This study aimed to develop a training program on crisis planning (CP) for mental health professionals and to examine the effects of its implementation. The training module was executed via a 120-minute workshop. In total, 51 study participants were recruited from the membership of three prefectural associations of mental health social workers. The effectiveness of the imparted training was measured via surveys administered and responses obtained one month before, immediately before, immediately after, and one month after the training module was implemented. A total of 35 respondents completed the measurements. A significant improvement was noted on every scale score in their CP efficacy between one month before and immediately after training, one month after training, immediately before and immediately after training, and one month after training. Thus, this training program may be positioned as an effective means of disseminating relevant content on hitherto untaught CP construction and utilization methods to mental health and welfare professionals.

This study explores the psychological and mental experiences of domestic violence survivors after their separation from their perpetrators and ascertains approaches that can offer them optimal support. Thirty domestic violence survivors were surveyed and interviewed to assess their psychological and mental experiences. The results revealed that 73.3% of domestic violence survivors were at high risk of posttraumatic stress disorder. Domestic violence survivors evinced higher posttraumatic growth scores than victims of motor vehicles or survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Despite facing ongoing psychological aggression in various aspects of their lives, Domestic violence survivors show resilience by using coping strategies every day. This study recognizes the strengths of Domestic violence survivors and highlights the value of offering comprehensive life-related assistance to introduce new possibilities to them. Empowering survivors and focusing on their resilience can serve as pivotal aspects of their journeys toward healing and recovery. A holistic support system must be developed to address the vulnerabilities of Domestic violence survivors and promote their well-being so they can lead healthier and more fulfilling lives after suffering prolonged traumatic experiences.

This article was written in the context of introspection about the functions of social workers working with peer support workers. It discusses user-oriented interventions based on the positioning and practical applications of the wisdom of service users as well as the knowledge acquired by professional social workers. Service users construct personal knowledge and values based on direct experiences and rights-based approaches. They use this so-called lived experience to offer peer support. Conversely, professional social workers regard their occupational competence in terms of the application of privileged, systematic, scientific knowledge and technical rationality. This article argues that dialogue-based reflection-in-action between social workers can posit ways of enabling the horizontal engagement of peer support practices. Their attained knowledge can be conveyed to advance the understanding of service users and can contribute to more appropriate user-centered interventions. In addition, dialogue-based reflection-in-action between social workers and peer support workers could extend the meaning of professionalism and enact a new professional identity in social work. Such a technique could also deliver a better grasp of power-control issue through an informed exchange of ideas and beliefs based on mutual respect and tolerance.

This study proposed to examine the varied factors inhibiting the use of the adult guardianship system, including the characteristics of rural mountainous areas and the social resources associated with the system. The term “long-term care insurance policy” tended to be utilized with relatively high frequency as an impetus for petitioning for adult guardianship. The state of social resources such as long-term care insurance services wielded some influence on the use of the adult guardianship system. Therefore, we hypothesized that the vulnerability of social resources, particularly evident in rural areas, disincentivizes the use of the adult guardianship system. We conducted an interview-based survey of employees of social welfare agencies engaged in the adult guardianship system and analyzed the data using Ochi’s (2011: 65) welfare accessibility analysis framework. The results revealed that poor access to long-term care insurance services made it difficult to connect with the adult guardianship system. The paucity of professionals managing real estate such as owner-occupied houses, mountains, and fields also served as a deterrent.

In 2017, Nagoya was nominated to participate in a regional model project conducted by the Ministry of Justice to promote the prevention of recidivism. In 2018, we conducted a study to ask members of 92 welfare and health assistance organizations in Nagoya about their FY2015–FY2017 experiences of assisting people who had been arrested. We also inquired whether these individuals had committed second offenses. The results revealed that 59 of the 92 organizations (67.0%) experienced assisting the study’s targeted population group. They confirmed that 26.9% of the 201 reported people had committed second offenses during the stipulated assistance period. The assistance providers identified 18 types of challenges positioned in four categories: individual attributes, family-related factors, support organizations, and prevention of recidivism. Prospective research initiatives should explore appropriate means of coordinating with the public prosecutor’s office and other city organizations to explore the possibilities of existing assistance schemes. If such assistance is proved insufficient, new types of assistance should be devised in the form of a municipal project.

This study aimed to discuss and propose ways to support sexuality-related education for people with intellectual disabilities in Japan and to examine the differences between Japan and Korea vis-à-vis the relevant contemporary circumstances and concerns. Thus, the authors visited Korean facilities and interviewed staff members. A staff member at the Gibbun Woori Welfare Center was interviewed about the process of producing easy-to-read booklets for people with intellectual disabilities. A staff member of the Jungnang Youth Sexual Culture Center was questioned about the purposes and contents of sexuality-related education for people with intellectual disabilities. The results revealed: (1) The booklet was produced from the perspective of conducting sexuality-related education as an aspect of lifelong learning rather than merely prohibiting problematic sexual behavior. (2) Sexuality-related education imparted at the Jungnang Youth Sexual Culture Center addresses ways in which people with intellectual disabilities can willingly choose and express their sexuality. The Japanese government has been reluctant to offer comprehensive sexuality education based on human rights and gender equality. However, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in Korea has followed the legal mandate encouraging the implementation of sexuality education and established specialized sexuality education institutions in every region.

This paper presents the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) oral history interview with Bartlett as commentary and materials. The purpose of this study is to examine the background and theory behind her 1970 book, The Common Base of Social Work Practice, from this interview. The study’s findings are noted as follows. First, Her book was influenced by Bill Gordon. Second, her 1961 book, Analyzing Social Work Practice by Fields was directly relevant. Third, we learned her intentions regarding the terminology of “Assessment”. From these, by her own explanation, the background of her 1970 book became clear. Fothermore, this interview allowed us to reconsider the unitary progress of social work in the early stages.