Research on Social Work Practice in Egypt and the Arab World

Abstract

This article aims at introducing the research on social work practice in Egypt and the Arab World as a thematic topic. It has started with the essence of the current Arab World and its definition. Social work practice and models of social work intervention in this specific region have been described in terms of its specific and topographic nature. Three main contributors and players to research on social work practice have been included namely social work practitioners, academic social work researchers, and doctoral dissertations granted by Western universities to Arabs. The discussions and implications to research on social work practice in Egypt and the Arab World have been addressed.

Social work field education in the United Arab Emirates: Emerging standards, opportunities, and challenges

“…Although there is a diverse range of GCC social resources, programs, social benefits, and services that have developed to meet the welfare needs of citizens, social work is curtailed by a lack of infrastructure and lack of professional social workers (Sloan et al, 2017). Social work education is further constrained by limited regional social work literature, research, and textbooks, a lack of national and/or regional social work accreditation bodies, and a lack of professional social work organizations (Alkaabi, 2016; Megahead, 2017).…”

Social work education in the Middle East and North Africa: Students’ perspectives at 13 universities in 10 countries

“…Practice strategies taught in SW programs in the region have failed to keep pace with contemporary problems or to remain relevant to real-life issues, as found in studies in Egypt (Hamza, 2006;Al-Zobair, 2009) Insights from this study also raise questions about a social work model based on perspectives from the MENA region. Findings point to a disconnect between social work education and practice in the MENA region as perceived by students, and this may be attributed to the SWE system's basis on the Western-more specifically the American-model, as some scholars have examined (Al-Shuaibi, 2005;Mokhtar, 2006;Soliman & Abd Elmegied, 2010;Megahead, 2016;Al-Makhamreh & Libal, 2012). Implementing Western standards without critical assessment produces issues of ethics, cultural competence and efficacy (Ferguson, 2005;Holtzhausen, 2011;Lyngstad, 2013;Sloan et al, 2017).…”

Non-kinship family foster care in Egypt

“…An experimental study was commissioned by the General Union of Juvenile Welfare and supervised by the Ministry of Social Affairs. This took place over two years, from 1957 to 1959, and involved 100 abandoned children aged between ten months and seven years from the Cairo region (Megahead, 2017; Mustafa and Eywais, 1980). Half the children were randomly placed with governesses and the other half with foster families selected from the 500 who applied.…”

“…This research project had profound implications for child welfare policy in Egypt and in 1961, 127 children were moved from governesses into foster care. A year later, all children (n = 800) placed with governesses were transferred to foster families (Megahead, 2017; Mustafa and Eywais, 1980) and the governess model ceased to exist. This change was reflected in legal reforms regarding birth registration.…”

“…In ancient Egypt the welfare of abandoned and poor children was the responsibility of the King (Patterson, 1973). Later, Islamic teachings established the principle of state responsibility towards all needy citizens and provided for its practical administration through the institutions of zakat and bait-al-mal – although these have weakened in Egypt owing to historical changes and diminishing religious observance (Hussein, 1954; Megahead, 2017; Ragab, 1980). In response to this, legislation covering the welfare of children became increasingly common after the 1930s.…”