International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice – serie

Since 1978, the opening up and reform in China has brought tremendous economic and social changes. While China’s economic progress has been commendable, the social problems that go with economic changes have raised serious concerns. Some of those concerns are related to gender, ethnic, labor, and environmental issues. This book is about what has happened in these arenas in China since the opening up and reform in 1978.   The study of gender, ethnicity, labor, and environment touches on some of the fundamental problems of modernization, especially the development of individuals and groups. So even though gender, ethnicity, labor, and environment seem to be separate issues, they are in fact related in some fundamental ways. That’s what this book will explore as well.   To understand is one thing and to do is another. This book also incorporates studies of NGO practices to see how NGOs have helped in transforming gender, ethnic, labor, and environment interplay. Our study of NGOs in helping improve such interplay sheds light on how specifically civil society can prod the state to transform social relations for the better. This book is an attempt to assess the changes, both positive and negative, in gender, ethnic, ethnic, and environmental relations in China especially in the past 30 years of opening up and reform, especially regarding national identity formation. ​

For decades, community-centered social services have been promoted as an admirable ideal. Yet the concept of decentralized services delivered where people live has proved to be an elusive ideal as well, with the promise of empowerment often giving way to disinterest and apathy.Community-Based Interventions examines the reasons community programs tend to founder and proposes a realistic framework for sustained success. The book's theoretical, philosophical and political foundations begin with the importance of context, as in local knowledge and community self-definition and engagement. Innovative, often startling, approaches to planning, design and implementation begin with the recognition that communities are not "targets" or "locations" to be "fixed," but social realities whose issues require concrete answers. The variety of examples described in these chapters demonstrate the power of community interventions in providing effective services, reducing inequities and giving individuals greater control over their health, their environment and in the long run, their lives. Included in the coverage:Redefining community: the social dimensions.A new epidemiology to inform community work.The role of research in designing community interventions.The conceptual flow of a community-based project.Building autonomy through leadership from below.Relating social interventions to social justice.Attuned to the current era of health and mental health reform, Community-Based Interventions represents a major step forward in its field and makes an inspiring text for social workers, clinical social workers, public health administrators and community activists.

Since 1978, the opening up and reform in China has brought tremendous economic and social changes. While China’s economic progress has been commendable, the social problems that go with economic changes have raised serious concerns. Some of those concerns are related to gender, ethnic, labor, and environmental issues. This book is about what has happened in these arenas in China since the opening up and reform in 1978.   The study of gender, ethnicity, labor, and environment touches on some of the fundamental problems of modernization, especially the development of individuals and groups. So even though gender, ethnicity, labor, and environment seem to be separate issues, they are in fact related in some fundamental ways. That’s what this book will explore as well.   To understand is one thing and to do is another. This book also incorporates studies of NGO practices to see how NGOs have helped in transforming gender, ethnic, labor, and environment interplay. Our study of NGOs in helping improve such interplay sheds light on how specifically civil society can prod the state to transform social relations for the better. This book is an attempt to assess the changes, both positive and negative, in gender, ethnic, ethnic, and environmental relations in China especially in the past 30 years of opening up and reform, especially regarding national identity formation. ​

For decades, community-centered social services have been promoted as an admirable ideal. Yet the concept of decentralized services delivered where people live has proved to be an elusive ideal as well, with the promise of empowerment often giving way to disinterest and apathy.Community-Based Interventions examines the reasons community programs tend to founder and proposes a realistic framework for sustained success. The book's theoretical, philosophical and political foundations begin with the importance of context, as in local knowledge and community self-definition and engagement. Innovative, often startling, approaches to planning, design and implementation begin with the recognition that communities are not "targets" or "locations" to be "fixed," but social realities whose issues require concrete answers. The variety of examples described in these chapters demonstrate the power of community interventions in providing effective services, reducing inequities and giving individuals greater control over their health, their environment and in the long run, their lives. Included in the coverage:Redefining community: the social dimensions.A new epidemiology to inform community work.The role of research in designing community interventions.The conceptual flow of a community-based project.Building autonomy through leadership from below.Relating social interventions to social justice.Attuned to the current era of health and mental health reform, Community-Based Interventions represents a major step forward in its field and makes an inspiring text for social workers, clinical social workers, public health administrators and community activists.

