Case Study On Spindle Top Center: Changing People's Lives Using Innovative Services
Running Head: Innovative Services
Spindle Top Center “Changing People’s Lives Using Innovative Services”
- Crisis Intervention
Summer, 2013
SpindleTop Center “Changing People’s Lives Using Innovative Services”
Introduction
SpindleTop Center (formally Spindle top MHMR) has been serving the community since 2000 with outpatient services for mental health and individuals with mental retardation. For the purpose of this paper we will only discuss the mental health services the agency offers to the community. In order to capture everything this agency provides crisis intervention services to the community I conducted a face to face interview with Ms. Anita Morrow of the Specialized Psychiatric …show more content…
Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT Team), I was also able to follow along with her on a crisis call. It was at this opportunity that reconfirmed how much crisis intervention services are needed to be effectively administered in each community.
This paper will give insight on how the SPRINT team works with the community to ensure that individuals with mental help are being properly cared for, how they utilize different theories to implement they services they provide. Most of the paper will discuss the methods and an approach to crisis intervention, that Ms. Morrow has trained the SPRINT Team to use when assessing a client in crisis. It will also give her viewpoint as to why she feels that the work when using the effectively. It will give insight to some cases she and the SPRINT Team have deal with, and why it’s so important to work as a team. This agency has really changed my perspective on how we should administer and manage service to people with mental illness and crisis. Most of the information provide in this paper is through direct interview and talking with the team as a whole. I learned with this job, learning comes from going out in the community and providing services.
Overview of Agency
Spindletop Center is a community mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities center located in Southeast Texas. It provides a variety of behavioral health care services to people with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities and chemical dependency. The purpose of community centers is to provide services to people with mental disabilities in an effort to allow them to live and work in the community. Spindletop Center was formed September 01, 2000 when Beaumont State Center and Life Resource joined forces. The center provides services in Jefferson, Orange, Hardin and Chambers counties and serves approximately 8,000 consumers a year. Their mission is to promote independence, self-advocacy, and recovery for their consumers who are challenged with: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Severe emotional crises, Substance Abuse problems (Morrow, personal communication, 2013).
Spindletop Center offers mental health services through outpatient, psychiatric and community support services. These services assist adults and children throughout the four-county catchment area who suffer with severe problems ranging from Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder to less severe problems such as ADHD.
The Sprint Team works under the umbrella of Intake and Crisis Services program is designed to provide a single point of entry for consumers into Spindletop Center in order to assure rapid and consistent access to crisis and on-going Center services. The program focuses on providing telephone and face-to-face crisis screening and resolution and comprehensive intake assessment to determine eligibility for Center services, develop individualized treatment/service plans and make referrals for internal and external services as appropriate.
Some of the services the center provides through intake and crisis clinic includes: Provision of 24-hour crisis screening, counseling and resolution which is done by the SPRINT Team, Intake services for mental health adults and children including comprehensive assessment, eligibility determination, referral and individualized treatment/service planning. The Center provides intake services provided in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and Silsbee. They also provide 24-hour emergency respite services which is screened by the SPRINT Team. The SPRINT Team also screens for The Crisis Residential Center 's services which are provided by a contract with the Wood Group (Morrow,personal communication, 2013).
Spindletop Center also arranges for emergency psychiatric services in which the SPRINT Team screens for in the community setting which adequate meets the needs of the four-county area it serves through a contract with The Memorial Hermann Behavioral Health Center. Mental health emergencies are evaluated promptly and the disposition of each request for inpatient services is based upon professional evaluation and physician consultation. These services are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to individuals experiencing emotional crises.
As a functioning inpatient crisis unit, The Memorial Hermann Behavioral Health Center provides an array of programs and services of short term duration within a structured residential setting to individuals who exhibit primary psychiatric disorders to such an extent that stabilization in an inpatient setting is warranted. The primary goal of services is to restore the individual to a level of functioning which will enable discharge to a less restrictive level of care as quickly as possible (Morrow, personal communication, 2013).
The facility offers short-term voluntary or involuntary services to Jefferson, Hardin, Chambers, and Orange County residents who are in an acute state of mental or emotional crisis. It provides twenty-four hour physician-directed intensive intervention, stabilization, and pre-discharge planning for continuing assistance in the community or through the Spindletop Center network.
