Cuadernos de Trabajo Social (ISSN 0214-0314, ISSN-e 1988-8295) is a journal that has been published since 1987, with two issues each year since 2012. It responds to a search for scientific knowledge exchange and upholds the ideas of independence of criteria and the critical function, in addition to the unity of scientific and humanist cultures. In addition, it encourages processes that can lead to new theories based on professional practice in the Social Services and it combines strict intellectual works with thinking on how to reform and improve society through social intervention. Its publications cover matters related to social work, social services, politics and social intervention with a multidisciplinary outlook. It is intended for specialists and key figures involved in social intervention.
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Satisfaction of older adults with Chile’s “meeting centres” social education programme
In Chile, “meeting centres” (Casas de encuentro) are attended by older adults during the daytime in order for them to participate in activities to encourage active ageing. They also offer programmes involving social education activities. This article examines older adults’ satisfaction with the training/education that they receive. The study has a descriptive and non-experimental design. The Valparaíso meeting centre was the context for the study, with 205 older adults participating. Data were obtained using an ad hoc questionnaire with a Likert-type scale. The main findings are as follows: high level of satisfaction among older adults, related not to their sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, educational level or previous occupation, but to their prior expectations. The general conclusion is that these programmes are a source of satisfaction among older adults, beyond the particular competencies that each programme might be intended to foster. They should be one of the key factors guiding social policy to encourage active ageing, which is emerging as an increasingly pressing need.
Copyright (c) 2020 Cuadernos de Trabajo Social
Immigration and citizenship. The logic of allocating rights in social action
We explain the contributions of anthropological thinking regarding the relationship among the forms of inclusion of immigrant populations in Spain, the recognition of economic, social and cultural rights, and citizenship. We are witnessing the transformation from Marshall’s classic idea of “social citizenship”, based on the universality of rights, to a vision of segmented access to rights in a global neoliberal context, in which citizenship becomes a mechanism for exclusion rather than inclusion.We describe the production of the otherness of the impoverished and dangerous migrant, which gives rise to their differential inclusion. The legal system and institutional management play a key role in this classification process, being accorded legitimacy through discourses of scarcity and security. We reflect on the function of social work in this regard and the tension between social control-oriented models and others based on a transformative approach involving the promotion of social equality and justice.
Minors who are victims of non-physical family violence: three complementary views
The aim of this work is to analyse situations of non-physical family violence among minors. In recent years, this reality has acquired significance in the study of family violence and in the notion that professionals play an essential role in detecting it. This research combines the views of three groups of experiences, taking into account the various perspectives of a complex phenomenon. Thirty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with victims of this violence, with persons who do not consider themselves victims and with professionals who have handled these situations. Clear risk factors were identified as a result, particularly violent relationships with the mother or father, violence between the couple, and addictions. It is also notable that the process of violence is highly likely to be repeated by the victims themselves. Of note in terms of the other groups are the underestimation of this violence and a lack of training among professionals.
Copyright (c) 2019 Cuadernos de Trabajo Social
Academic Performance, Quality of Life and Resilience in University Students of Social Sciences Degrees
The aim of this study is to identify whether there is a combination of dimensions constituting resilience based on their intensity within resilient profiles of a student sample. It also aims to analyze whether the obtained profiles influence students' academic performance and quality of life. Finally, differences in resilient profiles based on sociodemographic and academic variables were studied. The Resilience Scale (1993) and the Spanish version of the WHOQOL (2009) were administered to 516 students with different social science majors from two universities in Alicante, aged between 20 and 45 years (M = 22.25; SD = 4.33). Cluster analysis identified three resilient profiles: a first profile with high resilience, a profile with low resilience, and a third profile with low scores in personal competence, high personal and life acceptance, and low self-discipline. Additionally, statistically significant differences were found between profiles regarding students' academic performance and quality of life, with students exhibiting high resilience showing higher academic success and better quality of life. This highlights the need to work with resilience and design and develop courses with this potential to promote students' academic success and quality of life.
