School of Social Work

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/30

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Not the heart stuff: early-career child protection social workers and preparation for difficult work
(2025) Hamilton, Faye; Glanfield, Florence
Social work educators have been trying to understand how best to prepare social work students for the difficult aspects of social work practice for many years and there continues to be a need to improve social work education curriculum in relation to this issue. This article describes a study of Canadian early career child protection social workers, that is those who graduated from an accredited social work program less than two years ago, had less than two years of child protection practice experience, and were under the age of 30, and their perceptions of the challenges they have experienced in their practice along with their perceptions of how their social work education prepared them for these challenges. In this qualitative, Interpretive Description study, the intensity of the participants’ experiences are compared to the depth of their educational preparation. Recommendations regarding social work curriculum development are discussed. The findings emphasize the need to build in-depth curriculum that is more consistent with the experiences of early career social workers.
A case study of social work leadership in the pandemic intervention in Wuhan
(2022) Yu, Zhihong; Luo, Hai; Tan , Weijia; Niu, Liya
Social workers in Wuhan, China were among the first to respond to the public health crisis caused by Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in early 2020. Social workers in Wuhan developed and implemented an effective interventional model integrating online and offline volunteers of multiple professions—the ‘4 + 1’ model—to support affected individuals in the process of battling the pandemic. Transformational social work leadership played a vital role in the widely adopted model in China, characterised by idealised influence—attributed (or charisma); idealised influence—behavioural; inspirational motivation; intellectual stimulation and individual consideration. Contextual performance is also discussed, followed by a discussion on why social work can play a leadership role in inter-disciplinary intervention in the pandemic crisis. The article concludes with the areas social workers can improve on for the betterment of leadership.
Online mental health resources in Wuhan amid the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of social workers
(2022) Zhao, Kedi; Tan, Weijia; Tsang, A. Ka Tat
In Wuhan, a surge of online mental health services appeared amid the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the rapidly escalating demands. This article presents a snapshot of the available services and further categorises them into individual, organisational, governmental and international levels. The contribution and limitations of these services are analysed, and the role of social workers in the provision and integration of these services is reflected through a conceptual model. The proposed model as a response at this critical time not only facilitates the discussion on how mental health services in China should be adjusted and further developed in the post-COVID 19 era but also provides important strategies for other countries that are struggling with the delivery of mental health services amongst this public health crisis.
A multidimensional approach to explore the experiences with ethnic matching amongst Chinese social service practitioners in the Greater Toronto Area
(2022) Leung, Vivian W. Y.; Tan , Weijia; Chuang, Deng-Min; Tsang , Ka Tat; Lai, Daniel W. L.
In multicultural societies, social workers often work with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As one of the strategies to facilitate social workers’ cultural competence in diverse settings, they are often matched with clients of the same or similar cultural backgrounds. This practice is called ethnic matching and is commonly utilised in ethno-specific and immigrant-serving organisations. This practice has been extensively studied in the literature and is believed to be beneficial to treatment acceptability and service quality. Nonetheless, most of the existing literature focuses on the practitioner–client dyad without taking the broader context into consideration. This study adopted a multidimensional cultural competence approach to examine Chinese practitioners’ lived experiences of serving Chinese immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Six focus groups were conducted (n = 34), and data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Results show themes across four levels: (i) personal: personal experience as a motivator; (ii) interpersonal: shared culture and language as a double-edged sword; (iii) organisational: service target shifts and increased difficulty to ethnically match and (iv) community: intracommunity heterogeneity and mismatch. This study provides recommendations for social workers, educators and policymakers to consider when applying ethnic matching in cross-cultural settings.
Decentring the majority-minority paradigm: a multi-dimensional conceptualization of inter-ethnic relations based on a study of Chinese Canadians
(2022) Tsang, A. Ka Tat; Leung, Vivian W. Y.; Tan, Weijia; Chuang, Deng-Min; Hu, Ran
Inter-ethnic research has been dominated by studies on majority–minority relations. The limited studies on relations among ethnic minority groups are usually restricted to a focus on attitudes and the cognitive domain, with little attention to actual behaviours. As Canada becomes increasingly diverse, it calls for a greater need in examining the interpersonal relationships among ethnic minority groups. A study originally designed to look at intra-group dynamics generated results that led the authors to decentre the dominant majority–minority view and explore inter-ethnic engagements. This report examines the subjective sense-making, actual performance, and management of inter-ethnic relations from Chinese Canadians’ perspectives. Data from individual interviews and focus groups with thirty-five Chinese Canadians show a multidimensional picture: factors such as participants’ needs, circumstances, characteristics, and capacities play a more significant role in shaping relationship development and maintenance. Results also reveal the complex and contingent nature of the sense-making and management of inter-ethnic relationships. These findings call for a more holistic view of individuals’ experiences that include cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions.
