Empowering Single Mothers in Iran: Applying a Problem-Solving Model in Learning Groups to Develop Participants' Capacity to Improve Their Lives

Abstract

Short BiographyAddelyanRasi holds her BA and MA in social work and at present she is a doctoral student at Linkoping University in Sweden. She has worked as a social worker for more than 12 years and has taught social work for more than eight years in Iran. Her research covers areas in social work, psychology, neuroscience, public health and sociology. She has published one book in community social work and some paper in social problems. She has completed several relationships. This study suggests that empowerment-oriented social work can help many clients to achieve their goals, and that this psychosocial intervention project can be a useful model for social work in Iran and many other societies.

Re-visioning Child Protection Management Embedded in Family Empowerment

“…The concept of Rahyab is based on empowering clients with independent problem solving skills by strengthening cognitive and is also supported by evidence from neurobiological sciences which state that emotion and cognition compliment each other in facilitating adaptation in the environment through rational adaptability and behaviour (Purves, Brannon, Cabeza, Huettel, LaBar, Platt and Woldorff, 2008;Rasi et al, 2012;Damasio, 2003). The inspiring principles are also similar to radical pedagogy and dialogic perspective (Freire, 1970).…”

“…The discussion also advocates for the worker to develop a capacity for appropriate interaction with the client that facilitates mutual empowerment. The strengths focused intensive interaction approach connects and reinforces a number of empowerment approaches: social rights (Lee, 1996) due to elements of integration and discussion; social capability (Sen, 1999; in terms of support and capability building scope; social justice (Lee, 1996) through building connection (with client) through support in fairness; human reflexivity (Simon, 1990) in terms of building positive awareness about positive wellbeing needs; people empower people (Freire, 1970) through strength based interactions; human development (Haque,1989) in terms of creating choices for clients for service, which matters to them; psychosocial (Speer and Paterson, 2000) to explore and monitor comprehensive needs of clients, which may not always be possible through limited interactions; community solidarity (ltzaky and Dekel, 2008) by enhancing the clients' sense of belonging with the service through increasing interactions and the Rahyab approach (Rasi et al, 2012) in terms of enhancing effective decision making skills, as a sign of improved cognitive and emotional functioning, through frequent professional interactions.…”

“…The empowerment perspectives have outlined different meanings, scopes and challenges of empowerment in terms of: social capability (Sen, 1984, Echavarri, 2003; generic human needs and an ability to be educated and empowered (Freire, 1970); social, cognitive and emotional skills development (Speer and Paterson, 2000); cognitive and emotional empowerment (Rasi et al, 2012); need for insight and critical self-reflection (Simon, 1990); need for social justice in the context of gender, race and economic inequality (Lee, 1996). The human development perspective advocates for freedom of choice and access to reasonable social resources to lead a dignified human life (Haque, 1989).…”

“…After analysing the nature and objectives of the approaches in a previous section of the chapter, the researcher noted a clear boundary in terms of stages of focus in the development process. The approaches have focused on impacting and influencing in the micro context like the individual and group level (Sen, 1984;Echavarri, 2003;Freire, 1970;Speer and Paterson, 2000;Rasi et al, 2012;Simon, 1990;Germain, 1991;Gutierrez, 1989;Haque, 1989;Lee, 1996) as well as in the macro context like the community or systemic level (Lee, 1996;Haque, 1989;Page and Chzuba, 1999;Itzhaky and Dekel, 2008;Song, 2011;Pernell, 1986). Some approaches have contributed in a universal context by contributing in individual, group and community/systemic or organisational domains 8 .…”

“…Itzhaky and Dekel (2008) noted that their empowerment experiment was successful largely because of the project's commitment to taking care of the participant's whole needs, which offered appropriate freedom to the participants to engage in the project. In another context, it is observed that even though financial support was organised for the participants under the Rahyab project (Rasi et al, 2012); the empowerment goals were not achieved for the specific participants who were not engaged appropriately and missed out on the benefits of support offered. Even though the project was entirely devoted to empowering the women in their individual context, the negative outcomes reiterated the value of practical support and associated motivational factors in engagement with the service (Itzhaky and Dekel, 2008).…”