Copyright (c) 2026 Cuadernos de Trabajo Social
The right to social inclusion in the minimum insertion income: the coexistence between the Valencian Inclusion Income and the Minimum Vital Income.
Minimum income schemes have traditionally been instruments developed by regional governments to guarantee a basic income and facilitate the social and professional integration of beneficiaries through the design of socio-labour integration itineraries and economic and professional incentives. The implementation of the Vital Minimum Income by the General State Administration marked a turning point in the minimum income landscape in Spain. Therefore, the aim of this article is to analyze the development of social inclusion itineraries in the Valencian Community, as well as the coexistence of the Valencian Inclusion Income and the Vital Minimum Income, from the perspective of governance by different administrative levels. To this end, the article focuses on the analysis of the Pilotem project, which aims to promote and develop social inclusion itineraries for minimum income beneficiaries, examining its nature, scope, and results. One of the main findings is that, despite mechanisms and strategies designed to promote the coexistence of the two benefits, certain barriers and limitations have been identified, both in terms of management and governance, as well as the identification of certain prejudices among users, such as the perception of excessive costs. Among the main conclusions, it is advocated to overcome the limitations implied by the lack of interoperability between the Social Security and the Valencian Public System of Social Services, as well as the observation of the results of the Pilotem Valencian Public System of Social Services, as well as the observation of the results from the experience of the Pilotem project in order to improve the efficiency of the professional provision of the RVI. Among the main conclusions, it is advocated to overcome the limitations implied by the lack of interoperability between the Social Security and the Valencian Public System of Social Services, as well as the observation of the results from the experience of the Pilotem project in order to improve the efficiency of the professional provision of the RVI.
One hundred years of social work in the Spanish language: an approach to the disciplinary debates of the scientific literature in Web of Science.
The article reports on a study focused on the main Spanish-speaking debates in the scientific literature of social work, commemorating a century of disciplinary development. The study uses a bibliometric design to explore scientific production in the Web of Science database, covering the period from 2008 to 2024, conducting two searches within the Social Work category in the main WoS catalogue. Among the main findings, a significant asymmetry between scientific production in English and Spanish emerges, highlighting the predominance of Anglo-Saxon publications and the underrepresentation of works in Spanish: there are differences of 100 to 1 in total publications and from 200 to 1 in citations recorded. Through an analysis of the conceptual structure of the documents analysed, the study identifies two central and prominent clusters of debates in the Spanish-speaking disciplinary scientific literature, focusing on concepts such as family, community, resilience, disability, networks, social work, social intervention, education, and human rights. These themes suggest they form the foundation upon which much of the Spanish-speaking social work debates are built. The analysis underscores the need to strengthen the visibility and impact of scientific production in Spanish in order to balance the geopolitical representation of knowledge and aim for its democratisation.
Art and Social Change: A Methodological Proposal for Community Social Work
This study explores the intersection between art and Community Social Work, proposing an innovative methodology based on artistic practices. Through semi-structured interviews with social work professionals in the central region of Portugal, it was analyzed how artistic interventions can promote empowerment and capacity-building among individuals and communities. The results revealed that art, when used from a social perspective, can be an effective tool in addressing issues such as human rights, poverty, and inequality. Four key phases in the intervention were identified: diagnosis, planning, action, and closure. The research highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between social workers and artists, as well as the need to consider the socio-cultural context of the participants. This methodological approach provides social workers with a framework to implement art-based interventions, enhancing their ability to promote change and social justice. Furthermore, the study underscores the need for stronger training in artistic practices within social work education and suggests future research directions to validate and expand this methodological proposal in various social intervention contexts.
