Introduce a New Community Program

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Introduce a New Community Program – Availability Ends

Adolescent alcohol and other drug problems are rampant in your small community. You are a licensed psychologist employed as a Human Resources Director at the largest employer in your community. As a contribution to the community, you have been asked to establish an alcohol and drug program. You want to select a program name that is professional, but that people will remember, and a description of services and clients who will be served, which is sufficiently broad to attract clients. Once it is open, you plan to hire certified drug and alcohol counselors. In the interim, you will be the director and only employee.
Prepare an announcement with accompanying article for your local newspaper to introduce your alcohol and drug program. Reference your areas of expertise, your training, and any relevant experience. In your article, you must discuss fee schedules, payment options, and your policies regarding insurance billing. Include any other relevant information regarding the successful launch of your program while remaining in compliance with ethical standards. Be creative; include any visual aids, charts, or images you feel will enhance your article.
Length: 5-7 pages, not including title and reference pages, but including any supportive visual aids
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic.

explain the potential negative and positive impact of this mainstream discourse on those living with a psychiatric diagnosis

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SOCW-6090 & 6361-W1-Discussions

Discussion 1: Impact of Mainstream Focus on Psychopathology and Diagnosis
Diagnosis and the description of mental health issues have recently become ubiquitous in the media. One of the reasons for this new emergence of the topic of mental health in the mainstream media is because of worldwide traumatic events. Many tragic events covered in the media are centered on one or two individuals who have committed acts of violence. Unfortunately, most of these individuals have had a history of mental illness. This aspect of the tragedy then becomes the focus of analysis within the media. From this point of reference, reporters and journalists educate the public on mental health issues. However, these tragedies could be an opportunity to educate the public about the facts related to mental illness. Unfortunately, the media discussions about mental illness often result in attaching a stigma to mental illness and to the population suffering from mental illness.
As a clinical social worker, you need to be aware of the impact of the entry of psychopathology and diagnosis in mainstream public discourses. You also need to think about how the media could help eliminate or mitigate the stigma attached to mental illness in the mind of the general population.
·      Post an explanation of your thoughts on how psychopathology and diagnosis have entered mainstream public discourse.
·      Then explain the potential negative and positive impact of this mainstream discourse on those living with a psychiatric diagnosis.
·      Briefly explain the DSM-5’s organization and its dimensional approach to diagnosing and its possible impact on society’s view of mental disorders.
·      Be sure to include specific examples to the mainstream media (e.g., television or magazine reports, television shows) in your post.
Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
References (use 3 or more)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

  • “Preface” (pp. xli–xliv)

Krueger, R. F., & Bezdjian, S. (2009). Enhancing research and treatment of mental disorders with dimensional concepts: Toward DSM-V and ICS-11. World Psychiatry, 8(1), 3–6.
Discussion 2:  Historical Divides and Ethical Obligations Within Social Work
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) specifies the ethics and values of the profession in their Code of Ethics. Section 6.04 of the Code of Ethics (1999) states:

Biopsychological Analysis of a Neuropsychological Disorder

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Final Project: Biopsychological Analysis of a Neuropsychological Disorder
In your Final Project, you will synthesize an overview of the major theories relating to the pathology of a disorder as well as provide a detailed discussion of the etiology (causes) and clinical interventions, using research to support your analysis.  Your topic will be the neuropsychological disorder that was selected and approved by the instructor in your Week One assignment, and for which you provided an outline in the Week Two assignment.  In keeping with the focus of this class, the emphasis of your paper will be on the neuroscience aspects of the disorder, to include:

  • Theories of etiology (causes)
  • Associated factors in development of the disorder (genetic, environmental, familial, lifestyle)
  • Pathology (abnormalities of physical structure and function, including genetic and biochemical aspects)
  • Treatment options (pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic, with rationales for use based on current understanding of the disorder)
  • Diagnostic and research technologies employed in clinical diagnosis, care, and basic science research

Your research will include a minimum of six to eight peer-reviewed sources, which provide evidence-based information regarding the biological and psychological features of the disorder and were published within the last five years. At least four of your references should be peer-reviewed publications of original research studies. To justify your assertions, provide in-text citations for all factual statements taken from your research, with corresponding references drawn from scholarly sources.  All citations and sources are to be documented according to APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center, and should support and enhance your analysis of the selected disorder. Sources may include review articles, original research articles, information from government agencies (e.g., National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration) or professional societies (e.g., professional society position papers or clinical practice guidelines).      Final Project- ComponentsSection I:  IntroductionThis section should provide a general introduction to the topic as well as an overview of the background and history of the disorder. Further, it should provide a succinct thesis statement of the purpose and overall direction of the paper.  For instance, if your paper will have a large focus on the role of particular neurotransmitters in the etiology of the disorder as a rationale for treatment options, you should indicate this in the introduction. Finally, this section should provide demographic data that indicates the prevalence of the disorder in both general and specific populations.  Specific required components of the Introduction:

