Thesis (Master of Social Work)--University of Southern California.

Thesis (Master of Social Work)--University of Southern California.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990.

A value critical policy analysis of school finance equity. This study examines Iowa's school finance equity as it relates to school district tax rates and per pupil general fund revenue.

This study makes an examination of the factors involved in social workers' recommendations as to the necessity of institutional care for married hospital patients, a form of long-term care available within the general setting of a Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital. Attention is given to the reasons governing the "social, recommendation" made by the social worker, when the decision lies between the granting of institutional care, or the patient’s return to his home to be cared for by his wife. The activities which lead to the social prognosis on which the recommendation is based in this special setting, are similar to those undertaken in various welfare agencies, where social workers assist families and doctors in decisions as to whether chronically ill persons may be attended to at tome, or must be cared for in a nursing home or similar setting. In answer to the query as to what elements are considered in the formulation of a professional opinion, the importance of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the marital relationship becomes a major theme of the study. The method adopted in the study is (a) to single out a series of cases which indicate the range of problems considered to be typical in the hospital studies; (b) to present the recommendations made by the social worker and the reasons for them; (c) to specify as far as possible the services rendered by the social worker in these cases. Seven direct and six indirect services are distinguished. Attention is also given to the kind of facts which the social worker finds to be significent in assessing the strengths of a marriage, since the prognosis arising from these, and the outcome of the resultant "social treatment", frequently determine the recommendation. In a final chapter, the assessment and modification of inter-personal relations between husband and wife and the family members are presented as the distinctive activity of the social worker in the hospital settings. The examination of this contribution, and others made by the social worker to the resolution of the types- of problems under study, is not represented as exhaustive. It is set out as an initial descriptive account of the process inherent in the formulation of a professional opinion, an account which might be expanded in further research. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The social worker in a medical setting functions as a member of a team, whose aim is to achieve the greatest possible rehabilitation of patients and families handicapped by illness. This study is an examination of psychosocial problems and is an exploratory survey (comparable to others which have been made in different settings) aimed at clearer identification of problems in which the services of the social worker are relevant, and of the nature of these services. It applies in this instance to male hospitalized veterans. The method used in the survey was to compile pertinent data on district office, hospital, and social service records of a sample group of 50 male in-patients, referred to the Medical Social Service Department, Shaughnessy Hospital, January-June, 1956. The information was extracted from the case records by means of a schedule. Classifications were developed to show the frequency and distribution of (a) psychosocial problems and (b) kinds of social services rendered. A selection of case summaries was used to illustrate further the nature of problems, and the methods used in treating them. The findings revealed that M.S.S.D. services are being used mainly for those younger hospitalized veterans with fair potential for rehabilitation. There is indication of potential value in extending the services to older veterans. Most requests for service continue to be related mainly to practical problems such as economic and housing needs, as well as for aid with medical diagnosis. The frequency and variety of psychosocial problems indicates need for increased direct service applied to the more intangible psychological problems related to illness and handicap. Discussion on the implications of the study findings includes possible means of increasing the effectiveness of social services. This requires, among other things, further studies of services related to particular needs, broader interpretation of social services, and demonstration of the effectiveness of intensive or long-term casework in the treatment of patients. Such developments should increase the effectiveness of the over-all programme for the rehabilitation of the veteran patient. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Department of Veterans' Affairs hospitals and Out-Patients Clinics represent part of a comprehensive program of health and welfare for the war veteran. Although the services offered by these hospitals are available to a few classes of civilians, by far the largest number of patients are former service men. This study attempts to make an appraisal of the scope and level of medical social service presently being offered to patients in attendance at Shaughnessy Hospital Out-Patients' Clinic. In order to accomplish this all available records for two separate groups of patients were surveyed. One group was made up of the total (84) referrals from Out-Patients' Clinic to Medical Social Service during a particular six-month period. Tie other group comprised an approximately equal number of patients not so referred. Besides background information, the main classification used included (a) medical diagnoses, (b) use of other D.V.A. services, (c) Social problems. In each case an assessment was made of the needs and the adequacy of the services given. The findings of the study indicate that at present less than one per cent of out-patients are being referred to the Social Service Department, although a far higher percentage than this could probably benefit from such a referral. The Medical Social Service Department has been aware of the possibilities for some time, and the present study was undertaken in order to gain facts and clarification, and make possible realistic plans for the future development of such service. Recommendations include (a) suggestions for improvement of recording, (b) the assignment of a social worker to the Out-Patients' Clinic, his services to be available to both physicians and patients, and (c) suggestions for further research. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

