Unmet basic needs serve as a barrier to accessing counseling services. How can clinical counselors support their clients in meeting basic needs without exhausting their own resources with endless case management? Tips, resources and template included.
This slideshow was developed for the 2018 Pennsylvania Counseling Association Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
6. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania
• In one day in 2014, 2,498 victims/survivors of DV
were served by Pennsylvania domestic violence
programs; 252 requests for domestic violence
services were unmet.
• An estimated 19.1% of Pennsylvania women will
experience stalking in their lifetime.
• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the US have
experienced intimate partner violence.
8. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Paired Share!
• How does your counseling intersect with clients
who have unmet basic needs?
• What is your current role (if any) in helping clients
access basic needs?
• Were you able to write down referrals for each of the
needs listed?
9. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Clinical Impact of Unmet Basic Needs
• 58% of counselors surveyed reported that clients
have prematurely terminated counseling due to unmet
basic needs.
• This did not account for those who, because of unmet
basic needs, never started counseling.
• Addressing basic needs may increase counseling
utilization and reduce client attrition, ultimately
helping vulnerable individuals get through the bottom
tiers of the hierarchy of needs, and perhaps to the
ultimate goal of self-actualization.
11. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Resource Coordination
• Develops both internal and external resources.
• Supports clients in generating internal resources
through clinical interventions, and in accessing
external resources through information and referrals.
12. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Keys to Resource Coordination
• 1. Identify the needs (via intake, clues, observations)
• 2. Stay informed (maintain current and viable referral lists)
• 3. Provide information and referrals (hard copy and
electronic when appropriate)
13. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Identifying Needs
• Presenting needs Vs. Underlying needs (don’t
assume!)
• Tools to help identify:
• Intake form- Include income, number of dependents,
questions about hunger, housing, and other basic needs.
• Observations and clues- Appearance, ADLs,
inconsistencies.
15. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Referral Provision
• Provide best referrals
• Give hard copy and/or electronic copy
• Specify purpose of each referral
• Stay within your scope
• Commit to the time
• Evaluate usefulness of referrals in subsequent sessions
16. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
“Cheat Sheet”
• Your “Cheat Sheet” is a list of basic resources and
contact information that you can keep on hand.
Should include:
• Compass for SNAP, CHIP, LIHEAP, etc.
• 2-1-1
• Shelter intakes. Domestic violence agencies. Legal
access. Cash assistance. Food banks or meal
programs. Clothing resources.
18. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
United Way 2-1-1
• http://www.pa211.org/ or dial 2-1-1 from your phone
• Statewide information and referrals
• Search by region, keyword and zip
• Enter cell number to text results to any cell phone
• Call from your region to ask for referrals
19. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Sample “Cheat Sheet” Elements
Service/Need Provider/Program Name Details Contact
Shelter Community Action Agency
of DelCo
Intake for multiple shelters 610-833-4442
Food City Team Pantry, fresh food line, 3
hot meals/day
634 Sproul St.
Chester, PA
Domestic Violence Domestic Abuse Project of
Delaware County
Help with PFAs; Emergency
shelter for women and
children; Counseling
Media, PA
24 Hour Hotline:
610-565-4590
Clothing Mother’s Home Clothing, diapers and
housewares. 1-3pm daily
51 N. MacDade
Blvd, Darby, PA
Medical Care ChesPenn Health Services Adult, pediatric and dental 610-352-6582
(Darby office)
20. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
A Note About Access
• What is your counseling mission?
• Who do you want to serve?
• Who do you want to reach?
• HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT?
21. www.WomensResourceCenter.net
Final Discussion
• What did you learn?
• What tools do you have now?
• How do you plan to implement this knowledge?
• How will you improve accessibility?
Contact me: angela@womensrc.org
THANK YOU!
Editor's Notes
----- Meeting Notes (11/4/18 13:50) -----
Introductions: Who I am, What WRC is, Show of hands re: local practitioners? Private practice? School based? Community mental health?
Goals for today: 1) To give clinically trained counselors some applicable tools to support clients facing unmet basic needs and 2) to encourage counselors to increase counseling accessibility to those populations.
----- Meeting Notes (11/4/18 13:50) -----
Remember Maslow?
Basic needs must be met before self-actualization can occur.
Counseling tends to work roughly in the top three tiers of this hierarchy. Social work tends to work in the lower three tiers, though heavily int he bottom two.
But I think it is unwise to wait to for all basic needs to be met before addressing internal states and interpersonal skills.
We are going to define basic needs and look at some of the current statistics.
Definition from uslegal.com
"Safety" is not included in official definitions of basic needs, but in working with hundreds of survivors of domestic violence and stalking, I include it in our discussion.
Let's look at a few quick statistics about Pennsylvanians' experience with unmet basic needs:
Food Insecurity USDA definition: Reduced quality, variety or desirability of food, without or without disrupted eating habits and reduced food intake.
Stats from Allegheny County’s website
Food Insecure Population:
174,110
Food Insecurity Rate:
14.2%
Food Insecure Children:
42,170
Child Food Insecurity Rate:
17.8%
Population in Poverty:
154,639
Poverty Rate:
12.9%
First stat from worlpopulationreview.com
Second stat from PA Housing Alliance
Caveat: “Homelessness” not defined in this statistic
World Health Organization: Domestic violence can pertain to any member of a hosuehold; IPV pertains to intimate partner, regardless of cohabitation or marital status
Source: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
----- Meeting Notes (11/4/18 14:33) -----
Take 4 minutes
----- Meeting Notes (11/4/18 14:38) -----
Take 4 minutes
----- Meeting Notes (11/4/18 14:52) -----
Share: How many lacked resources to provide? What are some reasons counselors may not support clients in this way? (Training, time limitation, managed care, lack of information, etc)
What are some reasons counselors may not support clients in this way? Time, managed care, lack of knowledge, scope of practice, etc.
Consider best way to deliver referrals, taking into account executive functioning, housing status, safety issues and so on. Hard copy or electronic may have significant benefits over the other.
Don't give legal advice, don't quote income guidelines or eligibility requirements, etc. If client needs help reading information, might be appropriate to do so, but refer to the experts in that service.
Copy of blank cheat sheet at back of package, can email is requested.
On your sample cheat sheet I included Compass and 211 as a footer
----- Meeting Notes (11/4/18 16:56) -----
Do you accept Medical Assistance? Private insurance? Do you offer a sliding scale? Do you take any pro bono clients? Do you provide pro bono community programs? Is your office accessible via public transportation? Do you offer phone or Skype visits (when not prohibited by 3rd party payer)? Do you keep basic comforts in your office- water, snacks?
Open for questions and comments.
Email me for electronic copies of slides, cheat sheet or references if desired. Please complete EVALUATIONS before leaving. Thank you!
