Video conferencing may work as therapy for elderly

Date: July 13, 2009

Author: Nathan Batoon

Summary: This article describes a collaboration between the National Institute of Mental Health and a School of Social Work to address depression in homebound elderly individuals.  The collaboration will focus on “telehealth” also known as video conferencing and problem-solving treatment.

Relevance: Social workers provide a variety of services to the elderly.

Questions:

1) What is a feasibility study?

2) Describe the use of video conferencing among psychotherapy practitioners and its use in the collaboration. What are your thoughts about the use of video conferencing?

3) Why might video conferencing therapy double or triple the number of individuals who can be treated?

Click here to read article

Homeless like us

Date: July 13, 2009

Author: Alexi Mostrous

Summary: This article describes how the economic recession is changing the stereotypes associated with homeless individuals.  A report was recently released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development describing homeless rates, the number of homeless families, and homelessness in urban and rural communities.

Relevance: Social workers provide services to individuals impacted by the economic recession.

Questions:

1) Summarize the findings of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report.

2) Summarize the statistical data describing the concentrations of homelessness, and the numbers of individuals who used homeless shelters. Be sure to include the data for both cities and states.

3) Describe the typical homeless individual.

4) Compare and contrast homeless men with homeless women.

Click here to read article

Teachers and lawyers offered £15,000 a year to go into social work in wake of Baby P scandal

Date: July 10, 2009

Author: Daily Mail Reporter

Summary: This article describes the efforts of the Children’s Secretary to increase the number of social workers to fill vacancies in various children’s services departments.  Various departments have complained that they can not fill social work positions and have numerous vacancies.

Relevance: Social workers play a key role in child welfare and the protection of children.

Questions:

1) What do you think of the plan to offer teachers and lawyers financial incentives to retrain as social workers?

2) How many times had Baby P been seen between social workers, medial workers and police prior to his death? Why do you think that his death occurred despite these numerous visits?

3) Describe the social work vacancy rate in British child welfare departments. What approach do you think can be taken to reduce the vacancy rates? Why?

Click here to read article

Older job seekers work to overcome age barrier

Journalist: Christopher S. Rugaber     

Date: July 6, 2009 

Summary: This article describes the experiences of older unemployed older workers, their efforts to obtain employment and age discrimination rates reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Relevance: Unemployed older workers may see social workers for services.

Questions:
1) Why might unemployed older workers find it hard to obtain employment?
2) Describe some of the resume-tinkering techniques used by older workers? What are your thoughts about resume-tinkering?  What other strategies are unemployed older workers using to seek employment?
3) Compare and contrast the length of time for unemployed workers 55 and older with those under 55. 
4) Compare and contrast the complaints of age bias reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission presently and going back 16 years.
5) In what ways is the current economic recession different for older workers than the 1981-1982 recession?

Click here to read the article

Widening racial gap exists in key factors for economic well-being, according to new study

Journalist: Jessica Martin    

Date: July 6, 2009 

Summary: This article describes the results of a study that shows racial disparities in economic well-being. 

Relevance: Individuals who experience racial disparities in economic well-being may also see social workers for services.

Questions:
1) What data were used for the study? How many years of data were used? 
2) Summarize the study results.
3) What three key factors regarding economic well-being were assessed?  Do you agree with using these factors? Why or why not? Would you add or delete any factors? Why or why not?
4) What do you think can be done to lessen racial disparities in economic well-being?

Click here to read the article

Ozark Profile: Juvenile center social worker strives to make a difference

Journalist: Trish Hollenbeck   

Date: July 6, 2009 

Summary: This article describes a social worker’s work and her interests outside of work.

Relevance: Social workers are attracted to the profession for a wide variety of reasons.

Questions:
1) What is your vision of success in life?
2) What is a needs assessment?
3) Why is it important to also talk with the family?
4) What is the difference between subjective and objective improvement in a client’s situation?

Click here to read the article

Grandparents are left out of the family picture too often

Journalist: Joan Bakewell  

Date: June 27, 2009 

Summary: This article describes the impact that a divorce, separation or loss of child can have on grandparents rights to their grandchildren.

Relevance: Social workers provide a variety of services to grandparents, their children and grandchildren

Questions:
1) Do you think that the same situations exist in the U.S. Why or why not?
2) Do you think that laws acknowledging a legal relationship between grandparents and grandchildren should be changed? Why or why not?
3) Why do paternal grandparents often experience these issues more severely than maternal grandparents?

Click here to read the article

Partnership to improve Central Illinois foster care

Journalist: Scott Gleeson 

Date: July 1, 2009 

Summary: This article describes a partnership between a School of Social Work and a Department of Children and Family Services.  The partnership is intended to reduce the number of children who enter and remain in long-term foster care without families.  This has been a problem in Central Illinois for more than 20 to 30 years.

Relevance: Social work plays a key role in the child welfare system.

Questions:
1) What is the focus of the partnership?
2) What types of services are provided through the partnership?
3) How did the partnership begin?
4) Do you think that the partnership has been effective? Why or why not?

Click here to read the article

Social work heads into cyberspace

Journalist: Charles Anzalone

Date: June 24, 2009 

Summary: This article describes efforts of a School of Social Work to use digital technologies for social work.  These technologies include teaching online courses, and the use of Facebook and podcasts.

Relevance: Digital technologies have the capability to reach a wide audience including students and alumni.

Questions:
1) Summarize the four cyberspace initiatives undertaken by the School of Social Work.
2) What is Facebook? What is a podcast?
3) How will the cyberspace initiatives benefit the intended audience?

Click here to read the article

Vets who repress traumatic memories may not be worse off

Journalist: June 19, 2009

Date: Alan Mozes  

Summary: This article summarizes the results of a research study which found that veterans who experience post-traumatic stress disorder may not experience poor health and shortened lives if they repress their combat experiences. 

Relevance: Social workers provide a variety of services to veterans and their families.

Questions:
1) Why do the study findings go “against the grain”? Be sure to discuss suppression as a risk factor.
2) What techniques were used to test the validity of the findings? Who comprised the sample?
3) What data collected between 1985 and 2000 were used? What are your thoughts about using this data and the validity techniques to test the findings and assumptions of the study?
4) Why is caution suggested when interpreting the results of the study?

Click here to read the article