The facility provides diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients of all ages, including adolescents, young and mature adults and senior citizens. The illnesses and emotional problems vary widely from mood disorders such as depression, to alcohol or drug abuse induced psychiatric events. The scope of individual treatment ranges from acute inpatient care to day treatment and outpatient services.
Role of the Social Worker
Ms. Anita Morrow, Program Manager of the S.P.R.I.N.T Team she has been in this position since 2008. She started out as a crisis worker on the team until her promotion to program manager. Her main job is to ensure that each crisis is being coded right, answering crisis questions, planning outreach services, and informing administration on what the needs of the team are. She also does the planning for policy and procedures within the S.P.R.I.N.T Team.
As her job is in office, she handles most of the crisis that comes in through the walk-in clinic if the S.P.R.I.N.T team is not available, she handles the office crisis which is too assess the situation, and recommend the appropriate services for that individual. Ms. Morrow says from the moment she enters the office she is on crisis observation mode. The crisis and intake clinic also have some clients that utilize the walk-in option so a crisis can happen unexpectedly. In a crisis case that is unexpected Ms. Morrow says she tries to calm the person down, by talking to them , and trying to get him to understand that they are here to help the , but they must calm down in order for someone to help them. At this time of assessment if they have calmed down then she sees them and assess the needs of the crisis in attempt to help them understand what is going on in order to proceed to help them as best they can. She points out it’s the interviewing process of them really coming to a conclusion on their own, or a plan that they will commit to because it was really them who came up with it so they will attempt to complete it.
Ms. Morrow says that to really appreciate and understand what needs to be done in a crisis is to experience what is happening; she has been in the crisis intervention field for 4 years. In the beginning she was scared that she would not do a good job, however she stated it went away as she began to go out on out crisis calls. The key to crisis intervention she pointed out is listening, honesty, patience, and calmness with a strong confidence and the true crisis will be assessable in any crisis situation.
Daily Life of the Social Worker
On day to day basics there are many types of crisis cases that the team deals with. As a crisis social worker no case is off limits in crisis and intake clinic. A typical crisis is always somebody wanting to commit suicide, or either has attempted suicide and the crisis team has been called to a hospital to assess the safeness of the client. Once a report is made they label the type of crisis if it’s emergent, urgent, or non-emergency in which tells them if they should call emergency services, or go out and assess the crisis. This also tells them how many hours they have to assess the crisis. Once they responded they assess the crisis and determine if the person is a risk for suicide if so and they have the means to access their plan impatient is recommended or 24 hour respite. If the client has someone to watch her at home and the plan can is not accessible then she sometimes release them home with a plan and an appointment to come into the intake and crisis clinic in the morning to see the doctor.
Ms. Morrow recalls an encounter with a first time client it was his first year attending the local college. The initial call came in from campus police, the client was hearing a voice telling him to jump off the bridge, the only thing that was preventing him from committing to the plan was that he was unable to find the bridge, she said. According to Ms. Morrow, he stopped to ask the police where the nearest bridge was, the police asked him why he stated voices are telling him to jump off a bridge. The police seen he was calm and not combative at the time called the crisis intake hotline. She said once they arrived, he started asking where the bridge, and becoming upset every minute. Ms. Morrow said by this time it was impossible too clam him down, the campus police then was able to contain him and put handcuffs on him.
The campus police then escorted him to the psychiatric hospital for assessment. The next day when she met with the client he did not speak at all, she seen him over the next couple of days. As he started to get better she discovered he did not remember what happened or why he was there he was diagnosed with onset Schizophrenia w/ psychosis features. During the following weeks the S.P.R.I.N.T Team followed his process, and was able to explain to his parents what was happening to him his parents eventually moved him back home so that they could properly care for him (Morrow,personal communication, 2013). The client keep his appointments for about 3 months, as his parents allowed him to return to school he stop taking his medication and coming to doctor appointments. According to Ms. Morrow, they never seen him again his parents had no idea of his whereabouts for 6 months once they found him he refused services and now has become one of their regular clients that come in and out of services still till this day.
