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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Family Skills Initiative reviewed hundreds, and then recommended 23 evidence based programmes (2010). UNODC invited FAST (Families and Schools Together) to be piloted in Central Asia, and funded the cultural adaptation teams, translations, trainings, implementations, supervisions and evaluations. Outcome evaluation results are summarized of FAST multi-family groups offered at 9 primary schools in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. FAST is a complex, multi-systemic intervention which aims to build protective factors across the child's social ecology to enhance resilience against stress and promote child well-being. Pre- post data were collected from parents and teachers on child mental health (SDQ), family functioning (FES), parent reciprocity in social networks, and parent involvement in school. 190 families of children (age 7) attended 8 weekly sessions. Trained teams of local teachers and parents were encouraged to locally adapt 60% of the processes for a cultural fit, while following a manual of core programme components. SPSS analyses used one-tailed, paired t-tests and showed improved outcomes. Discussion of results includes the high retention rates of 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the plight of social work research, change in the quality of research work in social care, and the need for social work research for incorporating large research projects.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how social workers are trained to interact with individuals with communication barriers in healthcare. Consent to treatment and the right to decide upon a discharge destination are enshrined in law. However, barriers such as aphasia (a communication disorder commonly resulting from a stroke) can mask competency and exclude people from the decision making process. Social workers play a vital role in the healthcare system, providing advocacy, case management, counselling, addressing capacity and assessing the patient as a whole person. But they need to be taught specialized communication skills to carry out this complex role with individuals with aphasia. A literature search and survey of universities revealed that the majority of training in supported communication is taking place in the field and driven by aphasia centres. But does the training meet the needs of social workers and their patients with aphasia, especially when someone needs a healing conversation? Results from two pilot projects show that teaching a set of skills is not sufficient; adaptation of present communication techniques is also needed to ensure that the human worth and dignity of those with communication barriers is maintained and human rights in healthcare are being met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the implementation of a specific, community-based, multi-family group (MFG) intervention strategy (Families and Schools Together [FAST] babies) aimed at improving the outcomes for infants of teenage mothers in 11 Canadian communities. The aims of this social work group intervention were (1) to engage the teenage mothers into a socially inclusive experience that might challenge the social disapproval they often experience, (2) to enhance the mother–infant bond, while increasing feelings of parental efficacy, and (3) to enhance the social context of the teenage mother by reducing stress, social isolation and intergenerational family conflict. Groups were co-led by teams of service users (a young mother, a grandmother of the baby of a teenage mother and a father of the baby of a teenage mother) collaborating with multi-agency professionals (health visitors and social workers). Teams that reflected the ethnic diversity of the participating family members were trained to facilitate eight weekly group meetings. They showed respect for the young women's ‘voice’, and supported her ‘choice’ to prioritize motherhood as her defining identity. The meetings comprised a range of activities, including crafts and singing, discussion of ‘conflict scenarios’ in cross-familial, cross-generational groups, infant massage delivered to babies by the young mothers, grandmother support groups, and a shared community meal. Where necessary, teams made referrals for specialist help. One hundred twenty-eight young mothers came once to 17 groups, and 90% graduated having attended a minimum of six sessions. Evaluation data from mothers and grandmothers showed positive change when comparing pre and post, based on standardized questionnaires. One-tailed, paired t-tests showed statistically significant increases in parental self-efficacy for the teenage mothers, improved parent–child bonds, reductions in stress and family conflict, and increases in social support. Given that rates of teenage pregnancy in the UK are among the highest in Europe, this paper concludes with a discussion of the feasibility and possible merits of introducing FAST babies to England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Canada has become a preferred destination for human smuggling and trafficking, human trafficking represents a topic that is long on media discussion and short on rigorous academic research. Consequently, little is known about women trafficked to Canada. We carried out interviews with 50 persons, including 20 female sex workers, 15 agency personnel, and 15 key informants to better understand the working lives of Eastern/Central European women trafficked to Canada. This study provides information on the women's transition to Canada, working and living arrangements in Canada, and use of health and social services. In our concluding comments, we emphasize three themes: the complexity of human trafficking and centrality of human agency: the need to offer concrete help rather than punishment; and the futility of "reverse trafficking." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years in social work, as in many other professions and disciplines, very little was known about gay men and lesbians. There was an even greater dearth of knowledge regarding gay men and lesbians as they move through the aging process. Social work has been criticized for its ignorance, intolerance, and insensitivity in this area. Following the Stonewall Riots in 1969, there was an emergence of both interest and research into homosexuality and, subsequently, homosexuality and aging. The authors critically examine the current status of social work regarding practice and research with older gays and lesbians and presents recommendations for both practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated a ten-week course designed for social work field instructors interested in developing a critically reflective approach to field instruction. The course trained participants to think critically about their role in preparing professional social workers. A pretest-posttest nonequivalent comparison group design was utilized. The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal was used as the measurement instrument. Using t-tests, the findings indicate that the participants significantly increased their overall ability to think critically when compared to the control group. The implications for practicum instruction are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]