1. Social Work Prevention and Enrichment Chapter 21

2. Introduction Prevention is the process of action taken so that antisocial behavior or personal, family, or community problems are minimized or do not arise at all. Prevention is the process of action taken so that antisocial behavior or personal, family, or community problems are minimized or do not arise at all. Theoretically, it mean the doing of something so that personal and social pathology will not develop. Theoretically, it mean the doing of something so that personal and social pathology will not develop. Prevention is concerned with keeping the vase intact, rather than trying to repair the broken pieces. Prevention is concerned with keeping the vase intact, rather than trying to repair the broken pieces.

3. Levels of Prevention Five levels of prevention in public health, commonly accepted in preventive medicine, are: Five levels of prevention in public health, commonly accepted in preventive medicine, are: Health promotion Health promotion Specific protection Specific protection Early diagnosis and treatment Early diagnosis and treatment Disability limitation Disability limitation Rehabilitation Rehabilitation

4. Social Work Focus on Prevention Rapoport claims that the concept of prevention is often used in “a distorted and confusing manner in the social work framework.” Rapoport claims that the concept of prevention is often used in “a distorted and confusing manner in the social work framework.” We need to become more interested in and focused upon enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, and communities, and helping to bring about an enrichment in daily living. We need to become more interested in and focused upon enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, and communities, and helping to bring about an enrichment in daily living. Social workers need to look at the socially healthy people as well as the disabled. Social workers need to look at the socially healthy people as well as the disabled.

5. Social Work Focus on Prevention We need to consider the “points of entry” where preventive social work may be particularly effective. We need to consider the “points of entry” where preventive social work may be particularly effective. Social work may help especially in relation to obstetrics, the nursery school, kindergarten, with adolescence, and at the time of marriage. Social work may help especially in relation to obstetrics, the nursery school, kindergarten, with adolescence, and at the time of marriage. The major concern for the near future should be “to develop adaptations of current practice which will reach more of the healthy segment of the population and may thereby retard the rising incidence of social pathology.” The major concern for the near future should be “to develop adaptations of current practice which will reach more of the healthy segment of the population and may thereby retard the rising incidence of social pathology.”

6. Social Work Focus on Prevention At the present there is considerable interest in prevention in social work practice, and this interest is filtering into the educational process. At the present there is considerable interest in prevention in social work practice, and this interest is filtering into the educational process. Roskin indicated that there are three treatment approaches that are readily adaptable to a primary prevention focus with groups, families, and individuals: Roskin indicated that there are three treatment approaches that are readily adaptable to a primary prevention focus with groups, families, and individuals: Behavioral Behavioral Task-focused Task-focused Variations in psychodynamic ego psychology Variations in psychodynamic ego psychology

7. Problems Involved Several factors cloud the preventive scene. Several factors cloud the preventive scene. Complexity of human behavior Complexity of human behavior If we do not know the precise causes of a social problem, can we prevent the problem? If we do not know the precise causes of a social problem, can we prevent the problem? Knowledge and skills in relation to human behavior and social functioning are just in the beginning stages Knowledge and skills in relation to human behavior and social functioning are just in the beginning stages We can ask many more questions than we can answer. We can ask many more questions than we can answer. The difficulty of evaluation The difficulty of evaluation How do we know for sure that the action we have taken has brought the results we desired? How do we know for sure that the action we have taken has brought the results we desired?

8. Examples of Prevention Premarital counseling: Premarital counseling: With approximately one-half of all first marriages ending in divorce and the potentially negative impact it has on individuals, families, and society, many have sought to understand why this occurs when people starting out have such hopeful expectations. With approximately one-half of all first marriages ending in divorce and the potentially negative impact it has on individuals, families, and society, many have sought to understand why this occurs when people starting out have such hopeful expectations. The choice of who one marries is the most crucial decision. The choice of who one marries is the most crucial decision.

9. Examples of Prevention Preventive Mental Health: Preventive Mental Health: Emphasis placed on work productivity; pain and stress management; imaging and weight management; improving self-esteem; and improved communication skills. Emphasis placed on work productivity; pain and stress management; imaging and weight management; improving self-esteem; and improved communication skills. Focus also placed in effective drug prevention programs such as family-based drug prevention programs. Focus also placed in effective drug prevention programs such as family-based drug prevention programs.

10. Examples of Prevention Family counseling Family counseling Religious leaders Religious leaders Delinquency Prevention Delinquency Prevention Families in Crises Families in Crises Suicide Prevention Suicide Prevention Social work practice in the workplace Social work practice in the workplace Relapse Prevention Relapse Prevention

11. Implications of Prevention If social workers are really going to tap the resources of prevention, they must spend more time and effort in creative thinking and activity. If social workers are really going to tap the resources of prevention, they must spend more time and effort in creative thinking and activity. One great need is for objective research and evaluation of activities and projects related to prevention. One great need is for objective research and evaluation of activities and projects related to prevention. There should be special focus on the before in relation to prevention. There should be special focus on the before in relation to prevention. To anticipate problems that might arise in advance of their occurrence calls for greater understanding of human behavior, interrelationships and social phenomena. To anticipate problems that might arise in advance of their occurrence calls for greater understanding of human behavior, interrelationships and social phenomena.

12. Social Work Enrichment The newest process utilized by social workers is enrichment. The newest process utilized by social workers is enrichment. It encompasses attempts to help people go on from where they are, to add positive experiences and values to living. It encompasses attempts to help people go on from where they are, to add positive experiences and values to living. Enrichment not only includes working with the handicapped and disadvantaged but also is available to all people, recognizing that all people have problems in human relationships and also have room for growth and improvement of the abilities and activities. Enrichment not only includes working with the handicapped and disadvantaged but also is available to all people, recognizing that all people have problems in human relationships and also have room for growth and improvement of the abilities and activities.

13. Social Work Enrichment Social work enrichment is the process of helping people improve their relationships with others, bringing increased satisfaction and enjoyment. Social work enrichment is the process of helping people improve their relationships with others, bringing increased satisfaction and enjoyment. Premarital counseling is an example of enrichment that can make a difference. Premarital counseling is an example of enrichment that can make a difference. Classes taught by social workers on parenting for the general public are another example of the enrichment process. Classes taught by social workers on parenting for the general public are another example of the enrichment process.