Technology, Relationships, and Social Work

This week's readings really surprised and interested me. Most of my professional experience has been working with adults with special needs in a case management capacity. I have seen how technology has been a blessing a curse for this population. Many of the clients my agency serves struggle with social skills, knowing appropriate boundaries, stranger awareness, and interpersonal development. I have watched them have difficulty engaging in relationships with peers through social media, where communication can be twisted, statements can be taken the wrong way, and rumors and gossip can run amuck!

 

That being said, Virtual Abilities mentioned in the chapter intrigued me! I had never heard of it before and decided to look it up online to see what it is all about. It is a non-profit organization that provides support for people with "physical, mental, sensory, developmental, and emotional disabilities and their families, friends, and caregivers" (http://www.virtualability.org/). Learning more about Virtual Abilities challenged my notion of social media. With technology comes a host of challenges as well as opportunity. I feel that it is important for us as social workers to do our research and make ourselves aware of the types of platforms our clients are engaging in. It is neither "good" nor "bad." Virtual Abilities and other types of online forums provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to connect in ways they have been unable to do before. So often folks are isolated in their homes and these types of communities allow for people to interact.

 

Virtual Abilities is not only a place where individuals can meet new friends, they also provide opportunities to build skills. Technology of this nature brings new ideas to the forefront of our social service system. Often times agencies get stuck in services they have been doing for years and years. Our world is changing, our clients needs are changing, and our services must change with it. It is crucial that we provide the types of services and supports our clients need in this modern world.

Creating Change in Rural Communities

Rural communities have unique strengths as well as unique challenges. In order for social workers to be successful in empowering clients living in rural communities, social workers must understand the communities themselves. Social workers should be cognizant that they cannot create change independent of the clients they are working with. The desire for change should come from the residents of these communities. They should be the ones identifying the need for change and the outcomes they would like to see in their communities. As a result, they have ownership of the process and have more of a "buy in" for whatever action takes place to reach their goal.

Social workers must also support changes that can continue even when the social workers are not there in the communities. The work must be self-sustaining by the individuals who will remain in those communities. "We strive to empower communities and avoid creating dependency by progressively strengthening the organizational capacity of local partners to sustain processes" (Weil, 2013, 702). When residents can continue with the work on their own and realize they are not dependent on those from the "outside," they feel empowered.

References

Weil, M. (2013). The Handbook of Community Practice. 2nd Edition.

The Implications of Living in a Rural Area

A rural area can be described by several different characteristics: small population size, low density of the population, the area being a long distance from more populated areas, specific occupations, traditional values, and conservative ideas (Weil, p. 461). In many rural areas of Maine, there are "Declining Resource-Dependent Areas" (Weil, p. 462). While many communities relied on logging, agriculture, and manufacturing for economic prosperity, those sources of livelihood are dwindling. The jobs in these areas are not as available as they once were with advances in technology making these tasks more efficient and less reliant on human beings to complete.

These rural areas must look to other avenues to create jobs for its community members. Not only are there economic impacts for individuals living in rural areas, the social implications exist as well. Access to medical, mental health, and social services are limited. There is often a lack of public transportation in rural areas making it required for individuals to have their own modes of transportation. This is a financial barrier for folks who cannot afford their own cars or insurances.

The ethnic makeup of rural communities are generally not very diverse. In thinking of Maine, people of color are absent or exist in small numbers in rural communities. This can result in racism in rural communities, a lack of understanding of differences, and a community with an "invisible fence" around it (Weil, 463).

Social workers can play a role in helping to break down barriers in rural areas. Weil discusses that individuals living in rural communities are often very self-sufficient, self-reliant, and untrusting of those from the "outside" coming in to "help" (Weil, 466). In my work as a community case manager, I have seen this distrust first hand. While social workers have a wealth of knowledge about community resources and ways to connect individuals to the services they need, this knowledge will not be impactful if the social worker is unable to gain the trust of those community members. It is a barrier the social worker themselves will need to tackle in order to be successful in their work with the family. This might mean increasing visits, meeting the family wherever is more comfortable for them (in their home vs. in an office setting), and making your own connections in the community (visiting the local store, patronizing the local coffee shop).

