Donovan R, Kurzman P A, Rotman C
Hunter College School of Social Work, New York, NY.
Soc Work. 1993 Sep;38(5):579-85.
A school of social work with an occupational program specialization entered into an agreement with one of the largest trade unions in New York City to do a social and health services needs assessment for the union's newest members: home care workers. The vast majority of these home attendants are low-income African American and Latina women who care for frail aged and disabled Medicaid recipients to prevent nursing home placement. Structured interviews with a sample of 400 union members indicated a need for better health care coverage, especially for stress-related illnesses, along with personal social services to assist with housing, debt, child care, and family issues. The union used this independent university data in its subsequent collective bargaining and won expanded benefits for its members based on demonstrated need. The school then established a union-funded member assistance program to institutionalize ongoing support for these members. In the end, action research helped to create both social services and social change; low-income women of color have gained tangible new benefits; and social work's important ties to organized labor have been strengthened.
一所设有职业项目专业的社会工作学院与纽约市最大的工会之一达成协议，为该工会的最新成员——家庭护理员进行社会和健康服务需求评估。这些家庭护理员绝大多数是低收入的非裔美国人和拉丁裔女性，她们照顾体弱的老年人和领取医疗补助的残疾人，以防止他们被送进养老院。对400名工会成员的抽样进行的结构化访谈表明，他们需要更好的医疗保健覆盖，尤其是针对与压力相关的疾病，同时还需要个人社会服务来协助解决住房、债务、儿童保育和家庭问题。工会在随后的集体谈判中使用了这些来自独立大学的数据，并基于已证明的需求为其成员赢得了扩大的福利。该学院随后设立了一个由工会资助的成员援助项目，以使对这些成员的持续支持制度化。最终，行动研究有助于创造社会服务和社会变革；有色人种低收入女性获得了切实的新福利；社会工作与有组织的劳工之间的重要联系也得到了加强。
