Search

This paper examines a developing model for building an international social work placement that meets the needs of the host agency and community first. The paper addresses the challenges for social work departments to develop a strong learning environment while also keeping primary the needs of the host community and agency.

The government of Ghana has designed various initiatives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on education and the Education for All goals. Despite these initiatives, student outcomes continue to be poorer than desired. Although access to education has improved, student dropout remains a problem and student scores on achievement tests remain low, along with their rates of progression to higher grades. The authors propose a program of mentoring, peer counseling, and parent involvement for children from first through ninth grade. They believe this program is essential to sustain the government's initiatives on education, and has the potential to achieve the educational outcomes that Ghana and many developing countries require to meet the goals of the EFA agenda.

Fifteen at-risk new mothers participating in a volunteer home-visiting program were interviewed about their experiences with these home-visitors and their relationships with close family and friends after their babies were born. Results of the qualitative analysis, viewed through the lens of Relational Cultural Theory (RCT), detail the social isolation and personal disconnection that they experienced. Their narratives also provide insights about the volunteers' use of techniques -- such as validation, affirmation, consistency, and emotional and instrumental aid -- to enhance the mothers' self-confidence in caring for their babies, to reduce painful feelings, and to increase interpersonal connections. Recommendations are included for working with couples anticipating a new baby.

Background: The world has been facing a chronic refugee crisis. Nations that accept refugees are expected to provide culturally effective services, often without benefit of an evidence-based approach to resettlement. Summary: This study examines refugee service providers in three municipalities in Iceland and the recipients in the first six months of resettlement. Through a purposeful sampling (N = 35) of social workers and program managers (N = 10) and adult Syrian refugees (N = 25) who had arrived in Iceland six months prior, interviews were conducted and analyzed for thematic content. Findings: Providers developed methods for providing services that varied depending on resources and their expectations for the recipients. Recipients' expectations influenced which services were perceived helpful. Integration had different meanings among the participants, and those differences informed experiences of resettlement. Applications: Countries can benefit from creating a team among the service sectors. Providers were unable to anticipate needs of refugees despite careful planning. The perceived importance of language acquisition varied among the participants. Community involvement was seen as a critical factor in the resettlement process. The initial case management of the families consumed more time and energy than some of the providers expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrating on the largest refugee crisis in recent history, the need for countries to develop and implement resettlement programs has become imperative. This study's focus is to understand the experience of professionals' engagement with the program in Iceland. This is a qualitative study of the professional experiences of 20 providers. Consented audio-recorded interviews were transcribed, and thematically analyzed. The participants described available resources, expected familial needs, and a lack of cultural experts as challenges, but felt that their strengths were their development of service coordination via inter-departmental monthly meetings, and their approach to resettlement to include the needs of host communities as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the perceptions of accessibility and cultural effectiveness of refugee services in the northeast region of the United States from refugees, interpreters who work with refugees in accessing these services, and the providers of the refugee services. The study examined the perceptions of 51 refugees from 10 countries, five individual interviews with providers and 26 provider survey responses representing 31 different agencies, and four interviews from interpreters. Qualitative interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule, were audiotaped, and transcribed. Further data were collected through a survey. All data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Participants shared feelings of frustration that services seemed poorly coordinated among the agencies and that the agencies appeared ill-prepared for the unique experiences of separate refugee groups. The three perspectives of refugee service delivery, as a consumer, a provider, or an interpreter, shared the perception that there was not a mechanism for the different services to collaborate effectively with each other, to create a network of coordinated services that would enhance services while decreasing burdens on individual centers, nor was there a system to best prepare the centers for new refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a qualitative study of 110 providers and administrators of refugee services from four countries: United States, Switzerland, Germany, and Iceland. Of the total participants, 28 were male and 82 were female. The sample consisted of 83 social workers who provided direct services to refugees and 27 administrators who managed the programs. The interviews occurred over a period of 3 years from January 2014 to January 2017. The participants described what they perceived to be the goals of resettlement and the successful outcomes of their work with refugees. Findings show that providers and administrators varied in what they believed to be the goals and outcomes, with three main differences emerging: (1) lessening the transition burden; (2) acquisition of language and securing self-sufficient employment; and (3) enhancing the integration of resilience within the refugee. These differences are discussed in terms of how they differ in resources required and in outcomes. The implications of these differences are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiences of two refugee families from Syria, both of whom resettled at the same time in an arctic city, are compared to better understand the stressors and challenges that impede resettlement as well as the resilient factors that ease it. Qualitative data was obtained through interviews with the family members (n = 16) and the workers (n = 3) who facilitated their resettlement. Although each family received the same services and aid upon arrival, the families’ abilities to integrate and function varied. Possible factors are discussed. This has implications for agencies that serve refugees and hope to enhance the resilience of the resettling families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Adult day care programs in the United States are seeing an increase in culturally diverse patients. The purpose of this study was to better understand the subjective experiences of staff and Cambodian refugees attending an adult day center in the United States that provides services focused on the cultural needs of the older adults, such as Cambodian food, activities, and Cambodian staff. Design: This is a qualitative study using grounded theory to analyze 10 individual interviews from staff members and 80 individual interviews from participants who attend an adult day care program for Cambodians in a city in the northeast United States. Findings: Three primary themes emerged: The participants felt respected, there was a generational tension between the young staff and the participants, and the center acted as a cultural liaison between the medical providers and the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]