Duane Human Services Discussion

Writer all I need you to do is add additional site to each of the original assignment starting with discussion 3 and don’t skip any questions.

Introduction to Human Services, 4th Edition
ISBN: 9780134461083
By: Michelle E. Martin
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association® (APA), 6th Edition
ISBN: 9781433813757
By: American Psychological Asso…

Discussion 3t.
In your post, define empathy and sympathy and compare and contrast them. How are they different? Next, discuss the following: Most human services professionals will, at some point, work with clients whose values and actions they find difficult to accept, or even reprehensible. How might a professional increase his or her capacity to empathize with these individuals? Use supportive material from the reading assignment, citing your source in-text and listing your reference.

Discussion 4

Read the article in the Content area about reunification. In your post, explore some of the psychological dynamics experienced by many biological children removed from their biological homes and placed into nonrelative foster care. Include discussion of some ways human service professionals can assist foster care children with this transition. Use supportive material from the reading assignment, citing your source in-text and listing your reference.

Discussion 5

In your post, discuss the following: A wide variety of therapeutic interventions exist for adolescents, ranging from weekly outpatient sessions with a counselor through programs such as Outward Bound to inpatient facilities with a range of programs and supports. Ideally, adolescent clients would receive the level of treatment most appropriate for their situation; in reality, what other factors play a role in the type and level of treatment that adolescents receive? Use supportive material from the reading assignment, citing your source in-text and listing your reference.

Discussion 6

In your post, respond to the following questions: What are some of the major ways in which the needs of older adults are different from those of other groups of human service clients? In what ways are older adults’ needs similar to those of other groups? Use supportive material from the reading assignment, citing your source in-text and listing your reference.

Lecture 1
Human Services Versus Social Work
This week’s reading assignment focuses in part on defining human services as a profession. Among the points Martin (2018) makes in Chapter 1 is a distinction between human services and social work. It is not unusual for students and the public to perceive social work and human services as the same profession
and even to use the terms interchangeably. However, as introductory students in this field, it is important to understand the difference between human services and social work, particularly with regard to your degree and credentials when you graduate from the Human Services program at Columbia College.

Perhaps the most straightforward statement is simply to say that human services and social work are not the same profession. Martin (2018) points out several similarities between the two professions, such as a commitment to social justice and advocacy, as well as serving individuals who are oppressed or marginalized. But beyond those similarities, there are several significant differences between social workers and human service professionals that distinguish them.

Chief among the differences, as Martin (2018) notes, is the professionalization of the social work field, which has separated it from the broader human services professions. This professionalization has led to specific educational and state licensing requirements that social work programs must fulfill to maintain accreditation. Graduates of these programs must complete these requirements if they wish to become licensed. At the master’s level, a state license allows a social worker to practice clinically as a counselor. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) had had a strong hand in developing these professionalization requirements in each state and within colleges and universities that offer social work degrees.

As Martin explains in Chapter 1, human services is somewhat like an umbrella term in that it covers a broad range of jobs, all of which involve helping people. In that regard, social work is a type of human services, but human services is not a type of social work. I like to explain it this way:

Imagine a broad range of athletic shoes. There are Nikes, Adidas, Reebok, Under Armour, and other brands of athletic shoes. All of them can fairly say that they are, in fact, athletic shoes. But only the Nikes have a swoosh. The swoosh is what distinguishes the Nikes from all the other athletic shoes. Even though they serve a similar purpose as athletic shoes, the Adidas cannot call themselves Nikes because they don’t have the swoosh. And so it is with social work and human services. Social work is like a brand with specific features that distinguish it from the other human service professions. Social work is a human service profession as the Nike is an athletic shoe, but it is distinct based on the features of its brand.

What does this mean to you as a human services student? The major takeaway is to be aware that with a human services degree, you are not a social worker. In fact, you can’t and shouldn’t refer to yourself as a social worker unless you have a social work degree. It’s likely that with a human services degree you won’t be considered for jobs that have the title of social worker. That’s because you don’t carry the branding that distinguishes you as a social worker. Instead, as a human service professional, you will qualify for a broad range of generalist positions that help a variety of people in need.

Some attempts are under way to increase the professionalization of the human services discipline. A relatively new credential is available through the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) called the “Human Services Board-Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP).” Qualifying for this credential involves a review of your qualifications and passing a national certification exam (Center for Credentialing & Education, 2016). Completing a degree program in human services also adds to the professionalization of the field.

You can learn more about the HS-BCP credential from Center for Credentialing & Education opens in a new window.

References
Center for Credentialing & Education (2016). HS-BCP Human Services-Certified Board Practitioner. Retrieved from http://www.cce-global.org/HSBCP

Martin, M. E. (2018). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings (4th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
Lecture 2
Lecture 1
Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA)
In this week’s reading, Martin (2018) discusses the doctrine known as the “best interest of the child.” As she points out, determining what is in a child’s best interest can be more complicated than it might initially seem. Various parties involved in the child’s life may have differing perspectives about “best interest,” and their perceptions and perspectives might not be objective. Conflicts can arise between the rights of the parents and the competing interests of state incentives inherent in permanency planning. With all of these conflicts and differing perspectives, where is the voice of the child? At the beginning of Chapter 5, Martin (2018) briefly mentions one advocacy organization called Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) that speaks directly to the interests of children who are placed in state custody.

