SOCIAL WORK SERVICES WHAT

CAN I DO BEFORE I REFER?

Karen S Fairchild, MSW, CSW

C.A.L.M.CoordinateAssessLinkMonitor

COORDINATEService CoordinatorSpecialistsEHSSocial Worker

ASSESSAsk questions

How are you doing? One of the best things you can do for your baby is to take care of yourself. Babies can sense when mom is not okay.

Do you have someone you can talk to about this? (support system)

ASSESS (CON.)Validate

Everyone wants a “witness to their story.”

The difficulty“I don’t know how you got through that.”

“That is so hard!”The emotion

“That must have been scary.” (ex. traumatic birth)

“That must be frustrating.” (ex. mother-in-law, child not eating)

ASSESS (CON.)Normalize

“Many of the moms (parents) I am working with have said the same thing.” (Parent Support Group).

“Children really do add stress to your marriage, especially since your child has special needs.” (Marriage Class).

“It’s okay to love and hate your child at the same time. What matters is what you do with those feelings.” (Positive Discipline Class)

LINKStrengthening Marriage Class

Parent Support GroupPositive Discipline ClassDepression Recovery Class

211Canary Gardens

DEFINITION OF CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT“The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”Are they able to fulfill their roles as spouse, parent, provider, etc?

MONITORNote stage of the grieving cycle

Denial, Anger, Guilt, DepressionNote when symptoms increaseNote when family becomes more

receptiveMany people need therapy and/or

even want therapy but are not yet ready to do the work

Initial co-visit can be a good option when family show reluctance to therapy

KOTM SOCIAL WORK SERVICES Good option when needs are relatively short

term or as a transition to other services Good option when finances prevent family

from accessing other resources Good option when family schedule does not

allow participation in other support services Good option when family is unable to

consistently access services outside of their home Health of child Anxiety

OTHER MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCESOther options may be better

Longer term services may be needed

Changing therapists can be very disruptive

MedicaidWasatch Mental Health

Private Insurance

REFERRALS

Take through child studyComplete internal referral form

Email and consult as needed

*Referral is not official until a child study note and/or referral form is received.