Service Delivery Programs Research Articles

Student-resourced service delivery of occupational therapy rehabilitation groups: patient, clinician and student perspectives about the ingredients for success

Background A number of innovative models of student practice placements are emerging due to pressures on universities to provide quality practice placements and on health services to deliver rehabilitation efficiently, safely and cost-effectively. The student-resourced service delivery (SRSD) group program is one such model in occupational therapy. There is a paucity of research evidence to guide services in planning, implementing and evaluating the SRSD model. Objective The study aimed to explore and identify the factors that key stakeholders perceived as contributing to the successful development and implementation of the occupational therapy student-resourced service delivery group programs. Methods Participants in this multi-site study were rehabilitation inpatients, clinicians, Clinical Education Liaison Managers and students completing practice placement in the student-resourced service delivery group program. Data were collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Results A total of 83 participants consented to the study. Four themes emerged from the data. Planning needs to be an iterative process that commences before and continues during the program. Support processes need to be established for students and clinicians during and across placements. The creation of an engaging, client-relevant and graded group dynamic is critical for success. Establishing a culture whereby groups are valued by the clients, therapy and multidisciplinary teams is important. Conclusions The above-mentioned factors were perceived as contributing to successful operationalisation of a student-resourced service delivery group program, and may be helpful when developing student-resourced service delivery professional practice placements in other settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Student-resourced service delivery of groups are one way to achieve additional professional practice placements for students and delivery of therapy services for patients. Ongoing investment for planning and preparation, provision of continual support for students, a culture of valuing groups and students, and creating a group dynamic that engages group participants were perceived by stakeholders as key ingredients for successful implementation of the student-resourced service delivery group model. Clinicians and educators are encouraged to use the perceived success factors identified in this study as a resource for future student-resourced service delivery program development.

Rates and Correlates of Suicidality in VA Intensive Case Management Programs.

There has been extensive concern about suicide among veterans, but no study has examined rates and correlates of suicidality in the highly vulnerable group of veterans receiving Veterans Health Administration (VHA) intensive case management services. Veterans participating in a national program evaluation were surveyed at the time of program entry and 6months later. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were documented along with elements of program service delivery. Chi square tests were used to compare rates of suicidality (defined as either having made or threatened an attempt) at baseline and at the 6-month follow-up. Analysis of variance was also used to compare suicidal and non-suicidal veterans at follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was then used to identify independent correlates of suicidality 6months after program entry. Among the 9921 veterans who later completed follow-up assessments 989 (10.0%) had reported suicidal behavior at program entry as compared to only 250 (2.51%) at 6months (p < 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed suicidality at 6months to be associated with suicidality at admission, increased subjective distress on the Brief Symptom Inventory (especially on depression items), violent behavior and decreased quality of life since admission, along with a greater likelihood of receiving crisis intervention, but not other services. Among veterans receiving intensive case management services from VHA, suicidal behavior declined by 75% from admission to 6months (10-2.5%) and was associated with suicidality prior to program entry, worsening subjective symptoms and greater receipt of crisis intervention services.

Local Government Capacity Development: A Case Study of a South African District Municipality

Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (BPDM), in the North West Province is endowed with the extractive economy. The District experiences challenges of capacity development of service delivery structures and programmes. It is in this context that this paper explains how local government responses to challenges of capacity development in the District Municipality. In addition, the paper explores ways in which they can be overcome for enhanced service delivery. The purpose of this study is to examine challenges related to the use of capacity development structures and programmes related to service delivery and explores how to overcome them. The study examines the structures and programmes, facilitators and inhibitors of skills development and performance initiatives within the context of local government capacity development. This study develops a theoretical framing incorporating scholarship on human capital and performance improvement in the context of local government. This framing is premised on the scholarly evidence that capacity development is an enabler of service delivery, influenced by skills development and municipal performance improvement. The research is a single case qualitative case study approach and employs an interpretative paradigm. The paper employs senior managers in the municipalities as the unit of analysis. That study reveals that there are difficulties associated with skills retention and organisational relations. In conclusion, political abandonment, poor communication and stakeholder engagements contribute to weakened inter-municipal co-operation and inadequate use of resources. The interface between learning and skills development contributes to the body knowledge.

