Feb 28: The Importance of Handwashing

Washing hands prevents the spread of illness. Read and listen to this report: http://www.manythings.org/listen/handwashing/

Write in your journal about the importance of hand washing in preventing the spread of illnesses including cholera. How can people be encouraged to wash their hands?  How can children be taught to wash their hands?

Feb 26: American and British English

Professor Brookes speaks with a British accent. Sometimes students struggle to understand her accent. Listen to the audio while reading along at http://www.manythings.org/listen/americanbritish.html and then reflect in your journal about the first time you interacted with Professor Brookes.

Feb 24: Ruby's case study

Read the case study from http://www.socwk.utah.edu/msw/pdf/CriticalThinkingEssay.pdf below and answer the question.

You are employed full time as a hospital social worker on an inpatient psychiatric unit. You have been given the following patient on your caseload and need to help in the discharge plan. Even though your responsibilities revolve around Ruby, there are other significant factors that need to be considered in order for any plans surrounding Ruby to be successful.

Ruby is a 59-year old woman diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and takes medications to help control hallucinations and delusions. She is also diagnosed with diabetes and needs to take insulin. She is morbidly obese. It has been many years since she was last employed. She attended high school through the 10th grade and can read and write at basic levels only. .

Ruby was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit at a local hospital after her daughters took her to the emergency room saying she was “acting crazy” and that she shouldn't be allowed to return to the apartment because “she can’t take care of herself.” Ruby was expressing thoughts of suicide at the time of her admission to the hospital seven days ago but is no longer expressing these thoughts and seems ready for discharge back to the community. Ruby reports that she does not know where she will live when she is discharged from the hospital because her landlord is evicting her from the apartment. The lease is terminating at the end of the month (15 days) and her landlord has given her notice that he will not renew the lease with her. It is a one bedroom apartment with rent subsidized by the government. She needs to vacate the apartment.

Ruby has two unmarried adult daughters. Her daughters are both homeless and they each have two children. The children range in age from 1½ to 4 years old. It appears that the daughters and children have been living with Ruby on and off for the past several months. The neighbors have been complaining to the landlord about the children running unsupervised around the apartment building and about visitors coming and going from the building at all hours of the day and night. Her neighbors also say they suspect that the daughters are involved with illegal drug use and dealing. It is unclear if Ruby would be able to renew her lease if her daughters were not staying with her. Ruby, however, maintains that her family is very important to her and that she intends to help them in any way she can and wants to find a place to live where she can stay close with her children and grandchildren. As Ruby’s social worker on the inpatient psychiatric unit, what would you do?

Feb 22: Leisure Activities

1. Listen to the audio at http://www.esl-lab.com/nightlife/nightliferd1.htm#list

2. Complete the quiz.

3. Getting together with friends on group date can be a fun activity, especially when you like hanging out with people, but you aren't interested in a serious relationship. In such situations, what kinds of activities to you like to do with your friends (e.g., going to watch a movie, playing video games, hiking, etc.). Write in your journal about leisure activities you enjoy.

Feb 20: What's worth fighting for?

Is there something that you believe is truly worth fighting for? Write an essay persuading others that this cause is worth a fight

Feb. 18: How loneliness can impact social networks

Go this this website: http://www.manythings.org/listen/loneliness/

You will listen to a short essay while reading it online.

When you've finished, write in your journal reflecting on what you've read.

Feb 16: The importance of saving money

Imagine that you have a friend who doesn't have any money in his or her savings account. Convince this friend that it’s important to create and follow through with a savings plan.

Feb 14: The History of Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day. Watch this video on the history of Valentine's Day and then reflect on what you've learned in your journal.  You can take the quiz on the website before writing in your journal to make sure you understand the content of the video before writing.

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/valentinesday/listening/history-of-valentines-day.html

Feb 12: Job interview

Imagine that you have made it to the final round of interviews for a new job. Convince your prospective employers that you are the one who most deserves the position.

Feb 10: Albert's case study

Read the case study from http://www.socwk.utah.edu/msw/pdf/CriticalThinkingEssay.pdf below and answer the question.

