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Over a quarter of the members of the social work profession are working in health related settings yet preparing students to work in such multi-disciplinary environments, with hierarchical organizations and problem-focused systems, can create value conflicts, principally with the strengths-based paradigm inherent in social work practice. In order to prepare social work students for delivering services that honor the profession's ethics, values, and principles in medical environments, a focused academic curriculum and field experience are warranted. This conceptual paper aims to inform social work educators about the unique considerations for preparing students to practice in health care settings. We address how the underlying influence of the biomedical model, organizational culture, and billing and reimbursement services within the medical context can challenge social work values and practice. However, we illustrate how the Integrated Behavioral Health model can be applied to help students utilize clients' inherent strengths and problem-solving capabilities while they navigate the terrain of multi-disciplinary medical environments.

While education abroad can facilitate experiential learning, when travel is focused around collective trauma, academic tours may exacerbate harm. In this article, we describe our process of seeking to be accountable for the role of our course, which focuses on the 30-year conflict, known as the Troubles that took place in Northern Ireland, in communities that have been affected by traumatic structural violence and interpersonal conflict. We discuss the risks of perpetuating objectification and exploitation, and of mediating strategies for building reciprocity and solidarity. Special attention must be given to these issues to facilitate just and ethical learning experiences that model appropriate professional development for social work students.

The global age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) movement has centered on the involvement of the public sector, calling on high-ranking authorities to commit to improving the built, social, and service environments of their localities. This interpretive review aimed to advance understanding of the ways in which the public sector is involved in AFCC efforts. Based on emergent themes from peer-reviewed articles from the United States and Canada published since 2010, we derived a two-dimensional framework for conceptualizing variability in public sector involvement, encompassing the internal/external (a) locus of responsibility for cross-sector change and (b) target for cross-sector change. We discuss implications for research, policy, practice, and further knowledge development in AFCC implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults' engagement in age-friendly community (AFC) initiatives is considered an essential element of community transformation. However, research on older adults' experiences of engaging in AFC initiatives remains nascent. Based on qualitative interviews with 23 older adult participants from 15 AFC initiatives across four states in the United States (U.S.), our reflexive thematic analysisidentified three themes regarding what participants value from their engagement: (a) social contribution; (b) social connectedness and integration; and (c) staying active and personal growth. Exploring older adults' interest in contributing to, connecting with, and growing in their community can inform recruitment and retention in AFC initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral history as a method of understanding the lived experience spans multiple disciplines including education, women and gender studies, history, and disability studies. Oral histories can be a vehicle for people on the periphery to tell their stories, a method well suited to pursuits related to social justice and social work. The purpose of this manuscript is to report on a scoping review that was conducted to better understand how oral history methods have been used in social work. To answer our review question, we use an established scoping review framework. Based on eligibility criteria, 23 manuscripts were identified – all published in peer-reviewed English language journals between 2005 and 2023 and written by social work-credentialed authors. The authors identified three themes that reflect the uses of oral history studies in social work: oral history used as a teaching tool in social work education, oral history used to document the experiences and knowledge of social service trailblazers, and commentaries about using oral history and other biographical methods in social work. This review highlights how oral history, as a method, has contributed to social work research and scholarship. Recommendations are made as to the usefulness of oral history to address social problems and practice issues important to the field of social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has demonstrated ways in which community events help to establish age-friendly community initiatives and strengthen their impact. We extend these insights by discussing how the design and implementation of a statewide event – the New Jersey Age-Friendly Virtual Fair – exemplifies this practice theory and extends its applicability beyond local community development toward broader state-level age-friendly ecosystems. We describe how events that are deliberately multi-organizational, multi-sectoral, and multi-level can help to further propel the Age-Friendly Movement toward systems change for aging in community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to report on the implementation and initial evaluation of a 1-day training intervention targeting direct care providers in the Ohio aging services network. A primary objective is to describe the training intervention that consisted of two parts: (a) a gatekeeper training for assessing suicide risk among older adults, and (b) CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means)--a brief training that teaches effective strategies to talk with clients about reducing access to lethal means. A second objective of this study is to report on changes in providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices immediately posttraining related to suicide and firearm assessment and safety counseling with community dwelling older adults. Sixty-six employees in one regional office participated in the study. Results indicated that training increased participants' perceived knowledge, preparedness, and efficacy regarding suicide assessment. Training also positively impacted knowledge and attitudes of firearm assessment and safety counseling among participants. At posttest, however, gatekeeper reluctance did not demonstrate a significant decrease. This study is unique in its contribution to literature on suicide prevention training with its focus on geriatric care providers and attention to measuring firearm assessment and safety counseling.

