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In the United States, adults from marginalized communities experience disproportionate barriers to healthcare which can have a profound impact on overall health and well-being. This phenomenon is especially true for those within the African American, Latinx, and Native American communities. These barriers include Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) which refer to environmental conditions including economic stability, access to quality education, access to quality healthcare, access to quality housing, and community resources that profoundly impact health. One way to address healthcare barriers is to provide Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) which brings care to individuals with complex healthcare needs where they are most comfortable. Despite the importance, many HBPC teams do not include social work services. Patients may benefit when these services are offered because social workers are experts in social care and work with adults with complex healthcare needs to address SDOH. In this paper, we discuss RUSH@Home which is one HBPC program where social work plays a critical role in patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public outrage over police-involved deaths of people in mental health crisis has prompted governments to expand access to crisis services that partner police with social workers. Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams (MCIT) offer assessment and support for people in distress while averting escalation. Little attention has been given to the requisite competencies for social workers on MCITs. This narrative review, informed by crisis theory and the author's experience as an MCIT social worker, provides a roadmap of knowledge and skills to familiarize practitioners, educators, and students with this growing intervention model. Social workers on MCITs should have the capacity to engage complex clients, de-escalate tension, assess for risk, plan for safety, provide brief addiction counselling, diffuse interpersonal conflict, link clients with community resources, advocate for change, challenge systemic racism, build constructive relationships, and document services with awareness of relevant legislation. The role of social workers on MCITs is multifaceted and requires attention to balancing client well-being, client safety, and community safety. The practice insights discussed in this article are relevant to preventing harm and loss of life while facilitating engagement between clients and mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]