The experiences of the Good Companions Response Team during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China: a multi-professional team led by social workers
(2021) Yu, Zhihong; Tan, Weijia; Niu, Liya
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a worldwide crisis. During the pandemic, social workers have proactively participated in providing support. The Good Companions Response Team is a volunteer team started by social workers in Wuhan, China and serving people living in China and Chinese communities around the world. This paper introduces the experiences of the team in the makeshift hospitals in Wuhan and the ‘4 + 1 Online-Offline Remote Support Model’ developed by the team. Our goal is to inspire social workers and other professionals in the Asian Pacific regions to work collaboratively during a similar public health emergency in the future.
Social work in funeral homes, a unique Chinese practice?
(2021) Huang, Yunxian; Tan, Weijia; Tsang, A. Ka Tat
Social workers were introduced to funeral homes in China amid the transition and expansion of both the funeral home industry and the social work profession and are proving to play a valuable, though under-researched role in serving not just clients but also communities and funeral home staff. Funeral home social work fills gaps in after-death care and mental health and is distinct from palliative, hospice, end-of-life, and bereavement social work. Based on the experiences of funeral homes that employ social workers, this article argues that this innovation may bring new ideas to bridge some of the service gaps in after-death care in China and globally. This article outlines the support that will be needed from funeral homes, social work service agencies, and educational and research institutes to facilitate further development of funeral home mental health and social services and to promote the professionalization of funeral home social workers in China.
Everyday experiences of racial discrimination among Chinese immigrants in Canada
(2024) Zhang, Weiguo; Tan, Weijia; Chen, Jinhua; Zhong, Zhuo Jun; Wang , Kunping; Zhao, Kedi
This study examined the everyday experiences of racism among Chinese immigrants in Canada. Data came from nine virtual focus groups comprising 48 participants of diverse genders and ages taking place in December 2021 and January 2022. We conducted our qualitative analysis by drawing on Essed's conceptualization of everyday racism and Crenshaw's conceptualization of intersectionality. Thematic and content analysis showed that racism against Chinese immigrants is more pervasive than previously recognized. Three-quarters of the participants disclosed instances of racism across various settings, including workplaces, schools, shops, airports, banks, hotels, restaurants, streets, and online. Some gender and age groups reported more incidents than others. Young men, on average, encountered the greatest number, followed by young and middle-aged women, while older men reported the fewest. Types of racist incidents also varied by age and gender. Young and middle-aged women encountered unsolicited intimate remarks and racism related to gender division of labour, while older adults, both men and women, faced racism associated with service provision. Younger men reported online racism. Some older participants remained unaware of the racist nature of their encounters, and middle-aged and older men tended to deny having experienced racist encounters. Given these findings, we suggest the need to raise awareness, establish empowerment initiatives, and adopt intersectionality approaches to address and combat racism against Chinese immigrants in Canada.
Loneliness and cannabis use among older adults: findings from a Canada national survey during the COVID-19 pandemic
(2024) Li, Lun; Deng, Qian
Background: Cannabis use has been increasing among older adults in Canada, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine the association between loneliness and cannabis use among older Canadians during the pandemic. Methods: Quantitative data analyses were performed based on 2,020 participants aged 55 years and older from the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6, 2021: Substance Use and Stigma During the Pandemic. Results: This study found that participants who used cannabis in the 30 days before the survey reported significantly higher loneliness scores than those who never used cannabis after adjusting social-demographic, social interaction, and pandemic-related factors. Participants who kept using cannabis during the pandemic also reported significantly higher loneliness scores than those who never used cannabis. Conclusion: The findings about the correlation between cannabis use and greater loneliness contribute to the discourse on potential health and wellbeing harms of cannabis use among older adults.