This insightful volume details the implementation and challenges of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), developed in the UK to ensure equal access to higher education for all social classes. It posits that a modern higher education institution requires a robust set of mechanisms - specifically mentorship, leadership, and research - to create high-quality teaching and learning. Noted contributors pose and answer key questions about the TEF in such areas as solution-focused teaching, mentoring for the job market, and social science curriculum development, using best practice examples in the field. These ideas and strategies carry great potential to improve the caliber of teaching and learning in universities, and with it, students’ social mobility.Among the topics covered:·         Why have mentoring in universities? Reflections and justifications.·         Working with students as partners: developing peer mentoring to enhance the undergraduate student experience.·         The employers’ reach: mentoring undergraduate students to enhance employability.·         Learn it and pass it on: strategies for educational succession.·         Mentoring mentees to mentor.·         Interdisciplinarity in higher education: the challenges of adaptability.Mentorship, Leadership, and Research will play a pivotal role in UK higher education since currently there is scant academic literature on practical tools to help universities to succeed at the TEF. A resource with international implications, it should interest sociologists of education and professionals in business strategy and leadership, social work, and community development.Michael Snowden is a Senior Lecturer in Mentoring Studies at the University of Huddersfield, UK.Jamie P. Halsall is a Reader in Social Sciences at the University of Huddersfield, UK."Given the recent introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in the United Kingdom, this timely book outlines effective practices to help earn the “Gold” standard.  While considering TEF within the current climate of academic competition and critical evaluation, a diverse group of experts lay out why mentoring is one highly effective answer to the TEF standards and without compromising productivity in other service and research agendas. This book is a must read for academics and higher learning administrators alike."Leda Nath, Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin

This provocative volume takes an international, multidisciplinary approach to understanding globalization and assessing its economic, social, and environmental effects. Representing the Global North and South, it addresses important debates stemming from recent political events in the U.S. and U.K., the continuing rise of information technology, and the constant struggle between corporate interests and the health of the planet.The human outcomes of world human rights challenges are considered in the ongoing global narratives of migrants, refugees, and disabled persons, as well as possibilities for greater social equity and integration.This expert synthesis takes critical steps to reshape the concept of globalization from an amorphous mass of objectives and initiatives to a forward-looking model of clarity and balance. Included in the coverage:Globalization and migration: is there a borderless worldA comparative assessment of climate policies of top emitters.Neo-protectionism in the age of Brexit and Trump.Working inclusively and redefining social valorization in the globalized world.Understanding the strategy of M&As in the globalized perspective.Reappraisal of social enterprise in a globalized world.  Revisiting Globalism will be of particular interest to those in the academic field and the statutory and nonprofit sectors whose work deals with teaching social sciences in higher education settings.

Community-Based Health Interventions in an Institutional Context examines challenges of "institutionalizing" community-based health care. While the community-based or localized model is growing in popularity and importance in the United States, in practice it must often be brought in to larger institutions in order to grow to scale. The typical goals of an institution—standardization, formalization, and control—may be seen as antithetical to those of a community-based healthcare provider, such as spontaneity, customization, and flexibility.  The contributions to this work raise questions about how the community-based model can be scaled up through institutions, and how "institutionalization" can be rethought from a bottom-up approach. They provide not only an overview of community-based organizations, but also delve into practical topics such as establishing budgets, training workers, incorporating technology, as well as more theoretical topics like goal-setting, policy effects (like the ACA), and relationships between patient and community. This work will be of interest for researchers interested in exploring the community-based health care model, as well as practitioners in health care and health policy.

Community-Based Health Interventions in an Institutional Context examines challenges of "institutionalizing" community-based health care. While the community-based or localized model is growing in popularity and importance in the United States, in practice it must often be brought in to larger institutions in order to grow to scale. The typical goals of an institution—standardization, formalization, and control—may be seen as antithetical to those of a community-based healthcare provider, such as spontaneity, customization, and flexibility.  The contributions to this work raise questions about how the community-based model can be scaled up through institutions, and how "institutionalization" can be rethought from a bottom-up approach. They provide not only an overview of community-based organizations, but also delve into practical topics such as establishing budgets, training workers, incorporating technology, as well as more theoretical topics like goal-setting, policy effects (like the ACA), and relationships between patient and community. This work will be of interest for researchers interested in exploring the community-based health care model, as well as practitioners in health care and health policy.

