 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Patricia Welch Saleeby, MSSA, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, Campus Box 1196, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130, 314-721-2717, welchp@gwbssw.wustl.edu
Many social workers are encountering individuals with disabilities in their social work public health settings, emphasizing the need for adequate preparation to address disability-related issues. Since its release in 2001, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is considered an international standard in describing and measuring health and disability. Therefore the ICF is a potential mechanism for preparing social workers working in public health systems. Probing was needed to assess the past and present status of the ICF and its predecessor the ICIDH in the social work field. Literature representing social work, public health, and other disciplines was searched for inclusion of articles related to the ICF and ICIDH. Frequencies of articles across disciplines were determined for comparison. Although a significant number of articles exist, the majority was found in journals representing medicine and health-related fields and minimal references in social work journals. The lack of ICF and ICIDH articles in social work journals reflects a deficit in knowledge dissemination of the classifications to social workers working in public health systems and other areas. Since the ICF is being used in other fields and numerous countries, familiarization and use of the ICF in social work would increase the leadership potential among social workers in public health settings. Training and technical assistance for social workers on the ICF will be explored, opportunities for social workers to become more involved in ICF activities will be outlined, and the North American Collaborating Center on ICF will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Disability, Social Work Roles
Related Web page: www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/icfactivities.htm
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: North American Collaborating Center on ICF, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.