Interventions
A crisis is defined as an internal experience of emotional change and distress that disrupts some essential function of existing social institutions (Barker, 1999). An crisis intervention is defined as the therapeutic practice used in helping clients in crisis to promote effective coping that can lead to positive growth and change by acknowledging the problem, recognizing its impact, and learning new or more effective behaviors for copping (Barker, 1999). Each person has their own crisis the methods used in crisis intervention is different to each client. What might work with one client might not work with another one Ms. Morrow says learning and understanding different methods of crisis intervention is crucial to assessing clients.
The S.P.R.I.N.T Team uses risk assessment tools to help them assess a crisis; they also use motivational interviewing when speaking with clients (Morrow, personal communication, 2013). The Team says it helps in most cases in other cases police intervention is needed but the police does not bring them to jail they are brought to the psychiatric hospital. The Team says this collaboration is very important in crisis intervention it helps establish another intervention source because now the police might be able to help with the intervention. When the police are on the scene, most clients calm down enough to recognize the impact their behavior. Client’s behaviors are sometimes elevated because they feel they will not get the help, and do not want to listen to reason having the police there help in some cases.
When crisis intervention is needed what does not work is threating them with the police, or trying to talk over them when they are yelling or aggravated. The S.P.R.I.N.T Team identify the barriers in crisis intervention as with every client its learning what’s real and not real, if they are really in a crisis. Most of the time there calls are drug related, but then they have a dual diagnosis it’s hard to tell which one is causing the crisis. They also identify, the client being so out of touch that it’s hard for the client to understand why they are there or even understand the intervention they are trying to achieve. Ms. Morrow says in most of these cases is when the patience falls in place it takes lots of patience to resolve a crisis with clients.
The S.P.R.I.N.T Team utilizes two methods of crisis intervention in conjunction with each other; The Eclectic Team Approach and Cognitive Behavior Approach when assess a crisis (Morrow, personal communication, 2013). The Eclectic Team Approach is used effectually to assess and manage the presenting crisis. Using their different perspectives, team members work with the client and/ or family during the initial crisis response, developing a brief treatment plan with specific strategies to foster crisis resolution(). Using the cognitive behavior approach helps
The S.P.R.I.N.T Team not only uses each other to help with a crisis, but because they have access to the whole intake and crisis clinic they work as a team to assess and resolve and deliver effective services. The intake and crisis clinic works as one using the cognitive behavior approach with each team member the client comes in contact with. They do consider other methods however this is the one they prefer over all the other methods.
Theoretical Foundations
Just like most professions, Social Work is a profession that relies heavenly on theory to determine what approach to take when working to achieve specific goals. One of the most challenging roles of a social worker is learning how to determine what theory to apply when dealing with certain aspects of the profession. This is especially true when it comes to understanding the complexities of human needs. Ms. Morrow identifies the ecological systems theory has her foundation of knowledge for the work she does for crisis intervention. She believes a client’s life circumstances are based on their interactions and different layers of the environment they are associated with. Urie Bronfenbreener’s ecological systems theory continues to be one of the most comprehensive theories used to better understand human needs.
It’s increasingly important to be able to recognize the key concepts of the ecological systems theory and to be able to identify what characteristics set this theory apart from other theories. Once this level of competence is achieved, the workers should be able to identify what kind of problems the client is experiencing. According to Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, and Larsen (2010), the ecological systems theory suggests a client’s engagement with other people and systems within the environment are two of the most influential factors that determine human needs.
The ecological systems theory makes it clear that it is desirable to have a positive and well-balanced niche and habitat. This is because “the satisfaction of human needs and mastery of developmental task require adequate resources in the environment and positive transactions between people and their environment” (Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, and Larsen, …show more content…
2010).
The ecological systems theory is helpful for both micro and macro level of social work. As Ms. Morrow explains the ecological systems theory is the most helpful in the initial stage of the crisis as the worker explores the client needs, assesses contributing factors, and devises a plan of action to help meet client needs to help understand and resolve the crisis. Taking the ecological system’s approach will allow the S.P.R.I.N.T Team to create a more accurate profile of client needs and help determine what environmental absentees may be causing the crisis, it also helps determine what may be positively or negatively contributing to client crisis, and to determine what actions need to take place to help bridge the gap between client’s environment and other people they are associated with.