This edited book presents a synthesis of current international knowledge on the topic of military veteran transition to civilian life. Understanding the transition of individuals from military institutions to civilian life is of great importance. The essential elements of transition support are currently widely debated in order to assess current practice and potential shortcomings in the intention to improve health, welfare and social outcomes for military veterans.  This text links original research and critical commentary to public policy and practice in the area of veteran transition. Doing so through a collection of international perspectives assists in locating continuity and difference between strategies, agendas and the realities of what is actually known of the veteran’s experience.   Chapters in this text examine the subject of transition along lines of enquiry that focus in on themes such as social justice, veteran identity and developmentsin transition agendas. Globally, many veterans face complex social issues such as low income, barriers to employment, and problems of health and welfare. Chapters take stock of the real-world issues affecting veterans and at the same time casts a critical eye over the limitations in accessing, or denial of access to opportunities, support and remedy. The veteran identity is an important dimension of enquiry here. This book looks at the relational factors between the veteran and the public, the creation of a master status and the challenges faced by veterans in transitioning into a cultural context that is saturated with imagery of what a veteran ‘is’. Chapters also seek to pose recommendations as to how the policy and practice agenda that surrounds veterans and the bridging of the gap between military and civilian life may be developed. Here authors point towards the value of knowledge, research and analysis that is underpinned by participatory strategies with veterans themselves. Forexample, seeking to establish lines of enquiry that value the voice of veterans as an ongoing and iterative dimension of developing understanding.

This edited book presents a synthesis of current international knowledge on the topic of military veteran transition to civilian life. Understanding the transition of individuals from military institutions to civilian life is of great importance. The essential elements of transition support are currently widely debated in order to assess current practice and potential shortcomings in the intention to improve health, welfare and social outcomes for military veterans.  This text links original research and critical commentary to public policy and practice in the area of veteran transition. Doing so through a collection of international perspectives assists in locating continuity and difference between strategies, agendas and the realities of what is actually known of the veteran’s experience.   Chapters in this text examine the subject of transition along lines of enquiry that focus in on themes such as social justice, veteran identity and developmentsin transition agendas. Globally, many veterans face complex social issues such as low income, barriers to employment, and problems of health and welfare. Chapters take stock of the real-world issues affecting veterans and at the same time casts a critical eye over the limitations in accessing, or denial of access to opportunities, support and remedy. The veteran identity is an important dimension of enquiry here. This book looks at the relational factors between the veteran and the public, the creation of a master status and the challenges faced by veterans in transitioning into a cultural context that is saturated with imagery of what a veteran ‘is’. Chapters also seek to pose recommendations as to how the policy and practice agenda that surrounds veterans and the bridging of the gap between military and civilian life may be developed. Here authors point towards the value of knowledge, research and analysis that is underpinned by participatory strategies with veterans themselves. Forexample, seeking to establish lines of enquiry that value the voice of veterans as an ongoing and iterative dimension of developing understanding.

This book provides researchers with a straightforward and accessible guide for carrying out research that will help them to combine good science with real-world impact. The format of this book is simple: concise chapters on key topics, examples and case studies, written in plain language that will guide researchers through the process of research-driven innovation. The book draws on the editors’ experience in leading the Age-Well Network of Excellence. The aim of Age-Well is to drive innovation in the area of technology and aging. Researchers often lack the knowledge and abilities to commercialize or mobilize the outcomes of their research.  Moreover, there is a lack of training and education resources suitable for the wide range of disciplines and experience that are becoming more typical. The book emphasizes the practicalities of “how to” undertake the kinds of activities that researchers should be engaging in if they are serious about achieving impact. Overall, this book will guide researchers through the process of research-driven innovation.

