Social work practice with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals

Social Work Practice With Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People

The objective of this work is to research the topic of the social work practice with lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals with specific focus on the special population in relation to the problem that the social worker faces in assisting these individuals. Two social agencies and the problems that they encounter on a daily basis in dealing with these individuals will be reviewed as well as the national and legislative actions relative to the problems.

The work of Appleby and Anastas entitled: 'Not Just a Passing Phase: Social Work with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People" relates that a range of everyday problems for gay, lesbian and bisexual people exists including oppression, family acceptance, shame, identity development, HIV disease and addiction. (1999)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of SOCIAL WORKERS (NASW) STANDARDS

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) "believes that the same-gender sexual orientation should b afforded the same respect and rights as other-gender sexual orientation." (2007) Furthermore, NASW holds a commitment to working to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on an individual's sexual orientation inside and outside the social workers profession. (NASW, 2007; paraphrased)

The NASW policy statement on LGB issues holds that "social work schools are expected to offer research opportunities for investigation of issues of relevance to this population. (NASW, 2003 p.229) the NASW work entitled: "Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and Transgender Persons" states as follows:

Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR) recently convened a symposium, Enhancing the Health and Well-Being of LGBT Individuals, Families, and Communities: Building a Social Work Research Agenda, to assess the state of the scientific knowledge and to identify an approach to furthering the evidence base for practice. This symposium offered leaders in the LGBT research arena an opportunity to share research tools and ideas, address research barriers, disseminate their findings, and learn about federal funding opportunities." (NASW, 2007)

Through research and study it is stated that: "...it became clear that there exists a growing body of evidence as well as high interest in conducting further research relating to LGBT people and sharing the research methodology expertise that has developed in accessing this relatively "hard to reach" or "hidden" population with researchers attempting to access other such marginalized populations who are relatively under-researched." (NASW, 2007) According to NAS, professionals:...conducting LGBT research face institutional and methodological barriers. Identified were 'institutional barriers' and 'methodological barriers' stated as follows:

1) Institutional barriers include:

lack of funding;

Congressional challenges to peer-reviewed research material; and Difficulty in receiving human subjects review approval. (NASW, 2007)

2) Methodological barriers include:

Small sample sizes;

Homogeneity of the sample population; and lack of attention to the bisexual and transgender experience." (NASW, 2007)

Through participation in community-based research, practitioners as well as educators and researchers are able to: "...Participate in the vital role of supporting this marginalized community by conducting community-based research in order to better meet the needs of LGBT people and the communities in which they live.

II. FACTORS IDENTIFIED by OTHER PROFESSIONALS

The work of Stephen Neville and Mark Henrickson (2005) entitled: "Perceptions of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People of Primary Healthcare Services" published in the Issues and Innovations in Nursing Practice journal states:

People who identify as LGB are a population group that has largely been ignored in terms of their primary healthcare needs beyond the issues associated with HIV, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted disease. Lack of awareness among healthcare professionals about the primary healthcare needs of this population group has the potential to result in giving ill- or uninformed advice, and consequently missed opportunities for the health and education." (Neville & Henrickson, 2005)

Additionally stated by Neville and Henrickson (2005) is the fact that: "Despite an apparent acceptance of LGB people in recent times, there is a continuing and underlying stigma associated with living a non-heterosexual lifestyle (Dean et al. 2000). Consequently, a pervasive and often covert level of homophobia, heterosexism and violence continues to be promulgated which directly affects the health and well-being of these diverse communities." (2005)

IV. CENTER for WORKFORCE STUDIES

The National Association for Social Workers 'Center for Workforce Studies' is committed to conduction of current studies of the work labor force and as well information is gathered in implementation of a clearinghouse source for "educators, policy makers, social workers, and public and private workforce planners." (2007) Studies conducted by this center for research include the lack of healthcare coverage for same-sex couples due to restrictions on insurance for partners who are not a 'married couple' or indeed are not allowed to claim the same status under job benefits are traditional couples.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

Cleary, there is a gap in legislative appropriations in terms of standard benefits available to life partners in the LGB group, which results in poor healthcare and likely poor health outcomes for LGB individuals. While many children remain homeless or in short-term foster-care situations these individuals are refused the right to adopt children, even when those individuals are exemplary individuals meeting all other possible criteria for adoption standards and laws. For whatever reason that the LBG group exists within society the social worker must immerse themselves in a reflective day-to-day reality of the LGB individual and through the social work practice diligently seek to assist the LGB individual group in overcoming inherent slights of legislation and societal standards when appointing sexual-orientation as the sole-basis for due acknowledgement in basic human rights.