MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS' PERCEIVED PREPAREDNESS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF CAREGIVERS WORKING TOWARD REUNIFICATION

• Main Authors: Ramirez, Stephanie, Romero, Vanessa
• Format: Others
• Published: CSUSB ScholarWorks 2018
• Subjects: caregivers; mental health; social work; student perceived preparedness; reunification; Social Work
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/726; https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1797&context=etd

The purpose of this study is to assess Master of Social Work (MSW) students’ perspectives on their preparedness to identify mental health needs of caregivers that are working toward reunification. Research has established that caregivers with mental illness have children removed by the child welfare system at higher rates. In order to reunify successfully, it is critical that any mental health needs are identified to provide appropriate linkage to services. This quantitative study used a self-administered survey questionnaire with a case study vignette. MSW students have some exposure to diagnosing during their MSW program, however, the findings suggest that key factors such as area of specialization, length of experience in a mental health setting, and mental health diagnosing experience, impact how comfortable they are with diagnosing and recognizing the severity of mental health symptoms.