Practice
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A New Path for Dementia Care: The Transformative Potential of the CMS GUIDE Model and Its Impact on the Social Work Profession
The GUIDE Model is structured to address the complexities of dementia by promoting integrated care approaches that foster better communication among healthcare providers, caregivers, and families.
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Self-Determination: The Beauty, the Frustration, and the Necessity of Letting People Shine (or Not)
Self-determination is messy, frustrating, and beautiful. It’s about giving people—including yourself—the freedom to make mistakes, take risks, and ultimately, shine in their own way.
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How Childhood Trauma Shapes the Work and Lives of Social Workers
The legacy of childhood trauma is complex, but it is not immutable. As social workers, we have the opportunity to confront and heal our own wounds, breaking the cycles of trauma that have shaped us.
Putting POETRY Into Practice
April is National Poetry Month. What, you might ask, does that have to do with me and my social work practice? Social worker/poet Jane Seskin illustrates how three poems can reveal thoughts and feelings that might have gone unseen and untouched.
The “Benefits” of an Eating Disorder: What Social Workers Need To Know
Why do people hold on to their eating disorders? Understanding the “benefits” of having an eating disorder can help clinicians better understand why their clients are reluctant to get better.
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Rest Therapies To Reduce Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
Rest therapies offer a holistic approach to managing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), enhancing client well-being, promoting self-care, and providing coping strategies.
Community Empowerment Through Mutual Aid
Historically, mutual aid groups target the most vulnerable and disenfranchised members of society. This idea of helping people who are excluded from governmental or institutional resources was once considered “radical” or even “anarchist.”
Giving Non-Advice: Fostering Independence and Resilience in Social Work Clients
Excessive advice-giving doesn’t belong in the therapy room. As a new social worker, you will need to resist the temptation a dozen times a day to pack clients full of your fresh therapy knowledge.
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Analogies for Engagement: Potty Training for Emotions
An analogy to potty training can show children and their caregivers that emotions can also be felt in the body, and addressing these emotions early on can help with early management to lessen the risk of a crisis.
Preventing the Preventable: What Can We Do About Suicide?
Suicide rates have been on the rise since the emergence of COVID-19. Although some suicides will not be prevented, society can focus on preventive measures such as providing space and support for those who are struggling and choose to live.
Supporting Families With Sickle Cell Disease: A Guide for School Social Workers
Supporting students with sickle cell disease (SCD) requires a comprehensive approach that addresses their academic, emotional, and social needs. School social workers can implement strategies to build a nurturing environment for students.
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School Social Worker: Canary in the Coal Mine of Public Education
I am a school social worker, a canary in the coal mine of public education. I see the collective strain on school staff, but I also envision the way forward.
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From Student Intern to Professional: Transition Smoothly Into Social Work Practice
If you're a student intern moving into professional social work, you might have many questions about what to expect, where to find mentors, and how to find the right job. This guide offers you practical advice your new career.
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What About Social Justice? Wage Equity for Social Workers
It is important to recognize that approximately half of degreed social workers are earning less than the median yearly income. As a result, many social workers are living below the living wage needed to support a household of two or more persons.
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Identifying and Responding to Resistance Around Conversations About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As the social work profession continues to engage in difficult dialogues about diversity, equity, and inclusion, many are facing resistance to this work. Resistance presents in denial-oriented, disengaged, and derailing approaches.
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Preparing To Work in and Change Courtrooms and Carceral Settings: The Latest in Forensic and Criminal-Legal Social Work Practice
Forensic social work, also known as criminal-legal social work (or juvenile-legal social work for those focusing on work with system-involved youth), is a growing area of practice.
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What About Social Justice? Bridging the Digital Divide Gap
The digital divide is a social justice problem. Social workers must incorporate digital inclusion strategies into their practices by making sure that services, data, and resources are available to all.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: How Social Workers Can Support Children and Families
By exploring thoughts about vaccine ambivalence and social barriers, then offering education, social workers can help parents make informed healthcare decisions for their children. Connect to End COVID-19 has resources for social workers.
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Eating Disorder Treatment: What Social Workers Need to Know
A perfect storm for the development of an eating disorder includes six interrelated factors. Here is what you need to identify and understand how these factors express themselves uniquely in each client and create effective interventions.
MSW Students Support Juvenile Justice Reform: Service-Learning and an Avenue to Career Development
Dr. John Gallagher, Associate Professor at Morgan State University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Baltimore, MD, developed a service-learning juvenile justice class to support students in exploring their career goals.
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Self-Determination: The Beauty, the Frustration, and the Necessity of Letting People Shine (or Not)
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Book Review—The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing