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THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® Social Work E-News
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Issue #55, June 14, 2005
EDITOR'S EYE
Dear Social Work Colleagues,
Welcome to Issue #55 of the Social Work E-News. This e-mail newsletter is brought to you by the publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine, SocialWorker.com, and other social work publications.
This week, as Father's Day approaches, is National Men's Health Week. For information and resources on men's health, see http://www.menshealthweek.org. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers who are reading this!
Congratulations to all new social work graduates! Welcome to the profession.
If you are thinking about getting an MSW, you will be pleased to know that THE SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANT'S HANDBOOK by Jesus Reyes is now available in its second edition. The new edition has been expanded to include information about schools in the U.S. and Canada, and includes the popular "In Their Own Words" section in which graduate school admissions reps share "tips for applicants" and other useful information. See more information later in this Social Work E-News, in the "In Print" section.
Worry-everybody has done it at one time or another. But what purpose does it serve? Social worker Michael Briks shares some insight into this question. See his article under "Features" in this edition of the Social Work E-News.
This issue contains several new job openings for professional social workers. If you are looking for a job, check out these listings, and be sure to let the employers know you saw their postings in the Social Work E-News! More jobs are listed on our Web site at http://www.socialworkjobbank.com & happy hunting!
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
Words From Our Sponsors
Features
Job Corner/Current Job Openings
News
On Our Web Site
In Print
Social Work Gifts
Newsletter Necessities
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WORDS FROM OUR SPONSORS
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Walden University's Ph.D. in Human Services: Clinical Social Work
Make a difference in the lives of others by gaining the knowledge and recognition that comes with advanced graduate study. Walden University's Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in Clinical Social Work prepares clinical scholars who are well-grounded in the qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry and highly skilled in a variety of intervention techniques. Graduates serve as leaders in direct practice, hold university-level teaching and clinical research positions, and advance into clinical administration, supervision and consultation.
Walden's enrollment advisors are available to help you learn more and reach your goals. For more information, visit http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;15324030;11198563;v?http://higher.waldenu.edu/sw
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The First National Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis is taking place in Salt Lake City on August 19th and 20th.
Social Work CEUs from the Utah chapter of NASW have been approved. The number of Credit Hours approved is 13.5; these hours fall under Category 1: Classroom courses, seminars, and conferences. If you desire more information about the specifics of these credit hours, please contact David Ward at 801.355.0234 ext 6.
This biannual conference has been designed to provide an arena in which our nation's preeminent scientists, providers, and professionals will gather to discuss the intersection between Methamphetamine use, HIV, Hepatitis, as well as other relevant issues. The conference program will include plenary sessions, break out sessions, workshops, and opportunities for discussion.
Information regarding the program, registration, and accommodations, is now available at www.harmredux.org or by calling Amanda Whipple at 801.355.0234 ext.3
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FEATURES
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About Worry: Observations And Strategies
By Dr. Michael Briks
As trite as it may seem, I have spent the most part of a professional career seeking the answer to a seemingly simple question: "What earthly purpose does worry serve?"
I've asked social workers, nurses, and psychologists. I've questioned cab drivers, waitresses, and barbers: the nervous and the very very nervous alike! Again and again (often at great peril to myself) I posed the question: "What earthly purpose does worry serve?" "Tell me, please."
The fact is, unlike its cousins-fear, anger and passion-worry seems to serve no purpose at all! Whether we worry or not, children in third world countries will continue to starve.
Worry, even copious amounts of worry, will not prevent a student from failing a test. There simply is no empirical relationship between worry and outcome, whatever that outcome may be. This being so, why the heck do people go on worrying?
A pragmatic response is that we worry because we can! Nothing more convoluted or complicated than that. It is in us to worry just as it is in us to smile, or to frown, and so we do. In this respect, worry is an archaic and redundant emotion that should have been disregarded way back in cave dweller days. For whatever reason, "worry" slipped through the filters of human evolution to proudly take its place amongst the more sophisticated and life preserving feelings known today. Then why not just cast it off like some excess baggage? Answer, because it really might serve a purpose after all!
