arche is a small movement that cannot serve every person with a developmental disability by providing a home and a place of belonging, this program offers a program model with many strengths that should be replicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing and varied Arab American population and the continuing stereotyping and mistrust between people of Arab descent and other Americans make the need for culturally competent social work more pronounced. This study considers the importance the institutions of marriage and family retain within what can be a generally high-context community. Marriage, family, and religious relationships can be complicated by a sense of honor and stigma alongside frequently distressing experiences or news from the country of origin. Various generations of Arab Americans are returning with their Middle Eastern counterparts to their religions to reestablish their identities. We shall consider the problems between fundamental and enlightened readings and understandings of the traditional marriage contract, especially under Sharia law, and traditional gender roles in relation to the varied expectations of the bride and groom, the extended families, and the cultural community. We suggest ways that social workers can develop skillful communications within effective cultural community networks to offset both inappropriate and insensitive misdiagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) was enacted in 1990 as a guarantee to patients that their wishes surrounding end-of-life care would be honored if they expressed verbally or through advance directives the desired level of care they wished to receive at the end of life. Research shows that African Americans have the lowest percentage of advance directives completed among the major racial groups in the United States despite the PSDA's purpose. African American elderly rely on community supports such as social workers and the church to meet physical and spiritual needs. However, these two entities have yet to collaborate to eradicate the dismal percentages of completed advance directives among African American elderly. This article explores how the religious community and social workers can work toward educating this population on the importance of advance directives and empowering them to take the necessary steps at completion if they choose to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destinies of the contemporary immigrant generation are challenged by the profound reshaping of the U.S. economy and the increasing diversity of new immigrant communities from the Latin American and Asian regions. Family represents a key link between immigrant children's social adjustment beyond high school and relationships with mainstream society. Placing an emphasis on culture and social structure, this article reviews contemporary literature and provides a framework for knowledge that helps social work practitioners and policy planners explore the distinguishing features of immigrant families that confer an advantage within their children's post-secondary education or labor market participation. Also considered is how culture and social structure overlap and interact to exert a significant influence on the future economic prospects of immigrant children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An online survey investigated environmental concern and action among 105 Latino social work students (85% female) residing in a high poverty region near the U.S.–Mexico border. Approximately 85% of the respondents reported being moderately or very concerned about environmental issues, but the respondents' level of environmental concern exceeded their self-reported levels of knowledge and attention regarding environmental issues. Rates of practicing five pro-environmental behaviors varied from a low of 27% who used renewable sources of energy to 95% who turned off unneeded lights. Level of environmental concern predicted only one pro-environmental behavior. To address gaps in environmental knowledge and behavior, social work educators can help students analyze the connections between the health of the natural environment and human well-being, identify obstacles to pro-environmental behavior, and propose changes in organizations and communities to encourage environmentally responsible behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collaborative relationship among three organizations developed a mentoring project using social work students (mentors) and independent living program (ILP) foster youths (mentees). The goal was to increase the mentees' awareness of educational possibilities beyond high school graduation while analyzing the mentors' learning as defined by the Council on Social Work Education core competencies. This pilot project paired mentors with ILP youths in this experiential opportunity conducted on a university campus. The students, acting as positive role models applying social work skills, engaged in an effort to improve the mentees' educational outcome, which would ultimately lead to self-sufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacking access to social services, unauthorized Mexican day laborers constitute a vulnerable population. This case study uses a critical theory perspective to examine activist efforts to support migrants when professional social workers were unavailable. Using qualitative methods, this study sought to answer three questions: (1) What strategies did unauthorized day laborers and activists deploy to contest anti-immigrant sentiments in a suburban community; (2) how were these strategies shaped by the workers' subterranean status as undocumented and poor; and (3) what are the implications for social work practice? This study seeks to delineate interventions and to identify how migrants themselves perceive such efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes Dr. mabel Burns Lindsay's leadership as the founding dean at Howard University School of Social Work during her 30 years of service from 1937 to 1967. It chronicles her efforts to build the School as well as her efforts to highlight social injustices of the time. Her lifelong efforts promoted the inclusion of African American social workers in the workforce and the need to understand sociocultural factors in working with different ethnic and racial groups. As a female dean, Dr. Lindsay was an avid promoter of social justice and a prolific writer and speaker on the topic. This article introduces the reader to this under-recognized social work pioneer, with emphases on the challenges of her time and her leadership style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the results of an international qualitative study examining the impact of terrorism and other disasters--both human-made and natural--on social work agencies and their labor force. The study was conducted with focus groups of social workers in health care and social service settings. The major research question concerned the impact of disaster--both natural and human-made--on agencies and social work practitioners. Focus was placed on the ethical dissonance experienced by social workers under pressure to prioritize how services and resources are distributed to those in need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, theoretical and empirical efforts have enhanced our understanding of race identity and race socialization in African American families. This review of that literature identifies ways in which this growing knowledge base might assist social workers who work with African Americans. Prominent theories of race identity are outlined with a brief summary of research that has found linkages between race identity and well-being. Race socialization is defined and research investigating age, gender, and social class differences in socialization are discussed. Finally, research that examines the consequences of race socialization for psychological adjustment, academic achievement, and identity development is summarized, along with recommendations for social workers. doi:10.1300/J137v15n02_07 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Violence in and around schools in America is a common occurrance. Cliques, bullies and gangs that taunt "straight children" are attracting millions of followers who feel caught in a maze with no escape route. This article presents a model that may assist administrators and social workers to deal with violence in America's schools. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]