Give an example and describe a time when you have used research in your practice or describe a time you should have used research to inform your practice.NOHSHumanServicesToday-Summer2018E

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Human Services Today

Inside this issue:

Newsletter of the National Organization for Human Services

President’s Message 2

Embracing Data Analytics & Big Data in Human Services: Tools to help create transformative change

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The Value of Research-Practice 5

Who Cares for the Caregiver 7

Issues in Human Services 8

The impact of job burnout on human service professionals

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Would You Hire You? 10

Thoughts on Advocacy from NOHS 12

National Organization for Human Services

Summer 2018

Editor in Chief: Rikkisha Gilmore –Byrd

Editors: Suzie T. Cashwell

Felicia Wilson

Board of Directors 2017-2018 PRESIDENT Tammi Dice

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Franklyn Rother

TREASURER Jennifer Simmons

SECRETARY Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez

VICE PRESIDENT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Paige Krabill

VICE PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCES Pam Kaus

VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Jamie Hartsfield

VICE PRESIDENT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION Rikkisha Gilmore-Byrd [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Edward Neukrug [email protected]

ADVOCACY CHAIR Diane Berry

AWARDS CHAIR Radha Horton-Parker

ETHICS CHAIR Nancy Wood

SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Yvonne Bustamante

PRESIDENT OF SOHS Steve Kashdan

PRESIDENT OF NEOHS Nicole Kras

PRESIDENT OF MACHS Pam Kaus

PRESIDENT OF MWOHS Kristin Faix Wilkinson

PRESIDENT OF W/NWOHS James Ruby

TUA REPRESENTATIVE Laurie Weiner [email protected]

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Human Services Today Magazine President’s Message While the academic year is getting into full swing again, I sincerely hope that students and faculty alike got some needed R&R during the summer. I can assure you that NOHS took no breaks! Since last year’s Annual Conference, with the assistance of our new management company we have been busy rebuilding our infrastructure and putting plans into action. You will note that the website is easier to navigate and issues with access to the Members Only section are corrected. Membership categories are clarified and information throughout is up-to-date and easy to navigate. Coming soon to the website are cutting-edge webinars for CEU’s. While a nominal fee will be charged to nonmembers, these webinars will be FREE to members! Be on the lookout for information advertising these professional development opportunities. This fall NOHS will also be starting a member listserv from the website for engaging in dialogue related to the field. The listserv will be a great way to connect to your colleagues, discuss contemporary issues in human services, share resources, ask questions and receive feedback. We will also be working hard to establish an Ethics Discussion Board on the website to allow for the processing of ethical dilemmas. No formal legal advice will be provided, but it will be a space for obtaining peer input and support pertaining to ethical dilemmas encountered in human services practice. You are encouraged to check out our new and improved NOHS FaceBook Page as well! If you haven’t “liked” and “followed” us yet, please do so: https:// www.facebook.com/NationalHumanServices/. I must also thank the conference organizers and volunteers for incredibly successful Regional Conferences this past spring. These conferences provided members with an opportunity for professional development and networking in person at wonderful locations. We are extremely excited for the additional opportunities the Annual National Conference will provide in Philadelphia, PA this October 24-27! Please be sur e to register NOW for this impor tant event! All necessar y information is available on the website: http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/national-conference-2018-philadelphia . Please also consider sponsorship for the conference, webinars, and/or website. We offer excellent opportunities to advertise your agency, organization or institution. See the website for details. Additional initiatives your hard-working NOHS Board are addressing include a review and modification of our Bylaws and expansion of the human services credential. More information about these exciting endeavors will follow! Please be reminded that we need YOU to help us be a successful national organization. As human services professionals, it is essential that we value our profession enough to take responsibility for contributing to its growth and viability. Your efforts through NOHS service can help us achieve these goals. Please reach out and ask how you can be of service! And I ’ll see YOU in Philly! Sincerely, Tammi Dice, NOHS President

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LINK

Child Welfare Case Scenarios

Author: Madelyn Harvey, PhD.

ISBN # 978-1-947247-93-2

Recently eprinted by: Yorkshire Publishing

If you are a human services educator wanting to help students engage in critical

thinking with respect to case scenarios, then this is the workbook to use. Child

Welfare Case Scenarios is helpful as a tool for students working in groups or

individually. Instructors can also use the book as a resource when helping

students visualize scenarios they are likely to become involved in during their

internships, or when they are actually working in the field as professionals.

Regardless of the human services subject matter, the material in the workbook

can be used to help students relate and develop critical thinking skills.

The book can be purchased from any one of the major retailers such as:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads.com, etc.

National Organization for Human Services in collaboration with Old Dominion University

Presents:

ETHICS for Human Services Professionals A Webinar by: Dr. Ed Neukrug

Date: November 16, 2018 11am EST

FREE to NOHS members $25 for non-members

Registration through NOHS website This program is pending approval by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval #

886485671) for 1 Social Work continuing education contact hours.”)

