Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles) ISSN (Print) 0360-7283 - ISSN (Online) 1545-6854 Published by Oxford University Press[412 journals]
Authors:Rine C; LaBarre C. Pages: 73 - 76 Abstract: The Grand Challenges for Social Work introduced by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW) extend numerous opportunities for the profession to ameliorate widespread societal issues. The challenge “to build financial capability for all” is rooted in recognizing the influence of poverty and systemic inequality experienced across disparate populations. Financial instability is widespread and is not an issue exclusive to low-income populations. Nearly half of all households in the United States do not have enough savings to sustain themselves through three months of an economic emergency (AASWSW, 2017; Despard, Friedline, & Birkenmaier, 2018). Social work professionals throughout micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice are well positioned to provide individuals with knowledge, skills, and access to opportunities needed to build and maintain long-term financial stability, regardless of their economic status. As cash has largely been replaced with credit-based transactions, financial well-being is increasingly dependent on one’s ability to navigate a progressively interrelated and complex financial landscape. Unfortunately, systemic barriers inhibit many, particularly those with limited economic resources, from developing these skills. Financial knowledge can help everyone make more informed decisions around money management through strategies that support continuing economic well-being. Although options are far more limited for people with low income, informed money management practices can protect against long-enduring and unrecoverable economic pitfalls (Lusardi, 2011). However, education is only one part of a much larger picture; having opportunities to grow savings and assets is also fundamental to improving financial wellness throughout one’s lifetime. To this end, social workers are called on to pursue policy actions that promote change within oppressive financial structures and support interventions that educate and modify behaviors to foster economic mobility (Birkenmaier, Despard, & Friedline, 2018; Huang et al., 2016). Through these efforts, the profession can meet this significant challenge by mitigating persistent systemic problems and generational patterns of economic inequality. PubDate: Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa005 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Reed S; Evans E, Hooyman N. Pages: 77 - 79 Abstract: Last September, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) (2019) released their consensus study report, Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation’s Health. In alignment with their recommendations, professional social workers are leading the way toward integration of social care into health care through five central activities identified in the report (the 5 A’s): awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, and advocacy. Addressing upstream social factors that shape people’s health—such as access to stable housing, reliable transportation, and a livable income—has long been part of professional social work. In recognition of this, NASEM summarized, “The social care workforce can include many types of workers. Social workers are specialists in providing social care who have a long history of working within health care delivery” (p. 5). Distinctive to this profession, social work practice is grounded in systems integration at multiple levels of intervention with individuals, families, communities, organizations, and policy. Professional social workers on interprofessional teams thus play a unique and essential role in working toward the shared goal of achieving better health and quality of life outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. PubDate: Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa006 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Jun H; DeVylder J, Fedina L. Pages: 81 - 89 Abstract: AbstractPolice violence is reportedly common among those diagnosed with mental disorders characterized by the presence of psychotic symptoms or pronounced emotional lability. Despite the perception that people with mental illness are disproportionately mistreated by the police, there is relatively little empirical research on this topic. A cross-sectional general population survey was administered online in 2017 to 1,000 adults in two eastern U.S. cities to examine the relationship between police violence exposure, mental disorders, and crime involvement. Results from hierarchical logistic regression and mediation analyses revealed that a range of mental health conditions are broadly associated with elevated risk for police violence exposure. Individuals with severe mental illness are more likely than the general population to be physically victimized by police, regardless of their involvement in criminal activities. Most of the excess risk of police violence exposure related to common psychiatric diagnoses was explained by confounding factors including crime involvement. However, crime involvement may necessitate more police contact, but does not necessarily justify victimization or excessive force (particularly sexual and psychological violence). Findings support the need for adequate training for police officers on how to safely interact with people with mental health conditions, particularly severe mental illness. PubDate: Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa003 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Dias N; Ribeiro A, Henriques A, et al. Pages: 91 - 100 Abstract: AbstractSocial support may encourage victims to disclose their experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), but also to seek the appropriate help and care in the social and health services. Using data from a multicenter European project, DOVE (Domestic Violence Against women/men in Europe—prevalence, determinants, effects, and policies/practices), the present study aimed at measuring the frequency of primary care and emergency use according to IPV types of victimization, and to investigate whether victims receiving different levels of informal social support are using health care