AEGiS-BKREV: Changing Face of AIDS: Implications for Social Work Practice

Changing Face of AIDS: Implications for Social Work Practice

Auburn House, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881. 251p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-86569-205-X. $49.95. (Contributors to this volume: Vincent J. Lynch, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work; Gary A. Lloyd, Tulane Univ. of School of Social Work; Manuel F. Fimbres, San Jose State Univ.; Susan Taylor-Brown, Syracuse Univ. School of Social Work; Steven Cadwell, private practice; Esther Chachkes, New York Univ. Medical Center; Marsha Zibalese-Crawford, Univ. of Denver Graduate School of Social Work; Cynthia D. Fair, National Cancer Institute; John A. Fleishman, Brown Univ.; Patricia U. Giulino, Massachusetts General Hospital; Steven Godin, East Stroudsburg Univ.; Richard T. Granowsky, National Childrens' Center; Robert H. Hodge, Houston Therapies; Thomas Johnson, Univ. of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Karen Kahn, Univ. of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Carl G. Leukefeld, Univ. of Kentucky; Vincent Mor, Brown Univ.; John D. Piette, Institute for Health Policy Studies, San Francisco; Jack B. Stein, Center for HIV Substance Abuse Training; Bruce J. Thompson, Brown Univ.; Maureen M. Underwood, Univ. of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Lori S. Wiener, National Cancer Institute; Paul A. Wilson, Boston College)
Edited by Vincent J. Lynch, Gary A. Lloyd, Manuel F. Fimbres. 1993.

"In the United States, social workers comprise the single largest group of mental health professionals providing services to those affected by" AIDS and the HIV virus. They are at the front lines in providing services to these individuals at all levels. The first decade was devoted to gays and AIDS, while this second decade is showing that AIDS is in all areas of society, thus the name of the book, Changing Face of AIDS. Through the efforts of the gay communities, there is now an actual decline in the number of gay AIDS cases but a frightening increase in the black and Hispanic communities as well as with women. The book is divided into three sections that the editors call macro, mezzo, and micro. The macro section covers the broad demographics and other related macro aspects of AIDS/HIV while the mezzo section covers the organizational and other related service-delivery issues. The micro section is the largest and concentrates on the special populations and specific intervention approaches that can be implemented by the social worker. The editors hope that this book "will be of value as a reference work for the AIDS-care social work practitioner and as a resource to the social work student seeking the most up-to-date information about social work's role in the care of those with HIV/AIDS."

In talking about the future direction of education and practice pertaining to AIDS, innovative programs are outlined, including telephone conference groups, cable network programming, nontraditional living arrangements, life review programs, bereavement programs, programs for adolescents, and legal services. A well written section covers service delivery in HIV/AIDS organizations and mental health services in community-based AIDS organizations. The largest and most important section for any social worker is the one that covers the special populations and how to approach and intervene. These populations include families, infants, children, adolescents, women, gay men, couples, race, bisexuals, gay youth, seriously and persistently mentally ill, substance abusers, and communities of color. Each population is covered in detail giving suggestions on how to work within the communities. A final section: "A Synthesis" covers research and practice issues, including persisting issues, prevention and harm reduction, stigma, duration and chronicity, services to special populations, and the social work response.

This is a well researched book with a wealth of information for everyone. It is highly recommended for all social workers, care givers, and others working directly with these individuals. It is a must book for all public, academic, and medical libraries. (H. Robert Malinowsky)

Keywords: Medical Social Work, Patient Services, Service Delivery, Case Management, Families, Gays, Mentally Ill, Substance Abuse

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Copyright © 1993 - The University of Illinois at Chicago. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.

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