Professional Social Work Crisis Intervention
Ethics as according to Wood, et al. (2006) can be defined as a behavioral code that explains what is good and right, as opposed to bad and wrong at any given situation. It is essentially a system of moral duty and obligation based on the values of the client.
Ms.
Morrow says they often deal with challenges in ethical dilemma due to the conflicting needs between the clients and their family wants, which makes it a very difficult in making the ethical choice. I understand and in and agree with her, as I witness during our crisis call out. As family had called on their sister after assessing the sister her recommendation was for the client to come into the clinic on the next morning, she was not at risk her family insisted she was and wanted her impatient for safety. This would be a big dilemma for me as well; in a crisis intervention many ethical dilemmas will arise how we handle them will be key role to solving the
problem. According to Ms. Morrow this is when your values as a social work plays a key role in helping to guide our decision making when approached with an ethical dilemma. In crisis intervention having social justice which refers to creating an institution which bases itself on equality, provides solidarity and understands the values of human rights and dignity of every human being. This is what SpindleTop Center and the intake and crisis clinic practice on day to day basics. It’s what the S.P.R.I.N.T Team needs to conduct effective crisis intervention.
The society we live is an ever growing culture with many sub-cultures that intertwine with one another. Culture has a big impact on the SPRINT Team and their ability to service the needs of their clients in a crisis. In dealing with clients in a crisis, it’s one of the things that must be assessed as a worker you do not want to propose a plan to a client whom does not practice certain things do to her beliefs. Understanding their culture will also help to build that rapport in order for the client to being trust. Ms. Morrow say she believes in a high power even if you do not believe a part of a person has a high sprit, and does not want to cause pain to another person. She says she relies high on this doing crisis intervention. It keeps her level headed and with high hopes of no one not wanting help no matter what is going on at that time.
References
Barker, R. L. (1999). The Social Work Dictionary. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G.D., Strom-Gottfried, K., and Larsen, J. (2010). Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Wood, J. & Zeffane, R. & Fromholtz, M. & Fitzgerald, A., (2006). Organizational Behavior: Core Concepts and Applications. Milton: Wiley.
Spindle Top Center “Changing People’s Lives Using Innovative Services”
- Crisis Intervention
Summer, 2013
SpindleTop Center “Changing People’s Lives Using Innovative Services”
Introduction
SpindleTop Center (formally Spindle top MHMR) has been serving the community since 2000 with outpatient services for mental health and individuals with mental retardation. For the purpose of this paper we will only discuss the mental health services the agency offers to the community. In order to capture everything this agency provides crisis intervention services to the community I conducted a face to face interview with Ms. Anita Morrow of the Specialized Psychiatric …show more content…
Rapid Intervention Team (SPRINT Team), I was also able to follow along with her on a crisis call. It was at this opportunity that reconfirmed how much crisis intervention services are needed to be effectively administered in each community.
This paper will give insight on how the SPRINT team works with the community to ensure that individuals with mental help are being properly cared for, how they utilize different theories to implement they services they provide. Most of the paper will discuss the methods and an approach to crisis intervention, that Ms. Morrow has trained the SPRINT Team to use when assessing a client in crisis. It will also give her viewpoint as to why she feels that the work when using the effectively. It will give insight to some cases she and the SPRINT Team have deal with, and why it’s so important to work as a team. This agency has really changed my perspective on how we should administer and manage service to people with mental illness and crisis. Most of the information provide in this paper is through direct interview and talking with the team as a whole. I learned with this job, learning comes from going out in the community and providing services.
Overview of Agency
Spindletop Center is a community mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities center located in Southeast Texas. It provides a variety of behavioral health care services to people with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities and chemical dependency. The purpose of community centers is to provide services to people with mental disabilities in an effort to allow them to live and work in the community. Spindletop Center was formed September 01, 2000 when Beaumont State Center and Life Resource joined forces. The center provides services in Jefferson, Orange, Hardin and Chambers counties and serves approximately 8,000 consumers a year. Their mission is to promote independence, self-advocacy, and recovery for their consumers who are challenged with: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Severe emotional crises, Substance Abuse problems (Morrow, personal communication, 2013).
