Workforce Development in Collaborative and Integrated Care across the Health Professions:
The Social Work Perspective
Stacy Collins, MSWNational Association of Social Workers
Collaborative Family Healthcare Association 13th Annual ConferenceOctober 27-29, 2011 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Session #A4October 29, 201110:30 AM
Faculty Disclosure
• I have not had any relevant financial relationships during the past 12 months.
Need/Practice Gap
• Lack of awareness regarding the current workforce issues facing social work practice in integrated heath care settings
Objectives
• Provide an overview of social work practice opportunities in integrated care settings
• Delineate the workforce challenges facing the social work profession with the growth of integrated health care
Expected Outcome
• Participants will understand the current workforce issues related to the practice of social work in integrated heath care settings
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Based in Washington, DC
• Largest membership organization of professional social workers
• 145,000 members
• 56 chapters
Three-fold mission
• Promote, develop, and protect the practice of social work and social workers
• Strengthen and unify the social work profession
• Enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities
NASW CENTER FOR WORKFORCE STUDIES
• Establish a repository for consolidated and comprehensive workforce information
• Identify trends in the social work labor force
• Forecast shifts in the needs of social service populations
• Cultivate a ready and responsive workforce
http://workforce.socialworkers.org
Social work is a core component of interdisciplinary
primary care
“An essential component of patient-centered primary care practice is inter-professional teamwork. High-functioning teams require collaboration between physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, clinical psychologists, case managers, medical assistants, and clinical administrators… ”
Department of Veterans Affairs, 2010
“ The primary care medical home is accountable for meeting the large majority of each patient’s physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care. Providing comprehensive care requires a team of care providers. This team might include physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, educators, and care coordinators.”
AHRQ, 2010
Integrated Care:
Job Growth Area For Social Workers
• Affordable Care Act will accelerate this trend:
– Accountable Care Organizations
–Medicaid Health Homes
– Individual state initiatives (e.g., CA)
Ample Opportunities for Clinical and Medical Social Workers in
Integrated Care Settings
• Specialty mental health• Behavioral health • Care coordination/case management• Patient education & wellness coaching
Workforce Development Challenges
• Clinically dominated profession
• Curriculum change happens slowly – SW schools have separate concentrations in health and mental health
• Field experiences - and employer demands - will drive curriculum change in this area
Workforce Development Challenges
To work effectively in integrated care settings, social work students need enhanced training on:
• brief intervention (de-emphasize L-T therapy)• crisis intervention• motivational interviewing• Substance use/addiction treatment• Primary care medical conditions (diabetes, HTN, etc)
Workforce Development Challenges
• Fast pace work environment - and space restrictions - in integrated care settings makes student supervision challenging
• Small pool of seasoned primary care social workers qualified to supervise students
• Shortage of bi-lingual social workers
Social Work Integrated Care Initiatives
Integrated Health Care Training in Social Work Education
Examples:• Greater Rochester MSW Program: Interdisciplinary Health Concentration
• Boston University SSW: Clinical Social Work and Behavioral Medicine Certificate Program
• West Virginia University SSW: elective course, “Introduction to Collaborative Care”
• UC Berkley SSW: Symposia, “Behavioral Health Integration and the Role of Social Work”
Integrated Health Care Training for Social Workers in the Field
Examples:• U-Mass certificate program in Primary Care
Behavioral Health (approved for SW CEs)
• NC Center of Excellence for Integrated Care
• SSWLHC – Evolving Practice of Social Work within Integrated Care (6 CEUs)
Future Initiatives
• Content analysis of collaborative care training in social work programs (lead: UC Berkley)
• Possible development of an NASW credential in integrated care
• Possible development of an NASW specialty practice section in integrated care
QUESTIONS??
Session Evaluation
Please complete and return theevaluation form to the classroom monitor
before leaving this session.
Thank you!
