The Case Study Of Ruth And Joseph Social Work Essay

The Case Study Of Ruth And Joseph Social Work Essay This paper will look at the case study of Ruth, Joseph and their family. They are Humanitarian Entrants in Australia and face many issues. Their past life in Southern Sudan was fraught with war, violence and displacement. As a social worker assessing their case there are several factors which need to be taken into account which can impact greatly on their future. These include the dominant discourse which as a social worker we will choose to work from. The biomedical discourse deals with many factors which are evident in the work with Ruth and Joseph. Factors such as torture and trauma and the repercussions psychologically which this has had and how it continues to impact on the family. This paper will also look at how the western biomedical model may limit mental illness as just a brain disease and not look at all the factors which are related. When working with trying to resettle a refugee family in a new country which is so far removed from what they know, a social worker needs to deal with broad range of tasks. Selecting the right theory is crucial. The theory which would best work for Ruth and Joseph would be Anti-oppressive. Looking at the anti-oppressive theory when working with new migrants can help us to understand their history and help them overcome the oppression which they have felt for so long. It is our role as social workers to help integrate refugee people into local communities and adjust to a new culture. I will need to evaluate my own values and attitudes when working with my CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) clients. My focus will be on how these differences may impact or inhibit my work with Ruth and Joseph namely our cultural differences. GENOGRAM Assessing clients and intervening as a Social Work practitioner it is essential that we choose the best discourse relevant to our clients needs. As Healy (2008) states the biomedical discourse is one of the most powerful discourses shaping practice contexts, particularly in health services such as hospitals, rehabilitation services and mental health services (p20). Healy discusses how social work practitioners need to learn to understand some form of the biomedical terminology (2005,p22). When working with clients such as Ruth and Joseph whom both have post-traumatic symptoms in varying degrees the biomedical discourse seeks to address the complexity of their problems. Both Ruth and Joseph appear to suffer from some form of mental illness related to their post-traumatic experiences. Penhale and Parker (2008) say that difficulties with mental illness can be deepened if the person/s comes from black or minority ethnic community (p103). The symptoms which Ruth and Joseph are experiencing are in the form of flashbacks, anxiety and fear. The National Centre for PTSD state that refugees frequently experience recurring losses, challenges, and changes during the exile/acculturation and resettlement/repatriation periods (Bolton,2010). When assessing Ruth and Joseph, we have to be careful not to objectify them as just their illness. As a social worker we need to look at a client from varying degrees not just one. We need to look at a client and their past history in a holistic biopsychosocial way. With Ruth and Joseph, addressing their mental illness is just one of the multidimensional factors which they are experiencing. Looking at them as people rather than as an illness can help with assessing their case. STARTTS elaborate saying that It is necessary for social workers in this field to develop an understanding of organised violence and its effects on individuals, families and societies, and also of the refugee experience of escape and surviving in refugee camps (Bowles, n.d.). The biomedical discourse can also have limitations. Healy discusses how there is potential for biomedical knowledge to contribute to social oppression (2005,p26). When working with Ruth and Joseph our practice must be about empowering them and help them overcome any oppression which they have experienced. The implications which we as practitioners may face when working with refugees from the biomedical model is as Healy (2008,p.25) suggests in conflict with the holistic approach. As social workers it is our role to look at a client in a social context. Ruth and Joseph present with a range of problems that stem from the trauma which they have encountered. This branches into areas of social, economic and emotional needs that need to be addressed. Ruth faces trying to navigate her way around the bureaucracy of Centrelink, Medicare and other agencies just to get their simplest needs met. We will need to work with Ruth to overcome her fear of authority which stems from her trauma which sh e experienced in Southern Sudan. In the case study it mentions that Ruth appears afraid of all the questions regarding getting a job and the fear of authority coupled with the language/cultural barrier which she experienced has led to her self-doubting. We need to look at the case of Ruth and Joseph from more of social level rather than a medical level. This model does not consider the role, such as family and community play in development of illness; thus, diagnosis and treatment are narrowly defined (Pardeck and Yuen,2001, as cited in Pardeck,2002,p.4). Assessing clients whom have trauma related symptoms such as Joseph, being aware of his condition and all aspects appear to be from physical to emotional to psychological will help us to make decisions of referrals to other agencies which may need to be done. It appears as though Joseph will need to see a physiotherapist, dentist and a GP to help overcome his physical pain. His emotional and psychological problems range from trouble concentrating to becoming violent towards his family. The safety of Ruth and the children will be made in the initial assessment. It will need to be decided whether Ruth feels safe enough to have Joseph in the house with her and her children if he continues with his violent behaviour. Referrals may need also to be made to a psychologist or a mental health agency for Joseph. Healy places anti-oppressive practice between strengths perspective and the postmodern practices to reflect the common historical lineage of theories for practice, all which have emerged as significant influences in the formal base of social work since 1990s (2005,p173). Adopting an anti-oppressive framework whilst working with Ruth and Joseph, tribute must be paid to the past struggles and sacrifices which they have faced. Ruth