International Social Work, vol. 51, 2008, p. 193-203
Social work practice in Northern Thailand is shaped by the tensions between secular and religious models of service delivery. Two parallel social service delivery systems are in operation. One, a secular professional social work model, is located in government institutions and staffed by qualified social workers using western methods. The second system is Buddhist, is located in local temples and is administered by monks. Thoughtful planning may make it possible to strengthen secular government social service delivery without undermining the Buddhist system.
M. Alphonse, P. George and K. Moffatt
International Social Work, vol. 51, 2008, p. 145-158
This article argues that standards of social work education need to be revised in response to the impact of globalisation on developing countries. It uses examples of social problems arising from globalisation in India to illustrate the need for revising national and international standards. In 2004/05 efforts were made in India to respond to social change triggered by globalisation and to formulate national standards of social work education to address human rights violations that are victimising marginalised communities through denial of access to resources and services.
J. McNutt and G.M. Menon
Families in Society, vol. 89, 2008, p. 33-38
Times have been hard for advocates of human services programmes in the USA. Advocates for human services face challenges from an increasingly conservative political climate, globalisation and devolution. However the Internet and related technologies offer advocates a new set of tools with which to change public policy. This article looks at recent cyber activist campaigns, examines barriers to cyber activism, and suggests how social work advocates can use these new tools and ideas.
International Social Work, vol. 51, 2008, p. 253-261
This article focuses on how social work education in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden is influenced by understandings of the Nordic welfare state, the European Union, international professional organisations and the changed role of the professional. Education in the region is oriented to the Bologna process supporting the transfer of academic knowledge into sectors previously dominated by practice knowledge. Smaller single professional schools are merging into larger consortia educating a range of different professions. Social work education therefore increasingly takes place in combined professional high schools and universities. New public management has also had an impact on how professional social work is understood and has changed the role of the social worker.