Pathways to Employment

Background This project’s aims are twofold (1) to uncover and define the underlying theories of change guiding competing active labor market programs (ALMP) in Sweden, and (2) to assess the relative effectiveness of these competing programs in a theory-based non-randomized controlled trial. The purpose is to assess the extent to which competing ALMPs are effective in moving long-term unemployed individuals (i.e. unemployed for 6 months or more) closer to the labor-market. Methods/Design This project will engage ALMP program administrators and service providers in semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interview material will be used as a basis for program theory reconstruction. All specified program theories will be presented back to program stakeholders for validation. ALMP program effectiveness will be assessed quasi-experimentally with pre- (T1) and posttest (T2) collection of self-reported data. Additionally, official register data from the Longitudinal integrated database for health insurance and labor market studies (LISA) will be collected for all participants. In addition, a matched sample will be collected from LISA to be used as a non-treated control group on final policy outcomes (e.g., employment, salary/wage). This study also assesses program implementation and economic outcomes of the included ALMPs. Discussion Long-term unemployment has profound impact of the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities. In addition, the effects of long-term unemployment have been found to impact subgroups differently. Today we have scant knowledge on the mechanisms that are influential in moving individuals from long-term unemployment closer to the labor market. This study is designed to answer six research questions using a variety of methods (mixed-methods) and outcome measures (self-report, official register). In addition, this study leverages official register data to construct an untreated control group. This study will assess the extent to which an emerging theory of becoming job ready holds under experimental scrutiny

Professionals’ Perceptions of and Approach to Parents with Intellectual Disability: A Question of Knowledge?

Research on the encounters and interaction between support professionals and parents with intellectual disability (ID) points to certain complications in their relationship, as viewed from either side. To better understand the professionals’ perspective on their work with families where parents have ID, this exploratory study looks at the perceptions and experiences of 21 Swedish professionals in the field. The theory of social representations is used to analyse the results from one interview study and one focus group study. Representations of parenting among parents with ID were created by anchoring them in the professionals’ own personal experiences, and then generalizing them through a process of objectification in which they were transferred as true knowledge to other situations involving other parents. The findings are discussed in relation to different working conditions and the nature and role of knowledge, referring to various theoretical points of departure in the understanding of disability and children’s needs

The ideal victims? Women with intellectual disability as victims of prostitution-related crime

In Sweden several recent prostitution-related offences where the victims were women with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have created problems for criminal investigators and prosecutors. Based on court documents and interviews with police, prosecutors and social workers, and drawing upon Christie's notion of the ‘ideal victim’, four legal cases were analysed. Obtaining solid witness accounts from the victims was usually difficult. Several had a personal relationship with the defendant and were initially reluctant to provide a proper witness statement. Different types of psychological, social, and cognitive support had to be arranged to facilitate the process. As the analysis shows, there is a clear need to improve the skills and methods of professionals working within the legal system to ensure that the rights of individuals with IDs are properly met within the justice system, and that the quality of the police's work with them can stand up to scrutiny

Factors associated with positive work experience among professionals supporting people with intellectual disabilities : a comparative analysis of three welfare organisations in Sweden

Given the crucial role professionals play in maintaining the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities, their views on work satisfaction are relevant to analyse. A comparative analysis that takes into account the support provided in different welfare organisations can be of certain importance. The aim is to analyse the most common aspects of professional work satisfaction in work with people with intellectual disabilities in schools, healthcare, and social services, and to apply a comparative analysis of such experience taking into account respondents’ organisational affiliations. Data were collected using a digital questionnaire. Given the aim of the study, we drew on one open-ended question: ‘describe aspects of your work that are most satisfactory for you’. The analysis shows that respondents associated positive work experience with seven aspects: autonomy, competence, nature of the work, collaboration, trust and recognition, work environment, and service users. Findings indicate that discretion is an important facet of work satisfaction among respondents in all three organisations. Flexibility, autonomy in decision-making, the ability to plan and act within certain institutional and legal frameworks, and the ability to prioritise among daily work assignments are empirical examples of this

Advancing Social Intervention Research Through Program Theory Reconstruction

Program theory reconstruction is an often-overlooked aspect of social intervention research. In this paper, we argue that intervention research benefits if the research design is informed by the specific intervention's program theory (i.e., the idea of how the intervention is supposed to lead to the intended outcomes). The purpose of this paper is to offer a comprehensive and accessible guide to program theory reconstruction in research on social interventions and to provide arguments as to how program theory reconstruction can be used to benefit intervention studies. First, we summarize what program theory is and its role in intervention research. Second, we provide a direct “how-to” for researchers, practitioners, and students who may be unfamiliar with the methods of program theory reconstruction but are interested in undertaking a program theory reconstruction. Finally, we conclude with how program theory reconstruction can benefit intervention research

Evidence and evidence gaps in assessments and interventions in areas related to social work research and practice : an overview of four evidence maps

This overview of four evidence maps is based on systematic reviews of assessment and interventions in social work practice. The aim was to investigate the evidence and evidence gaps within four important areas for social work research and practice. Descriptive data on search strategies and domains were collected from four evidence maps, on Social Assistance, Substance Dependence, Care for older adults respectively for persons with disabilities. The scientific quality and scientific evidence were assessed. Key findings were summarised by analyzing and discussing common and specific elements in the evidence maps. The overview was undertaken in close collaboration between researchers with expertise in the field and a government agency. The overview identified both evidence and evidence gaps with respect to effects and experiences of interventions and assessment methods in four evidence maps. Evidence maps provide a comprehensive picture of the state of social services research and can thereby be of use to both researchers and practitioners, and in the production of evidence based social work