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Introduction To The Special Issue: New Scholarship In Institutional Ethnography, Paul C. Luken, Suzanne Vaughan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Twelve years ago the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare (JSSW) published a special issue devoted to institutional ethnography, “Institutional Ethnography: Theory and Practice” (Winfield, 2003). This alternative sociology, founded by Dorothy E. Smith, begins from the standpoint of the experiences of particular, active subjects and sets out to discover and describe the social relations shaping those experiences (Smith, 1987, 2005, 2006). JSSW, dedicated to publishing new, cutting-edge theoretical and methodological articles, was the first academic journal to devote a special issue to this new mode of inquiry used to investigate the social world. Over the ensuing years, the number …

Journal Of Sociology And Social Welfare Vol. 42 No. 2 (June 2015)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE: NEW SCHOLARSHIP IN INSTITUTIONAL ETHNOGRAPHY Paul C. Luken and Suzanne Vaughan

CAPTURED BY CARE: AN INSTITUTIONAL ETHNOGRAPHY ON THE WORK OF BEING IN A REHABILITATION PROCESS IN NORWAY Janne Paulsen Breimo

A SERVICE DISPARITY FOR RURAL YOUTH: THE ORGANIZATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES ACROSS THE URBAN YOUTH CENTRE AND ITS RURAL BRANCH Jessica Braimoh

CATEGORIES OF EXCLUSION: THE TRANSFORMATION OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN INTO "ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS" IN WELFARE PROCESSING Megan Welsh

INTERROGATING THE RULING RELATIONS OF THAILAND'S POST-TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION: EMPIRICALLY TRACKING SOCIAL RELATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF CONVENTIONAL TEXTS Aaron Williams …

Captured By Care: An Institutional Ethnography On The Work Of Being In A Rehabilitation Process In Norway, Janne I. Paulsen Breimo

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Norwegian rehabilitation policies and new public management reforms share some features and are divided by others. The features that divide them are so contradictory that they create difficulties for people who are in a process of rehabilitation. Having studied the everyday life of people being in a process of rehabilitation, I argue that the continuous change in organizational structures in general makes the processes hard to endure for service users, specifically the reforms characterized by neoliberalism, because they, to a large extent, contradict the holistic rehabilitation ideology. This further illuminates the paradox that the greater and more complicated the …

A Service Disparity For Rural Youth: The Organization Of Social Services Across The Urban Youth Centre And Its Rural Branch, Jessica Braimoh

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Drawing on 14 interviews with services providers and over 80 hours of participant observations, I examine what happens when young people enter into Employment Service, a program of Employment Ontario and the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities. This program is delivered through an organization operating in two sites in Ontario, Canada that I refer as the Urban Youth Centre and the Rural Branch. On paper, it looks like service providers are doing the same work across these sites because the organization as a whole uses the same intake texts to deliver this program and documents the same institutionally imposed …

Towards An Institutional Counter-Cartography Of Nurses’ Wound Work, Nicola Waters

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Under the banner of continuous quality improvement, process mapping has become an increasingly routine feature of healthcare administration. Driven by demands to improve efficiency through standardization, nurses’ knowledge of their often-unpredictable work is routinely changed to fit within graphical representations that depict it as objectively controllable. Tensions that arose as I attempted to apply my knowledge as a specialist nurse in the rapidly changing area of outpatient wound clinics formed the direction for my institutional ethnography (IE) inquiry. As a student new to IE, I encountered challenges as I tried to explain to my informants how Dorothy Smith’s alternative sociology …

Review Of The Black Power Movement And American Social Work. Joyce Bell. Reviewed By Wilma Peebles-Wilkins., Wilma Peebles-Wilkins

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Joyce Bell, The Black Power Movement and American Social Work. (2014). Columbia University Press. $50.00 (hardcover), 256 pages.