From a functional perspective, "worry" provides an illusion of movement for those who suffer. Movement, even the illusion of movement, is far more desirable than feeling "helpless." And for those of us with closets filled with unresolved memories of helplessness, worry is, paradoxically, a welcome substitute.
"Sure I worry. What else can I do!"
" I worry because I'm stuck"
" I just can't sit around and do nothing, so I worry."
Through worry, we sense that we are doing something, which is different from feeling helpless.
However, although functional, worry is debilitating and potentially harmful. Every system in the body is adversely affected by worry. In addition to raising blood pressure, it can also prompt the liver to produce more cholesterol. Muscle tension can give rise to headaches and back pain, while increases in stomach acid can eventually result in constipation, diarrhea, gas, or heartburn. Chronic worry consumes vast amounts of precious energy, rendering the victim drained and defeated. Chronic worry grates away at self-esteem and dignity. Most people feel demeaned and humiliated as a result of a worry "habit." For obvious reasons, no one can afford to stay in a state of "worry."
The first step in "attacking" worry is to acknowledge that genuine movement is considerably more medicinal than the mere illusion of movement. The challenge is to re-direct energy invested in worry into positive, beneficial action. To become "unstuck," an individual must tell him or herself (often with great determination) "I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO WORRY!" It is not decreed by providence that we must "worry" and there are no laws or rules in any land that require us to do so! We go to worry through choice, meaning also that we are free not to worry if we choose (we just need to find a way out).
So if we don't go to worry, we must go somewhere, right? That next step is to identify an action-a positive action. Not surprising, as people move to positive actions (real movement), worry (the illusion of movement) generally subsides.
So, for example, when the person worried about the plight of third world children starts a food drive in the neighborhood, worry diminishes and confidence increases. When the student who worried about failing tests diverts energy into study and proper preparation, worry subsides and the odds of getting better grades increase dramatically. Most important
.goodbye feelings of helplessness!
My type of positive action is incremental (the proverbial baby steps approach). There are a number of sound reasons for this approach. Incremental action or change allows the individual opportunities to "test the waters" and soundness of an idea or strategy before making too much of a commitment. Small step incremental change is far easier to craft than a draconian-like measure and can be altered or modified with relative ease. Incremental actions yield quick rewards (e.g., positive reinforcement) and perhaps most important, failures or set backs are tiny in comparison and less self-defeating.
On a closing note, remember the song lyric: "Don't worry, be happy"? Try this one on for size instead, "Don't worry, be resourceful!"
About the Author: Michael Briks, MSW, MCA, DASW, Ed.D is Director of Operations, Briks and Briks Counselling and Consulting Services, Burlington, Ontario. He is author of the book FLOATING WISDOM: FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SAD.
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REMINDER: NEW SERVICES ON SOCIALWORKER.COM
The New Social Worker's Web site at Socialworker.com is now offering two new services.
**Social Work Bookshelf**
Please visit our exciting new Social Work Bookshelf! We have moved our social work book reviews to a new interactive system. Go to http://www.socialworker.com and click on "Social Work Bookshelf" under the Main Menu. This will take you to the Bookshelf section, which contains a database of recently-published social work related books. Within this database, you will find recent book reviews that appeared in THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine. But wait-there's more! You can contribute to this site in some exciting ways: by suggesting a book that has not already been listed, suggesting a new category, writing a brief review, or becoming an "official" reviewer.
**Online Continuing Education**
The New Social Worker has teamed up with CEU4U.com to offer you high quality, educational, interesting, convenient, and affordable continuing education courses online. CEU4U.com has received accreditation for continuing education credits from many states and organizations that accredit continuing education for social workers. If you need credits for licensure renewal, of course, please check first to make sure that the courses are accepted by your state's licensing board. To view the course offerings and take a course, go to http://www.socialworker.com/ and click on the "Online Continuing Education" link under Main Menu, or go directly to the continuing education site at: http://www.ceu4u.com/tnsw
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CALL FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine is seeking articles on social work ethics. Articles should be approximately 1,500-2,000 words in length, and should focus on a specific issue-for example, an ethics article might focus on confidentiality in a rural setting-and provide examples of how the issue might present itself, which sections of the Code of Ethics relate to the issue, and how a social worker might respond to the issue.