and Joseph have suffered great oppression in Southern Sudan. This oppression included imprisonment, relatives killed, being taken from their home, hunger, and lack of safety. OHara and Weber (2006) maintain that an anti-oppressive or radical framework encourages practitioners to understand the structural context of their assessment practice (p,141). Some critical components of the anti-oppressive framework are the isms. These are anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-heterosexism, anti-ablism, and anti-ageism (Moore,2003,n.d). Addressing these components of the anti -oppressive framework when assessing Ruth and Joseph will allow practice to empower and enable and support them to gain more control over their lives. As Milner and OBryne mention †¦..social work should make a difference so that those oppressed may regain control of their lives and re-establish their right to be full and active members of society (2009,p.23). In an initial assessment with Ruth and Joseph factors to be considered include whether an interpreter is needed as translation will play a vital role in the assessment process. Ruth and Joseph have obviously sought freedom from persecution because of war, assault and torture and/or other degrading treatment. STARTTS state that Social workers in this field are exposed to stories of gross human rights violations, and cannot maintain neutral opinions concerning the actions of various groups and regimes. Conversely, one is also exposed to the complexities of civil and international conflicts; ones own political ideologies, stereotypes and beliefs are all challenged in this work. Culture plays a significant part in anti-oppressive practice when working with Ruth and Joseph. Penhale and Parker (2008, p.197) points out: Cultural competence stems from an anti-oppressive approach to practice and concerns the competence and understandings to work with diverse groups, respecting and acknowledging difference whilst working with people to effect changes that have been agreed and negotiated together. There is no need to be a cultural expert as such but awareness of cultural differences and how this may impact on communicating effectively with Ruth and Joseph is important. By doing some research if possible of Ruth and Josephs Dinka culture will help when working with assessing their needs. For example the WYDA states that Dinka family members provides an essential support network (2008, para 5). This is important when talking to Ruth and Joseph about their family life and roles in the family etc. Another consideration to make would be to ask them what some of their expectations may be and ask them how things were done in their country. Breaking down this cross-cultural barrier in the initial assessment can lead to a more positive outcome for both the social worker and Ruth and Joseph. . Thompsons PCS interactive model of oppression (Penhale and Parker, 2008, p.155) shows oppression to be the constructor of personal, cultural and societal views and that the personal prejudice alon e does not explain racism. Furthermore it is important that a social worker understands how these aspects of life interact can create and recreate patterns of oppression and discrimination. It is important also to note that Ruth and Josephs children appear to be acculturating faster therefore may have to take over the role of translators in official realms. This reversal of roles can create stress in both parents and children and can sometimes lead to intergenerational conflict. Parents can feel like their children have lost respect for them and that that their authority may have been undermined. Social work practice must address a myriad of issues when dealing with asylum seekers and refugees. In establishing themselves in the community Ruth and Joseph they will require a number of services with which to access which will play a vital role in providing a safe community. Offering ongoing support and adopting an anti-oppressive practice Working with CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) clients as a social work practitioner this can raise several issues with values and attitudes which I may have. I am white, Australian and a social work student. I have a different cultural identity and am from a different country which holds different views and ideas to Ruth, Joseph and their family. Being a female and a mother I can empathise with Ruth in regards to running a household and caring for children. Ruth has had to take over as head of the family as Joseph appears to be mentally unwell and not fit to lead his family for the time being. She also has a large family and caring for seven children can be a struggle let alone being in a new country and trying to navigate our welfare and schooling systems. Having different cultural identities could limit my capacity when working with Ruth and Joseph. I need to recognise that refugees have similar social, emotional, spiritual and financial needs to everyone else and be wo rk in a culturally sensitive way. As I am from the Australian culture this is another subgroup which I have membership. With all the negative media attention surrounding asylum seekers or boat people it has been hard not to form an attitude. My attitude is that I believe that I dont understand, and I never will, the desperation that asylum seekers must feel to have to put themselves and their family in such unsafe environments such as a rickety boat from Indonesia just to escape the persecution and fear which they must experience in their own country to have to flee. I know that Ruth and Joseph are Humanitarian Entrants meaning that Ruths sister sponsored them to come and live here but they still were in fear of persecution and subjected to torture and trauma in their own country. As I am citizen of a country that lives in democracy I will never fully understand but my values of respect, honesty and Another subgroup I am part of is that of a family. I have two children of my own and I know personally that my family is my initial support network. As mentioned, the Dinka culture regards their immediate family as their initial support network also. When working with Ruth and Joseph my values and attitudes towards family support can enhance my capacity with addressing their needs. I feel that it is important to work with the positives of Ruth and Josephs situation and in this case it is their family is together in the one place. Offering some family counselling would allow a safe space for the family to address any issues which have arisen, such as Josephs lack of connectedness with the