Social work is a relatively new profession in Mongolia. Mongolian social workers have made significant achievements and faced challenges for the past 29 years. Similar to the development of the profession, the positions of social workers were created for the government grassroot offices of Ulaanbaatar. From the beginning, their legally accepted positions play an important role in addressing grassroots social issues. However, Mongolian government child protective agencies recruit non social workers to professional social work positions. In examining social workers' perceptions of protective factors for children under 6 years of age, the study used a mixed methods approach collecting quantitative from 254 and qualitative data from 30 grassroot social workers of Ulaanbaatar. Data were collected via survey and interview and analyzed using the socio-ecological model to understand the relationships between social workers' background training and their perceptions about protective factors at various levels of human ecology.
Findings
There was no clear difference in social worker's perspectives because of their background or qualifications. Findings revealed that from 20 protective factors, those most agreed upon were family and community related. Social workers' application of protective factors appeared more informed by their own social and family contexts rather than their education in social work/welfare.
Applications
Formal social work education should include topics about understanding the child's context and focus on protective factors and strengths. These should be used for prevention and advocacy in the child protection system. Only qualified social workers should hold social work positions for an effective protective practice.
AgerA. (2013). Annual research review: Resilience and child well-being-public policy implications. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(4), 488–500. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12030
BronfenbrennerU. (1979). The Ecology of human development: Experiment by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
8.
Connolly, M. (2007). Practice frameworks: Conceptual maps to guide interventions in child welfare. British Journal of Social Work, 37(5), 825–837. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcl049
9.
CreswellJ.ClarkV. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage Publications, Inc.
10.
CrottyM. (1998). Five steps towards portraying phenomen. In HiggsJ. (Ed.), Writing qualitative research (pp. 151–160). Hampden Press.
DolgoffR.HarringtonD.LoewenbergF. M. (2012). Ethical decisions for social work practice (9th ed.). Brooks/Cole, Gengage Learning.
13.
FakunmojuS. B.BamnekeF. O.Antwi BosiakohT.AsanteR. K. B.WootenN. R.HillA. C.KarpmanH. (2013). Perception and determination of child maltreatment: Exploratory comparisons across three countries. Children and Youth Service Review, 35(9), 1418–1430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.06.001
14.
GarbarinoJ. (1977). Human ecology of child maltreatment: A conceptual model for research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 39(4), 721–735. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.2307/350477 https://doi.org/10.2307/350477
15.
GarbarinoJ. (2014). Ecological perspective on child well-being. In Ben-AriehA.CasasA.FronesI.KorbinJ. (Eds), Handbook of child well-being: Theories, methods, and policies in global perspectives (pp. 1365–1384). Springer.
16.
GarbarinoJ.KostelnyK. (1992). Child maltreatment as a community problem. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16(4), 455–464. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/0145-2134(92)90062-V https://doi.org/10.1016/0145-2134(92)90062-V
17.
GarmezyN. (1985). Stress-resistant children: Search for protective factors. In StevensonE. (Ed.), Recent research in developmental psychopathology: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry book supplement, No.4 (pp. 213–229). Pergamon Press Ltd.
Jean-TornA.Tremblay-PerreaultA.DubeV.HebertM. (2023). A systematic review of community-level protective factors in children exposed to maltreatment. Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 24(4), 2827–2842. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221117234
21.
KhuajinU. (2021, May 22). Development and system of Mongolian social work education. [Oral presentation]. Webinar Series on Current situations of Mongolian social work. Mongolian Federation of Social Welfare Agencies.
22.
LittleM. (1999). Prevention and early intervention with children in need: Definitions, principles and examples of good practice. Children and Society, 13(4), 303–316. https://eric.ed..gov/?id=EJ595799
LkhagvasurenK.DavaaS. (2010). Child protection multidisciplinary team: Existing practice in Mongolia. SCJ Mongolia Office.
25.
MastenA.ReedM. (2005). Resilience in development. In SnyderC. R.LopezS. J. (Eds), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 145–168). Oxford University Press.
Mongolian Agency for Standard and Metrology. (2009). Social work high education standard: MNS 5323-94:2009. MASM.
28.
MonnickendamM.KatzC.MonnickendamM. (2010). Social workers serving poor clients: Perceptions of poverty and social service. British Journal of Social Work, 40(3), 911–927. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcp001
29.
NamdaldagvaO.MyagmarjavS.BurnetteD. (2010). Professional social work education in Mongolia: Achievements, lessons learned and future directions. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 29(8), 882–895. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2010.517017
30.
National Statistical Office, NSO. (2020). Mongolia: Census 2020. National Statistical.
PayneM. (2007). What is professional social work?Lyceum.
40.
QuietaR. (2002). Evaluation of the development of the social work department project (1997-2001). Save the Chilren.
41.
RutterM. (1979). Protective factors in children's response to stress and disadvantages. In KentM. W.RolfJ. E. (Eds), Social competence in children (pp. 49–74). University Press of New England.
42.
RutterM. (1989). Pathways from childhood to adult life. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30(1), 23–51. https://https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00768.x
43.
SandagsurenO. (2014). Theory and practice: Interview with Mrs. Otgondelger Sandagsuren. Social Work Management, 1(1), 6–9.
44.
ScannapiecoM.Connell-CarrickK. (2005). Understanding child maltreatment: An Ecological and Developmental Perspective. Oxford University Press.
45.
TserendorjE.TerbishA. (2007). Situation analysis of khoroo social workers. Save the Children UK.
46.
UngarM.GhazinourM.RichterJ. (2013). Annual research review: What is resilience within the social ecology of human development. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(4), 348–366.https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12025
47.
Vanderbilt-AdrianceE.ShawD. (2008). Protective factors and the development of resilience in the context of neighborhood disadvantage. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(6), 887–901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-008-9220-1
48.
YounasF.GutmanL. M. (2023). Parental risk and protective factors in child maltreatment: A systematic review of the evidence. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 24(5), 3697–3714. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221134634
