Abstinence-only programs fall short of teens’ needs

Journalist:  Robert Preidt  

 

Date:  August 21, 2008

 

Summary:  The article describes some of the reasons why abstinence-only programs that are intended prevent teenage sexual activity are not effective.  The assertions are based on a study that was conducted in Seattle using a sample obtained from an intervention intended to reduce HIV risk behavior.  

 

Relevance:  Social workers provide a wide variety of services to teens.

 

Questions:

 

   

1. Can you describe the sample used in the study? What was their gender?
2. What were participants asked to do?
3. What are the significant finds of the study?

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All in a day’s work

Journalist:  Sheila Shelton

 

Date:  August 23, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the tasks performed by a crisis intervention counselor.  The counselor describes the nature of the needs that individuals experience and quantifies certain types of services that were provided.

 

Relevance:  Social workers provide crisis intervention and collecting data regarding the nature of such services could serve a wide variety of purposes.

 

Questions:

 

 

1. In what type of settings does the counselor describe providing crisis intervention services?
2. Can you describe a program that utilizes the services of the counselor?
3. How does the counselor describe crisis? Do you agree with this definition? What would you add to this definition? What would you omit?
4. What types of situations does the crisis counselor deal with?
5. Can you describe statistics related to services that the counselor described? Are statistics such as these important? Why or why not?

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‘Chilling hardship’ for families of kids with disabilities

Journalist:  Leslie Boyd

 

Date:  August 23, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the results of a research study which found that families with four times the income above the federal poverty line still have difficulty making ends meet and caring for a child with a disability.  The study also found that family eligibility for assistance with a disabled child was too restricted to the federal poverty level, and that almost all programs providing services to families used this figure as a basis for eligibility.

 

Relevance:  Social workers provide a wide variety of services to families raising children with disabilities.

 

Questions:

 

1. What data was used in the study?
2. Does the article indicate that the situation is the same today as when the data was collected for families raising children with disabilities?
3. How are the most expensive family needs ranked for families raising children with disabilities?
4. What is the federal poverty level amount?  Do you feel that this is a realistic figure? Why or why not?
5. What type of hardship are families facing who are raising children with disabilities?

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Barack Obama: Saving social security

Journalist:  Barack Obama

 

Date:  August 17, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the viewpoints of the presumptive Democratic nominee for President regarding Social Security.  The nominee proposes the privatization of Social Security and suggests that Social Security has helped millions of seniors and their family members avoid living in poverty.

 

Relevance:   Social workers provide a variety of policy social work services and direct services that impact social security recipients.

 

Questions:

 

1.      Without Social Security, what percentage of seniors would live below the poverty line?

2.      What proposal does the presumptive Democratic nominee suggest for strengthening the Social Security program?

3.      Does the presumptive Democratic nominee support uncapping the full payroll tax?

4.      What does it mean to privatize social security?

 

 

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Delaying social security benefits may be wise

Journalist:  Kathy M. Kristof

 

Date:  August 17, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the reasons why some seniors might want to consider delaying receiving Social Security benefits, and why some seniors may not want to delay receiving benefits.  Two-thirds of retirees opt to receive benefits as soon as they become eligible, at age 62. 

 

Relevance:   Social workers provide a variety of policy social work services and direct services that impact social security recipients.

 

Questions:

1.      By how much would Social Security benefits increase if an individual waited one year after eligibility to begin receiving benefits?

2.      Describe the relationship between waiting to receive Social Security benefits and taking benefits as soon as an individual becomes eligible?

3.      Why do some individuals decide to receive benefits as soon as they become eligible?

4.      According to the article, what is the best decision regarding what to do when making a decision to receive Social Security benefits?

 

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Hospital social workers ‘get creative’ for uninsured patients

Journalist:  Ace Stryker

 

Date:  August 18, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the efforts of a team of hospital social workers to help patients who can not afford to pat for their medical care receive services.  The team of 10 social workers helps patients to receive follow up care after they receive acute care.

 

Relevance:   Social workers provide a variety of social work services within hospital settings.

 

Questions:

1.      Why does the treatment that illegal immigrants and other uninsured patients receive make the social worker’ work important?

2.      What types of services are provided to patients who can not afford to pay their treatment?

3.      What are the roles that hospital social worker assume?

4.      According to the article, what is one of the best solutions for uninsured patients?

 

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Researchers at UA get $250,000 grant

Journalist:  Unknown

 

Date:  August 6, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the purpose of a grant awarded to researchers at a school of social work.  The grant will enable researchers to study the long-term effects of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for low-income families.  

 

Relevance:   This article illustrates the types of research topics that social work researchers study.

 

Questions:

1.      What organization provided the grant?

2.      What is the purpose of IDAs?

3.      What other areas of research participants’ lives will be examined to investigate the impact of the IDAs?

 

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‘Miss Rosey’ strives to help inmates beat drugs

Journalist:  Corilyn Shropshire

 

Date:  August 9, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the experiences of a recovering addict and ex-criminal offender who directs a program intended to help former prisoners adjust to community life.   

 

Relevance:   Individuals who experience social problems often choose to major in social work and help others who experience similar social problems.

 

Questions:

                   1.      How did Ms. Ruiz obtain her current position?

2.      Describe a day of prison visits for Ms. Ruiz.

3.      In addition to a master’s in social work, what additional credentials does Ms. Ruiz have? How might these additional credentials be useful in her work?

4.      What issues should social workers consider when working with clients who experience social problems that are similar to what the social worker experienced (e.g., overidentification)?

 

 

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YWCA at 60: From social outlet to performing vital social work

Journalist:   Rachel Pritchett

 

Date:  August 9, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the history of a local YWCA based on archival records.  The YWCA initially served as a social club for women and has evolved to become a source of services for abused women and children.

 

Relevance:   Social work services are provided through many types of organizations.   

 

Questions:

 

1.      Where was the YWCA founded and when?

2.      What is the mission of the YWCA?

3.      How many years has this local YWCA provided shelter for domestic violence victims?

4.      What was the initial reaction of YWCA members when they were approached about starting a shelter for abuse women?

5.      What is the meaning of “nonprofit” status?

 

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Many U.S. hospitals repatriating illegal immigrants

Journalist:  Deborah Sontag       

 

Date:  August 3, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the efforts of many U.S. hospitals to repatriate seriously ill or injured immigrants due to the inability to provide appropriate discharge plans because of their lack of health insurance. This practice is little known, yet widespread.  

 

Relevance:   Social workers provide a variety of services to immigrants, and social workers are also employed in hospitals where they are likely to provide discharge planning services to immigrants.  

 

Questions:

 

1.      Does Medicaid cover long-term care for illegal immigrants or for newly arrived legal immigrants?

2.      Are U.S. hospitals required to arrange post-hospital care for patients who require it?

3.      What means are hospitals using to send illegal immigrants to their countries of origin?

4.      What countries are represented in these repatriation efforts?

 

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