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This manual is written as a self-training guide on the elements of Information and Referral (I and R) service and on the process of providing I and R to the older population. The manual attempts to build ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Securing Services for the Older Population : a Training Manual for I and R Workers
- Author:
- Nemmert, Catherine M.
- Year:
- 1976
This manual is written as a self-training guide on the elements of Information and Referral (I and R) service and on the process of providing I and R to the older population. The manual attempts to build a useful framework for methods of providing I and R service. The manual is directed at workers who are providing I and R services to the elderly. It is intended to serve as an orientation guide on the basic elements of I and R service and as a "how to" guide for methods and techniques of service provision. The new worker should find the manual helpful as a basic training tool and the experienced worker who may wish to use the material to assess or strengthen his/her current practices. Information and Referral services for the elderly were given high priority in the 1973 amendments to the Older Americans Act which established a goal of providing "reasonably convenient access" to I and R services for all older persons in this country. Numerous organizations are involved in providing this service, ranging from small senior centers to large public bureaucracies. With this assortment of organizations, there are differences in interpretations and methods of providing I and R service. land R is provided over the telephone, in office settings and through outreach efforts. This manual was written in an attempt to pull together basic information on the elements and dimensions of I and R service provision, that would be useful for all I and R workers securing services for the elderly. The manual is organized in three self-contained chapters which can be used separately for the specific topic areas or together as a comprehensive training guide. Each chapter is followed by exercises which enable the worker to practice specific techniques and to apply information obtained in the text to his/her work situation. Chapter I serves as an overview and should furnish the worker with a historical perspective and an understanding of the basic elements of I and R service. Chapter II focuses on the process of I and R service provision and the interaction between the worker and the consumer. Chapter III presents techniques and guidelines for providing I and R service. An appendix of suggested readings is also included. The manual is most profitably used when followed by discussion with a supervisor or co-worker.
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Social work students frequently endure elevated levels of prolonged stress and psychological affliction that might result in serious consequences, such as development of burnout. Some experts suggest that ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- The Relationship between Mindfulness and Burnout among Master of Social Work Students
- Author:
- Piatkowska, Jolanta Maria
- Year:
- 2014
Social work students frequently endure elevated levels of prolonged stress and psychological affliction that might result in serious consequences, such as development of burnout. Some experts suggest that burnout originates in the exposure to chronic interpersonal stressors in the work environment. Yet, there is emerging evidence suggesting that mindfulness practice might be beneficial in alleviating stress. Thus, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and burnout among Master of Social Work students. Burnout, mindfulness, religiosity, spirituality and their potential relationship were discussed and related to previous scholarly literature. Specifically, this study focused on testing the hypothesis that current MSW students who demonstrate higher levels of mindfulness will report less burnout, regardless of the year in the MSW program and regardless of the years of practice in human services. In addition, the hypothesis that students currently involved in direct social work practice (either outside of the MSW program, in the MSW field placement, or both) experience higher levels of burnout than students not yet practicing was scrutinized. Moreover, the hypothesis that as students progress in their studies they will exhibit progressively more burnout was explored. Finally, one of this study's goals was to explore whether patterns/relationships between the religious and spiritual beliefs and practices predict burnout levels among Master of Social Work students. Participants were mostly non-Hispanic White females, with a mean age of 35, married (or in legally recognized unions), and first year students enrolled full-time in the Direct Human Services track. Two years was the most common length of their experience in human services. They came from the metropolitan Portland area (on-campus students) and other regions of Oregon (off-site students). The mindfulness of the participants was measured with the Five Facets Mindfulness Scale and the levels of their burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Study results indicated that the more mindful the MSW students were, the less burnout they reported experiencing. A large correlation of mindfulness to reduced burnout (p < .001) was found, a relationship that persisted when controlling for other significant variables through sequential regression analysis. However, neither year in the MSW program, length of practicing in human services, nor religious/spiritual affiliation and practices had any significant influence on burnout among participants. Given the results of this study demonstrated statistically significant relationships between mindfulness and burnout among social work students, it is recommended that appropriate training in mindfulness for the students (and social workers) affected by secondary trauma and burnout should be incorporated in social work education, either as a part of curricula, or in an extra-curricular training program.
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This is an exploratory follow-up study of the clientele of the Psychiatric Crisis Unit, a short-term, crisis-oriented inpatient psychiatric ward. The main objective of the research was to test the following ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- An Attempt to Find Predictor Variables Which Will Discriminate Between Those Patients Who Seek Aftercare Treatment and Those Who Do Not Seek Aftercare Treatment Upon Discharge From a Psychiatric Ward
- Author:
- Johnstone, Nena V., Lynch, William D., Baldwin, Philip M., Kemp, John C.