CASA began in 1977 in Seattle when a judge became concerned that decisions were being made about children’s welfare without enough information. His idea was to utilize volunteers from the community to speak on behalf of children in court. Today, CASA operates in 49 states with more than 1,000 programs (CASA, 2017). Judges appoint CASA volunteers (who may be known as guardians ad litem), and often these volunteers are assigned to the toughest cases. More than 76,000 volunteers across the country helped more than 250,000 children in 2017, according to CASA.

CASA volunteers determine a child’s best interests by getting to know the child as well as all the other individuals who are part of the child’s life. This may include family members, physicians, teachers, case managers or social workers, and many others. By learning about all of their perspectives, the CASA volunteer can weigh the options and determine what is in the child’s interest. The CASA volunteer then makes recommendations to the judge based on these findings (CASA, 2017).

According to CASA (2017), children with CASA volunteers experience a number of positive outcomes. Among these outcomes, they are more likely to succeed in school; to have a permanent home, thereby spending less time in foster care; and to have more support while they are in the system.

According to CASA (2017), there are three criteria volunteers must abide by. First, the volunteer must have a background check. Second, the volunteer must complete a 30-hour training. Finally, once placed with a child’s case, the volunteer must agree to remain with the case until it closes. This includes attending court dates. Cases generally are open for approximately 18 months, and the average time spent per case is about 10 hours per month (CASA, 2017). According to CASA no special skills are required to be a volunteer beyond an interest in children.

Volunteering with an organization like CASA is an excellent opportunity first and foremost to make a significant difference in the life of a child. In addition to supporting a child’s interests, you also will develop skills that will apply to your professional career in human services, and you will have an opportunity to network with agencies and service providers. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with CASA, visit the CASA for Children website opens in a new window.

References
CASA. (2017). About us. Retrieved from http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/ b.5301303/k.6FB1/About_Us__CASA_for_Children.htm

CASA. (2017). Evidence of effectiveness. Retrieved from http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5332511/k.7D2A/Evidence_of_Effectiveness.htm

CASA. (2017). Volunteer your time to change a child’s life. Retrieved from http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301309/k.9D58/Volunteering.htm

CASA. (2017). What does it mean to be a CASA volunteer? Retrieved from http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.6350721/k.112A/What_Does_It_Mean_To_Be_a_CASA_Volunteer.htm

Martin, M.E. (2018). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings (4th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
Lecture 3
Lecture 1
Service Provision for Older Adults
The older adult population is anticipated to increase dramatically through 2050 as the baby boom population ages and with the increase in life expectancy. During this period, more people will be retiring and they will be living longer. According to Martin (2018), life expectancy is likely to increase from 77 years as of 1999 to at least 92 years by 2100. The population of persons age 65 and older is expected to double to 88 million by 2050, with the number of individuals age 85 and older increasing from 5.8 million as of 2010 to more than 20 million by 2050 (Martin, 2018). For this reason, interest is gerontology is increasing. More people will be needed to serve and support older adults in the coming years. This sparks a number of questions about the types of services older adults might need and who will serve them.

Perhaps one starting place is to consider where older adults will live. Some might believe that most older adults live in nursing homes or other congregate settings, but that is not the case. The vast majority of older adults prefer to age in place in their own homes. This trend is expected to continue as the baby boomers age. Most will remain in their homes in the community. Some might move in with family members, while others might downsize their homes and move into smaller dwellings or retirement communities.

With most older adults staying in the community, the demand for in-home services likely will increase. Assistance with activities of daily living, such as cooking, personal care, and cleaning may be needed, as well as help with instrumental activities of daily living, like managing medication or handling one’s finances. Transportation will become a concern when older adults must give up their keys and stop driving. Some older adults will have family members who can assist them with these concerns, but many may be on their own without family to can help. Either way, a human service professional may be needed to identify services and to plan and coordinate them.

Martin (2018) mentions the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) as one resource for service provision to older adults. The AAAs are funded by the federal government and the states to provide a number of services, such as case management, assistance to family caregivers, and nutrition services – both in senior centers and by home delivery. For the older adult who resides in the community, whether independently or with family, the AAAs are a good resource to know about. The case managers with the AAAs can assess needs and coordinate services to meet those needs.

One resource Martin does not mention in the text is the geriatric care manager, who also may be known as an aging life care professional. These professionals often are hired privately to provide care management services for older adults and their families. They have education, skills, and expertise in care management for older adults (Aging Life Care Association, 2017). They may be certified through the National Academy of Certified Case Managers or the Commission for Case Manager Certification, and they may have membership in a professional organization, such as the Aging Life Care Association. As private care managers, these professionals may not be employed through agencies to provide services. Service coordination isn’t covered by Medicare or other insurance, so the older adult or his or her family likely will have to pay out of pocket for the service.

I encourage you to find your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting https://www.n4a.org/ and entering your city and state or your ZIP Code. You’ll receive a list of agencies serving older adults in your community. I also would encourage you to visit the Aging Life Care Association website to learn more about the field of aging life care or geriatric care management: http://www.aginglifecare.org/. Whether they work for an agency like the AAA or are employed independently as care managers, human service professionals make a significant difference for older adults and their family members by serving in these roles.

References
Aging Life Care Association (2017). Certification and personal conduct. Retrieved from http://www.aginglifecare.org/ALCA/About_Aging_Life_Care/Certification_and_Professional_Conduct/ALCA/About_Aging_Life_Care/Certification_and_Professional_Conduct.aspx?hkey=6a77ffdb-c6fa-4095-b0fc-aa3a6c8e5838

Martin, M.E. (2018). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings (4th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.