An Examination Of The New York State Workers' Compensation Reform Act Of 2007, Julia Ostrov

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Workers' compensation, a critical safety net for injured and ill workers in the form of medical care and wage replacement benefits, emerged on the heels of the Industrial Revolution as the first extensive social insurance program in the United States. Over the past two decades, workers' compensation policy in New York State has followed a national trend of severe retrenchment in benefits to workers. This paper takes as its focus an examination of the most recent workers' compensation reform legislation in New York, and provides a discussion of the important role social workers can play in promoting social justice within …

Journal Of Sociology And Social Welfare Vol. 42 No. 3 (September 2015)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

AN EXAMINATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE WORKERS' COMPENSATION REFORM ACT OF 2007 Julia Ostrov

REFRAMING NEW FRONTIERS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Hilary Weaver

SOCIAL WORK ADVOCACY: PROFESSIONAL SELF-INTEREST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Mary Ellen Brown, Michelle Livermore, and Annahita Ball

WHO'S LEFT OUT: CHARACTERISTICS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN ECONOMIC NEED NOT RECEIVING PUBLIC SUPPORT Vincent A. Fusaro

APPLYING SEN'S CAPABILITY APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND WORK AND INCOME AMONG POOR PEOPLE IN INDIA Mahasweta M. Banerjee

RELATIONSHIP-BASED JUSTICE FOR GENDER RESPONSIVE SPECIALTY COURTS Margaret H. Lloyd

RACE-GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE IMPACT OF HISTORY OF HEAVY DRINKING ON CURRENT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING THE TRANSITION TO …

Social Work Advocacy: Professional Self-Interest And Social Justice, Mary Ellen Brown, Michelle M. Livermore, Annahita R. Ball

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study employed an analysis of the advocacy-related resources and materials available through the 50 NASW state chapter websites. Results revealed that a large number of states had no information about advocacy on their websites (42%). One third of the mission statements reviewed contained language indicating that advocacy was part of the chapter mission, while nearly as many included no content related to advocacy or social justice on their homepages. Nearly two thirds of the websites contained no resources, tools or links to help with advocacy practice, promotion or education. Thirteen advocacy themes emerged, which represented policy issues within the …

Applying Sen's Capability Approach To Understand Work And Income Among Poor People In India, Mahasweta M. Banerjee

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Applying Sen's capability approach, this paper explores income poor individuals' capabilities—abilities, skills, resources, and opportunities at personal, inter-personal, and structural levels—for work and income. It reports on data collected from 92 individuals identified through purposive sampling and interviewed face-to- face. The study found that 11% of respondents had varied work capabilities and earned a relatively high income; 49% of respondents had some work capabilities and were in the medium income bracket; 40% of respondents had few work capabilities and remained below the poverty line; and 8% of respondents with even fewer work capabilities were not working. Implications include expansion of …

Review Of Reconciling Work And Poverty Reduction: How Successful Are European Welfare States? Bea Cantillon And Franz Vandenbroucke (Eds.), And Activation Or Workfare? Governance And The Neo-Liberal Convergence. Ivar Lødemel And Amilcar Moreira (Eds.). Reviewed By James Midgley, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Bea Cantillon and Franz Vandenbroucke (Eds.), Reconciling Work and Poverty Reduction: How Successful are European Welfare States? Oxford University Press (2014), 464 pages, $40.00 (hardcover). Ivar Lødemel and Amilcar Moreira (Eds.),

Activation or Workfare? Governance and the Neo-liberal Convergence. Oxford University Press (2014), 384 pages, $59.99 (hardcover).

Review Of Human Rights And Adolescence. Jacqueline Bhabha, Ed. Reviewed By David Tobis, David Tobis

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Jacqueline Bhabha, Ed., Human Rights and Adolescence. University of Pennsylvania Press (2014), 376 pages, $69.95 (hardcover).

Review Of Café Culture In Pune: Being Young And Middle Class In Urban India. Teresa Platz Robinson. Reviewed By Michael Gilbert, Michael Gilbert

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Teresa Platz Robinson, Café Culture in Pune: Being Young and Middle Class in Urban India. Oxford University Press (2014), 320 pages, $55.00 (hardcover).

Is Community-Based Work Compatible With Data Collection?, John W. Murphy, Berkeley A. Franz, Karen A. Callaghan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Although community-based projects have introduced a successful model for addressing many social problems, less consideration has been given to how such projects should be evaluated. This paper considers whether the philosophy underlying community-based practice is compatible with data collection. Specifically at issue is whether empirical indicators are helpful to summarize a project. Although having valid knowledge is important, this paper makes a distinction between merely collecting data versus understanding the course of a project. The key point is that community participation requires a unique perspective on how knowledge is negotiated and interpreted.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 42, No. 4 (December 2015)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: EMPIRICISM. - Robert D. Leighninger, Jr.