If you have an idea for an article, please e-mail editor Linda Grobman (mailto:linda.grobman@paonline.com) with a brief proposal of the topic and what would be covered in your article.
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JOB CORNER
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Director of the Human Services Agency
San Mateo County has an exciting career opportunity for an experienced, astute leader to oversee and administer the network of social services to San Mateo County residents who are in need or at risk. In this highly visible role, the Director will work and collaborate closely with staff, nonprofit organizations and community partners to ensure that all individuals and families become healthy, productive, contributing members of our community. The position calls for a visionary and passionate administrator with a sound understanding of human services and the needs of our clients and community. This position offers many challenges and opportunities to have a positive impact on our community.
The Human Services Agency has five divisions which include: Children and Family Services, Self Sufficiency, Community Prevention and Early Intervention, Substance Abuse and Shelter Services, Program Support and a Planning and Evaluation Unit. This position oversees a staff of 736 and has a budget of $185 million.
We seek a dynamic Director who will be a strong leader in establishing innovative programs in a collaborative manner with many partners. As a leader, the new Director will create an environment of trust and partnership in building diverse coalitions with all stakeholders. The Director must be flexible and have effective methods of resolving controversial issues with individuals representing diverse viewpoints. A committed, confident, and charismatic individual with a high level of integrity represents an ideal blend of attributes for this position.
In the heart of California's San Francisco Peninsula, San Mateo County offers an exciting, challenging position with excellent compensation and benefits. To learn more about the position and how to apply, please visit our website at www.co.sanmateo.ca.us or call Employee & Public Services at (650) 363-4343. Final filing date: June 30, 2005. EOE
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Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System is now accepting applications for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Job Description
Therapist for Intensive Outpatient group. Experience with PTSD is preferred. Some additional responsibilities of inpatient therapy will be required. Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System offers a family-oriented work environment along with competitive salary and benefits.
Apply in person or send resume to the following address:
Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System
Attn: Director of Human Resources
3909 South Wilson Road
Radcliff, KY 40160
or
E-mail your resume to charlotte@lincolnbehavioral.com
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Social Worker. You see the whole picture with clarity and compassion.
When you evaluate a patient's clinical, practical and emotional needs, you always look for the best resources to satisfy them all. That's why Long Beach Medical Center is seeking someone with your skill and thoughtful approach.
We are a 403-bed combined acute care hospital, nursing home, and home care facility, located on the south shore of Nassau County.
Here, you will be responsible for Social Work coverage for our rehab units. Duties will include providing counseling related to diagnosis as well as interaction with families, physicians, staff, outside agencies, vendors and other healthcare facilities. You will evaluate medical data and treatment plans, utilize community and agency resources, and formulate psycho-social evaluations and discharge plans.
You need a CSW; MSW and post-graduate hospital experience preferred.
