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Strengthening the empowerment approach in social work practice: an EPS model
- Author:
- KAM Ping Kwong
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 21(3), 2021, pp.329-352.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: Since the mid-1980s, social work has been recognised as an empowering profession. This article proposes that two more concepts, namely, participation and a strengths perspective, must be taken into account to strengthen and advance the empowerment approach. An integrated intervention model linking empowerment, participation and a strengths perspective, called the EPS model, is developed. Theoretical advances: Although the concepts of participation and strengths perspective have been mentioned separately in literature about the promotion of empowerment, discussion of the integration of all three concepts is limited. The EPS model goes some way to filling this theoretical and practice gap. It affirms that these three concepts are interrelated and must be closely interlinked. The model links the three concepts by proposing that practice should be based on a strengths perspective and use participation as the method to achieve the goal of empowering service users. The EPS model serves as a framework through which social workers can oversee the application and connection of the three concepts in practice. Applications: As the EPS model incorporates the principles of the World Health Organization age-friendly cities initiative, it is suited to the implementation of a community project in Hong Kong aimed at enhancing the age-friendliness of the city’s transport system. This case study illustrates how the EPS model was applied and how the outcomes resulted in empowerment of the participants and realised benefits for older people in Hong Kong. (Edited publisher abstract)
Active Aaging: policy Framework and applications to promote older adult participation in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- CHAN Cheung-Ming Alfred, LIANG Jr-Shiuan Emily
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 38(1), 2013, pp.28-42.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This paper examines how policy is put into practice in advancing the well-being, as well as enhancing social and civic participation among older people. Three programmes supporting this initiative - 1) Opportunities for the elderly project, 2) Elder academy scheme' and 3) Neighbourhood active aging project - are explained and discussed.
Examining the association between late-life leisure activity participation and global cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly Chinese in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- LEUNG Grace Tak Yu, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(1), January 2011, pp.39-47.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In this study, 505 participants not suffering from clinical dementia were analysed as a follow-up study of a population based community survey among Hong Kong Chinese people aged 60 and over. Information about leisure activity participation, global cognitive function, and key sociodemographic variables was collected. The researchers found that a higher level of participation in late life intellectual activities (such as reading, using computers, games, handicrafts, or playing a musical instrument) appeared to be associated with a lower incidence of global cognitive decline. They suggest that intervention programmes that capitalise on beneficial intellectual activities may reduce cognitive decline or dementia.
Leisure participation amongst Hong Kong Chinese older adults
- Authors:
- CHOU Kee-Lee, CHOW Nelson W. S., CHI Iris
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 24(4), July 2004, pp.617-629.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Gerontologists have recognised the important influence of leisure activity on the mental and physical health of older adults. To date, however, there have been few studies of the patterns of participation in leisure activity among older adults in Hong Kong. This study examines a large representative sample of Hong Kong older adults and the associations between their socio-economic and health characteristics and their leisure activities. The data are from a cross-sectional survey of 2,180 respondents aged 60 or more years, conducted in 2000 by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. There were full records for 2,144 respondents. Among the participation rates in the seven categories of leisure activities, watching television or listening to radio was the highest, while the lowest was for playing mahjong or cards. The characteristics that significantly correlated with the level of participation differed by the activity. Although no consistent pattern emerged, gender, education, employment status, receiving welfare benefits, self-rated health and functional impairment were the strongest correlates for most types of leisure activity. The paper is concluded by comparing the results with previous findings, and by discussing the service implications of the findings, the limitations of the study, and directions for future research.
Building consensus on user participation in social work: a conversation analysis
- Authors:
- LEUNG Terry T.F., LAM Barry C.L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 19(1), 2019, pp.20-40.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary : In order to understand how mutual understanding was achieved in discursive interactions between the welfare service users and service practitioners, conversation analysis was conducted in four discussion panels set up for building consensus on the appropriate structure for user participation in service management. Conversations in eight panel discussion meetings were audio-taped for analysing the talks-in-interaction therein. Drawing on the conversation analysis, the article uncovers the dynamics of consensus building among participants from different epistemic communities. Findings: The study identifies the extent of divergence in views among stakeholders, which could have been obscured by the pressure to acquiesce in platform of face-to-face coordination. In the contest for truth between the welfare service users and service practitioners, personal experience has not been accepted as legitimate resource for supporting truth claims. Having limited argument resources on issues of service management, the welfare service users perceived argumentation in panel discussion a threatening venture that they chose to avoid. Avoidance was also a strategy that panel participants employed to maintain mundane interactions in the face of looming dissents. The article argues that the Habermasian communicative ethics are not panacea to the problem of coordination between the welfare service users and service practitioners. An agonistic model of democracy is called for to shift the objective of communication from gauging consensus to encouraging articulation of disagreements in the intricate user participation project. Application: The article provides a new direction for developing the user participation imperative to address necessary pluralities among stakeholders of welfare services. (Publisher abstract)
Age-friendly neighbourhoods as civic participation: implementation of an active ageing policy in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- CHAN Alfred Cheung-Ming, CAO Ting
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 29(1), 2015, pp.53-68.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In response to challenges brought by population ageing, Hong Kong has adopted an active ageing policy framework and built age-friendly neighbourhoods to encourage the participation of older people. This article distinguishes between the civic and political participation and emphasises active involvement in community and neighbourhood activities as a way to encourage the civic engagement of older adults. The promotion of age-friendliness is set at two levels: concerning policy and practical/operational issues, both of which are interrelated with the purpose of offering civic engagement opportunities for older people. The experiences of Hong Kong reflect both top-down and bottom-up approaches, where civic participation is promoted by encouraging life-long learning and developing caring communities, as well as carrying out a variety of neighbourhood programmes. It is suggested that different stakeholders, such as older adults, NGOs and other social organisations, shall all be included and play important roles in promoting civic participation of the elderly through creating a conducive environment. The initiatives, whether these are in policy or at operational levels, should be integrated into actions that are aimed to enhance quality of life for all residents and create a more age-friendly neighbourhood. (Publisher abstract)