On Sunday October 23rd at midday I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Marie Hobart from Community Healthlink. For over twenty-four years Dr. Marie Hobart has been an employee of Community Healthlink as a psychiatrist and for the last ten to twelve years as the Chief Medical Officer of CHL. She is also an employee of UMasss Memorial Healthcare, and a clinical associate professor of psychiatry. Dr. Hobart 's work with CHL focuses on "people with serious and persistent illness, developmental disabilities, and addiction" and her goal in addition to helping patients one-on-one is to help create "a system of care for people who are traditionally not able to access care in other ways" (Hobart). Dr. Hobart explained that she always wanted to work in health, and "working with people in the community" leading her to become a public psychiatrist in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. As Dr. Hobart works in the Worcester public health sector as both a practicing physician and an administrator, her dual roles create a unique position as an agent of direct community support and an advocate for changes to the public medical system. Dr. Hobart is a medically focused community organizer and her work is most easily tied to the Women-Centered model of community development (Stall, Stoecker; 202). Her desire to see greater connections between medical assistance and social aid, as well as, her work that recognizes the social factors that lead to health problems illustrates how she is an
and the Providence Hospital had to take all the responsibilities of funding the agency many budget cuts had to be done in order for the agency to stay open. Due to the lack of funds the majority of the employees had to be laid off, the English teacher and the parenting class teacher had to be let go, also they had to move Mobile from Semmes. Because of this changes the number of individuals the agency can serves has become lower, the agency relies on volunteers to help with the interpretation in medical appointments. (S. Vaca-Diez, personal communication, November 12, 2014). The agency accepted Social Work students from the University of South Alabama to do their internship with them. The author started her internship for the fall semester of 2014. While on the agency, the intern’s job was to schedule appointments, interpretate in medical appointments every Monday and Wednesday at the women health center, or at other via phone with medical appointments and governmental interviews the rest of the days. The intern meet her client “Susana” for the first time, when she was seeking help scheduling an appointment for the women health center to get a pregnancy test. Since that first meeting the intern was assigned to “Susana’s” case.
As the director, at the skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center, her job is to help individuals, families, and loved ones cope with the recent diagnosis of the client being admitted. She is instrumental in the community by helping those who can no longer help themselves. She is a social worker but assumes the role of advocate by voicing concerns from the resident to other staff and family members. Her role is to help the client maintain autonomy and dignity throughout the process of relinquishing their independency.
The individual that I chose to interview, we will refer to her as Ms. M, is a long-standing member of the counseling community and a personal and professional mentor of mine. Currently she works for the state in the social services field, though she still uses her dependency counselor skills, it is not to the same extent that she once did. However, because of her qualifications she is still able to conduct assessments, offer counseling, and help clients recognize and navigate potential addiction pitfalls. For this interview we spoke about her initial entry into the field and her time as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in the women’s prison system.
I conducted an in person interview at Deaconess Cross Pointe, 7200 East Indiana Street; Evansville, Indiana 47715. I interviewed Natalie Goffinett, who has achieved her Master’s Degree in Social Work, and counsel’s children and families at that facility. When setting the appointment to interview Ms. Goffinett, I offered her the option to conduct the interview either in person or over the telephone. Ms. Goffinett and I agreed that an in person interview would be best if I wanted to have the opportunity to tour the facilities, as well as develop a sense for inpatient and outpatient environments. Deaconess Cross Pointe is a
Bonney and Stickley (2008) note the theme of power is often raised by service users. If, as predicted by the DOH in 2003, services are to become increasingly individual focused, the system needs to place power with service users. There is increasing amounts of service user literature that places an emphasis on individuals defining their own journey of recovery (Unit 21, pg 66) rather than having it imposed on them by workers. Peter Beresford (Audio 4) notes that currently there are inequalities in mental health services with limited service user power but considerable professional power. Bonney and Stickley mention Martyn (2002, cited in Bonney and Stickley 2008) who proposes professionals should be present by service user invitation only. A less radical aim is that of a gradual transfer of responsibility in power from services to individuals during recovery. It is important such involvement confers genuine power to individuals, rather than being tokenistic (Jacobson 2004, cited in Bonney and Stickley 2008).