 References

Weil, M. (2013). The Handbook of Community Practice. 2nd Edition.

Political Action and Grassroots Organizing: Not for the Faint of Heart

The social work profession is closely connected to politics. Social workers and the populations we serve are directly effected by who is elected into political office and the decisions and legislation they pass. Now is an interesting time in America and the world for political action and grassroots organizing. With social media and the ability to connect with others in all corners of the globe more accessible than ever, we see the strength in the collective spirit to create big changes. As mentioned in the readings for this week, the power of grassroots organizing cannot be denied. Take for instance the protests in Egypt and other parts of the middle east in 2011. People coming together created a powerful force for political change in Egypt. Thousands of people came out to protest Egypt's political regime and as a result, created changes to benefit the greater population. Social work and politics can work hand in hand to make a difference and better the lives of vulnerable populations.

Protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, February 1, 2011

In thinking about this country and the current political cycle, we can study Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign as an example of the power of grassroots organizing. Coming up against a political system that is so often ruled by special interest groups, lobbyists, and "big money," Bernie Sanders' campaign has differentiated itself from the mainstream way in which most individuals come into public office. Though it is not easy for those who go against the norm, the power of this type of political action is undoubtable.

Bernie Sanders' Campaign Rally in Portland, ME, July 6, 2015

Social Action strategies of this nature create a fairer, more equitable playing field. Politicians like Bernie Sanders and his campaign showcase that grassroots organizing is possible and powerful. Political Action can also strengthen campaigns like this. If individuals in the community are empowered to register to vote and actually vote they gain a greater sense of connection with their communities and feel like a bigger part of their communities. Not only that, individuals will care more about political decisions that affect them and their families and will be more apt to contribute to their communities when they feel like their voices are being heard. 

Social workers should encourage the populations we work with to take action and advocate for change. Our profession can play a vital role in paving the way for individuals to have a voice.

The Effects of Globalization in our Local Communities

The business the United States does overseas has dire consequences for our local communities. When companies send work to countries across the globe, it affects the economic wellbeing of individuals all over the world. Citizens in this country lose their jobs since companies can feel they can pay employees lower wages in other countries. This creates even a larger divide between the have's and the have-not's in this country. It also puts social workers at the forefront of the negative effects globalization can have. Community practice can be a powerful force in working to create new opportunities for our citizens. Social workers not only protect people in our country but can work to advocate for workers' rights in countries being industrialized.

Locally, in thinking about the city of Portland and more broadly the state of Maine, there is a big push to "Buy Local" and support the local economy. Though it is on a much smaller scale than what one usually thinks of hearing "globalization," there is a strong correlation. Where individuals spend their money is a social justice issue. Money is kept in the community, locals are employed, locals purchase from local businesses, and the cycle continues. Though there have been positive effects of globalization, one cannot ignore the negative consequences. When communities are self-sustaining, everyone benefits. Social work and economics are not mutually exclusive.

Social Work and Shifting Priorities of Our Modern World

Our world is constantly changing. We live in a time and place in which value is placed on the next innovation, the speed with which we can achieve our goals and daily tasks, and quick and easy fixes for every day problems and crises. Despite the constant growth in technology and new developments in science and the medical field, the code we cannot seem to crack is the one that leads to a prosperous, healthy, happy life for all our citizens. While much attention is paid to war and the threat of terrorism from abroad, there is little focus on the very real, disastrous things happening in our own country. Poverty, racism, classism, and inadequate resources for our most vulnerable citizens has not gone away. Innovation has not existed in this area. With the priorities of our politicians so often shifting away from these issues, it falls on the shoulders of the social work profession to create change and advocate for these individuals and the challenges they face.

Take the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan, for example. The state and local government went for months allowing their residents (a vast majority living below the national poverty line and being people of color) to drink water with lead in it to save money. This incident is bringing into the national spotlight once again that communities that are low-income with minority populations do not get the respect and attention they deserve, especially in times of crisis.

So often racism and classism is not as overt as the situation in Flint. It is insidious. In order for change to occur in these communities within the framework of our modern world and its shifting priorities, we must mobilize community members effected by these issues to be advocates. The role of social workers must be to empower these individuals by finding ways in which their voices can be heard. This is truly how community practice must function in order to be successful.