A. James Schwab

Using Computer Technology in Child Placement Decisions

Computer-based tools can be helpful to practitioners in making decisions about child placement. The system described in this article is based on statistical modeling of residential programs for children. Its use is illustrated by a hypothetical case history of a teenager.

Value orientations of clinical social work practitioners

Six hundred and forty-two of 1,218 randomly sampled social workers in Texas certified as Advanced Clinical Practitioners responded to a pretested, mailed questionnaire as part of a study of personal value systems and personality traits. Agency practitioners, combination practitioners and those in private practice only are compared on their rank ordering of eight statements corresponding to four value orientations: (1) entrepreneurial, (2) social, welfare/change, (3) low risk, and (4) providing psychotherapy. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney tests yielded significant differences between the three groups. Nonprivate practitioners and those in private practice only were found to have almost symmetrically juxtaposed personal value systems. Combination practitioners were found to be a distinct group with a unique value system different in important respects from both nonprivate practitioners and from those in private practice only. Comparisons with other studies and implications for future research are discussed.

Matching children with placements

Abstract Utilizing profiles of children in diverse residential programs, a computerized model was developed to explore the possibility of replicating existing placement patterns and to aid practitioners in making future child placement decisions. The model provides a method for rank-ordering placement alternatives for children needing residential care.

Entrepreneurial Personality Traits and Clinical Social Work Practitioners

Six hundred forty-two of 1, 218 randomly sampled social workers certified in Texas as advanced clinical practitioners responded to a mailed questionnaire as part of a study of entrepreneurial personality traits, value systems, and choice of a practice setting. An ecological model for practice-setting choice is outlined. Three groups of practitioners—agency practitioners, combination practitioners, and those in private practice only—are compared on their scores on a 46-item, Likert-scaled personality inventory. One-way ANOVA and Tukey-B post-hoc tests yielded significant one-way differences between the private practitioner group compared with the agency practitioner group on three of the four entrepreneurial personality characteristics studied. Scores on locus of control/need for achievement were not significantly different. Ramifications for agencies and the profession are discussed and policy recommendations are advanced.

Managing Process Innovations in Welfare Reform Technology

ABSTRACT Process innovations in welfare reform technology are complex processes that evolve over time, rather than linear ones that unfold in predictable sequence. Findings from the Texas change center project demonstrate that implementation of these innovations is sensitive to the characteristics of adopting organizational units. Human service managers seeking to introduce similar innovations in welfare reform technology should take into consideration administrative intensity, professionalism, and organizational slack beyond the early stages of project implementation.

A Computerized Assessment System for Brief, Crisis-Oriented Youth Services

Agencies are moving increasingly to brief models that require social workers to provide rapid assessments of their clients. Recent innovations in computerized assessments have suggested methods to collect data from clients by means of assessment tools. The authors report on a computerized assessment system that was developed to collect information in a brief, crisis-oriented youth-services agency. The assessment system is illustrated with a case from the agency. In addition, the process of development is discussed to assist those who may be developing similar assessment systems.

A review of national school-age pregnancy and prevention information clearinghouses

School-age pregnancy is a major social problem that affects youth, families and communities. The complexities of school-age pregnancy demand that social work practitioners have knowledge across diverse fields and keep abreast of changing sociopolitical trends. Information clearning-houses have been developed to assist practitioners in their efforts to keep abreast of a particular field of practice. This paper identifies major national information clearinghouses that provide resources for practitioners who work in the field of school-age pregnancy and prevention.