Social Work Training Intervention to Increase Referral Rates for Preventive Psychosis Services: A Randomized Trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973152110597
Author(s):  
Jordan E. DeVylder ◽  
Nicole D. Andorko ◽  
Melissa E. Smith ◽  
John Fitzgerald ◽  
Emily Petti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Training Intervention ◽  
Early Intervention Services ◽  
Social Work Training ◽  
Work Training ◽  
Active Training

Purpose Social workers are employed in a broad range of community settings, in which they may be able to identify youth with emerging psychotic symptoms and facilitate connection to specialized services. Methods: This randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a training intervention for social workers ( N = 959) intended to increase the volume of referrals and rate of successful referrals to specialized early psychosis services. Results: During the 2-year study period, referrals to the early intervention program nearly doubled, t (df = 11) = 5.46, p < 0.001. Additionally, the rate of successful referrals was greater among social workers who received the active training (41.7%) compared to the other referral sources (19.2%), X2 (df = 1, n = 311) = 3.69, p = 0.055. Conclusions: The active training was associated with a marginally greater rate of successful referrals. Overall referrals increased greatly during the training period although this could not be linked to specific participants, suggesting contamination effects may have increased community awareness of early intervention services.

10-year outcome study of an early intervention program for psychosis compared with standard care service

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1181-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. W. Chan ◽  
H. C. So ◽  
C. L. M. Hui ◽  
W. C. Chang ◽  
E. H. M. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Standard Care ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Outcome

Background.Despite evidence on the short-term benefits of early intervention (EI) service for psychosis, long-term outcome studies are limited by inconsistent results. This study examined the 10-year outcomes of patients with first-episode psychosis who received 2-year territory-wide EI service compared to those who received standard care (SC) in Hong Kong using an historical control design.Method.Consecutive patients who received the EI service between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, were identified and matched with patients who received SC first presented to the public psychiatric service from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. In total, 148 matched pairs of patients were identified. Cross-sectional information on symptomatology and functioning was obtained through semi-structured interview; longitudinal information on hospitalization, functioning, suicide attempts, mortality and relapse over 10 years was obtained from clinical database. There were 70.3% (N = 104) of SC and 74.3% (N = 110) of EI patients interviewed.Results.Results suggested that EI patients had reduced suicide rate (χ2(1) = 4.35, p = 0.037), fewer number [odds ratio (OR) 1.56, χ2 = 15.64, p < 0.0001] and shorter duration of hospitalization (OR 1.29, χ2 = 4.06, p = 0.04), longer employment periods (OR −0.28, χ2 = 14.64, p < 0.0001) and fewer suicide attempts (χ2 = 11.47, df = 1, p = 0.001) over 10 years. At 10 years, no difference was found in psychotic symptoms, symptomatic remission and functional recovery.Conclusions.The short-term benefits of the EI service on number of hospitalizations and employment was sustained after service termination, but the differences narrowed down. This suggests the need to evaluate the optimal duration of the EI service.

Design of a Web-Based Supporting System for Home-Centered Infant early Intervention Program

2013 ◽  
Vol 380-384 ◽  
pp. 2054-2057
Author(s):  
Chun Hua Liu ◽  
Kai Yan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Early Intervention Program ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Supporting System ◽  
Early Intervention Services ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
High Risk Infants

Substantial literature indicates that it is necessary that infants receive early intervention services to improve long-term outcomes after birth. The effectiveness of parents as agents of intervention in the childs home environment is gradually realized. However, there a significant gap between the intensive service requirements for low-birth-weight (LBW) infants because the intervention requires intense one-on-one supervision by highly trained care givers. Based on web technology, we developed a supporting system to inform and teach parents in the early intervention of high risk infants. Results show the web-based training as a promising method of early intervention helps these caregivers in their practice of caring the high risk babies and may help overcome problems associated with the critical shortage of neonatal professionals.

The Application of Para Social Work Training in Physically and Sexually Abused Girls Under 18 Years of Age in Tanzania: A Case Study of Temeke Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Leah Natujwa Omari
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
Social Work Training ◽  
Work Training ◽  
The Social ◽  
Community Volunteers

