Social Work Global Conference Report 2020

COVID - 19: The Vulnerability of Persons with Disabilities in Ghana Dr. Augustine Naami, Ph.D., Department of Social Work of the University of Ghana There is evidence that persons with disabilities continue to encounter barriers in society globally, which impede their participation and inclusion. The Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic which affected individuals, families, businesses, institutions and communities could adversely impact persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are less likely to be employed, but more likely to lose their jobs. The majority is unemployed or work in vulnerable employment, characterized by low income, lack of job security and job - related benefits. Workers with disabilities are more likely to lose their jobs in the COVID - 19 era, which could further worsen their income, savings and economic resilience. Inadequate social protection, healthcare benefits and familial support, coupled with disability - related expenses, could add layers to the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities, who are among the poor. Information, transportation, and built - environment inaccessibility, gender, age, geographic location are additional risk factors. The Ghana government COVID - 19 response strategy, unfortunately, does not adequately address the needs of persons with disabilities. In this paper, we explore the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities in the COVID - 19 pandemic and recommendations to address their needs. Using Telehealth During COVID - 19 Pandemic to Improve Patient Care and Maintain Productivity Ashlee Stampf, MSW, LCSW, St. Luke ’ s University Health Network Telehealth has been an established delivery method of health care but not widely used until COVID - 19 was declared a pandemic. After evaluation of the literature and real practice application, it was found that barriers of clinician buy in, funding and systemic changes were overcome. Federal and state governments coordinated with health care systems and insurances to ramp up telehealth use rapidly and deliver safe and effective healthcare while protecting the population from further spread of the virus. Presentation Overviews Naming and Confronting Racism as a Social Determinant of Health: The Application of Genogram as an Assessment Tool Eric Kyere, Ph.D., Indiana University, IUPI, School of Social Work and Department of Africana Studies This presentation draws on the history of racialized medicine to argue that the disparate health disparities that feature prominently in the U.S health system are indices of the costs associated with racism, and have political, economic, and medical imperatives. The history of racism ’ s evolution is needed to address health disparities. Social Determinants of Health - an introduction The Social Determinants of Health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live and age. They have a large influence on our health. It also determines health inequities, which is the unfair and avoidable health difference between different groups of people In this video we take a look at the social determinants of health, what they are, how it impacts health and a useful framework to understand it. https://youtu.be/8PH4JYfF4Ns