  1. Succinct thesis statement (one or more sentences detailing the focus of your Final Project and informing the reader about your topic and the scope of your paper)
  2. Define the type of disorder
    1. Neurological
    2. Psychological
    3. Neuropsychological
  3. Diagnostic criteria
    1. What components must be present for the disorder to be diagnosed?
    2. Include physical and psychological signs and symptoms.
  4. Reason(s) why you chose this topic
    1. Personal experience
    2. Professional experience
    3. Other reason
  5. Epidemiology
    1. Who is affected?
    2. Are they young/old?
    3. Male/female
    4. Rural/urban
    5. Ethnicities

Section II: DiscussionThis section should make up the majority of the Final Project in terms of size. Here, you will expand upon the main aspects of the disorder and provide details relating to the disorder and its management. This section should provide specific and detailed information (Reminder: All statements of fact require an in-text citation).   Cited/referenced sources should be used to support your analysis of the components of the discussion.  Specific required components of the Discussion section:

  1. Detailed description of the disorder
    1. Signs and symptoms
    2. Epidemiology
    3. Any subtypes of the disorder
  2. Detailed description of the natural history of the disorder
    1. How the disorder develops over time with treatment
    2. How the disorder develops over time without treatment
  3. Methods used to diagnose, evaluate, and manage the disorder
    1. Initial diagnosis (e.g., physical exam, imaging and/or laboratory testing, special studies, psychological evaluation, psychometric testing)
    2. Ongoing management (e.g., physical exam, imaging and/or laboratory testing, special studies, psychological evaluation, psychometric testing)
  4. Risk factors
    1. Genetics
    2. Lifestyle
    3. Environmental factors
  5. Other causative factors
    1. Known
    2. Theorized
  6. Nervous system structures and/or pathways involved in the disorder (detailed information regarding the underlying pathology as it applies to these structures and functional pathways)
  7. Neurotransmitter(s) and receptor system(s) involved in the pathology of the disorder
  8. Current treatment options
    1. Drug (pharmacologic) therapies
    2. Nonpharmacologic therapies (including psychological and other therapeutic services)
    3. Type of care providers (e.g., medical, nursing, therapists)
    4. Type of healthcare setting (e.g., hospital, home, outpatient, nursing facility)
  9. Future areas of research
    1. Treatment options
    2. Evaluation and diagnostic methods for initial diagnosis
    3. Increasing knowledge relating to etiology and pathologic processes

Section III: ConclusionProvide a concluding summary of your findings regarding your selected disorder. The conclusion is a summarization of information that has already been presented.  Typically, if you mention something in the conclusion section of an academic paper, you should have already mentioned this aspect of the topic earlier in the paper. Specific required components of the Conclusion section:

  1. The conclusion reaffirms your initial thesis statement.
  2. The conclusion may be one or more paragraphs. Use the material you have discussed in the paper to support the validity of your synthesis and elaborate on the theme of your paper.

Writing the Final ProjectThe Final Project:

  1. Must be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  2. Must include a title page with the following:
    1. Title of paper
    2. Student’s name
    3. Course name and number
    4. Instructor’s name
    5. Date submitted
  3. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
  4. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  5. Must include section headings, formatted according to APA style, to organize your paper. Each paragraph must have a minimum of three full sentences.
  6. Must include in-text citations for all statements of facts obtained through your research.
    1. Remember that direct quotes (identical phrases or sentences taken from a source) require in-text citations with appropriate formatting.
    2. Statements of opinion should be clearly stated as such, and include a rationale to support why you hold this opinion (e.g., personal or professional experience, your research findings).
  7. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
  8. Must use at least six to eight scholarly sources that were published within the last five years, including a minimum of four peer-reviewed original research studies.
    1. In general, dictionaries and encyclopedias are not considered appropriate resources for academic writing.
  9. Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  10. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Characteristics of Organizational Culture

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Characteristics of Organizational Culture

Assignment 1: Characteristics of Organizational Culture
Every organization has a culture; however, organizational culture differs from one business to the next. The organizations may have different essential values. In addition, some essential values may be stronger or more pervasive than others, some may create barriers, and some may be more positive than others.
For this assignment, select an organization you know well or research an organization that interests you.  Respond to the following:

  • Describe in brief the organization you selected.
  • Examine the characteristics of the organization’s culture.
  • Provide examples of how the culture manifests itself in the organization.
  • Examine the most functional and dysfunctional aspects of the organization’s culture.
  • Describe the methods used to socialize new employees or members into the organizational culture.

Support your statements with appropriate examples and/or scholarly references.
Write your initial response in approximately 400 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
Every organization has a culture; however, organizational culture differs from one business to the next. The organizations may have different essential values. In addition, some essential values may be stronger or more pervasive than others, some may create barriers, and some may be more positive than others.
For this assignment, select an organization you know well or research an organization that interests you.