Social Work and Environment - Sustainable Communities Helena Belchior Rocha - helenar2@hotmail.com 1

Doctoral thesis in progress with the title "Social Work and Environment - Ecological sustainability of social vulnerable communities.“ The environmental issue analyzed in a context of sustainable development introduces significant changes in social and academic settings and points to the necessary interdisciplinary approach and critical process.

Sustainable Development Conceptual thinking - Sustainable development Environment Interdisciplinarity Sustainable Development economic, social, political, institutional, cultural, ecological, territorial, human

Preliminary questions: What are the relationships between environmental issues and social services? What justifies the practice of social workers in this space? What role falls to the Social Work with interdisciplinary teams to research projects focused on the environment?

Projects like the Eco-villas allow the articulation of social work praxis with new ecological paradigms, empowerment approach and inclusion. The idea is to create a model that combines the Multifocal Vision (Lee, Judith, 2001), the Empowerment Approach and the concept of Ecological Communities.

Portugal is deeply affected by the changes brought by the globalization of markets and the advance of neo-liberalism. Currently, the country experiences a moment of uncertainty, because the re-arrangements of the international policies further deepened the differences. The return to questioning that we have seen in various sectors of social life means nothing but the search for a new social order, consequence of the rapidly changing of societies and that gave rise to questions about the implications of the new European Social Policy Agenda in the professional practice of social workers in terms of its principles / values and ethical-political foundations.

In the contemporary world, environmental issues cross all areas of social life and knowledge. New challenges are placed because of the society changes, resulting from advances in technology and science. On the other hand, rights level, is one of questions faced by social workers, at a time, when, there are new frameworks of social policies and rights are undermine.

Due to its characteristics and history the Boavista neighborhood was the subject of this preliminary study for the PhD thesis in process. The origin of Boavista dates back to 1938. Portugal was a little industry, with mainstream services and domestic economies, one of the lowest in Europe. Boavista in 1938

Since then this neighborhood had seven stages of implementation. On May 1, 1997, the Lisbon City Hall created Gebalis - Company Management of Municipal Districts of Lisbon, Public Company, which mission, as a company, is the management, maintenance and modernization of the municipal districts and promoting the social integration of its residents.

The Lisbon City Hall wanted to implant in the district, an eco neighborhood (eco-villa) and worked for two years on the project that was presented to the European Community and approved in January 2010. Through a local partnership between the Lisbon City Hall and Gebalis a protocol was signed for the application of an action called "policy of cities - partnerships for urban regeneration" "Eco-Neighborhood Boavista-Environment + - An Integrated model for Sustainable Innovation.

In terms of methodology we chose to use the inductive method, supported by using techniques of data collection such as: documental research which will gather some literature able to frame the issue; questionnaire developed to be applied as a composite sample for 30 individuals living in the neighborhood of Boavista to make a first approach to a target population of the project under study; four (4) semi-directive interviews to social workers specialists in community intervention directly or indirectly linked to the issues of resettlement in housing estates.

The variables chosen for the survey were: Age, sex, marital status, education, work status, number of members of the household, number of employees of the household, living conditions, neighborhood infrastructure (in this case 80% consider good the piped water neighborhood services, the Cleanness of the Streets is medium (60%) and the sewage as well. Public safety was the variable considered most poor (70%), access to other neighborhoods and transportation were classified as medium, as well as street lighting; school / nursery, ranged from medium (50%) and Bad (20%); there is no public health center in the neighborhood, recreation areas and local businesses, so the opinion shared by the respondents was between medium and bad.

We understood by the observation made in loco that the infrastructures of the neighborhood are weak and that the residents would like to see them improved. Other variables are residence time in the neighborhood, like to live in the neighborhood (the majority of respondents (80%) like to live in neighborhood and justified by saying that the reasons are because they have a house, other because they live in the neighborhood for many years, have become accustomed and because of friendships. Other people (20%) do not like living in the neighborhood because of: drug trafficking, insecurity, discrimination or they have no choice.