rganizing the delivery of health care around the needs of the patient may seem like a simple and obvious approach. In a system as complex as health care, however, little is simple. In fact, thirty years ago when the idea of “patient-centered care” first emerged as a return to the holistic roots of health care, it was swiftly dismissed by all but the most philosophically progressive providers as trivial, superficial, or unrealistic. Its defining characteristics of partnering with patients and families, of welcoming―even encouraging―their
Serving individuals in underserved communities takes more than just intellect, it takes character. Filling your brain with the knowledge of various medications is not enough; rather one must empty oneself and become a vessel for compassion. It takes more than a steady hand, but a steadfast heart and a devotion to ethics and the integrity to align with them even when no one is watching. It takes empathy, it takes virtue, and last it takes a passion for cultivating caring and watching it bloom. Contributing to the Nurse Corps mission while nurturing for individuals in underserved communities, I will use these principles as my guiding light in attending to the visible and invisible needs of every patient I serve.
Karen Bressler has worked in the field of social work for a little under 20 years, working in the health and mental health environment in the Washington DC metropolitan area. She currently works at Green Door as the Director of Health Homes. Green Doors has a rigorous program that provides mental health services to include psychiatric and counseling services which both are coupled with case management. The agencies case management offers clients with supportive education, housing stabilization, rehabilitation day services programs, supported employment, community support, Assertive Community Treatment, and a variety of essential curriculums that many of the agencies clients have on no occasion before had access to. The agencies mission is to work to eliminate barriers that poverty, unawareness and prejudice have created, and to decrease the misconception connected with mental health circumstances. Majority of the clients served at the agency live below the federal poverty line, are African-American, and are over the age of 50. A good number of the client’s lives are plagued with one or more chronic medical condition. The agencies mission is to enhance the lives of their clients through treatemtn and services.
On October 26, I had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Smith a clinical mental health counselor. Heather Smith is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in Alexandria Virginia. She specializes in PTSD, Anxiety, Trauma, Marital and Premarital counseling. In addition to these specialties, she also treats disorders such as Dissociative Disorders, Impulse Control disorders, and personality disorders. Ms. Smith also works closely with Women’s issues that include coping skills, sexual abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation. Ms. Smith services a population of clients ranging from adolescents (14-19), to adults as well.
This story, while centered on Maries struggles with addiction and family support the story we also hear from two social workers in DCF; Ilia
Serving these populations is much more than serving food but also considering each individual’s unique story in its entirety. Some may have a dark past, some suffer from addiction, and others lose faith. As a hospital volunteer, I also served patients by spending quality time and assisting their needs. By simply understanding their viewpoint, I influenced them to believe in hope for a greater future. I learned that to effectively provide care for others, it is necessary to consider all the small scenes that combine to produce each person’s story. Compassion and service toward my patients are the sole ingredients for effective
Interview paper with a Counselor (Rebecca Alexander), and a Social Worker (Mina McVeigh). This interview is for Mrs. Scott’s online class.
Dr. Ava Morrow is a person worthy of being nominated and recognized for an HBCU Alumni Award in the category of education because her work as a microbiologist has afforded her the opportunity to train and encourage high school students and college students to be the next generation of STEM professionals. Her career as a faculty member began as a teaching assistant in the biology department at Gallaudet University and ended with the rank of Full Professor of Microbiology when she retired in 2013. She loved her work and was dedicated to students and the learning process. During her tenure at the university, she taught courses in Human Biology, General Microbiology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Physical Science, and Psychosocial and
Shirley's job is to get out into the community and do home visits with the cases that she is assigned by her boss. Once she is in the home she assesses the living situation and provides funding for things such as food, healthcare, medication, utilities and even rent. This help is not limited to women as the nurse stated that she deals with many people with different needs. The major population in Hamilton that lacks care is single African-American women, African-American men, and Mexicans. Majority of the people that she assists are between the ages of 30-60. Some of the major issues that are present are the lack of health care access because of transportation issues as well as finances to afford health care, drug abuse, and prenatal care. As far as transportation to the doctor and hospital the individuals in this community are very limited in their resources because there's no bus route that runs for them to get to
The Social Welfare History Project (2004) gave great insight into May’s early life. Like the majority of the clients she worked with, Mary also came from a tumultuous past. Mary was born in Illinois in a town called Belleville. After the death of her parents at a young age, Mary was sent to live with her maternal grandmother in Baltimore, Maryland. It was upon this relocation that Mary developed a deeper understanding for social engagement, and social practice. The Social Welfare History Project described Mary’s grandmother was an active voice in the women’s