Contemporary challenges in child and adolescent protection systems from a social work perspective. A systematic review following the PRISMA Guidelines
The increase in the number of children and adolescents (NNA) assisted by protection systems highlights the need for comprehensive and coordinated approaches that capable of addressing their diverse needs. SOcial Work plays a key role in facilitating collaboration among professionals and consolidating effective support networks. This study aims to analyze the main current challenges faced by Social Work professionals in residential child care settings. To achieve this, a systematic review of scientific literature was conducted using the Scopus, Web of Science, and Dialnet databases, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in the selection of 69 studies published between 2013 and 2023. The analysis identified four key categories: addressing emerging mental health needs, training gaps among technical staff, professional accompaniment in rehabilitation processes and the role of Social Work in the adolescent emancipation stage. The findings reveal a paradigm shift in professional intervention, moving from an approach focused on basic care and institutional control to one based on comprehensive support, participation, and the strengthening of autonomy. This research contributes to highlighting the specific functions of Social Work within the protection system and offers guidance for future professional practices and public policies aimed at promoting the well-being of children and adolescents at risk.
La visita a domicilio: un estudio cualitativo multidimensional.
This article analyzes the influence of ethics, the helping relationship, the spaces involved, and the skills of professionals, on home visits. Although the initial study carried out employed a mixed method, this article shows the results obtained through a qualitative study with regards to the four factors mentioned above. It was carried out through focus groups comprised of public administration workers dedicated to social services, health, and education who conduct or have conducted home visits as part of their professional tasks. This proposal arises from the consideration of home visits as a professional practice featuring particularities that distinguish it from any other intervention within the field of Social Work. In this regard, the question of ethics is approached taking into account the conflicts exclusively associated with this type of intervention. The helping relationship also presents particularities related to the circumstances that benefit or hinder the forging of the link. As for the space, strategies are suggested that help ensure the quality of interviews. Lastly, the identification of professional skills will provide learning tools with the aim of increasing the efficacy of home visits.
The Professional reality of direct care social workers in municipal social services of Castilla y León
Professional reality is built in relation to the experiences of the professionals themselves. The aim of this research is to find out how social workers describe their direct care activity in the context of municipal social services in Castilla y León. A qualitative methodology is used from the Theory Driven approach. Based on the search for Doctoral Theses on the subject in the Spanish area, a codebook is created with the key elements: professional identity, disciplinary projection and object. In the qualitative online survey, 25 social workers participated. In the speeches, they refer to professional deontology as an element of support for the interventions. About the context, complaints and suggestions for change are expressed, reference is made to deprofessionalization coming from the field of the organization of social services. Care, relational social work and emotional stress are repeatedly mentioned. In conclusion, the participants identify with a deontologically based Social Work and use theories of change and motivation. They describe their main role of support from an emotional perspective. They are concerned about the deterioration of the quality of interventions due to the high bureaucracy and the high workload.
From the Traditional Interview to Dialogical Conversation in the Collaborative Practice of Social Work
While the terms 'interview' and 'dialogue' are sometimes used interchangeably, in the context of social action it is important to distinguish between them. The interview can be seen as a more structured form of information gathering, although, as we shall see, it is not, whereas dialogue represents a more open and collaborative approach to co-constructing meaning and exploring new possibilities. The interview can be characterised by an imbalance of power, with the interviewer in the role of expert and the interviewee in a subordinate position. The classical interview in social work, influenced by the medical-clinical model and casework, focused mainly on the search for behavioral change and the adaptation of the subject to the environment. From a more pragmatic point of view, the interview is considered as a technique for gathering information to make diagnoses and develop action plans. Dialogue from a collaborative practice is characterized by the participation of both professionals and citizens in the joint construction of meanings. It is not a mere transmission of information, but a process of co-creation of new perspectives and possibilities. Dialogue seeks a horizontal and egalitarian relationship in which the voices of both participants are heard with respect. There is recognition of each other's experience and knowledge. It is these differences of complementary contrasts that are addressed in this text for reading, analysis and open debate.
