Interaction and collaboration in rural social work: A professional perspective based on social network analysis.

This article examines the role of social network analysis (SNA) in enhancing rural social work through a case study of the "Seven Colors of Light" rural children's social work project in Village M, County A, China. The study reveals a decentralized, multicentric network structure where government agencies, particularly the County A Care Office, hold central positions in resource and information flow, while professional social workers serve as key intermediaries bridging diverse stakeholders. Despite some marginalization of peripheral groups, the network's polycentric and hierarchical nature supports adaptability, collaboration, and sustained service delivery. The research highlights SNA's utility in identifying critical nodes and structural gaps to optimize cooperation and resource coordination, recommending more open communication mechanisms and further exploration of balancing sectional authority with social work professionalism for sustainable rural community development.