Social workers employed in areas such as public child welfare, substance abuse, and corrections often provide services to involuntary clients. These individuals do not seek social work services on their own volition and may be actively opposed to the services they are receiving. This study explores social work students' attitudes about working with involuntary clients. The article is based on a cross-sectional survey of social work students (N = 107) at a large Southeastern university. Participants answered questions regarding their experience, knowledge, and attitudes about involuntary clients. Findings and implications for social work education and practice are discussed. (Contains 6 tables.)

Community planning around housing needs of older adults is, at present, very understudied. This study stemmed from a practical need to determine the housing preferences of residents as part of an Age Friendly Community initiative. Data presented in this paper focus on the quantitative component of a sequential mixed methods study examining attitudes and preferences about housing. This first phase of this project involved data collected from 1,514 residents aged 30+ using a researcherdevised survey of 43 items. There was little difference in housing preferences between older and younger respondents or among those with varying financial means. Analysis revealed the most important housing considerations were safety in home, affordability, privacy, proximity to services frequently used, and accessibility. An unexpected finding was that almost half of older respondents expressed a willingness to share a home with a roommate. There were also differences in preferences on home environment based on current marital status. Data suggests that city planners and property developers should prioritize these preferences when planning for the housing-related needs of older residents. Future research should examine the interpretation of housing preferences, such as qualitative exploration of what it means for housing to be "safe" or 'affordable.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many researchers have called for housing to be addressed in age-friendly cities and communities, little research exists to guide communities through this process. To maximize the potential for adults to age in place, researchers partnered with a local Age- Friendly community initiative to conduct focus groups and learn more about residents' preferences related to housing and residential space. The focus group data offered a glimpse into aging residents' perspectives on housing to inform planning and development of housing in a mid-size city. This second phase of a sequential mixed methods study included qualitative focus groups with 19 aging individuals. Focus group sessions sought to better understand previously identified housing preferences, aging adults' sense of community, and their connection to place. Findings suggest that aging participants cared not only about the physical structure of their home, but also the community-based aspects of where they live. Study implications suggest that social workers, working with and alongside community members and agingservice providers who have local knowledge, can support agefriendly housing models that consider the housing preferences of older residents, as well as the resources and limitations of their community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients not considered for mechanical circulatory support or heart transplant may be dependent on inotropic therapy at end of life. End-of-life conversations in advanced heart failure can be challenging for providers, but guidelines recommend frequent goals-of-care conversations when inotropes are used as a palliative treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify aspects of care pertinent for health-care professionals working with patients in end-stage heart failure who are receiving continuous inotropic support. Methods: Qualitative analysis was used to examine 3 audio-recorded semistructured interviews with 1 patient, her family, and her cardiologist. The selected patient was an older adult, diagnosed with advanced heart failure, and dependent on continuous inotropic therapy with no other advanced treatment options available. Results: The analysis revealed that (1) reliance on others, (2) contending with uncertainty, and (3) deciding when to discontinue inotropic support were identified as themes central to the patient's and provider's experience. Conclusion: This study offers insight into how to best support and communicate with patients having advanced heart failure who are dependent on continuous inotropic therapy at end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]