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Using Research to Improve Practice & Service Delivery

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Social workers need to constantly keep abreast of new techniques and practices in the field. In the field of habilitation, new methods of teaching clients how to learn daily living skills assist our workers in doing a more effective job. Our clients benefit by being able to master new skills quickly so that they can move on to skills that can benefit independent living. In my research of practices that can benefit our workers and clients in learning living skills, I came across research that studied point of view modeling with video prompting and error correction. Many studies have been done in using such techniques to teach skills to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities with success. This particular method uses videos that break a skill into smaller portions. Once a particular portion is mastered, a subsequent portion is learned until the entire skill can be done independently. The videos are filmed using a point-of-view method as though through the eyes of
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Ethics and Reflection in Habilitation

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Acting as a habilitation professional conjures particular situations that call into question one's ethical and personal values. On a recent occasion, we had a visit to the office by a young woman who had injured her leg. Upon asking what had happened, our client replied she had hurt herself while out with a guy friend. After more discussion, she divulged she was doing drugs with a friend. While my first reaction would be to wrap her in bubble wrap and never allow her to leave the home, the NASW Code of Ethics has other standards that must be followed. For example, self-determination. While it may not be our choice to engage in such activities, we must consider that this young woman, who is fairly high functioning, is her own guardian. She has the legal right to make choices regarding what she does, with whom, and where she chooses to do it. Yes, it is our responsibility to stress the consequences of such behavior, ultimately we cannot restrict her activities. Upon conversation with
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On March 23rd, I went with Kyle to meet with a client for an admission meeting and assessment with J.Y.W.  I was able to process the experience with Grace later. J.Y.W.'s father met with us at a Zippy's in Honolulu. J.Y.W. is a recently graduated young man diagnosed with autism. He goes to Secoh and Bayada is being contracted to provide a behavioral plan for him at his day placement. I felt anxious about the experience. Much of this was self-inflicted. I put pressure on myself that I had to do it right, perhaps because it is similar to my position with early intervention. Mr. W is a Korean immigrant. He has a very strong accent. Despite my mom being a first generation Chinese woman who also has an accent, I do not alter my speech because I have concerns that she cannot understand me. However, with Mr. W, I was doing this. I was either speaking slowly and enunciating each word, or I was speaking loudly as though he had auditory challenges. This compounded the stress! Gra
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HCR 157

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On March 22, 2018, I attended a hearing for House Committee Resolution 157 regarding informed consent for immunization adverse reaction events in Hawaii. However, the public was informed upon arrival that HCR 157 would be replaced with HR 107, a resolution created at the last minute with Representative Tupola and Dr. Park from the Department of Health. The resolution would " Encourage The Department Of Health To Maintain Communications With The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention In Ongoing Efforts To Better Understand And Monitor The Immunization And Vaccination Of Children In Hawaii And Ensure Their Safety." Many attended the hearing to provide testimony for the original bill HCR 157, which in effect was now dead. Representative Tupola noted that there was so much opposition to the resolution that there was no way it was going to survive. So, as a last ditch effort to save some part of the resolution, she joined with DoH Dr. Park.  Those who testified noted that
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Project Implicit Tests

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As part of my Human Diversity class, I was able to participate in several of the tests for Project Implicit, which tests for hidden biases through as series of online activities. The results of these tests found the following: I had a slight positive bias toward people in same sex couples. I had a slight positive bias toward people with disabilities. There was no detectable bias toward people of Middle Eastern ethnicity and nor those who were not of Middle Eastern ethnicity. There was no detectable bias toward people as a result of skin color. There was slight detectable bias against in favor of traditional gender roles. To be honest, I was appalled that I felt positively biased in favor of traditional gender roles. I would like to think that I have progressive views regarding gender roles. I did, however, grow up in a home with traditional gender roles. Throughout my children's childhoods, I participated in traditional gender roles- staying home and caring for them an
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Conflicts in Values

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Recently I was tasked with entering information about our clients into a database, Therap. One of the questions raised was regarding Advanced Directives, and whether the client had one. Most of our clients do not have Advanced Directives. However, there was one situation in which the client did have a Do Not Resuscitate order. Although I don't have a particular value regarding DNRs, I have to admit this made me feel a bit conflicted. The person is a young man who is not his own guardian. So, he would have to have the legal paperwork signed by the person legally responsible for making such choices and signing for them. I do not cast judgment on the guardian for doing so. I do not know the complete history of the situation, nor have I ever been in a situation in which I have had to make such decisions for my own child. The client is a young man who suffers from health issues in which this choice would more than likely be necessary in the coming year. However, my dilemma is whether or
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Ethical dilemmas in Habilitation

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What potential social work dilemmas exist in habilitation? One of the biggest ethical issues that might occur is not respecting the dignity and worth of the person. In working with individuals with intellectual challenges, those who have not worked in the field may have preconceived ideas about the abilities of a person we serve. Without realizing it, we may make decisions without consulting the person we are making them about! When I started my internship, Grace (my field supervisor) gave me a journal article titled    Balancing the right to habilitation with the right to personal liberties: the rights of people with developmental disabilities to eat too many doughnuts and take a nap (Bannerman, Sheldon, Shermak, and Harchik, 1990). This was an eye opening article about what a great responsibility habilitation professionals have in honoring the choices of our clients. We're often the choosers of goals and activities, the makers of schedules. How do we balance the right of our clie
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