Transcript Chapter 5
Chapter 11 Social Work and Poverty, Homelessness, Unemployment, and Criminal Justice Social Work An Empowering Profession Seventh Edition Brenda DuBois & Karla Miley This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: •Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; •Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; •Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Poverty Facts • Poverty rate (2007) – 12.5 percent • High percentage of poor – Children – Female-headed households – Non-White families • Most who are poor are employed full-time Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Social Work and Poverty • Two prevailing social attitudes – Blaming individuals for impoverishment – culture of poverty – Holding society responsible for conditions creating poverty • Social work emphasis on empowerment oriented support to gain self-sufficiency Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Human Behavior CSWE EPAS 2.1.7 • Poverty has a pernicious effect on personal and social well-being. • What are the potential short-term and longterm bio-psycho-social effects of poverty for persons at various life cycle stages? Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Homelessness Facts • Misconceptions and myths – – – – Caused by mental illness or drug abuse Shelter space available Homeless persons are unemployed Government programs sufficient • Populations at-risk – – – – Domestic violence Mental illness Substance abuse disorders Veterans Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Social Work and Homelessness • Ensure affordable and adequate housing • Advocate housing subsidies • Strengthen continuum of housing, income assistance, and income support services • Fund prevention programs – education and job training • Promote living wage policies Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Human Rights and Justice • Homelessness is linked to economic factors such as lack of affordable housing, poverty and low income and to social issues such as substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence. • What underlying social and economic justice issues are related to the root causes of homelessness? Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Unemployment Facts • Double digit unemployment (2009) • Unemployment rates underestimate joblessness • Impact on family relations, separation, divorce and desertion • Expansion of low-wage part-time positions without medical or retirement benefits Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Social Work and Unemployment • Unemployment benefits – Unemployment compensation – Workers’ compensation • Employee assistance programs – Personal and family counseling for stress, mental health issues, and chemical dependency – Transitions services for dealing with job loss Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Policy Practice CSWE EPAS 2.1.8 • High unemployment has serious consequences for individuals, families, and communities. • In addition to unemployment compensation benefits, what other components should be included in a comprehensive economic policy to deal with unemployment issues? Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Criminal Justice Facts • Criminal justice system – Law enforcement, court, and correction officers – Punishment vs. rehabilitation philosophy • Overrepresentation of minorities • Challenges for special population groups – – – – Older prisoners Persons with mental illness and mental retardation Sex offenders Incarceration of men and women with children Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Social Work and Criminal Justice • • • • • • • • Police social workers Forensic social workers Probation and parole officers Social workers in correctional facilities Crime victim advocates Juvenile diversion programs Mediation for victims and offenders Victim-witness programs Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved. Practice Context CSWE EPAS 2.1.9 • Although they differ philosophically from their colleagues in the criminal justice system, social workers contribute complementary services to clients in this host setting. • What unique challenges do social workers confront when working in the context of the criminal justice system? Copyright ©2011 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved.