Social Worker Perspectives on Psychopharmacological Treatment on Youth in Care

There have been several studies in Canada that demonstrate that youth in child welfare services are medicated at a much higher rate than those living with members of their biological families. As a preliminary exploration into this phenomenon, my research focuses on social workers' perspectives and experiences in working with youth in care in Canada who are receiving psychotropic treatment. Social workers are both observers of medical treatment on youth and actors, part of an interdisciplinary health care team, within this field. Due to the intimate knowledge social workers have of youth in care and the possible efficacy and effects of psychotropic treatment on these youth, they provide a good first look into this phenomenon. Social workers have a mandate to ensure the psychosocial wellbeing of youth in care. Drug treatment can have positive and/or negative impacts on the social worker-youth relationship and long term outcomes for the youth. The objectives of this study, then, are to: 1) describe social workers' attitudes toward and experiences working with medicated youth; and 2) examine the impact of medication on the psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing of the youth and the treatment relationship. Findings will contribute to a fairly new and growing body of research on various treatment patterns utilized on youth in care in Canada. It will inform the health care system and child welfare system on ways drug treatments affect the psycho-social wellbeing of youth. Additionally, at a broader level, the findings will allow for a greater understanding of the interaction between psychological counseling and pharmacological treatment in the child welfare system. This will provide much needed information for policy that will better allow youth in care to reach their full potential.