Spindletop Center offers mental health services through outpatient, psychiatric and community support services. These services assist adults and children throughout the four-county catchment area who suffer with severe problems ranging from Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder to less severe problems such as ADHD.
The Sprint Team works under the umbrella of Intake and Crisis Services program is designed to provide a single point of entry for consumers into Spindletop Center in order to assure rapid and consistent access to crisis and on-going Center services. The program focuses on providing telephone and face-to-face crisis screening and resolution and comprehensive intake assessment to determine eligibility for Center services, develop individualized treatment/service plans and make referrals for internal and external services as appropriate.
Some of the services the center provides through intake and crisis clinic includes: Provision of 24-hour crisis screening, counseling and resolution which is done by the SPRINT Team, Intake services for mental health adults and children including comprehensive assessment, eligibility determination, referral and individualized treatment/service planning. The Center provides intake services provided in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and Silsbee. They also provide 24-hour emergency respite services which is screened by the SPRINT Team. The SPRINT Team also screens for The Crisis Residential Center 's services which are provided by a contract with the Wood Group (Morrow,personal communication, 2013).
Spindletop Center also arranges for emergency psychiatric services in which the SPRINT Team screens for in the community setting which adequate meets the needs of the four-county area it serves through a contract with The Memorial Hermann Behavioral Health Center. Mental health emergencies are evaluated promptly and the disposition of each request for inpatient services is based upon professional evaluation and physician consultation. These services are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to individuals experiencing emotional crises.
As a functioning inpatient crisis unit, The Memorial Hermann Behavioral Health Center provides an array of programs and services of short term duration within a structured residential setting to individuals who exhibit primary psychiatric disorders to such an extent that stabilization in an inpatient setting is warranted. The primary goal of services is to restore the individual to a level of functioning which will enable discharge to a less restrictive level of care as quickly as possible (Morrow, personal communication, 2013).
The facility offers short-term voluntary or involuntary services to Jefferson, Hardin, Chambers, and Orange County residents who are in an acute state of mental or emotional crisis. It provides twenty-four hour physician-directed intensive intervention, stabilization, and pre-discharge planning for continuing assistance in the community or through the Spindletop Center network.
The facility provides diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients of all ages, including adolescents, young and mature adults and senior citizens. The illnesses and emotional problems vary widely from mood disorders such as depression, to alcohol or drug abuse induced psychiatric events. The scope of individual treatment ranges from acute inpatient care to day treatment and outpatient services.
Role of the Social Worker
Ms. Anita Morrow, Program Manager of the S.P.R.I.N.T Team she has been in this position since 2008. She started out as a crisis worker on the team until her promotion to program manager. Her main job is to ensure that each crisis is being coded right, answering crisis questions, planning outreach services, and informing administration on what the needs of the team are. She also does the planning for policy and procedures within the S.P.R.I.N.T Team.
As her job is in office, she handles most of the crisis that comes in through the walk-in clinic if the S.P.R.I.N.T team is not available, she handles the office crisis which is too assess the situation, and recommend the appropriate services for that individual. Ms. Morrow says from the moment she enters the office she is on crisis observation mode. The crisis and intake clinic also have some clients that utilize the walk-in option so a crisis can happen unexpectedly. In a crisis case that is unexpected Ms. Morrow says she tries to calm the person down, by talking to them , and trying to get him to understand that they are here to help the , but they must calm down in order for someone to help them. At this time of assessment if they have calmed down then she sees them and assess the needs of the crisis in attempt to help them understand what is going on in order to proceed to help them as best they can. She points out it’s the interviewing process of them really coming to a conclusion on their own, or a plan that they will commit to because it was really them who came up with it so they will attempt to complete it.
Ms. Morrow says that to really appreciate and understand what needs to be done in a crisis is to experience what is happening; she has been in the crisis intervention field for 4 years. In the beginning she was scared that she would not do a good job, however she stated it went away as she began to go out on out crisis calls. The key to crisis intervention she pointed out is listening, honesty, patience, and calmness with a strong confidence and the true crisis will be assessable in any crisis situation.
