The Role of Social Work in Reintegration

The Role of Social Work in Reintegration

Kathleen Ray, PhD, MSW, LCSW

Rita Torres, MSW, LCSWSocial Workers, NJ WRIISC

Goals of Talk Identify determinants affecting reintegration Distinguish the social work process of

assessment Recognize the role of social work on the WRIISC

team Implement social work expertise within the PACT

Team setting

Reintegration Transition from combat deployment and return to

community life Active military service to civilian roles

and activities Common pathway, but different for everyone Success depends on a multitude of individual

and environmental factors

Determinants of Reintegration

Participation

Body Function

Environmental Factors

Personal FactorsBody Structure

Activity

Determinants of ReintegrationBody Function

PainMental HealthSleep

Determinants of Reintegration

Body StructureObesityPhysical Injuries/

limitations

Determinants of Reintegration

Environmental FactorsSocial Support

Health Care

Housing

Work

Determinants of Reintegration

Personal FactorsSelf-efficacyAlcohol/drug useLife philosophy

Determinants of Reintegration

ActivityActivities of Daily Living

ADL’siADL’s

Physical Activities

Social Work Trained in identifying

determinants of reintegration Uses ecosystems framework to understand relationships, vocation, living circumstances on bio-psycho social concerns Targets areas need to strengthen for

optimization of medical/psychological well being. Tailors discharge plan

Ecosystems Perspective

Framework of practice Concepts from ecology and

general systems theory Interaction and adaptation

between people and their environments

Implications for Change Social Workers and clients join forces

against problematic fit of client and environment rather than judge clients to be deficient

Change in one part of system will change other parts

Focus on strengths

WRIISC (War Related Illness and Injury Study Center)

What is the WRIISC?Clinical EvaluationResearchEducation

The Roles of Social Work at WRIISC

Part of the interdisciplinary

team

Advocate

Change agent

BrokerEducator

Case Manager

Liaison

The Tasks of Social Work at WRIISC

Chart review

Engage Veteran

Psychosocial assessment

Provide social work recommendations

Tasks (cont’d.)

Create treatment plan with interdisciplinary team members

Empower Veteran to assume responsibility for implementation of plan

Follow up with Veteran after WRIISC visit and track progress

Maintaining current library of resources

Treatment Plan General Specific Goal – as close as possible to providing a

”seamless transition” between Veteran’s military lifestyle and re-integration to civilian life.

What Helps Make the Social Worker More Effective on a Team Part of the team Inclusion from the beginning Access to both Veteran and

family to develop effective supports for treatment implementation

Recommendations must be practical and feasible

How PACT can Utilize Social Work Services **

Gather information not necessarily provided during a physical exam

Offer guidance for realistic recommendations Identify barriers to access care Provide supports to maximize Veteran ability to

implement WRIISC recommendations Empower Veteran to direct own health care Educate Veteran on navigating system and advocate for

Veteran as needed Follow up on recommendations