Publisher’s Thoughts
Dear Reader,
We have just completed another Social Work Month in March, with the theme “Social Work Matters!” Yes, social work and social workers matter, as you can see from the topics represented in this issue.
We talk a lot about ethics and knowing the Code, but do you really know what an ethical dilemma is? The concept of a true ethical dilemma, a situation in which two ethical principles compete with each other, is spelled out in Karen Allen’s article on page 4.
Next we turn to the issue of conflict in the workplace, which includes field placement. It is inevitable that you will face such conflict at some point. Are you prepared to make the most of the situation, learn from it, and grow from it?
The social work licensing exam. Is there any social work student or new graduate out there who is NOT thinking about it? Ammu had every intention of taking the exam and becoming licensed immediately after graduation. Then life took over! Four years later, she is licensed and ready to share her tips with you.
The historic Hull House Association in Chicago filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors earlier this year. Laura Gale takes a look at lessons to be learned from the Hull House experience.
Kryss Shane is ending her tenure as columnist with this issue. She shares some very personal thoughts about social work, words, the Internet, and her precious Nikko. I want to thank Kryss for sharing her insights, enthusiasm, and experiences over the past year and a half. It has been a pleasure to have her on board as our columnist in 2011-2012. And she is not going away completely...I won’t let her! She will still write reviews and other occasional pieces.
Have you experienced The Social Work Podcast? You can find it on our site at http://www.socialworker.com/home/menu/Social_Work_Podcast/. Jonathan Singer, the podcast’s founder, is interviewed on page 25.
Social workers and social work students are on the forefront when it comes to social justice. On the front cover of this issue, you will find a photo of students marching against institutional racism in response to the shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida. You can find more news of students in action on pages 20 and 21.
I am busy at work on a couple of new book projects! I will share more as the publication dates get closer. One is a book on group work, and the other is on finding your niche in clinical social work.
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--Spring 2012 Student Role Model:
Stephanie Maldonado
Meet Stephanie Maldonado, BSW student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Truman Scholar.
by Barbara Trainin Blank
page 3
Ethics: What Is an Ethical Dilemma?
Social workers are routinely confronted wth ethical dilemmas in practice. However, students are not routinely taught how to recognize what an ethical dilemma is. Correctly identifying an ethical dilemma is the first step in resolving it.
by Karen Allen
page 4
Field Placement: Professional Growth—Flourish or Wither in the Face of Conflict
Conflict is a common occurrence in the workplace and can occur for a variety of reasons, including differences in personal values, professional values, gender, race, culture, or competition for scarce resources. Such experiences hold the potential for significant benefit to students both personally and professionally and ultimately the field of social work as a whole.
by Patty Hunter, Chris Sims, and Kimberley Davis
page 6
School Social Work Group Benefits High School Students Living in Non-Traditional Families
A student develops a group for students living in foster care.
by Pam Ladetto
page 8
First Impressions of Social Work: An Honors
Introductory Class
Students in an honors introductory social work class share their first impressions of the profession.
by Gary L. Villereal and students
page 10
How I Passed the Licensing Exam: 10 Tips
A newly licensed social worker shares exam taking tips.
by Ammu Kowolik
page 12
Reflections of a Child Welfare Social Worker
A child welfare social worker inherits 20 cases all at once from a previous worker. Where does she begin? Sonya Hunte provides helpful hints.
by Sonya O. Hunte
page 16
Lessons From Hull House
The Hull House Association in Chicago filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors earlier this year. What lessons can be learned?
by Laura Gale
page 18
Kryss Meets Career:
Words Matter
In her final column, Kryss shares some personal thoughts about the importance of words, the Internet, and her precious pup Nikko.
by Kristen Marie (Kryss) Shane
page 22
Tech Topics: Learning By Podcast With Jonathan Singer
Since its inception, the Social Work Podcast has been featured on THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER’s Web site. Claudia Dewane caught up with the podcast’s founder, Jonathan Singer, for an update on the role the podcast is playing in social work education and practice, the success of the podcast, and other pressing technological issues facing social workers.
by Claudia J. Dewane
page 25
In the News page 15
Poetry page 19
On Campus page 20
Reviews page 24
Classified Ads page 28
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