I. En typisk pasifik størjesnurpe II. Beskrivelse av partrål og bruk av redskapet etter de erfaringer en har fått ved Fiskerfagskolen på Aukra

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Implementing social policy

In this explorative article the relationship between social policy and social work will be in focus. The article discusses similarities and differences between Estonia and Norway.The empirical material consists of eight focus group interviews with social workers in the two countries. The aim of the study was to investigate to what extent the social work profession represents change agents in the social policy framework. The article looks at the differences and communalities in different years in the two countries. The authors conclude that social workers are important actors in implementing changes at the local level. They seem, however, to be more concerned about the daily encounters with the individual users than about the general policy framework.The main findings suggested that social workers in both countries see themselves as spokespersons for respect for and cooperation with the users while simultaneously arguing that social workers only to a very limited extent see the implementation of social policies as a part of their roles

The ARV roll out and the disability grant: a South African dilemma?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prior to the antiretroviral (ARV) drug roll out in 2004, people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa received disability grants when they were defined as "AIDS-sick". In the absence of available and effective medication, a diagnosis of AIDS portended disability. The disability grant is a critical component of South Africa's social security system, and plays an important role in addressing poverty among PLHIV. Given the prevalence of unemployment and poverty, disability grants ensure access to essential resources, like food, for PLHIV. Following the ARV roll out in South Africa, PLHIV experienced improved health that, in turn, affected their grant eligibility. Our aim is to explore whether PLHIV reduced or stopped treatment to remain eligible for the disability grant from the perspectives of both PLHIV and their doctors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A mixed-methods design with concurrent triangulation was applied. We conducted: (1) in-depth semi-structured interviews with 29 PLHIV; (2) in-depth semi-structured interviews with eight medical doctors working in the public sector throughout the Cape Peninsula; (3) three focus group discussions with programme managers, stakeholders and community workers; and (4) a panel survey of 216 PLHIV receiving ARVs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Unemployment and poverty were the primary concerns for PLHIV and the disability grant was viewed as a temporary way out of this vicious cycle. Although loss of the disability grant significantly affected the well-being of PLHIV, they did not discontinue ARVs. However, in a number of subtle ways, PLHIV "tipped the scales" to lower the CD4 count without stopping ARVs completely. Grant criteria were deemed ad hoc, and doctors struggled to balance economic and physical welfare when assessing eligibility.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It is crucial to provide sustainable economic support in conjunction with ARVs in order to make "positive living" a reality for PLHIV. A chronic illness grant, a basic income grant or an unemployment grant could provide viable alternatives when the PLHIV are no longer eligible for a disability grant.</p

Childhood disability in rural Niger: a population-based assessment using the Key Informant Method.

BACKGROUND: Data on childhood disability is essential for planning health, education and other services. However, information is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries, including Niger. This study uses the Key Informant Method, an innovative and cost-effective strategy for generating population-based estimates of childhood disability, to estimate the prevalence and causes of moderate/severe impairments and disabling health conditions in children of school-going age (7-16 years) in the Kollo department of western Niger. METHODS: Community-based key informants were trained to identify children who were suspected of having the impairment types/health conditions included in this study. Children identified by key informants were visited by paediatricians and underwent an assessment for moderate/severe vision, hearing, physical and intellectual impairments, as well as epilepsy, albinism and emotional distress. RESULTS: Two thousand, five hundred sixty-one children were identified by key informants, of whom 2191 were visited by paediatricians (response rate = 85.6%). Overall, 597 children were determined to have an impairment/health condition, giving a prevalence of disability of 11.4 per 1000 children (10.6- 12.2). Intellectual impairment was most common (6.5 per 1000), followed by physical (4.9 per 1000) and hearing impairments (4.7 per 1000). Many children had never sought medical attention for their impairment/health condition, with health seeking ranging from 40.0% of children with visual impairment to 67.2% for children with physical impairments. CONCLUSION: The Key Informant Method enabled the identification of a large number of children with disabling impairments and health conditions in rural Niger, many of whom have unmet needs for health and other services

Miljøterapeutteam i barneverntjenesten : Evaluering av miljøterapeutteam i barnevernstjenesten i Kristiansand kommune

