Virtual Hope Box

This weeks item of interest is called the Virtual Hope Box. The Virtual Hope Box app is a therapeutic tool that can be used for those who may have difficulty coping with negative thoughts and stress, including patients who may be at risk of suicide or non-suicidal self-harm. It is available as a free download on iOS and Android platforms and can be used for adolescents and adults. This app is used among many of the teens at Waukegan High School based on the student's needs. There are different categories that contain coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking techniques. The distraction techniques include games that require focus, such as Sudoku and word puzzles. Some relaxation techniques offer a variety of guided and self-controlled meditation exercises. The coping techniques offer suggestions for activities that reduce stress. The inspiration section offers quotes to improve mood and motivation. 

Virtual Hope Box is connected to evidence practice for many reasons. This app was developed by Nigel Bush, a research psychologist for the Defense Department’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2) a component center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. VHB is a tool for moments of crisis and intended to supplement treatments already happening. The purpose of this tool is to help individuals distress by using coping and emotion regulation skills.

 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t2.vhb&hl=en_US or App Store

Joshin App

Joshin is a first of a kind disability care app that is at your fingertips. One of the components of the school social work model focuses on maximizing school-based and community-based resources. The Joshin app is a great resource for parents who are looking for caregivers who have credentials and experience in working with children with special needs. This on-demand care app was created by twin sisters who took care of their brother with special needs, named Josh. In 2010, they started Josh’s place that provides holistic care and homes for adults with disabilities. Throughout the years, they’ve seen a lack of childcare services available for children with special needs. So they created Joshin, which is an app that connects families with children with special needs to professionals who have experience in special needs. This includes special education teachers, social workers, nurses and therapists. It was reported that “the majority of Joshin users use it for respite or before and after-school care and daily living skills development” (Chicago Parent Staff, 2019). 

The Joshin app is easy to use as the user needs to download the app, build an account with their care plan and hourly rate, and then book a care date with their desire caregiver. The caregiver will then be notified of the request and accept or decline the offer based on the care plan and hourly rate. I believe that this app would appeal to the families in my school district who come from upper middle-class backgrounds. Since I’ve been interning at my school, multiple parents have reached out requesting for referrals to other types of extra services within our community. Families can set their hourly rate that they would like to offer the caregiver, which makes this service available to a broader socio-economic population. Joshin also provides an opportunity for school social workers to seek side jobs after school or during summer breaks. This is a great way for social workers to help the special needs community while gaining personal experience. The Joshin app is a great innovation example and tool that social workers could also help create to enhance our communities and clients.

Chicago Parent Staff. (2019). On-demand care app launches for special needs families. Retrieved from https://www.chicagoparent.com/learn/special-needs/on-demand-care-app-launches-for-special-needs-families/?fbclid=IwAR1XImQfETgt62q-AXBOCOWw3NRAK940_0tvK10kH2uXd3N1Qoxm1BZSJtc