Editor's Eye

 

Welcome back to school! THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER Magazine’s Back-to-School Guide for Social Work Students, edited by Linda May Grobman and Karen Zgoda, is available now! Get this e-book at:  http://www.amazon.com/WORKER%C2%AE-Magazines--School-Students-ebook/dp/B00EZAXVJ8 (Kindle format) or http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/355823 (ePub and other formats). Only $4.99.

 

Are you or someone you know applying to social work graduate school? The Social Work Graduate School Applicant’s Handbook is now available in Kindle format and print format! Order it from Amazon here for the Kindle edition or here for the print edition.

 

What does a life in social work look like? You might look at it as a series of “sideways” stories! Read Ogden Rogers’ new collection, Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work. For info, see http://www.beginningsmiddlesandends.com.

 

Check out all of our social work and nonprofit books, social work greeting cards, social work buttons, and more. All of our books and products are available through our secure online store at: http://shop.whitehatcommunications.com.

 

You can also download our catalog in PDF format at:

 

 

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**Get your textbooks!** Support The New Social Worker while you shop. Follow this link to Amazon.com for all your textbook and other supply needs.

 

Job Corner

Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc., is seeking a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).  Under the direction of the Clinical Supervisor, the LCSW is responsible for direct service to clients in the Agency's outpatient mental health programs.  

 

Duties and Responsibilities:  

•Responsible for gathering information from clients.  Including conducting intake interviews, providing psychotherapy when necessary, case management and referrals.  

•Maintain a caseload of clients with the expectation of delivering a minimum of 28 hours of direct service per week.   

•Must be available to provide 24 hour, 7 days per week telephone coverage for clients enrolled in treatment as prescribed by Agency policy and procedures.  

 

Education   Master’s Degree in Social Work required.  

 

REQUIREMENTS:  

•Valid LMSW license •Must obtain and maintain all NY State licensure/certifications necessary for this position 

•Experience working with persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

•Must have Article 31 experience

•Bilingual (English/Spanish) required •Excellent oral and written communication skills  

 

Equal Opportunity Employer. We are only accepting resumes through our website www.fedcap.org. This position is Requisition #142.

 

Forensic Social Worker (“FSW”): A state agency in South Florida which provides legal defense representation to indigent parents in dependency court proceedings seeks a candidate with an MSW and 2 years post-masters experience in interdisciplinary setting(s).  As an integral member of the legal team working to support the client’s rights and to enhance the legal advocacy asserted on the client’s behalf, the FSW candidate must possess the clinical and interpersonal ability to conduct independent client assessments; to interface with the state’s Department of Children and Families to promote plans for services well-tailored to the client’s needs and betterment; to monitor and assist client’s progress throughout the case; and to advocate the client’s interests in a variety of settings and forums, including potentially testifying in courtroom hearings and trials.  Position requires strong communications skills, the ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team setting, and a shared commitment to a client-centered representation model. Experience needed in helping clients improve their living situations and in assisting their management of substance abuse, mental illness, and trauma.  Must be able to supervise MSW level interns.  Knowledge of judicial system and local resources will be necessary.       Hiring for Palm Beach and Broward County positions.  

 

Contact: kdesimone@rc-4.com

Phone: 561-837-5156

Featured Excerpt

 

 

by Robert Lanz, LCSW, MFT

 

Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from the Summer 2013 issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER. Read the full article at:

In every crisis lies the seed of both danger and opportunity. This is a frequently quoted proverb based on the Chinese character for “crisis,” which contains the symbols for both “danger” and “opportunity.” Urgency brings out the survival instinct in us and forces us to think in ways to which we aren’t accustomed. Crisis management is a very large part of hospital social work, particularly in the E.R., where we’re often presented with one crisis after another. I learned early in my career how to alter my thought process to fit the demands of the moment, and to value critical thinking above almost all other tools. In doing so, I frequently found myself on the precipice of danger, but I was also presented with opportunities.

 

When I started as a hospital social worker in the early ’80s, there was no Internet. Only a handful of geeks had computers, and the closest thing to a cell phone was a CB radio.

