Promoting Social Justice in Partnership with the Mass Media

Research on mass communications suggests that public understanding of social justice issues can be significantly enhanced by the appropriate use of the media. Indeed, without the access to the public that only the mass media can provide, social workers are unlikely to have much impact in the public\u27s understanding of critical social justice issues and appropriate responses to these issues. Based on emerging research and practice, we identify opportunities for individuals, groups and organizations interested in addressing issues of social justice to engage in productive public communication activities through newspapers, radio and television

The media role in marginalizing the mentally ill : taking corrective action

El entendimiento que tiene el público sobre los problemas sociales está influenciado profundamente por los medios de comunicación. Desafortunadamente, los medios de comunicación en los EEUU no sirven con fidelidad a las personas que sufren de enfermedades psíquicas. Los medios de comunicación refuerzan las imágenes negativas de estas personas. Publican generalmente que son imprevisibles, violentas y peligrosas. Como consecuencia, es importante que los que quieran cambiar estas imágenes negativas comuniquen mensajes contrarrestantes a través de los medios de comunicación. De este modo, se puede construir imágenes públicas mejor informadas y positivas. En los EEUU, profesionales que trabajan en el área de salud mental han formado coaliciones constructivas con periodistas y reporteros de televisión y radio para diseminar mensajes para solucionar algunos de estos problemas. Este trabajo incluye ejemplos de estos tipos de actividades.The public’s understanding of people, events and social issues is greatly influenced by the mass media. However, the welfare of persons with mental illnesses is not well-served by the images and messages about mental illness that are typically communicated by the American media. In print and broadcast media alike, the prevailing messages reinforce public stereotypes of the mentally ill as being unpredictable, violent and dangerous. Therefore, it is important that persons interested in communicating accurate information about mental illness engage in public communication activities through the mass media in order to generate more informed and constructive community responses to persons with mental illnesses. Through alliances with print and broadcast journalists, some professional groups and individual mental health practitioners in the U.S.A. are taking action to address this problem. Examples of these productive media activities are describe

From Countrywoman to Federal Emergency Relief Administrator: Josephine Chapin Brown, a Biographical Study

This study documents the life and career of Josephine Chapin Brown, an early leader in public welfare and rural social work. Historical research showed that Brown\u27s ideas on social work and on professional training for social work were often against the paradigm of her time. For example, Brown was a committed ruralite when social work was primarily urban; Brown supported social work training for public welfare workers in the agricultural colleges (many now state universities) when social work was committed to a more elitist training model. As a result she was ostracized by many of her influential contemporaries. Her orientation towards building coalitions with rural sociologists made her even less popular among her social work colleagues. In spite of Brown\u27s many contributions to rural social work and public welfare, her life and works have remained undocumented by social work biographers. Because the battles she fought and lost are still current, a review of Brown\u27s life history might not only be of historical interest but also enlighten contemporary debates

Rural Sociology and Rural Social Work: An Historical Essay

The relationship between rural sociology and rural social work can be traced back to the days of the Country Life Commission (1908), and has experienced many fluctuations throughout the years. This paper examines the interconnections between the developments in the two fields, drawing from historical data which lead to che hypothesis that those fluctuations were caused by forces within each discipline as well as by developments affecting the interactions of each field with the other. It appears that academic and theoretical issues were not alone in causing contention in the relationship between rural sociology and the practice of rural social work. Political moods and market priorities were equally influential

Una escena compleja : la armonización y la convergencia en la educación y práctica del trabajo social : introducción al volumen

Este artículo ofrece un análisis del debate sobre la armonización y convergencia de programas de educación superior en Europa después del Acuerdo de Bolonia en 1999. Ofrece clarificación del lenguaje que se usa en relación a la armonización y la convergencia, basándose en un artículo de Threlfall de 2003. Se hace también referencia a los programas de trabajo social en países de habla Inglesa, sacando de ellos ejemplos de profesionalización y ofreciendo algunos estándares. Se analizan los artículos que aparecen a continuación en el volumen de Portularia para el que se escribió esta introducción.This article offers an overview of the issues concerning harmonization and convergence of educational programs in Europe after the Bologna Declaration in 1999. It offers clarification of the language of convergence, drawing upon a model by Threlfall (2003). References to social work programs across the English speaking world are offered as samples concerning professionalization and standardization, with an analysis of specific articles appearing on the same volume of Portularia for which this overview was writte

Non-linear optomechanical measurement of mechanical motion

Precision measurement of non-linear observables is an important goal in all facets of quantum optics. This allows measurement-based non-classical state preparation, which has been applied to great success in various physical systems, and provides a route for quantum information processing with otherwise linear interactions. In cavity optomechanics much progress has been made using linear interactions and measurement, but observation of non-linear mechanical degrees-of-freedom remains outstanding. Here we report the observation of displacement-squared thermal motion of a micro-mechanical resonator by exploiting the intrinsic non-linearity of the radiation pressure interaction. Using this measurement we generate bimodal mechanical states of motion with separations and feature sizes well below 100~pm. Future improvements to this approach will allow the preparation of quantum superposition states, which can be used to experimentally explore collapse models of the wavefunction and the potential for mechanical-resonator-based quantum information and metrology applications.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, extensive supplementary material available with published versio

