ICSW EUROPE WORKSHOP in TBILISI, GEORGIA

Transcription

1 ICSW EUROPE WORKSHOP in TBILISI, GEORGIA The challenge of effective social protection in absence of strong social work: A plan for action Vadim Moldovan, LCSW, PhD NGO Project Casa Mare Free International University of Moldova York College of the City University of New York

2 Project Casa Mare Mission: Advancement of Social Work in Moldova and other countries with transition economies through education, professionalization, and legitimization

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10 The Social Work Profession as a Shield Against the State Oppression, Corporate Exploitation, and State Violence General population, marginalized groups, natural environment

11 10,051 NGOs 783 Social Sector NGOs 1,500 Social Assistants

12 Challenges to the social work profession in Moldova Low level of professionalization High workloads Menial tasks Inadequate education standards and pedagogies Low status and remuneration Lack of local and international professional association Low level of self-efficacy

13 Imperatives for social work professionalization in Moldova 1. Professional nomenclature 2. Broader representation in the social service field, e.g. medicine, psychiatry 3. Local and international networking 4. Legislative action for the benefit of the profession 5. Connections and solidarity 6. Increased remuneration 7. Local and international credibility 8. Increased education standards and practices 9. Scholarship production 10. Promotion of the profession

14 Levels of Social Work Practice Working with society/communities: empowerment through community organizing Working with institutions: policy reform through advocacy Working with groups, families, and individuals: positive change through counseling Nano Working with self: developing empathy through self-awareness

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16 Ministry of Social Protection, Labor and Families of the Republic of Moldova Local and global political environments; culture; informal interpersonal networks; graft American Universities members of the consortium, members of the Board of Directors Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova International Center for Advancement of Social Work in Countries with Transitional Economies CSWE and International Social Work Associations, i.e. the IASSW Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova Free International University of Moldova Ion Creangă Pedagogical State University State University of Moldova Alecu Russo State University of Bălţi

17 United States Council on Social Work Education International Association of Schools of Social Work European Union and Global Community European Association of Schools of Social Work International Federation of Social Workers Republic of Moldova Moldovan ministries York College of the City University of New York American Academic Consortium Visegrad Group European donor, and non-governmental organizations and embassies in Moldova Free International University of Moldova and Moldova State Medical University Project Casa Mare Master of Social Work Social Expert Program Scholarship: Conferences and Publications Production Social Development and Civil Society Projects Collaborative Networks and Professional Associations Public Relations and Community Outreach

18 Promotion of civil society and social protection reform can only be accomplished by the competent social work professionals who are: *committed to the profession empowerment of marginalized groups and ethical practice *educated through the international social work standards, *integrated through local and international associations

19 Education Professionalization Legitimization The Three Pillars of Social Work Reform in Moldova

20 Social Worker Professional Social Expert Meta- Professional Social Volunteer Non- Professional Social Assistant Quasi - Professional

21 Master of Social Work Program Social ULIM Principles of social work practice: 1. Professional autonomy 2. Legitimized through appropriate professional nomenclature, licensing, and associations. 3. Values-based professional code of ethics 4. Outcomes-oriented accountability 5. Evidence-based best practice 6. Competencies-based professional practice standards 7. Based on the specialized integrated social work knowledge 8. Practiced in collaboration with and knowledge of other professions 9. Practiced through teamwork 10. Multi-level practice (from nano- through macro-) based on a holistic perspective on human condition

22 Master of Social Work Program Social ULIM Principles of social work education: 1. Based on competencies in the area of specialized social work values, knowledge, and skills applicable on nano-, micro, mezzo, and macro levels. 2. Accredited by local and international independent educational accreditation agencies 3. Enhanced professional employment oriented: Social work expert 4. Praxis as signature pedagogy: field education and experiential class processes 5. Deontological orientation: Values-based 6. Dialectic orientation in underlying educational philosophy and inquiry methodology 7. Scholarship production: publications, conferences, presentations 8. Flexible and progressive 9. Global and local orientation English language requirement 10. Collaborative groups and teamwork 11. Cohesive and Integrative vertically and horizontally 12. Student research 13. Self-examination 14. Concepts-based 15. Theory-based from allied disciplines sociology, anthropology, psychology, etc. 16. Post-graduate success-oriented: Employment and further studies 17. Innovation

23 Eight Core Values for Social Work Practice in the Republic of Moldova 1. Altruism: *Putting client s interests before your own *Being aware of your own motivations and biases 2. Social justice: *Understanding relevant governmental and business systems *Understanding the mechanisms of oppression and exploitation *Possessing the skill of advocacy 3. Human relations Promoting interconnectedness of human beings Helping to build healthy communities Obtaining competent skills in group work, conflict management, and community organizing 4. Ecology Understanding the role of ecology and sustainability in social problems Combating toxicity in the social and natural environment 5. Integrity Being truthful with clients and employer agencies Being self-aware Integrating personal and professional selves 6. Competence Comprehensive professional knowledge base Optimal utilization of professional knowledge Continuing education towards professional growth and best practices Profound understanding of systems in conflict Profound knowledge of dynamics of social problems, helping methodologies, and resources 7. Human dignity and worth Curiosity about other cultures and lifestyles Respect for all human beings Rejection of stigmatization of marginalized group 8. Spirituality *Recognize and acknowledge the importance of metaphysical, spiritual, religious, and other transcendant aspects of human existance

