SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS
  Issue #137  April 17, 2012
SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS
 

REMINDER: Download The New Social Worker magazine FREE at our Web site.
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Editor's Eye
Dear Social Work Colleagues,  
 
Hello! Welcome to Issue #137 of the Social Work E-News! Thank you for subscribing to receive this e-mail newsletter, which is brought to you by the publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine, SocialWorker.com, SocialWorkJobBank.com, and other social work publications.
 
In the past month, I attended the BPD conference in Portland, OR, and the PAUSWE conference in State College, PA. It was great seeing so many undergraduate social work education colleagues and making connections with everyone. The next conference on my schedule so far is the NASW Raising Hope conference in July. I hope to see some of you there!
 
April marks the observance of Alcohol Awareness Month, Autism Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Donate Life Month, National Minority Health Month, Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and more. April 22 is Earth Day, and World Health Day was on April 7.
 
Coming in May: Mental Health Month, Arthritis Awareness Month, and others.
 
Hot off the “press”—the Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics Spring 2012 edition is now available! Go to http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/145/75/ to read the new edition of this free, peer-reviewed online journal.
 
Have you heard the great news? The Spring 2012 issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is available NOW! Highlights of the Spring issue include: what is an ethical dilemma, professional development in the face of conflict, passing the licensing exam, a school social work group for high school students in non-traditional families, first impressions of social work, reflections of a child welfare social worker, lessons from Hull House, interview with Jonathan Singer of the Social Work Podcast, poetry, book reviews, and more!
 
You can download this issue (and others) of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine in PDF format FREE at http://www.socialworker.com/home/menu/Downloads/. Please allow time for the download to complete.
 
Individual articles from this issue are also available on our Web site in Web format. Just go to http://www.socialworker.com and start reading!
 
IT'S ALSO IN PRINT! Don't forget--THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is available in a print edition. Most issues from 2009 to the present are available now at http://newsocialworker.magcloud.com. You can purchase them individually, or purchase all four issues from 2010 or 2011 in one perfect-bound volume. Most print editions purchased through Magcloud are discounted now through May 13, 2012!
 
You can also go to http://www.socialworker.com/home/menu/Subscribe/ and subscribe (free) to receive an e-mail reminder and table of contents of each issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine when it is available. If you are a subscriber to the E-News (which you are reading now!), this does NOT mean that you are automatically subscribed to THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine. They are two different publications! Subscribe to both to get the most advantage.
 
The Social Work E-News has 28,800+ subscribers, and thousands of social workers (and people interested in social work) visit our Web sites. If you like our Web sites, The New Social Worker, and the Social Work E-News, please help us spread the word by using the "Share" button on the right side of this newsletter to share the newsletter with your friends and contacts. Tell your friends, students, or colleagues to visit us at http://www.socialworker.com, where they can download a free PDF copy of the magazine, become one of our 14,200+ fans on Facebook, participate in discussions, and lots more.
 
Until next time,
Linda Grobman, ACSW, LSW
Publisher/Editor
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER®
 
Networking:
(Be sure to click the “like” button on Facebook or “follow” on Twitter.)
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com (search for “The New Social Worker Magazine” under Groups)
 
Words From Our Sponsors
NEED BOOKS OR GIFTS? The publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER has some great books. Give the gift of Days in the Lives of Social Workers or our other social work and nonprofit management titles. Interested in starting or running a nonprofit organization? THE NONPROFIT HANDBOOK: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START AND RUN YOUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION is now in its 6th edition. This book is packed with detailed information that you need to know.
 
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
 
Receive a 10% discount now through April 30, 2012 by using coupon code APRIL201210 when you check out at our online store.
 
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.
 
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!  Order it from Amazon here.
 
Job Corner
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
DISPOSITION SPECIALIST
 
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER CARLOS J. MARTINEZ is seeking a bilingual Disposition or Mitigation Specialist with an MSW in Social Work for a challenging position assisting attorneys representing clients with juvenile (delinquency) or criminal cases. Work includes conducting biopsychosocial interviews with juveniles and adults, referring clients to experts, obtaining records, drafting persuasive alternative sentencing and treatment plans and identifying appropriate educational, substance abuse, and mental health placements. Must be willing to work with clients in adult jails and in juvenile detention facilities. $38,000 starting salary plus full range of state benefits: insurance and retirement plan; paid vacation, sick leave and holidays; and free tuition for college courses. Download application at www.pdmiami.com/support-app.pdf. Submit completed and signed application and writing sample in PDF format to jobs@pdmiami.com by May 17, 2012. Application will only be accepted in PDF format. Due to the volume of applications, no telephone or email inquiries please. Equal Opportunity Employer/ADA.
 
