Social work training of new health professionals

The Child Health Associate program provides a model for using social workers in the training of new health professionals. Administratively, social workers have contributed to curriculum development in the behavioral sciences. They have influenced decisions regarding student selection and have developed and implemented a faculty adviser program. Because of their practical experience as primary care practitioners, social workers have been able to define effectively the skills needed by the new professionals to meet the social and emotional needs of their patients. Social workers have made use of their contacts in hospitals and communities to design and implement courses and clinics that combine in a meaningful manner theoretical material and practical experiences in patient contact. Evaluative research in the area of interviewing skills and crisis management demonstrates that the teaching methods applied by the social work profession are effective in increasing the level of students' interviewing skills in clinical practice and help prepare them to recognize familiy crises.