March 11th , 2011. A day that we will not forget that rocked, literally and figuratively, the entire planet. A day that for the Romanian people had, in some respects, the same meaning of the fatidic March 4th, 1977. Let us not forget 2010 when, in Chile, an earthquake of 8.8 degrees changed the destiny of thousands of people. In 2004, Sumatra, Indonesia faces an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 degrees. Millions of lives cut short, millions of broken families, destroyed infrastructure, ecosystems modified are arguments that can quantify how one simple fact such as nature can not be mastered and should be respected. The earthquake in Japan, followed by a devastating tsunami and a nuclear disaster that will affect generations determined, in addition, to human and environmental tragedies, the transition to a new phase of humanity.
It's such reconsideration and thus the reevaluation of the role that each of us we carry on this planet regardless of the field in which we operate. It is not enough to become a professional if you lack acceptance, tolerance, and empathy. It is much easier to get over losses together and with other peers. Solidarity, partnership and subsidiarity are thus the most important pillars of the intervention of any kind: social, economic, political. Moreover, social work proves its usefulness and importance in everyday life from at least three perspective. From a scientific point of view, by training specialists to cope with change. It is a laborious process because it requires substantive steps to be adapted to social reality. The approach involves international cooperation, partnerships between public and private institutions, multidisciplinary teams to identify the causes that have generated imbalances but also to establish homeostasis.
From political point of view, social work is that bond which creates a pragmatic system so that prejudices, stereotypes will be eliminated in the context of understanding the causes that fuel them in order to produce those necessary levers for a legislation rooted in sound social reality. And last but not least, social work acts to individual level, generating experts due to intervention human level changes the most important values: belief in human dignity, self-determination and uniqueness of the person in distress.
It is perhaps not coincidental that on March 11th, 2011 the whole world prayed for Japan and on March 15th 2011, all university centers around the country and abroad, all departments of social work have marked through debates and actions the World Social Work Day.
The current issue of the Social Work Review brings together studies and corroborates the importance of scientific field, for research and explain the causality of social disparities at virtually driven intervention for themselves. Thus, the article signed by Michael Klassen examines the importance of addressing systemic social perspective. The holistic vision enables the highlight of interdependence between the subsystems so that the beneficiary is supported in relation to the requirements of the system he comes from.The emphasis is placed on identifying and understanding the factors responsible for the difficulties to develop those assumptions and the skills necessary for the prevention, intervention and resolution.
The evolution of social services in South Africa, especially for children and young people at risk are discussed in article prepared by Rika Swanzen. The author reviews the changes in the system that took place the last decade highlighting both positive and sensitive aspects. The same problems are presente also in the article signed by Folami Olakunle Michael dealing with the exploitation of children in Nigeria. Due to the study prepared by Bala Raju Nikku, we find the difficulties encountered by social work in South Asia, specifically in Nepal as well as the fact that the field has professionalized over the last twenty years.
The vulnerability of young people in regard to risks that may affect them from biopsychosocial perspective is analyzed by Monica Barborski, Valentina Marinescu and Anca Velicu. The authors draw attention to the pitfalls involved in online socializing to building an "alternative identity". We recommend the study both practitioners (social workers, psychologists, sociologists), young people using the Internet in the context of social networks and parents facing youth Internet addiction.
Florica Ştefănescu and Claudia Oşvat conduct a study of the social and economic implications of Romania in terms of the difficulties faced by families who have in their care children diagnosed with autism. The authors develop a classification of needs faced by the parents and the need for staff training and that of the infrastructure of services by means of which social support is granted to both children and parents. Again, the systemic approach is the starting point for social diagnosis and intervention process (mostly due to acute lack of services and human resources).
Dana Paula Brăescu argues, using a case study, the applicability and importance of ecological approach for social workers in solving the cases where neglect and abuse of children are responsible for the occurrence of subsequent failures.