- Year:
- 1971
This is an exploratory follow-up study of the clientele of the Psychiatric Crisis Unit, a short-term, crisis-oriented inpatient psychiatric ward. The main objective of the research was to test the following null hypothesis: there are no significant differences between those individuals who attempt to gain aftercare treatment as opposed to those individuals who do not following discharge from the Crisis Unit. A sample of fifty-one voluntary patients who consented to participate in the study was used in testing this hypothesis. Each subject completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (M.M.P.I.) and a sociological questionnaire while in the Crisis Unit, and a follow-up questionnaire was administered via telephone or personal contact approximately one month after discharge. The follow-up information was used to determine whether the subject fell into the "aftercare” or “no-aftercare” group. Data collection lasted from July 1, 1970 to December 15, 1970. The data revealed that there were significant differences between the groups and, thus, the null hypothesis was rejected. The ten M.M.P.I. scales revealed no significant differences between the groups on the individual scales. However, when examined collectively, the aftercare group scored higher than the no-aftercare group on all scales except Self-Sufficiency (which is scored in the opposite direction, corroborating the tendency in the other scales). A discriminant function correctly classified seventy-three percent of the subjects. These results indicate that the aftercare subjects probably viewed themselves as “needing” more help. The significant predictor variables found included prior familial and personal experiences similar to those bringing the subject to the Unit, employment status, age, diagnostic designation, length of hospitalization, referral planning, and self-ratings on a mood scale which was administered upon discharge from the Crisis Unit. These variables were obtained with less effort than the psychological test data. It was found that the aftercare group (compared to the other group) was younger, had a higher rate of unemployment, and had a higher rate of familial and prior personal experiences. They were also diagnosed more frequently as psychotic, with depression ranking second, and rated themselves lower on the mood scale scores. However, the difference between the before and after mood scale scores revealed that these subjects felt they had “gained” more than the no-aftercare subjects. The no-aftercare group was diagnosed more frequently as depressed, with behavior/character disorders ranking second. They tended to rate themselves higher on the mood scale scores. However, the differences between the before and after mood scale scores revealed that they had not “progressed” as much as the aftercare subjects. Although not statistically significant, it was found that the aftercare subjects were hospitalized two days longer than the subjects of the no-aftercare group. More significant is the fact that the aftercare group had a higher rate of rehospitalization than the no-aftercare group. Data collected concerning the referral process revealed that aftercare subjects were more frequently referred for treatment than were subjects of the no-aftercare group. It was speculated that those subjects who perceived themselves and/or were perceived as being "sicker" would seek further help after discharge from the Crisis Unit. The findings also suggested that not all patients need or perceived themselves as needing further help.
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The Slavic community’s health is impacted by race and ethnicity, and also by issues that flow from being a newcomer community, and also from their status as refugees. They also bring to the U.S.A. cultural ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- Child and Maternal Health in the Slavic Community: Insights on Assets and Priorities
- Author:
- Reyes, Marie-Elena, Curry-Stevens, Ann
- Year:
- 2015
The Slavic community’s health is impacted by race and ethnicity, and also by issues that flow from being a newcomer community, and also from their status as refugees. They also bring to the U.S.A. cultural orientation that is collectivist, and shared experiences of persecution and deep distrust of the government. As is detailed in this report, these experiences have an impact on health and wellbeing, and simultaneously have a detrimental effect on the economic stature of the community. This Community Needs Assessment on the Health of Slavic Children (ages 0-5 years) was conducted to produce a “needs assessment” report outlining specific health concerns, needs and indicators of health disparities within the Slavic community, best practices from other Slavic communities, and recommendations for next steps to address disparities in a culturally competent change in policy or practices. The community opted to conduct two major data gathering processes: a maternal and child survey, and focus groups with mothers. We supplemented this information with a literature review to highlight both the larger social and economic issues that are well-tied to health (such as income, poverty, school engagement and English language skills), alongside studies that have identified health assets and challenges in both Slavic and immigrant communities. The core priority of the community are to establish a Slavic Health Center where providers will share their language, culture and history, and where health needs will be understood in their cultural context, and the distrust that typifies the relationships that many in the community have with formal health and social services will be eliminated. The need for this is strong, in evidence through the survey, the focus groups and in the literature. Specialized services are warranted to address the health issues tied to being newcomer communities, and in holding cultural identities and experiences that diverge significantly from that of mainstream (white) society. Additional priorities include rectifying the deep divide that exists on the issue of immunizations, with this being the highest priority health issue for mothers with young children. Second on the priority list is for parents to be well prepared for their children to arrive at school, and to help make this transition easier on both parents and children. Third is to address a wide range of issues tied to health promotion, including learning and responding to issues of child neglect and the conditions that will promote family stability. Fourth is oral health, and the importance of being able to see Slavic oral health providers. Across the spectrum is a need for information on services available, as well as making such services available, and making them culturally responsive. Taking action on two levels is key for