The social work department on the first floor was heavily female. My boss was a woman, her boss was a woman, and all of the managers in the department were women. There was one other guy—an older man in his fifties—who worked part-time in the E.R., but I rarely saw him. I did, however, read some of his charting, which I found to be unimpressive. I had worked previously as a probation officer in Juvenile Hall, where all of my documentation was likely to end up being read in court, so I had learned to write with precision and clarity. The writing had to make sense and be easily understood. Over time, I worked to radically change the charting format in the E.R., but that came later. This story took place at the beginning of my employment there.

Shortly after I started working at the hospital, the other male social worker left. I became the only guy in a social work department of thirty-six women. But I worked the night shift in the E.R., a kind of rugged, masculine job. Upstairs, if something like the death of a child occurred and a social worker needed to vent, get advice, or even cry openly, there was plenty of support from co-workers. At night in the E.R., the lone wolf social worker was the only non-medical employee on the shift except for the secretaries and housekeeping staff.

… I was welcomed into the docs’ social circle, but there were still some obvious professional barriers to full acceptance. I recognized early on that at some point, I would have to show what I was made of to earn their respect. I would need to display the right stuff, using a term popular at the time, and that’s what this story is about—having and showing the right stuff. Opportunity from crisis….

Let me emphasize again that on the night shift, you are on your own. You can’t ask another social worker for help. There are no hallway consultations on difficult issues, and if you need a good cry, well, get over it. And it isn’t just hospital resources that are scarce at night—it’s everything. If I had to call Adult Protective Services, they would tell me to hospitalize the patient and they would send a case worker out in the morning. Calls to Child Protective Services go through to an office on the fifth floor of a building twenty miles away. It’s good to have friends on the local police force, because you can’t call 911 from the E.R. You have to call the station and hope to hell the person who answers remembers who you are.

 

Even the Greek embassy is closed at night. I found this out when a Greek fisherman ended up in the E.R., brought in by paramedics who had responded to a call about a man lying on the sidewalk at a bus stop. The Greek fisherman spoke no English and had no phone numbers in his wallet. The office at a wharf in San Pedro where fishermen of all nationalities worked wasn’t answering my calls, and neither was the Greek embassy.

 

Read the rest of this article at:

 

 

Articles from the Summer 2013 issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER include:

 

...and much more!

 

Features

 

In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month, the Department of Veterans Affairs is mobilizing people and organizations nationwide to support Veterans in crisis and spread the word about VA mental health services. 

 

Throughout the month, VA suicide prevention coordinators at all 151 VA medical centers will organize community events, host health fairs, lead training sessions, and work with VA Voluntary Service to improve Veterans’ lives.  VA is also launching a new Suicide Prevention Month public service announcement, "Talking About It Matters," nationwide in September.

 

“VA’s highest priority is the mental health and well-being of the brave men and women who have served our Nation.  Even one suicide is one too many,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “va is a leader in providing high-quality mental health care that improves and saves Veterans’ lives.  We know that treatment works, and there is hope for Veterans who seek mental health care.” 

 

This year’s theme, “It Matters,” emphasizes the people, relationships, and experiences that matter to Veterans and their loved ones, reinforcing their personal connections and giving their lives hope and meaning.  To spark conversation about the difficult topics of suicide risk and prevention, VA will unveil a photo-sharing campaign, “Show Us What Matters,” and will invite Veterans and their loved ones to upload photos of the special people in their lives to VeteransCrisisLine.net/ItMatters.

 

“When a Veteran is in crisis, even one small act can make a lifesaving difference,” said Dr. Robert A. Petzel, VA’s Under Secretary for Health.  “It’s up to all of us to understand the signs of crisis and look out for the Veterans in our lives.  And when we are concerned, we need to reach out and tell someone.”

 

Throughout the summer and through September, VA is holding Mental Health Summits at all 151 VA medical centers to further engage community partners, Veteran Service Organizations, health care providers, and local governments, and to address the broad mental health needs of Veterans and their families and show them they matter.  VA is calling on supporters to educate their networks to recognize suicide warning signs and encourage Veterans in crisis to call the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text to 838255 – even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.  All Veterans Crisis Line resources are optimized for mobile devices. 

 

“We urge Veterans’ loved ones—and everyone—to show support for Veterans during Suicide Prevention Month and throughout the year,” said Dr. Janet Kemp, director of VA’s Suicide Prevention Program. “Learn to recognize the risk of suicide and let Veterans know that caring, confidential support is only a call, click, or text away.  Families, friends and co-workers need to work together to provide a network of support for Veterans in our communities.  We’re all in this together.”

 

VA has implemented comprehensive, wide-ranging suicide prevention initiatives, including a toll-free Veterans Crisis Line, placement of Suicide Prevention Coordinators at all VA medical centers and large outpatient facilities, and improvements in case management and reporting.  The Veterans Crisis Line, online chat, and text-messaging services offer free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to Veterans, their families, and friends.

 

To further expand access to quality mental health care, VA has hired more than 1,600 mental health clinical providers to meet the goal outlined in an executive order.  Additionally, VA has hired more than 2,005 mental health clinical providers to fill existing vacancies. 

 

VA’s mental health workforce totals nearly 20,300.  In fiscal year 2012, VA provided specialized mental health care to more than 1.3 million Veterans.  The department has an aggressive recruiting campaign underway among mental health specialists to ensure Veterans continue to receive the best mental health care anywhere.

 

 

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This study reveals an alarming lack of knowledge among adults of all ages across the country about blood cancers, including forms of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood cancers. Four in five adults (82%) were surprised to learn that more than 1 million U.S. adults are currently living with a blood cancer. Further, nearly nine in 10 adults (87%) were surprised to learn that about every four minutes, one person in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer; and nearly nine in 10 (86%) polled were surprised to learn that approximately every 10 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from a blood cancer.

 

"We conducted this survey to create awareness about blood cancers, and to drive home the need to focus on cures and access to therapies for blood cancer patients," states John Walter, LLS CEO & president. "As there are no means of preventing or early detection for most blood cancers, we must focus on cures.  Blood Cancer Awareness Month is the right platform to create a sense of urgency about the need to continue investing in lifesaving treatments and cures."

 

Over about 60 years, LLS has invested almost $1 billion in research to advance therapies and save lives, yet three in four adults (76%) were surprised to learn that LLS research grants have helped advance many of the most promising advances in cancer therapies, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

 

Further, about three-quarters of adults polled (76%) believe it's up to the government, private industry, and drug companies to fund cures for cancers, including blood cancers.  As well, nearly nine in 10 adults (86%) were surprised to learn that promising treatments for some chronic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, were initially tested and FDA-approved as treatments for blood cancers.

 

"LLS is changing the paradigm of philanthropy, driving research in areas of unmet medical need, and helping to bridge the gap between academic discovery and drug development," states Walter.  "We do that by creating partnerships with universities and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to provide funding across the continuum from basic research through clinical trials."

 

"Therapies that don't make it to patients can't help them," states Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., LLS chief policy and advocacy officer. "A key LLS priority is ensuring access to quality, affordable, coordinated care for blood cancer patients." LLS recently announced it has raised more than $200 million in funding for its Co-Pay Assistance Program, since its inception in 2007.  To date, LLS has helped approximately 36,000 patients through the co-pay program.

 

Additional Survey Findings Include:

"Despite progress, more than a third of blood cancer patients still do not survive five years after their diagnosis, so more funding is needed to advance research, ensure access to treatments, and help save more lives," Walter says.

 

The survey was conducted online for LLS by Russell Research from July 26-31, 2013 among 1,007 adults ages 18 and older. The margin of error was +/- 3.1 percentage points.

 

Learn more about LLS at www.lls.org.

News & Resources

 

 

This conference will be held April 25-27, 2014, in Berkeley, California. To submit an abstract, see http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/MentalHealth2014/default.asp

Deadline is September 30, 2013.

 

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National Organization of Forensic Social Work

Annual Conference – July 25-27, 2014

Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus

New York, New York

Conference Call for Papers is available online at: http://nofsw.org/?page_id=14 

Deadline December 15, 2013.