This book provides researchers with a straightforward and accessible guide for carrying out research that will help them to combine good science with real-world impact. The format of this book is simple: concise chapters on key topics, examples and case studies, written in plain language that will guide researchers through the process of research-driven innovation. The book draws on the editors’ experience in leading the Age-Well Network of Excellence. The aim of Age-Well is to drive innovation in the area of technology and aging. Researchers often lack the knowledge and abilities to commercialize or mobilize the outcomes of their research.  Moreover, there is a lack of training and education resources suitable for the wide range of disciplines and experience that are becoming more typical. The book emphasizes the practicalities of “how to” undertake the kinds of activities that researchers should be engaging in if they are serious about achieving impact. Overall, this book will guide researchers through the process of research-driven innovation.

The relationship between health, social care, and the teaching of disciplines such as sociology, social work, and social policy are increasing in many regions worldwide. This book explores the relationship between wider social theory and social welfare though an understanding of how power and resistance impinges on how helping professions operate in health and social spaces in the twenty-first century. The book presents a critical analysis of major Foucauldian theories and social issues in the construction and practice of health and social welfare. It discusses important theoretical and substantive contributions to current debates and presents an engaging, comprehensive, and innovative perspective to address both how power and resistance shape the way we live and how the way we live shapes the way in which we understand social relations among professionals, policy makers, and user groups in comparative contexts. The purpose of this book is to critically inform debates concerning the abstract and empirical features of health and social care examined through the lens of innovative theoretical perspectives emanating from Foucauldian theories.​

The relationship between health, social care, and the teaching of disciplines such as sociology, social work, and social policy are increasing in many regions worldwide. This book explores the relationship between wider social theory and social welfare though an understanding of how power and resistance impinges on how helping professions operate in health and social spaces in the twenty-first century. The book presents a critical analysis of major Foucauldian theories and social issues in the construction and practice of health and social welfare. It discusses important theoretical and substantive contributions to current debates and presents an engaging, comprehensive, and innovative perspective to address both how power and resistance shape the way we live and how the way we live shapes the way in which we understand social relations among professionals, policy makers, and user groups in comparative contexts. The purpose of this book is to critically inform debates concerning the abstract and empirical features of health and social care examined through the lens of innovative theoretical perspectives emanating from Foucauldian theories.​

The discipline of social policy, oftentimes deemed a part of social work as a profession, was born in the West. Unlike social policy that started with the post-war idea of a welfare state in the mid-20th century, social work traces its roots to individual casework pioneered by the Charity Organization Society (COS), early social administration including state-wide poverty relief (an advocacy effort of the COS but with deep roots in the English Poor Laws of the 17th century), and social action emphasizing political activities to improve social conditions (originating from the Settlement House Movement which began in the 1880s).The development of social work is historically intertwined with that of public welfare, philanthropy, and charity and is an inherently international subject. This conception is broader than “international social work” as a discrete field of professional practice, which crosses geopolitical borders and all levels of social and economic organizations with a focus on development. However, each nation has a story of its own in terms of professionalization of social work in the evolution of public welfare and philanthropic/charitable undertaking within its particular economic, political, social, and cultural settings. A wide-ranging and in-depth study of various (especially non-Western) country cases is essential to an adequate, comprehensive understanding of the social work profession, which is also a basic requirement of its value of diversity.China is undoubtedly an important case with the largest population on earth. It’s also unique in view of so-called Chinese characteristics which are sometimes fundamentally different from other (particularly Western) societies. It’s even intriguing given the country’s lengthy, complex history and its recent, rapid rise to a global superpower with a claim of national goals and core values that seem to be rather considerable to social work as a helping profession. Therefore, any significant lessons learned from the Chinese experiences would help with a better international understanding and further advancement of social work and public welfare at a global scale.

The discipline of social policy, oftentimes deemed a part of social work as a profession, was born in the West. Unlike social policy that started with the post-war idea of a welfare state in the mid-20th century, social work traces its roots to individual casework pioneered by the Charity Organization Society (COS), early social administration including state-wide poverty relief (an advocacy effort of the COS but with deep roots in the English Poor Laws of the 17th century), and social action emphasizing political activities to improve social conditions (originating from the Settlement House Movement which began in the 1880s).The development of social work is historically intertwined with that of public welfare, philanthropy, and charity and is an inherently international subject. This conception is broader than “international social work” as a discrete field of professional practice, which crosses geopolitical borders and all levels of social and economic organizations with a focus on development. However, each nation has a story of its own in terms of professionalization of social work in the evolution of public welfare and philanthropic/charitable undertaking within its particular economic, political, social, and cultural settings. A wide-ranging and in-depth study of various (especially non-Western) country cases is essential to an adequate, comprehensive understanding of the social work profession, which is also a basic requirement of its value of diversity.China is undoubtedly an important case with the largest population on earth. It’s also unique in view of so-called Chinese characteristics which are sometimes fundamentally different from other (particularly Western) societies. It’s even intriguing given the country’s lengthy, complex history and its recent, rapid rise to a global superpower with a claim of national goals and core values that seem to be rather considerable to social work as a helping profession. Therefore, any significant lessons learned from the Chinese experiences would help with a better international understanding and further advancement of social work and public welfare at a global scale.

2025 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Honorable MentionThis book is a collection of stories and reflections that represent Chinese American leaders and depict their tortuous journeys in U.S. higher education that comes at a critical point in time. Many books have been devoted to academic leadership, but this volume uniquely focuses on subjects most relevant to Chinese Americans. We live at a time that not only witnesses an increase in Chinese American leaders on U.S. campuses but also mounting incidents of discriminatory treatment of this group. This book showcases 36 stories and reflections from past, present, and future leaders, including the five previously published stories. They represent leaders holding different ideological values in various academic fields, positions, stages of careers, professional trajectories, generations, Chinese ethnic groups, and geographical locations. The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education makes a valuable contribution to the body of literature that has assisted countless academicleaders in navigating their careers, bringing to the forefront a distinct group of academic leaders who have been underrepresented.

2025 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Honorable MentionThis book is a collection of stories and reflections that represent Chinese American leaders and depict their tortuous journeys in U.S. higher education that comes at a critical point in time. Many books have been devoted to academic leadership, but this volume uniquely focuses on subjects most relevant to Chinese Americans. We live at a time that not only witnesses an increase in Chinese American leaders on U.S. campuses but also mounting incidents of discriminatory treatment of this group. This book showcases 36 stories and reflections from past, present, and future leaders, including the five previously published stories. They represent leaders holding different ideological values in various academic fields, positions, stages of careers, professional trajectories, generations, Chinese ethnic groups, and geographical locations. The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education makes a valuable contribution to the body of literature that has assisted countless academicleaders in navigating their careers, bringing to the forefront a distinct group of academic leaders who have been underrepresented.

This book is a comprehensive exploration of endogenous community building, aiming to investigate how to create a vibrant, service-integrated, and sustainable community through collective impact approaches. It’s a guide to social innovation that combines theory and practical application. In terms of theory, it constructs concepts such as endogenous community, endogenous design system, life project platform and enabling ecosystem. In practice, it offers design methods and a toolkit for collective impact to enhance community resilience and capacity through service co-creation. This book provides readers with a systematic guide to endogenous community design, ranging from conceptual understanding and theoretical models to practical methodologies. Its aim is to build a sociotechnical system from the bottom-up to address complex issues.This book is ideal for community leaders, government officials, NGOs, urban planners, social innovators, and anyone passionate about sustainable community development.

This book is a comprehensive exploration of endogenous community building, aiming to investigate how to create a vibrant, service-integrated, and sustainable community through collective impact approaches. It’s a guide to social innovation that combines theory and practical application. In terms of theory, it constructs concepts such as endogenous community, endogenous design system, life project platform and enabling ecosystem. In practice, it offers design methods and a toolkit for collective impact to enhance community resilience and capacity through service co-creation. This book provides readers with a systematic guide to endogenous community design, ranging from conceptual understanding and theoretical models to practical methodologies. Its aim is to build a sociotechnical system from the bottom-up to address complex issues.This book is ideal for community leaders, government officials, NGOs, urban planners, social innovators, and anyone passionate about sustainable community development.

