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. ​

This book shows why community programs often founder and proposes a framework for success. Demonstrates the power of community interventions in offering services, reducing inequity and giving individuals more control over their health, environment and lives.

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.

This edited book presents a synthesis of current international knowledge on the topic of military veteran transition to civilian life.

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.

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 relationship between health, social care, and the teaching of disciplines such as sociology, social work, and social policy are increasing in many regions worldwide.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Research on healthcare and social service including professional social work is inherently an international subject.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

This book provides a critical understanding of contemporary issues within global society and how these relate to six case study examples (UK, USA, China, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Japan). The authors draw on their diverse experience to explore four major themes of contemporary relevance: overall aging of societies; governance and institutions; emergency services and public health provisions; and community activism and involvement. The key issues within the book--sociability, social capital, and community development--are examined in the context of an ever increasing aging world. The authors' sense of optimism is linked to growing evidence that community activism is on the rise and can effectively plug the gap between public need and provision of service.