Social Workers and Fight Against Drug Abuse Essay

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role of a social worker and evaluates their contributions to the drug court team on the basis of the ten key components of Drug Courts. There has been research on the role of social workers role in drug courts. However, there has not been so much focus on the effectiveness and process of the activities by social workers. Therefore there is need for a further evaluation of structural and process characteristics and hence need a qualitative research to clarify the findings of quantitative studies.

The research method used involves an in-depth descriptive explanatory case study. The subject is a social worker in a Midwestern country court which occurred over the course of two years. The data was collected through a series of interview with the social worker as well as observation. The case study gives a description of how a social worker implements the ten key components of the drug court process. The analysis of the data comprising of written responses to interview questions and observation notes was done using content analysis. It is hoped that an analytic framework for future studies on social workers and drug courts can be formed using the case study (Roberts, Philips, Bordelon, & Seif, 2014).

The targeted population for this Midwestern County Drug court is the non-violent drug offender abusing substances or is chemically dependent. After an arrest, the offender's case file is sent to the office of the prosecutor for review. The prosecutor then determines whether the suspect is a potential candidate for the drug court. The goal of the drug court is abstinence from drugs and the social worker is the one that helps them explore the means they will use to attain their goals.

The results of this case study are arranged according to the 10 key components of Drug Court. According to the first Key component one drug courts usually integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with the justice case process. The social worker monitors the compliance program policies and rules and reduction of criminal behavior.

Key component tow requires that prosecution and defense counsel use a non-adversarial approach to promote public safety as they protect the rights of the participant in the due process.

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The social worker designs the screening, assessment and eligibility of the participant in the drug court. Key component three requires an early identification of eligible participants and promptly placed in the drug program. The social worker is trained hence can easily screen drug court eligible individuals for the drug abuse problems and suitability of treatment (Roberts, Philips, Bordelon, & Seif, 2014).

The fourth key component is that these drug courts need to provide an access to a continuum of alcohol, drug and other related treatment and rehabilitation services. In this study the social worker identified and monitored each participant's unique needs for support. She then coordinated participant access to services and ensured there is a linkage and coordination among the drug court service providers. The social worker helped the participants to be involved with the primary health and mental care and also other social and support services.

Key component five requires the monitoring of alcohol and other drug testing. The social worker and court provide a strategy that is used for responding to compliance and non-compliance. Key component six requires strategy that governs drug court responses coordinated on the compliance of the participants. The social worker came up with a coordinated strategy that includes a continuum of response which puts emphasis on predictability, certainty and swiftness in the application process. Key component seven requires an ongoing judicial interaction with each drug court participant. The social worker came up with activities and learning situations so as to promote judicial sensitivity as well as engage the team as partners in the helping process.

Key component eight is on monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness. The social worker provides information required for day-to-day operations, monitoring, planning and evaluation. Key component nine is continuing interdisciplinary education promotes effective drug court planning, implementation and operations. The social worker integrated the training into the court meetings termed as lunch and learns and frequently giving flyers to social agency staff. The key component ten is forging partnerships among drug courts, community-based organizations, and public agencies generate local support as well as enhance….....

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