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Find jobs for new grads and experienced social work practitioners at http://www.socialworkjobbank.com, THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER’s online job board and career center. Post your confidential résumé at http://jobs.socialworkjobbank.com/c/resumes/resumes.cfm?site_id=122
 
If you or your agency are hiring social workers, don’t forget to post your jobs on SocialWorkJobBank.com. Please check the SocialWorkJobBank “products/pricing” page at http://jobs.socialworkjobbank.com/r/jobs/post/index.cfm?site_id=122 for job posting options and SPECIAL offers.  Our audience of professional social workers is active and engaged in the job search, receiving more than 480,000 e-mail job alerts last year and actively applying to open positions. Your jobs will gain additional exposure to our social networks on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Also, please note that SocialWorkJobBank.com is part of the Nonprofit Job Board Network. You can post your job to SocialWorkJobBank and get exposure on other network sites for a reasonable additional fee.
 
Job seeker services are FREE—including searching current job openings, posting your confidential résumé/profile, and receiving e-mail job alerts. Please let employers know that you saw their listings in the SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS and at SocialWorkJobBank.com.
 
There are 1,089 jobs currently posted on SocialWorkJobBank.com. Check it out today.
 
Features
 
How I Passed the Licensing Exam: 10 Tips
by Ammu Kowolik, LMSW
 
Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from an article from the current (Spring 2012) issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER. Read the full article at:
 
 
Four years ago, I graduated with my MSW degree from what is now known as the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. My method was in Community Organizing and Planning, and after two wonderful years in grad school, I was ready to enter this world as a professional.

I planned to get my license first, especially since I was told it’s easiest to get it right out of school.

So, immediately after graduating, I took the review course offered to alumni and purchased study material from a commercial licensure prep service. I decided to study and register with NYSED and ASWB. But a month after graduation, I wanted to give my brain a chance to rest. Then reality slowly crept in, and I realized I really needed a job! So, let’s fast forward through a few months of job hunting and landing a position at NASW, the New York City Chapter.

Diving into the first real job of my adult life, I consumed myself with work and used the little extra time I had to “veg.” I had the books, but I didn’t study. And so this was put off for another four years.

The year 2011 was different for me. In planning my wedding, I had somehow made a promise to my fiancé that he would marry an LMSW, and so in May 2011, I took the NASW LMSW Test Prep class with Dr. Dawn Hall Apgar. I sat in on this class a few years ago, but this time something else clicked, and I got it. Dawn gave us the tools we needed to take the exam, and after having passed, let me tell you she was on point! Not only did Dawn cover the content areas we need to focus in on, but she also showed us how to read the questions on the exam. It can be tricky (and if you’ve taken the exam, you know what I mean!).

This last summer, I made a decision that greatly affected my study ethic—I got a study partner! My friend, a recent graduate from NYU Silver School of Social Work, and I planned to meet weekly, for about a month, to study and take the exam in September. This actually ended up taking nearly three months for us. We were diligent, met weekly, and went over the content areas in depth. When we weren’t together, we made up flash cards and read up on areas that needed more of our attention. By the beginning of October, we both realized we needed to schedule our exam and be done with it. And so we did! I am happy to report that as of November 1, 2011, we both passed our licensing exams!

If you are worried about taking the exam, here are 10 suggestions:
 
Read the rest of this article at:
 
 
Articles from the Spring 2012 issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER include:
 
• Student Role Model: Stephanie Maldonado (in PDF version only)  
 
 
• Field Placement: Professional Growth: Flourish or Wither in the Face of Conflict http://www.socialworker.com/home/Feature_Articles/Field_Placement/Professional_Growth%3A_Flourish_or_Wither_in_the_Face_of_Conflict/  
 
 
 
 
 
 
•First Impressions of Social Work: An Honors Introductory Course (in PDF version only)  
 
 
• Poetry (in PDF version only)  
 
• On Campus (in PDF version only)  
 
• Reviews http://www.socialworker.com/home/Reviews/Book_Reviews/Book_Reviews_Spring_2012/
 
 
…and more!
 
 
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RAISING AWARENESS
 
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
@RAINN01 on Twitter
Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office-- http://www.sapr.mil/index.php/saam
 
Child Abuse Prevention Month
@PCAAmerica on Twitter
 
National Donate Life Month
Donate Life America-- http://donatelife.net/
Gift of Life--@donors1 on Twitter
 
Autism Awareness Month
@autismspeaks on Twitter
 
 
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National Award Recipients Honored at Social Work Leadership Meeting

On April 13, the National Association of Social Workers honored four recipients of its national awards program at the organization’s Annual Leadership Meeting in Washington, DC.  The annual awards are given for Public Elected Official of the Year, Public Citizen of the Year, Social Worker of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement. This year’s recipients have made significant contributions to their communities in Massachusetts, Florida, California, and Nebraska.
 
