A bottom-up definition of self-sufficiency: Voices from low-income jobseekers.

Philip Young P Hong; Vamadu A. Sheriff; Sandra R. Naeger

doi:10.1177/1473325009337844

A bottom-up definition of self-sufficiency: Voices from low-income jobseekers.

Philip Young P Hong, Vamadu A. Sheriff, Sandra R. Naeger

School of Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

<p> Self-suf&filig;ciency (SS) is the epitome of America’s ‘reluctant’welfare state. It is generally accepted in social welfare policycircles as a concept related to independence and &filig;nancialstability. Nevertheless, SS is not a term agreed upon inpractice by policymakers, researchers, or service providersand is frequently used without a clear common de&filig;nition.In this sense, the purpose of this study is to explore the extentto which the top-down de&filig;nition of ‘economic’ SS as thesocial policy goal is consistent with how the clients of job training programs perceive the term. Using a groundedtheory approach, a bottom-up de&filig;nition of SS was derivedfrom a focus group of low-income jobseekers. The focusgroup was transcribed for a content analysis from which a client-centered de&filig;nition of SS was drawn. Findings suggestthat SS is a process of developing psychological strength properties and a goal-oriented progression toward realistic &filig;nancial outcomes.Implications for evidence-based community interventions for client empowerment and workforce development are suggested.</p>

Original language	American English
Journal	Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works
Volume	8
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325009337844
State	Published - Sep 1 2009

Keywords

empowerment
focus groups
grounded theory
hope
poverty
self-sufficiency
workforce development

Disciplines

Social Policy
Social Work

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@article{2e5d90b15b5341c4a051356c8797c1a9,

title = "A bottom-up definition of self-sufficiency: Voices from low-income jobseekers.",

abstract = " Self-suf&filig;ciency (SS) is the epitome of America’s ‘reluctant’welfare state. It is generally accepted in social welfare policycircles as a concept related to independence and &filig;nancialstability. Nevertheless, SS is not a term agreed upon inpractice by policymakers, researchers, or service providersand is frequently used without a clear common de&filig;nition.In this sense, the purpose of this study is to explore the extentto which the top-down de&filig;nition of ‘economic’ SS as thesocial policy goal is consistent with how the clients of job training programs perceive the term. Using a groundedtheory approach, a bottom-up de&filig;nition of SS was derivedfrom a focus group of low-income jobseekers. The focusgroup was transcribed for a content analysis from which a client-centered de&filig;nition of SS was drawn. Findings suggestthat SS is a process of developing psychological strength properties and a goal-oriented progression toward realistic &filig;nancial outcomes.Implications for evidence-based community interventions for client empowerment and workforce development are suggested.",

keywords = "empowerment, focus groups, grounded theory, hope, poverty, self-sufficiency, workforce development",

author = "Hong, {Philip Young P} and Sheriff, {Vamadu A.} and Naeger, {Sandra R.}",

note = "Hong, P.Y., Sheriff, A., & Naeger, S. (2009). A bottom-up definition of self-sufficiency: Voices from low-income jobseekers. Qualitative Social Work, 8(3), 357-376 .",

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AU - Sheriff, Vamadu A.

AU - Naeger, Sandra R.

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PY - 2009/9/1

Y1 - 2009/9/1

N2 - Self-suf&filig;ciency (SS) is the epitome of America’s ‘reluctant’welfare state. It is generally accepted in social welfare policycircles as a concept related to independence and &filig;nancialstability. Nevertheless, SS is not a term agreed upon inpractice by policymakers, researchers, or service providersand is frequently used without a clear common de&filig;nition.In this sense, the purpose of this study is to explore the extentto which the top-down de&filig;nition of ‘economic’ SS as thesocial policy goal is consistent with how the clients of job training programs perceive the term. Using a groundedtheory approach, a bottom-up de&filig;nition of SS was derivedfrom a focus group of low-income jobseekers. The focusgroup was transcribed for a content analysis from which a client-centered de&filig;nition of SS was drawn. Findings suggestthat SS is a process of developing psychological strength properties and a goal-oriented progression toward realistic &filig;nancial outcomes.Implications for evidence-based community interventions for client empowerment and workforce development are suggested.

AB - Self-suf&filig;ciency (SS) is the epitome of America’s ‘reluctant’welfare state. It is generally accepted in social welfare policycircles as a concept related to independence and &filig;nancialstability. Nevertheless, SS is not a term agreed upon inpractice by policymakers, researchers, or service providersand is frequently used without a clear common de&filig;nition.In this sense, the purpose of this study is to explore the extentto which the top-down de&filig;nition of ‘economic’ SS as thesocial policy goal is consistent with how the clients of job training programs perceive the term. Using a groundedtheory approach, a bottom-up de&filig;nition of SS was derivedfrom a focus group of low-income jobseekers. The focusgroup was transcribed for a content analysis from which a client-centered de&filig;nition of SS was drawn. Findings suggestthat SS is a process of developing psychological strength properties and a goal-oriented progression toward realistic &filig;nancial outcomes.Implications for evidence-based community interventions for client empowerment and workforce development are suggested.

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KW - focus groups

KW - grounded theory

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KW - poverty

KW - self-sufficiency

KW - workforce development

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ER -

A bottom-up definition of self-sufficiency: Voices from low-income jobseekers.

Abstract

Keywords

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