Social work
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Sex trafficking (ST), a contemporary form of female slavery, is a human rights issue of critical concern to social work. The global response to ST has been substantial, and 166 countries have adopted anti-ST legislation. Despite considerable efforts to combat ST, the magnitude is increasing. ⋯ Therapeutic services to assist pornography addicts and purchasers of sexual services are also necessary. In this article, authors examine current anti-ST policies, programs, and services, both domestically and globally, and present an innovative paradigm that addresses social inequities and emphasizes prevention programming. They conclude with a discussion of the paradigm's implications for social work policies, practices, and services.
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In light of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's goals of better patient care, cost control, and improved population outcomes, prevention has emerged as an important component of health reform. Social work, with its extensive involvement in the health system and deep roots in public health, can benefit from a better understanding of its role in prevention. This study builds on the Social Work Interest in Prevention Study (SWIPS), which evaluated extent, type, and levels of prevention content in nine social work journals from 2000 to 2005. ⋯ A secondary analysis focused on topics within social work prevention, with violence, aging, and disease as primary focal areas. The findings suggest that although prevention interest appears to be growing, it remains a minority focus in the profession's journals. A national conversation on prevention can help expand the profession's role in health reform at this critical time.
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Emerging research on religion, spirituality, health, and mental health has begun to catch the attention of helping professionals. Some clients are expressing a desire for their health and mental health practitioners to initiate discussion of their religious or spiritual beliefs as they relate to their case. Social workers are the most represented group among personnel providing mental health services, so it is important to understand their attitudes, views, and behaviors regarding integrating clients' religion and spirituality (RS) into practice. ⋯ This article discusses how RS have been integrated into social work practice and education and reviews instruments used to assess such practices. In addition, the findings from previous studies examining social workers' integration of clients' RS are compared with those of other helping professions. Finally, implications for education and practice are discussed.
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The globalization of the economy creates new challenges for social work in the arenas of social and economic justice. This article outlines social justice issues related to the debt crisis of the Global South and sweatshops. ⋯ The article explores domestic social justice problems as possible points of connection with these issues. Finally, the authors give recommendations for social work education, advocacy, and activism.
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Peer sexual harassment is an often overlooked problem for both girls and boys in the educational environment. This article provides a historical framework for defining peer sexual harassment as a sex discrimination issue and a description of peer sexual harassment as a potential mental health issue. The article also reviews the limited empirical research on teenage peer sexual harassment, which has consistently revealed that nearly four of five adolescents are the targets of sexual harassment by their peers. Finally, the authors explore a theoretical context in which to understand sexual harassment and the implications for social work practice in education.