The aging of the population, its effects and especially the causes that generate it are discussed by Martina Hrozenska. The article is useful both to practitioners working with beneficiaries who belong to this age range, especially as policymakers invoking them only one argument: according to the latest forecasts by the European Union, the Slovak Republic has a young population; if the current birth rate remains the same, the country will have one of the most aged population at the mid of the 21st century. In these circumstances, we can dare to ask: what will be Romania's demographic profile over four decades?
Stephen Case and Kevin Haines argue, as Michael Klassen, the holistic approach to the intervention focused on young people who are predisposed to delinquent acts. The study of the two authors discuss this issue in the context of two concepts that allow adaptation and versatility of social intervention. They analyze the implications posed by the concepts of risk and protection. Such arguments are made based on studies and scientific research offers, both practitioner and theorist intervention methods and successfully techniques which applied in Britain.
The article prepared by Doina Ştefana Săucan, Mihai Ioan Micle, Aurora Liiceanu and Gabriel Oancea treats a sensitive subject but with a high prevalence in the Romanian society: women victims of violence in the intimate relationship. The analysis of the four authors focuses on those women who killed their partner and are currently serving their sentence in the Targsor Women Prison from Prahova County. The study examines, in terms of negative emotions experienced by them (considered as triggers for murder), the adaptation strategies of women in abusive relationships to commit crime and the experienced post-traumatic consequences. The findings were developed after interviewing 100 women.
The same theme, intimate partner violence, is discussed by Georgiana Bonea. The article deals with the characteristics of the Romanian NGO system in relation to the services that women who have been the victims of intimate partner violence, receive. The author also conducted an interview with the priest coordinator of the Social Establishment “Patriarhul Justinian Marina” in Asociaţia Diaconia.
The causes for aggression and violent behavior, this time in school environment, are discussed in the article written by Andreea Ioana Hangan. The author conducted a research using as a method of investigation aggressive behavior inventory on a sample of 330 pupils of the School "Lucian Blaga " from Bistriţa aged 9-14 years.The NGO Sector in Romania acting in the social sphere is evaluated in the study signed by Mihaela Lambru. On one hand, are discussed the role and its importance in the development of a viable partnership between governmental institutions and the civil society represented by various activities and interventions of NGOs. On the other hand, the author examines the inconsistencies and inadequacies identified in the organization of the market structure of social services.
Social policies and the role of social integration in the context of human trafficking victims are analyzed by Alina Anghel. Subsidiarity principle of a horizontal and vertical and the public-private partnership are fundamental factors in developing an anti-trafficking strategy for prevention, intervention and, last but not least, the social integration of victims.
Also within the scope of public policy is included the article written by Carmen George. This time the issue of gender equality is addressed as one of the most important prerequisites of a democratic state in relation to the promotion of civil, political and social citizenship. These issues are discussed in the context of one of the most vulnerable social groups in Romania: Rroma people.
In the reviews section, we point out the appearance of two works particularly useful to students, experts and practitioners, and the public eager to be informed to understand the causes responsible for the emergence and magnitude of social problems.
In conclusion, number 2/2011 of the Social Work Review offers a comprehensive approach to social problems and how social systems in countries belonging to the European Union, Africa and South Asia report, prevent and intervene to minimize the extent of imbalances at individual, community and regional levels.
Finally, we remind our readers that in the second half of 2011 (April, May, June) are celebrated international days where activities and events for awareness about social issues and risks facing individuals, families, groups and communities in need, are carried:
- April 2th – World Autism Awareness Day;
- April 7th – World Health Day;
- April 8th – World Rroma Day;
- April 22th – Earth Day;
- April 24th – International Day of Youth Solidarity;
- May 15th – International Day of Families;
- May 21st – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development Day
Protection against Unemployment;
- June 1st – International Children's Day;
- June 12th – World Day against Child Labor;
- June 20th – International Refugee Day;
- June 26th – International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking;
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
