• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.5-33
• /
• 2018

A self-sufficiency service has worked as a typical workfare policy combined with public assistance in Korea since 2000. Despite of its long history, three core pillars in administrating the self-sufficiency service, policy, research, and practice, have respectively understood the meaning of self-sufficiency in terms of their own interests. As a result, the self-sufficiency service has recently faced with its own identity issues by showing failures to its environmental changes. The current situation makes it necessary to reconceptualize the definition of self-sufficiency by exploring its in-depth understanding perceived by service providers. Specifically, we analyzed practical reflections on 35 service providers' experiences which were collected via focus group interviews for two hours. The study findings presented that service providers had two antithetical approaches towards self-sufficiency. While a dominant approach to self-sufficiency has been concentrated on improving clients' economic outcomes such as employment, job retention, the escape from welfare trap, and increasing earnings and assets, the other approach has been extended to empower clients and achieve their well-being and quality of life. Yet, these contrary perspectives have led to suffer from their role confusions and identity crisis between the work-ready process and the employment-oriented outcomes. Specifically, they described self-sufficiency in terms of psychological, social, and integrated aspects. The psychological aspect included a process of developing inner strengths, intensifying job motivation, and coping with barriers of employment. The social aspect meant a path toward social integration through recovering human relationships. The integrated aspect covered more comprehensive support for their recovery of daily life and autonomy to make a decision for their own life. In conclusion, the study findings suggest that self-sufficiency should be more extensively considered as a stepwise process towards work-ready preparations beyond ultimate economic outcomes. Such an extended concept of self-sufficiency could contribute to restructuring the whole practice of self-sufficiency including organizational and program changes in the fields.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.233-259
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the problems brought about by applying the case management of prostitution in practice, considering its special characteristics. The study is based on the actual experience and understanding of the hands-on workers toward its case management, who are working at the organization for preventing prostitution. To do this, data collected for the research is analyzed by an inductive approache. Participants are selected in the Counseling Centers for Prostitution, General Supporting Facilities, Supporting Centers for Self-help, and Youth Facilities. Three organizations in each type of the centers or facilities are respectively chosen. Twelve participants are composed of six hands-on workers in charge of the case management and six managers supervising it(called the director of the Center in some Centers). According to the analysis, the main issues of their case management experiences are divided into 5 topics and then sub-divided into 12 ones in 3 areas. Each theme of the topics is 'Steady & ordinary, not special tasks', 'Co-existence of a burden & thrilling', 'Sad, but pretending to be serene', 'Know-hows through practical experiences', 'Nevertheless, fill my future with hopes'. On the basis of the result, some policies and instructions necessary to actively revitalize the case management are suggested: expanding professional training centers based on the field, preparing government level customized-services in medical treatments and laws, creating jobs & intensifying job training, setting up various cooperative systems with local organizations via active networking, establishing super-vision systems, and so on.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
• /
• no.27
• /
• pp.37-68
• /
• 2008

Based on the assumption that client violence against social workers may impede the effectiveness of social work intervention, this study investigated the prevalence and negative effects of client violence among child protection workers. A national sample of 207 child protection workers participated to the study. The results showed that 62.8%(n＝130) of the respondents experienced violence by children's parents or other guardians in the year of 2007. This prevalence was similar level to that of other service fields. However, perception about client violence of the respondents was more serious than workers in other fields. Respondents who have experienced client violence showed emotional reactions such as angry, burnout, frustrated. This emotional reaction impacted more on woman respondents. This study further found that client violence had negative effects on such work-related variables as workers job satisfaction and intention to leave.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.39-63
• /
• 2010

This research is to make the identity of the two models clear by reviewing the similarities and differences between Social Model of Disability from U.K. and Independent Living Model from United States. Research results are as follows. As for differences, Social Model of disability intended to change disability paradigm by focusing society itself as the cause of disability rather than individuals, however Independent Living Model stressed on the freedom and control through disabled people's life with self-advocacy group and personal assistants. As for similarities, there are self-representatives, social responsibility for disability, alienation of people with intellectual disabilities at the initial stage, background in legislating Disability Discrimination Acts in both countries. This result has its significances because it shows theoretical framework which make it possible to review further how disability practice and movements understand the two models regardless of their real contents and how the two affected the induction and proceeding of Korean Discrimination Act and Independent Living Paradigm in the Disability Welfare Act.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.125-157
• /
• 2018

In the reality that the seriousness and concern about the youth problem is increasing, this study focuses on the vision plan project supporting the NEET youth in the social welfare field. Therefore, this study analyzed how the social workers recognized the NEET problem before participating in the project, what difficulties they experienced in the process of the project, and how they coped with these difficulties. The results of the study are as follows. Social workers were saddened by the seriousness of the youth problem before their participation, but they recognized that there was no way to solve it and many social workers were not fully aware of the youth or NEET issues. In this context, in the course of running a project with NEET youth, social workers experienced difficulties due to the nature of the NEET youth, difficulty in forming a relationship with NEET youth, and difficulties for young people not to spend time in the program. And social workers also faced difficulties due to the lack of know-how in the project, difficulties in operating the center alone, and difficulty in achieving employment goals. In the process of coping with these difficulties, social workers have actively sought, persuaded and supported the NEET youths to participate in the project, adapted the time, place and method to the youth, and removed the stigmatization element in the project. They also worked closely with local residents, local institutions and municipalities, formed networks, and changed the viewpoint of providing work experience rather than getting young people, but seeing long-term outcome. As a result, social workers have experienced not only individual change but also social welfare organization, field, community and local institutional change. Based on these results, this study suggested that the social welfare practice field should provide various activities in the process of supporting the youth gap year policy. In addition, this study suggests that the social workers play a role in connecting various actors rather than suppliers when working with young people, and that the social welfare field should expand the scope of project to include youth.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.125-149
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyse the mediating effects of spirituality on the relationship between functional capacity and depression among the elderly. The conceptual framework was based on the integrated theory by Brief et al.(1993) to life satisfaction. The sample was collected through convenience sampling of 413 elderly persons who were 65 years of age or older drawn from senior welfare centers, community senior centers, and religious institutions in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling(SEM). The main findings of the present study are as following: First, spirituality had the mediated effects on which depression and IADL influenced life satisfaction. Particularly, existential spirituality on life satisfaction had larger effect size than religious spirituality. Second, the results showed that religious spirituality had positive effects on existential spirituality. These findings demonstrate that the development and implementation of programs geared for fostering religious spirituality and existential spirituality of senior citizens are needed to improve life satisfaction in the field of social welfare. To this end, the foundation of spiritual practice in the field of social work with older people should be constructed through a spirituality-related system and professional training.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.447-456
• /
• 2022