Using an adaptive, codesign approach to strengthen clinic-level immunisation services in Khayelitsha, Western Cape Province, South Africa

IntroductionOptimal immunisation programme service delivery and childhood vaccine coverage remains an ongoing challenge in South Africa. Previous health systems approaches have made recommendations on how to address identified barriers but...

“There Was No ‘That’s Not My Job’”: New York Area Agencies on Aging Approaches to Supporting Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many older adults' traditional sources of formal and informal supports, increasing demand for Area Agency on Aging services (AAAs). This study examines strategies used by AAAs to support older adults' health and well-being during COVID-19 and identifies contextual influences on AAA pandemic response activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of 20 AAAs in New York State. A combined inductive and deductive approach was used to code and thematically analyze the data. AAAs rapidly expanded capacity and dramatically modified program offerings, communications activities, and service delivery protocols to address emergent needs and minimize COVID-19 exposure risk for clients. AAAs' trusted relationships with older adults and community partners improved their capacity to identify priority needs and coordinate appropriate supports. Policymakers should ensure that AAAs receive sustained financial and technical support to ensure critical community-based services are available for older adults throughout pandemic response and recovery.

Returning Veterans’ Experiences of a Holistic Therapeutic Program

Since 2001, over 2.7 million U.S. military service members have been deployed (Wenger et al., 2018). Many of these soldiers have encountered serious challenges readjusting upon their return home and many may not access the services needed to achieve successful reintegration. Current literature calls for holistic approaches to service provision, involving collaboration of support services to address the underutilization of services. To better understand the gap in treatment utilization, a qualitative approach was used to examine returning veterans’ experiences of an intensive and holistic service delivery program implemented in coordination with local veterans’ organizations. Within the study, a generic qualitative approach was used to analyze interviews with 6 military veterans who had previously been deployed and were participating in the holistic therapeutic program. Results of the analysis revealed the following themes pertaining to participants’ experiences of the treatment process: (a) the importance of trusting relationships in the therapeutic setting; (b) importance of gaining adaptive coping strategies; (c) maintaining a sense of strength and independence; (d) difficulty with adjusting to civilian life and access of support services; and (e) difficulty with self-expression in civilian contexts. Limitations and recommendations are also provided.

Quality of life and its determinants among filipino patients living with HIV/AIDS enrolled in treatment hub of a tertiary government hospital

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is an important component in the evaluation of the wellbeing of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). With the very limited data on determinants of QoL in the Philippines, we deemed it necessary to assess the QoL and the factors affecting it among these patients as it provides an avenue for health care reforms on HIV/AIDS program and quality health service delivery. Methods and materials: This is a cross-sectional analytical study. Adult filipino PLWHA who were linked to a treatment hub of a tertiary government hospital in the Philippines were surveyed. It utilized the locally-validated WHOQOL-HIV BREF assessment tool. Other variables of interest were obtained from medical records. Results: Of the 341 HIV seropositive patients included in the study, the median age was 32 years, mostly male (93.55%). Majority had good general QoL (58.6%). Regression analysis showed that except for age, ARV regimen and HIV Viral Load, all other factors examined were associated with at least one QoL domain. Among the factors associated with good general QoL were: CD4 ≥ 200 cells/μL (0.218; 95% CI: 0.01–0.43; p = 0.043) and ARV duration > 3 months (0.333; 95% CI: 0.05–0.62; p = 0.022). Conversely, low education (-0.379; 95% CI: -0.59 to -0.17; p = <0.001), poor treatment adherence (-0.752; 95% CI: -1.05 to -0.45; p = <0.001), and presence of opportunistic infections (-0.187; 95% CI: -0.37 to 0; p = 0.049) were associated with poor general QoL. Female sex (-1.328; 95% CI: -2.49 to -0.17; p = 0.025) and unemployment (-0.99; 95% CI: -1.69 to -0.29; p = 0.006) were associated with poor QoL on environment and independence domains, respectively. Conclusion: HIV seropositive patients with CD4 ≥ 200 and on ARV treatment for >3 months are more likely to have good QoL, while having low education, poor treatment adherence and presence of opportunistic infection likely predict poor QoL. Female sex and unemployment were associated with poor QoL in at least one QoL domain.