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Embracing Data Analytics & Big Data in Human Services: Tools to help create transformative change Dr. Paige Krabill & Dr. Dinah Manns

Capella University

Introduction

Human services practitioners and agencies are committed to helping people and communities reach their potential through empowering change and transformation. To achieve these outcomes, human services professionals rely on a diverse set of skills that focus on a broad understanding of human behavior, behavioral trends and complex social issues. Human services professionals are tasked to adapt these skills to assist with limited resources and decreasing service options to meet the diverse needs of those they serve. As human services professionals continue to look for ways to work more effectively, they often don’t consider how emerging technologies and big data could impact their work. According to Goldsmith (2014), emerging technologies and the use of data in helping fields has the ability to create three formative changes (1) improve the ease by which people can access services (2) facilitate immediate, real-time problem-solving in the field and (3) produce a foundation for answering predictive questions about groups, subgroups, and broader communities. In line with other helping fields, the human services profession has an opportunity to rethink how big data, data analytics and emerging technologies are used to move individuals and communities along a trajectory of positive, lasting change.

HS Practitioners

Human services practitioners work to impact change at all levels within the communities where they work. Also, they strive to facilitate long-term, transformative change for those they serve. Although many support service agencies have adapted data management systems and practitioners engage with these systems in their daily work, there is increasing evidence to support that these systems are being underutilized and have not kept up with emerging technologies (Walker & Dovey-Fishman (2015). Walker and Dovey-Fishman (2015) argue that the current implementation of technology in the human services environment has created a “one-size” fits all model of intervention. These systems have also contributed to challenges with collaboration and interfere with the ability to provide a comprehensive, holistic level of care. Presently, practitioners engage with data in individual silos. Data is often kept within specific agencies making it hard for data points to connect. As a result, redundancy and repetition in service delivery compromise the effectiveness of recommended interventions. When used effectively, data has the power to drive change and outcomes in a meaningful way. Accurately collecting, analyzing and engaging with data can help professionals create a robust picture of the needs of those they serve and the opportunities for support. Also, data has the power to show the impact of the work that is done providing evidence of effectiveness and intervention outcomes. Currently, human service professionals are often challenged to understand how the quantitative numbers can be used to make qualitative changes in day to day lives or circumstances of their clients (Walker & Dovey-Fishman, 2015). Engaging with and understanding how to use data will allow practitioners to leverage their understanding of service delivery models and best practices to create more specific and individualized service plans. Emerging technologies allow for data to be used in more immediate and specific terms. In return, practitioners will be better equipped to provide the right service at the right time (Walker & Dovey-Fishman, 2015). Moving data away from a set of individual data points and working to connect these points will allow for greater collaboration among service providers and agencies. The most immediate result of this collaborative effort will be the ability to create programming in a specific manner leveraging the unique strengths of different service providers. Thus, creating a more comprehensive support system guided by a consistent set of information about a where a person is coming from, what they need and where they are going.

Agencies With decreased funding and increased need, helping agencies are tasked to work as effectively and

efficiently as possible. A tall task when agencies are asked to navigate large state and federal social support systems, manage intricate processes, and address complex human needs. To increase

effectiveness, human services agencies are looking for ways to increase the speed of obtaining services, connecting the right people to the right service, provide services that are individualized and measure

outcomes (Kaisler, Armour and Espinoza & Money & 2015; Goldsmith, 2014). When analyzed to its full depth and capacity, data has the power to be a driving force to address these goals. Systematically

collecting and analyzing data can help agencies create programs based on need and measure program

outcomes to determine effectiveness. Purposeful data analysis can drive a more specific care model allowing agencies to engage in more preventive efforts and prioritize services to have the greatest impact

(Kais ler, Armour, Espinoza & Money ,2015). Ultimately, this work creates an overall service delivery model for their agency that aligns with the immediate needs of every facet of the community. All these

factors, position agencies to make a strong case for their work, provide evidence that the right people are

getting the right services at the right time, and identify trends in their communities to help proactively impact problems before they begin

Conclusion Human services practitioners and agencies are committed to helping empower change through their work and seek long-term positive outcomes for both individuals and communities. The current helping environment required that this work take place under more and more constraints. The field of human services has an opportunity to rethink how technology is used and applied to make the helping process more individualized, effective and proactive. Embracing the use of data and emerging technologies to assist in how data is understood has the potential to transform human services practice. It could be argued that applying data analytical processes, understanding data, analyzing data and visualizing data are the new set of skills all human services professionals need to have to be transformative in their work and have the greatest impact on those they serve.