“NASW is proud to showcase another amazing group of social work and community leaders through our national awards program,” said NASW President Jeane Anastas, PhD, LMSW.  “They are role models for us all.”
 
Marshall Wong, MSW, received the Social Worker of the Year Award. He is the hate crime coordinator for the Los Angeles County Commission, and he established the Hate Crime Victim Assistance and Community Advocacy Initiative in Los Angeles.
 
Mr. Wong is most recognized for serving as co-chairman of API Equality-L.A., a coalition of organizations that focuses on the fair treatment of the Asian and Pacific Islander LGBT community within the greater Los Angeles area, and provides advocacy and community education. Mr. Wong also works to ensure that students from immigrant families can continue their education in the U.S.
 
Ann Coyne, PhD, MSW, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Coyne, a professor of social work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and a founder and consultant for the Nebraska State Foster Care Review Board, was recognized for her contributions in Nebraska and internationally to help children. 
 
Dr. Coyne established a sister relationship with the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua (UNAN), in Leon, Nicaragua, to help the university develop its own social work curriculum. UNO social work students work with UNAN-Leon students and faculty and often travel to Nicaragua to offer aid after natural disasters. In addition, Dr. Coyne has helped many special needs children in orphanages get medical attention and find adoptive homes through her work with the Omaha Rotary Club.
 
Sherl Morden, recipient of the Public Citizen of the Year award, is president of Second Chance Northwest Florida. Recognized by Panama City, Florida Mayor Scott W. Clemons, Ms. Morden volunteered in 2008 as executive director to maintain services for adults with brain injuries despite program funding cuts.
 
According to Mayor Clemons and the NASW Florida Chapter, Second Chance of Florida would not be able to continue serving survivors and their families who need its services without her dedication.
 
Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-MA), from Acton, Massachusetts, received the Public Elected Official of the Year Award. State Senator Eldridge has championed many causes during his time in the legislature between 2002 and 2012.
 
In working with the NASW Massachusetts Chapter to sponsor and co-sponsor bills, he successfully campaigned to raise minimum wage requirements in Massachusetts to $8 an hour, and he was the lead sponsor of the bill for Social Work Loan Forgiveness. He also co-sponsored bills promoting social worker safety in the workplace and funding critical social work services.
 
News & Resources
Write for THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER
 
I am seeking articles for upcoming issues of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine. I am especially interested in articles in the following categories:
 
  • social work ethics
  • field placement
  • practice specialties
  • news of innovative social work practice
  • technology
  • what every new social worker needs to know about…
  • other topics of interest to social work students, new graduates, and seasoned professionals
 
Our style is conversational and educational, and articles typically run 1,500-2,000 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
 
 
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Phi Alpha Scholarship for BSW Students
Application Deadline: May 30, 2012
 
The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors and Phi Alpha Honor Society have partnered to deliver a scholarship program for undergraduate Phi Alpha members.  Each year, three scholarships will be awarded.  They are: (1st) $2,500, (2nd) $2,000, and (3rd) $1,500.
 
Awards are intended to help students with expenses related to their education.  The focus of the application is the student’s service, scholarship, and leadership.  The first place selection will be sponsored to present as part of the conference program at the BPD annual conference each spring.  Students must be members of Phi Alpha to apply.  Applications are due May 30th.  Awards are announced by September 1st
 
Eligibility
  • Applicants must be an undergraduate member in good standing of Phi Alpha Honor Society.
  • Applicants must be enrolled: (1) when submitting the application and (2) the year following the award.
  • Students may apply during their senior year if they will be enrolling in an MSW program the following year.
 
Application Process
A complete application consists of: (1) Application form, (2) Chapter Advisor form, and (3) two Reference forms. All application materials are submitted online.
Scholarship forms are available at http://www.phialpha.org
 
For complete details:
 
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Speak Out Against Prejudice Scholarship Offered by GayDatingSites.net and Education Aid, Inc.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2012
 
The Gay Dating Sites.net - Speak Out Against Prejudice Scholarship will be awarded to one deserving student passionate about doing his/her part to stop bullying, prejudice, and negative stigmas generally, in particular as they relate to the GLBT community.

The scholarship will be in the amount of $5,000, and will be distributed for the 2012-2013 academic school year. It will go toward helping the student pay for non-tuition related expenses such as:
 
  • rent
  • childcare
  • gas/travel
  • books/school supplies
  • utilities
  • groceries
 
The funds will not be sent directly to the recipient of the scholarship; rather, Education Aid, Inc. will pay for the expenses. The student will be required to provide relevant supporting documentation necessary to validate any expenses being paid for on his/her behalf.
 
