| According to radical social work theory, empowered social workers can be more effective in helping clients; however, disempowering factors such as poverty, a large socioeconomic power divide, and a strict patriarchal tradition work against empowerment of social workers in nongovernmental child protection agencies in the Philippines. Little research exists on how to promote empowerment in this setting. This study used grounded theory research with a sequential, transformative, constant comparative method to analyze data gathered through document reviews of 5 agencies' policies and procedures, interviews and focus groups with 14 Filipino social workers and 9 agency administrators, and member checking in order to answer the question regarding how Filipino nongovernmental child protection agencies can facilitate professional empowerment of direct social workers. This study generated the following culturally appropriate principles of social worker empowerment: (a) Define and discuss empowerment to make expectations clear, (b) develop collective self-esteem to build a foundation for being more assertive, (c) provide ongoing professional development in order to increase collective and individual self-esteem and confidence, (d) prompt social workers to use the power they do have and to take appropriate risks, (e) teach supervisors how to prompt social workers to take appropriate risks and how to support them when they do, and (f) build a culture of confidence that supports a distribution of power that is in the best interests of the children served. Consistent application of these principles has the potential to make Philippine social workers more effective in protecting and serving the children for whom they are responsible and, thus, to help improve Filipino society for future generations. |
