Applied Law in the Behavioral Health Professions

Making effective decisions in the behavioral health professions requires an understanding of essential legal principles governing practice. The technical manner in which these principles are often presented in law treatises makes it difficult for the decision maker to prioritize and apply them in a practical manner. Applied Law in the Behavioral Health Professions addresses this significant problem by presenting social workers, counselors, psychologists, and students with an understandable and efficient strategy for applying the law in daily practice. Through the book's multidisciplinary approach, practitioners are assured of making informed, thorough, and sensitive professional choices. The decision making framework introduced stresses a ranked consideration of fundamental legal, ethical, cultural, and regional factors that influence practice. The usefulness of the framework in addressing diversity issues in behavioral health is highlighted using examples focusing on the Hispanic and Native American populations of New Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Autorentext

The Author: Andrew B. Israel received his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law where he served as lead articles editor of the Syracuse Law Review. He is Assistant Professor at New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work and chairs the school's sequence in community and administrative practice. Professor Israel is a past director of the State Bar of New Mexico Section on Public Law.

Zusammenfassung
"For the clinician facing practice dilemmas, this is the needed reference and Andrew B. Israel is the qualified authority. Educated in both law and social work, Israel goes beyond the usual disjointed look at law or codes of ethics by developing a process that considers the law, ethics, cultural contexts, and pragmatics of each case. 'Applied Law in the Behavioral Health Professions' is rich with case examples. Even for the most experienced clinician, this book is important." (Glen W. Davidson, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Humanities, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine)