Human Services Technology


Book Description

Featuring new and updated information on computer technologies, including networking and using the Internet as a necessary tool for professionals, Human Services Technology: Understanding, Designing, and Implementing Computer and Internet Applications in the Social Services will help individual human service professionals and agencies understand, design, implement, and manage computer and Internet applications. Combining several relevant fields, this informative guide provides you with the knowledge to effectively collect, store, manipulate, and communicate information to better serve clients and successfully manage human service agencies. Human Services Technology explains basic technological terms and gives you the history of technology uses before you explore other areas of Information Technology (IT). This essential guide will also improve your ability to find and understand recent research and information on important topics. Human Services Technology will expand your technical know-how and help you better serve clients by offering you proven methods and explanations, such as: describing terms--such as hardware, networking, and telecommunications--with easy-to-understand analogies and examples using IT applications to support social policies, improve service coordination among agencies, efficiently manage agencies in order to save time, support workers’decision making with information, and assist clients solving the problems that internal and external issues cause when determining IT needs, such as working with federal reporting requirements understanding and dealing with the 10 most critical IT issues for management Containing dozens of graphs, tables, and figures, this knowledgeable book will help you with any IT problem you encounter. Symbols by certain subjects in the book indicate that you can find more information and references on that issue through links on the book?s accompanying Web site. Human Services Technology will enable you to thoroughly understand and use IT to help you offer improved services to clients and manage agencies with increased efficiency and effectiveness.




Organizational Change in the Human Services


Book Description

Organizations today { whether public or private { exist in environment s where the pace of change is dizzying. Human service organizations fa ce both external and internal challenges: The public demands better se rvices at more reasonable costs. Clientele is more diverse, more strat ified, and more vocal than ever. The organizations themselves must kee p up with rapid changes in technological innovation and labor-manageme nt relationships. Organizational Change: The Human Services Challenge looks at the context of organizational change, describes how individua ls and systems change, and pinpoints keys to successful change. Author Rebecca Proehl then presents a proven model of organizational change, built on lessons learned from both the public and private sectors, bu t tailored for human service organizations. Proehl also discusses in d epth labor union-management issues, the political strategies leaders m ust use to implement change, and how to build collaborative relationsh ips in human services.




Human Technology


Book Description

Ilchi Lee, author of Healing Society, presents a toolkit for self-reliance management of the core issues of life: health, sexuality, and life purpose. Meditation, breath-work, and Oriental healing arts are offered as self-reliant health management skills. A distinctive perspective on relationships and an inspirational guide to discover a passionate life purpose are featured. This book also includes a practical guide to optimize our life's master controller?the brain. In the name of comfort and security, we have created increasingly complex systems that demand our lives for their maintenance. Systems cannot answer life's most important questions?only you can. The ultimate goal of education, institutions, and expertise should be self-education. Only then will technology serve humanity rather than reign over us. Human Technology contains the principles and tools that can return us to self-mastery and the life well lived. Human Technology is a toolkit for living an authentic life.




Technology in Social Work Education and Curriculum


Book Description

Save time and trouble as you incorporate technology into your social work curriculum The dramatic increase in the use of computers and other forms of technology in social work education and practice has educators, trainers, and administrators investing valuable time, money, and effort into trying to make the transition from traditional teaching to a Web-assisted learning environment. Technology in Social Work Education and Curriculum takes the mystery out of the online experience with practical information on using technology to enhance and enrich learningbut not at the expense of the human approach to social work. This unique book presents a variety of creative and interesting methods for incorporating technology that’s affordable and user-friendly, and for developing online skills that won’t become obsolete as computer hardware and software evolves. Technology in Social Work Education and Curriculum transforms technology into an everyday resource for agency field instructors, human service educators, trainers, and social work administrators. The book addresses concerns that educators with limited technical skills may have in using technology to teach cultural competency, group work, research, direct practice, social policy and advocacy, and field practicum, presenting hands-on approaches that are innovative but accessible. And by focusing on approaches rather than simply reviewing available hardware and software, the book provides you with background knowledge that makes it easier for you to successfully incorporate online learning into the classroom. Technology in Social Work Education and Curriculum examines using instructional technology to emotionally engage students in the learning process using digital video and qualitative data analysis software to teach group practice the role technology plays in advocacy distance-education technologies in policy education incorporating Web-assisted learning into a traditional classroom setting the advantages of distance education over more conventional approaches a model for planning the use and integration of computer technology in schools of social work how the behaviors of computer consultants can affect the students who seek their help using innovation diffusion theory in technology planning and much more! Social workers have traditionally embraced the latest technologies and scientific developments since the earliest days of the profession. Technology in Social Work Education and Curriculum helps continue that tradition, offering invaluable guidance to educators and administrators, no matter how experiencedor inexperiencedthey are in dealing with communications technologies.




Disability Studies for Human Services


Book Description

Delivers knowledge critical to understanding the multidimensional aspects of working with varied populations with disabilities This is the only introduction to disability book with an interdisciplinary perspective that offers cross-disability and intersectionality coverage, as well as a special emphasis on many unique populations. Comprehensive and reader-friendly, it provides current, evidence-based knowledge on the key principles and practice of disability, while addressing advocacy, the disability rights movement, disability legislation, public policy, and law. Focusing on significant trends, the book provides coverage on persistent and emerging avenues in disability studies that are anticipated to impact a growing proportion of individuals in need of disability services. Woven throughout is an emphasis on psychosocial adaptation to disability supported by case studies and field-based experiential exercises. The text addresses the roles and functions of disability service providers. It also examines ethics in service delivery, credentialing, career paths, cultural competency, poverty, infectious diseases, and family and lifespan perspectives. Reinforcing the need for an interdisciplinary stance, each chapter discusses how varied disciplines work together to provide services addressing the whole person. Active learning is promoted through discussion boxes, self-check questions, and learning exercises. Faculty support includes PowerPoints, model syllabi, test bank, and instructor manual. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers. Key Features: Provides readers with key knowledge and skills needed to effectively practice in multidisciplinary settings Offers interdisciplinary perspectives on conceptualization, assessment, and intervention across a broad range of disabilities and client populations Underscores the intersectionality of disability to correspond with trends in education focusing on social justice and underrepresented populations Includes research and discussion boxes citing current research activities and excerpts from noted experts in various human service disciplines Promotes active learning with discussion boxes, multiple-choice questions, case studies with discussion questions, and field-based experiential exercises Includes instructor manual, sample syllabi, PowerPoint slides, and test bank Identifies key references at the end of chapters and provides resources for additional information Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers.




Human Services Online


Book Description

Will your agency or students have the training to use the Internet in practice? Human Services Online: A New Arena for Service Delivery focuses on ways that Human Services are using the Internet for service delivery, community education, collaboration, advocacy, social change, and resource development. This valuable book highlights the array of innovative services now being offered on the Internet and provides guidelines and cautions for human service professionals in using the Internet to enhance their services. Human Services Online: A New Arena for Service Delivery provides much-needed research and empirical evaluation related to human service online activities and points to areas where future research efforts should be directed. The book describes and evaluates cutting-edge Internet-based services, ethical and legal threats to agencies and consumers that may result from online activities, and theoretical discussions of issues that impact human services as consumers and human service agencies increasingly come online. Topics addressed in Human Services Online: A New Arena for Service Delivery include: online therapy/counseling online fundraising online recruitment of volunteers and virtual volunteer programs online consultation, continuing education, and training ethical, legal, and liability issues related to Web sites and online support online support groups and self-help online advocacy and activism promoting access for under-represented populations use of the Internet to impact specific social problems such as domestic violence or HIV/AIDS Human Services Online: A New Arena for Service Delivery provides guidelines and specific suggestions for agencies considering developing online services. The book examines model programs and their effectiveness so that other agencies can replicate them in their own areas, describes cutting-edge online services that today's human services students will need to be aware of as they enter the job market, and provides information for agencies that will enhance their ability to solicit volunteers and contributions on the Internet.




Mental Health


Book Description




Human Specialization in Design and Technology


Book Description

Human Specialization in Design and Technology explores emerging trends in learning and training—standardization, personalization, customization, and specialization—with a unique focus on innovations specific to human needs and conditions. Analyzing evidence from current academic research as well as the popular press, this concise volume defines and examines the trajectory of instructional design and technologies toward more human-centered and specialized products, services, processes, environments, and systems. Examples from education, healthcare, business, and other sectors offer real-world demonstrations for scholars and graduate students of educational technology, instructional design, and business development. The book features insights into the future of professors, public schools, equity and access, extended technologies, open educational resources, and more, concluding with a set of concrete solutions.




Ethical Practice in the Human Services


Book Description

Ethical Practice in the Human Services moves beyond addressing ethical issues and principles to helping readers actually practice ethical behavior through awareness of their personal morals, values, and choices. With coverage of ethical standards from six different associations, the text addresses ethical issues and principles in social work, counseling, psychology, and marriage and family therapy. Robust pedagogy includes case illustrations and guided exercises to give readers a deeper understanding of the underlying moral principles and values that serve as a foundation for the various ethical codes.




Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care


Book Description

Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation's Health was released in September 2019, before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020. Improving social conditions remains critical to improving health outcomes, and integrating social care into health care delivery is more relevant than ever in the context of the pandemic and increased strains placed on the U.S. health care system. The report and its related products ultimately aim to help improve health and health equity, during COVID-19 and beyond. The consistent and compelling evidence on how social determinants shape health has led to a growing recognition throughout the health care sector that improving health and health equity is likely to depend â€" at least in part â€" on mitigating adverse social determinants. This recognition has been bolstered by a shift in the health care sector towards value-based payment, which incentivizes improved health outcomes for persons and populations rather than service delivery alone. The combined result of these changes has been a growing emphasis on health care systems addressing patients' social risk factors and social needs with the aim of improving health outcomes. This may involve health care systems linking individual patients with government and community social services, but important questions need to be answered about when and how health care systems should integrate social care into their practices and what kinds of infrastructure are required to facilitate such activities. Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation's Health examines the potential for integrating services addressing social needs and the social determinants of health into the delivery of health care to achieve better health outcomes. This report assesses approaches to social care integration currently being taken by health care providers and systems, and new or emerging approaches and opportunities; current roles in such integration by different disciplines and organizations, and new or emerging roles and types of providers; and current and emerging efforts to design health care systems to improve the nation's health and reduce health inequities.