Research on healthcare and social service including professional social work is inherently an international subject. Each nation has a story of coping with the recent pandemic in the context of its political economy and cultural-historical settings. A study of various (especially non-Western) cases is essential to an adequate understanding of the undertaking.China is undoubtedly an important case with one of the largest populations on earth. It’s unique in view of so-called Chinese characteristics/style/model, sometimes fundamentally different from Western societies. Any lessons learned from the Chinese experiences would help with a better understanding of healthcare and social welfare provisions on a global scale.The book is written by a scholarly team who are experts in healthcare, social work, and related fields. Its primary audiences are scholars and students in Health/Mental Health, Social Work/Welfare/Services, Public/Social Policy, Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations, International/Cross-Cultural Studies, and Chinese/China research.

In today's complex and rapidly changing globe, understanding the link between social theory and social policy is crucial for addressing the diverse challenges that diverse societies face. This book aims to provide a thorough critical analysis of how social theory shapes social policy and how effective policies can be informed by theoretical frameworks emanating from history and the present.This book is both important and significant: by bridging the gap between theory and policy, this book seeks to contribute to the development of evidence-based policies that promote social cohesion, social justice, and well-being. The book is one of the first to open up theoretical strategies and applicability to social policies.

This book is an ethnography of the important cultural characteristics, local myths, and legends in Shawo Town, a subordinate to Dongming County in Shandong Province. Based on the author’s fieldwork in this unique region of the Yellow River area, this book examines the local people’s daily practice and religious beliefs in the dominant symbol “Qi.” In local society, Qi has three levels of structural characteristics and significance. First, it is a material entity which exists in people’s living world as three different forms of existence: Qi of Heaven, Qi of Earth, and Qi of Humans. Second, in a material sense, Qi has individual cultural significance and collective action social significance: QiXing, YunQi, QiShu, and so on, can concisely express this meaning. Thirdly, Qi has the most important symbolic meaning in its special form of Shen (god or goddess) and ancestors. This meaning can represent local society’s basic clan organization and can also include the traditional construction of local identity and local political power, as well as the performance of fairness and justice, and good and evil. The concept of Qi plays a crucial role in the construction of local people’s universe view, and through the holism of Qi, much can be understood about the daily lives, religious beliefs, and societal connections of the local people.

This book brings together a group of active researchers and leading scholars of international social work with a special interest in contemporary issues and developments in Asian & Pacific Islander nations. The original works stem from peer-reviewed paper presentations and invited keynote speeches at the Asian & Pacific Islander Social Work Educators Association (APISWEA) International Conference, offering a comprehensive exploration of “state of the art” of Asian Pacific Islander Social Work Research and Practice. Along with a sister volume entitled Social Work Practice and Research with Diverse Populations: US-China and Asian Pacific Island Experiences, the manuscripts span diverse clusters, from professionalization and education in social work to emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence in practice, responses to COVID-19, and the integration of indigenous perspectives in social work. By zooming in on China and addressing critical themes such as localization, community development, and international collaboration, this rare collection provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners.The book serves as an essential resource for social work professionals, educators, policymakers, and researchers who seek to understand and contribute to the evolving landscape of social work in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China. It is equally beneficial for those involved in shaping the future of social work education, practice, and policy, ensuring that the unique needs and perspectives of diverse communities are effectively addressed.

This book brings together a group of active researchers and leading scholars of international social work with a special interest in contemporary issues and developments in Asian & Pacific Islander regions. The original works stem from peer-reviewed paper presentations and invited keynote speeches at the Asian & Pacific Islander Social Work Educators Association (APISWEA) International Conference held in Chengdu, China, offering a comprehensive exploration of “state of the art” of Asian Pacific Islander social work research and practice. Along with a sister volume entitled Social Work Profession, Education, and Research: US-China and Asian Pacific Island Perspectives the manuscripts span diverse clusters, from professionalization and education in social work to emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence in practice, responses to COVID-19, and the integration of indigenous perspectives in social work. By zooming in on China and addressing critical themes such as localization, community development, and international collaboration, this rare collection provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners.The book serves as an essential resource for social work professionals, educators, policymakers, and researchers who seek to understand and contribute to the evolving landscape of social work in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China. It is equally beneficial for those involved in shaping the future of social work education, practice, and policy, ensuring that the unique needs and perspectives of diverse communities are effectively addressed.

