Cynthia Harr

The Impact of Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction on Social Work Students

This study explores the impact of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction on social work students (n = 480) in field placements as compared with employed human service professionals (n = 186). The findings show that social work students experience lower levels of compassion fatigue than the professionals. However, student scores were consistent with the national sample of employed human service professionals. Students with higher levels of compassion satisfaction report lower levels of compassion fatigue. Findings indicate that compassion satisfaction can help to mitigate the negative impact of compassion fatigue. The findings support the need to incorporate preventative education and training throughout the social work curriculum that not only addresses the risks and symptoms of compassion fatigue but also focuses on the benefits of compassion satisfaction and self-care.

Perceived Impact of Police Work on Marital Relationships

Police work creates unique marital difficulties. There are many factors that add stress to police officers’ marriages, including shift work, long hours and unconventional schedules, divided commitment between work and family roles, and perceived personality changes among officers. When police officers carry work-related stress and behaviors into the home, they may experience difficulties in their family relationships. Unfortunately, relatively few researchers have investigated the impact of police work on spouses. In this study, we administered a needs assessment to police officers and their spouses to determine the types of difficulties evident in their marriages. Results indicated that officers and spouses generally agreed on stressors and sources of support. Although spouses reported feeling pride about being married to an officer, they also noted financial concerns, work–family conflict, and law enforcement-specific stressors, such as negative public attitudes toward police. Officers and spouses reported relying on friends and family for support more than on professional sources. Implications for prevention and intervention when working with police officers and their spouses are discussed.

Social Work Collaboration with Faith Leaders and Faith Groups Serving Families in Rural Areas

Faith groups are among the few organizations that serve individuals and families across the life span. When social workers and faith leaders in small towns and rural communities build mutual understanding and trust, the resulting professional interdisciplinary relationships can lead to collaborative service provision that benefits families. This review of the literature includes current research that provides a lens through which social workers can understand faith leaders and faith groups, gain a perspective on the importance of their role within rural communities, and obtain practical guidance in best practices for collaborative social services to individuals and families.