Asean Social Work Journal

Using the ‘Circle of Care’ to Strengthen Families for Their Reintegration After Transition Away from Institutional Care

Gurneet Kaur Kalra — 2025-06-29

A safe family environment is held the best place for children to grow to their full potential. However, it has been observed that there has been an increasing trend in children without parental care still living in Child Care Institutions (CCI), although majority of them having one or both parents living and could be easily reunited. The Supreme Court’s Directive to the CCIs during the Covid-19 pandemic to send children living with them back to their families in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus amongst children, saw many children being reunited with their families. But the reintegration proved to be a challenge for both the children and their families during this crisis. The efforts of the organisation Udayan Care in this regard, led to the initiation of the family strengthening project FiT, Families Together in the year 2021, to assure effective reintegration of the restored children with the families and to prevent their re-separation. The paper discusses provides an overview of the on-ground practices, its evidence-backed framework for re-integration, the Circle of Care approach and the necessary interventions under different domains, while also sharing some of the case studies from the project beneficiaries highlighting the impact of the inclusive care approach.

Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE): A Proposed Culturally Adapted Mindfulness-Based Program for Social Workers in the Philippines

Exxon Susmerano — 2025-06-29

Abstract

Social workers are essential in human service organizations as they play an important role in the implementation of programs and in addressing the needs of diverse populations. However, their well-being and performance can suffer due to the stress and challenges inherent in their work environments. This paper aims to address the urgent need to respond to social workers’ self-care needs by exploring the potential of a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention in addressing issues such as stress and depression among social workers in the Philippines. Through a review of relevant literature, this paper examined mindfulness-based intervention as an emerging self-care practice and approach to addressing work-related health issues. It proposed the development and assessment of the Stress Management for Improved Living and Empowerment (SMILE) program, which is a culturally tailored intervention designed to meet the unique needs of social workers. Pending successful evaluation of its feasibility, efficacy, and effectiveness, social welfare and human service organizations may implement the proposed intervention to promote self-care and empowerment among social workers.

Enhancing Participation of Children in Schools: A Social Worker's Perspective

Karleen May Reodique — 2025-06-29

Recognizing the importance of children’s participation in ensuring cognitive and social skills development of children, value formation and citizenship, better decision-making for child-centered programs, and strengthening child protection systems, this paper aims to propose a social work model on enhancing children participation in school governance. The model focuses on child-centered intervention approach in addressing the issues and barriers to children’s meaningful participation in decision-making in a public elementary school. Drawing on the assessment conducted in Kalayan Elementary School on the extent and quality of children’s participation, the author proposes a social work model in ensuring the representation of the pupils in the school-based management committee of a public elementary school. The social work model was developed through: (1) needs assessment and further analysis of data using problem tree analysis; (2) developing theory of change to guide the social workers in attaining the desired changes; and (3) creation of a social work model that encapsulates the proposed intervention and expected outcomes.

Analysis of the Influence of School for Great Women (Sekolah Perempuan Hebat) Model on Family Resilience in Dano Village Indonesia

Bambang Rustanto — 2025-06-29

The government's efforts to protect and empower women are realized through the School for Great Women model. The problem of the study is how the School for Great Women Model influence family resilience in Dano Indonesia Village. The research method used is a mixed method with an explanatory partial design type. There are one hundred women members of the School for Great Women in Dano Village. The result of this study is that there is a difference in the average pre-test and post-test scores in participating in the School for Great Women model. This shows that the School for Great Women model in Dano Indonesia Village can improve family resilience. The aspect of physical resilience, namely increased physical skills in meeting daily needs such as sewing, cooking, food processing, and gardening by utilizing land or home yards. Changes in the aspect of social resilience are the increased ability to relate and communicate with both husband and children, so that relationships in the family become more harmonious and equal. Relationships with children have become better by no longer yelling at children. Then, changes in the aspect of psychological resilience are the increased ability to manage stress and solve problems together.

Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management: Assessing Vulnerabilities and Local Responses in Maasin City, Philippines

Kristoper Rex Oraiz — 2025-06-29

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Identifying Suitable Social Worker Candidates for Counselling Using Holland RIASEC Model and FIKR (Facet, Insight, Knowledge, Resilience) Profiling

Chee Kong Yap — 2025-06-29

This study aimed to identify individuals best suited for counselling occupations using the Holland RIASEC Model and the FIKR (Facet, Insight, Knowledge, and Resilience) Profiling Assessment Tool. A total of 190 respondents were assessed, focusing on six personality dimensions—Realistic (R), Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E), and Conventional (C). Results showed that 40 respondents (21.05%) were highly suitable for counselling roles, characterized by high Social scores, often paired with strong Investigative traits. Demographically, older female respondents demonstrated a slight advantage, suggesting that life experience may enhance counselling effectiveness. The study emphasizes the value of targeted training programs to further develop counselling competencies among identified individuals. These findings provide a foundation for selecting and developing candidates for counselling roles, ensuring they possess the necessary interpersonal and analytical skills. The research contributes to understanding career alignment and highlights the importance of personality assessment in professional development. By identifying individuals naturally inclined toward counselling, the study supports the creation of tailored training programs, benefiting educational institutions, employers, and policymakers involved in the recruitment and training of counselling professionals.

Representation of Child Exploitation in the Film 'Trade of Innocents' and Reflections for Indonesia

Wahyu Pratama Tamba — 2025-06-29

The film Trade of Innocents (2012) presents an overview of the situation of child trafficking in Cambodia. It explores the psychological impact of victims and the role of social support interventions in victim recovery, as well as strategies in the context of tackling child trafficking in Indonesia. The research also examines the potential strengths of the characters and protagonists in the film who demonstrate perseverance in the face of challenges. This research offers a new perspective in analyzing the issue of child trafficking, its psychological impact, social support for victim recovery, and the utilization of potential strengths. A qualitative approach was used in this research, with the type of content analysis method, supported by various sources such as previous research, books, national regulations, and international conventions on children's rights. The results concluded the complexity of human trafficking and the need for attention from various parties including the state, community, and family. The strengths perspective focuses on the strengths in the problem of human trafficking, including the strength of the main character, the ability of survivors to overcome their trauma, the role of social workers, NGOs, and the government in providing interventions to handle of child trafficking. Multi-stakeholder cooperation is needed in addressing the issue of child trafficking, advocacy, and building collective public awareness.

2025 Consolidate

Bambang Shergi Laksmono — 2025-06-29