Social work is inherently an international subject. Each nation has a story of professionalization in the evolution of public welfare within its particular settings. A study of various (especially non-Western) cases is essential to an adequate understanding of the undertaking.China is undoubtedly an important case with the second largest population on earth. It’s unique in view of so-called Chinese characteristics/approach/model etc., sometimes fundamentally different from Western societies. It’s intriguing given the country’s history and recent rise to a global superpower with a claim of core values that seem to be rather considerable to social work as a helping profession. Yet, the nation’s rapid social transformation demands a reinterpretation of social work, particularly in relation to public policy and administration. Any lessons learned from the Chinese experiences would help with a better understanding of social work and public welfare on a global scale.This book is one of a series of projects led by the editor, a forerunner to China’s rebuilt professional social work, with a scholarly team from greater China and overseas who are experts in social work and related fields. Its primary audience are scholars and students in Social Work/Welfare/Services, Health and Mental Health, Children/Aging/Women/Family Studies, Public Administration, Social Policy, Community Organizations/Governance, International/Cross-Cultural Studies, and Chinese/China research.

This book uniquely combines stress management, resilience training, and bioenergetic bodywork into a highly practical guide for everyday life. At its core lies a modern concept of resilience: Resilience as the dynamic interplay between mindfulness and vitality – an approach that connects mental clarity with physical strength and liveliness. Based on a personal stress-profile analysis, the book presents a practical model integrating personality, behavior patterns, and environmental influences. With more than 100 illustrated exercises drawn from Bioenergetic Analysis (Alexander Lowen), it invites readers to take action. The exercises promote recovery, inner stability, and body awareness – and they encourage real-life embodiment. For those who want more than just coping – who want to live with energy and purpose.

This book brings together a group of active researchers and leading scholars of international social work with a special interest in contemporary issues and developments in Asian & Pacific Island regions. The original works stem from peer-reviewed paper presentations and invited keynote speeches at the APISWEA International Conferences, offering a comprehensive exploration of “state of the art” of Asian Pacific Islander social work research and practice with additional contributions from the broader international community. The manuscripts span diverse clusters, from professionalization and education in social work to emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence in practice, responses to epidemics, and the integration of indigenous perspectives in social work. By addressing critical themes such as localization, community development, and international collaboration, this rare collection provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners. Along with a sister volume entitled Social Work and Social Sciences in the New Era: Cultural Perspectives and Asian Pacific Island Approaches, the book serves as an essential resource for social work professionals, educators, policymakers, and researchers who seek to understand and contribute to the evolving landscape of social work in the Asia-Pacific region. It is particularly beneficial for those involved in shaping the future of social work education, practice, and policy, ensuring that the unique needs and perspectives of diverse communities are effectively addressed.

Problems associated with work-family conflict do not belong to individual families alone, but have a major social and economic impact on the greater community. This scenario also holds true across sub-Saharan Africa, as nations enter the global economy and rising numbers of women enter the workforce.One of the first resources to focus on this region, Work-Family Interface in Sub-Saharan Africa probes rarely-studied dimensions of conflict between paid employment and family responsibilities. It balances theoretical background, empirical findings and current and emerging interventions for an insightful and practical review of ongoing issues affecting working women with families. Coverage contrasts concepts of work and family between the developing world and the West and related social concerns such as gender expectations and sexual harassment are examined in the work context. The book describes a range of family strategies for resolving work-family friction and chapters end with policy recommendations as first steps toward remedying longstanding challenges. Among the thought-provoking dispatches:Ghana: Managing work and family demandsNigeria: Strain-based family interference with workBotswana: The social impact of job transfer policy on dual-career familiesKenya: The role of household help in work-family balanceSouth Africa: State measures toward work-care integrationZambia: The quest for a family policyAs evinced by these chapters, progress is gradual and far from uniform. As a guide for future study and future policy, Work-Family Interface in Sub-Saharan Africa is a substantial reference for sociologists, public health professionals, public and social policymakers and administrators.