School of Social Work hosts Chinese high officials

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work hosted a delegation of Chinese high officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA). The 16 delegates represented Beijing and numerous provinces throughout China.

 

MCA is a central government agency charged with addressing social issues and the well-being of age groups from birth to senior citizens. They spent 10 days of training on topics including: child welfare, social welfare programs and social policy, Native Hawaiian issues and diversity, social gerontology, mental health and health and disaster recovery. They met with senior political officials, non-government organizations, and state social service personnel.

 

In recent years China has established approximately 300 social work education programs. Social work, while a relatively novel concept in China, is being developed to address the burgeoning social issues occurring in the country. Dean Jon Matsuoka reached agreements with MCA officials to develop training and educational programs.