Animal Hoarding: Slipping Into the Darkness of Comorbid Animal and Self-Neglect

Substantial research and literature indicate how people and companion animals form relationships that are, for the most part, mutually beneficial. Yet there are highly dysfunctional human–animal relationships that do occur, meriting attention and remediation. One of the most perplexing and problematic human–animal relationships is encountered in cases of animal hoarding—a deviant behavior associated with extremely deleterious conditions of comorbid animal and self-neglect. Adult Protective Services workers often encounter theoretical and methodological dilemmas with these complex cases. To intervene most effectively, it becomes critical to elucidate some of the developmental factors of animal hoarding behavior and its correlation with self-neglecting behaviors in general. This article presents an in-depth diagnostic perspective as derived from the author's research and clinical experience. An analysis of the complex dynamics of the relationship between animal hoarders and their pets is presented in conjunction with accepted theories of self-neglect. With enhanced knowledge and understanding of animal hoarding, human service professionals will be better prepared to respond to these clients, evoke greater rapport and cooperation, and engage in the interdisciplinary efforts that are essential for optimal resolution.     

Least Restrictive or Least Understood? Waist Restraints,Provider Practices,and Risk of Harm

Since implementation of The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, restraint use in American nursing homes has reduced dramatically. The reduction in vest restraints has resulted in an increase in “least restrictive” devices such as waist restraints. Although this analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting Data Files found that waist devices pose the same potential risk for asphyxial death as vest restraints, few health professionals and consumers are aware of this outcome. Post-marketing device reporting needs better data quality and surveillance, which can certainly benefit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in their efforts to regulate and enforce standards of care that reduce deaths and injuries to vulnerable nursing home residents.     

Dual language contexts in social work practice: the Gaelic in the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar region (Outer Hebrides,Scotland) and Spanish in the Southwestern United States

This paper addresses the complex historical/political scenarios of Spanish-speaking people in the Southwestern USA and of Gaelic speakers in the Outer Hebrides. It examines (1) the historical background and current status of Spanish in the Southwestern USA and Gaelic in the Outer Hebrides; (2) comparative issues in relation to the use of dual languages; and (3) the challenges that communication in more than one prevalent language present to social work service providers. It is based on field research in the Southwestern USA (primarily Arizona) and the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar region (Outer Hebrides, Scotland). While these two areas might appear totally different, the commonalities created by English as the default but not always the primary language of clients in both settings make the comparisons intriguing.     

Bringing Technology to School: An Online Resource Guide for the School Social Worker

SUMMARY

The Internet can assist social workers and other human service professionals to obtain information that may potentially benefit both themselves and their clients. There is little doubt among those who are familiar with the Internet that this electronic medium has revolutionized the way we communicate and access knowledge. This article provides school social workers and other human service professionals with links to resources that can be incorporated into practice by offering specific Web pages related to school social work practice.     

高校图书馆在素质教育中的作用

全面实施素质教育,培养具有创新精神的高素质人才,是时代赋予我国高等教育的伟大历史使命。图书馆作为高校开展大学生素质教育的重要阵地,应充分利用丰富的馆藏、优质的服务、科学的管理、优美的环境,发挥其积极作用。     

PERSPECTIVES:

No abstract available for this article.     

A Preliminary Assessment of the Validity and Reliability of the Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services

ABSTRACT

The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services (PDC-HS) is an informant-based tool used to identify the environmental variables contributing to employee performance problems in human service settings. Although previous research has suggested that the tool is useful to identify an intervention which can be used to improve performance, no studies have formally examined the validity and reliability of the tool. In this study, we used video vignettes to assess the validity and reliability of the PDC-HS. We created three videos; each described a performance problem in one or more of the four PDC-HS domains. Twenty-one participants then watched the videos and evaluated the performance problem depicted using the PDC-HS. We measured the validity of the tool by calculating the percentage of participants who correctly identified the PDC-HS domain responsible for the performance problem. Two to four weeks later, we had participants re-watch the videos and complete the PDC-HS to obtain a measure of test re-test reliability. We also compared PDC-HS item responses across participants to evaluate inter-rater reliability. Results show that all participants correctly identified the problematic PDC-HS domain(s) in each video. PDC-HS validity values were above 93% across all three videos and domains; mean test re-test and interrater reliability values were above 95%. The results are discussed in terms of the preliminary nature of this analysis; although these data are limited by the amount and clarity of the information provided in the videos, this study represents a necessary first step in the assessment of the reliability and validity of the PDC-HS tool.     

Finding symbolons for cyberspace: Addressing the issues of trust in electronic commerce

E-commerce is growing rapidly, but a majority of the Internet users is still hesitant to become involved in it. One big hurdle is lack of trust. This paper deals with trust in ecommerce and measures to increase it. It discusses one particular so-called web assurance service for business-to-consumer commerce in detail. It also analyses if such services remain viable in an era of more mature e-commerce, and how they should be adjusted to the business-to-business environment.     

城镇空巢老人社区居家养老服务需求探析——以重庆市某新区为例

通过对重庆市XX新区的实证调查,重点剖析了重庆城镇空巢老人在经济、健康、情感和生活服务方面的保障需求。研究发现,重庆城镇空巢老人多数经济不宽裕,对定期常规检查、保健服务需求较强,康复护理需求较低,亲情慰藉较欠缺;空巢老人多倾向于个人居家养老,而社区对老人提供的生活服务内容、形式比较单一、层次较低,有待改善。据此,对建设老年服务体系、建立社会福利制度、发展社区护理模式以及开展社区老年志愿服务等方面提出了相应的对策建议。