Rural Health, Mental Health, and Social Work
Course Overview
Although there are benefits and necessities to living in rural areas, many living in these areas experience significant health and mental health disparities and challenges in accessing services. The goal of this course is to examine working in and with rural communities and the need for culturally sensitivity and competence. Health, mental health, and social work service disparities, barriers to help-seeking, and specific issues relevant to various subpopulations will be explored. Ethical issues unique to working within rural communities will also be discussed.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Define the term rural and review the demographic characteristics of those living in rural areas in the United States.
- Identify how cultural values and norms characteristic of a rural culture can be strengths as well as limitations.
- Discuss cultural competency and how it applies to rural communities.
- Describe health, mental health, and social services disparities in rural areas of the United States.
- Provide an overview of the unique health, mental health, and social work practice problems and issues experienced by various subpopulations residing in rural areas.
- Discuss the role of and benefits of interprofessional collaboration in rural areas.
- Describe ethical issues that emerge when working with clients in rural areas.
About the Author/Presenter
Alice Yick Flanagan, PhD, MSW, received her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, School of Social Work. She has clinical experience in mental health in correctional settings, psychiatric hospitals, and community health centers. In 1997, she received her PhD from UCLA, School of Public Policy and Social Research. Dr. Yick Flanagan completed a year-long post-doctoral fellowship at Hunter College, School of Social Work in 1999. In that year she taught the course Research Methods and Violence Against Women to Masters degree students, as well as conducting qualitative research studies on death and dying in Chinese American families. Previously acting as a faculty member at Capella University and Northcentral University, Dr. Yick Flanagan is currently a contributing faculty member at Walden University, School of Social Work, and a dissertation chair at Grand Canyon University, College of Doctoral Studies, working with Industrial Organizational Psychology doctoral students. She also serves as a consultant/subject matter expert for the New York City Board of Education and publishing companies for online curriculum development, developing practice MCAT questions in the area of psychology and sociology. Her research focus is on the area of culture and mental health in ethnic minority communities.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
