FHSU students gain first-hand experience in social work field

Journalist:  Chanel Hand   

 

Date:  November 24, 2007

 

Summary:  This article describes the experiences of social work, law and criminal justice students who made field visits to a police department and criminal court trials.  The purpose of the field visits was to enhance classroom learning with field experience.

 

Relevance:  Field visits and opportunities can be used to enhance a variety of classroom learning experiences.

 

Questions:

 

1)      Describe the type of situations that the students experienced?

2)      Can you identify classes/social problems where such field experiences can enhance learning?

3)      What are your thoughts about the different styles of policing that were observed in the two cities described in the article?  How might this impact individuals based on where they live?

 

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Locals get cold lesson in homelessness

Journalist:  Donna Baxter 

 

Date:  November 23, 2007

 

Summary:  This article describes the experiences of social work students and those who work with the homeless after participating in a simulated exercise.

 

Relevance:  Simulated exercises can be a valuable tool for classroom learning.

 

Questions:

 

1. Describe the type of simulated situations that participants experienced.
2. Describe some of the comments that were made by participants following the simulated situations.
3. What are your thoughts about the food served in the soup kitchen? Is this a nutritious meal? What steps would you pursue, if any, to increase the amount and quality of the food served?

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‘Lothario’ of social work get 3-year sentence

Journalist:  Brian Caldwell

 

Date:  November 22, 2007

 

Summary:  A former social worker was sentenced to three years in prison although credit toward the sentence was granted on a two-to-one basis and time served in pre-sentence custody.  The former social worker was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault for seducing a patient and attacking a former client.

 

Relevance:  This article provides an example of a situation were a social worker has violated the code of ethics.

 

Questions:

 

1)      Describe the situation of the teen who was seduced by the social worker.

2)      Describe the situation of the social worker.

3)      What did the teen say in a statement to the court?

4)      Can you identify areas of the NASW Code of Ethics that were violated using this case an example?

 

 

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USC to train social workers to deal with military families

Journalist:  Jia-Rui Chong

Date:  October 23, 2008

Summary:  This article describes efforts to train social work students to provide services to military personnel and their families.  The program was developed to address the growth in military personnel and their families seeking mental health services.  The program will integrate military knowledge into social work classes, and offer a new course focused on PTSD and describing the military hierarchical structure.

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

Questions:

1. By how much did the caseload of social workers who provide services to military families increase within a two year period?
2. How many military service members who return from Iraq seek mental health services?
3. What can happen when a social worker does not understand military jargon and terms when working clients and their families?
4. What skills and tools can you use to locate effective interventions for PTSD? Why is it important to use interventions that are effective?

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Soldier’s widow criticizes Army suicide screenings

Journalist:  Kristin M. Hall         

Date:  November 17, 2008

Summary:  This article describes a soldier’s suicide and interventions provided by the Army.  The suicide rate among soldiers has increased during a consecutive five year period and may surpass the national average suicide rate this year. 

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

Questions:

1. Summarize the life experiences of the soldier who committed suicide.
2. How do members of the military view emotional or mental health problems?
3. Can you summarize the 2007 report by the American Psychological Association?
4. Can you describe the mental health screenings that were offered to soldiers? Do you think that such screening would be effective? Why or why not?

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Intimate strangers: Who’s caring for elderly?

Journalist:  Lois M. Collins and Elaine Jarvik        

Date:  November 17, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the experiences of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who provide care to the elderly in nursing homes.  CNAs are eight times more likely to experience back injuries then are roofers, and twice as likely to get a bruise as sheet metal workers.  They experience among the highest rates of workplace injuries and illness in the country.

Relevance:  Social workers provide a variety of services in nursing home facilities.

Questions:

1. What is the average hourly wage for a CNA?
2. What factors contribute to the high turnover rate and shortage among CNAs?
3. At the center described in the article what percentage of residents lack outside contact?
4. How many minimum hours of training must a CNA complete?
5. What other profession is expected to experiences a shortage of workers skilled in providing care to the elderly?
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Anger as number of babies born in prison at record high

Journalist:  Lucy Adams         

Date:  November 10, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the increase in the numbers of women who are giving birth in Europe while incarcerated, particularly in Scottish prisons. 

Relevance:  This article reports that social workers assess which mothers should and should not be permitted to bond with their infant children while incarcerated.

Questions:

1. How many women were incarcerated in Scotland in 2002? In 2008?
2. What role does social work play regarding mothers and their infant children during incarceration?
3. Do women give birth while incarcerated?
4. What type of post incarceration services are needed for mothers and their infant children?

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Social workers boost expertise on money woes

Journalist:  The Associated Press        

Date:  November 10, 2008

Summary:  This article reports that in response to the economic meltdown in the U.S., social workers are increasingly working on initiatives to assist client with their financial problems.  Few schools of social work provide financial training to students making it difficult for social workers to address these issues with clients.  In addition to suggesting that financial problems should be addressed in schools of social work, the article provides initiatives initiated by social workers and social service agencies to address clients’ financial problems.

Relevance:  Social workers are likely to see clients who are experiencing financial problems.

Questions:

1. How many states are offering the online certificate course in financial social work?
2. Can you describe the “new approach” to addressing clients’ financial problems?
3. What is the purpose of Individual Development Accounts?

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Domestic violence a growing problem for veterans

Journalist:  Unknown          

Date:  November 8, 2008

Summary:  This press release reports that veterans who experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also at risk of domestic violence behavior.  Although veterans receive treatment for PTSD, the treatment often does not include services to address domestic violence.  Research conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that male veterans who experienced PTSD were two to three times more likely than veterans who did experience PTSD to experience domestic violence behaviors, and to be involved in the criminal justice system.

Relevance:  Social workers can play an important part in coordinating community response efforts to address PTSD and domestic violence among veterans.

Questions:

1. At what level are prevention strategies being designed to address PTSD and domestic violence? Individual? Family? Community?
2. How many veterans have served in the U.S. military?
3. Do evidence-based treatments exist for PTSD? Domestic violence behaviors?
4. How do community efforts intended to address PTSD and domestic violence enhance victim safety and offender accountability?

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Hospitals join in acute care unit for elderly

Journalist:  Unknown            

Date:  October 23, 2008

Summary:  This article describes an acute care unit for elderly patients.  The goals of the unit are to assist elderly individuals with maintaining self-care, improve social skills and independence skills, improve continuity of care, and assist patients with accessing resources located both within the hospital and within the community.

Relevance:  This article provides an acute care unit model for the elderly.

Questions:

1. According to the article, what do research results show regarding patients who receive treatment in an acute care unit?
2. What disciplines are represented on the multidisciplinary team?
3. What procedures will lead to shorter acute care unit stays and improved patient outcomes?
4. What are some of the behaviors commonly experienced among elderly acutely confused patients?

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