Using individual stated-preferences to optimize HIV self-testing service delivery among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia: results from a conjoint-based analysis

BackgroundHIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to improve HIV testing uptake and frequency for key populations like MSM who experience multiple barriers accessing clinic-based HIV testing. In the absence of HIVST in Malaysia, there is no guidance to inform HIVST delivery. This study investigated the acceptability of HIVST and preferences about the HIVST service delivery approaches using a standardized stated preference method.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey conducted between January and April 2019 assessed the interest in HIVST in 544 MSM in Malaysia. Participants ranked eight hypothetical HIVST service delivery program elements with varied combinations of six, two-level HIVST service delivery program attributes (cost, privacy, accuracy, kit collection site, kit type, and testing support). SPSS conjoint procedure was used to estimate the relative importance of each attribute and preference across eight possible HIVST service delivery programs.ResultsOverall, 70.4% had previously tested for HIV, and of those, 64.0% had done so in the past 6 months (45.0% of all participants). Of all the participants, 25.2% reported having used HIVST previously. The acceptability for HIVST service delivery models ranged from 44.9 to 77.1%, with mean acceptability of 56.2% across the eight hypothetical HIVST distribution scenarios. The HIVST service delivery scenario with the highest acceptability had the following attributes: no cost (free), anonymity (name not required), 99–100% accuracy, home-delivered, fingerstick, and testing support using telephone hotline or texting. HIVST cost was the most important attribute (relative importance score: RIS = 19.30) associated with acceptability, followed by anonymity (RIS = 18.41), accuracy (RIS = 17.33), kit delivery (RIS = 16.99), fingerstick kit (RIS = 15.86), and support (RIS = 12.08).ConclusionsAcceptability for HIVST in Malaysian MSM was high but differed markedly by a number of HIVST delivery scenarios and attributes. These findings could be relevant as the Malaysian Ministry of Health is in the process of developing a regulatory framework for ensuring the quality of kits, as well as policies supporting safe use while broader implementation under national AIDS programs.

Physiotherapy Intervention in Palliative Care for HIV Comorbidities: Can it be a Best Practice for Public Policy for Palliative Care in Zambia?

Introduction:The prolonged life expectancy for people living with HIV has led to an increase in the prevalence of people living with HIV and AIDS.Most of these patients are experiencing episodes of wellness and illness with related disability. In Zambia, many HIV patients who required rehabilitation services were not able to access these services.A community based physiotherapy intervention programme using Community Health Workers who were equipped with basic physiotherapy skills was set up in Mtendere and Chawama Townships of Lusaka, Zambia from 2008 to 2015.This study set out to assess the intervention output in relation to patients’ trends, process of the intervention and challenges experienced for the period October, 2012 to September, 2014.Methods: This evaluation reviewed monthly and annual reports of the programme from October, 2012 to September, 2014.A desk review of palliative care related reports and policy was also reviewed. Both qualitative and quantitative data was extracted from these reports, with quantitative data being analyzed using excel while qualitative data was analysed usingQSR NVIVO 10 after being transcribed and translated from texts.Results: The patients’ trends during this period showed a steady increase in the proportion of new patients being enrolled onto the programme compared to those who were being lost to follow up, death, discharge or other loss such as transfers and many others. Themes under qualitative analysis were Community Health Workers, procurements, service delivery programme challenges and palliative care policy.The programme planned to conduct two trainings for each of the years under review but only managed one in each year. There were many challenges identified under this programme and all of them bordered on inconsistencies in the release of funds.Conclusion: This evaluation shows that the prevalence of HIV patients presenting with disabling conditions has been increasing and there is need to provide the needed rehabilitation services through the community based programme. Using Community Health Workers to provide physiotherapy services in the community enables many patients to access these services and hence a policy that supports this would be ideal. Keywords:palliative care; physiotherapy; HIV comorbidity; public policy