the community: putting empowerment-based information into the hands of Slavic families, and catalyzing among service providers enhanced abilities to serve the Slavic community in respectful and culturally dignified ways. Health disparities faced by Slavic community members are inequitably measured, simply because their race/ethnicity is not separated out from “White” in the vast majority of research studies. Unfortunately, data cannot be separated by NWHF’s equity priorities like ethnicity overall, and cultural or linguistic background in particular. Culturally and linguistically specific services targeting this community’s needs are less likely than other disadvantaged communities of color such as African American and Native American, particularly due to inadequate gathering of data beyond the traditional racial and ethnic breakdown. Geography impacts this community’s health simply because of poverty-driven gentrification and the likelihood of Slavic families living in low-income diverse neighborhoods with greater risks of health disparities such as high obesity prevalence and chronic disease. Low-income neighborhoods where some of these families reside are less likely to have culturally and linguistically specific services targeting healthy choices and behaviors.
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This research addressed the challenges faced by women in today's society during the transition to motherhood, and explored the possible benefits of an online natural helping network of blogging peers. ...
Citation Citation
- Title:
- The Importance of Online Peer Relationships During the Transition to Motherhood: Do They Decrease Stress, Alleviate Depression and Increase Parenting Competence?
- Author:
- Arias, Bobbie Sue
- Year:
- 2016
This research addressed the challenges faced by women in today's society during the transition to motherhood, and explored the possible benefits of an online natural helping network of blogging peers. Given the content of the literature describing the transition to motherhood and the many hardships that pose possible obstacles for an ideal transition, this research attempted to uncover the reasons why mothers blog and what benefit, if any, they experience as a result of blogging. This study explored the following questions: Why do women blog during the transition to motherhood? What is the relationship among the seven identified variables: blogging intensity, authentic self-disclosure, perceived general social support, perceived social support from blogging, current depression, stress, and parenting competence? This dissertation employed a cross-sectional research design using a web-based survey. The data were trimmed to limit the participants to residents/citizens of the United States and mothers of preschool aged (0-5) children who lived with them four or more days per week. The data were further limited to include only those participants (N = 501) who completed the survey in its entirety. New mothers experienced benefits as a result of their authentic participation in blogging and reported key reasons that they participated including: to share their experiences with others, to preserve their memories, to interact with a like-minded audience, and to feel understood. There were significant positive correlations between authentic self-disclosure and perceived social support, and sense of parenting competency, and a negative relationship between authentic self-disclosure and maternal depression and perceived stress. Multiple regression analysis indicated that social support was the strongest predictor of current depression. Social support was also a predictor of stress and of perceived parenting competence. Additionally, social support significantly predicted authentic self-disclosure. With a growing reliance on technology and social media, social work has an obligation to identify and utilize the beneficial aspects of this medium.
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86. [Article] A Dissertation on African American Male Youth Violence: "Trying to Kill the Part of You that Isn’t Loved"
This dissertation is based on Sociocultural Theory, Social Learning Theory and Trauma Theory, as well as a new theoretical framework (Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome) which takes into account multigenerational ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- A Dissertation on African American Male Youth Violence: "Trying to Kill the Part of You that Isn’t Loved"
- Author:
- Leary, Joy DeGruy
- Year:
- 2001
This dissertation is based on Sociocultural Theory, Social Learning Theory and Trauma Theory, as well as a new theoretical framework (Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome) which takes into account multigenerational trauma. Five research questions involving independent variables believed to predict violent behavior in African American male youth were investigated. The first three questions addressed stressors experienced by African Americans: violence witnessing, violence victimization, and daily urban hassles. The fourth and fifth questions concerned the sociocultural characteristics of racial socialization and prosocial attitudes toward respect. Participants were 200 African American male youth residing in inner Northeast Portland, Oregon who were recruited from four organizations: The Portland House of Umoja residential facility, McLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Donald E. Long Youth Correctional Facility and the Bridge Builders Gentlemen's Rites of Passage Program. The study included two groups of African American male youth ages 14 to 18, 100 of whom were incarcerated and 100 of whom were non-incarcerated. All five independent variables significantly predicted use of violence in separate regression equations. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the strongest predictor of the use of violence was victimization extent which alone accounted for 43.3% of the total variance in use of violence. In the second step of the regression, witnessing was added to the equation which increased the explained variance to 49.2%. The third and final step added prosocial attitudes toward respect to the regression accounting for a total of 51.2% of the variance of the extent of the use of violence. Variables excluded from the final regression equation were racial socialization and urban hassles which failed to significantly increase the prediction of the criterion variable of extent of use of violence. The data provide evidence that trauma characteristics of absent mothers, witnessing violence, experiencing violence, and feeling disrespected by others are key factors that can provide practitioners a better lens to use in assessment and treatment planning than the current response of punishment and incarceration for displays of violent behavior.
