Identifying Social Service Needs of Muslims Living in a Post 9/11 Era: The Role of Community-Based Organizations

Abstract

In this qualitative study the investigators sought to better understand the ways in which service provider organizations (n=19) working with Muslim service providers have adapted to the changing social and political contexts in a post-9/11 era in New York City, and how this changing environment has affected the types of services that Muslims need. Service providers described two general ways in which services were adapted: 1) they have sought to address limits in service delivery programs that were a result of emerging sociopolitical dynamics (such as increasing discrimination) through adaptations to existing programs or through the development of new initiatives, programs, and organizations; and 2) they have adapted programs and services to meet the emerging sociocultural demands (such as changing attitudes towards help-seeking, and presenting problems of services users) of the Muslim population. The study illustrated the role of service provider organizations in adapting existing services, or creating new services, in response to a changing sociopolitical context. Social work education must focus attention on how social workers can adapt and create organizations that are responsive to the changing needs of service users. More curriculum content is necessary on the intra- and inter-organizational context of direct social work practice, with particular attention to innovation and adaptation within and between human service organizations.

Social Change Efforts of Direct Service Nonprofits: The Role of Funding and Collaborations in Shaping Social Innovations

“…For example, Shier and Graham (2013) found that nonprofits providing services to Muslim service users in New York City had undertaken several initiatives -including adapting existing programs, restructuring methods of intervention, and creating wholly new organizationsfollowing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in that city. These efforts were undertaken to address the emerging need among that service user population and in response to the sociocultural shifts in public perception directed towards Muslims in that city, which impacted equitable access to employment and other public services (Shier & Graham, 2013).…”

“…These efforts were undertaken to address the emerging need among that service user population and in response to the sociocultural shifts in public perception directed towards Muslims in that city, which impacted equitable access to employment and other public services (Shier & Graham, 2013). Like this, other examples highlight nonprofits that seek to create social change beyond influencing public policy (See Boyd & Wilmoth, 2006;Gulati & Guest, 1990;Mulroy, 1997Mulroy, , 2004.…”

“…Product based innovations are those where new programs and services are created to meet emerging or unmet demand (Perri 6, 993). This might include the creation of entirely new programs and services or adaptations to the focus of existing programs and services (see for example : Shier & Graham, 2013). Finally, socially transformative innovations are those that seek to create wider systemic social change within the community more generally (Netting et al, 2007).…”

“…This includes playing a fundamental role in developing new programs and initiatives to meet unmet need (Shier & Graham, 2013), leading efforts at adapting intervention approaches or organizational practices within a service delivery sector to create better social outcomes (Mulroy & Shay, 1997), or undertaking public awareness and education initiatives to address negative socio-cultural perspectives within the community (Guo & Saxton, 2014). …”

Reconstructing the narratives around young Muslim men in the GTA

“…Overall, since there is relatively little work published in this field; the authors assert that there is a need for more social work texts dedicated to illuminating the needs of Muslim families in social work intervention. Shier and Graham's (2013) findings discussed that a few studies have looked at how community-based organizations that work with Muslim service users have responded to the changing sociopolitical context post 9/11. They also discussed that social work education could train students to better recognize and adapt to the implications of locality.…”