Pediatric Teleheath: Opportunities Created by the COVID-19 and Suggestions to Sustain Its Use to Support Families of Children with Disabilities

Aims Telehealth is being rapidly adopted by physical and occupational therapists in pediatrics as a strategy to maintain services during the COVID-19 crisis. This perspective presents a mix of theoretical and practice perspectives to support the implementation of telehealth. Although research evidence is just emerging, there is sufficient indication to believe telehealth is effective. However, which telehealth strategies are best for which children and families, and which intervention goals, are not yet clear. Methods We discuss how different telehealth strategies (e.g. videoconferencing, emails, phone calls, online programs) are being used to address specific intervention goals. Comments from therapists using telehealth and examples of practices in different context and with different populations are provided. We discuss how newly adopted telehealth practices could be included in future hybrid service delivery models and programs, as well as factors influencing the decision to offer face-to-face or online interventions. Conclusion Although telehealth has been implemented quickly as a response to a health care crisis, and is not a one-size-fits-all intervention, we believe it offers great opportunities to increase the accessibility, cost-effectiveness and family-centredness of our services, to best support families of children with disabilities.

Atraumatic Restorative Treatments in Australian Aboriginal Communities: A Cluster-randomized Trial.

The management of early childhood caries (ECC) is challenging. A model of care based on Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the Hall Technique (ART-HT) to manage ECC was evaluated among remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Aboriginal communities in the North-West of Western Australia were invited to participate and consenting communities were randomized into early or delayed intervention for the management of ECC. Children were examined at baseline and at the 11-mo follow-up. The early intervention group (test) was provided with the ART-based dental care at baseline while the delayed intervention group (control) was advised to seek care through the usual care options available within the community. At follow-up, both groups were examined by calibrated examiners, and were offered care using the ART-HT approach. Changes from baseline to follow-up in caries experience were tested using paired tests. Multivariate analysis after multiple imputation of missing data used generalised estimating equation (GEE) controlling for clustering within communities. A total of 25 communities and 338 children (mean age = 3.6 y, SD 1.7) participated in the study (test = 177). At follow-up, 231 children were examined (68% retention, test = 125). At follow-up, children in the test group had more filled teeth (test filled teeth = 1.2, control filled teeth = 0.2, P < 0.001) and decreased levels of decayed teeth (mean test = 0.7 fewer teeth with decay, mean control = 1.0 more tooth with decay, P < 0.001). GEE analysis controlled for baseline caries experience, age, sex, and community water fluoride levels found increased rates of untreated decayed teeth (RR = 1.4, P = 0.02) and decreased rates of filled teeth (RR = 0.2, P < 0.001) at follow-up among the control group. A model of care relying on the principles of minimally invasive atraumatic approaches enabled the delivery of effective dental services to young children (<6 y) in remote Aboriginal Australian communities resulting in increased levels of care and improved oral health. This cluster-randomized trial tested a multi-component model of dental care to young children with ECC in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. The intervention, based on the atraumatic approaches using minimally invasive techniques encompassing preventive care, Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the Hall Technique (ART-HT), delivered more restorative care and reduced the incidence of caries. This model of care was more effective than available standard care and should be incorporated into mainstream service delivery programs.

Children's Oral Health: Progress, Policy Development, And Priorities For Continued Improvement.

Considerable progress has occurred in the US over the past quarter-century in terms of improving children's oral health. Federal and state policies, programs, and partnerships have contributed to improvements in oral health status. Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage expansions helped increase the use of dental services, and investments in safety-net facilities and training programs helped expand service delivery and the oral health workforce. Nevertheless, dental caries remains the most common chronic disease of childhood, notable oral health disparities persist, and the adoption of evidence-based innovations remains slow and uneven. This article highlights improvements during the past twenty-five years in US children's oral health and oral health care that stem from major federal and state initiatives, as well as persistent disparities. We offer promising strategies for reducing gaps and suggestions for overcoming challenges to future progress, including renewed emphasis on oral health during early childhood; greater integration in education and clinical service delivery programs; development of standardized quality measures; and data collection systems that support more robust surveillance, program monitoring, and system improvements.