Albert is a 70 year old widowed man originally from a European country, who has resided in the United States for the past 45 years.  He is able to speak and read English but is not proficient in writing in English as his profession has been in agriculture. He has maintained close ties to his family of origin through trips, letters and phone calls; however, he only has one living sister whom he hopes to visit “one last time.” He has maintained his culture in his home including speaking his native language with his children. Although he has grown used to “American food” he prefers dietary choices and ways of preparing meals that reflect his country of origin.

Albert has experienced extreme osteoarthritis since his early 50’s and has had two knee replacements and a hip replacement. He has been hospitalized for an acute and life threatening infection in his artificial hip, which has resulted in most of his femur and part of his pelvis being removed, in addition to the artificial joint. He is given massive doses of strong antibiotics to save his life, which results in renal failure requiring dialysis. There is a possibility that the renal failure will reverse itself as he recovers sufficiently to be discharged. He has three adult children, who take turns being in the hospital throughout the weeks of treatment. As he begins to recover, family frequently bring in his favorite types of foods to supplant his hospital diet. Hospital personnel do not question this practice.

Albert is to be discharged to a rehabilitation center for occupational and physical therapy so he may return to his home. He does not want to go to the center, because he believes people die in “these places.” He finally agrees to go because his family convinces him he needs the strength to live alone, or he will have to move into one of their homes. This proves to be very motivating. Diet continues to be an issue with him in his new life in the rehab center. He tells the dietitian he likes yogurt and dislikes “green.” He wants foods he is familiar with, but the facility will not allow his children to bring in meals like the hospital did. The dietitian informs him that he needs to get used to the food, because they are likely to order meals-on-wheels for him when he is discharged. Albert reacts by getting depressed, refusing to eat, and has just begun muttering, “maybe I should just die.”

His children contact you, the rehab center’s social worker, because they are worried about his mental state which is affecting his recovery, and to ask you to intervene with the center’s director on Albert’s behalf. They in particular think the dietitian is arbitrary and unreasonable and they are paying good money for his care and he doesn't deserve to be bullied. They also want accommodations made for Albert’s diet, and wonder if Albert could benefit from seeing a psychiatrist. What would you, as the social worker, do in this case?

Feb 8: Are fairy tales good for children?

“Original” fairy tales, like those recorded by the Brothers Grimm, often contain violence. Some literary critics and child psychologists believe these tales are good for children because they address children’s real fears, feelings, and desires. Others argue that contemporary “sanitized” fairy tales still convey the main themes of the tales and are far more appropriate for children. How do you feel about this issue? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

Feb 6: Should parents give their children spending money?

Many parents give children a weekly or monthly allowance regardless of their behavior because they believe an allowance teaches children to be financially responsible. Other parents only give children an allowance as a reward for completing chores or when they have behaved properly. Explain what you think parents should do and why.

Feb 4: What would improve your neighborhood?

What would improve your hometown? Write an essay convincing town officials to make a change that would improve your neighborhood.

Feb 2: Serenity's Case

Read the case study from below and answer at least three of the questions.

Serenity (age 13) has lived with her non-kin foster parents (the Burnetts) for twelve years, along with four other children, three of whom are foster children. Serenity has monthly contact with her biological mother. Their visits are “always fun,” and Serenity frequently tells her biological mother about important things that are going on in her life. Serenity reported that she used to imagine living with her biological mother again, but that her social worker was helpful in explaining to her why she was initially removed and why she would not be able to return. Now Serenity does not want to live with her biological mother again, but she wishes that they could visit more often. Serenity has not had contact with her biological father and siblings in several years, but she believes that they live in nearby towns and is very interested in finding them. She has asked her social worker to help her find them, but does not yet know if her social worker will, in fact, help. Serenity reported feeling proud of her home with the Burnetts. She gave many examples of ways in which they are supportive. She is pleased that the Burnetts are pursuing legal guardianship and wishes that they would adopt her.



Questions:
1. What are the positive aspects of Serenity’s experience in out-of-home care?
2. What are your concerns?
3. How would you address your concerns?
4. What services or community resources would improve the quality of Serenity’s experience?
5. What ethnic/cultural considerations seem particularly relevant?
6. How would you respond to Serenity’s interest in seeing her biological mother more often?
7. How would you respond to Serenity’s interest in finding her biological father and siblings?
8. How would you respond to Serenity’s interest in being adopted by the Burnetts?