Know what is an eco-neighborhood (the majority of respondents do not know what is an Eco-neighborhood (70%) and the remaining 30% say they know, but can’t explain well). Do you know the project for the New Eco-neighborhood: The majority of respondents are aware of the project (Eco-Neighborhood) (60%) and the remaining 40% said they do not know, never heard. Do you consider the project good for the neighborhood all respondents consider good for the neighborhood this new project.

However, the need to understand that this issue poses a challenge for the professionals in the exercise of their profession we created a selection criterion for the interviews, namely, to exercise any institutional responsibility and possess academic reflection on the matter. From this criterion we selected a convenience sample, consisting on four (4) social workers in different areas of activity of the profession and we applied them a semi-directive interview during the month of May 2010.

Intervention in a Communitarian Context As technique for the data processing we used the content analysis of categorical type. This coding was based on two broad categories that comprise six sub-categories, respectively: Intervention in a Communitarian Context Importance of the Social Worker role in the correction of inequalities; Type of action; Help relation. The Profissional Practice of the Social Worker Relationship with the Individuals; Skills Required; Interdisciplinary Intervention;

The first major challenge faced today by the Social Worker is of structural nature, the employment crisis, the climate of uncertainty, social demographic and economic changes, new forms of governance in a globalized world and the worsening of social problems. It was understood that practitioners are aware of their limitations facing limited financial resources and other difficulties and with the changes that occurs in everyday life, there is a need to revise and refine their interventions. The data showed that the professionals are aware of the social worker political commitment concerning the changes, and understand that the construction of citizenship is the product of a mix of relationships, involving state and civil society.

Despite all the work that has already been developed, it is necessary to extend this mission, insisting on the change of mindsets that leads to effective behavioral change. There are many people talking about the need for change for a better life on this planet where evil, unfortunately, seems to have fixed its empire of greed, ambition, selfishness and consumerism, luxuries and vanities, immorality and iniquities, perverting the true values ​​of life. It is important to realize that all this is not good for anyone but we have an alternative - to move the course of things and build up a better society, with more transparency and more love.

We are living in a unique historical moment in which we have to actually take the courage to transform our knowledge and sharing it. There can be no social cohesion in a society, where the citizens can not satisfy their basic needs and therefore are excluded and live on the margins of society. This is the Social Workers challenge: to create conditions for groups and families enjoying their rights, access to resources, participate socially and be involved as protagonists of their own lives and in the society where they belong, in order to be autonomous and responsible citizens. The ability to work in everyday life from this perspective is from a unique richness, and this is instituted as a peculiarity of our profession: a profession of intervening nature, with a deep social significance.

Poverty and social exclusion are not problems of today. Portugal has not yet reached the level of equity and cohesion of other countries, partly due to the fact that only very late these questions have been recognized as problems of the state. When one says that all development is social development means development of people, of all people, who are alive today and who will live tomorrow. In other words, human development, social and sustainable.

Bibliography Adams, Robert. (2008). Empowerment, Participation and Social Work. 3rd edn. Nova York, Palgrave Macmillan. Adams, Robert, Dominelli, Lena, Payne, Malcolm. (2009). Critical Practice in Social Work. New York. Palgrave Macmillan. Almeida, João Ferreira de et al. (2002). A Exclusão Social, factores e tipos de pobreza em Portugal. Oeiras: Celta Editora. Arenth, Hannah. (1958). A Condição Humana, Rio de Janeiro. Forense Universitária. 1991. Ataide, Isabel Maria. (1960). Serviço Social de Comunidades, ISS, (s/l). Autés, Michel. (1999). Les parodoxes du travail social, Paris. Dunod. Barbieri, José Carlos. (1997). Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente: As estratégias de mudanças da Agenda 21. Petropolis. RJ, Vozes. Beck, Ulrich. (1992). Risk Society, Towards a New Modernity, London. Sage. Becker, Dinizar Fermiano et al. (2002). Desenvolvimento Sustentável: Necessidade ou Possibilidade?. Santa Cruz do Sul: Edunisc. Bodernave, Juan E. Díaz. (1993).O que é participação. 6ª Ed. São Paulo, Brasiliense. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1996). A Ecologia do Desenvolvimento Humano: Experimentos Naturais e Planejados. Porto Alegre, Artes Médicas. Bucknall, J et al. Capítulo sobre meio Ambiente. (s/d). Disponível em: http://www1.worldbank.org/prem/poverty/portuguese/strategies/srcbook/env0118.pdf Acesso em: 07 Maio. 2010

