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THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® Social Work E-News
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Issue #39, February 20, 2004
EDITOR'S EYE
Dear Social Work Colleagues,
Welcome to Issue #39 of the Social Work E-News. This e-mail newsletter is brought to you by the publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine and other social work publications.
National Social Work Month is coming in the U.S. in March! You can find information about the theme, "The Power of Social Work: Pass It On," and activities at the NASW Web site at http://www.socialworkers.org
Social Work Month is a good time to think about not only how social workers support others, but how we support ourselves! This is a topic that often comes up in my conversations with other social workers. How do you get the support YOU need as a professional helper? In this issue, you will find some ideas and examples of how some are doing it.
I am pleased to announce a new electronic, peer-reviewed journal, THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND ETHICS. Ethics is an extremely important topic in our profession, and this new journal will be available online, free of charge, for all social workers. I am happy to be the publisher of this new journal and to announce the call for papers, which you will find in this newsletter.
If you are attending the CSWE conference in Anaheim next week, please stop my booth in the exhibit hall and say hello! I'll be in booth #102, right when you enter the exhibit hall.
Until next time,
Linda Grobman, ACSW, LSW
Publisher/Editor
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER®
http://www.socialworker.com
linda.grobman@paonline.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
A Word From Our Sponsor
News
Features
On Our Web Site
In Print
Job Corner
Newsletter Necessities
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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
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HTTP://SOCIALWORKEXAM.COM
Social Work Exam Prep Review. Prepare right on the Internet!! Multiple choice exam banks, Timed Questions, Secrets to Passing, DSM-IV Terms, Notables, all Online and Interactive. Reveal strengths and weaknesses so you can map your study strategy. Check out our FREE QUESTION SAMPLER!!
Licensure Exams, Inc.
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NEWS
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CALL FOR PAPERS FOR THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND ETHICS
The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics ( http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/jswve.htm ) is a new online refereed journal and is seeking original manuscripts for its first edition.
See the Mission Statement at:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/jswvemission.htm
See the Manuscript Guidelines at:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/jswvemspolicy.htm
Meet the Editorial Board at:
http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/jswveboard.htm
The Journal is a publication of White Hat Communications ( http://www.socialworker.com )
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Steve Marson at smarson@nc.rr.com (mailto:smarson@nc.rr.com) or Jerry Finn at Finn@mail.temple.edu (mailto:Finn@mail.temple.edu)
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News From Influencing State Policy (ISP)
Influencing State Policy (ISP), a group whose goal is to "increase social work efficacy in influencing state-level policy and legislation," has released the 4th in its series of Policy Affects Practice videos. The video, "Social Workers Effecting Change: Legislative Advocacy," is an instructional resource outlining basic tasks and skills needed to advocate in the legislative arena.
Additionally, ISP has announced the winner of its 2003 Dissertation Award. Anita Reed, a PhD student at the Catholic University of America National Catholic School of Social Services in Washington, DC, won for her proposal on "Models of Organizational Collaboration and Child Welfare Outcomes: Assessing the Impact of Virginia's Comprehensive Services Act," which she will present at the Annual ISP meeting next week in Anaheim, CA. The deadline to apply for the 2004 Dissertation Award, which grants a $2,000 prize to the winning entry, is November 15, 2004.
ISP is also sponsoring its annual Influencing State Policy contest, which carries awards of $500-$1,000 for BSW and MSW students and faculty. The entry deadline for the contest is May 10, 2004.
For more information about ISP activities, membership, and awards, visit http://www.statepolicy.org or contact Dr. Robert L. Schneider at rlschnei@vcu.edu or 804-828-0452.
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ADD Resources Creating Online ADHD Directory
ADD Resources, a nonprofit organization, is creating an online National ADHD Directory. All ADHD service providers and products may list their name, city, state, phone number and professional category free of charge. People with ADHD and service providers will be able to use this resource free of charge.
Founded in 1994, Attention Deficit Disorder Resources (ADD Resources) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run mostly by adult volunteers with ADD. The organization maintains an educational website, bookstore, and lending library, and publishes a monthly eNews, the 8-page ADDult ADDvice quarterly newsletter, the 138-page Adult ADD Reader, and a collection of articles by national authorities, as well as adults with ADD.
For information, visit http://www.addresources.org
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FEATURES
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SOCIAL WORKERS-HOW DO YOU SUPPORT YOURSELF?
By Linda May Grobman, ACSW, LSW
The issue of self support and care is a frequent topic of discussion in conversations I have had recently with other social workers. As a professional helper, how do you support yourself? Not from a financial point of view-but from a burnout prevention, stress relieving one. Do you get enough support from your supervisor and co-workers on the job, at home, and from your friends? Do you seek out support from other professionals who "know where you're coming from" from their own experience? DO you get the support you need?
Pete Koffron ( http://www.petekoffron.com ) is a social worker who wants to help social workers support themselves and each other. Pete is starting the Social Workers Support Network (SWSN). Beginning March 2, SWSN will offer monthly conference calls (for a fee) for social workers of all ages, experience levels and locations to network, reduce burnout, relieve stress, explore opportunities, and have fun. The goal, says Pete, is "to support people who support people." The conference calls will provide a confidential place for social workers to "meet" and talk with other social workers.
