Post your thoughts on this question: As a social worker, what is your responsibility to engage in political action? Identify an area of social welfare where social work policy advocacy is needed.

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As this course comes to a close, consider and reflect on how you can become a lifelong advocate for social change in your future social work practice. As a motivated policy advocate and social worker, your actions in your chosen profession will reflect your motivation to help relatively powerless, disenfranchised groups of people improve their resources, their opportunities, and their quality of life.

In this Discussion, you reflect upon your responsibility as a social worker, politically and professionally.

Post your thoughts on this question: As a social worker, what is your responsibility to engage in political action? Identify an area of social welfare where social work policy advocacy is needed.

Required Readings

SOCW 6361 Webliography
These websites will be required throughout the semester. Become familiar with these websites, especially when doing research for your assignments.

Community Toolbox. (2016). Chapter 8 Section 6: Obtaining feedback from constituents: What change is feasible? Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/strategic-planning/obtain-constituent-feedback/main

Community Toolbox. (2016). 12. Evaluating the Initiative. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/evaluating-initiative

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice  (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.
Chapter 14, “Assessing Policy: Toward Evidence-Based Policy During Task 8” (pp. 488-503)

Midgley, J., & Livermore, M. M. (Eds.) (2008). The handbook of social policy (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Chapter 33, “The Future of Social Policy” (pp. 557–569) (PDF)

English, D. J., Brummel, S., & Martens, P. (2009). Fatherhood in the child welfare system: Evaluation of a pilot project to improve father involvement. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 3(3), 213–234. Doi:10.1080/15548730903129764.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Swank, E. W. (2012). Predictors of political activism among social work students. Journal of Social Work Education,48(2), 245–266. Doi:10.5175/JSWE.2012.200900111.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

You need to address historical and background information about the development of this area in social work and social welfare services.

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You must research social work literature regarding the type of social work/social welfare area you have selected to study. For this area of your paper, you must research at least three (3) peer reviewed journal articles or book chapters. This paper should be at least 3 full pages in length.

The use of critical analysis thinking is expected. Critical analysis means that you do not write down what someone else has said. That is plagiarism. Rather critical analysis means that you read, you think about what you have read, and then in your own words you analyze the significance or importance of the themes in the article, chapter or book.

Here are details about your review:
1. You need to address historical and background information about the development of this area in social work and social welfare services.
2. Your report must also address some of the social problems or social needs that this area of social work and social welfare seeks to address. You may also want to consider any controversial issues within this area of social work or social welfare.
3. You must provide a reference list at the end of your review which cites the literature you used for your research.

These citations must be presented in the correct APA style format*. 

Explain two ethical responsibilities for a medical  social worker in response to this case. Make sure to support your  response by referring to the NASW Code of Ethics.

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Medical social workers are routinely confronted  with ethical dilemmas pertaining to patient autonomy, confidentiality,  refusal of services, informed consent, and assisting families in  decision making about treatment and quality of life. Boland (2006)  argues that these dilemmas stem from advances in medical technology and  cost containment strategies such as managed care. Ethical decision  making involves several steps. First, recognize the presence of an  ethical dilemma. Second, acknowledge that practice situations have  competing values, obligations, and principles. Third, understand the  rationale used by practitioners in identifying ethical dilemmas.

To prepare for this Discussion, select one  of the case studies and consider the ethical dilemmas in the case  study. Focus on the NASW Code of Ethics pertinent to the case you  selected.

Case Study 1:

A 15-year-old girl is diagnosed with cancer.  She is tired of chemotherapy and being in the hospital. She tells her  parents and her doctors that she wants to terminate treatment and live  her final days at home and spending time with her friends.

Case Study 2:

A 14-year-old boy was infected with HIV during  birth. He tells his social worker that he is going to develop an  intimate relationship with his new girlfriend. The boy’s parents are  concerned about stigma and discrimination and have chosen not to tell  the boy about his HIV status.

Post an explanation of the  ethical dilemma in the case you selected. Justify both sides of the  issue. Then, assume the role of the medical social worker involved in  the scenario and explain how you might respond to the ethical dilemma.  Explain two ethical responsibilities for a medical  social worker in response to this case. Make sure to support your  response by referring to the NASW Code of Ethics.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific  references to the resources and the current literature using appropriate  APA format and style.

.

Return to this Discussion  in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what  you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of your  colleagues’ comments.

Gehlert, S., & Browne, T. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of health social work (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Chapter 3, “Ethics and Social Work in Health Care” (pp. 41–63)

National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Cole, P. L. (2012). You want me to do what? Ethical practice within interdisciplinary collaborations. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 9(1), 26–39. Retrieved from http://www.jswvearchives.com/spring12/spr124.pdf

McCormick, A. J., Stowell-Weiss, P., Carson, J., Tebo, G., Hanson, I., & Quesada, B. (2014). Continuing education in ethical decision making using case studies from medical social work. Social Work in Health Care, 53(4), 344-363.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

McGowan, C. M. (2011). Legal aspects of end-of-life care. Critical Care Nurse, 31(5), 64–69.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Reamer, F. G. (2013). Social work in a digital age: Ethical and risk management challenges. Social Work, 58(2), 163–172.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Reamer, F. G. (2018). Ethical issues in integrated health care: Implications for social workers. Health & Social Work, 43(2), 118–124.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Weinberg, M. (2010). The social construction of social work ethics: Politicizing and broadening the lens. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 21(1), 32–44.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Woodcock, R. (2011). Ethical standards in the NASW code of ethics: The explicit legal model, and beyond. Families in Society, 92(1), 21–27. med

Identify how trauma affects the case, either precipitating the  diagnosis and/or resulting from related symptoms or treatment of  diagnosis.

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The Case of CathyCathy is a 32-year-old, divorced, heterosexual African American female. She came to her first initial intake session with complaints of depression with passive suicidal thoughts, anxiousness, and trouble sleeping. She presented as casually groomed, coherent, and goal directed. Cathy’s primary concern was the added stress in helping her mother with her illness.  Cathy reports a history of threatening suicide since she was a teenager. Her family thought she was just trying to get attention. Cathy states that she was  suicidal because she always felt empty, and sometimes she just felt so overwhelmed that she didn’t know how else to cope with these emotions.  She denies any suicide attempts.  The following is a summary of the initial appointment and assessment for Cathy.  Cathy is the oldest of four children (two brothers and one sister), all of whom are married and live in the same community. Cathy believes she is close with all her siblings but sometimes gets so frustrated with them she “can’t stand them”.  Cathy works in a doctor’s office and lives in a one-bedroom apartment where she often “isolates.” She is the primary caretaker of her mother, who was involved in a car accident 20 years ago and was left a quadriplegic. Cathy goes to her home daily to help with her personal hygiene. Cathy has an arrest history and was incarcerated for 3 years for drug-related charges. She was charged with possession and intent to distribute. Cathy stated that at that time she was addicted to heroin and using daily. Cathy reports that she began using marijuana at 14 years old.  As she entered high school she began experimenting with many different kinds of drugs.  Her heroin use began when she was 21 years old.  When she completed her prison sentence, she was paroled and mandated to attend a 1-year outpatient drug treatment program, which she successfully completed. Cathy reported that she returned to using cocaine 2 years ago, stating that it helps her do her fast-paced job better and it keeps her energy up so she can help her mother early in the morning and late at night.  Cathy believes the cocaine use is just an added stress reliever as well as “retail” therapy.  She reports shopping has been a great relief from the time she was working full time.  She said no one in her family or at her job knows that she has been doing drugs. Cathy also takes numerous medications prescribed to her by her primary care doctor, including an antidepressant and pain medication.As we discussed her presenting concerns, multiple issues came up. Cathy shared her feelings about being her mother’s primary caretaker, stating, “I love my mom, but everyone expects me to care for her. It feels so unfair, but it’s because I am not married and don’t have any children, this is when I really hate my siblings.”   Cathy reports never feeling as important as her siblings and believes that is why she is the only one helping her mom now.  She believes they look at her differently since she has a criminal history.

