scholarly journals Aboriginal Social Work Education in Canada: Decolonizing Pedagogy for the Seventh Generation

Author(s):  
Raven Sinclair

Aboriginal social work is a relatively new field in the human services, emerging out of the Aboriginal social movement of the 1970s and evolving in response to the need for social work that is sociologically relevant to Aboriginal people. Aboriginal social work education incorporates Aboriginal history and is premised upon traditional sacred epistemology in order to train both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal social workers who can understand and meet the needs of Aboriginal people. The deficiencies of contemporary cross-cultural approaches and anti-oppressive social work education are highlighted as a means to emphasize the importance of socialwork education premised upon relevant history and worldview. The values and responsibilities that derive from Aboriginal worldview as the foundation for Aboriginal social work education are discussed in terms of the tasks that are impliedfor the educator and student of Aboriginal social work. Such tasks include self-healing, decolonization, role modeling, developing critical consciousness, and social and political advocacy. Aboriginal social work education, a decolonizing pedagogy directed to mitigating and redressing the harm of colonization at the practice level, is a contemporary cultural imperative.

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Annie Pullen Sansfaçon ◽  
Marion Brown

This article presents the results and theorization of a 4-year Grounded Theory project that sought to understand the processes and dynamics involved in the professional adaptation of internationally educated social workers now practicing in Canada. In-depth interviews with 66 participants, who undertook social work education outside of Canada and have subsequently settled to practice in the country, were conducted. Results highlight that the social work educational background of the professionals not only offers key conceptual, theoretical, and analytical foundations needed to adapt knowledge and skills to practice abroad, but also provides tools to navigate and negotiate professional adaptation processes as a whole. We conclude that ultimately, social workers may adapt well to their new work contexts because of the transferability of social work skills, knowledge, and values to new practice settings, thus facilitating interventions with services users and also their own process of professional adaptation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasreen Aslam Shah

Social work is a professional and academic discipline that committed to improve the quality and prosperity of individuals, groups, and communities through scientific knowledge, policy, community organizing, direct practice and teaching. Pakistan is very fortunate to have a good start of professional Social Work; the first social work training began in the year 1953. Social work education in universities started in 1954 and its aim is to provide trained social workers equipped with the basic knowledge and skills to assist government and private agencies in the development and implementation of social welfare programs. This study presents an overview of the brief history, current issues and future opportunities of social work education in Pakistan. This study emphasizes some of the significant issues that cause concern, such as the social work education and practice appropriate for Pakistan society, teaching and learning, fieldwork and supervision, certification and licensing for social workers. It’s important to talk about some issues of concern and the direction in which a strong and sound social work education can be developed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora S. Rice ◽  
James R. Dudley

In this recent study, 55 percent of the BSW students surveyed at a medium-size southeastern, public university stated that spirituality significantly influenced their decision to become social workers. Ninety-eight percent identified themselves as having a vital spiritual identity that included the belief in God or a universal spirit. Yet, until recently, social work education has all but ignored the relevance of spirituality in the lives of students and clients. This paper will present an assessment exercise designed to help students explore spiritual issues along with the responses of students to the exercise. Finally, the implications of this exercise for social work education will be discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dara P. Bergel

In the year 2020, at least 60,000 to 70,000 social workers will be needed to work with the elderly. However, insufficient numbers of social work students are choosing to participate in the field of aging. This article discusses reasons, barriers, and the importance of increasing gerontological interest in BSW students. It provides curriculum-enhancing suggestions to expand student and faculty interest in aging education and the gerontological social work profession in the context of the Council on Social Work Educational (CSWE) Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).


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