Glenn Shields

Research Note: An Evaluation of Juvenile Sexual Offender Treatment

Although interest in the treatment of juvenile sexual offenders has increased significantly in recent years, there are still few programs specifically geared toward these youths and few of the existing programs have been evaluated. This article presents an evaluation of one court-based program. The results show that youths handled in the program fare no better than youths processed through normal, nonoffense specific programming. These results suggest that the growth of interventions has proceeded without adequate knowledge of how to identify at-risk youths, the causes of the behavior, and the most appropriate treatment for juvenile sexual offending.

Violence and Aggression Directed Toward Human Service Workers: An Exploratory Study

This study examined the type and extent of psychological aggression and physical violence experienced by 171 human service workers in four Midwestern rural communities and an in urban children services agency. Worker interviewing skills were also studied since the authors believed that appropriate interviewing skills could influence worker–client relationships in a positive manner, thus reducing the potential for violence. Data showed that there were some differences in the amount and intensity of client violence between rural and urban settings, although all workers were routinely subjected to psychological aggression. In addition, some workers were physically assaulted. In spite of constant threats, workers displayed professional demeanor that may diminish threats and reduce violence. Implications for policy and training concerning workplace violence in social service agencies are discussed.

Perception of family need in pediatric oncology

This paper studies the needs of a family in which a child has been diagnosed with cancer. The tasks of the family include meeting the physical and psychosocial needs of the child while attempting to maintain normal family functioning. Various psychological and social factors affect the outcome of medical treatment and the recovery process. The paper highlights the needs assessment as a tool in a comprehensive approach to service delivery.

HIV/AIDS among youth: A community needs assessment study

Adolescents remain at great risk for HIV transmission and contracting AIDS. Health education, preventive methods, and direct clinical intervention represent major strategies in combating this disease. In order to help increase the effectiveness of these activities, University faculty and a county health agency collaborated to conducted an extensive HIV/AIDS needs assessment of adolescents. The survey included high school, middle school, and community youth (N=1567). Results showed a relatively high level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, yet participation in risk behavior which did not correlate with knowledge. Data suggested that parents and school were important sources of information about HIV/AIDS. Implications for social work practice and policy are discussed.

A survey of speech-language pathology and audiology needs of older adults

A needs assessment for an agency that serves older adults in a northwestern Ohio county in the United States was conducted by a team of researchers. Data obtained from 301 completed survey questionnaires, from an original 850 that were mailed, pertaining to the disciplines of speech-language pathology and audiology are presented. Specifically, results are discussed that relate to a self-reported need or desire for speech-language pathology or audiology services, self-perceptions of needs related to basic functional communication skills, and current and previous diagnoses of communicative and cognitive disorders. Implications for practicing clinical speech-language pathologists and audiologists are also discussed.

FAMILIES AND DELINQUENCY: THE INTERACTION BETWEEN COHESION AND ADAPTABILITY

ABSTRACT Borrowing from the family studies literature, two major elements of family relationships, cohesion - a measure of attachment - and adaptability - a measure of how well families respond to daily living - are examined for their relationship to delinquency. The results indicate that while cohesion is the primary variable for delinquency, interactions between cohesion and three components of adaptability; discipline, rules and task, and leadership indicate that at high levels of cohesion, family leadership is also related to delinquency.

Social work and nursing collaboration: a case study in assessing and meeting patient and family needs

Social work and nursing have areas of discrete role functions which lead toward joint goals of comprehensive patient assessment and care. Both share concern for psychosocial functioning which has important implications for successful rehabilitation of persons who undergo ostomy surgery and their family members. The Family Assessment Measure (FAM III), a self-report instrument that provides qualitative indices of family psychosocial functioning was administered to an ostomy patient and his spouse, pre- and post-surgery. Basic family concepts assessed were task accomplishment, role performance, communication, affective expression, involvement, control, values, and norms. Findings from this case study have implications for continuity of care that emphasize an interprofessional approach to practice in health care settings.

The function of an interdisciplinary health care team in the rehabilitation of the person with an ostomy

This paper describes the functioning of an interdisciplinary health care team in the treatment and rehabilitation of a person who undergoes ostomy surgery. Its focus is on role expertise, integration, and shared responsibilities that are necessary for a team of medical and related health care professionals who must work together for the well-being of the patient and family member. Implications and recommendations for utilization of an interdisciplinary approach to the delivery of health care services are made.

Book Review: Violent Emotions: Shame and Rage in Marital QuarrelsViolent Emotions: Shame and Rage in Marital Quarrels. By RetzingerSuzanne M.Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1991. 238 pp.

Chapter 4 offers an elaboration and application of the assessment process and illustrates the need to address changing content within the assessment framework. Adaptations of the framework are viewed for their applicability to four important considerations: variety of fields of practice and settings; varying time frames for client contact; different practice modalities (individual, family, or group); and differing client characteristics, such as class, ethnicity, gender, and age. Meyer’s discussion regarding the implications of the last is particularly valuable. She succinctly compiles a multitude of perspectives in a critique of the special needs of a diverse population whose experiences and circumstances must be “individualized’’ for effective assessment. She offers a valid caution for the practitioner, who should