Pulling Together the Threads
Dominant social work approaches are increasingly problematized. In many contexts mainstreamed social work practices and knowledges are inappropriate and eclipse alternative ways of knowing, being, and doing. Moreover, dominant approaches, promoted through professional imperialism, may be harmful, pe...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Windsor
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Critical Social Work |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/csw/article/view/5961 |
| _version_ | 1818389713327751168 |
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| author | Jeanette Schmid Marina Morgenshtern |
| author_facet | Jeanette Schmid Marina Morgenshtern |
| author_sort | Jeanette Schmid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dominant social work approaches are increasingly problematized. In many contexts mainstreamed social work practices and knowledges are inappropriate and eclipse alternative ways of knowing, being, and doing. Moreover, dominant approaches, promoted through professional imperialism, may be harmful, perpetuating colonial perspectives, ignoring structural conditions, underlining social control, and advancing decontextualized individualism. In order to become relevant to local populations, social work must build on traditional helping strategies and use contextualized worldviews/knowledge(s) to shift focus to parochial concerns. The authors explore alternative social work paradigms, paying attention to Indigenized, Indigenous, culturally authentic, local, developmental and decolonized models. The authors then conceptualize contextualized social work. This synthesized approach allows for the centering of Indigenous/local knowledge(s), an engagement with the impact of colonization and oppression, and responsiveness to local conditions. The authors consider specifically contextualized social work education, noting emergent literature regarding practice exists, but less so in the area of education. The distinguishing features of such education are highlighted, and policy supports identified. It is recommended that contextualized social work education be promoted to ensure future social work practitioners are able to work in a meaningful, relevant and respectful manner in all contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T04:46:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6acccb1609b14c418dd77d64b43271f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1543-9372 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T04:46:06Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | University of Windsor |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Critical Social Work |
| spelling | doaj.art-6acccb1609b14c418dd77d64b43271f52022-12-21T23:16:41ZengUniversity of WindsorCritical Social Work1543-93722019-07-0120110.22329/csw.v20i1.5961Pulling Together the ThreadsJeanette Schmid0Marina Morgenshtern1Vancouver Island University & Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of JohannesburgTrent University DurhamDominant social work approaches are increasingly problematized. In many contexts mainstreamed social work practices and knowledges are inappropriate and eclipse alternative ways of knowing, being, and doing. Moreover, dominant approaches, promoted through professional imperialism, may be harmful, perpetuating colonial perspectives, ignoring structural conditions, underlining social control, and advancing decontextualized individualism. In order to become relevant to local populations, social work must build on traditional helping strategies and use contextualized worldviews/knowledge(s) to shift focus to parochial concerns. The authors explore alternative social work paradigms, paying attention to Indigenized, Indigenous, culturally authentic, local, developmental and decolonized models. The authors then conceptualize contextualized social work. This synthesized approach allows for the centering of Indigenous/local knowledge(s), an engagement with the impact of colonization and oppression, and responsiveness to local conditions. The authors consider specifically contextualized social work education, noting emergent literature regarding practice exists, but less so in the area of education. The distinguishing features of such education are highlighted, and policy supports identified. It is recommended that contextualized social work education be promoted to ensure future social work practitioners are able to work in a meaningful, relevant and respectful manner in all contexts.https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/csw/article/view/5961 |
| spellingShingle | Jeanette Schmid Marina Morgenshtern Pulling Together the Threads Critical Social Work |
| title | Pulling Together the Threads |
| title_full | Pulling Together the Threads |
| title_fullStr | Pulling Together the Threads |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pulling Together the Threads |
| title_short | Pulling Together the Threads |
| title_sort | pulling together the threads |
| url | https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/csw/article/view/5961 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeanetteschmid pullingtogetherthethreads AT marinamorgenshtern pullingtogetherthethreads |