Abstract
References
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- Çotuk, H., & Özdemir, S. (2022). Comparison of social interaction skills of children with visual impairments and sighted children. Pamukkale University Journal of Education. https://doi.org/10.9779/pauefd.816803
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- Doğan, T. (2022). Social work practices for children at social risk. Journal of Social Services, 34(2), 45–60.
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- Erdoğan, E. T. (2022). Analysis of social policies for street children in Turkey (Master’s thesis, Üsküdar University). Council of Higher Education Thesis Center (Thesis No: 736721).
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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Social Services for Children at Social Risk in Türkiye: An Ecological Approach Perspective
Abstract
Türkiye signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, thereby assuming an international commitment to the protection of children's rights. Within this framework, Law No. 5395 on Child Protection and the 2024 Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Family and Social Services aim to strengthen preventive and protective social services. However, in practice, significant inequalities persist, particularly in access to social services in rural areas. This study evaluates the challenges faced by socially at-risk children in Türkiye and the effectiveness of existing social service interventions within the framework of the ecological approach. A qualitative research design was employed, and data were collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that children face multiple risks, including physical and sexual abuse, substance dependence, and involvement in delinquent behavior. Limited accessibility to social services in rural areas further increases the vulnerability of these children. The results suggest that improving the effectiveness of social services requires enhanced inter-institutional coordination, community-based interventions, and the development of technology-assisted early warning systems. In conclusion the study recommends adopting comprehensive social policy strategies that integrate all ecological levels to ensure the protection and social inclusion of children at social risk.
References
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- Doğan, T. (2022). Social work practices for children at social risk. Journal of Social Services, 34(2), 45–60.
- Durmaz, Ö. (2023). Examination of the resilience of parents with and without children with special needs. Dokuz Eylül University Journal of Buca Faculty of Education, 58, 3236–3249. https://doi.org/10.53444/deubefd.1370178
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- Erdil, Z. (2010). The relationship between early intervention programs for socioeconomically at-risk children and academic achievement. Journal of Hacettepe University Faculty of Nursing (HUHEMFAD), 17(1), 72–78.
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- Germain, C. B., & Gitterman, A. (1996). The life model of social work practice (2nd ed.). Columbia University Press.
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- Knight, B. A., & Hughes, D. (1995). Developing social competence in preschool years. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 20(2), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/183693919502000204
- Koçak, S. (2020). Youth experiences within an ecological approach (Master’s thesis, Ankara University). Council of Higher Education Thesis Center (Thesis No: 632836).
- Koçtürk, N., & Yılmaz, D. (2018). Model proposal for identifying and intervening in child abuse and neglect risk. Kastamonu Education Journal, 26(6), 1919–1927. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.2219
- Köse, E. (2019). Examining factors affecting school engagement of at-risk students. Education and Science. https://doi.org/10.15390/eb.2019.7893
- Kurniasih, E., & Alfrojems, A. (2021). Data sources of child protection program development planning. Asian Social Work Journal, 6(6), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.47405/aswj.v6i6.184
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Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Social Work (Other) |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Submission Date | December 24, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | December 27, 2025 |
| Publication Date | February 2, 2026 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2026 Issue: 2026 |
Aim & Scope
Aim
The aim of the Journal of Disadvantaged Groups and Social Work is to contribute to scientific knowledge production in the fields of social work, social policy, and social welfare, particularly through studies focusing on disadvantaged groups. The journal seeks to support theoretical and practical advancements in the discipline and publishes only empirical research articles (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method studies).
Scope
The journal features original empirical research that examines social problems experienced by disadvantaged individuals and groups within the context of social work and social policy. The primary criterion for inclusion is that the study must be conducted from a social work perspective and present a clear empirical design.
Key topics covered by the journal include, but are not limited to:
-Social policy and social welfare
-Disadvantage among families, children, women, and youth
-Migration, forced migration, and integration processes
-Poverty, social exclusion, and economic vulnerability
-Unemployment and social protection
-Disability and accessibility
-Aging, elder care, and long-term care services
-Substance use and behavioral addictions
-Violence, sexual abuse, and neglect
-Human rights, social justice, and inequalities
-Social work interventions addressing disadvantaged groups
The journal serves as a peer-reviewed academic platform dedicated to advancing national and international empirical research on disadvantaged groups within the field of social work.
Author Guidelines
Manuscripts submitted to the "Journal of Disadvantaged Groups and Social Work" must be uploaded in Word document format, prepared as plain text, and written in Times New Roman, 12-point font during the initial submission stage. The reference style must comply with APA07 guidelines. Upon acceptance, the typesetting and layout process will be completed by the journal.
The Journal of Disadvantaged Groups and Social Work has undergone several publication schedule and title changes since its inception. Between 2021 and 2025, the journal was published under its former title, the International Journal of Social Work Research. During this period, it was issued twice a year between 2021 and 2023, and three times a year in 2024 and 2025.
