Assessing Social Work Practices in Early Child Care and Education projects; The Experiences of Selected NGOs in Addis Ababa
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Date
2021-11-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Early childhood is the most important span in a child’s life. Thus disadvantaged children in Ethiopia are lagging in their full developmental potential in their early years. Absence of quality and integrated interventions are amongst impediments. Hence, this study explored social work practice of early child hood care and education projects, assessing experience of selected three NGOs in Addis Ababa. A qualitative research approach was utilized. Purposive sampling was used to select 30 participants, including social workers, program managers, parents, and woredas experts. Data were collected using in-depth interviews by semi-structured interview guides. Additional data were also obtained from observations and document reviews. Thematic analysis was utilized and all sources of data triangulated for accuracy. The results unveiled education, health, parental education, and livelihood-securing activities are the key components of social work practices. The results further unveiled roles and responsibilities of social workers are assessment, facilitation, advocacy, mentoring, and community mobilization. Regarding parents’ perception they place a higher value on in-kind assistance rather than consciousness raising intervention and they have good attitude for social workers even if they are unaware about the profession. Lack of; resources, specific guidelines, a code of ethics, trainings, integrated service, and awareness about social work have all been identified as challenges hamper deployment of social work discipline pillars in early childhood development practice. The study has long-term implications for in-depth investigation of the studied topic, as well as standardization of social work practice to magnify its contribution to the delivery of high-quality early childhood education and care.
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Social Work Practice, Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Care and Education