Social work and Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy: A systematic literature review
This paper provides a systematic review of the scientific literature from the last decade (2014-2024) on the relationship between social work and the voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP). Following the PRISMA methodology, 27 studies are identified and analysed. It is observed that reseach output from social work in this field remains scarce, particularly in European contexts, despite the clear social and professional relevance of the topic. Most of the work is concentrated in the United States and adopts quealitative designs, focusing on professional practices, training shortcomings, and the ethical dilemmas faced by those who support women through abortion processes. This review also highlights the tension between a medicalised view -which tends to interpret it as a traumatic experience- and the critical perspectives of social work, which promote interventions based on human rights, feminism, and reproductive justice. Furthermore, notable deficiencies are evident in the training of social work students, which limits their ability to intervene with competence and ethical sensitivity in this field. The article underscores the fundamental role of social work in the interdisciplinary approach to reproductive health and raises the need to strengthen its presence in professional teams, develop specific ethical frameworks, and incorporate reproductive rights into academic curricula. Ultimately, this review contributes to positioning abortion as a legitimate are of intervention and knowledge production within the discipline.
Hermida, M. E. & Campana, M. (eds.) (2025). Feminismos, giro afectivo y pensar situado. Aproximaciones desde la formación, la investigación y la intervención en Trabajo Social. Paraná: La Hendija Ediciones.
Cuando hay cuerpos que se enferman. El trabajo social, una profesión no querida
Covid and social work in Spain and Italy: From initial uncertainty to operational transformation of services
During the pandemic, social services underwent profound transformations, which directly affected both social workers and directly affects both social workers and clients. and the people who use them. They had to adapt quickly, incorporating preventive preventive measures, and adjusting working procedures. This article presents the main results of quantitative research carried out in Spain and replicated in Italy during the Spain, and replicated in Italy during the pandemic. In the survey, conducted between July and October of that year in Italy, involving 214 civil servants in the social services sector. officials working in the public and private social services sectors and 560 in Spain in the and 560 in Spain in April 2020, respectively. The results show the relevance of the factors that make professionals value the measures adopted both in their services and work. adopted both in their services and in their centers. It also takes into account. Those directly related to the vulnerable population were also considered. Vulnerable population. The perception of the measures was analyzed, as well as the methodological modifications in the action after the introduction of the measures. methodological modifications in action after the introduction of the changes. changes. The effect on the general public is also considered. All this, given that social services, as a result of this exceptional situation, have undergone and are undergoing relevant changes in their functioning, have undergone and are undergoing significant changes in their functioning and in their responses to the dynamics and and their responses to the dynamics and situations they deal with.
Copyright (c) 2025 Cuadernos de Trabajo Social
The Courtyard of My House: an Analysis of the Benefits of Group Intervention for Women in Homelessness from a Professional Perspective
Female homelessness is a complex and often invisible phenomenon, influenced by structural inequalities and the lack of a gender perspective in public policies, highlighting the need for tailored approaches for their social integration. This study explores group intervention as a strategy for the social integration of women experiencing homelessness, focusing on the initiative "El Patio de mi Casa." The objective is to understand social work professionals' perceptions of the impact of this intervention on women, identifying its benefits and key aspects for implementation. A qualitative methodology was employed, using structured interviews with ten professionals collaborating directly with homeless women in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The results show that group intervention facilitates socialization, empowerment, and the improvement of participants' emotional and physical well-being. The professionals recommend the permanent adoption of this initiative, indicating the need for methodological and logistical adaptations to optimize its impact. It is concluded that "El Patio de mi Casa" is an effective tool in promoting empowerment and social inclusion of homeless women, although its implementation requires a participatory approach and long-term commitment. Furthermore, the gap between theory and practice underscores the need to strengthen training in group interventions, ensuring that professionals are equipped to effectively address the complex needs of this group and promote sustainable social inclusion and recovery.
Scientific documents published on gender from the area of social work in recent decades: modeling based on SciMat software
The aim of this work is to analyze research published on the topic of gender in recent decades, based on the international bibliographic databases Web of Science and Journal Citation Reports, during the period from 1985 to 2023, distributed in four chronological stages. To achieve this aim, we retrieved all the works published in indexed international journals in the categories of gender and social work and the most agreed-upon keywords in the specific thesaurus. SciMat software is used as a research analysis tool in the methodology, to select the importance of each topic by virtue of its two-dimensional space or strategic diagram. Likewise, performance measures are determined to evaluate the strategic diagrams in each thematic area based on the number of published documents, citations and H-index. We also analyze the content of scientific works using science mapping techniques and identify the most significant and emerging themes of research that may be of special interest for scientific production. Based on the data, we conclude that the key areas of interest for the scientific social work community that is researching gender issues are intersectionality, health, gender orientation and identity, violence and family. Scientific production has been increasing in this regard in recent years, in parallel with underlying social changes in terms of gender and equality. To the contrary, feminism and work have been less frequent subjects for publication in the more recent stages, in tune with the new focuses of interest for researchers.
Homotransphobia and intersectional violence based on complaints to the police in the State of Sergipe, Brazil (2015-2018)
This article is the result of original research using the analytical tool of intersectionality in relation to cases of violence against sexual and gender diversity, recorded through police reports (B.O) filed in police stations of the Sergipe Public SafetySecretariat (SSP/SE) in Brazil between 2015 and 2018. The mapping was carried out on the SSP/SE intranet system using 32 keywords that served as search sources, with 305 police reports found that contained accusations of homophobic, transphobic and homotransphobic motivations. The methodological approach was based on a qualitative-quantitative, descriptive and documentary analysis and on authors who discuss homotransphobic violence, public safety and sexual and gender diversity. The results show that the majority of the complaints analyzed fit into nine different types of intersectional oppression: ageism, aporophobia, fatphobia, prejudice against people with disabilities, racism, sexism, serophobia and xenophobia. In some cases, more than one type of oppression was present, and most of the situations of violence reported were recurrent, causing serious consequences for victims and non-victims, and affecting all social agents, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual characteristics and/or gender expressions. This reality emphasizes the social nature of homotransphobia, as well as the need for society as a whole to actively engage in the process of preventing and combating all forms of oppression.
Evaluation of Specialized Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Intervention Programmes
The concern for the violation of children's rights has increased in Chilean society. The following study seeks to evaluate the ways in which specialized comprehensive intervention programs (PIE) operate in response to therapeutically to various forms of rights violations against children. It uses a mixed methodology addressing critical elements linked to the design, process and results of the program, geographically located in the cities of La Calera, La Ligua, Ovalle and Los Vilos. It is concluded that the intervention models used are statistically effective but they present strong contradictions associated with an increasingly non-specific profile of the users, which translates into resistance and theoretical-methodological adaptations from the therapists.
The post-adoptive experience of intercountry adoption families in Catalonia: A quantitative study in social work
This article presents an image of the post-adoptive panorama in intercountry adoption in Catalonia. It explores the families’ preparation for adoption, the post-adoption needs and resources used, with a special regard on the social work role. It is based on the families’ experiences and opinions collected in a questionnaire applied in 2022-23 in the framework of the doctoral research "Intercountry adoption in Catalonia in the post-adoptive phase. A look from social work”. A total of 355 families with sons and daughters from a total of 23 different countries answered the online questionnaire anonymously. Results are on family communication, pre and post-adoption care, including the experience on the compulsory follow up stablished by each country of origin. Conclusions are both about the problems in family adaptation and in the relationship with the services and organizations that have accompanied the families, with special emphasis on the social worker figure. Recommendations are drawn from these conclusions to strengthen the protection system for this group. Reflections are also presented regarding the expressed and detected needs in the families and in relation to professional accompaniment, especially the role played by social work.
Integration of the combined methodology in the field of Social Sciences and Social Work. An example of practical use in research
Social work research is restricted to the social sciences and their methodology. Developing rigorous and high-quality knowledge involves the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. The mixed-methods approach has undeniably contributed to the understanding and knowledge of social phenomena, and its development and implementation is booming. This article presents a study carried out with mixed-methods methodology in a field of social work involving people with dementia who are cared for at home by cohabiting family members. The psychosocial adaptation and quality of life of family carers is analysed using a mixed-methods data analysis. The results show how a mixed-methods approach makes it possible to delve into the causes and elements that affect care, explain the experiences of the people interviewed and lay the foundations for a recently implemented intervention project. The use of this methodological practice in the field of social work research is hence examined in detail.