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87. [Article] A preliminary investigation of the predictive and evaluative capacity of the PARS scale in a community mental health clinic
This was a two-part study, employing the self and informant, pre and post treatment, forms of the Personal Adjustment and Role Skills Scale, the PARS Scale. In this study seven of the PARS Scale factors ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- A preliminary investigation of the predictive and evaluative capacity of the PARS scale in a community mental health clinic
- Author:
- Ritter, Judith M.
- Year:
- 1974
This was a two-part study, employing the self and informant, pre and post treatment, forms of the Personal Adjustment and Role Skills Scale, the PARS Scale. In this study seven of the PARS Scale factors were employed: Interpersonal Involvement, Agitation-Depression, Attention-Confusion, Alcohol-Drug, Outside Social, Household Management (females), and Anxiety (males). This study was conducted at Delaunay Institute for Mental Health, an outpatient community mental health clinic in a low socioeconomic catchment area. Part One of the study employed a random sample of seventy applicants, male and female, ages sixteen to sixty-four, who applied to Delaunay for treatment services between November of 1972 and July of 1973 and who completed, at least, the self-pretreatment PARS Scale. This sample was administered the self and informant pre PARS Scale at initial interview. In October of 1973, the number of treatment sessions in the three months following initial interview was secured from billing cards. At this same time, therapists at Delaunay were requested to assess the sample on their progress in therapy at that time or at termination. Four categories were possible: great, moderate, slight, and no progress. They were also requested to identify the certainty with which they made the assessment according to: great, moderate, or slight certainty. Following this, the self-pretreatment PARS Scale scores were correlated with number of treatment sessions. No relationship appeared for females between number of treatment sessions and self pre PARS Scale scores. For males, a non-significant trend was noted on most factors, indicating that a high self pre PARS score was indicative of fewer treatment sessions. A significant and inverse relationship between the self pre PARS Scale score on Alcohol-Drug and number of treatment sessions occurred for males, indicating that a high score on this factor was suggestive of fewer treatment sessions. The self-pretreatment PARS Scale scores were correlated with therapist assessment of progress in therapy. No relationship appeared for females. For males, no significant relationship appeared but a non-significant trend was indicated, suggesting that a high self pre PARS Scale score was indicative of a favorable therapist assessment on progress in therapy. Part Two of the study employed a non-random sample of fifteen females who had provided self and informant, pre and post treatment, PARS Scale scores. Post treatment, informant data was notably deficient in this part of the study and prevented the employment of males in the sample. Descriptive data on income, education, marital status, and presenting problem were provided for this sample. The sample was administered the self and informant, pretreatment, PARS Scale at initial interview. Three months after initial interview they were administered the self and informant, post treatment, PARS Scale if they remained in treatment for at least three months. As in Part One of this study, number of treatment sessions for the three months following initial interview were secured from the billing cards. In October of 1973, therapists were requested to provide a therapist behavioral assessment with four possible categories: improved, maintained, regressed (therapeutic), regressed (non-therapeutic). This assessment was to be made from recall and/or records at the time the self and informant, post treatment, PARS Scale was administered. Again, therapists were requested to indicate the degree of certainty involved in their assessment. The relationship between number of treatment sessions and the available self and informant, pre and post treatment, PARS Scale scores was explored. It was found that the self pre PARS score on Interpersonal Involvement, the self-post PARS score on Alcohol-Drug, and the informant post PARS score on Alcohol-Drug were significantly and inversely related to the number of treatment sessions. High scores on these factors indicated fewer treatment sessions. The relationship between therapist behavioral assessment and available self and informant, pre and post treatment, PARS Scale scores was explored. Results showed a significant and direct relationship between the self-post PARS score on Outside Social, the informant post PARS score on Alcohol-Drug and therapist behavioral assessment. High scores on these factors indicated a favorable therapist behavioral assessment. Evaluation of treatment services with the PARS Scale in Part Two of this study found the self, pre and post treatment, PARS Scale scores on Attention-Confusion to be the only PARS scores showing significant differences after three months of treatment. None of the remaining self-PARS scores and none of three informant PARS scores indicated any significant differences. It was recommended that the predictive capacity of the PARS Scale not be explored further. Further exploration of the use of the PARS Scale for evaluative purposes was suggested due to the limitations of the research design with regard to specificity and sampling. Finally, exploration of specific and individualized treatment evaluation, suggested by recent psychotherapy research, was encouraged.
