What Can Social Workers Do to Help the Growing Number of People Experiencing Homelessness? (1 credit hour)

Program Summary:  This course explores the issue of homelessness from the perspective of a hospital emergency department social worker.  The course examines the prevalence and demographics of homelessness, in addition to structural factors and contributing causes.  The complex relationship between homelessness, substance use disorders, and mental health problems is discussed.  The role of social work in providing supportive, respectful, and collaborative care is highlighted.

This course is recommended for social workers and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

Reading 1: What Can Social Workers Do to Help the Growing Number of People Experiencing Homelessness? Author: Cristina Cantu, LCSW Publisher: Columbia Social Work Review

Reading 2:  Homelessness Data and Trends Publisher: US Interagency Council on Homelessness

Reading #3:  Need Housing Assistance? Publisher: HUD Exchange

“Book  Open the Course Reading Here.

Course Objectives:  To enhance professional practice, values, skills and knowledge by exploring homelessness from the perspective of a medical social worker.

Learning Objectives:  Describe the demographics and contributing causes to homelessness.  Describe the complex relationship between homelessness, mental health, and substance use.  Describe the role of social work in supporting and caring for persons experiencing homelessness.

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1: The hazard of experiencing homelessness is uniformly distributed across different populations.
 
 
2: Rental market conditions and housing policies are examples of
 
 
 
3: Catastrophic health problems are examples of
 
 
 
4: Mental health and substance use disorders are examples of
 
 
 
5: Colburn and Aldern (2022) showed that it was ultimately __________ that were most associated with regional rates of homelessness.
 
 
 
 
6: Shifting the view to structural factors is helpful because it helps divert attention to
 
 
7: Studies have found a ___________ association between homelessness and mental illness.
 
 
8: Omerov et al. (2019) describe the positive experiences of homeless patients with professionals including
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9: Data and Trends//  People who experience homelessness die nearly ________ years earlier than the average American- and often from easily treatable illnesses.
 
 
 
 
10: The majority of people experiencing homelessness have a severe mental health and substance use issue.
 
 

In order to purchase or take this course, you will need to log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register for a free account.

After you log in, a link will appear here that will allow you to purchase this course.

Review our pre-reading study guide.

G.M. Rydberg-Cox, MSW, LSCSW is the Continuing Education Director at Free State Social Work and responsible for the development of this course.  She received her Masters of Social Work in 1996 from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago and she has over 20 years of experience.  She has lived and worked as a social worker in Chicago, Boston, and Kansas City.  She has practiced for many years in the area of hospital/medical social work.  The reading materials for this course were developed by another organization.

 


Filed under: Homelessness