100769: A National Survey of Violence in the Practice of Social Work

About the Course:

Social workers are at risk of violence in the workplace. Some of this violence has been attributed to deinstitutionalization and the very nature of problems addressed by social workers. Yet, we know very little about nationwide prevalence of such incidents. In this study the authors look at a national sample of social workers drawn from the membership of the National Association of Social Workers, with particular attention to race, gender, and practice content. Data suggest that verbal abuse is quite common, whereas threats of assault and actual assault are less common, but problematic. Being young and male places a worker at higher risk, and public and non-profit agency practitioners report many more incidents than workers in private practice. COURSE SYLLABUS I. Introduction II. Method III. Results IV. Discussion

Publication Date:

2004/ Vol. 85, No. 4

Authors

Srnika Jayaratne, PhD; Tom Croxton, JD; Debra Mattison, MSW, ACSW, BCD

About the Authors:

Associate Dean and Professor University of Michigan School of Social Work

Emeritus Professor University of Michigan School of Social Work

Clinical Social Worker St. Joseph Mercy Hospital

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other human services and behavioral health professionals who seek knowledge about violence in the workplace. It is appropriate for participants with all levels of knowledge about the topic.

Course Objectives:

1. describe recommendations for maximizing the safety of social workers in direct practice.

2. identify factors that moderate the incidence of threats and violence directed at social workers.

3. describe the incidence of threats of assault and actual assault directed toward social workers.