ABSTRACT
Increasingly, older adults who experience a mental health crisis come to the attention of crisis intervention team (CIT) law enforcement officers. These encounters are due largely to a lack of local mental health care resources. With few options available, individuals call 911 for assistance when an older adult exhibits alarming behavior. This article provides a profile of older adults encountered by CIT officers, identifies the reasons for the 911 call for assistance, and finds what predictors are associated with outcomes of those encounters. We found that these older adults were mostly female, Caucasian, diagnosed with depression, and attempting or threatening suicide.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Crisis Intervention/methods , Mentally Ill Persons/psychology , Professional Competence , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Law Enforcement , Male , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
Family preservation programs were developed out of concern that some abused or neglected children were being placed unnecessarily in foster care without adequate attempts first being made to rehabilitate and retain the intact family. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intensive, in-home family preservation program, which provides counseling services to families at imminent risk of having a child or children removed from the home. Pre- and post-intervention scores showed statistically significant, positive change between the initial and termination assessments across five domains: family environment, family social support, family interactions, parent(s)/caregivers, and child well-being. Implications for social work practice, research, and advocacy are discussed.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/rehabilitation , Family Therapy/methods , Foster Home Care , Home Care Services , Social Work/methods , Adult , Aftercare/methods , Child , Child Abuse/diagnosis , Child Abuse/prevention & control , Child Abuse/psychology , Child Custody , Child, Preschool , Community Mental Health Services , Education/methods , Evidence-Based Practice , Family Conflict/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Patient Care Team , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Social Environment , Social Support , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
In recent years communities across the United States have instituted specialized criminal courts for defendants with substance abuse disorders and mental illness. These specialized courts seek to prevent incarceration and facilitate community-based treatment for offenders, while at the same time protecting public safety. The authors describe two types of specialized courts: drug courts and mental health courts. They critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of these courts and conclude with implications for social work education, practice, research, and advocacy.