There is evidence that from the earliest days of recorded history man has been aware of a significant relationship between sound physical health and an harmonious social environment. Many physicians and hospital administrators today recognize that a complete program of medical care includes facilities for the treatment of patients' social and emotional problems. The Department of Veterans' Affairs has recently given recognition to this principle through the provision of medical social service as part of the Treatment Services program for veterans. In the present study the medical social service program at Shaughnessy Hospital is examined in an attempt to show how the doctors use the new service and with what results. At the same time, an attempt is made to point out other potential areas of development for medical social service in this hospital. The basic information for the study was obtained from an analysis of approximately four hundred social service records, representing new referrals by doctors to the department for the year 1953-54. In addition, approximately thirty doctors were asked, through the medium of a questionnaire and in personal interviews, how they were using social services to complement medical care, and what recommendations they might make for the fuller utilization of these services. The findings from these two procedures were consistent. They indicated that there is a growing demand for social services in this setting, and that the potential demand is even greater. The services most widely requested were for the purposes of enabling medical diagnosis and treatment, and assisting the patients in discharge planning. On the other hand, there is as yet, little recognition of social work as a method of treatment, complementary to the medical plan: this finding appears both in the classification of the services for which patients were referred to the Medical Social Service Department, and in the comments and suggestions made by medical personnel. While recognizing the very real limitation of staff shortage within the Social Service Department, this study is primarily concerned with the need for continuous interpretation of casework services. Much can be done through the refinement of everyday practices, such as closer co-operation with the medical staff, more effective use of casework recording, and continued self-evaluation. These practices, together with the favourable attitudes toward social-service already expressed by the medical staff, should enable the doctors to make the optimum use of the existing services available through the Medical Social Service Department, to the end of improving still further the overall program of care for the veteran patients. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

In April 1949 the Family Welfare Bureau, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Health Committee, and with the financial support of the Federal Department of Health, began a three-year project to provide supervised homemaker service to families where the mother had tuberculosis. By the end of March 1952, fifty-nine families had been given service, forty-eight of these for a period longer than three months. These forty-eight families are the subject of this study. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this special project, a rating scale was drawn up as an aid in the task of measuring the results of the service provided. The rating scale was devised to assess three main aspects of the program - health improvement, supervised homemaker service and casework service. Questions were of two kinds - those which asked for factual data about the families and about the service provided, and those of an evaluative nature, in which an effort was made to assess change and growth in the clients' attitudes and behavior between the opening and closing of the case. The questions were answered by agency caseworkers who knew the families concerned: nine workers completed forty-two rating scales in sufficient detail for use in this thesis. At the end of the rating scale, workers were asked to assess the value of the total service to the family in question. On the basis of this over-all evaluation, each of the forty-two cases was placed in one of three categories - the highly successful, the moderately successful, or the unsuccessful. The components of the entire rating scale have been tabulated and analyzed in such a way as to highlight differences which seem significant between these three categories. The study leaves no doubt that the T.B.-Homemaker Project made a significant contribution to the physical and mental health of the families given service. However, on the basis of the agency's experience, certain tentative recommendations have been made with regard.to the role of the caseworker, the focus of casework, the selection and placement of homemakers, and intake procedure. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Medical science has done much to bring epilepsy out of the realm of mysticism and misconception, into the area of normal and natural diseases; but many persons subject to seizures experience difficulty in their attempts to live as others do. It is the purpose of this thesis to examine the ways in which medical social work can help them achieve this end. The setting-up and the purpose of the Seizure Clinic of the Vancouver General Hospital is described. An examination of the social situations of fifty-three persons who were referred to the social worker during a period of seventeen months, for various kinds of help, reveals the problems which epilepsy presents to this group of people. There are numerous examples of difficulties associated with (a) parental attitudes, (b) social relationships, (c) employment, and (d) marriage. The material indicates-clearly, that blanket statements regarding "epileptics" in general, are unfair and untrue. Each is an individual who requires help with his particular difficulties. Analysis of the cases reveals that the medical social worker can contribute to the treatment of epilepsy by (a) enabling the physician to understand the patients social .situation as it affects his medical condition and his attitude toward medical treatment; (b) correcting the patient's misconceptions toward his illness, alleviating anxiety regarding treatment, and generally enabling him to obtain the greatest benefit from medical treatment; (c) helping the patient understand and accept his handicap; (d) helping parents develop healthy, attitudes toward handicapped children, in order that they may be prepared to assume the responsibilities of adulthood; (e) familiarizing persons in the community with the facts regarding epilepsy and thus eventually reducing the stigma associated with the illness. The casework methods used by the social worker include, (a) modifying the environment, (b) psychological support, (c) clarification, and (d) insight. There is sufficient evidence in this study that medical social work can in various ways and to varying degrees, help epileptic persons to be useful members of the communities in which they live. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate