Social Work Commons^™

Alternative Approaches To Police Interventions When Responding To Mental Health Crises Incidents, Karen Rivera Apolinar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose: This study explored mental health workers perspectives on alternative approaches in responding to mental health crises.

The study was carried out in Southern California, in collaboration with mental health workers who currently work or previously have worked in mental health crisis. It adopted a post-positivists paradigm and data was gathered through individual interviews with mental health workers who have direct experience with mental health crisis response in the community and with the police. The twenty participants in the study were men and women working in the mental health field, and of various backgrounds, licensures, and ages.

The study found …

Student Censorship In The Social Work Classrooms, Lisa Kozlowski

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Through the evolution of the field of social work, a divide in its ideologies has emerged and certain political and ideological groups such as the religious and conservatives have become underrepresented. As a result, over the years the liberal philosophies have emerged as the dominant group. This has led to a decrease in diversity within the field. Recognition of biases in the field of social work is difficult. Through a qualitative analysis method, this study was meant to explore if social work students feel they are free to share openly in the classroom, and if they are accepting of all …

Suicide Attempts From Adolescence Into Young Adulthood: A System Dynamics Perspective For Intervention And Prevention, Saras Yu Chung

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Though the reduction of suicide-related deaths has been a national priority for over a decade (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001) and over $22 million per year (National Institutes of Health, 2015) have been invested to prevent suicide, rates of suicide have not declined (CDC, 2012). In fact, for some groups of adolescents, these rates seem to be on the ride (Wasserman, Cheng, & Jiang, 2005). The ineffectiveness in reducing deaths by suicide despite increased funding and coordinated efforts suggests the need for a new perspective on examining why and how adolescents begin to desire and attempt suicide …

The Empty Chair Appointment, Jody Long, Ken Sakauye, Khaja Chisty, John Upton

Research, Publications & Creative Work

The objective was to test an intervention to reduce failed rates for psychiatric appointments. We collected data for this study of the characteristics of patients who missed appointments from March 2011 through September 2012. A phone triage assessment intervention was implemented to address chronic first-time failed attendance appointments (N = 78). The main reason for failed appointments was transportation difficulties. The first-time appointment show rate increased after implementing an assessment intervention. Phone assessment intervention was practical and may improve nonattendance for psychiatric appointments. The discussion reflects speculations about causes and possible measures to make services more accessible.

Practitioner Profile: An Interview With Reeta Wolfsohn, Cmsw, Reeta Wolfsohn

Journal of Financial Therapy

Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW, began practicing financial therapy in 1997. At the time, she didn’t call what she did by that name, but her work specifically addressed the financial issues and problems of her clients. Early on in her work, Reeta recognized clients wanted to take control of their money and their lives, but struggled not only with the shame, guilt, worry, and stress of debt, but also with the poor sense of self, and low self-confidence and self-esteem which inevitably accompanied it. Realizing clients needed more help than regularly scheduled therapy sessions, she began developing financial educational materials and psychosocial …

Practitioner Profile: An Interview With Amanda Clayman, Lmsw, Cfsw, Amanda Clayman

Journal of Financial Therapy

Amanda Clayman, is a Licensed Master of Social Work and a Certified Financial Social Worker who helps individuals, couples, and families bring money into balance. Since 2006, Amanda has led the Financial Wellness Program at The Actors Fund, a national non-profit human services agency that supports professionals in performing arts and entertainment. She maintains a private financial wellness counseling practice in New York City and is a public speaker on life and money topics. Amanda's work has been featured in media outlets, such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, SELF magazine, REAL SIMPLE magazine, Women's Health, Parenting, …

Book Review: "Financial Therapy: 5 Steps Toward Financial Freedom, Megan Mccoy, D. Bruce Ross

Journal of Financial Therapy

Financial Therapy: 5 Steps Toward Financial Freedom and its accompanying workbook, Guide to Financial Therapy Forms and Handouts: 5 Steps Toward Financial Freedom, was created to provide an intervention model to help clients become more financially literate and protect them from financial predators.

Identity Making Process Of Individuals With Mild Intellectual Disabilities, Carolee Kamlager

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

The shadow of stigma theory typically surrounds the research investigation of the lives of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. McAdams’ life story theory and methodology provide a human development framework as an alternative to the prevailing framework in the field of disability. This study moves out of the shadow of otherness and examines the personal identity making process of twelve individuals with mild intellectual disabilities in the light of human development theory. Findings dispel the assumption that individuals with mild intellectual disabilities construct their lives solely through their disability. Rather, the identity making process includes the influences of socio-cultural events, …

The Effectiveness Of An Interactive Multimedia Psychoeducational Approach To Improve Financial Competence In At-Risk Youth: A Pilot Study, Bradley Klontz, Caesar Pacifici, Lee White, Carol Nelson

Journal of Financial Therapy

In recent years, a growing number of initiatives have been aimed at increasing financial literacy among youth in America. However, these efforts have tended to target mainstream populations, and failing to adequately address the backgrounds, learning, and psychological needs of at-risk youth. This study piloted a curriculum on money management that presented a basic set of financial skills via story situations and characters that are meaningful to at-risk youth using a dynamic interactive multimedia online delivery to heighten youths’ interest to learn. The approach also helped at-risk youth gain insight into their money beliefs and psychological barriers to success, integrating …