Pete cites academic and popular press studies, articles, and journals, which say that the social work profession faces an ever increasing crisis. More and more, social workers try to balance restricted resources with infinite need. "This balancing act requires creativity, ingenuity, culturally competent perspectives and-at times-a hearty good laugh," according to Koffron. He goes on to say, "Information (articles, classes, conferences) may turn into knowledge IF enough TIME and EXPERIENCE pass by. However, wisdom is truly a collective process. Wisdom requires the test of sharing knowledge amongst all experience levels-not just the seasoned professional." So, Koffron is using telephone conference calling technology to mix all three items through facilitated calls led by seasoned professionals.
With more and more social work organizations moving toward online continuing education and conferences, the idea of ongoing contact with other social workers through a monthly conference call has a certain appeal. It mixes technology (okay, a telephone) with the "lower-tech" idea of making human connections with colleagues through plain old real-time talking.
There are many high-tech AND low-tech ways social workers find support among their peers. While we're in school, especially, there are built in ways. When I was in graduate school, for example, I rode in a carpool with several other students to the university, which was about an hour away. During those daily rides (at least during the early part of the program, until we got into field placement), our group developed a bond and provided a natural support system. Later, in field placement, there were several students from different schools of social work placed at my agency, which allowed again for group support.
Since that time, I have been a member of numerous professional associations, such as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Association for Oncology Social Work (AOSW), and others, that provide mutual support and networking through conferences, committee membership, and other activities. In school, there are student social work organizations that many join and find rewarding. For example, a look at the University of Washington School of Social Work Web site ( http://depts.washington.edu/sswweb/student_act.html ) will reveal that there are 11 different student organizations just for social work students at that one university!
Then there are mentoring programs for social workers, such as the one provided by the Columbia University School of Social Work Alumni Association (see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ssw/careers/mentoring/association.html ). New graduates meet in small groups with more experienced CUSSW graduates to share experiences and air concerns.
With technology everywhere around us, even the most isolated social workers (those in rural areas, isolated countries, or who are the only social workers in their agencies) can find networking and support avenues with other social workers. THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER's Online Discussion Forum at http://www.socialworker.com/discus is one example. Social workers from around the U.S., Canada, and the world discuss everything imaginable related to social work. Recently, a group of social work students from Finland showed up on the discussion board to express their views and discuss a variety of issues.
There are specialized social work listservs sponsored by professional associations, private groups, and individuals. Web sites like Fried Social Worker ( http://www.friedsocialworker.com ) specialize in information about social work burnout. Social Workers Helping Social Workers (http://www.socialworkershelping.org ) is a specialized group in which social workers help social workers and social work students who have a personal experience with addiction or other dependence, or with other addictive behaviors, either their own or those of a significant other. Social workers who have Internet access through America Online can check out the keyword "Social Workers" and find a vibrant online community of colleagues, with active message boards and online chats almost every night of the week.
There are conferences at the local, state, and national levels. (Some of the best work at these happens BETWEEN the workshop sessions, in the exhibit hall and hotel restaurants, where some serious networking and mutual support gets accomplished!) Sometimes, these conferences are followed up or supplemented by ongoing online activities.
And, of course, if you're fortunate enough to work in an agency with other social workers who are supportive, you can always go knock on your colleague's door for a low-tech shoulder to lean on.
So, social workers-how do YOU support yourself?
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ON OUR WEB SITE
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THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER's Web site at http://www.socialworker.com includes the full text of many sample articles from past issues of the magazine. Go to the Back Issues page at http://www.socialworker.com/backissu.htm to find links to these articles. Here you will also find information on ordering back issues either in print or electronically.
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/discus -- you do not have to be a registered user to participate, but registering allows you to use some additional features of the message board.
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IN PRINT
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WINTER ISSUE AVAILABLE NOW
The Winter issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine is available. This issue marks the beginning of Volume 11. We are very excited to introduce the new "Career Talk" column in this issue, which is written by two social workers-Regina Praetorius and Laura Lawson-who are also experienced career counselors. Here are some highlights of this issue:
Ethics: A Touchy Subject
Field Placement: Top 5 Things (x2) They Never Told You (Or You Weren't Ready to Hear)
Policy: Reflections on the 2003 BPD Summer Policy Fellowship
Staying True to Our Roots: Social Work and the American Poor
The Mattress
Career Talk: Marketing Your BSW or MSW: A-Z
Texas Students March on State Capitol
Electronic Connection: Reminiscing About the Future
Research: A Few Bumps Along Research Road
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JOB CORNER
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SOCIALWORKJOBBANK.COM: THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER's online job board and career center is located at http://www.socialworkjobbank.com . Both new grads and experienced social work practitioners are included in our ever-growing candidate profile bank, which now includes over 2,900 confidential profiles/resumes of social work job seekers! SocialWorkJobBank.com is easy to use and affordable for employers, too. All job seeker services are FREE-including searching current job openings, posting your confidential resume/profile, and requesting e-mail job alerts. If you or your agency are hiring social workers, please include SocialWorkJobBank.com in your recruiting efforts.
Job Seekers: Please let employers know that you saw their listings in the SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS and at SocialWorkJobBank.com.
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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
linda.grobman@paonline.com
http://www.socialworker.com
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News: Please send brief social work-related news items to linda.grobman@paonline.com for consideration.
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