IS COMMUNITY-BASED WORK COMPATIBLE WITH DATA COLLECTION? - John W. Murphy, Berkeley A. Franz, and Karen A. Callaghan

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN SAFETY NET SERVICES ON TRAJECTORIES OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS - Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Jamison D. Fargo, and Thomas H. Byrne

EBB AND FLOW: A MULTIPLE STREAMS POLICY ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN KANSAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY - Emily Bell-Sepulveda, Juliana Carlson, and Sara Rust-Martin

CAN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ACQUIRE FINANCIAL ASSETS? - Allison De Marco, Molly De Marco, Alexandra Biggers, Maggie West, Jonathan Young, …

Impact Of Community Investment In Safety Net Services On Rates Of Unsheltered Homelessness Among Veterans, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Jamison Fargo, Thomas H. Byrne

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Unsheltered homelessness among veterans has declined rapidly since 2009; however, more than one-third of veterans experiencing homelessness stayed in places not meant for human habitation during 2014. Research has identified a negative relationship between federal spending on the social safety net and community level rates of homelessness, but not specifically for veterans. The present study assessed whether investment in veteran-specific safety net resources predicted changes in the rate of unsheltered veteran homelessness. Increases in Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care expenditures were significantly associated with a decline in unsheltered veteran homelessness, perhaps explained by additional VA resources aimed at identifying and …

Roles Of Government And Community Support, Flood Experience, And Flood Education In Livelihood Resilience, H. R. Tewari, P K. Bhowmick, Melinda Mccormick

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Flooding is a perennial problem in the state of Bihar, India with devastating impact on the livelihood of people. In spite of the government's measures of flood mitigation, households continue to live with suffering on account of severe damage to their material and non-material assets. In this background, the objectives of the study are: (1) to explore the differential role of the community and government support in livelihood resilience; (2) to assess the impact of flood experience and flood education in livelihood resilience; and (3) to explore the impact of level of education, reflected in average years of schooling of …

Separation, Visitation And Reunification: Michigan Child Welfare Reform And Its Implications For Siblings, Angela M. Moe, Jessica A. Church

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Removal of children from abusive or neglectful families is an unfortunate but necessary aspect of child protective services, and the separation of siblings can be especially traumatic. This paper examines the Dwayne B. v. Snyder Modified Settlement Agreement (MSA), the result of a class action lawsuit regarding the management of the child welfare foster care system by the Michigan Department of Human Services. The MSA contains several mandates regarding the handling of siblings, though various measures of compliance remain unmet. Through field observations and interviews within the Michigan foster care system, we identify several factors prohibiting effective sibling care.

Review Of Our Kids: The American Dream In Crisis. Robert D. Putnam, And Labor's Love Lost: The Rise And Fall Of The Working-Class Family In America. Andrew J. Cherlin. Reviewed By Edward U. Murphy, Edward Murphy

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Robert D. Putnam, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Simon and Schuster (2015), 386 pages, $28.00 (hardcover)

Andrew J. Cherlin, Labor's Love Lost: The Rise and Fall of the Working-Class Family in America. Russell Sage (2014), 272 pages, $35.00 (paperback).

Review Of Climbing Mount Laurel: The Struggle For Affordable Housing And Social Mobility In An American Suburb. Douglass. Massey, Len Albright, Rebecca Casciano, Elizabeth Derickson, And David N. Kinsey. Reviewed By Aretousa Bloom, Aretousa Bloom

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Douglas S. Massey, Len Albright, Rebecca Casciano, Elizabeth Derickson & David N. Kinsey, Climbing Mount Laurel: The Struggle for Affordable Housing and Social Mobility in an American Suburb. Princeton University Press (2013), 288 pages, $35.00 (hardcover).

Review Of Some Men: Feminist Allies And The Movement To End Violence Against Women. Michael A. Messner, Max A. Greenberg, And Tal Peretz Reviewed By Deborah Mullin, Deborah Mullin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Michael A. Messner, Max A. Greenberg, & Tal Peretz, Some Men: Feminist Allies and the Movement to End Violence Against Women. Oxford University Press (2015), 256 pages, $24.95 (paperback).

Review Of The End Of Normal: The Great Crisis And The Future Of Growth. James K. Galbraith. Reviewed By Charles Levenstein, Charles Levenstein

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

James K. Galbraith, The End of Normal: The Great Crisis and the Future of Growth. Simon and Schuster (2014), 304 pages, $26.00 (hardcover), $16.00 (paperback).