Bibliography Castells, Manuel. (2003). Identidades territorias: A Comunidade Local in O Poder da identidade. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Cavalcanti, Clóvis (org.). (1998). Desenvolvimento e Natureza: Estudos para uma Sociedade Sustentável. São Paulo: Cortez, Documento de Candidatura à acção Politica das Cidades – Parcerias para a regeneração urbana, Aviso nº 05PRU, 2009, Lisboa. Dominelli, Lena. (2004) . Social Work: theory and practice for a changing profession, Cambridge: Polity Press. Ely, Aloísio. (1988). Economia do meio ambiente: uma apreciação introdutória interdisciplinar da poluição, ecologia e qualidade ambiental. (3ª.ed). Porto Alegre: FEE. Estoril: Principia Editora. Freynet, Marie-France. 1995. Les médiations du travail social: contre l´exclusion, (re)construire les liens, Lyon. Chronique Sociale. Friedman, Jonh, (1996). Empowerment – Uma Política de Desenvolvimento Alternativo, (1ªed), Celta, Oeiras. Gomez, J. e al. (2007). Serviço Social e Meio Ambiente S.Paulo: Editora Cortez. Hoven, Rudy Van den. (2002). O trabalho social comunitário, Serviço Social: Unidade na Diversidade – Encontro com a Identidade Profissional, Actas do I Congresso Nacional de Serviço Social, APSS, pp. 94-99. Lee, Judith A. B. (2001). The Empowerment Approach to Social Work Practice. New York. Columbia University Press. Leonard, H. Jeffrey (org). (1992). Meio Ambiente e Pobreza: Estratégias de Desenvolvimento para uma agenda comum. Rio de Janeiro: Delta Line Composições e Edições Ltda.

Bibliography Magnet, Myron. (2001). Paradigma Urbano: as cidades do novo milénio. Lisboa: Quetzal. Mouro, Helena. (2009). Modernização do serviço social: da sociedade industrial à sociedade do risco. Coimbra: Almedina. Oliver-Smith, Anthony. (2004). ‘Theorizing vulnerability in a globalized world: a political ecological perspective’ In Mapping vulnerability: disasters, development & people, by G. Bankoff, G. Frerks and D. Hilhorst. Sterling, VA: Earthscan. Sachs, Ignacy. (2002). Caminhos para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Rio de Janeiro: Garamond,. Sachs, Ignacy. Estratégias de transição para o Século XXI: Desenvolvimento e meio ambiente. Sao Paulo: Studio Nobel, 1993. Sen, Amartya. (1999). Desenvolvimento como liberdade, Companhia das Letras, São Paulo. Walgrave, Lode, (2000). Vulnerabilidade societal e acção social., in Da não integração. Coimbra: Quarteto. Veiga, José Eli da. (2005). Desenvolvimento Sustentável: o desafio do Século XXI. Rio de Janeiro: Garamond. Viscarret, J. (2009). Modelos y Métodos de Intervención en Trabajo Social (pp. 259-306). Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

Bibliography Adams, Robert. (2008). Empowerment, Participation and Social Work. 3rd edn. Nova York, Palgrave Macmillan. Adams, Robert, Dominelli, Lena, Payne, Malcolm. (2009). Critical Practice in Social Work. New York. Palgrave Macmillan. Almeida, João Ferreira de et al. (2002). A Exclusão Social, factores e tipos de pobreza em Portugal. Oeiras: Celta Editora. Arenth, Hannah. (1958). A Condição Humana, Rio de Janeiro. Forense Universitária. 1991. Ataide, Isabel Maria. (1960). Serviço Social de Comunidades, ISS, (s/l). Autés, Michel. (1999). Les parodoxes du travail social, Paris. Dunod. Barbieri, José Carlos. (1997). Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente: As estratégias de mudanças da Agenda 21. Petropolis. RJ, Vozes. Beck, Ulrich. (1992). Risk Society, Towards a New Modernity, London. Sage. Becker, Dinizar Fermiano et al. (2002). Desenvolvimento Sustentável: Necessidade ou Possibilidade?. Santa Cruz do Sul: Edunisc. Bodernave, Juan E. Díaz. (1993).O que é participação. 6ª Ed. São Paulo, Brasiliense. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1996). A Ecologia do Desenvolvimento Humano: Experimentos Naturais e Planejados. Porto Alegre, Artes Médicas. Bucknall, J et al. Capítulo sobre meio Ambiente. (s/d). Disponível em: http://www1.worldbank.org/prem/poverty/portuguese/strategies/srcbook/env0118.pdf Acesso em: 07 Maio. 2010

Bibliography Castells, Manuel. (2003). Identidades territorias: A Comunidade Local in O Poder da identidade. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Cavalcanti, Clóvis (org.). (1998). Desenvolvimento e Natureza: Estudos para uma Sociedade Sustentável. São Paulo: Cortez, Documento de Candidatura à acção Politica das Cidades – Parcerias para a regeneração urbana, Aviso nº 05PRU, 2009, Lisboa. Dominelli, Lena. (2004) . Social Work: theory and practice for a changing profession, Cambridge: Polity Press. Ely, Aloísio. (1988). Economia do meio ambiente: uma apreciação introdutória interdisciplinar da poluição, ecologia e qualidade ambiental. (3ª.ed). Porto Alegre: FEE. Estoril: Principia Editora. Freynet, Marie-France. 1995. Les médiations du travail social: contre l´exclusion, (re)construire les liens, Lyon. Chronique Sociale. Friedman, Jonh, (1996). Empowerment – Uma Política de Desenvolvimento Alternativo, (1ªed), Celta, Oeiras. Gomez, J. e al. (2007). Serviço Social e Meio Ambiente S.Paulo: Editora Cortez. Hoven, Rudy Van den. (2002). O trabalho social comunitário, Serviço Social: Unidade na Diversidade – Encontro com a Identidade Profissional, Actas do I Congresso Nacional de Serviço Social, APSS, pp. 94-99. Lee, Judith A. B. (2001). The Empowerment Approach to Social Work Practice. New York. Columbia University Press. Leonard, H. Jeffrey (org). (1992). Meio Ambiente e Pobreza: Estratégias de Desenvolvimento para uma agenda comum. Rio de Janeiro: Delta Line Composições e Edições Ltda.

Bibliography Magnet, Myron. (2001). Paradigma Urbano: as cidades do novo milénio. Lisboa: Quetzal. Mouro, Helena. (2009). Modernização do serviço social: da sociedade industrial à sociedade do risco. Coimbra: Almedina. Oliver-Smith, Anthony. (2004). ‘Theorizing vulnerability in a globalized world: a political ecological perspective’ In Mapping vulnerability: disasters, development & people, by G. Bankoff, G. Frerks and D. Hilhorst. Sterling, VA: Earthscan. Sachs, Ignacy. (2002). Caminhos para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Rio de Janeiro: Garamond,. Sachs, Ignacy. Estratégias de transição para o Século XXI: Desenvolvimento e meio ambiente. Sao Paulo: Studio Nobel, 1993. Sen, Amartya. (1999). Desenvolvimento como liberdade, Companhia das Letras, São Paulo. Walgrave, Lode, (2000). Vulnerabilidade societal e acção social., in Da não integração. Coimbra: Quarteto. Veiga, José Eli da. (2005). Desenvolvimento Sustentável: o desafio do Século XXI. Rio de Janeiro: Garamond. Viscarret, J. (2009). Modelos y Métodos de Intervención en Trabajo Social (pp. 259-306). Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

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