References Goldsmith, S. (2014). Big Data Gives a Boost to Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http:// www.govtech.com/data/Big-Data-Gives-a-Boost-to-Health-and-Human-Services.html. Kaisler, S. H., Armour, F., Espinosa, J. A., & Money, W. H. (2015). Obtaining value from big data for service delivery. New York: Business Expert Press.

Shaw, T., Farrell, J., & Kolivoski, K (2016). Big Data in Human Services. Retrieved from Research Gate.net/publication/304496155. Walker, B.J., & Dovey-Fishman, T. (2015). Data and Opportunity to Rethink Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/voices/col-data-driven-insights-delivery-human- services.html.

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The Value of Research-Practice Partnerships

By: Robyn Maitoza Introduction

Pressures are increasing on policy and practice to use research to guide improvement. Private and public funders, as well as policy makers, are applying increased pressure to collect and analyze data, incorporate research knowledge, and build evidence of effectiveness (Yates, Nix, Coldiron, & Williams, ). Practitioners, however, may not have the skills or the time to produce, gather, and apply research to meet their improvement goals. The available research may not be useful or credible because researchers are not always focused on answering questions relevant to school districts’ most pressing needs. And, too often, research findings aren’t accessible to practitioners or arrive too late to make a difference. Recently, though, there have been concerted efforts to forge new and different kinds of relationships between researchers and practitioners. For example, school districts across the country are developing a new kind of partnership with researchers. These research-practice partnerships are long-term collaborations, which are organized to investigate problems of practice and generate solutions for improving district outcomes. Advocates argue that educators will better understand the research and its implications because they help develop it and have ready access to the researchers. Partnerships may also produce research and innovations that are more useful to practice because they are rooted in the districts’ needs. District leaders are likely to see the research that partnerships produce as more credible because studies are done with local students and take into account local conditions. All these factors may increase the likelihood that districts will use the research findings and tools produced in the partnerships to support their efforts to improve outcomes for children and youth. The evidence is beginning to accumulate in support of these claims. When research-practice partnerships develop educational innovations, districts adopt these new innovations in ways that can result in changes in teacher and administrator practice and increased student learning. Research-practice partnerships promise in the human services field as well. This article is an overview of how the author has partnered with the County ’s Human Services Division as well as other key community organizations to more effectively meet the needs of local children, youth and families. Example of Research-Practitioner Research As we know, the outcomes for children living in poverty are dismal. Poverty is considered the single best predictor of child maltreatment, especially child neglect (Sedlak, Mettenburg, Basena, Petta, McPherson, Greene, & Li, 2010). Data compiled by the Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect indicate that children from families with incomes below $15,000 were over 22 times more likely to experience maltreatment than children from families whose income exceeded $30,000. These children were almost 56 times more likely to be educationally neglected and over 22 times more likely to be seriously injured. In the Fourth National Incidence Study, children in low SES households were three times more likely to be abused and approximately seven times as likely to be neglected as children in higher SES households (Sedlak, Mettenburg, Basena, Peta, McPherson & Greene, 2010). Several studies have reported associations between economic factors and maltreatment rates at the neighborhood and community levels (e.g., Freisthler, Merritt & LaScala, 2006; Zuravin, 1989; Paxson & Waldfogel; 2003, Coulton, Korbin, Su & Chow, 1995). Recently, a retrospective study of children admitted to 38 hospitals between 2000 and 2009 showed that rates of admissions for physical abuse and high-risk traumatic brain injury were significantly related to increases in local mortgage foreclosure and delinquency rates in the associated metropolitan areas (Wood, Medina & Feudtner, 2012). While poverty is linked with maltreatment, the relationship is not all that simple. Not all parents who live in poverty abuse their children, and many who do are not poor. The link between child abuse and poverty can be explained in a number of ways. For instance, it is possible that experiencing poverty generates family stress, which in turn, leads to greater likelihood of abuse or neglect. Or perhaps, parents living in poverty do not have access to the resources necessary and are unable to provide appropriate care for children. Or, it is possible that other factors like substance abuse make parents vulnerable and more likely to be both poor and abusive or neglectful. Because of challenges, a small city located in southcentral Pennsylvania encountered in the area of child welfare, the state Office of Children Youth and Families made technical assistance available to the local child welfare organization. To this end, the County Human Services Division has partnered with the School District, a small liberal arts college at which the author teaches, and other local strategic partners such as the Mayor’s office, the public library system, and health organizations. This group of key stakeholders came together to start discussing how we can all collaboratively work together to start tackling some of the challenges that many of the families and children face. More on the Community Context

Nearly 10% of the County’s population, 43,859, live in 5.25 square miles of the city. The percentage of White people

living in the County is 88.5% in the County compared to 51.2% in the city. Black or African American makes up 28% of the population in the city with 5.6% in the county. The other striking difference is with the Hispanic or Latino population;

28.5% reside in the city compared to 5.6% in the county. Latino residents and African Americans make up the majority of

the population with 28.5% and 28%, respectively (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016).