The impact of telepresence robots on family caregivers and residents in long-term care
(2025) Hung, Lillian; Wong, Joey Oi Yee; Ren, Haopu (Lily); Zhao, Yong; Fu, Jason Jincheng; Mann, Jim; Li, Lun
Telepresence robots can enhance social connection and support person-centered care in long-term care (LTC) homes. This study evaluates their impact in facilitating virtual visits between family caregivers and older residents in Canadian LTC homes. Telepresence robots were placed in residents’ rooms, allowing virtual visits at mutual convenience. A total of 18 residents and 17 family caregivers participated. Quantitative assessments included the Zarit Burden Interview, the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease scale, while qualitative data were collected through interviews, field notes, and observations. Repeated ANOVA showed that using telepresence robots significantly reduced caregiver burden (p = 0.008), improved residents’ quality of life (p = 0.028), and decreased resident loneliness (p = 0.038). Older caregivers experienced the greatest burden reduction, with scores dropping from a mean of 25.0 at baseline to 16.1 at two months. Qualitative findings provided further context, revealing that residents felt more connected, close, and engaged, while families found the robots facilitated continuity of care, complemented in-person visits, reduced stress and guilt, and provided reassurance. These findings suggest that telepresence robots can enhance the well-being of both residents and caregivers in LTC homes, though future research should explore their long-term impact and technological limitations.
To live or not to live: the silent voices of adolescents with disabilities in Ghana
(2025) Naab, Florence; Asirifi, Mary A.; Adjei, Charles Ampong; Kyei, Josephine M.; Menkah, William; Gateri, Hellen; Reisdorfer, Emilene; Parikh, Reyna; Burgess-Pinto, Elizabeth
About 8% of Ghanaians, including adolescents, have various types of disabilities. Although many legal and constitutional protections for people with disabilities, including adolescents, exist in Ghana, it is widely known that these persons face a variety of psychosocial issues. Several factors have been identified as contributing to the unremitting marginalisation of people with disabilities in general, but the extent to which these can be generalised to adolescents with disabilities is unknown. This study, therefore, sought to document the determinants, manifestations, and consequences of disability-related stigma among differently abled adolescents in three special schools in northern, middle, and southern Ghana. An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used. Overall, 54 participants were purposively selected for a semi-structured interview and focus group discussions. Braun and Clarke’s procedure for thematic analysis was followed. The findings showed a variety of stigmatising experiences by adolescents with disabilities in their sociocultural context. More broadly, the cause of disability was linked to the ramifications of parental sins against the gods, being a descendant of river gods, and the consequences of bewitchment/curses by family members. Others included the perceived transmissibility of the disability and disability as a visible condition. Stigma manifested in the form of pejorative labelling, ableism, and social exclusion. The consequences of this stigma included negative psychological and emotional effects (i.e., depression, low self-esteem, and a lack of confidence) and suicidal ideation. There is an urgent need for stigma reduction interventions for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana as part of an effort to improve their wellbeing.
Social work and funeral service: a proposed framework for practice
(2024) Tan, Weijia; Tsang, A. Ka Tat; Su, Jian; Zhao, Kedi
Funeral services are related to the vital interests of human beings and are supposed to meet people’s social, psychological and spiritual needs. More and more people from the funeral service industry have realized the importance of bringing helping professionals into the funeral service industry to fill in service gaps. Based on the Strategies and Skills Learning and Development system, a practice framework for funeral social work is proposed. The framework incorporates services in direct service, education and training, administrative management and research development. It targets families, relatives and other related people of the deceased, staff and management and local communities.
