As HIV/AIDS continue to plague societies around the world, more and more social workers encounter HIV-infected individuals and their families and friends who are searching for help and support. In HIV and Social Work: A Practitioner's Guide, experienced social workers share their practice wisdom, knowledge, and skills on a broad range of issues. Their words of wisdom will give you the willingness to follow problems through and the flexibility and creativity that are required when dealing with issues concerning HIV/AIDS. At the same time, you will achieve a sense of empowerment and optimism as you realize that there are things you can do--very specific kinds of help you can offer--that can make an enormous difference in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS and those who love and care for them. HIV and Social Work is a practical, user-friendly resource for social workers who practice in a variety of settings and fields. You'll find it a rich and useful book if you're moving into HIV/AIDS work and want guidance, or if you're experienced and want to sharpen your skills, or if you just want to be prepared for when you find people with HIV or their family members in your office in need of help. Specifically, you'll gain valuable insight about: basic psychosocial interventions for people with HIV/AIDS in-depth practical suggestions for specific problem areas and specific groups of people with HIV/AIDS better listening skills how to know your own limitations and live your own life more fully in the face of sadness the importance and challenge of returning to fundamental social work skills You'll refer to HIV and Social Work time and time again as you confront new HIV-related situations in your practice for which you need easy-to-understand descriptions of what to do and how to do it. Acknowledging your busy schedule, the book is organized so that you may use it on a "knowledge as needed" basis or read it straight through. Written specifically by and for social workers, HIV and Social Work is highly recommended as required reading in social work programs at the Bachelor's and/or Master's levels.

As HIV/AIDS continue to plague societies around the world, more and more social workers encounter HIV-infected individuals and their families and friends who are searching for help and support. In HIV and Social Work: A Practitioner's Guide, experienced social workers share their practice wisdom, knowledge, and skills on a broad range of issues. Their words of wisdom will give you the willingness to follow problems through and the flexibility and creativity that are required when dealing with issues concerning HIV/AIDS. At the same time, you will achieve a sense of empowerment and optimism as you realize that there are things you can do--very specific kinds of help you can offer--that can make an enormous difference in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS and those who love and care for them.

HIV and Social Work is a practical, user-friendly resource for social workers who practice in a variety of settings and fields. You'll find it a rich and useful book if you're moving into HIV/AIDS work and want guidance, or if you're experienced and want to sharpen your skills, or if you just want to be prepared for when you find people with HIV or their family members in your office in need of help. Specifically, you'll gain valuable insight about:

basic psychosocial interventions for people with HIV/AIDS

in-depth practical suggestions for specific problem areas and specific groups of people with HIV/AIDS

better listening skills

how to know your own limitations and live your own life more fully in the face of sadness

the importance and challenge of returning to fundamental social work skills

You'll refer to HIV and Social Work time and time again as you confront new HIV-related situations in your practice for which you need easy-to-understand descriptions of what to do and how to do it. Acknowledging your busy schedule, the book is organized so that you may use it on a “knowledge as needed” basis or read it straight through. Written specifically by and for social workers, HIV and Social Work is highly recommended as required reading in social work programs at the Bachelor's and/or Master's levels.

Table of Contents

Contents

About the Editors Contributors

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Section I: Introduction

Essential Facts Every Social Worker Needs to Know

Getting Started: Basic Skills for Effective Social Work with People with HIV

Multicultural Competence

Back to the Future: Survival, Uncertainty, and Hope

Section II: Practice Settings

Case Management in AIDS Service Settings

Part A: Services in Health Settings

Discharge Planning in Acute Care

Involving Family and Significant Others in Acute Care

Bereavement Work in the Acute Care Setting

Involving Families in Hospice and Home Care

Bereavement Work in Hospice and Home Care

Helping a Person with HIV/AIDS Get into Clinical Trials

Helping a Person with HIV/AIDS Prepare a Power of Attorney and a Living Will

Part B: Services in Mental Health Settings

Individual Clinical Issues

Disrupted Dialogues: Working with Couples

Clinical Issues in Groups for HIV-Infected Individuals

Clinical Issues for Families

HIV Risk Assessment in Mental Health Settings

Ethical Issues in Clinical Practice

HIV in Private Practice

Identifying and Treating HIV-Associated Dementia

Organizing Support Groups for People Affected by HIV

Section III: People in Special Circumstances

Addressing HIV Risks with Clients Who Use Drugs

Part A: Services for Children and Families

Counseling Parents and Children with HIV

Helping a Parent with HIV Tell His or Her Children

Talking with Parents About Creating a Legacy for Their Children

Talking with Parents About Permanency Planning

Working with Children with HIV in Day Care, Elementary, and Secondary Schools

Talking to Women with HIV About Childbearing Issues

Part B: Services for Special Populations

Services to Adolescents

Services to People with HIV in the Workplace

Providing Service to Gay Men

Providing Services to HIV-Positive Women

Providing Services to Elderly People with HIV

Social Work Practice with HIV-Positive People in Rural Settings

Providing Services to People with Preexisting Mental Illness

HIV Services in Correctional Facilities: Negotiating a Complex Environment

Section IV: Economic Supports and Housing

Economic Supports and Advocacy

Housing for People with HIV

Section V: Caring for the Professional Caregiver

Caring for Ourselves: Understanding and Minimizing the Stresses of HIV Caregiving

Meeting the Emotional Needs of Health Care Providers

Changing the System: Don't Mourn. . . Organize!

Index

Reference Notes Included