Daily Life of the Social Worker
On day to day basics there are many types of crisis cases that the team deals with. As a crisis social worker no case is off limits in crisis and intake clinic. A typical crisis is always somebody wanting to commit suicide, or either has attempted suicide and the crisis team has been called to a hospital to assess the safeness of the client. Once a report is made they label the type of crisis if it’s emergent, urgent, or non-emergency in which tells them if they should call emergency services, or go out and assess the crisis. This also tells them how many hours they have to assess the crisis. Once they responded they assess the crisis and determine if the person is a risk for suicide if so and they have the means to access their plan impatient is recommended or 24 hour respite. If the client has someone to watch her at home and the plan can is not accessible then she sometimes release them home with a plan and an appointment to come into the intake and crisis clinic in the morning to see the doctor.
Ms. Morrow recalls an encounter with a first time client it was his first year attending the local college. The initial call came in from campus police, the client was hearing a voice telling him to jump off the bridge, the only thing that was preventing him from committing to the plan was that he was unable to find the bridge, she said. According to Ms. Morrow, he stopped to ask the police where the nearest bridge was, the police asked him why he stated voices are telling him to jump off a bridge. The police seen he was calm and not combative at the time called the crisis intake hotline. She said once they arrived, he started asking where the bridge, and becoming upset every minute. Ms. Morrow said by this time it was impossible too clam him down, the campus police then was able to contain him and put handcuffs on him.
The campus police then escorted him to the psychiatric hospital for assessment. The next day when she met with the client he did not speak at all, she seen him over the next couple of days. As he started to get better she discovered he did not remember what happened or why he was there he was diagnosed with onset Schizophrenia w/ psychosis features. During the following weeks the S.P.R.I.N.T Team followed his process, and was able to explain to his parents what was happening to him his parents eventually moved him back home so that they could properly care for him (Morrow,personal communication, 2013). The client keep his appointments for about 3 months, as his parents allowed him to return to school he stop taking his medication and coming to doctor appointments. According to Ms. Morrow, they never seen him again his parents had no idea of his whereabouts for 6 months once they found him he refused services and now has become one of their regular clients that come in and out of services still till this day.
Interventions
A crisis is defined as an internal experience of emotional change and distress that disrupts some essential function of existing social institutions (Barker, 1999). An crisis intervention is defined as the therapeutic practice used in helping clients in crisis to promote effective coping that can lead to positive growth and change by acknowledging the problem, recognizing its impact, and learning new or more effective behaviors for copping (Barker, 1999). Each person has their own crisis the methods used in crisis intervention is different to each client. What might work with one client might not work with another one Ms. Morrow says learning and understanding different methods of crisis intervention is crucial to assessing clients.
The S.P.R.I.N.T Team uses risk assessment tools to help them assess a crisis; they also use motivational interviewing when speaking with clients (Morrow, personal communication, 2013). The Team says it helps in most cases in other cases police intervention is needed but the police does not bring them to jail they are brought to the psychiatric hospital. The Team says this collaboration is very important in crisis intervention it helps establish another intervention source because now the police might be able to help with the intervention. When the police are on the scene, most clients calm down enough to recognize the impact their behavior. Client’s behaviors are sometimes elevated because they feel they will not get the help, and do not want to listen to reason having the police there help in some cases.
When crisis intervention is needed what does not work is threating them with the police, or trying to talk over them when they are yelling or aggravated. The S.P.R.I.N.T Team identify the barriers in crisis intervention as with every client its learning what’s real and not real, if they are really in a crisis. Most of the time there calls are drug related, but then they have a dual diagnosis it’s hard to tell which one is causing the crisis. They also identify, the client being so out of touch that it’s hard for the client to understand why they are there or even understand the intervention they are trying to achieve. Ms. Morrow says in most of these cases is when the patience falls in place it takes lots of patience to resolve a crisis with clients.
The S.P.R.I.N.T Team utilizes two methods of crisis intervention in conjunction with each other; The Eclectic Team Approach and Cognitive Behavior Approach when assess a crisis (Morrow, personal communication, 2013). The Eclectic Team Approach is used effectually to assess and manage the presenting crisis. Using their different perspectives, team members work with the client and/ or family during the initial crisis response, developing a brief treatment plan with specific strategies to foster crisis resolution(). Using the cognitive behavior approach helps
The S.P.R.I.N.T Team not only uses each other to help with a crisis, but because they have access to the whole intake and crisis clinic they work as a team to assess and resolve and deliver effective services. The intake and crisis clinic works as one using the cognitive behavior approach with each team member the client comes in contact with. They do consider other methods however this is the one they prefer over all the other methods.
