In This Issue - THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER Online
In This Issue - THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER Online
In This Issue - THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER Online
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Transported patient to various medical<br />
appointments and appointments<br />
at local welfare offices.<br />
Obtained nutritional supplements<br />
that the patient was unable to afford,<br />
even with Food Stamps.<br />
Coordinated with various community<br />
resources to obtain medications<br />
for the patient’s diabetes and other<br />
health conditions.<br />
Utilized local community resources<br />
for the patient to help pay utility<br />
costs.<br />
Outcomes<br />
With the patient nearing a successful<br />
completion of TB treatment, he had<br />
been linked and oriented with numerous<br />
community resources that were able to<br />
continue to assist him with his medical,<br />
social, and basic needs as he transitioned<br />
out of the TB control program.<br />
Other Considerations<br />
According to the Centers for Disease<br />
Control, tuberculosis (TB) is a disease<br />
caused by germs that are spread from<br />
person to person through the air. TB<br />
To know their world,<br />
step into ours.<br />
graduate school in child development • Chicago<br />
usually affects the lungs, but it can also<br />
affect other parts of the body, such as the<br />
brain, the kidneys, or the spine (Centers<br />
for Disease Control Web Site, 2009,<br />
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factseries/prevention_eng.htm).<br />
Social workers,<br />
along with anyone who is working with<br />
someone with active TB disease, need<br />
to have the appropriate education about<br />
preventing the spread of TB and need to<br />
be knowledgeable about how to protect<br />
themselves. Prior to commencing work<br />
with an active patient, one needs to be<br />
tested for TB by his or her medical provider<br />
or by the TB control program in<br />
his or her locality. He or she also needs<br />
to be wearing the appropriate mask<br />
when coming into contact with patients.<br />
<strong>This</strong> needs to be handled professionally<br />
and delicately to help patients avoid feeling<br />
further isolated.<br />
Conclusion<br />
Working in public health can be a<br />
very rewarding experience and a great<br />
way to broaden your social work experience<br />
and enhance your social work<br />
skills. Those seeking employment in the<br />
For More <strong>In</strong>formation<br />
Public Health Social Work<br />
http://publichealthsocialwork.org/<br />
Centers for Disease Control<br />
and Prevention: Tuberculosis<br />
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/<br />
public health sector may contact their<br />
local or state health departments, board<br />
of health, or local university’s public<br />
health college to inquire about openings<br />
or possible shadowing opportunities.<br />
For those social work students who are<br />
interested, a field placement in the public<br />
health sector can be a good way to get<br />
acquainted with social work in different<br />
areas of public health.<br />
Lucas J. Celebrezze, LISW, MSW, is a public<br />
health social worker and field instructor. He<br />
has worked in the public health sector since<br />
2005.<br />
Dual degree: M.S. in child development/M.S.W.<br />
in clinical social work with Loyola University Chicago<br />
www.erikson.edu/dualdegree<br />
The New Social Worker Fall 010 1