Social Welfare of Rural Communities as a Function of Social Workers’ Empowerment

Dewi Kurniasih; Maisya Chaluela  Anjani

doi:10.29333/ejecs/2350

Authors

Dewi Kurniasih Universitas Komputer Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4921-2093
Maisya Chaluela Anjani Universitas Komputer Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5256-3972

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2350

Keywords:

Moral alignment, rural community, skills, social worker, empowerment, community welfare, community-based targeting

Abstract

Social workers play an important role in uplifting rural communities’ living standards. Considering the important role of social work services in dealing with the existence of potential issues of poverty and poor economic conditions in rural communities, more specifically in emerging economies, the current study integrated the community-based targeting view with empowerment theory to determine the social workers’ role in achieving community welfare in rural areas. Using rural household survey data from 597 households from 15 rural communities in two provinces of Indonesia, modern statistical tools, that is, SmartPLS analyzed the data. Results showed that social workers’ work relationships, skills and varieties, and moral alignment with rural communities enhance their empowerment qualities. The empowerment of social workers further transmits the significance of their role in helping rural communities bring economic development and welfare by providing basic needs of education, health facilities, employment opportunities, etc. The current study findings are valuable for practitioners and policymakers, specifically for focusing on rural community development programs by utilizing social workers' efforts and extending their social networks to extract maximum benefits.

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Author Biographies

Dewi Kurniasih, Universitas Komputer Indonesia

Dewi Kurniasih obtained a bachelor's degree in social sciences (S.Sos) in government science, a Master of Science (M.Si) degree in Sociology, and a Doctoral degree (Dr) in Sociology from Universitas Padjadjaran Bandung in 1998, 2004, and 2011 respectively. Currently working as a Permanent Lecturer at the Government Science Study Program at Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung.

Maisya Chaluela Anjani, Universitas Komputer Indonesia

Maisya Chaluela Anjani was born in Bandung on September 15, 2006. She is currently student of Study Program of Government Science of Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia. Her interest writing focus is governance social antrophology.

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