Date of Award
1992
Document Type
Practicum-NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Studies
Advisor
B. Mathews Hill
Keywords
abused children, caseworker training, child protection, intervention strategies, mentally ill parents, neglected children, risk assessment
Abstract
This practicum was designed to enhance the skills of child protection workers who investigate child abuse that occurs in families where there is a chronically mentally ill caretaker. This project focused on three types of social casework skills, risk assessment, intervention strategies, and community networking.
Skill building was accomplished through three processes. Caseworkers were invited to a forum where current research data and literature that addressed risk issues were presented. Workers were encouraged to discuss and analyze this information as it related to current caseloads. The process used to enhance intervention strategies induced staffing CMI cases and reviewing a Intervention Strategies Document. Caseworkers were given a community resource list of agencies that provide services to CMl clients. Workers were asked to evaluate this list. They were encouraged to use this list as a tool to secure services for CMl parents on their case loads.
Analysis of the data showed that caseworkers enjoyed participating in skill building activities. Workers stated that they are willing to use new information and strategies to help CMl families. A by product of this practicum is a manual which contains a literature review, Intervention Strategies Document and a community resource list.