Citation

Spencer PC, Munch S. Soc. Work 2003; 48(4): 532-544.

Affiliation

Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, Highland Park, NJ 08904, USA. pcspence@optonline.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, National Association of Social Workers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14620110

Abstract

With the shift in mental health treatment from psychiatric hospitals to community agencies, mental health workers provide outreach interventions to clientele with increasingly acute psychiatric disorders in their neighborhoods and residences. This article examines job-related, client-perpetrated threats or physical violence against social workers in general, and community outreach mental health professionals in particular. The article highlights the critical role of supervisors and administrators in community mental health programs in developing proactive prevention and postincident response policies and procedures that create an organizational climate of safety awareness, training, and psychological support to traumatized worker-victims. Recommendations for macro-level intervention are proposed, and implications for social work education and the profession are addressed.

Language: en