‘T-W-O’: external challenges and coping strategies of Chinese social work service organisations during the epidemic
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: During the peak years of COVID-19, Chinese social work service organisations actively participated in the preventing and controlling of the pandemic. These organisations also faced external challenges that reflected changing public health policies, contractual and fiscal changes, and immense service needs. This paper describes the specific external challenges that a purposive sample of 11 Beijing-based social work service organisations experienced because of the pandemic, as well as the strategies they used to address them. We find that project and fiscal precarity were the greatest external risks faced by social service organisations. In order to mitigate these concerns, the organisations actively explored new directions for service development and programme funding as they sought to change their operational thinking. In order for social service organisations to remain resilient under conditions of immense external risks, they must remain focused on continuously improving and innovating in the delivery of social work services. We provide implications for researchers and organisational leaders.
Source: China Journal of Social Work
Authors: Bin Xu, Bowen McBeath, Haobo Xi
Language: English
Subfield: Public Administration
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4405019103