This study examined the degree to which local systems of care in Vermont shared responsibility for children and adolescents and four service delivery outcomes over a 4-year period. Results indicated that greater caseload integration is associated with less referral for residential treatment and higher rates of incarceration. (Contains references.)…

This article describes the results from the first year of a longitudinal study of a school social work caseload in a large midwestern school district. The purpose of the investigation was to examine the relationship among case characteristics, types of services provided, and case dispositions. Data were collected using a management information…

Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services (BRYCS), a public-private partnership between the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, provides national technical assistance to public child welfare. After a series of "community…

Although social work is witnessing growing interest in spiritual and religious issues, little guidance has appeared in the literature to assist practitioners in addressing the unique spirituality of rapidly increasing non-Western populations. This article discusses the significant cultural/spiritual beliefs, practices, and values of Hindus, the…

This article explores what it takes to prepare practitioners to work effectively in the infant-family field and describes efforts to meet training needs. A multifaceted effort to prepare and support practitioners who work with infants, toddlers, and families has been central to the growth of the infant-family field. Part C of IDEA and Early Head…

Supervision of offenders in the community remains a critical component of the correctional processes in the United States. With almost six million offenders under correctional supervision in the community, there has been relatively little attention and few resources devoted to the style and quality of supervision received by these offenders. As a…

This article reviews the frequency of suicide, compares and contrasts suicide prediction to suicide assessment and provides a succinct overview of suicide high risk factors that mental health practitioners should be aware. Finally, the article describes common symptoms experienced by mental health practitioners who survive their clients' suicides,…

Although client satisfaction has long been an important form of program evaluation, one of the major limitations regarding client satisfaction studies has been the inability to provide concrete feedback for service providers. This study describes the use of a client-centered approach to developing a client satisfaction measure for a case…

Describes the roles of judges and social workers in Dutch child welfare. Briefly outlines training efforts designed to help social workers give their assessments greater structure, case-planning scope, and clarity. (BB)

Reports the results of a caseworker survey exploring characteristics associated with the stability of foster care. The survey was developed from a national profile of the child likely to experience unstable foster care resulting in replacement. Findings and implications are discussed. (Author/DST)

Subjects were assigned to one of three categories: (1) a phone prompt one day before the appointment, (2) a letter prompt one to two days prior, and (3) a no-intervention control group. Both phone and letter prompts produced significantly greater attendance than the no-intervention condition, the phone group slightly higher than the letter. (LHW)

Presents several case accounts of misunderstandings between Blacks and Whites that result from culturally based differences in communication styles. Contends that misperceived verbal messages and nonverbal cues, which lead to estrangement among students and staff members, may be identified and clarified by school social workers. (Author/LLL)

Considers problems which clinical social work students experience in integrating and using traditional science concepts. Presents a teaching model which includes research concepts in clinical classes, illustrated by comparing basic concepts from scientific literature (both research methods and statistical tests) with similar concepts from social…

Reviews elements of the respondent, operant, and modeling theories and various principles of the exchange theory that can be combined to facilitate changes in client behavior. Proposes the behavioral exchange model as a framework to help social workers conceptualize clinical phenomena and thus gain power to influence them. (Author/JAC)

Describes a rehabilitation counselor program which includes a package series related to intake interview skills, goal-setting, and systematic caseload management. Develops counselor skills including caseload management, relationship building, intake interviewing, arranging diagnostic services, diagnosing client problems, and goal-setting…