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 1 (March 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

• PATHOLOGIES OF THE POOR: WHAT DO THE WAR ON DRUGS AND WELFARE REFORM HAVE IN COMMON? - Kalynn Amundson, Anna M. Zajicek, and Valerie H. Hunt
• GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SELF-EMPLOYMENT OF OLDER WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND NEW ZEALAND - Angela L. Curl, Deanna L. Sharpe, and Jack Noone
• INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CHILDREN IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: A CASE OF PATH DEPENDENCY - Victoria Schmidt and Jo Daugherty Bailey
• THE FIRST FAITH-BASED MOVEMENT: THE RELIGIOUS ROOTS OF SOCIAL PROGRESSIVISM IN AMERICA (1880-1912) IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE - Steven Stritt
• MASS SHOOTINGS AND MENTAL HEALTH POLICY - Jessica Rosenberg …

Institutionalization Of Children In The Czech Republic: A Case Of Path Dependency, Victoria Schmidt, Jo Daugherty Bailey

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite the development of alternative forms of care, international and domestic pressures for change, and over 20 years of efforts at deinstitutionalization, the Czech Republic has one of the highest rates of institutionalization of children in Europe (UNICEF, 2012). The continuing reliance upon residential care for children by the child protection system, particularly for children who are disabled or of Roma descent, demonstrates a case of path dependency in which a solidification of the system’s response is rooted in its past. Understanding the impact of historical precedence is key to reforming the current system.

Review Of Changing Welfare States. Anton Hemerijck. Reviewed By James Midgley., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Anton Hemerijck, Changing Welfare States. Oxford University Press (2013). $40.00 (paperback).

Weathering The Storm: Botswana's Culture Of Care, Lengwe-Katembula Mwansa, Gloria Jacques

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Botswana, a semi-desert southern African state ranked among the poorest in the world in the 1960s and 1970s, has emerged as an upper middle income country in the new millennium and a beacon of democracy and good governance on the continent and in the world. Since the discovery of diamonds, Botswana has prudently utilized the ensuing wealth to improve the lives of her citizens. Through a succession of National Development Plans the state has provided social services that have addressed many of the needs of the population. This trend has continued into the challenging era of the world economic crisis …

The Impact Of Gender And Social Networks On Microenterprise Business Performance, Seon-Mi Kim, Margaret Sherraden

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Why are some people more successful than others in starting new businesses? Are women more or less successful than men? This study investigates relationships among gender, social networks, and microenterprise business performance. It examines existing theories and research on gender differences in social networks and whether gender differences affect female micro-entrepreneurs’ business performance. The purpose of this study is to help U.S. Microenterprise Development Programs create strategies to enhance the ability of female micro-entrepreneurs to gain economic benefits from their social networks. The paper identifies key gaps in theory, proposes an alternative research framework, and suggests directions for future research …

Resident Perceptions Of Redevelopment And Gentrification In The Heartside Neighborhood: Lessons For The Social Work Profession, Mackenzi Huyser, Judi Ravenhorst Meerman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article reports on how residents experience neighborhood redevelopment efforts and gentrification. Research on gentrification has been dominated by studies on displacement and other factors that impact neighborhood mobility. This article explores how low-income and homeless residents experience gentrification by using in-depth interviews with residents still living in the Heartside neighborhood (Grand Rapids, MI). Findings are evident in three broad areas: sense of belonging, recognition of changes in the neighborhood, and restrictions in the neighborhood. Discussion of these findings and implications for social workers are presented.

Review Of My Dog Always Eats First: Homeless People And Their Animals. Leslie Irvine. Reviewed By Tiffany A. Parsons, Tiffany Parsons

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Leslie Irvine, My Dog Always Eats First: Homeless People and Their Animals. Lynne Rienner (2013). $55.00 (hardcover), 140 pages.

The Relationship Between Empathy And Attitudes Toward Government Intervention, M. Alex Wagaman, Elizabeth A. Segal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Throughout history, government policy and programs have played integral roles in shaping social services. This article reports the findings of a study that explored the relationship between interpersonal empathy and attitudes toward government intervention among college students. Findings suggest that increased levels of empathy are associated with more positive attitudes toward government intervention. This relationship is even stronger for participants from marginalized identity groups. Nurturing empathy among those engaged in social welfare policy-making may support government efforts that are in the best interest of communities they are intended to help.