family. Along with Joseph receiving some therapy in regards to his mental health this would put the family on the path to healing together. Oommen, Brian, Stephen and Komersee (2008, p.6) state that An equally important concept when working in culturally diverse settings is the need for a health professional to suspend their personal biases and judgements about those for whom he or she may be planning health programs. As with so many areas involving values, reflective practice and self-awareness are central. I need to examine and question the sources and nature of my own power and the ways in which this is exercised in my relations with children and my family. By using reflective practice when working with Ruth and Joseph can help me maintain a level of self-awareness so as to apply my attitudes in an appropriate manner. As there is a domestic violence issue this could be one of the areas where my value of respect could limit my capacity when working with Ruth and Joseph. I could overcome this limitation by looking at the all the factors and understanding that the domestic violence is something that is perpetuated from their history as displaced persons and the trauma and torture which they have experienced. Working with a non-judgmental attitude will also help with conflicts such as domestic violence. Conclusion

How Cultural Adaptation Influence Professional Belief?

How cultural adaptation influence professional belief and career development of Chinese students in UMN? Introduction The influence of cultural diversity is some of the most critical issues facing the United States today. Census data show that the non-white population is rapidly increasing – this is a huge reserve of human potential, which makes the multicultural focus a top priority for vocational education and development. These diverse cultural groups include some international students coming to the United States to take advantage of higher education opportunities. After completing their studies, many of these students choose to stay in the United States in order to pursue work and build family. The career development and consulting needs of this multicultural workforce are very different from the established norms. It is important to understand and solve their needs for the country's cultural and psychological adjustment. Therefore, counselors and professional professionals in universities and workplaces need to have specific cultural information and skills that contribute to effective vocational education/consulting. Most of the differences between cultures come from various worldviews that people hold. Lee and Rice (2007) and Dee and Henkin (1999) point out that in this society, the worldview of racial and ethnic minorities is different from that of European Americans. The worldview contains all cultural norms, customs, folk cultures and cultural adaptation behaviors that are passed on to future generations in an identifiable group. Values, interests, family and interpersonal relationships largely depend on these worldviews, and these worldviews are assumed to influence career choices. The worldview of ethnic minority customers will influence their career decisions in ways that may differ from most people. In order to provide culturally appropriate services, professional professionals in universities and workplaces must have a keen understanding of the team's worldview. In order to understand more about the concept of worldview related to career development, Marsella and Leong (1995) suggest positioning individual clients in the continuum of national cultural identity and determining the relative importance of individual or cultural characteristics to individuals. For example, when a person is fully integrated into society, interest/preference may be more relevant to career development. However, for a more traditional individual, cultural influence may play a more important role in career development. Marsella and Leong (1995) suggest that career counseling for different customers should consider three factors: cross-cultural similarities, and culturally unique aspects that influence members and personal characteristics. Another way to better understand the worldview is to study the individual's level of cultural adaptation. Marsella and Leong (1995) pointed out that cultural adaptation has become an important variable in psychological research because it helps to highlight and explain the huge heterogeneity existing in ethnic/ethnic immigrant groups. Cultural adaptation levels have been found to influence psychological and physical health variables, including work values, career orientation, and career choices (Kubat ; Kuruuzum, 2009). In short, with the increase in the multicultural nature of the U.S. labor force, it has become imperative to appropriately address the unique career development needs of customers from different ethnicities. Marasella and Leong (1995) indicate that by understanding the customer's worldview, unique career development needs can be met. Research on ethnic identity and cultural adaptation can help to learn a worldview.Many international students are looking for jobs in the United States, which is a factor in increasing the multicultural workforce. For this reason, using this population for world outlook (cultural adaptation and ethnic identity) and career development studies will be particularly useful. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between professional beliefs and cultural adaptation levels of international students from China. It has been found that cultural adaptation and career development may be related to several other important factors, for example,People's specific nationality: Even if they come from the same continent, the cultural adaptability of people from different countries is also different (Jacob ; Greggo, 2001);People's age: Age is positively related to professional identity (ie older people may have stronger professional identity). The negative correlation between age and cultural adaptation indicates that it is difficult for older people to adhere to the norms of the new culture (Suinn, Ahuna ; Khoo, 1992, 1995; Shufen ; Brown, 2001);Level of education: Interestingly, studies by Shu Fen and Brown (2001) show that education levels are negatively correlated with cultural adaptation. This suggests that better-educated individuals may not be comfortable, and vice versa.Term of residence in the United States: There is a negative correlation between the length of residence in the United States and cultural adaptability, indicating that people with shorter residence periods