The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services, is an agency providing a variety of services to Missouri's elderly and disabled adults.  Services include but are not limited to:

• Adult Protective Services - Protective Services are provided on behalf of older and/or disabled adults who are reported to have been abused, neglected or exploited by other persons or through self-neglect.  Reports are investigated by Division of Senior and Disability Services Social Service Workers.
• In-Home Services - In-home Services may be available to seniors aged 60 and over and disabled adults aged 18-59.  These services include basic personal care, advanced personal care, authorized nurse visits, respite care services, homemaker chore, adult day care, counseling and Consumer Directed Services.  Social Service Workers with Division of Senior and Disability Services determine eligibility for these services to assist the client in maintaining independence.
• Information on Community Resources - To help clients access community services, Division of Senior and Disability Services Social Service Workers provide information and make referrals to individuals needing transportation services, home delivered meals, housing, home repairs, telephones, "friendly visitors", volunteer opportunities, assessment for in-home services, Area Agency on Aging services, and other assistance available through community agencies.

The Field Experience for the BSW Candidate: Experience opportunities for social work field education students include:

• Observation/participation in the following areas:

• Assessment of elderly/disabled persons for provision of in-home services (completed by Social Service Workers)
• Service planning of elderly/disabled persons for provision of in-home services (completed by Social Service Workers)
• Intake
• Resource development
• Workload management activities such as assignment of work to Social Service Workers, reporting work completed, statistics, etc(completed by Long Term Care Specialist)
• Unit meetings/staffing

• Observation in the following areas:

• Investigation of reports of abuse/neglect/exploitation of an elderly/disabled person (completed by Social Service Workers)
• Case Management for clients in need of Protective Services (completed by Social Service Workers)
• Worker-Supervisor conferences related to hotline investigations, etc. (completed by Long Term Care Specialists and Home and Community Services Area Supervisor)

In this setting there are opportunities at all levels of practice with an emphasis on micro and mezzo practice.  The Field Instructors are MSW and BSW practitioners with extensive direct practice experience with the aging and disabled population.

To learn more about the Division of Senior and Disability Services, visit their Web site at: www.dhss.mo.gov/SeniorServices/

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