24 Principles of social expert student research 1. Original not regurgitated prior research 2. Ethical based on the social work code of ethics 3. Specific to the social work profession 4. Collective integrated with other projects 5. True to Project Casa Mare mission of education, professionalization, and legitimization of social work in Moldova and beyond 6. Outcomes oriented: professional forums, scholarly conferences, scholarly publications, and funding

25 Core Curriculum Concepts Conflict: Dialectics, Contestation, Transformation, Growth System: Organization, Homeostasis/Equilibrium; Boundary; Information/Energy, Entropy Paradigm: Paradigm Shift. Profession: Vocation. Autonomy. Knowledge. Skills. Macro-, Mezzo-, Micro-, Nano-levels Ethics: Deontology. Values. Beliefs. Self: Duality. Personal. Collective. Technology: Media, Virtuality, Reality Research: Inquiry. Data/Information. Statistics. Qualitative and Quantitative Research.

26 The fundamental social work profession s dilemma: Changing people for the benefit of the state or the state for the benefit of the people?

27 Social Work Dialectics Conflict that is not of the ambition to win but to be recognized, appreciated, studied, and managed. Dialectics is about dialogue and human relations

28 Dialectics: any systematic reasoning, exposition, or argument that juxtaposes contradictory ideas in an attempt to manage the conflict. Dialectic social work represents an attempt on the part of the social work profession to renew itself through theoretical reorientation - away from the traditional bio-psycho-social model toward conflict theories.

29 Social workers: Experts on Conflict Social Work Values Altruism Social Justice Relations Integrity Dignity and worth of every human being Professionalism, competence, accountability Global Capitalism Selfishness, competition Exploitation, oppression Individualism, alienation Deception, marketing Commodification, consumerism Social control

30 Social worker as an expert on conflict Types of conflict: *Paradigmatic *Social *Institutional *Interpersonal *Internal Conflict skills: *Understands conflict *Maintains conflict *Manages conflict *Alleviates conflict *Provokes conflict

31 All Social Problems are associated with conflict

32 Alienation

33 Nano-level conflict: dilemmas, anomalous internal states

34 Micro-level conflict: Interpersonal, family, group dysfunction

35 Mezzo-level conflict: competition between institutions and systemic institutional resistance to change

36 Macro-level conflict: exploitation, oppression, social class conflict

37 Exo-level conflict: idea, ideologies, values, ethics

38 Dialectic Competencies: Semester 1 Foundations of Advanced Social Work Practice in the Global World: Emphasis on the values conflict between the social work profession and capitalist state Research Methods in Action: Emphasis on the difference between quantitative and participatory action research Generalist Social Work Practice: Working with Individuals: Emphasis on the worker-client dialectic Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Emphasis on the paradigmatic conflict between psychological and social explanations of human behavior Understanding Community Systems: Global and Local Emphasis on the tension between interests of community and state Field Seminar I Emphasis on understanding and management of inner conflicts and dilemmas

39 Dialectic Competencies: Semester 2 Generalist Social Work Practice: Working with communities Emphasis on the conflict with power toward social change Generalist Social Work Practice: Working with families Emphasis on family as a system in conflict with other systems Project development Emphasis on dealing with institutional and personal resistances as conflict management Generalist Social Work Practice: Working with Groups Emphasis on the tension between individual and group identities Environmental and Disaster Social Work Emphasis on environmental, social, and individual traumas Field Seminar II Emphasis on understanding and management of inner conflicts and dilemmas as a result of conflict

40 Dialectic Competencies: Semester 3 Human Rights and Social Justice Emphasis on conflicts manifested through marginalization, oppression and exploitation Social Expertise and Quality Assurance Emphasis on dialectic dichotomies: effectiveness/ineffectiveness; efficiency/inefficiency Working with GOs and NGOs Emphasis on institutional conflicts and their management Global Social Policies and the Social Work Job Marketplace Emphasis on understanding and negotiating systemic obstacles and resistances to getting a professional job Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth Emphasis on personal trauma as a result of conflict Field Seminar III Emphasis on understanding and management of inner conflicts and dilemmas

41 Global impact of dialectic social work Global social work action against exploitation and degradation of humanity and the natural world Emphasis on social conflict, social action, advocacy, community organizing Promotion of social work in countries with transition economies Rejuvenation of social work in countries with established social work tradition Development of theory research, and scholarship Innovation in social work pedagogies and practice

42 THANK YOU