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONALIZATION OF ATTITUDES AND MOTIVATION OF MANAGERS IN RAISING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TV SERVICE

The activities of media management have the task of overcoming all the surprises in the turbulent financial and media market, using permanent education. Management must be modernized in organizational terms, with the need to monitor and introduce technological innovations, such as networking and virtualization.When we come across organizational performance problems, and if one thinks it is a motivation problem one should ask: Are motivational problems different from performance problems? Should the concept of motivation be added to our understanding of this problem or is it possible to discover and solve it with an existing HPT tool Human Performance Technology? If performance variables such as goals, equipment, feedback, and incentives have worked effectively, is it possible that motivational problems still remain?In this paper, by quantitative analysis based on the total variables of two focus groups and three groups of stakeholders, we were able to clearly define the statistical differences between public and commercial TV service, as well as to determine their characteristics. What consequences can these changes cause in the long run? Will they be repeated and in which direction will managerial functions develop further? Quantitative data and indicators obtained by empirical research will be processed by the statistical method. Statistical methods for comparing groups with several techniques and tests (one-factor analysis of ANOVA variance, non-parametric technique and tests) will be used to prove the hypotheses.Starting from the above theoretical and empirical findings, we set four basic and four auxiliary hypotheses. By applying different methods of determining the existence of attitudes and motivation of TV service management that exist in the real economic world, the collected quantitative data obtained through the instrument / questionnaire will be statistical analysis, calculate the proportions of their interdependence during economic processes. They will show that different factors from the macro and micro environment, influence the attitudes and functioning of management. Communication with target groups, ie the audience with a specific approach depends on the motivation and attitudes of the management, which depends on the innovation and creativity of the management. Communication, the environment in the organization, business culture, social responsibility, depend on the attitudes of management that shape the image of TV services and their development. Attitude and motivation ensure competitiveness in the long run, as well as retaining the audience and advertisers. Based on the stereotypical public opinion, it was expected that the public service would have a more motivated management, that it would invest more in the quality of information and programs, in order to diversify media, cultural and educational content. A statistically significant difference in the motivation of managers in favor of commercial TV service was found. Motivated management can achieve a cohesive business intelligent TV service and thus the quality of service delivery and quality program to the target market while respecting the political, economic, technological, environmental and social factors that operate in an environment covered by the TV signal.

Foreign assistance or attack? Impact of the expanded Global Gag Rule on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Kenya

In 2017, the Trump Administration reinstated and expanded the Global Gag Rule (GGR). This policy requires non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not based in the US to certify that they will not provide, counsel, refer, or advocate for abortion as a method of family planning in order to receive most categories of US global health assistance. Robust empirical evidence demonstrating the policy’s impacts is acutely lacking. This paper describes the effects of the expanded GGR policy in Kenya eighteen months after its reinstatement. We conducted semi-structured interviews with purposively selected representatives of US- and non-US-based NGOs, as well as managers and health providers at public and private health facilities, between September 2018 and March 2019. Organisations reported critical funding loss as they were forced to choose between US government-funded projects and projects supporting safe abortion. This resulted in the fragmentation of sexual and reproductive health and HIV services, and closure of some service delivery programmes. At public and private health facilities, participants reported staffing shortages and increased stock-outs of family planning and safe abortion commodities. The expanded GGR’s effects transcended abortion care by also disrupting collaboration and health promotion activities, strengthening opposition to sexual and reproductive health and rights in some segments of Kenyan civil society and government. Our findings indicate that the GGR exposes and exacerbates the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the Kenyan health system, and illuminates the need for action to mitigate these harms.

Community delivery of brief therapy for depressed older adults impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Older adults frequently under-report depressive symptoms and often fail to access services after a disaster. To address unmet mental health needs, we developed a service delivery program (SMART-MH) that combines outreach, assessment, and therapy and implemented it in New York City after Hurricane Sandy. This study aimed to examine the feasibility, effectiveness, and patients' engagement of our brief psychotherapy ("Engage"). We predicted that Engage would result in reductions of depression, and that the benefits would be comparable to those of a historical comparison group who received Engage in a controlled experimental setting. A total of 2,831 adults (age ≥ 60) impacted by Hurricane Sandy were screened for depression. Assessments and therapy were conducted in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Russian. Depressed individuals (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) who were not in treatment were offered Engage therapy in their native language at local senior center/nutrition sites. Twelve percent of the participants reported depression (N = 333). Of these 333 participants, 201 (60%) were not receiving treatment and 143 agreed to receive Engage therapy. Linear mixed-effects model showed that depression severity decreased significantly over time. More than two thirds had a five-point reduction in PHQ-9 scores and post-treatment scores ≤9. Post-hoc comparison of standardized slopes of change found patterns of depression reductions equivalent to Engage provided in a controlled setting. Partnerships to integrate mental health care into community settings can increase detection of mental-health needs and access to services in patients' native language. Brief reward exposure-based psychotherapy delivered in the community can provide comparable benefits to those achieved in research settings.

Messages around contraceptive use and implications in rural Malawi

The unmet need for contraception in Malawi remains high, despite progress increasing knowledge and access over the past two decades. Understanding the reasons for this unmet need is critical to programme planning and service delivery. In this study, we conducted 30 in-depth interviews and 13 focus group discussions with women and men in rural Malawi to understand social, cultural and relational barriers and facilitators to contraceptive use. We found that contraceptive decisions were influenced by complex, often conflicting messages with varying implications based on individual and contextual factors. Common factors that influence contraceptive use, such as spousal support, side effects and social norms that dictated acceptable users of contraception could act as both barriers and facilitators to use depending on context. While strides have been made in increasing access to contraception, findings indicate a need for public health programmes to take a nuanced approach to increasing contraceptive use that does not presume particular factors will be a barrier or facilitator across groups. Instead, programmes should seek to understand how social, cultural and relational factors influencing contraceptive use differ across groups.

A University-Based Social Services Parent-Training Model: A Telehealth Adaptation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in social-distancing recommendations, many service providers find themselves altering the way they must provide medically necessary therapy. Even with the advent of more advanced telehealth technologies, the implementation of behavioral programming falls mainly on the caregivers of the clients that are served. This crisis brings to light ethical dilemmas and upends the current ways many programs may have been implemented across the world. As a result, a reevaluation of how these services are delivered is in order. This article reviews how a university-based, state-funded service delivery program (USSDP) provided essential and necessary services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the purpose of this article is to describe how the USSDP quickly adopted a telehealth care model in a program that previously had not delivered services in this modality. Ethical, contextual, and competency-based factors are reviewed in the context of this organization, followed by a dialogue on broader generalization suggestions utilizing an active support model of care within telehealth restrictions.

Nurse-Led Forensic Services for Foreign-Born Torture or Abuse Survivors Seeking Legal Immigration Relief: Results of a Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

In 2017, a team of forensic nurses in Maryland launched the first known nurse-led and managed service delivery program designed to meet the unique medicoforensic needs of immigrant survivors, including asylum seekers, in their community. The expanded suite of services involved conducting forensic physical evaluations, which included medicolegal history-taking, head-to-toe forensic physical assessment, photodocumentation, and presentation of related findings in the form of written affidavits for use in applications for legal reliefs in immigration court (e.g., asylum, T or U visas, Convention Against Torture). Case-based data for patients served as part of the program (n = 8), and semistructured interview data were collected from key service delivery stakeholders (n = 5) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of this pilot program. Eight asylum-seeking patients received medicoforensic nursing services between May 2017 and December 2018. Key benefits of services to clients included accessibility to timely, trauma-informed care by a professional nurse at no cost and with flexible scheduling. Furthermore, the skill sets required to conduct forensic physical evaluations were found to align with sexual assault and forensic nursing scope of practice. Forensic nurses are well positioned to fill current service delivery gaps to meet the medicolegal needs of this vulnerable population in civil court proceedings. Recommendations of this study may be used by other forensic nurse teams to inform the design and implementation of initiatives to expand the core services of a forensic nursing program to include asylum and immigration-specific medicolegal care.

