Community forensic social workers serve in a variety of settings. Regardless of the setting, you may find yourself collaborating with courts probation parole behavioral health providers reentry programs and other various community agencies.
While your responsibilities will change depending on the setting, the foundation of the work remains person-centered and recovery-oriented.
In Practice
In the realm of CFSW, social workers can assume various roles. While the specific tasks vary by role, core responsibilities typically include engagement, navigating intra- and inter-system coordination, implementing safety measures, and advocacy.
Community
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Stabilization and long-term recovery
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Provide court mandated treatment
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Application assistance for housing, employment, benefits, etc.
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Provide continuity of care post incarceration
Justice Agency
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Provide recommendations that inform court decisions
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Work within legal mandates and deadlines
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Collaborate with judges, attorneys, probation, and corrections
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Translate clinical information into legally relevant language
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Resource referrals
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Coordinate between systems (legal, behavioral, social services)
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Court ordered assessments
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Help clients navigate court and legal expectations
Shared
Effective Collaboration
Research shows that effective collaboration supports justice-impacted individuals and can help reduce recidivism. The core tenets of effective collaboration include:
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Open information sharing
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Clearly defined roles
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Shared goals
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Accountability
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Problem solving over punitive punishment
In community forensic social work effective communication is the foundation of collaboration.
Individuals are often connected to multiple systems, including courts, treatment providers, health services, and various community agencies, and they often are working independently of one another. However, to best support the individual, the right hand needs to talk to the left hand.
Community forensic social workers can facilitate effective communication by:
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Ensuring signed release forms for all agencies involved are on file
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Discussing confidentiality, consent, what is being shared, and why with the justice-impacted individual. AKA Informed Consent
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A person of contact across agencies. Having one point of contact can improve coordination and lessen confusion