An International Approach To Social Work

Building upon the author’s integrative and interactive ideas about human services fields, this book presents an intercultural perspective of social work education, practice, and research with culturally–linguistically-relationally underprivileged minority groups in the local and global communities, to show how the synthesis of theories from postmodern social constructionism, multiculturalism, and international organization empowerment can be applied when working with Asian immigrant families. This book also demonstrates how a mutual development model of intercultural organizational-institutional collaborative partnership can be relevant when providing an International Experience for Human Services Abroad Course. Author Kui-Hee Song uses in-depth case studies in the culturally linguistic and diverse context of human services fields and in the cross-nationally interactive context of host country human services organizations and home university academic administrations. Kui-Hee Song examines the clinical change process of a Korean immigrant family that is working with Child Protective Services, seeking to resolve physical child abuse problems and generate new meanings in parent-child relationships through therapeutic conversational dialogue. As the new to this edition, a case of Ming's story is especially, the cultural differences between the Chinese immigrant client family and American medical setting where practitioner’s personal beliefs were challenged. Kui-Hee Song critically examines specific steps to take in establishing intercultural service learning field placements for an experiential learning education abroad course. Song explores the significant leadership roles and responsibilities of host country human services organizations and home university administrators involved with making a new international human services experience abroad program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Specially, Song provides a profound understanding of the empowerment process of a Korean family: a conversational partnership in dialogue that invites the clients to speak their loud-hitherto unheard-voices and enhance a personal perception of competency for action and hope. Song also gives a thoughtful comprehension of a mutual empowerment process of cross-national collaborative partners: differential responsibilities but mutually shared power, vision, and goals in working relationship that allows for each collaborator to stand together in unity of transactional and transformational leadership behaviors and strengthens the sustainability of the effective international human services experience abroad program.

International Social Work Practice compares and contrasts divergent social work approaches in countries around the world, providing students with a unique perspective on social work as it is actually practised. Using case studies from frontline practitioners from across the globe, this innovative new textbook stimulates critical thinking about international social work practice issues. Providing a review of both country-specific social work practices and universal social work issues, the text looks at a variety of core social work topics, framed here in terms of CSWE competencies. Set within a theoretical framework presented in the introductory chapter, the subjects covered include: child welfare intimate partner violence family conflict and communication elder care substance abuse trauma. Each chapter presents several case studies exploring range of issues within the broader topic and each case study is commented on by two narratives from social work academics and practitioners from different countries, providing different cultural perspectives. Taking a practical hands-on approach, this text includes a dedicated section for classroom use, with discussion questions, classroom exercises and additional cases for your own analysis. It will be particularly useful to BSW and MSW students taking courses in international social work, practice, social welfare and human behaviour.

The book focuses on three key issues of international social work: - on international dimensions of social problems and how social work practice can deal with these challenges, - on cultural issues social workers have to- think of when practicing, teaching an- developing social work on an international- level and finally - on aspects of international approaches in social work education. The authors are practicing and teaching social- work in several countries and their personal- and educational background allowed them to- gain a profound experience on international- social work. This makes the authors not only- writing about international perspectives but- also from an international perspective.

Social work is a profession that is increasingly involved with issues which have a global dimension. This Handbook tackles the global/local aspect of social work in its various forms and interrogates the key concerns that societies are facing through an international lens. The contributors show that, with an appreciation of commonalities and differences, local practices and appropriate forms of international activity can be better developed. Areas covered include: - Analysis of ′International social work′ - Globalisation and indigenisation - Social justice and human rights - Poverty and livelihoods - Ecological issues - Migration - Education, theory, research and practice - Social work in different settings - Religion and spirituality - Responses to disasters and conflicts - Life course perspectives - Regional perspectives - Future directions With a truly international range of contributions, the Handbook incorporates perspectives from Asia, Africa, Europe, Australasia, the Middle East and the Americas. It will be an invaluable resource for undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and academics working in the fields of social work, social welfare, human services, and community development worldwide, as well as service providers and policy makers in the international arena.

Covering the five continents of the globe, this text explores the theory and practice of social work within selected countries. In the context of conditions prevalent in these countries, it highlights the constant challenges facing social workers to meet the needs of individuals and societies.

This bold new textbook represents a significant step forward in social policy teaching by combining comparative and global perspectives. Introducing readers to a wide spread of international challenges and issues, the book shows how insights into policy can be generated using a comparative and multidisciplinary approach. Global in its canvas and analytical in its method, the book: • explores the economic, social and political contexts of social policy; • examines in detail its institutions and fields of practice; • illustrates the field’s main ideas, themes and practices, drawing on a rich international literature and using pertinent and thought-provoking examples. Authored by two highly respected and experienced academics, this book demonstrates the rewards of studying social policy from an international perspective by avoiding the constraints of a single-nation focus. Clear, authoritative and wide-ranging, it will be essential reading for students of social sciences taking courses covering social policy, social welfare and comparative policy analysis.

Growing out of an interest in exploring the contemporary contexts and practices related to mental health social work across the world, this book provides a range of insights into the social factors which contribute, sometimes quite significantly, to the emergence of mental health problems for individuals and even whole communities. The range and scope of mental health social work is highlighted through the different accounts of therapeutic work, advocacy, support and rehabilitation. But this collection goes further and also provides the reader with critical analyses of social work practice and social policies in certain contexts, thus inviting the reader to a more reflective consideration of the value of mental health perspectives in social work in general. Taken as a whole, the collection suggests that social work engages with the field of mental health in diverse, creative, and very reflective ways, yet is always focused on the needs and rights of those for whom problems with mental health can be personally challenging and often disempowering. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Social Work Practice.

International Social Work: Issues, Strategies, and Programs, Second Edition draws together the practice wisdom emerging within the broad scope of international social work practice and its role in contributing to the international community's efforts in combating the major global social problems of poverty, conflict and postconflict reconstruction, the development of countries and disadvantaged populations, migration and displacement, and the needs of specific populations such as child soldiers and AIDS orphans. Utilizing an integrated perspectives approach incorporating global, human rights, ecological and social development perspectives, the International Social Work, 2e is designed to prepare social workers, human services professionals, development practitioners who desire to play significant roles in responding to modern global challenges that are critical to the well-being of people, communities, nations and ultimately of us all.