Exploring the establishment of hospice service system integrating medical care and funeral services
(2023) Wang, Yunling; Tan, Weijia; Wang, Yifang
In terms of the development of hospice, 1988 is the first year of the establishment of hospice in mainland China. In 1988, with the initiative and funding of Chinese-American Professor Tianzhong Huang, Tianjin Medical College (now Tianjin Medical University) set up the Tianjin Hospice Center.1 In October 1998, the Shanghai Retired Workers Nanhui Nursing Home was the first hospital in mainland China to provide in-patient care for retired workers who were terminally ill. In October 2017, the National Health Commission designated five pilot cities (Beijing, Changchun, Shanghai, Luoyang, and Deyang) to explore different types of hospice services, strategies of service delivery, and modes of finances. The five pilot cities are located in different parts of China, and among them, there is great variety in population size, economy, educational level, and social development, which means their exploration can be representative and generalized to other parts of China. In May 2019, the second batch of pilot cities, including 71 cities across China, were launched, accelerating the establishment of China’s hospice service system. This article is a proposal for a changed relationship between hospice and funeral services, one which is being piloted in China and for which data will be available in 2023. The policy of promoting hospice aims at the important goal of improving the quality of death. Generally speaking, the quality of death refers to a comprehensive evaluation of the end-of-life quality of patients and their experience and feelings during the dying process. Likewise, the establishment of China’s hospice system aims at improving the quality of death for its citizens. In Chinese society, life and death are important matters, so the handling of life and death is often not only about the technical level of medical care, but also related to non-technical aspects, such as social work, psychological care, grief counseling, and so forth. These non-technical aspects are intertwined with funeral culture. After the concept of hospice, which originated in Western society and culture, was introduced to China, people strove to learn end-of-life care techniques. However, culturally, people were challenged to enter into necessary conversations around death, the handling of life and death, and the understanding of filial piety. The separate management of life and death that originated from modern Western culture has become a dilemma facing the modern hospice system in the context of Chinese culture.
Virtual volunteering, community support, and self-care in Chinese communities in Canada
(2023) Tan, Weijia; Zhu, Yidan; Wu, Liuxi; Hou, Jingyi; Yi, Jingjing; Qi, Tianyang; Zhang, Weiguo
Objective: Our study aimed to explore the link between environment and health, driven by a virtual volunteering program, and discuss the implications of virtual volunteering in community support in the postpandemic era. Methods: Using a purposive sampling strategy, we recruited 21 participants with diverse backgrounds, including age and sex. They participated in individual interviews of 1–2 hours, all of which followed a semistructured interview guide centered on topics, such as volunteer experiences, impacts, and understanding of volunteering. The audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results: Our data showed that interpersonal interactions through the virtual volunteering program helped participants deal with loneliness, and boosted their mental health. The social network provided participants with social support. Moreover, activities, such as dancing, yoga, Tai Chi, and singing, facilitated physical health. Participants not only learned various skills but also served as mentors, through which they increased self-efficacy through reciprocal role transformation. Conclusions: Our study concludes that virtual volunteer programs have a positive impact on people’s physical and mental health. The participants demonstrated different levels of resilience when their environments changed. By situating virtual volunteering as the center of people’s health, our findings suggest that people gain informational, instrumental, and emotional support through virtual volunteering. Future research should examine the experiences of individuals from other ethnic groups and settings to supplement this study.
Reconceptualizing transnational knowledge transfer in mental health services: reflection upon the postcolonial era
(2024) Zhao, Kedi; Wilson, Ruth; Tan, Weijia; Kong, Xiaoxue; Tsang, A. Ka Tat
Knowledge transfer in global mental health services has long been depicted from Western perspectives. This article destabilizes this discourse through a conceptual model that integrates the top-down approach (macro postcolonial context, meso transnational knowledge transfer and micro mental health programmes) and the bottom-up approach (the roles of transcreation in reconfiguring micro mental health intervention, meso mental health services integration and macro policy advocacy and reform). This article raises social workers’ awareness of ongoing development of mental health services from a decolonizing perspective, and guides social work research and practice to continue the decolonization of global mental health services.
Quantification of Black bodies: Anti-black racism in research
(2025) Oyelana, Olabisi; Asirifi, Mary; Gateri, Hellen; Edwards, Fiona; Intungane, Doriane; Kimei, Janet; Khalema, Emily
It is time to start interrogating the legacy of colonialism that privileges a Eurocentric system of knowing within the Canadian education system and examine the research experiences of Black researchers. Many Black researchers continue to struggle with limited funding to conduct their research projects and many are faced with the issue of access to research mentorship. While Black scholars are restricted by these challenges, the Black populations are often researched by researchers who have little or no knowledge about their experiences. Moreover, the colonial constructs that pervade academia have relegated Black scholars and racialized groups as illegitimate knowledge producers. Our stories of lived experiences cannot be adequately represented by numbers nor by an outsider. This article argues that it is time to center the research experiences of Black researchers through the lenses of Critical race theory (CRT) and an anti-Black racism (ABR) framework. Our way of knowing creates a space for us to share and document voices alongside participants. hooks (1994) offered a way to think about personal experience as, “a way of knowing that is often expressed through the body, what it knows, what has been deeply inscribed on it through experience” (p. 36). This complexity of experience can rarely be named from a distance, neither can it be quantified into statistical data. Therefore, this article is inspired by the research agenda of Black female academics from a Canadian university. We view ourselves as legitimate knowledge producers with a keen interest in decolonizing research.
