John R. Belcher

Are jails replacing the mental health system for the homeless mentally ill

The author explores the process of how homeless mentally ill persons become involved with the criminal justice system. The unique demands of homelessness and chronic mental illness were specifically examined in this naturalistically based study. The author concludes that a combination of severe mental illness, a tendency to decompensate in a nonstructured environment, and an inability or unwillingness to follow through with aftercare contributed to involvement with the criminal justice system. Changes in the mental health system that would prevent the criminalization of the homeless mentally ill are suggested.

On becoming homeless: A study of chronically mentally ill persons

A naturalistic study that focuses on the process of homelessness after psychiatric hospitalization is presented. The posthospital adjustments of 132 former patients were examined for 6 months. Thirty-six percent of these individuals became homeless, and a qualitative research approach was used to frame four categories that described how individuals in each category moved into homelessness. Categories identified were the Wanderers, Tenuous Planners, Socially Disadvantaged Homeless, and the Dropouts. Suggestions of how to reintegrate them back into the community after hospitalization are presented.

Social Stigma and Homelessness: The Limits of Social Change

We examine the issues around the stigmatization of homelessness and how it links to capitalism. Society focuses on the individual as the cause of his or her own state of homelessness, blaming the victim rather than focusing on the larger antecedent social and economic forces, such as unemployment, limited affordable housing, and breakdowns in kinship networks. Social stigma occurs in situations where there is unequal social, economic, and political power and there is an opportunity to label, stereotype, separate (us versus them), lose status, and discriminate. Stigmatization is due, in part, when people feel threatened by another group. Society categorizes people who are homeless as no longer “useful” and/or “functional” members of capitalism, since they do not actively work and support the system. The paper ends on a discussion of the limits of social change in a capitalist society.

Healing and Psychotherapy: The Pentecostal Tradition

This paper explores the practice of healing in the Pentecostal movement. The practice of healing has a long tradition in Pentecostal practice. The meaning of divine healing and what could be components of a theology of healing are examined. It is important for pastoral counselors, pastors, and chaplains to be aware of the importance of divine healing for Pentecostal clients.

A Review of Observational Pain Scales in Nonverbal Elderly with Cognitive Impairments.

Objective: Pain assessment for nonverbal older adults with cognitive impairments or dementia presents many challenges, and it is important to determine which scales are most useful in assessing pain among this population. Method: In this review 11 observational scales for assessment of pain in older adults with dementia or cognitive impairments are evaluated in four areas: pain indicators, reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the measure. Results: Results indicate that various scales are available for assessing pain in cognitively impaired or demented older adults who are unable to report their pain, but future research should focus on further psychometric evaluations. Conclusions: Implications include that social workers should be trained as raters of pain assessment methods.

Assisting Unemployed Older Workers to Become Reemployed: An Experimental Evaluation

Unemployed older workers face significant labor market obstacles when attempting to find employment. Social workers employed in community-based gerontology settings often intervene with older workers as they search for employment. This article presents the findings from an evaluation and replication of a Job Club intervention strategy designed to assist older workers in regaining employment. Using an experimental pre-post control group design, the results indicate that Job Club programs are more effective than traditional job search assistance strategies in helping participants obtain employment. The benefits of using behavioral strategies such as the Job Club in social work practice with unemployed older workers are discussed.

Strategies for overcoming barriers to community-based housing for the chronically mentally ill

This paper reports the results of a study of community acceptance of housing for the mentally ill in Maryland. The findings indicate that community opposition is less likely to occur (1) when establishing apartmental living arrangements rather than group homes, (2) in less organized neighborhoods, (3) where other housing for specialized populations has not been previously developed, and (4) by using a “low profile” strategy which avoids informing community members in advance of start-up.

Development of Grounded Theory: Moving Towards a Theory of the Pathways into Street Prostitution Among Low-Income Women

&NA; The authors examined the social problem of addictions and prostitution using a qualitative study with 15 adult women who were also in addictions treatment. Findings from the study suggest that prostitution is a rite of passage for many women from poor communities and their approach to life is one of passive externalization in which they are ambivalent about their immediate circumstances. Addiction contributes to prostitution, “en‐traps” many of the women in prostitution, and acts as barrier in escaping it. Suggestions are made regarding improved methods of practice with this population.

Considering Pathways into Homelessness: Mothers, Addictions, and Trauma

&NA; This paper documents pathways that have led mothers with substance use problems to homelessness. Women have unique pathways into homelessness directly linked to their co-existing phenomenon of substance abuse that is further complicated when they are caregivers for children under the age of 18 years. Findings from four focus groups and a key informant survey were used to explore pathways to homelessness among homeless addicted women with children under the age of 18 years. Additionally, a review of case records at the publicly funded 28-day residential substance abuse treatment program and a focus group of service providers provided confirmatory data. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Themes of childhood abuse and neglect, substance abuse, economic instability, social isolation, separation from children, and domestic violence were indicated as precipitating events to homelessness. The findings of this study reveal a life history of substance abuse, trauma, and persistent neglect and point to alternative and expanded gender-specific interventions

Family Capital: Implications for Interventions with Families

Social capital has been extensively discussed in the literature as building blocks that individuals and communities utilize to leverage system resources. Similarly, some families also create capital, which can enable members of the family, such as children, to successfully negotiate the outside world. Families in poverty confront serious challenges in developing positive family capital, because of lack of resources. For those families that are successful in developing positive family capital, family capital can help to create positive outcomes for family interactions. Thus, family capital can provide information about opportunities, exert influence on agents who make decisions involving the actor, provide social credentials that indicate a connection to a social network, and reinforce the actors identity and recognition, which maintains access and entitlement to these social resources.