Korea's self-support program has constituted one of the most important workfare policy for the past 25 years. However, many pointed out the lack of field perceptions in the performance indicators of self-support program, such as overemphasis on the economic performance and uniform application regardless of regional types. This research intends to derive policy implications to improve performance indicators of self-support program by analyzing field perceptions, utilizing ISA(Importance-Satisfaction Analysis) method. Analysis on the difference between importance and satisfaction shows that the procedure was perceived more important than the consequences. It also reveals that current indicators were not satisfactory enough to reflect field practices. Finally, ISA matrix classified indicators into keep, improve, policy reconsideration area, and obvious differences were found by regional type. These findings suggest the importance of field-orientation in performance indicators, and by which, can serve as an exploratory study for the improvement of performance indicators.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.58 no.2
• /
• pp.355-375
• /
• 2006

The objective of this study examined the effect of job characteristics on the job satisfaction of social worker employed by 1st social agency, hospitals. Data were collected by 240 social workers. Based on Hackman and Oldham's(1975) theory of core job characteristics, this study was to defined other element of job characteristics, in social worker's duties, focused on moderating effect of self-confidence for job satisfaction, and compared to social worker's job characteristics between 1st social agency and hospitals. The results of this study were summarized as follows; first, job autonomy, feedback among Hackman and Oldham's 5 core job characteristics showed positive influence on job satisfaction. The other job characteristics found out significantly effected social worker's job satisfaction than Hackman and Oldham's 5 core job characteristics. Second, identities of social worker's job, cognition of professional level, necessity, and self-confidence variables were found to have a statistically significant strong relationship with job satisfaction of 1st setting social worker. The other side, necessity, self-confidence, sex, social worker's academic career variables positive influenced medical social worker's job satisfaction. Third, the moderating variables which had significant difference among social worker's working conditions. 1st setting social worker's self-confidence partial moderated the effect of job characteristics on social worker's job satisfaction. But, medical social worker's self-confidence not moderated the effect of job characteristics on job satisfaction. As a result, Social worker's job satisfaction depended on job characteristics and self-confidence. Therefore, to assure the job satisfaction, redesign for social worker's job characteristics, reinforced their self-confidence. Staff-development education program, supportive environment, supervision program is strongly recommended.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.59 no.4
• /
• pp.217-244
• /
• 2007

The purpose of the research is to understand the life of persons with disabilities caused by an accident by reconstructing their post-accident experiences. As a research tool, Fritz $Sch{\ddot{u}}tze's$ narrative interview was used, and three cases were analyzed in terms of a 'process structure of life'. After the researcher reconstructed each case, she sorted the cases comprehensively both according to the common features as well as to the differences among them. In doing so, the researcher came up with three characteristics of persons with disabilities caused by an accident. First, rather than identifying with their present life, the interviewees identified themselves with their life before the accident happened. Such identification problem is connected with their problem of accepting their handicap. And the interviewees identified themselves with disability groups. It showed that they feel more comfortable and secure among other people with disabilities than with families or friends. This makes them stay in the group of the disabled, in which they can understand and respect each other, rather than staying in a group in which people discriminate the disabled from able bodied and do not accept the disabled as equal members. Second, in their narration the interviewees told stories emphasizing their life after the accident happened. This feature can be compared with the experiences of those persons who underwent a trauma. Finally, it was found that our country's welfare policy for persons with disabilities caused by an accident is designed without differentiating people according to gender or educational background. Through these findings, the researcher intends to reflect on our country's current social welfare services and to look for new methods in order to implement proper social welfare practices.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.171-197
• /
• 2007

This study attempts to explore and describe the public's image on social welfare professionals in the comparison with other helping professionals. Using a sample (n=1,156) collected from high school students, college students, and citizens, this study comparatively examines the public's image on five helping professionals such as social welfare professionals, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses, and pastoral counselors. In measuring the public's image, this study uses a semantic differential scale that is composed of 16 pairs of adjective words. In overall, among five helping professionals, social welfare professionals is the most positively recognized; thus, its total score is the highest. By using correspondence analysis, social welfare professionals belong to the second quadrant that includes "practical" and "comfortable". As have discussed in the previous research, however, the analysis reveals that social welfare professionals' expertise is not highly evaluated. On the other hand, ANOVA shows that unlike statistically significant differences between social welfare professionals and other helping professionals, there is no statistically significant difference between social welfare professionals and clinical psychologists. Finally, MANOVA shows that except for gender social demographic variables do not make any differences in the public's image on social welfare professionals. In conclusion, this study discusses diverse directions and measures to strengthen social welfare professionals' competencies including expertise and promote the public's image social welfare professionals.