The article presents a case of Para Social work training which basically aim at explaining how this training is essential in providing care and support to young Girls who are physically and sexually abused in Tanzania. It attempts to explain how the victims’ families with the help of Para Social workers can be linked to much-needed services. The objective of this study was to examine the application of Para Social work training in physically and sexually abused girls in Temeke Municipal, Dar es Salaam region. The study was also set to explore possible measure used to reduce the risk of physically and sexually abuse among young girls in addition to Para Social work training in Temeke Municipal, Dar es Salaam region. A major framework of sociological theory was used. The symbolic interactionism was employed in this study to explore symbolic meanings that community members developed and used in the process of social interaction. The family members of abused girls would interpret the behaviour of the young girls and therefore form the social bond which later was used to inform the community members about the problem that they were facing. This theoretical perspective helped the Para Social worker to make sense of the life experiences of young girls’ and understand their coping strategies including the increasing capacity of Para Social workers to access resources for improving care for young girls and their families. Further the theory increased capacity to understand how Para Social workers could generate the Eight (8) Years Plan for Development which was used in protecting young girls against physical and sexual abuse within their community. The theory enlightens community volunteers and Para Social workers in planning for various interventions in violence against children in Tanzania. Further, the study confirmed that community volunteers and Para Social workers suggested on the use of National Plan of Action for their interventions especially in emerging issues that needed their attention especially in reducing the problem of violence against children in their communities. This perspective helped to capture the behaviour of young girls and how they symbolically navigate their lives. The meaning and significance of young girls and the effect of abuse enable us to capture the social reality of those who dealt with the abuse and the measurement to reduce the problem using their own perspectives. This study used qualitative approach which included in-depth Interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Also purposive sampling was used whereby 50 informants were selected as a sample size of this study. The informants came from Temeke district in Dar es Salaam region.The Findings revealed that, since the development of Para Social work trainings in 2006, most vulnerable children especially young girls have enabled Para Social workers to be fully equipped and be able to apply relevant social policies effectively. Such policies include Sexual Offences Provisional Act of 1988(SOSPA), Child Development Policy of 2008 and the Law of the Child Act number 21 of 2009. Furthermore the Para Social work training has facilitated the process of identifying young girls who is abused. Thereafter Para Social workers have helped the girls’ families to develop and implement a plan of support.The study recommends to Para Social workers that young girls need to be understood in terms of situation and be protected from hazardous condition including physical and sexual abuse within their communities. Further the study recommends that it is important to strengthen child protection systems so that all kinds of abuse are addressed and worked on clearly in their communities. As for policy makers and law makers’ young girls have to be in their agenda for change. Para Social workers participation in this training is important as there are no enough staffs at the ward and village levels who could work for social workers. The availability of Para Social workers will facilitate linkages to available resources which are important for young girls’ growth and development. The attitude and perceptions towards using Para Social workers to help community members including the parents and other family members of young girls need to be changed for the benefit of the community members they serve.

A randomized controlled trial of an early intervention program in low birth weight children: Outcome at 2 years

2008 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Ivar Kaaresen ◽  
John A. Rønning ◽  
Jorunn Tunby ◽  
Solveig Marianne Nordhov ◽  
Stein Erik Ulvund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Early Intervention Program ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Low Birth Weight Children

scholarly journals Pengetahuan dan Skil Pekerja Sosial Kesihatan Mental di Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
FATIMAH ZAILLY AHMAD RAMLI ◽  
YUSMARHAINI YUSOF ◽  
NORFARAHIN MOHD NOOR
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Psychosocial Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Setting ◽  
Social Work Training ◽  
Academic Qualification ◽  
Work Training

Knowledges and skills in providing documentation, client assessment and problems solving based on theories and relevance methods are essential roles in the social work profession. The ability to conduct psychosocial assessment among clinical social workers are particularly important in mental health for social work to help clients to overcome their problems. Face to face interviews were conducted with respondents working in mental health setting. Semi- structured interview was utilised to identify the knowledge and skills required for a mental health social worker. Respondents’ transcription were analysed using thematic analysis based on the research objectives. Findings showed that elements of knowledges and skills required by social workers in mental health setting could be categorized into four components: (i) knowledge in doing assessment; (ii) knowledge about mental health and the competencies in relevant theories; (iii) knowledge on academic qualification and advanced social work training and (iv) additional skills as a social worker in a mental health setting.  

scholarly journals Professionals’ accounts of genetic testing in adoption: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Arribas-Ayllon ◽  
Angus Clarke ◽  
Katherine Shelton
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Chromosomal Microarray ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Work Training ◽  
Work Training ◽  
History Of ◽  
Genetic Technologies

ObjectiveTo explore social workers’ and medical advisors’ accounts of genetic testing in adoption.MethodsA qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth accounts of retrospective cases. Data were analysed thematically to identify professionals’ knowledge and expectations.ResultsTwenty professionals working in adoption services (including 8 medical advisors and 12 social workers) participated in this study. Social workers adopted an essentialist (single-gene) model to discuss genetic testing in relation to past cases. They assumed that testing was a generic procedure for detecting the presence or absence of a specific aetiology, the results of which were believed to be definitive and mutually exclusive. By contrast, medical advisors were circumspect and agnostic about the meaning of results, especially in relation to chromosomal microarray testing. Whereas social workers believed that genetic testing provided clarity in assessment and therefore assisted adoption, medical advisors emphasised the uncertainties of testing and the possibility that prospective adopters might be misled. Medical advisors also reported inappropriate requests to test children where there was a family history of a genetic condition, or to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in children presenting with non-specific dysmorphic features.ConclusionRecent advances in genetic technologies are changing the ways in which professionals understand and tolerate uncertainty in adoption. Social workers and medical advisors have different understandings and expectations about the clinical utility of genetic testing. These findings have implications for social work training about genetic testing and enabling effective communication between professional groups.

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