Search

This article presents a case study of a community garden in Israel, the product of a collaboration between a Social Service Nonprofit Organization (SSNO) providing mental health rehabilitation services and a real-estate business firm. The study examines the inter-organizational dynamics of this collaboration, as well as its benefits and challenges for the SSNO and its service users, based on interviews with key figures, onsite observations, and document analysis. The results indicate that collaboration with business can offer SSNOs benefits in terms of financial resources and volunteers, but at the same time involves difficulties, which are intensified in the context of mental health SSNOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonprofit organizations operating in civil society have become the main channel for social service provision in most neoliberal welfare economies. Social service nonprofits (SSNs) deliver essential services mainly to vulnerable and marginalized populations. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, SSNs have been at the frontline of dealing with its socioeconomic consequences. This paper focuses on the activities and responses to the crisis of SSNs in Israel. Interviews with SSN directors (N = 17) show that they dealt with growing demands for services due to the social implications of the pandemic, along with operational difficulties, such as deterioration in clients' condition, disruption in service continuity, and reduced funding and staff. Next to these difficulties, the findings highlighted the social innovations adopted by SSNs to maintain service provision, such as implementing remote service technologies, forming collaborations, and recruiting volunteers. Implications for the social services and policies are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen growing research interest in and application of the social work subfield of employment promotion practices (EPPs), designed to help populations coping with poverty and unemployment to integrate in the labour market. The aim of this study was to identify and conceptualise professional EPP in social work. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews with sixteen EPP social workers in Israel, who offered direct, practice-oriented knowledge regarding these practices. The results indicated that despite differences between employing agencies, three common themes could be identified as characterising this subfield. First, the content of professional interventions, including an inherent dilemma between emotional therapy and task-oriented occupational interventions. Second, intervention processes, including five main stages: occupational intake, setting occupational objectives, dealing with obstacles and skills improvement, work placement, and on-the-job supervision. Third, the results showed that EPP social workers focused mainly on casework and individual counselling, to the neglect of macro practices aiming to change unjust labour policies. The findings enable conceptualisation of the EPP social worker's practices and contribute to the developing body of knowledge in this emerging subfield. Implications for further professional development and policy are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Policy Analysis is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)