tend to have less culture. There is a positive correlation between living time and professional identity, which means that people who live longer in the United States have stronger professional identities (Suinn, Ahuna ; Khoo, 1992, 1995; Shu-fen ; Brown, 2001);Gender: There seems to be a conflict regarding the influence of gender on cultural adaptation. Although there was no significant relationship between gender and cultural adaptation and professional identity and gender, the study (Lopez ; Ann-Yi, 2006) also showed that the process of cultural adaptation was affected by gender. In this study, information on nationality, age, US resident status and gender will be collected. It also will study the influence of the above factors on cultural adaptation and professional beliefs, with particular emphasis on the influence of gender.Propose of the studyThe main purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between cultural adaptation and factors that influence the professional beliefs of international students from China. The adaptation of a cultural group to another cultural group can be demonstrated by changing language preferences, adopting common attitudes and values, joining common social groups and institutions, and losing individual political or ethnic identity.Professional beliefs are people's assumptions about themselves and what they must do to succeed in the world of work. Specifically, this study will examine whether these international student's cultural adaptation will affect current employment status, career planning, acceptance of uncertainty, openness, university education, sense of control, sense of responsibility, career path flexibility, after training. The attitude of transition, relocation and other occupational beliefs are perseverance and hard work. The study will examine whether the relationship between cultural adaptation and professional beliefs is influenced or mitigated by gender.Research questionsAre there any influence from cultural adaption on professional beliefs and career development of Chinese students in UMN?How cultural adaption influence professional beliefs and career development of Chinese students in UMN?MethodsParticipants are Chinese students in UMN. The questionnaire will be delivered through university email. There are also potential follow-up interview.Two scales will be used in this study:First one is Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA). Suinn, et al have developed SL-ASIA as a self-reported measurement of cultural adaption (Suinn, et al, 1987). There are 26 options including language, behavior, generation/geography history and attitude in this scale. In the score, the total value is obtained by summing the answers to all items. The final cultural fitness score is then calculated by dividing the total by 26. The conservation level on SL-ASIA ranged from 1 to 5, the low range was 1 to 2.33 (Asian mark), the medium range was 2.34 In order to obtain a structural validity assessment, Suinn, Ahuna and Khoo (1992) used 324 Asian students from Colorado (137 first generation, 76 second generation, 31 third generation, 26 fourth generation and 14 fifth generation participants who performed factor analysis on SL-ASIA. Their results showed that five interpretable factors accounted for 69.7% of the variance between different variables. A recent sample of 118 Asians using Suinn, Khoo and Ahuna (1995) in Singapore showed that the appearance of a similar factor accounted for 65% of the variance.The other one is Career Beliefs Inventory (CBI). The Occupational Belief Scale (CBI) (Krumboltz ; Jackson,1993) is built based on data collected from 7,500 people, ranging in age from 12 to 75 years. The original 122 items has been separated into 25 scales consisting of 96 projects. Grades. These projects were written in the eighth grade. Participants stated their agreement to a statement based on the 5-point Likert scale, strongly agreeing that the active wording project scored 5 points, and strongly disagreed with a score of 1 point. The negative wording items are reverse scores, so strong opposition will get scores of 5 points, and strong opposition scores of 1. These scores are then converted into proportional scores ranging from 10 to 50. The difference factor between them and the project score is 10, so the proportional score is ten times that of the time average score.(After collecting data, I will use SPSS or R to build a model and do some simple analysis between SL-ASIA factors – language, behavior, generation/geography history and attitude – and professional beliefs. Based on this conclusion, I will give some recommendations about career development of Chinese students in US.)Reference:Dee, J., ; Henkin, A. (1999). Challenges to Adjustment to College Life in the United States: Experiences of Korean Students. International Education, 29(1), 54-70.Jacob, E. J, ; Greggo, J.W., (2001). Using counselor training and collaborative programming strategies in working with international students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 29 (l),73-88.Kubat, U., ; Kuruuzum, A. (2009). An Examination of the Relationship between Work Values and Personality Traits in Manufacturing Industry. International Journal of Business and Management Studies, 1(1), 37-48.Krumboltz, J. D., ; Jackson, M. A. (1993). Career assessment as a learning tool. Journal of Career Assessment, I, 393-409.Lee, J., ; Rice, J. (2007). Welcome to America? International student perceptions of discrimination. Higher Education, 53(3), 381-409.Lopez, F. G., ; Ann-Yi, S. (2006). Predictors of Career Indecision in Three Racial/Ethnic Groups of College Women. Journal of Career Development, 33(1), 29-46.Marsella, A., ; Leong, F. (1995). Cross-Cultural Issues in Personality and Career Assessment. Journal of Career Assessment, 3(2), 202-218.Suinn, R., Rickard-Figueroa, K., Lew, S., ; Vigil, P. (1987). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: An Initial Report. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47(2), 401-407.Suinn, R. M. Ahuna, C, ; Khoo, G. (1992). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: Concurrent and factorial validation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1041-1046.Suinn, R. M., Ahuna, C, ; Khoo, G. (1995). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identify Acculturation Scale: Cross-cultural information. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 23, 139-148.Shih, S., ; Brown, C. (2000). Taiwanese International Students: Acculturation Level and Vocational Identity. Journal of Career Development, 27(1), 35-47.