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88. [Article] Multnomah County Project Launch Evaluation
Early childhood is a critical time in human development. Any experience, positive or negative, can influence long-term outcomes for physical, emotional, social, and cognitive health (Center on the Developing ...Citation Citation
- Title:
- Multnomah County Project Launch Evaluation
- Author:
- Auerbach, Jessica, Emlen, Elana S., Garcia, Danielle C., Hause, Noelle, Lambarth, Callie H., Lorentson, Mhora, Rife, Isabel M., Zavela, Kathleen J., Aratani, Yumiko, Bracey, Jeana R., Ekono, Mercedes, Green, Beth L., Kryah, Rachel, Mendez, Melissa, Smith, Sheila, Tom, Lily
- Year:
- 2016
Early childhood is a critical time in human development. Any experience, positive or negative, can influence long-term outcomes for physical, emotional, social, and cognitive health (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2010). To ensure a strong foundation for success in school and in life, efforts designed to promote wellness and identify early learning or mental health challenges must begin well before kindergarten. Strong evidence shows that investing in early childhood can yield large dividends for children. Additionally, the ability of our systems to provide positive outcomes for children can be enhanced through strategic planning, well-developed partnerships, and coordinated family services. Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health), a federally funded United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) initiative, aims to enhance and improve the way systems function by bringing together all participants in each child’s life including caregivers, primary care providers, early childhood educators, and mental health providers. Project LAUNCH strives to incorporate all participants, at all levels of service provision, to strengthen our ability to achieve the best possible outcomes in social and emotional health and wellness for all children. Project LAUNCH has funded states, local jurisdictions, and tribes interested in achieving these goals since 2008. Under Project LAUNCH, grantees are charged with (1) promoting the healthy development of children from birth to age 8 and their families by harnessing and coordinating existing resources and (2) increasing access to high-quality, evidence-based programs in five childcentric domains: developmental screening and assessment, home visiting, mental health consultation, family strengthening and training, and integration of behavioral health into primary care. By developing an understanding of the landscape of services and supports unique to each state and community and by evaluating strengths and opportunities for change, grantees begin to implement promotion and prevention strategies that best serve the needs of their communities at the child, family, and systems levels. Thus, while there are distinct cultural, geographic, and economic differences across LAUNCH sites in all cohorts, the fundamental components of the LAUNCH model remain the same for all grantees. To date, Project LAUNCH has funded 55 projects across six cohorts. All LAUNCH grantees are expected to demonstrate local policy and practice improvements that can be sustained statewide. Unlike other LAUNCH cohorts, Cohort 3 grantees are distinguished by the fact that they were funded solely at the community level with no state or tribal oversight. This presented the six sites with a unique set of opportunities and challenges as they sought to bring policy and practice improvements to scale, enhance infrastructure, and implement direct services in the five domains or strategies. The uniqueness of the community-based aspect of Cohort 3 grantees provided both challenges and opportunities. Grantees identified the flexibility and ability to control program activities within a community setting as key advantages to the local grants, whereas the ability to replicate successful activities and implement policy change on a statewide basis were limited. Additionally, the uniqueness of Cohort 3 made it challenging to evaluate the success of Cohort 3 grantees by measuring their progress against that of other cohorts. This e-book was developed to highlight and share the experience of the local communities in Cohort 3. This publication is designed to serve as a resource for future early childhood systems development activities implemented by LAUNCH grantees or by other early childhood programs with similar goals and interests. This publication shares the contributions of this unique cohort to the field of young children’s mental health and family wellness by spotlighting accomplishments, evidence, and lessons learned within the context of the LAUNCH strategic framework. Narratives from the six grantees detail the successes and challenges of systems building from the ground up and emphasize the value-added benefits of funding directly at the community level. Recommendations for present and future LAUNCH projects and similar initiatives address strategies to build local, state, and national partnerships to support replication and sustainability. We hope you will find this resource of value for supporting local initiatives that promote young child and family wellness