Adoption's forgotten clients: Birth siblings

Many birthmothers who make an adoption plan for the child they are carrying have other children they are currently parenting. It is our concern that the needs of these children are too often overlooked. This paper describes how one adoption agency has begun to address the special and unique needs of birthmothers and the children they are parenting. Critical issues for the birthmother and her children are outlined with suggestions for interventions at various life stages.     

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Diverse Populations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood. Given the high prevalence of ADHD and its significant impact on children and families, it is important for social workers to understand and know how to respond. This paper looks at Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, explores its causes, and gives special attention to its effect on diverse populations. In addition, it discusses empirically supported treatment interventions used for children with ADHD, particularly the role of parent training in the management of ADHD. Finally, it discusses the applicability of using parent-training programs with diverse populations.     

Perception of family need in pediatric oncology

This paper studies the needs of a family in which a child has been diagnosed with cancer. The tasks of the family include meeting the physical and psychosocial needs of the child while attempting to maintain normal family functioning. Various psychological and social factors affect the outcome of medical treatment and the recovery process. The paper highlights the needs assessment as a tool in a comprehensive approach to service delivery.     

Compulsive gambling: Structured family intervention

Family intervention has been an effective procedure for getting alcoholics into treatment for more than twenty years. Now this technique is being used with compulsive gamblers. Because the gambling disorder is so easy to hide, the patient seems to be further into the illness by the time the family seeks help. Furthermore, because the gambling offers intermittent rewards, the denial in both the patient and family appears to be stronger than found with most alcoholics.During the intervention it is important to tell the compulsive gambler why the help of a professional was sought; what changes have been observed by family members and friends as a result of his/her gambling; how family relationships have been affected; what is feared will happen if he/she doesn't get help; and what each family member hopes will happen once the gambler is in recovery.Most concerned persons enter family interventions with the sole purpose of getting the gambler into treatment. However, since this is a family disease, ethically the primary goal of family intervention needs to be to getsomeone into treatment, if not the individual suffering with the disease then one or more of those concerned persons suffering from it.     

Making the Transition from Welfare to Work: Employment Experiences of CalWORKs Participants in the San Francisco Bay Area

ABSTRACT

This study describes welfare-to-work participants in the San Francisco Bay Area, support services, experiences with the CalWORKs program, and predictors of employment status in the wake of welfare reform. Findings indicate that many are working and more Stayers and Recidivists than Leavers are using food stamps and Medi-Cal. Multivariate analysis reveals that race and financial supports were the significant factors contributing to employability, defined as the ability to secure employment despite the need to supplement earned income with welfare payments. To help people stay off of welfare, case management services are needed to help participants maintain employment and increase job skills. In addition to expanding our understanding of human behavior within the social environment of poverty, implications for practice and policy are identified.     

Going Local: Working in Communities and Neighbourhoods Pierson,J.

This article addresses the development of a pedagogic model for teaching social work with groups. The model was developed against a backdrop of the reported decreasing status of social work with groups within the profession. The place of curiosity as a motivating factor in teaching social work with groups is explored and the role of the educator in fostering such interest is addressed.