differently. Results suggested a significant association between IPV types and use of emergency services, and no association was found regarding primary care services. Victims of physical abuse and sexual coercion went to the emergency department (ED) more frequently (more than once a year). Also, victims of physical abuse receiving low social support visited an ED more frequently than those with high social support, whereas victims of sexual coercion with high informal social support went more often to the ED compared with victims of sexual coercion with low social support, even after controlling for other covariates. These results seem to suggest that social support has a significant role in the decision to use health care among victims of IPV. PubDate: Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa007 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Nakash O; Granek L, Cohen M, et al. Pages: 101 - 109 Abstract: Authors examined differences in assessment method (structured diagnostic interview versus self-report questionnaire) between ethnic groups in the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders among women with breast cancer. A convenience sample of 88 Mizrahi (Jews of Middle Eastern/North African descent, n = 42) and Ashkenazi (Jews of European/American descent, n = 46) women with breast cancer from oncology units in three health centers across Israel participated in the study. Participants were within eight months of diagnosis. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a structured diagnostic interview, the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Approximately one-third (31.8 percent, n = 28) of participants were diagnosed with at least one mood or anxiety disorder based on the MINI. Significantly more Mizrahi participants (42.9 percent) were diagnosed with at least one mood or anxiety disorder, compared with their Ashkenazi counterparts (21.7 percent). Mean score on HADS was below the optimal cutoff score (≥13) among all participants, with no significant difference in mean score for emotional distress based on HADS between the two ethnic groups. The findings highlight the role of measurement variance in assessing mental health distress among women with breast cancer in general and among ethnic and racial minorities in particular. PubDate: Mon, 11 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa004 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Elman A; Rosselli S, Burnes D, et al. Pages: 110 - 121 Abstract: AbstractElder mistreatment is common and has serious consequences. The emergency department (ED) may provide a unique opportunity to detect this mistreatment, with social workers often asked to take the lead in assessment and intervention. Despite this, social workers may feel ill-equipped to conduct assessments for potential mistreatment, due in part to a lack of education and training. As a result, the authors created the Emergency Department Elder Mistreatment Assessment Tool for Social Workers (ED-EMATS) using a multiphase, modified Delphi technique with a national group of experts. This tool consists of both an initial and comprehensive component, with 11 and 17 items, respectively. To our knowledge, this represents the first elder abuse assessment tool for social workers designed specifically for use in the ED. The hope is that the ED-EMATS will increase the confidence of ED social workers in assessing for elder mistreatment and help ensure standardization between professionals. PubDate: Sat, 25 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlz040 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Rayner S; Davis C, Moore M, et al. Pages: 122 - 130 Abstract: AbstractSecondary traumatic stress (STS) is an indirect form of trauma affecting the psychological well-being of mental health workers. This study examined STS and related factors of empathetic behavior and trauma caseload among a purposive sample of 190 social workers and psychologists. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising demographics, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, and the Empathy Scale for Social Workers. A moderated moderation model was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationship between the amount of trauma in clinician caseload and STS, as moderated by empathy and personal trauma history. Approximately 30 percent of participants met the criteria for a diagnosis of STS. Results indicated that although caseload trauma was not an independent predictor of STS, there was a significant interaction between caseload trauma and personal trauma history on STS. Similarly, empathy alone was not directly related to changes in STS, yet the trauma in caseload effect on STS was moderated by empathy, and that relationship was moderated by personal trauma history. This overall effect was shown to significantly predict STS. The current study highlights the importance of developing evidence-based risk strategies for mental health workers working in the area of trauma and at risk of developing symptoms of STS. PubDate: Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa001 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Ross M. Pages: 135 - 137 Abstract: Complications involving access to and affordability of care, such as the uneven expansion of Medicaid across the United States, have exacerbated health disparities and prevented many consumers from receiving services altogether (Almgren, Spencer, & Walters, 2017; Andrews, Guerrero, Wooten, & Legnick-Hall, 2015; Insel, 2016). Social determinants such as these put disadvantaged populations at greater health risk––people with mental illness in the United States have an average 22-year shortened life expectancy rate (De Hert et al., 2011; Thornicroft, 2011). The explosive growth in technological tools developed for social and emotional well-being demonstrates the increasing interest in improving mental health. The use of technology in service delivery offers hope in addressing health disparities by empowering consumers with affordable and immediate access to care while increasing consumer participation and treatment effectiveness. PubDate: Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlaa002 Issue No:Vol. 45, No. 2 (2020)
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
[412 journals]
