IMPROVING SOCIAL-WORK-PRACTICE WITH PERSONS WHO ARE HOMELESS AND MENTALLY-ILL

Despite a proliferation of programs targeted for persons who are homel ess and mentally ill, few reports in the literature detail the challen ges experienced or strategies utilized by workers, the majority of who m are social workers. The present study reports results from two focus group sessions held with staff running a model service intervention f or this population at two separate sites. The methodology that was uti lized quanitified results, allowing presentation of themes, as well as comparisons of the frequency of responses across categories and by si te. Staff perceived barriers associated with client behaviors and char acteristics predominated at both sites. However, systemic and other ex ternal barriers were also frequently mentioned. Although not part of t he focus group questions, staff spontaneously made mention of their pe rsonal feelings and how they were handled. Site differences were ident ified in the frequency with which certain strategies to handle client and systemic barriers were mentioned. The discussion focuses on implic ations for the education and training of social workers who provide se rvices to individuals who are homeless and mentally ill.