for counteracting consumer over indebtedness of empowering practice

Transcription

1 Towards a social work framework for counteracting consumer over indebtedness The importance of empowering practice ENSACT Dubrovnik Conference European Network of Social Action 29/04/2009 Jan Brodala, KHKempen Geel, Belgium Department Social Work jan.brodala@khk.be

2 Over indebtedness is a social phenomenon and problem IFF, 2003, institute for financial services Household over indebtedness can have major negative consequences on individuals, businesses, financial institutions and economies OECD, 2005, organization for economic co-operation and development

3 Practice (complexity) Culture of learning and innovation, empowerment The SW er Person & Professionalism Organisation & leadership Participation Policy on the Local & supra local level Clients Networks & networking

4 Research project: Towards sustainable budget management Clients Participation in the training of the intermediary SW ers and jurists in cases of over indebtedness Researcher Research Delphi methodology Head of department OCMW Working together with (groups) of clients having debts SW er intermediary Networking: Learning group (social) sustainability Flemish centre of debt mediation

5 Four guidelines Person in environment: don t think one-dimensional in terms of being culpable or even guilty Many situations of over indebtedness are multi dimensional & problematic Empowerment is very crucial, 3 layers Always face the starting point and targets of social work Brodala, J., Van Regenmortel, T. (supervisor) (2007), "Schuldbemiddeling in Vlaamse OCMW's vanuit een empowerend perspectief K.U. Leuven

6 Always person in environment Helping people in situations of financial problems and over indebtedness requires working on change in behaviour AND simultaneously on change (improvement) in the environment and basic living conditions (social security) of people

7 The basics of Social Work Mary Ellen Richmond Social Diagnoses Person

8 A complex context and interaction Cuts down on the welfare state Temporariness of engagements Risk society Knowledge society

9 People lose control Debts because of financial i illiteracy Debts to survive Debts because of adaption to changed living situations and conditions

10 Td Today we live in a consumer society (Bauman) It affects our daily life Homo- emotionomicus Freedom of choice as leitmotiv

11 People lose control Debts because of overspending Debts because of making wrong choices Debts because of impulsive i buying Debts because of (psychological) l) processes of compensation

12 Shady sites of freedom & consumerism Increasing inequality and vulnerability Shallowness, feelings of emptiness, loss of giving i meaning, dissatisfaction Spoiling & infinity Impact on relationships

13 Empowerment Back to autonomy Action Develop own strengths Strength qualities Develop ppossibilities in society

14 Empowerment? Yes, if Working simultaneously on three interlaced layers By the clients and within the helping relationship (micro) Within the organisation and on the attitudes of debt mediators (meso) Within the society and the policy (macro) With regard to processes and situations of vulnerability

15 Empowerment by the clients and within the helping relationship (micro) The helping relationship is the corner stone Changing behaviour is a process To render justice to the basic needs of clients Protect and strength resilience Help and facilitate clients to get grip (again), to build critical consciousness, and build participation

16 Changing g behaviour is a process Permanent exit Maintain, consolidation Integration Make anchorage Relapse Feelings of shame blame Doubt about chances Pull out Action, active change Experience of success Positive labelling Self esteem Intervening exit Anxiety, Support Perspective Preparation & decision i Admit the problem = Self esteem Pre- Contemplation Dissonance Realization + & Balance Projection, Doubt Ambivalence START Denial Resilience Social pressure Prochaska & Diclemente

17 To render justice to the basic needs of clients Belonging to (I count) Having (and seeing) a future Being understood and respected by others Others recognize and appreciate your effort(s) Still have grip on your own life and still have the mandate to make your own choices Being a valuable person 2006 JP van de Sande RuG I have a problem, I am not a problem

18 Basic needs are dynamic, not static ti Self-realization needs The stren ngth of ne eeds Physical needs Certainty needs Social needs Recognition needs The order of needs (Ten Horn, 1994)

19 Protect and strength resilience External systems of support (Budget aid, Debt mediation) Four protective processes

20 Empowerment presupposes pp three goals and three interwoven activities Assist & help people to get grip on their own financial budget and living situation Assist & help people to be(come) critical and to build up critical consciousness about their behaviour & about their context Let people participate and assist them Let people participate and assist them to build up participation

21 Empowerment within the organisation and the attitudes of debt mediators (meso) Culture and leadership of the organisation and work support (supervision, management) Being aware of disciplinarian practices and not become a bailiff

22 Empowerment within society and policy(macro) Having rights but no resources is a cruel joke (Rappaport in Sullivan, 1992) Build on the experiences of clients. They are the keys for designing effective policy programs based on negotiated truth (Chapin, 1995)

23 With regard to processes and situations of vulnerability Uncertainty & existential doubts If you got through all those things as a child. You don t wish this to anybody. If you are taken away from your family and get placed in an institute I mean this makes a human think ( ) Yes, it makes my life to what it is today and it will always be part of me. It will never disappear. I think this uncertainty will be there for ever, even after ten years when I take care of myself. There will always be moments that I will come back and will ask again: am I doing well. I continuously need confirmation: am I on the right track? Even I often know I am doing well, I still continue doubting about myself (Client)

24 Private life spheres In the society Resilience Belonging to Having future To render justice to the basic needs of clients Understood and respected by others Others recognize and appreciate your effort(s) Still have grip on your own life and still have the mandate to make own choices Jan Brodala Vulnerability In the organisation Past Stabilize and reorganize (decent income) By the people Building empowerment practices within aid budget a d Uncertainty & Uncertainty existential doubts Today In the relationship Future Recognize efforts Mobilize strengths and enhance competences Build perspective Open up chances and possibilities Decent income Fields of life

25 Face the starting point and targets of social work The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles i of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. (Definition of social work, IFSW 2005)

26 A dream or do we set our shoulders A dream or do we set our shoulders to the wheel?