Social Skills Teaching for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review

Social skills teaching (SST) is a commonly implemented intervention strategy with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given the myriad of strategies that may be utilized within SST, a systematic review was conducted to identify the state of research with respect to SST. Social skills teaching intervention studies published between 1998 and 2018 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included use of a single case research design, participants between 3 and 17 years of age, inclusion of a dependent variable that targeted a discrete social skill, and data collection and are presented on the targeted discrete social skill. A total of 201 articles were identified for inclusion and coded according to intervention type, participant age, outcomes assessed, and adherence to single case design standards. A total of 12 intervention categories were identified. Video modeling represented the most frequently researched intervention between 1998 and 2018, with didactic instruction and the provision of rules representing the least frequently studied procedure. Recent literature in SST is generally well-designed and scientifically rigorous. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to consider these strategies as frontline intervention options when designing future research or service delivery programs for youth with ASD.

APA Achievement Award Winners Meet Contemporary Challenges With Innovation

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article APA & MeetingsFull AccessAPA Achievement Award Winners Meet Contemporary Challenges With InnovationMark MoranMark MoranSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:13 Apr 2020https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.4b22AbstractThis year’s winners use collaboration and community engagement to extend psychiatric expertise to distressed populations and rural hospitals facing a shortage of mental health manpower.APA’s 2020 Achievement Award winners include innovative community and academic-based services focusing on veterans’ health and mental health, support for victims of sex trafficking, and psychiatric support of primary care practices given the shortage of mental health professionals.Since 1949, the Psychiatric Services Achievement Awards have recognized creative models of service delivery and innovative programs for people with mental illness or disabilities. Each year, APA bestows a Gold, a Silver, and a Bronze Award. Following are this year’s winners:Lt. Col. (Ret.) Army Medical Service Corps Michael Richardson, vice president for mental health and brain health programs of the Wounded Warrior Project’s Warrior Care NetworkMollie Gordon, M.D., medical director of the Baylor College of Medicine Anti-Human Trafficking ProgramZsuzsa Szombathyne Meszaros, M.D., Ph.D., director of the residency training program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at SUNY Upstate Medical CenterGold Award: Warrior Care Network. The Warrior Care Network, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a collaboration of the Wounded Warrior Project and four academic medical centers throughout the United States: Emory Healthcare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and UCLA Health. The program operates in cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs to enhance access to clinical and family-centered treatment for veterans experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and related conditions. Care is offered through standard outpatient treatment and an innovative intensive outpatient program.Silver Award: Baylor College of Medicine Anti-Human Trafficking Program. In this collaboration with the Houston Mayor’s Office and the Office of the Governor of Texas, Baylor Department of Psychiatry faculty members supervise two psychology postdoctoral fellows and a clinical social worker/case manager to address the problems related to human trafficking through a medical and public health lens. Through the program, health care professionals and community providers are trained in the identification and treatment of victims of human trafficking. By maintaining a working relationship with community-based case managers, the program enables victims to be referred for mental health treatment. An interdisciplinary approach enables the appropriate response to patients’ individual needs and provides a better chance for recovery and healing from this trauma.Bronze Award: SUNY Upstate Medical University. SUNY Upstate Medical University is located in a rural area where there is a serious shortage of psychiatrists. To help mitigate this problem, the school’s residency program has partnered with rural hospitals to support additional residency positions that will provide community care. The hospitals contract with the school with the understanding that the residents assigned to them, besides receiving standard residency training, will spend two months of the first two years of residency and one day a week during the second two years at a rural hospital site. The residents are committed to spending the five years after residency at the rural site. The first graduate has now started full-time work, and 12 residents are providing care to rural communities where people in need would otherwise have great difficulty accessing psychiatric care. ■ ISSUES NewArchived