Emergence of social work practice in rural China: A way forward?. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meng, Qian; Gray, Mel; Bradt, Lieve; Roets, Griet
• Is Part Of: International social work. Volume 62:Number 2(2019:Mar.)
• Page Start: 933
• Page End: 943
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: China -- global definition of social work -- indigenisation of social work -- social work in rural China -- socioeconomic reform; Social service -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1177/0020872818755859
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8728

Abstract

Following massive socioeconomic reforms over the past three decades, social work in the People's Republic of China (hereafter China) has developed at an unprecedented pace. To respond to social issues arising from accelerated economic development, the government has launched a large-scale programme to train a professional social work workforce of 1.45 million by 2020. Social work in mainland China has developed, and continues to develop, rapidly in major urban centres, while rural areas remain largely neglected. This article describes developmental issues in rural China and argues that social work requires indigenised knowledge and interventions to address context-specific problems.