Bridging ACT into Bridging ACT into Social Work Bridging Social Work Bridging

ACT into the ACT into the CommunityCommunity

Julie HamiltonJulie HamiltonKate Morrissey-StahlKate Morrissey-Stahl

Rikke KjelgaardRikke Kjelgaard

INTRODUCTIONS….INTRODUCTIONS….

Social WorkSocial Work

Australia and New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand

From where we From where we left off last left off last

year…..year…..

The number of The number of social workers social workers

employed in the US employed in the US is well over three is well over three times the number times the number of psychologists of psychologists

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2011). Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2011). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 EditionOccupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, retrieved from , retrieved from

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm..

Clinical social Clinical social workers are by far workers are by far

the largest the largest providers of mental providers of mental health services in health services in

the USthe USSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,

National Institutes of Mental Health. (2010). National Institutes of Mental Health. (2010). Mental health, United Mental health, United States, 2008.States, 2008. Retrieved from Retrieved from

http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Mental-Health-United-States-http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Mental-Health-United-States-2008/SMA10-45902008/SMA10-4590

Yet social workers are most Yet social workers are most likely underrepresented in likely underrepresented in

ACBSACBS 5517 ACBS members5517 ACBS members (as of July 18, 2012) (as of July 18, 2012)

171 members listed “LCSW” under 171 members listed “LCSW” under “licenses and certifications” when “licenses and certifications” when they registered they registered (July 8, 2012)(July 8, 2012)

50 registered ACT Social Work SIG 50 registered ACT Social Work SIG membersmembers (July 8, 2012) (July 8, 2012)

71 members of the ACT Social Work 71 members of the ACT Social Work SIG ListservSIG Listserv (July 18, 2012) (July 18, 2012)

Yet social workers are most Yet social workers are most likely underrepresented in likely underrepresented in

ACBSACBS 5517 ACBS members5517 ACBS members (as of July 18, 2012) (as of July 18, 2012)

171 members listed “LCSW” under 171 members listed “LCSW” under “licenses and certifications” when “licenses and certifications” when they registered they registered (July 8, 2012)(July 8, 2012)

50 registered ACT Social Work SIG 50 registered ACT Social Work SIG membersmembers (July 8, 2012) (July 8, 2012) 84 84 (April 2013)(April 2013)

71 members of the ACT Social Work 71 members of the ACT Social Work SIG ListservSIG Listserv (July 18, 2012) (July 18, 2012)

How have you How have you integrated ACT and integrated ACT and

Contextual Contextual Behavioral Science Behavioral Science

(CBS) into your (CBS) into your social work social work practice?practice?

Brian Mundy - NYCBrian Mundy - NYCPlease share some examples of how you have been Please share some examples of how you have been

bridging ACT in your social work, and bridging ACT in your social work, and surrounding communities, i.e., trainings, surrounding communities, i.e., trainings, research, outreach, etc.:research, outreach, etc.:

For the past 18 months I have been supporting all For the past 18 months I have been supporting all levels of staff at a large social service agency in levels of staff at a large social service agency in NYC -- from security guards at homeless shelters, NYC -- from security guards at homeless shelters, to clinicians to directors and food service to clinicians to directors and food service employees at programs of all types -- on adopting employees at programs of all types -- on adopting trauma-informed care. One of the central themes trauma-informed care. One of the central themes to TIC is developing an awareness of how working to TIC is developing an awareness of how working in a trauma-impacted environment influences us in a trauma-impacted environment influences us as workers, particularly when we have our own as workers, particularly when we have our own histories of trauma. histories of trauma.

Brian Mundy - NYCBrian Mundy - NYC ACT-related concepts of present-moment ACT-related concepts of present-moment

awareness, acceptance, and moving toward awareness, acceptance, and moving toward connectedness are extremely helpful in assisting connectedness are extremely helpful in assisting folks with decreasing reactivity in this domain. I folks with decreasing reactivity in this domain. I developed an acronym TREDS (Take a Breath, developed an acronym TREDS (Take a Breath, Relationship focus, Empathic reflection, Develop Relationship focus, Empathic reflection, Develop choice, Supportive follow-up) for workers of all choice, Supportive follow-up) for workers of all stripes to utilize when faced with trauma-stripes to utilize when faced with trauma-impacted behaviors. The stories that have echoed impacted behaviors. The stories that have echoed back from people using these concepts have been back from people using these concepts have been deeply powerful and moving, as well as effective.deeply powerful and moving, as well as effective.

Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan Clinical WorkClinical Work ACT Trainings, WebcastsACT Trainings, Webcasts ED ProgramsED Programs HospitalsHospitals UniversitiesUniversities

EMU, WesternEMU, Western Counseling Centers-UM, MSU, WMU, EMUCounseling Centers-UM, MSU, WMU, EMU SW/Psych CurriculumSW/Psych Curriculum University of Detroit Mercy/School of DentistryUniversity of Detroit Mercy/School of Dentistry

Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan NASW-MichiganNASW-Michigan

Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference ““Bridge” MagazineBridge” Magazine

What is your What is your impression of how impression of how the field of social the field of social

work and the social work and the social workers you know workers you know have responded to have responded to

ACT?ACT?

What are the What are the commonalities commonalities between social between social

work and work and ACT/CBS?ACT/CBS?

How well does ACT/CBS fit with How well does ACT/CBS fit with the social work value and ethical the social work value and ethical

principle of principle of social justicesocial justice??Value: Value: Social JusticeSocial JusticeEthical principle: Ethical principle: Social workers challenge social Social workers challenge social injusticeinjusticeSocial workers pursue social change, particularly Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers' individuals and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on issues social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision-opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision-making for all people.making for all people.

NASW Code of Ethics, 1996

What are the What are the barriers to the barriers to the

dissemination of dissemination of ACT/CBS in the ACT/CBS in the field of social field of social

work?work?

DetroitDetroit RecessionRecession Lack of intensive trainingsLack of intensive trainings Lack of ACT supervisionLack of ACT supervision

How do we make How do we make ACT and functional ACT and functional

contextualism a contextualism a greater presence in greater presence in the field of social the field of social

work?work?

Brian MundyBrian Mundy Keep contributing, keep Keep contributing, keep

talking about it on listservs talking about it on listservs and in our communities.and in our communities.

Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan Keep up what we’re doing….Keep up what we’re doing…. Develop a Michigan ChapterDevelop a Michigan Chapter

What are non-What are non-stigmatizing stigmatizing

environments in which environments in which ACT protocols could beACT protocols could beoffered, reaching out to offered, reaching out to

populations who populations who traditionally have not traditionally have not

usedusedmental health services?mental health services?

Brian MundyBrian Mundy I think that utilizing ACT concepts in I think that utilizing ACT concepts in

advocacy work would be amazing. advocacy work would be amazing. Here in NYC I wonder what would Here in NYC I wonder what would happen if a community mediation happen if a community mediation center held ACT-consistent forums center held ACT-consistent forums on racism and community relations? on racism and community relations?

DetroitDetroit Community GroupsCommunity Groups

Community Action GroupsCommunity Action Groups HomelessHomeless Urban PovertyUrban Poverty Urban YouthUrban Youth LGBTLGBT

How can the Social Work How can the Social Work Field Field

play a role in the play a role in the Evolution Science Project?Evolution Science Project?

"The psychological flexibility model described "The psychological flexibility model described in the present volume is at its core a in the present volume is at its core a contextual contextual approach to understanding approach to understanding clients interacting within and through their clients interacting within and through their environmental and private contexts. This environmental and private contexts. This statement suggest that the six processes of statement suggest that the six processes of the model should not be viewed in isolation, the model should not be viewed in isolation, but rather are but rather are highly sensitive to the highly sensitive to the surrounding social, cultural, surrounding social, cultural, environmental, and biological environmental, and biological environmentsenvironments.” Hayes, Wilson, Strosahl, .” Hayes, Wilson, Strosahl, 20112011

What is social work?What is social work?The primary mission of the The primary mission of the social work profession is to social work profession is to

enhance human well-being and enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human help meet the basic human

needs of all people, with needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs particular attention to the needs

and empowerment of people and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, who are vulnerable, oppressed,

and living in poverty. and living in poverty.

NASW Code of Ethics, 1996

What is social work?What is social work?A historic and defining feature A historic and defining feature

of social work is the profession’s of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well-being in focus on individual well-being in

a social context and the well-a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to being of society. Fundamental to

social work is attention to the social work is attention to the environmental forces that environmental forces that create, contribute to, and create, contribute to, and

address problems in living.address problems in living.

NASW Code of Ethics, 1996

EVO – Social WorkersEVO – Social Workers SW ValuesSW Values SW are already deeply integrated in SW are already deeply integrated in

communities in a variety of roles:communities in a variety of roles: AdvocacyAdvocacy Social ActionSocial Action Social JusticeSocial Justice Direct Support ServicesDirect Support Services LeadershipLeadership

Social Work and Social Work and EvoScienceEvoScience

DETROITDETROIT