Theoretical Foundations
Just like most professions, Social Work is a profession that relies heavenly on theory to determine what approach to take when working to achieve specific goals. One of the most challenging roles of a social worker is learning how to determine what theory to apply when dealing with certain aspects of the profession. This is especially true when it comes to understanding the complexities of human needs. Ms. Morrow identifies the ecological systems theory has her foundation of knowledge for the work she does for crisis intervention. She believes a client’s life circumstances are based on their interactions and different layers of the environment they are associated with. Urie Bronfenbreener’s ecological systems theory continues to be one of the most comprehensive theories used to better understand human needs.
It’s increasingly important to be able to recognize the key concepts of the ecological systems theory and to be able to identify what characteristics set this theory apart from other theories. Once this level of competence is achieved, the workers should be able to identify what kind of problems the client is experiencing. According to Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, and Larsen (2010), the ecological systems theory suggests a client’s engagement with other people and systems within the environment are two of the most influential factors that determine human needs.
The ecological systems theory makes it clear that it is desirable to have a positive and well-balanced niche and habitat. This is because “the satisfaction of human needs and mastery of developmental task require adequate resources in the environment and positive transactions between people and their environment” (Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, and Larsen, …show more content…
2010).
The ecological systems theory is helpful for both micro and macro level of social work. As Ms. Morrow explains the ecological systems theory is the most helpful in the initial stage of the crisis as the worker explores the client needs, assesses contributing factors, and devises a plan of action to help meet client needs to help understand and resolve the crisis. Taking the ecological system’s approach will allow the S.P.R.I.N.T Team to create a more accurate profile of client needs and help determine what environmental absentees may be causing the crisis, it also helps determine what may be positively or negatively contributing to client crisis, and to determine what actions need to take place to help bridge the gap between client’s environment and other people they are associated with.
Professional Social Work Crisis Intervention
Ethics as according to Wood, et al. (2006) can be defined as a behavioral code that explains what is good and right, as opposed to bad and wrong at any given situation. It is essentially a system of moral duty and obligation based on the values of the client.
Ms.
Morrow says they often deal with challenges in ethical dilemma due to the conflicting needs between the clients and their family wants, which makes it a very difficult in making the ethical choice. I understand and in and agree with her, as I witness during our crisis call out. As family had called on their sister after assessing the sister her recommendation was for the client to come into the clinic on the next morning, she was not at risk her family insisted she was and wanted her impatient for safety. This would be a big dilemma for me as well; in a crisis intervention many ethical dilemmas will arise how we handle them will be key role to solving the
problem. According to Ms. Morrow this is when your values as a social work plays a key role in helping to guide our decision making when approached with an ethical dilemma. In crisis intervention having social justice which refers to creating an institution which bases itself on equality, provides solidarity and understands the values of human rights and dignity of every human being. This is what SpindleTop Center and the intake and crisis clinic practice on day to day basics. It’s what the S.P.R.I.N.T Team needs to conduct effective crisis intervention.
The society we live is an ever growing culture with many sub-cultures that intertwine with one another. Culture has a big impact on the SPRINT Team and their ability to service the needs of their clients in a crisis. In dealing with clients in a crisis, it’s one of the things that must be assessed as a worker you do not want to propose a plan to a client whom does not practice certain things do to her beliefs. Understanding their culture will also help to build that rapport in order for the client to being trust. Ms. Morrow say she believes in a high power even if you do not believe a part of a person has a high sprit, and does not want to cause pain to another person. She says she relies high on this doing crisis intervention. It keeps her level headed and with high hopes of no one not wanting help no matter what is going on at that time.
References
Barker, R. L. (1999). The Social Work Dictionary. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G.D., Strom-Gottfried, K., and Larsen, J. (2010). Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Wood, J. & Zeffane, R. & Fromholtz, M. & Fitzgerald, A., (2006). Organizational Behavior: Core Concepts and Applications. Milton: Wiley.