Policy Practice in Non-profit Ethnic Minority Organisations: Tension Axes and Supportive Intra-Organisational Conditions

The involvement of social workers from minority groups in policy arenas within their employment in non-profit organisations is necessary to promote beneficial policies for minority communities. This involvement is characterised by dealing with axes of tension and is supported by intra-organisational conditions. Non-profit organisations are required to promote mechanisms for social workers from minority groups to participate in policy arenas. Despite growing interest in the involvement of social workers in policy design processes, this concept has been narrowly examined from the perspective of social workers who belong to ethnic minority groups and who are employed in non-profit ethnic minority organisations (NPEMOs) in multicultural societies. The present research sought to understand how the ethnic identity of minority social workers affects their perception to act in policy arenas within their employment in NPEMOs, and to identify the intra-organisational conditions that prompt and support this involvement. Relying on in-depth interviews conducted with social workers from the Arab minority group in Israel who operate in policy arenas, we demonstrate that this involvement is characterised by dealing with axes of tension and is supported by intra-organisational conditions, which include organisational procedures, organisational cohesion and participation in collective action. The research contributes to expanding the understanding of policy practice in social work in multicultural societies, in the organisational contexts of race, equality and social justice.