James R. Dudley

Exploring a Place for Spirituality in the Social Work Curriculum

Abstract Although social work recognizes that spirituality is a basic dimension of human development, little attention is being given to this dimension by social work programs. This study surveys the views of social work faculty on the place, if any, that spirituality should have in the social work curriculum. Results suggest that there is considerable support for a course on this subject. Possible explanations for opposition to such a course also are explored. Suggestions are provided for introducing spirituality content into the curriculum.

The importance of spirituality in hospice work: a study of hospice professionals.

Only recently has the spiritual aspect of care received attention in our professional literature. In order to explore the relationship between spirituality and job satisfaction for professionals employed in the hospice field, the authors sent questionnaires to hospice directors in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The findings strongly indicate that hospice professionals are a spiritual group, being more spiritual in their personal lives than in their professional work. Professionals who described themselves as more spiritual also experienced greater satisfaction in hospice work. Job-related satisfaction, however, was dependent on factors other than spirituality. The findings support the contention that spiritual care is too critical to be left to clergy.

Unfinished business: Assessing the spiritual needs of hospice clients

Hospice has the philosophyof caringfor patientsand families using a holistic approachto care.This includesaddressingphysical,emotional, social, and spiritual needs. From its beginning,hospicehasincludedthe spiritualelementin care. Franco’ and O’Connor2 trace the rootsof thespiritualcarecomponent back to the foundersof themodern hospicemovementin Englandand earlyUS hospices. Even though spiritual care is viewedasan importantpartof hospice,questionscontinueto beraised aboutwhatis meantby spiritualcare and whetheror not spiritual needs are different from religious needs. The literatureprovidessomeclarity aboutthesequestions.Severalprofessionalshave offered definitions of spirituality. For example, Amenta3suggestsit is the lifeforce springingfrom within thatpervades

Citizens' boards for philadelphia community mental health centers

Community participation is a frequently discussed and controversial aspect of the community mental health center program. To many professionals and lay people, the community mental health center concept includes a basic commitment to a participatory process of the community in the planning and implementation of the community mental health center program. However, this commitment is not readily evident in the federal and Pennsylvania regulations. This paper presents an approach taken by the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to insure that its 13 centers and base service units have a meaningful partnership with their catchment area communities. Specifically the paper presents the community participation regulations developed by the Philadelphia office, as well as the conditions that led to the development of these regulations. A conclusion of the paper is that additional regulations are needed to insure that community participation becomes an integral part of the community mental health center program.Community participation is a frequently discussed and controversial aspect of the community mental health center program. To many professionals and lay people, the community mental health center concept includes a basic commitment to a participatory process of the community in the planning and implementation of the community mental health center program. However, this commitment is not readily evident in the federal and Pennsylvania regulations. This paper presents an approach taken by the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to insure that its 13 centers and base service units have a meaningful partnership with their catchment area communities. Specifically the paper presents the community participation regulations developed by the Philadelphia office, as well as the conditions that led to the development of these regulations. A conclusion of the paper is that additional regulations are needed to insure that community participation becomes an integral part of the community mental health center program.

Confirmed, unconfirmed, and false allegations of abuse made by adults with mental retardation who are members of a class action lawsuit*

OBJECTIVE The purpose is to explore differences in confirmed, unconfirmed, and false allegations of abuse made by consumers with mental retardation in regards to type of abuse and perpetrator. METHOD Interviews were conducted with 1,220 people with mental retardation who were part of a class action lawsuit in North Carolina. A content analysis of abuse allegations was performed. Frequencies of responses and subgroup differences are reported for type of abuse allegation and perpetrator. RESULTS Unconfirmed claims are the most frequent. Females made more allegations of abuse than males in general, and more allegations of rape. There are no significant differences among the subgroups (confirmed, unconfirmed, and false allegations) by type of abuse allegation. There are significant differences among the subgroups in regard to the alleged perpetrator. Other consumers with mental retardation are most frequently accused of confirmed assaults. Staff members are most frequently accused in false allegations. CONCLUSION Ability of the alleged victim to report information and timing of the investigation are important factors in substantiating abuse. Awareness of consumer-to-consumer violence and prevalence of false accusations against staff necessitates increased safeguards for both consumers and staff.

Helping Nonresidential Fathers: The Case for Teen and Adult Unmarried Fathers

Nonresidential fathers, particularly those who are unmarried teens and unmarried adults, are often neglected in social work practice in the United States. This article examines their changing demographics and describes several policies and programs that have been successful in assisting them in becoming more involved in their childrens lives. The literature is still very limited about who they are, what they need, and how we can help them. Yet, what is known suggests that relatively large numbers want to be or are attempting to be involved with their children. Timing is important in helping them establish their paternity and become active at their childs birth or before. The article calls for social workers to make a greater commitment to these unmarried nonresidential fathers in very specific ways.

Back to basics: how young mothers learn about sex and sexuality

Adolescent pregnancy continues to be a major concern for policy-makers, programme developers, helping professionals and society generally in the USA, especially in light of the US federal governments legislative emphasis on abstinence-only sex education until recently. Studies have found that abstinence-only programmes do not succeed in preventing young people from becoming sexually active or pregnant; most young people have sexual intercourse in their teenage years long before they even contemplate marriage. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how 32 teenage mothers learned about sex and their related views about pregnancy and birth control. Findings indicate that they have often received little accurate information about sex from their parents and schools. Findings also reveal their widely varying views about birth control and pregnancy. Overall, the findings support the need for comprehensive sexuality education that addresses the topics covered in this study in an age-appropriate manner. The findings also suggest ways that helping professionals in other settings besides schools can help young people address these issues.

Fathering the Children of Teenage Mothers: The Need for Procreative Consciousness and Responsibility

Teenage birthrates remain higher in the United States than any other developed country. While there is broad consensus that teenage pregnancy is a major societal problem, the fathers of these children usually receive little attention. The purpose of this study is to provide understanding about the procreative consciousness and responsibility of 14 young fathers. The findings indicate that they have not learned much, if anything, about sex from their parents or schools. Their sexual activities seem to reveal little concern about preventing unwanted pregnancy. Yet, the reality of new offspring in their lives seems to awaken some deeper parental instincts and more conscientiousness about the connections among sex, pregnancy, and parental responsibility. Numerous suggestions are offered to help young fathers.