Studies of Human Behavior 5318:
Annotated Reference List:
Ideal Human Service Organization
Breanne Smith
Capella University

Annotated Reference List
Anonymous. (2001). Code of ethics of the American mental health counselors association. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 23(1), 2-21.
Written by and for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, the Code of Ethics reflects the oath in which individuals in the mental health profession agree to take upon embarking on their career. The preamble of the code of ethics opens the document and reiterates the belief that dignity and worth of individuals are at the forefront of services. In addition, it touches upon basic requirements to assess, interview, consult, write reports, respond to subpoenas, and offer expert testimony during one’s career in mental health. The code of ethics state individuals will also act according to any applicable state and federal law. With this, they must possess appropriate knowledge and competence prior to practicing and will not offer personal opinions or bias while conducting business. Overall, the code of ethics is an inclusive set of principles of what is explicitly allowed and not allowed by an individual in the mental health industry. The code of ethics relates to the final ideal organization project in that it applies to all places of employment concerned with mental health. As a whole, this source seems legit and conclusive but according to the website for the American Mental Health Counselors Association, a new version exists. For the purpose of the project, it will be of worth to acquire the most recent literature.
Calley, N. G. (2009). Comprehensive program development in mental health counseling: Design, implementation, and evaluation. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 31(1), 9-21. Nancy Calley, author of the aforementioned journal article is said to be “affiliated with the University of Detroit Mercy.” No additional information in regards to her credentials is given and consequently leads the writer to believe that the given article may not be very reputable due to the lack of this information. However, without regard to this information, the article speaks about the dramatic changes to professional counseling services in the last 20 years. In addition, Calley provides a step-by-step guideline for developing mental health programming based on evidence-based practices. In light of this idea, Calley portrays the image that locating evidence-based practices can be challenging but not impossible. While evidence-based practices are a cornerstone to providing effective counseling to clients, the journal article does not shed much light unless an individual wants to open a private practice and begin from the ground up. Being that behavioral support specialists can be an independent contractor, this article does have relevance to the chosen organization. However, it may not be of the utmost integrity or applicable because private practice and/or independent contracting work is not the ideal. Although this is such, the article does provide several leads in regards to other possible reputable sources. Evans, M. P., Valadez, A. A., Burns, S., & Rodriguez, V. (2002). Brief and nontraditional approaches to mental health counseling: Practitioners' attitudes. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 24(4), 317-329. Evans, Waladez, Burns, and Rodriquez are involved to some degree in the counseling department at the University of Texas San Antonia. The given article was written in 2002 and examines the differences of brief and nontraditional therapeutic approaches across a broad spectrum of settings and with differing variables. While discussing both types of therapeutic approaches Evans et. al share the results of a study they conducted to gain insight into a practitioners’ attitude toward the varying ideas – Tae Kwon Do, hypnotizing, meditation, etc. As the profession of mental health counseling is always evolving, it is refreshing to see literature in relation to alternative, short term approaches because it is apparent this is the new wave of counseling services. While some of the ideas presented may seem outlandish, several of them are not so far-fetched and can be utilized in the chosen profession in that behavioral support specialists are always pressed to be innovative and think outside the box. The only fault I foresee is the article is a little dated, and is of interest if new approaches have since been added. In addition to this, Burns and Rodriguez were graduate students at the time of publication. Since then, it is possible that Burns and Rodriguez may have been involved in additional studies with alternate findings. Niles, S. G., & Pate, Jr., R. H. (1989). Competency and training issues related to the integration of career counseling and mental health counseling. Jounral of Career Development, 16(1), 63-71.
Spencer G. Niles and Robert H. Pate, Jr., are respectively an Assistant Professor and a Professor of Counselor Education at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia and are the authors of this inquiry into mental health counselors maintaining a certain level of competency in career counseling. Opening with a basic discussion of client populations served and the settings in which services are rendered, they make note that two areas of competence have historically existed for counselors: mental health and career development. Niles and Pate, Jr. express the inherent need for both types of counselors to possess basic skills in each area, citing Super’s concept of the life-career rainbow. Through cross training and the ability to offer multidimensional services, mental health counselors are able to effectively counsel clients. They also further their discussion by delving into the areas of training standards and skill sets necessary in the field of mental health counseling. Concluding that professional organizations, like the American Psychological Association, do not have specific requirements of training programs, Niles and Pate, Jr. suggest “a first step toward explicitly identifying competencies needed to integrate mental health counseling and career counseling is a synthesis of knowledge and skill areas defined in both training standards.” Failing to acquire the necessary training would mean a disservice to clients and necessary referrals would need to be made to other organizations. In closing, Niles and Pate, Jr. suggest that for too long mental health counseling has failed to meet one or more areas which have the potential to encompass lifestyle issues. While this writer is not interested in career counseling as it mostly relates to adults, it is a note-worthy article in the respect that Super’s concept was discussed and has potential to reflect the multi-dimensional level of care clients have when seeking mental health services. This particular piece of literature is seriously dated and so it potentially could skew the formal research on the given topic. Although such is true, it is relevant to the selected counseling agency in that clients come from a multitude of backgrounds and have varying degrees of activities going on in their life at any given point. Therefore, individuals in the mental health profession must be able to recognize underlying causes of distress.
Walker, Hill M. (2004) Commentary: Use of evidence-based interventions in schools: Where we’ve been, where we are, and where we need to go. School Psychology, 23(3), 398-407.
Hill Walker is a professor of Special Education at the College of Education at the University of Oregon and has had a lengthy interest in assessing the behaviors of at-risk youth and finding productive interventions. Walker penned the journal article in regards to using evidence-based interventions within school settings. Drawing on the studies of fellow colleagues, Walker reiterates the findings that our nation’s educators are not only teaching our children but are also a psuedo-parent to some degree. With that being said, educators are attempting to find solutions to the many social ills that effect society. The solution Walker points out is one of two evidence-based practices, positive behavioral support or effective behavioral support. While the solutions both look promising, there is great disparity in the implantation as seen when Walker points out a lengthy two decade lag from concept to usage. This specific journal article relates to the topic of behavioral support specialist in that the profession looks to assist at-risk youth in school, home, and/or community settings. Overall Walker’s writing highlights potential solutions and a look to the future but more useful to locate an updated article with discussion on the evidence-based interventions.