People who live at the margins of society--those living with physical, psychological or cognitive disability, low literacy, low income, domestic violence, or discrimination--inhabit a large but often disempowered part of US society. Several fields, including social work, nursing, and adult education serve people living at these societal margins.…

In this article, Andrea MacLeod, lecturer in autism studies at the University of Birmingham, and Paula Johnston, a woman with Asperger syndrome who now focuses on writing and speaking about her condition, consider the function of specialist group interventions for individuals with Asperger syndrome. These authors report on one model--a discussion…

Major strides have been made in the field of youth development. However, youth transitioning into adulthood have not received similar attention. These older youth have frequently been overlooked by policymakers and practitioners who have been more focused on designing programs and services for adolescents and young children. Because older youth…

During their three-year research project, the authors found that most practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in the education field were not familiar with Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) or the existing research on IDAs. Therefore, in this paper the authors compiled a list of some of the references that they found useful and that they…

This qualitative study explored school social workers' relationships during instances of abuse and neglect reporting, focusing on reports made for children and adolescents already receiving school social work services. Although school social workers frequently file abuse and neglect reports, little is known about how they manage clinical and…

More children with chronic illnesses are attending school, and some of them struggle academically because of issues related to their health. School-based case management has been suggested as one strategy to improve the academic success of these children. This study tracked the academic, health, and quality of life outcomes for 114 children with…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine how rehabilitation counselor educators perceived identified disability management tasks in relation to importance to the field of rehabilitation counseling, their own proficiency to teach as well as student preparedness. This study also looked at whether importance, proficiency and…

The purpose of this document is to identity the transferability of Social Service Worker (SSW) certificate and diploma level courses/programs among British Columbia (BC) post- secondary institutions. Although it continues to be necessary for receiving institutions to review courses a student completed at the sending institution, a matrix has been…

The effectiveness of journaling as a therapeutic and teaching tool is well documented. However, specific examples of school counselors utilizing journaling as a therapeutic tool are sparse. Existing school counseling literature was reviewed and journaling as an educational and therapeutic tool was explored and related to the school counseling…

Presents an advocacy practice model which analyzes and interrelates the components of the process. Lists 12 major variables in case advocacy together with 10 key questions which may guide the advocate's decision-making process and shape advocacy activities. (BR)

Reframes the traditional definitions of and approaches to adult protective services in light of the increase in mechanisms for involuntary interventions. Suggests that the role of the social worker in contemporary adult protection is that of researcher and advocate for changes in already established forms of involuntary intervention. (Author/JAC)

Short-term psychosocial casework had a positive effect on the clinical symptoms and targeted complaints of a sample of Chicano clients attending two mental health clinics as outpatients. In this article the authors examine the psychosocial, intercultural, interactionist, and generic skills of workers that were significantly correlated with the…

Suggests that social workers have lacked models for understanding the process of a client's self-identification as a lesbian. Describes several developmental phases a woman may go through to form a healthy self-concept as a lesbian and discusses practice implications for this process. (Author/JAC)

Presents a perspective to help social workers develop the organizational skills needed to practice effectively in hospitals. Examines the nature of hospitals and the hospital worker's practice-building and practice-implementing skills. Examples illustrate task management, creating power, and developing the work role. (JAC)

Details benefits and pitfalls of periodic court review for achieving placement permanency for children, discussing what individual caseworkers can do to improve the review process. (RH)