Strategies and challenges of social work with internally displaced persons

Автори статті розглядають проблеми внутрішньо переміщених осіб, описують міжнародний та вітчизняний досвід роботи з ними, наводять ключові інтервенції у соціальній роботі з внутрішньо переміщеними особами. Наголошено, що система соціальної підтримки таких осіб має будуватися на ідеалах професійної соціальної роботи: імпауерменті, активізації та звільненні від потреби у соціальних працівниках.In Ukraine, one of the new challenges for social work, which itself is a relatively new kind of professional activity, has become an emergence of the internally displaced persons (further in text – IDPs). The purpose of this article is to identify the key characteristics of social work with internally displaced persons. The research is based on the analysis of national and international legal documents, statistical data and semi-structured interviews with the representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations that provide services for internally displaced persons. The authors of the article consider the problems and needs of internally displaced persons, describe international and national work experience with them and suggest key interventions in social work with IDPs. Modern social work comes from the fact that the displacement violates social ecology of human, causes deprivation, social exclusion, increases the risk of violence and the emergence of psychological “catch of dependency” and so on. In working with IDPs, social workers can use short-term (crisis intervention, outreach work, task-oriented model of social work) and long-term intervention strategies focused on system-ecological model of social work and community development. The conducted research revealed that public social services have very few professionals with the appropriate training level of modern social work, who have a repertoire of techniques needed for effective crisis intervention and have skills for cases of force majeure conditions. And volunteer organizations that actively started to be involved in helping the internally displaced people, have lack of a systematic approach and qualified professionals. The article emphasizes that social support system of such persons should be based on the ideals of professional social work: empowerment, activation and release of the need for social workers.Авторы статьи рассматривают проблемы внутренне перемещенных лиц, описывают международный и отечественный опыт работы с ними, приводят ключевые интервенции в социальной работе с внутренне перемещенными лицами. Отмечается, что система социальной поддержки таких лиц должна строиться на идеалах профессиональной социальной работы: импауэрменте, активизации и освобождении от потребности в социальных работниках

An assessment of interactions between global health initiatives and country health systems

Since 2000, the emergence of several large disease-specific global health initiatives (GHIs) has changed the way in which international donors provide assistance for public health. Some critics have claimed that these initiatives burden health systems that are already fragile in countries with few resources, whereas others have asserted that weak health systems prevent progress in meeting disease-specific targets. So far, most of the evidence for this debate has been provided by speculation and anecdotes. We use a review and analysis of existing data, and 15 new studies that were submitted to WHO for the purpose of writing this Report to describe the complex nature of the interplay between country health systems and GHIs. We suggest that this Report provides the most detailed compilation of published and emerging evidence so far, and provides a basis for identification of the ways in which GHIs and health systems can interact to mutually reinforce their effects. On the basis of the findings, we make some general recommendations and identify a series of action points for international partners, governments, and other stakeholders that will help ensure that investments in GHIs and country health systems can fulfil their potential to produce comprehensive and lasting results in disease-specific work, and advance the general public health agenda. The target date for achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals is drawing close, and the economic downturn threatens to undermine the improvements in health outcomes that have been achieved in the past few years. If adjustments to the interactions between GHIs and country health systems will improve efficiency, equity value for money, and outcomes in global public health, then these opportunities should not be missed