The city is surrounded by more affluent communities. The city’s median household income of $29,025 is well under that of the county (refer to Table 1). Today, after the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the city ranks third in the state in terms of persons living in poverty. Compared to Pennsylvania’s rate of 13.2% persons in poverty and a County level of 10.4%, the city has 37.3% persons in poverty (refer to Table 1). According to a recent report from the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, our city ranks the worst in terms of acute poverty out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts (PASBO, 2017). Acute poverty is defined as a serious shortage of income or access to the range of resources that usually provide the basic necessities for life such as food, shelter, sanitation, clean water, medical care and education. Our city ranks the worst in terms of acute poverty out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts (School District Annual Report, June 2017). Table 1. Income and Poverty Rates in the City compared to the County and State

Source: Census Data Health data continues to paint a similarly dismal picture. The percentage of births to teens 19 and under is significantly higher in the city compared to the County. Infant mortality rates and percentage of low birth weight babies are high as well (see Table 2). Table 2. Percentage of Births to Teens, Percentage of Low Birth Weight Babies & Infant Mortality Rates in the City vs. the County

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health

Income and Poverty City County State

Median household income, 2011-15

$29,025 $58,269 $53,599

Per capita income in past 12 months, 2011- 15

$15,096 $28,403 $29,291

Persons in poverty 37.3% 10.4% 13.2%

% of Births to Teens 19 and Under

City County

2015 12.4 5.7

2014 10.7 6.3

2013 14.5 6.9

2012 14.7 7.5

2011 17.4 8.2

% of Low Birth Weight 2011-15

City County

< 1500 grams 2.3 1.4

1500-2499 grams 9.2 6.5

2500+ grams 88.3 92

Infant Mortality (infant deaths per 1000 live births)

City County

2014 12.6 5.9

2013 12.2 5.4

2012 8.3 4.2

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With the rate of poverty as high as it is in the city and all the challenges that brings to families and a community, the number of child welfare referrals for child abuse and neglect is higher than other areas in the county. Unfortunately, the numbers paint a dismal picture. Moreover, despite the efforts of various community organizations, these numbers are not improving. This is the impetus for the community coalition that has been formed. All the partners recognize that maintaining the status quo where everyone works in their respective silos is not working to address the issues in the community. Strategic Partners

College The college is a private, coeducational four-year college located in southcentral Pennsylvania that offers more than 50 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences, and humanities to its 4,600 full-t ime undergraduate students. With the recent change in administration, there is an increased desire to have faculty and students get more involved in our community. The author, since her recent arrival at the College, has partnered with multiple agencies in which she involves her students in her classes and research projects, drawing upon her expertise in family resilience. County Human Services Division The County’s Human Services Division is comprised of the Human Services Department, the Area Agency on Aging, Children, Youth and Families, Youth Development Center, the Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Drug and Alcohol Program and the HealthChoices management unit. The division employs over 450 individuals and oversees services more than $160,000,000. The division delivers many of the publicly funded services through a network of local providers who are contracted for various types of programs in child welfare, mental health, drug and alcohol, aging and homeless services. City School District The School District has been in existence since 1847and has a long rich history. The District has seen substantial change in demographics, socioeconomic status, tax base and overall population over the last 50 years. The 2010 Census stated that there were 43,769 people living within the city. Also in that census, 73.2% are listed as only having a high school diploma with 9.6% as being college graduates. With regards to demographics, the District has a Hispanic population of 46%, an African American population of 34%, a white population of 12% and a multi-racial population of 7.5%. The District currently provides special education services for 21% of students and English language services for 37% of students, which is a 12% increase from the previous year. Moreover, the District has the highest rate of acute poverty, 55%, of any other school district in the commonwealth. Acute poverty is defined as a serious shortage of income or of access to the range of resources that usually provide the necessities for life for humans, such as food, shelter, sanitation, clean water, medical care, and education. ” Current Research Plan Looking at the data the key partners have shared, two neighborhoods where crime, substance abuse, gang activity and domestic violence rates are the highest have been identified. As such, these are the two neighborhoods the coalition would

like to first turn their attention. The idea is to create a neighborhood center, or a one-stop shop of services, so to speak, in

a K-8 school in each of these neighborhoods. This would involve a coordinated, cross-sector effort among several

community organizations who want to improve outcomes for youth and families in the city. With the assistance of the author and other faculty at the College as well as other community partners, an initial research plan which begins with a

needs assessment of multiple stakeholders in the area will be the first step. Other community-building efforts (i.e., holding

free spaghetti dinners at the school where families can share their thoughts) are also in progress. The coalition realizes

that our efforts will take time and energy, yet all the partners are committed to the la

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