Contextualized Social
Work Education- A
dance of multiple
perspectives
Jeanette Schmid, Shane young, Marina
Morgenshtern, Jessie Turton

A story/ a dance
We wish to acknowledge the land we stand on
and the permission to be here for this time

• We aim to structure this
workshop as an unfolding
story that includes formal and
informal pieces; that includes
our and your voices
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2

We are…
(protocol)

• Jeanette Schmid (Faculty, VIU)
• Shane Young (Assistant
Professor, Ryerson)
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3

Introductions
js

•I am …………………….
•A question I bring
today is…
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4

We aim to
js

provide an overview of the
research and the literature
review process;
• touch on your sources of
knowledge in teaching and
research;
• describe what contextualized
social work education is
according to the literature
review;
• explore your ideas regarding
the gathering of knowledgespecifically re the lit review
• However, if we don’t take this
route it is fine
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5

Story of our research
goals and process
sy

• Information regarding contextualized
social work practice emerging
• Want to gather examples of
contextualized social work education
• Chose SA & CA because of
• Both focused on transformation
from oppressive/colonial regimes
that include some formal
imperatives:
• TRCs in both countries with calls
to education and implications for
social work
• Developmental Social Welfare
Paradigm in SA
• Personal connections
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6

Research team

• Research team: Shane Young Jeanette
Schmid, Marina Morgenshtern , Jessie
Turton
• Aim was 10 participants in each
country
• 15 in Canada interviewed- in South
Africa
• Focus groups: CA- April; SA-May

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7

The emergent story of
the literature review
process
js

• Js developed a draft lit review to
contextualize the research questions
• Became formalized as part of
partnership process with South Africa
and VIU’s Dept. of Aboriginal
Education
• Questions emerged with sy joining the
research team
• Does this process of knowledge
gathering fit with Indigenous
research approaches?
• Does the knowledge gathered
highlight alternatives knowledges?
• What should be used as a
foundation going forward?

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8

The emergent
story from the
lit review
process
js

Western/Eurocentric/ Anglophone social
work
• is inappropriate in many contexts
• Individualized (vs collective)
• Ignores structural issues
• Expensive
• Is harmful
• Reinforces discrimination and
oppression/status quo
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9

The emergent
story from the
lit review
process
js

• Different definitions:
• Indigenizing
• Indigenous
• Culturally relevant/Appropriate (not
cultural competency)
• Local
• Decolonized
• Ecological
• Developmental social work
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10

Contextualized Social
Work Education
js

An integration that allows
• Recognition of colonization
(past; contemporary)
• Integration of micro, mezzo,
macro w emphasis on
structural factors
• Focus on Indigenous/local
helping strategies &
knowledges
• Centres local knowledges
within the global
• Local meaning is privileged
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11

Circle Discussion

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12

Questions to consider
• What knowledge(s) should underpin research?
• Does an article have to have a literature review as a
foundation?
• Can a literature review be constructed as including more
that just dominant perspectives and voices? How?

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13

THANK YOU

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