Reviews relevant literature on the subject of rural adolescent mental health. Discusses demographics, unique situations, and problems of rural youth. Presents impact of the rural economic crisis. Suggests treatment strategies to deal with mental health problems of rural adolescents: individual therapy, family therapy, and peer group programs. (NEC)

Reviews social-work research concerning the differences between rural and urban practice, how rural social workers feel about their practice, and what needs to be taught in professional social-work schools. Suggests a more useful agenda for social-work research. Describes a West Virginia study that identified the research interests of the human…

Rural disability and rehabilitation services suffer from problems of equity and efficacy. The most relevant approach to rural human-services planning is one in which available resources are organized and managed to produce the best results. Barriers to rural rehabilitation include too few rehabilitation personnel, inadequate transportation, and…

Examines characteristics of the rural family relevant to professional AIDS-related human service activities. Considers the family as primary American socialization and support resource, the effects of the AIDS epidemic on family function, and the effects of the rural environment on family support for AIDS victims. Contains 21 references. (DHP)

Describes research exploring links between commitment laws and homelessness among mentally ill. Shows treatment differences in rural and metropolitan areas. Suggests narrow urban interpretation of laws leads to homelessness while rural overreaction leads to more unwarranted commitments. Identifies continuum-of-care needs. Suggests topics for…

Outlines the high incidence of poverty among the rural elderly, their sources of income, and their helping networks. Calls attention to rural-urban differences, farm/nonfarm resident distinctions, regional differences, and characteristics of recent immigrants versus long-term residents. Urges social work interventions that address the distinctive…

Discusses using social-work educational methods to organize the New York Rural Human Services Coalition, when public policy is increasingly urban oriented. Describes historical framework and state institutional structure of services. Describes organization to secure rural perspectives in human-services delivery. Describes community organization…

Formal and informal support systems are essential to empowering rural families to meet basic needs of health, education, and employment. Formal resources (institutions, agencies, professionals) are often lacking in rural areas and families rely on informal resources (extended family, church, social clubs). Characteristics of informal social…

Explores options for human service delivery and related organizational change in rural areas. Addresses the unique context and distinctive features of rural service delivery, urban service professionalism and fragmentation, and potential advantages of traditional integrated rural systems. Discusses eight models derived from combinations of three…

A national survey of 184 social work managers concerning the frequency of use and importance of 12 managerial competencies did not reveal significant differences between urban and rural respondents. Suggests that the demand for complex and managerial competencies and skills is universal among social work managers. Addresses implications for social…

Examines the potential of a flexible specialization model to provide effective social services integration in rural areas. Contrasts flexible specialization with craft and Fordist models of production, with implications for service integration. Identifies societal changes supporting the development of flexible specialization in rural areas.…

Discusses two primary rural disability issues: employment needs of, and outcomes for, rural youth with disabilities; and employability development and transition methods. Suggests improvements for service delivery through effective case management, parent education and support, and collaboration among educational and rehabilitation agencies. (KS)

Examines current social policies and the extent to which they address rural needs. Focuses on primary issues raised by programs of social insurance, public assistance, and economic development. Notes differences between pre- and post-transfer income and their impact on self-sufficiency for rural populations. (JHZ)

Reviews socioeconomic impacts of rapid growth on rural areas in the western United States. Concludes that costs of development exceed benefits for some groups. Calls for research and policy initiatives to identify appropriate strategies to manage the growth and decline which are characteristic of changing rural areas. (LFL)

Reviews and assesses rural child welfare and rural child welfare services as they exist today. Reviews the literature showing the rural social worker is probably most successful as a generalist who deals with a child as part of an interlocking system involving the school, family, and community. (Author)