To apply, please forward resume to: Human Resources, Long Beach Medical Center, 455 East Bay Drive, Long Beach, N.Y. 11561; Fax: (516) 897-1159. EOE
Apply online: www.lbmc.org
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Executive Director. Acadia Family Center, a non-profit located in Southwest Harbor, Maine, provides outpatient treatment and community education for substance abuse. Successful applicant will be a dynamic professional with substantial supervisory experience, a minimum of a Masters degree in a relevant field with at least five years post Masters' experience, LADC certification, and strong networking and fundraising skills. Provide clinical supervision to at least one clinician and one administrative assistant, oversee the budget and all office operations, and work with a diverse board of directors. Competitive wage and benefits package. Please send resume or curriculum vitae and cover letter to: Search Committee, Acadia Family Center, P.O. Box 87, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679-0807. The center is located in the heart of Acadia National Park which provides excellent opportunities to enjoy all the benefits of an outdoors lifestyle whether it be hiking, biking, sailing, kayaking, swimming, wind surfing and ice skating, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing. For additional information, please look at our web site: www.mdialcohol-drugabuse.org
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Staff Social Worker
The Menninger Clinic has two unique full-time opportunities for seasoned clinical social workers. The positions focus on adults with chronic mental illness and possibly chemical dependence. The clinical social workers will serve as primary clinician within the interdisciplinary team. Requires LSCW with current Texas license. Submit a confidential resume with salary requirements: Fax: 713-275-5116 or email to sdabney@menninger.edu EOE/AA, Equal Access Employer.
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Outpatient Therapist
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, located in Baltimore, MD, seeks an experienced therapist in the Addictions Recovery Program. Will provide dual diagnosis services in a medication assisted treatment program. Provides direct treatment to adult clients in individual, group, family, or crisis situations as clinically indicated. Obtains complete mental status, works in collaboration with the psychiatrist on diagnostic impression and treatment plan, maintains all required documentation and consistently assesses client's progress against treatment goals.
Requires MS in social work, psychology or related field. Must have current and active license as an LGSW, LCSW, LCSW-C or LCPC in the state of MD. At least one year of experience in dual diagnosis treatment is preferred.
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including tuition reimbursement and free parking.
Apply online at www.lifejobs.org.
EOE
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Find more jobs at http://www.socialworkjobbank.com, THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER's online job board and career center. Both new grads and experienced social work practitioners are included in our ever-growing candidate profile bank, which now includes thousands of confidential profiles/resumes of social work job seekers! We are proud of the fact that this site was chosen as one of 350 (out of 40,000+ employment sites) to be included in Weddle's Recruiter's and Job Seeker's Guide to Employment Web Sites 2004 and 2005.
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 for job posting options and SPECIAL offers.
All job seeker services are FREE-including searching current job openings, posting your confidential resume/profile, and requesting e-mail job alerts. Please let employers know that you saw their listings in the SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS and at SocialWorkJobBank.com.
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NEWS
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Prescription Drug Purchasing Simplified Through New Technologies
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken another step to make it easier for Medicare beneficiaries to get prescription drugs from their local pharmacies. This action will allow pharmacists to use their existing computer systems to determine which Medicare drug plan to bill and whether the beneficiary has other drug coverage, all while the beneficiary is at the counter. Medicare beneficiaries will begin to receive their prescription drugs under the new benefit starting January 1, 2006.
"This new system will help beneficiaries take advantage of their coverage even if they don't have their benefit card; it will help make sure beneficiaries get charged the right amount; and it will combine drug payments from Medicare with payments from other sources without the need for paper-no matter which pharmacy a beneficiary chooses to use," CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., said. "We've worked with pharmacists and other stakeholders to develop an approach that simplifies life for the beneficiary."
The new process includes the coordination of other programs beneficiaries may enroll in, such as state pharmacy or retiree programs, to make it easy to combine the Medicare benefit with these other sources of coverage and to protect beneficiaries from being charged more than they should.
"We will continue to work with the individuals and organizations that have the expertise with these transaction systems to ensure the successful implementation of the prescription drug benefit," said Dr. McClellan. "Part of that success means that pharmacists will be able to spend more time helping patients and less time resolving insurance matters."
Medicare's drug coverage will provide help with drug costs for all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of how they pay for their drugs today. The standard drug benefit will pay 75 percent of a beneficiary's drug costs up to $2,250 a year after a $250 deductible is met. If out-of-pocket costs rise above $3,600, the Medicare drug benefit pays 95 percent of all further drug costs for the year.
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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. On our site, click on "About the Magazine" to find Tables of Contents of the current and back issues, and click on "Feature Articles" to find full-text articles.