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Busy behavioral and mental health providers face a challenge in keeping up with developments in their field. Although research continues to identify best practices in assessment and treatment, practitioners are often not aware of efficacious treatment models or competent to use them with clients. Yet policy makers are increasingly advocating for the use of evidence-based practices and consumers’ right to effective services.

 

The University of Nebraska at Omaha Grace Abbott School of Social Work is offering a new tab on its website labeled “Practitioner Resources,” which is available to anyone with an internet connection. The initial topic is Evidence-Based Practice and Empirically-Supported Treatments; the goal for the future is to offer a variety of topics that can help practitioners continue to learn and develop new knowledge and skills. The link is: http://www.unomaha.edu/socialwork/practitioner.php

 

 

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I am seeking articles for upcoming issues of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine. I am especially interested in articles in the following categories:

 

 

Our style is conversational and educational, and articles typically run 1,500-2,000 words for feature articles (considerably shorter for news items).

 

I also welcome submissions of poetry, photographs, illustrations, artwork, and other creative work depicting social work and related topics.

 

Please contact Linda Grobman, editor/publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER, at: lindagrobman@socialworker.com

On Our Web Site

 

The Fall issue is coming soon! The Summer 2013 issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is available now! It is available to download in PDF format at:

 

 

THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER’s Web site at http://www.socialworker.com includes the full text of hundreds of articles from past issues of the magazine. The current issue is featured on the site’s main page. Past issues can be found under “Magazine Issues” in the right column of the page. For selected full-text articles from issues prior to Spring 2006, click on “Feature Articles Archive” on the left side of the page. The magazine is also available for FREE download in PDF format.

 

In addition to the free PDF and Web versions of the magazine, the magazine is available in PRINT at http://newsocialworker.magcloud.com! Order it today!

 

You can also purchase bound volumes for 2011 and 2012 at Amazon.com. Search for “The New Social Worker” (in quotes).

 

Our online discussion forum/message board is a place for open discussion of a variety of social work-related issues. Join in our discussion at http://www.socialworker.com (click on the “Forum” link).

 

 

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The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics is a free, online, peer-reviewed journal published twice a year, in full text, online.

 

The journal’s archives from 2004-2012 can be found at: http://www.socialworker.com/jswve

 

Beginning January 1, 2013, the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics is published by the Association of Social Work Boards. See http://www.jswve.org.

In Print

White Hat Communications, publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine and the Social Work E-News, has published several books about social work. These books make great gifts (for graduation or other occasions) for yourself, or for your friends, students, and colleagues in social work!

 

Briefly, those currently in print are:

 

 

DAYS IN THE LIVES OF SOCIAL WORKERS: 58 Professionals Tell Real-Life Stories From Social Work Practice (4th Edition), edited by Linda May Grobman

 

MORE DAYS IN THE LIVES OF SOCIAL WORKERS:35 Real-Life Stories of Advocacy, Outreach, and Other Intriguing Roles in Social Work Practice, edited by Linda May Grobman

 

DAYS IN THE LIVES OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORKERS: 44 Professionals Tell Stories From Real-Life Social Work Practice With Older Adults, edited by Linda May Grobman and Dara Bergel Bourassa.

 

 

IS IT ETHICAL? 101 SCENARIOS IN EVERYDAY SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE: A DISCUSSION WORKBOOK, by Thomas Horn

 

THE FIELD PLACEMENT SURVIVAL GUIDE: What You Need to Know to Get the Most From Your Social Work Practicum, 2^nd Edition, edited by Linda May Grobman

 

THE SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANT’S HANDBOOK: The Complete Guide to Selecting and Applying to MSW Programs, by Jesus Reyes

 

We also publish books on nonprofit management. Want to start your own agency? Check out THE NONPROFIT HANDBOOK: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Nonprofit Organization (6th Edition) and IMPROVING QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE IN YOUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, by Gary M. Grobman.

 

 

All of our books are available through our secure online store at:

 

You can also download our catalog in PDF format at:

VISIT OUR SITES

www.socialworker.com