Examine evidence-based practices to prepare for professional engagement across systems

In preparation for my special project, that will use the social work value of respect for the inherent dignity and worth of individuals, on the social and mental health needs of the residents of public housing and how it relates to ACES scores, I did a review of literature to give me a clear perspective of the situation and to help broaden my social work knowledge of trauma informed care and adverse childhood experiences.  I used my social work skills of research and evaluation in writing this background and rationale for this study. I used the cognitive process of evaluating  and the affective processes of receiving and responding. I used several theoretical foundations in this project, including Community-Based Participatory Research, Trauma Informed Practice, and Ecological Systems Theory.

        Negative experiences during childhood, known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), can result in adult vulnerability, affect health and opportunities in life, as well as play a role in adverse housing outcomes (Grey & Woodfine, 2018).  One study found that “People living in social housing may experience poorer health outcomes than owner-occupiers; as well as being more likely to be the poorest and often the most vulnerable members of society and more likely to be socially excluded and live in neighborhoods with worse conditions, than those in owner-occupied houses” (Byrne et al., 2014).

     One study that focused on older adults living in public housing showed that about one-third of participants in the study had four or more ACEs (Larkin et al., 2017).  It has been found that often substance abuse was an associated implication of ACE’s and public houses (Larkin et al., 2017) as well as poor mental and physical health outcomes (Mersky et al., 2018).  Reasons for not seeking help for mental health issues include stigma, especially in minority populations, shame, embarrassment, and poverty (Young, 2015).  The Chattanooga Housing Authority manages 2,300 low-income apartments which may house individuals, couples, and families (CHA-Managed Housing, n.d.).

       CHA provides case management, educational services, and some social engagement events through its resident engagement team. However, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic there is a clear need for engaging the residence as a community. There is clearly a need for social engagement that will lead to better mental health outcomes. There has been no survey such as this done previously with any of the housing sites managed by CHA. Therefore, this survey will add to the body of knowledge of the profession, as well as provide a trauma informed social worker lens for approaching housing residents, and their social and mental health needs.