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 "Discussion Forum" in the left menu) -- you do not have to be a registered user to participate, but registering allows you to use some additional features of the message board.
Be sure to check out the Social Work Bookshelf and continuing education offerings available at http://www.socialworker.com, or go directly to http://www.ceu4u.com/tnsw for continuing education offerings.
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JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK VALUES AND ETHICS-SPRING 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 second edition, Spring 2005, is available now. Go to http://www.socialworker.com/jswve and click on the link for Spring 2005-Vol. 2, No. 1.
Go to the journal Web site at http://www.socialworker.com/jswve and sign up for a free subscription, and you will be notified by e-mail when each issue is available online.
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IN PRINT
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SUMMER ISSUE OF THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER AVAILABLE SOON
The Summer issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine has gone to press. If you are a subscriber to the print magazine, you will receive your copy in July. Here are some highlights of this issue:
Ethics and Countertransference in Addressing Suicidal Ideation: Reflection on a Family Intervention
The "No-Comfort" Zone
Words From the Wise: Recent and Soon-to-Be Graduates Speak on Field Placement
10 Things Every New Social Worker Should Know About Teens Who Self-Injure
Grief and Loss: How Future Social Workers Can Address Death on Campus
Making a Difference
Safety First: Paying Heed To, and Preventing, Professional Risks
Career Talk: The Burnout Test
and more!
See our Web site at http://www.socialworker.com for more details about this issue.
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER MAGAZINE
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER can be ordered directly from our online store at http://www.whitehatcommunications.com/store -- where you will also find the social work and nonprofit management books we publish.
Subscriptions to THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER are also available through Amazon.com. To order your subscription from Amazon.com, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00007B01P/newsocialwork-20
Visit http://www.lulu.com and find instant downloads of selected back issues of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine. Buy a single issue or a whole collection.
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NEW EDITION AVAILABLE: THE SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANT'S HANDBOOK
THE SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANT'S HANDBOOK, by Jesus Reyes, is now available in its second edition. Published by White Hat Communications, publisher of The New Social Worker, the book offers advice on choosing and applying to MSW programs in the U.S. and Canada. The book is presented in three parts: 1) what to look for in a graduate school, 2) what schools look for in applicants, and 3) resources for applicants. The handbook, written by a former admissions director, provides insight into such issues as writing the application essay, what to do when an applicant's undergraduate academic record is "less than perfect," and more. Especially useful is the "In Their Own Words Section," in which graduate school admissions representatives give "tips for applicants," "common applicant mistakes," and specific information about their schools.
Order the new edition now from our online store at http://www.whitehatcommunications.com/store -- it is also available from Amazon.com at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1929109148/newsocialwork-20.
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SOCIAL WORK GIFTS
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Do you need a unique gift for someone who is interested in social work, a colleague, or a student? Here are some ideas:
Subscription to THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine--$15 for 1 year (to U.S. address)
Books-DAYS IN THE LIVES OF SOCIAL WORKERS and MORE DAYS IN THE LIVES OF SOCIAL WORKERS offer an overview of "typical" days in a wide variety of social work settings! THE SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANT'S HANDBOOK is a great gift for anyone who is thinking about social work graduate school.
"I Am a Social Worker" Buttons-Red buttons with yellow lettering. Stock up on them and give them to your fellow classmates, colleagues, interns, or new graduates.
These items and more are available at our online store at http://www.whitehatcommunications.com/store
We also have specialty items (social work mugs, teddy bears, and more) at http://www.cafepress.com/socialworker -- you won't find these ANYWHERE else!
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NEWSLETTER NECESSITIES
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To change the address for your subscription, please unsubscribe your old e-mail address and then subscribe your new one.
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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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Advertising: If you would like to place a job listing or sponsor this newsletter, e-mail linda.grobman@paonline.com for rates and further information. We also now offer banner advertising on our Web site.
News: Please send brief social work-related news items to linda.grobman@paonline.com for consideration.
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PRIVACY
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.
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Copyright 2005 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
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