Perspectives on Social Work: 2014
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/4370
This collection gathers content from two volumes of Perspectives on Social Work published in 2014.
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Item Social Work Implications of the Family Violence Option(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) An, SoonokThis paper explores the impact of the Family Violence Option on the roles and related responsibilities of social work practitioners in identifying victims of domestic violence, assessing their service needs, and building an organizational culture of routine screening and relevant assessment for domestic violence. Family Violence Option is a federal law that routinely identifies victims of domestic violence and waives certain requirements for the identified victims in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF programs do not screen for domestic violence nor implement protocols of the Family Violence Option, but promoting social work values and roles into the program may improve the implementation of domestic violence screening. The role of advocate is particularly important, so it needs to be emphasized more at all levels of action within the system to respond to domestic violence.Item Leaving Your Comfort Zone: Lessons from a First Year TA.(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Powell, TerriTeaching offers personal and professional challenges. With these challenges come vulnerable moments and times that one must step outside one’s comfort zone. This may be the only way to grow and to live an authentic life. Personal teaching experiences are offered and five tips are shared to help new instructors enjoy and survive the classroom. The tips are intended to help prepare the next generation of social work professors.Item An Initial Inquiry into the Impact of Privatization on Social Work in the United States(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Graybow, ScottAlthough there is considerable research about the impact of privatization upon other professions, at this time there is no recent research and little remote research on the matter of client and staff outcomes following privatization of social workers in social service agencies in the United States. This is troubling in light of the fact that, generally speaking, privatization has harsh effects upon the emotional and material well-being of marginalized and oppressed communities. Concerning social work, the privatization of state social work in the United Kingdom has had profoundly negative effects. This evidence suggests there is a fundamental incompatibility between social work, its mission and values, and the theory and practice of privatization. For this reason, the paper concludes there is a pressing need to address the dearth of scholarly material currently available concerning the possible effect of privatization upon social work in the United States and its relationship to issues such as professionalization.Item PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL WORK VOLUME 10 (FALL 2014)(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Graybow, Scott; Squicciarini, Lynn M.; Powell, Terri; An, Soonok; Martinez, Marcos J.; Kawam, ElisaThis is the full-text volume of Perspectives on Social Work, vol. 10 (Fall 2014).Item Harry Hopkins: Social Work Legacy and Role in New Deal Era Policies(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Martinez, Marcos J.; Kawam, ElisaThe early 20th century was rife with much social, political, and economic change both positive and negative. During this time, social work became a profession, cemented by great minds and visionaries who sought a better society. Harry Hopkins was one such visionary: he was a model leader in social service provision and was one of the New Deal architects. This essay considers the roots of Hopkin’s influence, his experiences operating large federal agencies, his work in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration during the Great Depression and into World War II, and the dedication and commitment he displayed throughout his career as a public servant.Item Learning to Teach through Self-Awareness and Acceptance(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Squicciarini, Lynn M.This article is an account of my first teaching experience as a PhD student. It is the story of my personal journey toward self-discovery in which I learned to integrate my clinical social work skills into my teaching. This article details a variety of emotions and struggles experienced both by my students and myself. This narrative describes how I came to be a more conscientious instructor, how I learned to link lessons from the clinical world to my teaching, and how my learning process included significant advances of self-discovery and personal growth. Through this experience, I came to understand that pedagogy and clinical techniques can dovetail, demonstrating the need to individualize interventions, build community with stakeholders, and foster trusting relationships.Item EDITORIAL FROM PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL WORK VOLUME 10 (FALL 2014)(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Glaude, MauryaEditorial for volume 10 of Perspectives on Social Work, by journal editor Maurya W. Glaude, MSW, LCSW.Item Where is Spirituality in Social Work?(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Baldwin, Tamika C.; Vaughn, Janet N.; Cotton, Candace M.; Vakalahi, Halaevalu F. OfahengaueThis article is a critical analysis of the existing literature on spirituality in the profession of social work. The NASW Code of Ethics (2003) and CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (2008) acknowledge the importance of spiritual values and practices for the positive functioning of people. This analysis of the literature offers a forum for dialogue about the role of spirituality in social work education and practice. Greater understanding of spirituality and its value to diverse people in society is necessary for social workers to practice cultural competence social work. There are key approaches to education and practice that may hold much promise for enhancing social work’s commitment to a holistic understanding of the human condition, respect for diversity, and competent and ethical social service.Item Investing in What Works: How Social Workers Can Influence Policy to Reduce Pregnancies among Homeless Youth(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Begun, StephanieNumerous factors make homeless youth one of the most highly vulnerable youth populations. One such challenge is pregnancy, as homeless youth pregnancy rates are far higher than those of their housed peers. Policies such as the Personal Responsibility Education Program’s Innovative Strategies competitive grant mechanism, have been implemented to explore how evidence-based approaches may ameliorate pregnancy prevalence among various groups of high-risk youth. To date, however, no programs have been adopted to specifically target pregnancy reduction among homeless youth, a high-risk youth population that often displays unique causes and risks regarding pregnancy. This overview examines how social workers and other individuals involved in the policy-making process may work to further adapt and promote Innovative Strategies for use with homeless youth populations. In doing so, promising health and life outcomes could be afforded to one of the most vulnerable and underrepresented, while least visible youth populations.Item Alignment of Early Childhood Programs in Colorado: Review of a Legislative Response(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Brown, SamanthaA dearth of coordination and collaboration among early childhood services can have negative consequences for children and families. Alignment of developmental programs for young children is shown to mitigate adverse outcomes and improve access to early childhood care and education. Several policies have been introduced that help to ensure children receive adequate resources in an effort to improve their physical and mental health, development, school performance, and family environment. On May 7, 2013, Colorado Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1117 (2013), which requires the alignment of several early childhood programs under the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). This article describes problems associated with fragmentation of early childhood programs, Colorado’s mission to address these problems through more effective and streamlined systems of care, and how such an approach has promise for implementation in additional states. Implications for social work professionals are also discussed.Item PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL WORK VOLUME 10 (SPRING 2014)(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Baldwin, Tamika C.; Vaughn, Janet N.; Cotton, Candace M.; Vakalahi, Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue; Begun, Stephanie; Brown, Samantha; Sayre, Molly MalanyThis is the full-text volume of Perspectives on Social Work, vol. 10 (Spring 2014).Item Distributive Justice and Equity in Grading: A New Instructor’s Reflections(Editorial from Perspectives on Social Work Volume 10 (Spring 2014), 2014) Sayre, Molly MalanyThe author reflects upon early teaching experiences to identify a conflict between minimal distributive justice, or the distribution of goods that ensures all individuals have an acceptable level of that good (Deutsch, 1985), and grading of students’ assignments. Instead of addressing the unequal distribution of college preparedness among her students, the author’s grading reflected and potentially reinforced educational, racial, and economic inequalities. In agreement with Anastas (2010), an ethic of social justice is recommended for use in social work education. Social work educators can provide greater access to resources (e.g., the instructor’s time) for students experiencing disadvantages that affect their academic performance.Item EDITORIAL FROM PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL WORK VOLUME 9 (SPRING 2014)(University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, 2014) Minter, AnthonyEditorial for volume 9 of Perspectives on Social Work, by journal editor Anthony Minter, MSW.