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Police
Social Work
Angela Kenbok
Abstract
Forensic social work, working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system,
has a highly specialized practice area of Police Social Work (PSW). Unfortunately,
there is a lack of training and guidance for the development of PSW programs. This
action research project compiled the experiences from a new PSW program, as
students collect data, summarize benefits, identify resources and create documents
and professional presentations to contribute to foundational knowledge for PSW
programs. The students will report on their time developing a police social work
program within a local police department. The students will share foundational
training and contacts made with another police social worker to use her knowledge to
help create release and consent forms. The students are keeping track of all
interactions they have within the community and the data and statistics will be
shared. The students have also created a community guide for officers to give to
individuals they feel will benefit from outside services. Ultimately, students and
faculty will share this project at a national conference. This project has the potential
to make significant contributions to the field, including increasing the competence of
two MSW students, assisting community residents in receiving valuable social work
services, assisting others who wish to implement a PSW program and adding to the
literature on PSW.
What is Forensic Social Work?
The application of social work to questions and issues
relating to law and legal systems (NOFSW, 2020).
Based on advanced social work knowledge and skills
working with individuals involved in the criminal justice
system.
Police Social Work
Specialty forensic practice area is Police Social Work
(PSW)
Highly specialized field of clinical social work that
provides services within law enforcement (APSS, 2020).
Police social workers provide crisis counseling,
information and referrals, de-escalation, follow up and
training.
Officers
Officers are constantly responding to calls within their communities
involving substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, suicide,
& homelessness.
Officers are trained to handle the situation in that exact moment to
the best of their ability, but often the issue(s) remain a challenge for
the resident(s) without further assistance.
"Over 90% of officers on patrol have an average of 6 encounters with
individuals in crisis each month, and 7 to 10% of all police encounters
involve people affected by mental illness” (Wood et al, 2016).
Social Workers
Trained to handle crisis situations by being able to offer support and
guidance by applying empathy and having emotional resilience,
listening and analyzing social situations, and facilitating resolution.
Social workers within police departments helps reduce the amount of
non-criminal calls the officers are involved in.
Social workers are trained and taught on how to find resources for the
specific need.
Developing community referrals is only a small part of the job, but
helping the residents and community utilize the resources, while
building a rapport with them is the biggest part.
Collaboration
Collaboration between officers and social workers allows the officers
to free up some of their time to really focus on criminal problems
throughout the community while the social workers focus on
individual needs of residents, whether that means treatment,
counseling, crisis intervention, or more.
Training
According to George Patterson (personal communication, September
25, 2020), who specializes in police social work, “Unfortunately, there
is no training for police social workers”.
With the lack of resources in police social work, those who are
interested in a career in the field, can only gain knowledge by
experience and other’s experience.
Proposed Project
This proposed project will help encourage others in the helping
profession by providing knowledge for improvement and expertise by
analyzing and reflecting on a new Police Social Work (PSW) program,
ultimately sharing this experience to advance the knowledge base of
PSW.
SRU’s new MSW program with a specialization in Forensic Social Work
has two students (Angela Kenbok & Kaylee Kihn) who are completing
their in-person field placement with Hampton Police Department.
Research
Professional, organizational action research is often used for direct
practice where outcomes can be applied to developing programs and
services (Stringer & Dwyer, 2005).
Information gained from action research informs practice, assists in
decision making, and contributes to positive change (Varcarcel Craig,
2009).
This project has the potential to significantly impact the police social
work field, residents receiving services and the expertise of the SRU
students and faculty.
Goals
Expand personal knowledge, skills, and expertise in Police Social Work (PSW).
Objective: Students will collect and compile data from the PSW program, to
include interventions, training experiences, and resources.
Objective: Students will attend the NOFSW (National Organization of Forensic
Social Work) Annual conference.
Strengthen the understanding and foundational knowledge of Police Social
Work by sharing experience and participation in the police department.
Objective: Students will create a presentation sharing the PSW program.
Objective: Students will present at the SRU student symposium.
Objective: Students will present at the NOFSW national conference.
Outcomes of Project
The students will gain increased competence as police social workers.
Presentation of this project will result in enhancing the knowledge
base for PSW.
Results will be compiled into a document to pursue publication.
References
Just Solutions. (2019, July 23). Everyone Benefits When Police Departments Hire Social
Workers. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@JustSolutions/everyonebenefits-when-police-departments-hire-social-workers-34d536f8802a
National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW). (2020). National Organization of
Forensic Social Work. Retrieved from https://www.nofsw.org
Stringer, E., & Dwyer, R. (2005). Action Research in Human Services. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
The Association of Police Social Services (APSS). (2020). Association of Police Social
Workers. http://www.policesocialwork.org
Varcarcel Craig, D. (2009). Action Research Essentials. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Wood, D. J., Watson, C. A., Fulambarker, J. A (2016). The “Gray Zone” of police work
during mental health encounters: Finding from an observational study in Chicago.