Upton Sinclair s The Jungle A Self Proclaimed Socialist

Upton Sinclair the author of The Jungle a self proclaimed socialist. Wanted to show what the meatpacking industry was like from an outside perspective. Novelist have free rein when writing a novel but in this case Sinclair did not have the proper evidence to back up his version of the meat packing industry. The version that Sinclair portrayed in The Jungle was of appalling working conditions. The way he described it was diseased and rotten. The community of these workers were as misrepresented as packers and packinghouse products. He portrays Jurgis as a helpless animal that is wounded, the target for unseen enemies. Sinclair came from an old money out of Virginia. His family’s wealth and land were wiped during the civil war leaving his father to become a liquor salesman then during him into an alcoholic. When Sinclair was 26 he went to Chicago to research the strike and conditions the meat-packers had. He interviewed the families, lawyers, doctors and social workers. What he observed was appalling conditions inside the meat-packing factories. Chicago was one of the biggest meat-packing industries at the turn of the century in the U.S. He wanted to show how the immigrants lived and the conditions they had to put up with. Sinclair shares a powerful fictional story of an immigrant family that was fooled tactics that took the little they had. Sinclair gave the readers a very vivid image from Jurgis’s point of view. But not everything that Sinclair illustrated was true to the

The Work of Michel Foucault in Contemporary Criminology Free Essay Example, 4000 words

Technology advancements include the use of CCTVs for surveillance by the state. Today people are trace by means of gathering data- companies of credit cards, telephone. Companies, companies of ISP, banks, social security vehicles and licenses have records that contain a lot of information of individuals. By using information technology, one can be able to obtain a good profile of someone quickly. Before the eighteenth century, public executions and corporal punishment were considered to be the main means of punishment and during criminal investigations the authorities employed torture to get criminals to talk. The act of punishment was considered to be a ceremony in which the involvement of the audience was very crucial. Public executions were believed to restore the authority and dominance held by the king. This tradition called for a social reform on how punishment was to be carried out. According to Foucault’s book (Discipline and Punish) those involved with the reforming process were not driven by the interest of ensuring the well being of the prisoners, instead their concern was to ensure that power functioned more efficiently. The reformers suggested a theater of punishment to be taken up, this involved representation of complex systems and signs to be put out for the public to witness. We will write a custom essay sample on The Work of Michel Foucault in Contemporary Criminology or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The punishment was based on the crime that was committed, and this was used as a means of stopping law breaking. According to Foucault, the classical period is the genesis of most of the characteristics of the modern institution such as prisons and structures. He also considered the period to be the birth of control mechanism and human sciences. Human sciences mainly involve psychology, psychiatry criminology, medicine and sociology. Human sciences enable one to be able clearly to describe the behavior of humans based on norms (Hindess, 1986:19). Discipline as used in Foucault’s book, is a means of controlling the mobility and activities of the body in a fixed manner. Disciplinary is an example of power that enslaves the body by regulating and partitioning its movements and areas and the specific time in which it is able to move. Foucault traces the genesis of discipline from monasteries and armies. According to him, eighteenth century marked the concept of discipline. Discipline was changed to a means of controlling an entire population and became very popular. Contemporary prisons and also modern states widely used discipline as a means of controlling people. Disciplinary power was demonstrated by Jeremy Bentham’s panopticon.