Servicios sociales en el contexto migratorio

Este artículo se centra en la legislación, procedimientos y servicios referentes a los inmigrantes, los refugiados y los solicitantes de asilo político en los E.E.U.U., particularmente en la región del Suroeste. El artículo ofrece un bosquejo histórico de las peculiaridades coloniales y post-coloniales de esta región, en especial de aquellas que afectan la situación actual de los inmigrantes. Se incluyen también definiciones claves de las categorías establecidas por el Servicio de Inmigración para la variedad de personas que residen en los E.E.U.U.. Estas categorías determinan el status socio-político y legal de estas personas y sus derechos a servicios. Metodológicamente, el artículo se basa en la literatura disciplinaria y periodística y en visitas de campo a agencias sociales que trabajan en este ámbito. Los autores finalizan la monografia con un análisis de los aspectos positivos y problemáticos de la red de servicios sociales accesibles a los nuevos residentes y con recomendaciones para la mejoría de esa red.This article focuses on the legislative and procedural issues that affect the lives of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in the USA, particularly in the region of the Southwest. An overview of the unique colonial and postcolonial features of this region is provided. The authors discuss how the historical and cultural characteristics of the area continue to affect the situation of current immigrants. Definitions of the basic categories established by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for the diverse populations that seek entry or reside in the USA are included. These categories determine the legal and socio- political status of these persons, including their elegibility for social services. The authors draw from the current social science literature and from press coverage of the issues; field visits to social agencies that serve immigrant populations were also used to supplement the accounts. Recommendations for the improvement of the network of services that affect newcomers to the U.S. are offered in the conclusions. Implications for other countries facing similar quandaries are drawn

Will We Build A Wall? Fear of Mexican/Latino Immigration in U.S. History

A presidential election was won on the strength of a nativist philosophy which asserts that the U.S. must build a wall of separation with its closest neighbor to the South. The current president has voiced not only his frustration and prejudices but the nativist sentiments of the public. The emphasis on “building the wall” and the antagonism expressed towards Mexico have deepened the centuries-old sense of fear and separation felt by members of the Mexican/Latino immigrant group. Can we look at history in search of plausible explanations? This paper examines past and contemporary reasons that might explain the observable antagonism to the Mexican/Latino population in the U.S. today

A systematic review of three approaches for constructing physical activity messages: What messages work and what improvements are needed?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To motivate individuals to adhere to a regular physical activity regime, guidelines must be supplemented with persuasive messages that are disseminated widely. While substantial research has examined effective strategies for disseminating physical activity messages, there has been no systematic effort to examine optimal message content. This paper reviews studies that evaluate the effectiveness of three approaches for constructing physical activity messages including tailoring messages to suit individual characteristics of message recipients (message tailoring), framing messages in terms of gains versus losses (message framing), and targeting messages to affect change in self-efficacy (i.e., a theoretical determinant of behavior change).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL databases up to July 2008. Relevant reference lists also were searched. We included intervention trials, field experiments, and laboratory-based studies that aimed to test the efficacy or effectiveness of tailored messages, framed messages and self-efficacy change messages among healthy adults. We used a descriptive approach to analyze emerging patterns in research findings. Based on this evidence we made recommendations for practice and future research.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-two studies were identified. Twelve studies evaluated message tailoring. In 10 of these studies, tailored messages resulted in greater physical activity than a control message. Six studies evaluated framed messages. Five of these studies demonstrated that gain-framed messages lead to stronger intentions to be active compared to a control message. Moreover, a gain-frame advantage was evident in three of the four studies that assessed physical activity. Four studies evaluated self-efficacy change messages. The two studies that used an experimental design provide a clear indication that individuals' beliefs can be affected by messages that incorporate types of information known to be determinants of self-efficacy. Overall, strong evidence to support definitive recommendations for optimal message content and structure was lacking.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Additional research testing the optimal content of messages used to supplement physical activity guidelines is needed. Tailored messages, gain-framed messages, and self-efficacy change messages hold promise as strategies for constructing physical activity messages and should be a focus of future research.</p

Finding a way: long-term care homes to support dementia

An ageing demographic has increased the number of people with dementia. Although dementia is commonly associated with memory loss, other early symptoms include difficulty with wayfinding. Dementia alters visuo-spatial perception and the processes used to interpret the physical environment. The role of the design of the physical environment for people with dementia has gained increased recognition. Despite this, design for dementia is often overlooked, focusing on issues relating to physical impairment. This paper presents the results of a PhD study and aims to examine the role of the design of the physical environment in supporting wayfinding for people with dementia living in long-term care settings in Northern Ireland. Mixed methods combined the observation of wayfinding walks and conversational style interviews to elicit perspectives and experiences of residents with dementia. The findings aim to promote well-being for those with dementia living in long-term care settings