Dear Reader,
As I put together this issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER, common themes emerged. One of those themes is social justice. This is an important principle for professional social workers. The NASW Code of Ethics states that “...social workers challenge social injustice. Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people.” This is what makes social work unique. So, in this issue, you will find articles about tax reform and the DREAM Act. You will also find references to social justice in other parts of this issue.
Another theme is that of “starting where the client is.” I remember hearing this phrase many times when I was a social work student. And it applies to just about every article in this issue, from ethics committees to the supervisory relationship to virtual clinical practice and applying jazz concepts to social work.
So, I challenge you. As you read this issue, see how many times you can find the phrases “social justice” and “starting where the client is.”
We can learn a great deal from reading or hearing about social workers’ personal experiences as they relate to social work. I was struck by Rose Pollard’s observations as she returned to her former NA group as a social work student observer. How had things changed? And how had her perceptions of the group changed?
Another personal story is that of Amerah Shabazz-Bridges, a social worker who previously wrote for THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER about her experiences as an abused child. In this issue, the mother of seven shares her thoughts on being a black woman who has multiple children by multiple men.
At this time, I want to express my utmost thanks to Karen Zgoda for the contributions she has made to THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER through her SW 2.0 column. This issue is her last as a regular columnist. I wish her all the best as she continues to work on her dissertation. Karen has introduced us to some very innovative ideas, and in her final column interviews Nancy Smyth and Mike Langlois about virtual clinical social work practice.
Do you have ideas or experiences you would like to share with our readers? Perhaps you would like to write an article or serve as an expert interviewee for a future issue! Let me know.
Until next time—happy reading!
Linda May Grobman, ACSW, LSW Table of Contents--THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER, Fall 2011, Vol. 18, No. 4 Student Role Model:
Keyon Mitchell
Meet Keyon Mitchell, MSW student at the University of Southern California and recipient of the NBA/Bacardi USA Gold Standard Scholarship.
by Barbara Trainin Blank
page 3
Ethics: Health Care Social Workers and Ethics Committees
Social workers can be instrumental in helping hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and other health care organizations resolve complex cases with ethical dimensions. This article explores ways for social workers to get involved with ethics committees.
by Karen Neuman Allen
page 4
Field Placement:Understanding the Supervisory Relationship With Social Work Students
What role does attachment play in the relationship between social work student and supervisor? And what effect does it have on the student’s relationships with clients?
by Dierdra Oretade
page 8
Social Work and the Art of Jazz Improvisation
Who knew that lessons learned in a music class could apply to social work practice?
by Jason S. McKinney
page 11
Reflections on the Group Process: An Ex-Group Member Returns as an Observer
For a school project, a social work student returns to a Narcotics Anonymous group and makes some surprising observations.
by Rose Pollard
page 12
Veterans Health Administration Clarifies Medical Treatment of Transgender/Intersex Vets
A new directive from the Veterans Health Administration is examined in this report.
by Barbara Trainin Blank
page 14
Viewpoint: Dare to Dream
The DREAM Act would allow undocumented immigrant students to stay in the U.S. legally, but only allows them to do so if they enter the military or college. More options should be allowed, say three social work students in this editorial.
by Joan Mendoza, Melissa Ellis, and Samira Yeganeh
page 15
The Moment of Truth: Tax Reform, Social Justice, and Social Work
As calls for reducing the federal deficit and debt gain momentum in Congress, social workers concerned with justice face difficult choices.
by Pat Oles
page 18
A Black Woman Naming Her Truth: Multiple Children By Multiple Men
Social worker Amerah Shabazz-Bridges responds to a recent study on black women as mothers of multiple children with different fathers. Her own personal story provides insight and asks readers to look at the real human issues involved rather than relying on stereotypes.
by Amerah Shabazz-Bridges
page 20
SW 2.0: Going Where the Client Is: Exploring Virtual Clinical Social Work Practice
In Karen’s final column, she explores new and innovative ways social work is being practiced virtually, specifically incorporating virtual worlds, like Second Life, and gaming. This column grew out of a Google+ Hangout (video chat).
by Karen Zgoda
page 24
Kryss Meets Career: We Share the Sky
The best way to learn about people’s differences is to remember what is fairly universal—all people want to be treated with respect and dignity, and people would prefer you to ask than to assume.
by Kristen Marie (Kryss) Shane
page 31
On Campus page 22
Letter to the Editor page 23
Reviews page 27
Classified Ads page 32
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