Publikationer

Research | Forskning - peer review

Denne artikel omhandler et igangværende samarbejde mellem Kommuneqarfik Sermersooqs (hovedstadskommunen, hvor Nuuk ligger) opsøgende gadeteam og Ilisimatusarfiks Center for Arktisk Velfærd (ICAV), baseret på deltagende aktionsforskning. Målet med samarbejdet er at styrke kapaciteten blandt de ops… Denne artikel omhandler et igangværende samarbejde mellem Kommuneqarfik Sermersooqs (hovedstadskommunen, hvor Nuuk ligger) opsøgende gadeteam og Ilisimatusarfiks Center for Arktisk Velfærd (ICAV), baseret på deltagende aktionsforskning. Målet med samarbejdet er at styrke kapaciteten blandt de opsøgende socialarbejdere og give dem større overblik over deres job og faglige udvikling (UNDP, 2015). Kapacitetsopbygning og empowerment er begreber, der understøtter udviklingen af individer, fællesskaber og organisationer gennem socialt- og lokalsamfundsarbejde (Jones, 2010; Smith, 2015). Kapacitetsopbygning er helt specifikt en proces, som forbedrer individers og fællesskabers evne, viden og ressourcer og styrker dem til effektivt at nå deres mål og ambitioner (Brown, 2008). Dette koncept styrker principperne i lokalsamfundsarbejde ved at fokusere på ved hjælp af fællesskaber at opbygge de nødvendige færdigheder og ressourcer til selvfortalervirksomhed og initiering af ændringer. Samtidig giver empowerment individer de værktøjer og ressourcer, der er nødvendige for at tage styring over eget liv og træffe beslutninger som positivt påvirker deres trivsel. Dette udstyrer individer og fællesskaber med gå-på-modet til at fremme deres vækst og udvikling. Både kapacitetsopbygning og empowerment spiller sammen en betydelig rolle i at katalysere bæredygtig udvikling og social forandring (Lee, 2019). Derfor fungerer de som fundamentet for ethvert udviklingsprogram eller initiativ, der søger at tackle individuelle, gruppe- eller lokalsamfundsudfordringer (Smith & Jones, 2017). Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

In this chapter, we examine the ways in which socio-structural forms—particularly social difference and social policy—frame the reproduction of houselessness and homelessness amongst Greenlanders in Nuuk, Greenland. In addition to examining the forms of marginalization embodied by Greenlanders exper… In this chapter, we examine the ways in which socio-structural forms—particularly social difference and social policy—frame the reproduction of houselessness and homelessness amongst Greenlanders in Nuuk, Greenland. In addition to examining the forms of marginalization embodied by Greenlanders experiencing housing insecurity, we suggest that rising urban homelessness in Greenland represents the social dimensions of resettlement, rural-urban migration and social welfare institutionalization in local processes of urbanization. Moreover, the absence of specific social policy attention towards homelessness in general, and towards marginalized single adults specifically, is especially concerning. This policy gap serves to reproduce rural-urban homeless geographies in Greenland and between Greenland and Denmark, resulting not only in an increasing number of Greenlanders experiencing housing insecurity, but also in institutional geographies of homeless mobility that reflect persistent colonial relations embedded in resettlement and institutionalized social welfare. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

The following note reports on an ongoing participatory action research (PAR) collaboration between Kommuneqarfik Sermersooqs’ ‘Street Team’ and the Centre for Arctic Welfare (CAR) in Nuuk, Greenland. The primary task of the street team is to undertake outreach social work in areas and institutions i… The following note reports on an ongoing participatory action research (PAR) collaboration between Kommuneqarfik Sermersooqs’ ‘Street Team’ and the Centre for Arctic Welfare (CAR) in Nuuk, Greenland. The primary task of the street team is to undertake outreach social work in areas and institutions in Nuuk where marginalised and vulnerable adults frequent. The main aim of this outreach work is to establish contacts, build relationships, and unravel the underlying issues faced by the adults in focus. Subsequently, we build bridges between the individual needing help and the appropriate municipal agency. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Psykisk sundhed perspektiveres i denne artikel socialvidenskabeligt, og temaet behandles i relation til selvmordsproblematikken, som er vedvarende i Grønland. Derfor ser vi på, hvad et socialt orienteret blik kan bidrage til i forståelserne fra noget af den seneste socialpsykologiske og antropologis… Psykisk sundhed perspektiveres i denne artikel socialvidenskabeligt, og temaet behandles i relation til selvmordsproblematikken, som er vedvarende i Grønland. Derfor ser vi på, hvad et socialt orienteret blik kan bidrage til i forståelserne fra noget af den seneste socialpsykologiske og antropologiske viden på området. Kan en community orienteret tilgang supplere det nuværende forebyggelsesarbejde? Denne overvejelse er væsentlig at inddrage i betragtningerne, da effekten af de hidtidige indsatser ikke tilstrækkeligt kan aflæses i statistikken omkring selvmord. Det kan ses som et vægtigt supplement i samspil med arbejdet omkring at styrke den refleksive samtale og understøtte, at især unge i langt højere grad lærer at sætte ord på, hvordan de har det med deres psykiske sundhed. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Homelessness in Nuuk is a social issue that has been known for several years. In the 1970s Nuuk got it’s first shelter for women. In the 2010s some attention in the field has emerged with the establishment of a municipal night shelter and the opening of the Salvation Army day shelter and a Kofoeds S… Homelessness in Nuuk is a social issue that has been known for several years. In the 1970s Nuuk got it’s first shelter for women. In the 2010s some attention in the field has emerged with the establishment of a municipal night shelter and the opening of the Salvation Army day shelter and a Kofoeds Skole in Nuuk. Homelessness has not nearly gotten the same social policy focus as has children and their families. The lack of political attention to this topic is one of the reasons why there are yet large public planning challenges to be solved. In research based on prolonged fieldwork we can observe several challenges when homeless citizens try to engage with public agencies. The article draws on fieldwork and data from interviews in the field of social welfare and health care since 2010. A critical sociological perspective can create a new understanding of the challenges that lie in process of strengthening disempowered citizens’ autonomy. The article brings excerpts from interviews regarding the direct experience of the encounter between disempowered citizens and public systems. It points to some solutions through an enhanced crosssectorial and communicative action. Public systems can, without losing function and power, hand over sovereignty to the citizens. Such efforts may in the long run create a more equal Greenlandic society. Læs mere