She said her father does not help with the care of her mother and that all he does is “hang out.” She reported feeling increasingly frustrated with this added responsibility and resentful that her father and siblings have relegated this job to her.  She sometimes resents her mother for her being in this situation.  She was dysphoric as she shared this content and described being “stuck.” She described her father as a “manipulative loser.” She also stated that she recently allowed one of her brother’s friends to move in with her as a favor because he was homeless and had nowhere to go. She said she believed he was a sweet person who just has had a hard time in life, and she wanted to help him. She had been supporting him financially over the last month, and was concerned because it appears that he has not made any effort to get a job. She feared she made a mistake allowing him into her home and has thrown him out several times.  Cathy then felt bad and allowed him back in. Cathy stated that this has been a pattern in her relationships her entire life. When she first meets someone, she idolizes them and believes that they can do nothing wrong, then something always happens and they end up hurting her.     Cathy said that she and this new roommate had sex one time when he first moved in. She said they both got very intoxicated, and she is not sure exactly what happened, but she blacked out and found him in her bed, undressed. She then told him she had herpes, and he responded that it had been a “mistake” and that he did not want to have sex with her again because he was afraid of getting infected. Cathy became angry with him at this. Cathy explained that her promiscuity through her twenties had resulted in this lifelong disease, and she expressed anger and resentment toward some men she had sex with.  She said even though the herpes is controlled with medication, she feels embarrassed and fears she will never have another healthy relationship. She said she feels used, slighted, and humiliated by the man now living in her home. Cathy then shared that when she was 12 years old her father molested her. She stated that she tried to forget what happened to her, but this recent incident with her new roommate brought it up again. Cathy complained of recent nightmares related to the abuse and exaggerated startle reactions to other people’s movements.  Adapted from: Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (2013). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Publishing.

Personality disorders can arise through trauma,  and they often carry added stigma. In this Discussion, you analyze a  case study focused on a personality disorder while also reflecting on  how power, privilege, and stigma affect such diagnoses.

To prepare:  Review “The Case of Cathy” and consider your differential diagnostic  process for her. Be sure to consider any past diagnoses and what  influence they might have on her current diagnosis and needs. Finally,  return to the Week 1 Discussion topic of stigma and reflect on stigma  related to personality disorders.

By Day 4

Post a 300- to 500-word response in which you address the following:

  • Provide the full DSM-5 diagnosis. Remember, a full diagnosis should  include the name of the disorder, ICD-10-CM code, specifiers, severity,  and the Z codes (other conditions that may need clinical attention).  Keep in mind a diagnosis covers the most recent 12 months.
  • Explain the diagnosis by matching the symptoms identified in the case to the specific criteria for the diagnosis.
  • Support your decision by identifying the symptoms which meet specific criteria for each diagnosis.
  • Identify any close differentials and why they were eliminated.  Concisely support your decisions with the case materials and readings.
  • Explain how diagnosing a client with a personality disorder may affect their treatment.
  • Analyze how power and privilege may influence who is labeled with a  personality disorder and which types of personality disorders.
  • Identify how trauma affects the case, either precipitating the  diagnosis and/or resulting from related symptoms or treatment of  diagnosis.

 

Morrison, J. (2014). Diagnosis made easier (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Chapter 16, “Diagnosing Personality and Relationship Problems” (pp. 251–270)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013m). Personality disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm18

Note: You will access this e-book from the Walden Library databases.

Cicchetti, D. (2014). Illustrative developmental psychopathology perspectives on precursors and pathways to personality disorder: Commentary on the special issue. Journal of Personality Disorders, 28(1), 172–179. doi:10.1521/pedi.2014.28.1.172

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Ferguson, A. (2016). Borderline personality disorder and access to services: A crucial social justice issue. Australian Social Work, 69(2), 206–214. doi:10.1080/0312407X.2015.1054296