Addressing Ethics as a Rural Behavioral Health Provider

Knowledge of sound professional ethics in behavioral health delivery is critical to achieving good practice, protecting consumers, and providing the highest quality care. To satisfy continuing education licensing expectations, most behavioral health providers are required to complete periodic ethics training. This workshop focuses on practice ethics from a rural perspective where unique dilemmas often experienced by rural providers are discussed (e.g., confidentiality, consumer/practitioner relationships, expertise levels, geography). Here, we will explore some of the elements that create ethical challenges when practicing in rural and small communities. This training may satisfy up to one hour of required ethics training for a variety of licenses. All participants will be provided with materials that show evidence of tested knowledge assessment of presented information

Why Do Social Service Supervisors have so much Trouble Hiring Social Workers Across Rural Minnesota?

This session focuses on current knowledge pertaining to difficulties in hiring and retaining social service providers across rural areas - with special attention to rural Minnesota

Social Workers in Rural Places: A Study of Practitioners in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

National audienc

Assessing Student Learning: Growing the Culture, Cultivating Buy-In, Improving Quality

All institutions face the common challenge of developing, conducting, and maintaining high quality, purposeful, and relevant student learning assessment processes and protocols. In 2012 Minnesota State University, Mankato created the University Assessment Coordinator position as a reassigned faculty line. This position initially focused on strengthening linkages between institutional, academic, and co-curricular/service program assessment needs through the development of training opportunities, program assessment of learning model development, reporting assistance, data interpretation, and information integration. This presentation highlights how the process and position was structured, challenges identified and addressed, and successes that emerged from the process

Social Work in a Very Rural Place: A Study of Practitioners in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

This study focuses on characteristics, challenges, and benefits of practicing social work in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. Using a mixed-methods design, data were analyzed to determine demographic descriptors, seek differences between groups, and learn why social workers pursue and remain in social service employment in the UP. In addition, challenges and benefits of rural practice and perceptions of living and working in this region are addressed. Quantitatively, differences were found between younger and older social workers regarding where they currently live and where they grew up, and whether or not they were raised in a rural location. Qualitative findings suggest that professional challenges to practice include responding to the effects of persistent poverty and unemployment, lack of specialty care for children and families, and inadequate transportation. Benefits of practice include quality community experiences, proximity to familial systems, and professional connectedness

Understanding the Complexities of Workforce Issues Among Rural Social Workers

This presentation addresses a brief history of knowledge around rural social work (including demographics), the current state of knowledge on rural workforce issues, the social work workforce in rural and remote areas, recruitment and retention issues and concerns, and suggestions for future development of social work workforce, research, and knowledge development

Taking it to the Streets! Engaging in the Praxis of Community Organization

This grassroots action focused on excessive property development of affordable, single-family homes against aggressive property developers. This presentation traces the author\u27s involvement with a variety of neighborhood stakeholders, socio-political entities, and BSSW students to work for real, positive, sustainable social change to improve their local community

Community Organizing in Rural Areas: Yes, It\u27s Different

This presentation focuses on the theory and practice of community organizing in rural areas. Special attention will be placed on how different organizing practices may be received based on rural cultural norms