ABSTRACT
This longitudinal study of child abuse and neglect cases closed after investigation examined the impact of parental substance abuse on family functioning and on subsequent referrals to child protective services. The findings support the hypothesis that parental substance abuse would have a negative impact on family functioning, which, in turn, would result in a higher rate of re-reports. As expected, substance abuse also had a direct impact on re-reports. It is critical that the child welfare system recognize and respond to parental substance abuse problems in these families through expanded and improved voluntary, and perhaps, mandatory services.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/psychology , Child of Impaired Parents/psychology , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Alcoholism/epidemiology , Alcoholism/psychology , Child , Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data , Child Welfare , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , New Jersey/epidemiology , Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data , Socioeconomic Factors , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Sixty-nine patients hospitalized for a serious illness and discharged to their own or relative's homes were followed up to learn about patient's posthospital needs; sources of help they received and how well they met these needs; and the extent to which hospital social work targets these needs in the discharge planning process. The patients, who were mostly elderly, had substantial needs for care. The family was the major care provider. Although service provision was limited, the social worker had a pivotal role in linking the patient to community services. This exploratory study points to gaps in the hospital screening and discharge planning process.
Subject(s)
Hospital Departments , Patient Discharge , Social Work Department, Hospital , Activities of Daily Living , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Educational Status , Family , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Health Status , Home Care Services , Home Nursing , Humans , Income , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The essential components of a viable high-risk screening system are identified in this report of a study of social work screening in New Jersey's acute-care hospitals. Although almost every hospital was found to use some form of screening, the most commonly used screening criteria tended to focus narrowly on identifying patients likely to have prolonged hospitalizations. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.
Subject(s)
Hospital Departments , Patient Admission , Social Work Department, Hospital , Age Factors , Aged , Diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New Jersey , Risk , Social Support , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
A comparison of selected New Jersey hospitals in 1975 and 1981 suggests that despite intensive attention to cost control, hospital social work departments have continued to expand and assume an increasingly important role in the hospital. The departments have sustained or enhanced their position with respect to the professionalization of the department, staff size, involvement in patient care, and participation in hospital decision-making. Losses were observed in such areas as hours of coverage and services to discharged patients.
