Connectivity and discontinuity in social work practice: Challenges and opportunities of the implementation of an e-social work system in Romania
Journal Title: Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology - Year 2016, Vol 7, Issue 2
Abstract
To increase the efficiency of the social work system in Romania, “investments in improving the current IT system in order to build an efficient electronic social work system” (Romanian Government, 2015b, 85) and the “development of a modern payment system” (Romanian Government, 2015b, 85) are key-points in the National Strategy concerning Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction for the period 2015-2020. Among other utilisations, the e-social work system is meant to be used by potential clients when submitting a request to benefit of means-tested measures. The current level of digitalisation of the Romanian society, particularly among vulnerable groups, leaves room for constructive debate regarding the feasibility and the potential challenges of such a project. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges posed to social workers’ daily practice by the introduction of digitalisation in the work place, as well as its potential effects on the social worker-client professional relationship. We discuss based on the national strategies and data provided by the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)6(connectivity infrastructure and quality, digital skills of human capital, use of internet by citizens, integration and digital technology, and digital public services). We identify gaps between the aims and the proposed solutions concerning the e-social work system. Our study contributes to understanding the potential changes in social workers’ traditional roles brought forth by the implementation of a digitized social work system.
Authors and Affiliations
Anca Mihai, Georgiana-Cristina Rentea, Daniela Gaba, Florin Lazăr & Shari Munch
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP41052
- DOI -
- Views 209
- Downloads 0
Old and new rites of passage in contemporary Western societies: A focus on marriage and divorce ceremonies
This article deals with ceremonial behaviors related to changes of status in individuals’ life courses, that is to say, with rites of passage. Drawing on Arnold van Gennep’s classic book on Les rites de passage, we fir...
Qualman, Eric. (2009) Socialnomics: how social media transforms the way we live and do business. John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey
At the time when this review was written the on line search results for the following key words and associations were these: “carti marketing internet”: 609.000 results; “carti marketing online”: 470.000 results; “inte...
Amidst ageing challenges, we can’t be left out in the smartphones-selfie bug: Narratives of the elderly in Edo State, Nigeria
Generally the growing trend of smartphones and selfies cannot be overemphasised in the discourse of social media and mass communication. Selfie is often highlighted as a domain controlled by the youthful population, re...
A rough guide to musical anthropology
This paper has set out to be an introductory approach to socio-anthropological studies of music and all human behavior and narratives (as lore) associated to it. The path chosen for this was the somewhat convenient and...
An ‘infiltration’ of time? Hindu Chauvinism and Bangladeshi migration in/to Kolkata, India
In the context of the growth of Hindu chauvinism (Hindutva) in India, this article explores the ways Bengali middle-class caste-Hindus have become increasingly anti-Bangladeshi and, in particular, increasingly hostile...