Indigenization and authentization of epistemology in China’s social work: moving beyond Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism
(2023) Zhao, Kedi; Tan, Weijia; Tsang, A Ka Tat
How China’s social work can establish its own epistemology has remained largely unexplored. This article focuses on Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism to start this epistemological exploration, as they represent Chinese culture and can provide valuable epistemological elements for China’s social work. Moving beyond epistemological elements from these philosophies, how social workers in China can further develop social work research and practice based on the unique Chinese context is also discussed, specifically through the processes of indigenization and authentization of epistemology in China’s social work. Limitations and future research directions are also presented to guide future discussion.
Addressing the ground of anti-Black racism social work in Canada: Afrocentric education and the United Nations International Decades for People of African Descent
(2025) Ouedraogo, Valerie; Massaquoi, Notisha; King, Regine Uwibereyeho; Nyaga, Dionisio; Duhaney, Patrina; Ikeorj, Chika; Urindwanayo, Desire; Moallim, Nafisa; Osadjere, Precious
Dominant epistemologies, methodologies, and ontologies within education and Social Work remain deeply Eurocentric and often fail to account for the lived realities of Black communities. These gaps contribute to negligence, discriminatory practice, and harmful outcomes. This study draws on African/Black Studies and Social Work to investigate the presence, engagement, and utilization of Afrocentric perspectives across Canada during the first United Nations Decade for People of African Descent. We explore how Afrocentricity informs Social Work pedagogy and practice, particularly in relation to equity and anti-Black racism. Using interviews with Black scholars and practitioners in three provinces, the analysis highlights how Afrocentric frameworks shape teaching, identity formation, community engagement, and advocacy. Findings show that Afrocentric curriculum and pedagogy offer essential pathways for advancing equity, strengthening anti-Black racism initiatives, and expanding more justice-oriented approaches in education and the social sciences. This study underscores the need for institutional commitment to Afrocentric knowledge, community-led initiatives, and systemic transformation in the upcoming Second Decade.
Internally displacement associated with conflict and violence: the case in Burkina Faso
(2025) Ouedraogo, Valerie; Maglajlić, Reima Ana; Ioakimidis, Vasilios
This chapter focuses on my reflections nourished by the fieldwork I conducted in two regions of Burkina Faso (centre-North and centre – Kaya, province of Sanmatenga, and Ouagadougou, province of Kadiogo) between November 2023 to February 2024. It focuses on the experiences of the internally displaced persons (IDP) following and during terrorist attacks, services offered to the adult IDPs, and the social workers role in assisting them. I will also provide a narrative overview about the legacy of colonial relationship between Burkina Faso and France that shapes the experiences and needs of the population during the present-day terrorist attacks. The chapter will first provide an overview of the country. Second, it will present the context of the terrorist attacks while focusing on the case of the vulnerable population comprising internally displaced persons (IDP) and host families/communities. Third, it will examine the social work context and role shaped by the humanitarian urgency faced by both the IDPs and host families-communities. Finally, I offer an overview of the key findings about the needs of the IDPs and their impact on social workers.
Spirit and self: a holistic approach to Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth mental health care
(2025) Edwards, Fiona
Black youth continually experience stressful environmental conditions that negatively impact their mental health and well-being. Some seek religious and spiritual support to cope with these daily environmental stressors. Although the practice of spirituality through religious activities has allowed Black people and their communities to find meaning and comfort during times of pain, cope with injustices, and find hope for a better tomorrow, most of what is known about the importance of religiosity and spirituality in Black communities originates from research conducted in the United States. Within the Canadian context, the religious and spiritual experiences of Black youth, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background, are rare within the field of social work education and practice. This article presents data from six Afro-Caribbean Canadian youth (ACCY) between the ages of 16 and 18, two parents, and three faith-based leaders drawn from a doctoral youth-centered phenomenological study in Canada. By sharing their perspectives, this article examines the impacts of religious and spiritual support on the lives of ACCY. Recommendations for the use of religiosity and spirituality in social work education and practice are discussed.

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