Discussion: National and International Challenges

Human services professionals who focus on rectifying human rights violations, social problems, mental health, or welfare needs often do so on a national and international level. In the national and international sphere, there is a great need for social change agents, leaders, and advocates on behalf of human rights, as well as for other issues. Attempting to address these issues at the national and international levels presents a unique set of challenges for human services professionals.  

To prepare:

• Select one national and one international challenge      related to human and social services professions and/or the roles and      responsibilities of human and social services professionals anywhere in      the world. These should be challenges you or a professional might face      when attempting to address issues at the national and international      levels, such as professional recognition, apathy, or cultural barriers. 
• Think about why addressing these challenges is      important to the profession, as well as what difference its resolution or      improvement might make. 

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief description of the national and international challenges related to human and social services professions you selected. Explain why addressing these challenges is important to the profession and what difference their resolution or improvement might make. Be specific, and provide examples to illustrate your points.

Required Readings

Homan, M. S. (2016). Promoting community change: Making it happen in the real world (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.

· Chapter 8, “Powerful Planning” (pp. 228–258)

· Chapter 11, “Building the Organized Effort” (pp. 451–473) 

Bost, E. (2009). Innovative human service lessonsfor—and learned from—South Africa. Policy & Practice, 67(2), 33. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. (Accession No. 39788791)

Mayhew, F. (2012). Human service delivery in a multi-tier system: The subtleties of collaboration among partners. Journal of Health & Human Services Administration, 35(1), 109–135. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

National Organization for Human Services. (n.d.). Ethical standards for human service professionals. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals

Wa Mungai, N. (2013). Afrocentric approaches to working with immigrant communities. International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice, 1(1), 45–53. Retrieved from http://www.hrpub.org/download/201309/ijrh.2013.010108.pdf

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2009d). Profession-related change application—National and international [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.

Optional Resources

Stephenson, M. (2005). Making humanitarian relief networks more effective: Operational coordination, trust and sense making. Disasters, 29(4), 337–350. Retrieved from http://www.ipg.vt.edu/papers/MS_ARNOVA_Humanitarian_II_Final.pdf