Homeless individuals with co-occurring disorders (CODs) of severe mental illness and substance use disorder are one of the most vulnerable populations. This article provides practitioners with a framework and strategies for helping this client population. Four components emerged from a literature review: (1) ensuring an effective transition for…

Discusses the "hidden illness" of compulsive gambling. Describes course of the disease, theories of compulsive gambling, effects of compulsive gambling on gambler's wife and children, the organization Gam-Anon, and human service agencies' staff training and counseling intake procedures. Recommends self-help groups for all family members.…

Surveyed 247 social workers to investigate their use of community self-help groups as a resource for clients. Results indicated social workers were aware of self-help groups and their benefits, but agencies do not have policies that encourage their use. (JAC)

SHARP is a hospital-based, self-help program for treating alcoholic veterans, which involves them in assuming major roles in governing the program and in helping one another. Because follow-up support is essential to maintaining sobriety, SHARP created an active social support system in the community. (Author)

The power-to-the-people, as evidenced by the increase in self-help groups, is a force that the social work profession must reckon with. This article discusses the nature of the challenge and its implications for professional practice. (Author)

Guidelines for casework with the family of the alcoholic indicate the importance of understanding that alcoholism is a treatable disease, of letting the alcoholic suffer the consequences of his drinking, and of demonstrating how self-help groups can be a valuable resource to the alcoholic and his family. (Author)

Notes growth in number of self-help groups/agencies for mental health clients. Examines self-help perspective in relation to problems with traditional mental health services and need for client-run services. Goal of article is not to endorse self-help perspective but to use it as basis for raising research questions that will further mental health…

Addresses common critiques of Alcoholics Anonymous by offering a way of understanding it as a "normative narrative community" where identity transformation takes place through the use of metaphor and storytelling. Suggests alternative meanings of key metaphors, describes areas of program strength and potential barriers for social…

Discusses self-help strategy developed to encompass both employees' expressed needs for management-level training and the affirmative action goals of a state division of family services. Follow-up survey of training program indicates probability of positive long-range effects. (Author/SMR)

Examines four methods of service delivery in social work: case management, social support, self-help, and voluntarism. Considers methods in the context of present attitudes toward social programs. Argues that useful but modest service delivery methods are not substitutes for bold solutions to social problems. (Author/NB)

Treatment programs promote individual solutions to substance abuse through changing dysfunctional behavior and relying on spiritual beliefs and practices. Root problems are understood to be diseases within the person. However, the social conditions implicated in causing the addiction remain unaddressed. Questions whether social workers can bring…