How Do I Apply?
You may download the scholarship application form and complete it either by typing in your answers or by printing it out and writing them in. If you choose the latter, please make sure to print clearly and legibly! Once completed, you must print out your application and sign it by hand (electronic signatures will not be accepted).

Once you are satisfied with your application, the next step is to scan it and submit it to: GDSScholarship@educationaid.org. Please make sure to use the subject line, “GayDatingSites.net - Scholarship.”
 
Dates to Remember:
  • Application Deadline: June 1, 2012
  • Winner Announced July 1, 2012
  • Award Date September 1, 2012 (The start of the 2012-2013 academic school year)
 
For full details, see http://www.gaydatingsites.net/.
 
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Social Work-Related News Headlines
 
Here are several recent stories that may be of interest to social workers:
 
1)    “Social Workers Speak” Asks Social Workers About the Trayvon Martin Case  http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/social-worker-trayvon-martin-case-shows-fragile-status-of-black-middle-class.html
 
2)    Obama Hails Towns’ Public Service New York Rep. Edolphus Towns, a social worker, has decided not to run for re-election, after many years of service. http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/04/obama-hails-towns-public-service-120667.html
 
3)    Medical Social Worker Shaves Head to Support Patients. Joan Hart, a social worker at University of Colorado Hospital, shaves her head to raise money and awareness for cancer patients. http://www.9news.com/dontmiss/263032/630/Medical-social-worker-shaves-head-to-support-patients-
 
4)    Giving More Support to Support Group Leaders  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432704577347841297047380.html  An article from the Wall Street Journal about providing training and support to support group leaders.
 
 
On Our Web Site
Spring 2012 ISSUE OF THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER IS NOW AVAILABLE!
 
The Spring 2012 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 many 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.
 
Individual articles from the Spring 2012 issue now online include:
 
• Student Role Model: Stephanie Maldonado (in PDF version only)  
 
 
• Field Placement: Professional Growth: Flourish or Wither in the Face of Conflict http://www.socialworker.com/home/Feature_Articles/Field_Placement/Professional_Growth%3A_Flourish_or_Wither_in_the_Face_of_Conflict/  
 
 
 
 
 
 
•First Impressions of Social Work: An Honors Introductory Course (in PDF version only)  
 
 
• Poetry (in PDF version only)  
 
• On Campus (in PDF version only)  
 
• Reviews http://www.socialworker.com/home/Reviews/Book_Reviews/Book_Reviews_Spring_2012/
 
…and more!
 
 
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!
 
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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JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND ETHICS SPRING 2012 ISSUE AVAILABLE
 
The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics is a free, online, peer-reviewed journal published by the publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER. It is published twice a year, in full text, online at: http://www.socialworker.com/jswve
 
The Spring 2012 edition is available online now at:
 
Go to the journal Web site at http://www.socialworker.com/jswve to read this and other available issues. You can also sign up for a free subscription, and you will be notified by e-mail when each issue is available online.
 
Get continuing education credit for reading selected articles from the Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics. Several new courses are now available.  See http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/57/52/ for details.
 
CE credits for the Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics are offered in cooperation with CE-Credit.com. Low pricing! The basic price per credit hour is $6.97. Buying course credits in multiple-credit packages can give you significant savings. To see a complete listing of the 800+ courses that CE-Credit.com offers, go to: http://www.socialworker.com/cecredit.html
 
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, 2nd Edition, edited by Linda May Grobman
 
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), by Gary M. Grobman.
 
HOW TO ORDER

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
 


IN THIS ISSUE
Words from Our Sponsors
Job Corner/Current Job Openings
Features
News & Resources
On Our Web Site
In Print
Newsletter Necessities
Newsletter Necessities
 
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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
 
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS is published by:
White Hat Communications (publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® magazine and THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® ONLINE)
P.O. Box 5390
Harrisburg, PA 17110-0390
Linda Grobman, Editor
lindagrobman@socialworker.com
http://www.socialworker.com
 
 
Advertising: To place a job listing, sponsor this newsletter, or place a banner ad on our Web site, e-mail lindagrobman@socialworker.com for rates and further information.
 
News: Please send brief social work-related news items to lindagrobman@socialworker.com for consideration.
 
 
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Your subscription e-mail address will only be used to deliver this e-newsletter and to occasionally inform you of updates from its publisher. Your e-mail address will not be given to anyone else or used for any other purpose as a result of your subscription to this newsletter.
 
 
© 2012 White Hat Communications. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this entire newsletter, with all information intact, by e-mail to social work colleagues, students, and others interested in social work, for personal use only. You may also print out this newsletter for personal use. All other uses of this material require permission from the publisher at: linda.grobman@paonline.com
 
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is a registered trademark of White Hat Communications.
White Hat Communications, P.O. Box 5390, Harrisburg, PA 17110-0390 http://www.whitehatcommunications.com