Male violence and housing exclusion: barriers to intervention based on professional experience in the Balearic Islands
Female experiences of housing exclusion have been an invisible reality where high rates of violence are identified, but there are no specific services that cater to this profile of women in the Balearic Islands. This paper aims to explore the main barriers that professionals identify in interventions in the context of housing shelter services or male violence. For this purpose, 42 interviews were carried out with professionals from different services in the Balearic Islands regional community. The main results show us that there certain profiles of women receive less attention due to their difficulties; that violence and housing exclusion are interrelated, making it difficult to provide separate attention; and that structural difficulties such as the price of housing, barriers to benefits and high demand for facilities make it difficult to attend to women. For all these reasons, we believe that it is important to incorporate a gender perspective into interventions with homeless women, including more training for professionals and a greater provision of resources for this group.
Socializing agents and prevention of alcohol consumption in young people in Instagram times: a shared responsibility
The aim of this study is to analyse the role of the family and institutional social agents in relation to alcohol consumption and use of social networks among young people. The research methodology consisted of in-depth interviews and discussion groups conducted with people under 24 years of age who maintain profiles on the Instagram social network. The results of this study show that alcohol use among young people is normalised in the family environment and the dominant discourse focuses on responsible use. Social media contributes to this normalisation, with frequent publications of friends or family members engaging in risky behavior, with alcohol consumption to the forefront. In view of these findings, it is considered essential to carry out interventions in family and institutional contexts (education, health and others), including interaction social spaces such as Instagram and other online communities. We believe that social work plays an important role in the improvement of health and that it is key to prevent the abuse of psychoactive substances through the development of preventive intervention programmes and policies aimed at young people.
Precarious work as predictor of moral harassment in the Brazilian Unified Social Assistance System (USAS)
In the logic of neoliberal managerialism, the intensification of work, the cult of performance, and the pursuit of productivity and profit at the expense of labor rights and workers’ health exacerbate abusive management practices such as moral harassment. This study investigated whether different dimensions of precarious work would predict moral harassment in a sample of 747 SUAS workers, with a mean age of 38.34 years (SD = 8.22) and predominantly female (88.6%). A sociodemographic questionnaire was used, along with the Moral Harassment Workplace Scale (MHWS) and the Perception Scale of Work Conditions Quality and Employment Bond (PSWCQEB). “Quality of Employment Bond,” “Quality of Interprofessional Relations and Workplace Equality” and “Precarious Work” were significant predictors of this type of harassment, explaining 35% of variance in moral harassment due to labor conditions. “Quality of Interprofessional Relations and Workplace Equality” and “Healthy and Safe Work Environment” explained 13% of variance in moral harassment due to prejudice. “Quality of Interprofessional Relations and Workplace Equality” was negatively associated with moral harassment in situations involving humiliation, explaining 32.3% of variance. The study concludes that moral harassment and precarious work are interconnected phenomena that impact SUAS workers and reflect the logics of capitalist social relations of production and neoliberalism, even in the context of public management. Keywords: Moral harassment; precarious work, Unified Social Assistance System; multiple regression analysis; workers.
Trends in scientific production on dependency in the elderly from the perspective of Social Work. Scientific mapping of the period 2006-2023
This paper uses a bibliometric methodology to examine research developments and trends with relation to dependency and older adults, taking the WOS database as a reference to identify the most cited studies, the most influential journals and the leading countries and authors in the field. The analysis reveals a significant increase in dependency-related publications since the early 2000s, suggesting a growing academic and practical interest. The paper also highlights the most popular areas of research, such as health and social aspects, as well as other areas of developing interest such as prevention. The implications of these findings for future studies are also discussed, with an emphasis placed on the need for multidisciplinary approaches and the integration of new technologies and analysis methodologies. In summary, this literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of dependence research, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners interested in this expanding area.
Mayte Echezarreta Ferrer. La residencia de los gerontoinimigrantes. Derechos y obligaciones de los jubilados extranjeros en los lugares europeos de retiro. Editorial Tirant lo Blanch, Colección Monografías, 1ª Edición, Valencia, 2016, 382 págs., ISBN13: 9788490869178
Assessment and diagnosis of social hardship situations through the SISO tool: demonstration of stability in measurement
Assessment and diagnosis form part of the methodological process of intervention in social work and of the services provided by the public social services system. In this context, instruments are needed to assess situations of social exclusion. This article reviews the leading measurement tools and examines the stability of the SiSo tool for the assessment and diagnosis of inclusion and exclusion in terms of social position. The adequacy of the areas that make up this measurement instrument and the ordinality of the proposed items are analysed based on the data from first-level the professional assessments of the first level of the Castilla-La Mancha public social services system. Statistical analyses were conducted with a total of 44,196 assessments of cohabitation units recorded using the tool from 2018 to 2023. The results achieve a high degree of validity and reliability, endorsed by the similarity of results obtained for the different years. These are significant findings insofar as professional decision-making in social inclusion policies requires valid and reliable diagnostic tools.
“Steps are taken that homogenize women”: a critical approach to social intervention with victims of gender-based violence
This article offers a critical approach of social interventions in the field of gender-based violence through five semi-structured interviews to social workers in the same field. We stem from the feminist criticism of punitive approaches in gender-based violence situations, which infantilize and homogenize women, and widen the scope of what it is understood for gender-based violence in the Spanish context. Along these lines, the interviewed social workers share their frustration in terms of working in a field where they lack resources – especially economical, housing and professional training resources– even though resistance strategies that connect with the community are developed. This last aspect is emphasized as a way of including intersectionality and, therefore, heterogeneity and the particularities of each situation in social approaches, leading the way towards reparation and not only punishment.
Women’s homelessness in Spain: An approach from the perspective of professionals working in social exclusion services
The National Strategy to combat homelessness in Spain 2023-2030 places a particular emphasis on female homelessness, highlighting the need for specific measures to address the vulnerabilities of homeless women. This study aims to identify the profile of women accessing social exclusion services in Spain, based on the perspective of professionals in the sector. A survey was carried out among 297 resource workers serving homeless women, selected from a non-probabilistic convenience sample. Data were analysed through descriptive and bivariate analysis with statistical tests to identify significant differences between variables. The resources that serve homeless women vary between residential, day centres and soup kitchens, with most of the women served being middle-aged, single mothers, and mostly immigrants. According to professionals' responses, significant differences are observed in terms of addictions and mental health, with Spanish women presenting higher rates of addiction and mental health problems compared to migrant women. In addition, migrant women, especially young women, face greater difficulties, such as administrative irregularity. This study reveals the complexity of female homelessness and the need for more targeted and differentiated approaches in care services. Differences between indigenous and immigrant women, or between different age groups, underline the importance of designing tailored interventions that address the particular vulnerabilities of each group.
Community Problematization of Suicide: Recommendations for Local, Regional, and National Plans and Strategies
The framing of suicide as a public health issue and its exclusive treatment by healthcare institutions is conditioned by a predominantly biomedical and psychologistic perspective, and therefore, one that tends to individualization. While this is helpful for targeted care in the prevention, intervention, or postvention of suicidal behavior, it presents a significant limitation when designing plans and strategies that address cultural factors and socioeconomic context. Therefore, this limitation can become a barrier to effectively implementing and measuring selective and universal actions in populations particularly affected by suicide. Contrary to the goal of improving interventions, this approach leads then to stigmatization and medicalized interpretations of suicidal behavior that neglect the social fabric –an element explicitly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this regard, the present article proposes a theoretical and literature-based review of the elements that define a community approach to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, in line with WHO standards and those of the field of Social Work. The main goal of this work is to highlight a research line that not only addresses suicide from a community-based approach but also considers alternative frameworks for the development of public policies at various administrative and territorial levels.