Systematisk bruk av miljøterapeutiske tilnærminger til barn og familier i barnevernet anvendes i varierende grad. Miljøterapeutteamet er et hjemmebasert tiltak for familier som er i behov at hjelpetiltak etter lov om barneverntjenester § 4-4. Tiltaket er et førstelinjetilbud i Kristiansand barneverntjeneste. Familiene som teamet arbeider med blir henvist fra barneverntjenestens saksbehandlere. Etter ønske fra ledelsen i barneverntjenesten ble teamet opprettet for å arbeide målrettet inn i familier i en avgrenset periode. Hensikten var å gi målrettede og virkningsfulle hjelpetiltak i en presset situasjon hvor mye tid og ressurser gikk til meldingsgjennomganger, undersøkelser, tiltakssaker og omsorgsovertakelsessaker, og hvor en opplevde mindre tid til tiltaksarbeid. Det var behov for å prøve ut alternative tiltak til familier med omsorgsutfordringer. Miljøterapeutene har en bred faglig bakgrunn, det være seg grunnutdanning og etter/ videreutdanning: én er sosionom og coach, én er barnevernpedagog og klinisk familietarapeut, en er adjunkt/ sosialpedagog med videreutdanning i barnevern. Spesialiseringene er blant annet innenfor coaching, drama, familieterapi, veiledningsmetodikk, psykososialt arbeid og MST. Teamets arbeidsformer er mangfoldige med individuelle samtaler med foreldre og barn, hjelp til å strukturere dagen, budsjett og økonomioppfølging, innlæring av hva som forventes av foreldre, samt trening i foreldreferdigheter. Miljøterapeutteamet inngår i Tiltaksteamet og er organisert som en integrert del av barneverntjenesten i Kristiansand kommune. Det er satt av 2 årsverk fordelt på tre personer. Å sette iverksette virksomme tiltak er en for utfordring for barneverntjenesten. Rapporten er en evaluering av et miljøterapeutteam i barneverntjenesten i Kristiansan

‘Developing an App Could Be the Wrong Place to Start’: User Reflections and Ideas about Innovation in Municipal Substance Abuse Services

Introduction: There has been an increased focus on the search for innovative ways to use technology to improve public welfare services. However, this focus has been less apparent among municipal substance abuse follow-up and aftercare services. Historically, this is a field that has had weak user involvement. Therefore, we have explored user ideas and reflections on whether and how technological innovation can improve these services. Method: We conducted four group sessions with a total of 14 users of substance abuse follow-up services (five women and nine men) in the southern part of Norway in June of 2014 and February of 2016. Results: The users who participated in the study pointed out that face-to-face interaction with service practitioners is an important dimension of these services. Some expressed fear that more technology might lead to services that are less relational or more standardized and that such developments might lead to reduced availability. They pointed out that enhancing individualization, continuity and service collaboration might be more important than prioritizing technology-oriented innovation. Nevertheless, the users viewed technology as positive and useful when it improves service accessibility and communication between service providers and users. More generally, the data also shed light on users’ service experiences. The analysis of these data shows that access to support from peers who have had user experiences was found to be particularly valuable. Discussion: We contribute to the literature on co-production and user involvement by highlighting user perspectives on the risks, uncertainties and possibilities for the use of new technologies in service delivery. Based on these findings, we develop the ‘coproduction triangle’. In this model, the relationship between the service provider and the user is expanded to include skilled peers as a third actor

Implementing social policy - social workers' experience from Estonia and Norway

In this explorative article the relationship between social policy and social work will be in focus. The article discusses similarities and differences between Estonia and Norway. The empirical material consists of eight focus group interviews with social workers in the two countries. The aim of the study was to investigate to what extent the social work profession represents change agents in the social policy framework. The article looks at the differences and communalities in different years in the two countries. The authors conclude that social workers are important actors in implementing changes at the local level. They seem, however, to be more concerned about the daily encounters with the individual users than about the general policy framework. The main findings suggested that social workers in both countries see themselves as spokespersons for respect for and cooperation with the users while simultaneously arguing that social workers only to a very limited extent see the implementation of social policies as a part of their roles

‘Developing an App Could Be the Wrong Place to Start’: User Reflections and Ideas about Innovation in Municipal Substance Abuse Services

Introduction: There has been an increased focus on the search for innovative ways to use technology to improve services among many public welfare services. However, this focus has been less apparent among municipal substance abuse follow-up and aftercare services. Historically, this is a field that has had weak user involvement. Therefore, we have explored user ideas and reflections on whether and how technological innovation can improve these services. Method: We conducted four group sessions with a total of 14 users of substance abuse follow-up services (five women and nine men) in the southern part of Norway in June of 2014 and February of 2016. Results: The users who participated in the study pointed out that face-to-face interaction with service practitioners is an important dimension of these services. Some expressed fear that more technology might lead to services that are less relational or more standardized and that such developments might lead to reduced availability. They pointed out that enhancing individualization, continuity and service collaboration might be more important than prioritizing technology-oriented innovation. Nevertheless, the users viewed technology as positive and useful when it improves service accessibility and communication between service providers and users. More generally, the data also shed light on users’ service experiences. The analysis of these data shows that access to support from peers who have had user experiences was found to be particularly valuable. Discussion: We contribute to the literature on co-production and user involvement by highlighting user perspectives on the risks, uncertainties and possibilities for the use of new technologies in service delivery. Based on these findings, we develop the ‘co-production triangle’. In this model, the relationship between the service provider and the user is expanded to include skilled peers as a third actor. Keywords: User involvement, co-production, technology, follow-up care, addiction, peer suppor