Beginning in 2026, the journal continues under its new title, The Journal of Disadvantaged Groups and Social Work, and is published twice annually. The primary aim of the journal is to contribute to the dissemination of high-quality empirical research focusing on disadvantaged groups within the fields of social work and social policy.
Articles published in the journal may not be published elsewhere or presented as conference papers without the permission of the journal. No part of the published articles may be used without proper citation. Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original, must not have been published previously, and must not be under consideration by another journal.
NOTE: Manuscripts must be prepared and submitted using MS Word 2007 or a later version.
Ethical Principles and Publication Policy
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
The Journal of Disadvantaged Groups and Social Work (DGSW) adheres to the highest ethical standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows COPE’s International Standards for Editors and Authors in all submitted and published works.
1. Ethics Committee Approval
-For studies involving human or animal subjects, obtaining ethics committee approval is mandatory.
-Detailed information on which studies require ethics approval can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
According to TR Index criteria:
-Separate ethics committee approval must be obtained and documented for all studies requiring ethical review, including those in the social sciences.
-Ethics committee details (committee name, date, and approval number) must be clearly stated in the Method section of the manuscript.
-For interviews, case studies, and similar research, informed consent must be obtained from participants and reported in the Method section.
2. Copyright, Scale Use, and Data Permissions
For all manuscripts submitted to DGSW:
-If copyrighted scales, questionnaires, or similar materials are used, permission from the rights holders is mandatory.
-Authors must explicitly state in their manuscript that all required permissions have been obtained.
3. Originality and Publication Ethics
Submitted manuscripts must:
-Be original
-Not have been published elsewhere
-Not be under consideration by any other journal
-Properly cite all referenced ideas and materials
-If ethical misconduct is detected at any evaluation stage, the manuscript will be returned to the authors.
4. Conflict of Interest
If the research involves direct or indirect commercial ties, funding, or any potential conflict of interest, authors must declare this on the submission page and at the end of the manuscript.
5. Double-Blind Peer Review
-All manuscripts submitted to DGSW undergo a double-blind peer review process.
-The editorial board may seek additional reviewer evaluations if necessary.
6. Authors’ Ethical Responsibilities
Authors must:
-Not request royalties for submitted works
-Submit only original manuscripts
-Ensure that all cited works are properly referenced
-Provide raw data upon editorial request
-Notify the editor if they discover an error in their article at any stage
-Not request changes to authorship (adding/removing/changing order) after the review process begins
-Adhere to research and publication ethics in all submissions
7. Editors’ Ethical Responsibilities
Editors follow the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines.
Their responsibilities include:
-Ensuring the development and quality of the journal
-Upholding academic integrity and intellectual freedom
-Guaranteeing fair, unbiased, and timely peer-review processes
Preventing conflicts of interest
-Protecting personal data of authors, reviewers, and participants
-Managing complaints transparently
-Implementing corrections or retractions when necessary
8. Reviewers’ Ethical Responsibilities
-Reviewers evaluating manuscripts for DGSW must:
-Provide fair, impartial, and objective evaluations
-Maintain confidentiality of all materials
-Avoid any conflicts of interest with authors or funders
-Have expertise in the subject matter they review
-Offer constructive and respectful feedback
-Report any suspected ethical misconduct to the editor
-Abide by all ethical rules applicable to authors
-Complete evaluations within the expected timeframe
PUBLICATION POLICY
All manuscripts submitted to JDGSW undergo a four-stage evaluation process.
1. Initial Editorial Screening
Manuscripts are first reviewed by the editor. A submission may be returned or revisions may be requested if:
-Similarity (plagiarism) score exceeds 20%
-Ethical requirements are not met
-The writing quality is insufficient
-The manuscript is outside the journal’s scope
2. Evaluation by Section Editor
-Manuscripts passing the first stage are assigned to the relevant section editor.
-If the study is insufficient in terms of quality or ethics, the section editor may reject it.
3. Peer Review Stage
-Selected manuscripts are sent to experts in the field under a double-blind review system.
-If necessary, a third reviewer may be appointed.
Manuscripts deemed inadequate by reviewers will be rejected.
4. Revision Stage
Authors revise the manuscript based on reviewer comments.
Failure to revise adequately may result in rejection.
5. Acceptance and Publication
-Accepted manuscripts are queued for publication.
-The dates of submission and acceptance are published transparently.
-All authors must submit a signed Copyright Transfer Form via the journal’s email.
-Failure to provide the form will result in the manuscript being returned.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-The journal is open access and charges no fees at any stage.
-Average review time is 30–45 days, depending on the manuscript.
-A detailed flowchart outlining the publication process is available on the journal website.
Price Policy
Journal Boards
Editor in Chief
Editors
Section Editors
Editorial Board
Statistics Editors
Copyeditors
Language Editors (ENG)
Proofreaders
Layout editor
Deputy Editor & Secretariat
The content of this journal is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.