Dear Reader,
    Happy New Year! In 2012, we experienced a contentious presidental election in the U.S., the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, mass shootings, and much more. We continued to see child abuse in the news, as well as debates about health care and the economy. President Obama was re-elected, and three states legalized same-sex marriage by popular vote. A social worker became the first woman to chair the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.
    These are just a few of the events that may be on the minds of social workers and their clients, regardless of which “side” of the issue they are on. Let us each resolve in 2013 to take every opportunity we can to explore ways in which we can respond to the “events of the day” on micro, mezzo, and macro levels to make our society a better, safer, and more humane one.
    With this new year, THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is starting its 20th year of publication! I am very honored to have been doing this for such a long period of time, and I am very excited about what we have in store for this year.
    As I mentioned in the last issue, Dr. Allan Barsky has joined THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER as the new ethics columnist. His column, “Ethics Alive!,” promises to bring to life the many difficult issues that social workers face every day in their work to provide services ethically and competently. In this issue, he addresses practice errors. How many times have you left a session with a client only to think to yourself, “Whoops! What did I just do?” And then the question becomes, “What do I do now?” Dr. Barsky is the chair of the NASW National Ethics Committee. Who better to guide us through these sticky situations?
    Forensic social work is a growing field that offers unique opportunities for social workers and social work students. Read about field placements in legal settings on page 6.
    Susan Mankita and Kryss Shane have both written for this magazine. What you may not know is that Susan and Kryss are cousins, AND that Susan’s mom Selma is also a social worker! We feature this 3-generation social work family on page 8. It is interesting to note how the profession has evolved from 85-year-old Selma’s early years until now.
    The first in a series of articles about group work is Renee Zandee-Adams’ look at group work myths, such as “A good group runs itself.”
    Additional articles in this issue address social worker debt, youth retreats, hospice work, new acronyms for healthcare, what social workers need to know about people, online help for end-of-life planning, and more!
    Until next time—happy reading!

Linda May Grobman, Publisher/Editor

 Table of Contents--Winter 2013

Student Role Model:
Sean Hudson
Meet Sean Hudson, a recent BSW graduate of the University of Alabama.
by Barbara Trainin Blank
page 3

Ethics Alive!: Whoops! Practice Errors and the Ethics of Follow-Up
What happens when we make a mistake—perhaps an error of judgment, an unintentional imposition of biases or assumptions, or providing people with inaccurate information? This article explores the ethical issues for social workers who have erred in practice and need to determine how to follow up.
by Allan Barsky
page 4

Field Placement: Thinking Outside the Box: Field Placements in Legal Settings
The challenges facing field directors in finding appropriate and interesting practicum sites are great, and finding policy and community driven placements can be even more difficult. This often forces programs and students to think outside the box.
by Stephanie Hicks-Pass
page 6

From Generation to Generation—Three Generations of Social Workers
Selma, Susan, and Kryss represent three generations of social workers in the same family. How has the profession changed? How is it the same?
by Barbara Trainin Blank
page 8

A Good Group Runs Itself—and Other Myths
In the same way that knowing how a car operates does not make one a good driver, earning a master’s degree in social work and studying the group process in depth does not necessarily make one a good facilitator. The skills needed to effectively facilitate a group are often highly underrated.
by Renee R. Zandee-Adams
page 10

Challenge House Retreats: Building Resilience in
At-Risk Youths
Social work students learn from planning and running retreats for at-risk youths.
by Mary Fran Davis, Sherry S. Cruise, and Nancy Bandel
page 12

Educational and Credit Card Debt: What’s a Social Worker To Do?
How can social workers cope with student loan and credit card debt?
by Sally A. Kakoti
page 14

In the Ogre’s Lair: Seeing Light in Shadow
A hospice social worker learns to see through an ogre’s lair.
by J. Scott Janssen
page 16

New Acronyms=Greater Opportunities for Social Workers in Health Care Settings
IPE and IPCP. What do they mean?
by Jennifer Anderson
page 20

Social Work Students in Action!
A photo montage of students in action.
page 23

10 Things Every New Social Worker Needs To Know About People
Tips from a retired child protective services worker.
by Linda Conroy
page 24

Tech Topics: Sites Ease Stress of End-of-Life Planning
There are plenty of places to turn when you want to plan a wedding or a bar mitzvah celebration. But where can one find help with planning for end-of-life, funerals, and related needs?
by Linda May Grobman
page 31

On Campus    page 22
Reviews    page 28
Classified Ads    page 32