Police Q, 20(1), 81-105. doi: 10.1177/1098611116658875
Social Work
Angela Kenbok
Abstract
Forensic social work, working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system,
has a highly specialized practice area of Police Social Work (PSW). Unfortunately,
there is a lack of training and guidance for the development of PSW programs. This
action research project compiled the experiences from a new PSW program, as
students collect data, summarize benefits, identify resources and create documents
and professional presentations to contribute to foundational knowledge for PSW
programs. The students will report on their time developing a police social work
program within a local police department. The students will share foundational
training and contacts made with another police social worker to use her knowledge to
help create release and consent forms. The students are keeping track of all
interactions they have within the community and the data and statistics will be
shared. The students have also created a community guide for officers to give to
individuals they feel will benefit from outside services. Ultimately, students and
faculty will share this project at a national conference. This project has the potential
to make significant contributions to the field, including increasing the competence of
two MSW students, assisting community residents in receiving valuable social work
services, assisting others who wish to implement a PSW program and adding to the
literature on PSW.
What is Forensic Social Work?
The application of social work to questions and issues
relating to law and legal systems (NOFSW, 2020).
Based on advanced social work knowledge and skills
working with individuals involved in the criminal justice
system.
Police Social Work
Specialty forensic practice area is Police Social Work
(PSW)
Highly specialized field of clinical social work that
provides services within law enforcement (APSS, 2020).
Police social workers provide crisis counseling,
information and referrals, de-escalation, follow up and
training.
Officers
Officers are constantly responding to calls within their communities
involving substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, suicide,
& homelessness.
Officers are trained to handle the situation in that exact moment to
the best of their ability, but often the issue(s) remain a challenge for
the resident(s) without further assistance.
"Over 90% of officers on patrol have an average of 6 encounters with
individuals in crisis each month, and 7 to 10% of all police encounters
involve people affected by mental illness” (Wood et al, 2016).
Social Workers
Trained to handle crisis situations by being able to offer support and
guidance by applying empathy and having emotional resilience,
listening and analyzing social situations, and facilitating resolution.
Social workers within police departments helps reduce the amount of
non-criminal calls the officers are involved in.
Social workers are trained and taught on how to find resources for the
specific need.
Developing community referrals is only a small part of the job, but
helping the residents and community utilize the resources, while
building a rapport with them is the biggest part.
Collaboration
Collaboration between officers and social workers allows the officers
to free up some of their time to really focus on criminal problems
throughout the community while the social workers focus on
individual needs of residents, whether that means treatment,
counseling, crisis intervention, or more.
Training
According to George Patterson (personal communication, September
25, 2020), who specializes in police social work, “Unfortunately, there
is no training for police social workers”.
With the lack of resources in police social work, those who are
interested in a career in the field, can only gain knowledge by
experience and other’s experience.
Proposed Project
This proposed project will help encourage others in the helping
profession by providing knowledge for improvement and expertise by
analyzing and reflecting on a new Police Social Work (PSW) program,
ultimately sharing this experience to advance the knowledge base of
PSW.
SRU’s new MSW program with a specialization in Forensic Social Work
has two students (Angela Kenbok & Kaylee Kihn) who are completing
their in-person field placement with Hampton Police Department.
Research
Professional, organizational action research is often used for direct
practice where outcomes can be applied to developing programs and
services (Stringer & Dwyer, 2005).
Information gained from action research informs practice, assists in
decision making, and contributes to positive change (Varcarcel Craig,
2009).
This project has the potential to significantly impact the police social
work field, residents receiving services and the expertise of the SRU
students and faculty.
Goals
Expand personal knowledge, skills, and expertise in Police Social Work (PSW).
Objective: Students will collect and compile data from the PSW program, to
include interventions, training experiences, and resources.
Objective: Students will attend the NOFSW (National Organization of Forensic
Social Work) Annual conference.
Strengthen the understanding and foundational knowledge of Police Social
Work by sharing experience and participation in the police department.
Objective: Students will create a presentation sharing the PSW program.
Objective: Students will present at the SRU student symposium.
Objective: Students will present at the NOFSW national conference.
Outcomes of Project
The students will gain increased competence as police social workers.
Presentation of this project will result in enhancing the knowledge
base for PSW.
Results will be compiled into a document to pursue publication.
References
Just Solutions. (2019, July 23). Everyone Benefits When Police Departments Hire Social
Workers. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@JustSolutions/everyonebenefits-when-police-departments-hire-social-workers-34d536f8802a
National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW). (2020). National Organization of
Forensic Social Work. Retrieved from https://www.nofsw.org
Stringer, E., & Dwyer, R. (2005). Action Research in Human Services. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
The Association of Police Social Services (APSS). (2020). Association of Police Social
Workers. http://www.policesocialwork.org
Varcarcel Craig, D. (2009). Action Research Essentials. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Wood, D. J., Watson, C. A., Fulambarker, J. A (2016). The “Gray Zone” of police work
during mental health encounters: Finding from an observational study in Chicago.
Police Q, 20(1), 81-105. doi: 10.1177/1098611116658875
Media of