People with experience of long-term drug use and homelessness teaching with us: experts by experience participation in university social work education

ABSTRACT

Participation of experts by experience in university social work education is an important shaping factor for future social workers. This article presents two-year long experience in lecturing together with people who have had experience with long-term drug use, homelessness and have a lot of experience with being in a role of social work clients as well. The aim of the presented approach is to recognize their experience, opinions, and attitudes as an important source of knowledge in social work. Based on the research outcomes, the authors discuss topics such as: the role of experts, empowerment, breaking the stereotypes and ethical issues related to experts’ participation. They conclude with practical recommendations.

KEYWORDS:

• Empowerment
• participation
• participatory action research
• service user involvement
• university education

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the experts who participated in this study with us and the members of the Department of Social Work, the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ostrava for discussing their experience with the participation of people not only in teaching. This was of important support especially during the planning of the involvement of the experts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Markéta Geregová

Markéta Geregová completes her doctoral studies at the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. She has worked as street outreach worker with people who use drugs and with sex workers. Later she has also worked at the Counseling Center for drug users who are reaching for change. As a researcher she is mainly focused in participation, empowerment and internet counseling.

Magda Frišaufová

Magda Frišaufová is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. She teaches courses on critical social work and gender perspectives in social work. In her teaching and research activities, she is also interested in topics related to participatory approaches, drug use and social housing policy. She also worked as a social worker in organization, which provides social services for people who use drugs.