NASW News

Dealing with personal grief over the loss of a loved one can be an overwhelming experience that children may cope with differently from adults. In an online article in New York’s Broadway World, NASW member and grief expert Edy Nathan shares her list of do’s and don’ts when helping children cope with grief. Nathan’s tips appear in her article titled From Helpless to Helpful: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Grieving Children. The article says that Nathan’s list allows an understanding of the children’s process while providing specifics about what can be done to help. “Reach out to support syst...

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Since its first Social Work Month theme in 1966 — “Support Social Work Education in Your State” — promoting Professional Social Work Month in March has been a priority for NASW. Each year, NASW creates a new theme for the month-long campaign, with the goal of bringing all social workers together to celebrate and shine a spotlight on the profession. NASW selected “All People Matter” as the 2014 theme to raise awareness throughout the country about the profession’s 116-year commitment to improving social conditions and quality-of-life opportunities for everyone. Highlights from this year’s So...

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Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed during the month of May. This year’s theme “Mind Your Health,” seeks to expand awareness about the importance of mental health to overall health and wellness. By emphasizing the connection between the mind and body, the campaign encourages people to take positive actions and measures to protect their overall well-being. Since 1988, National Foster Care Month has also been celebrated in May, focusing on giving foster parents the recognition they deserve for opening their hearts and their homes to foster children. Foster Care Month is an opportunity for people nat...

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In February, President Obama announced Maria Cancian as his nominee for Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (Family Support) in the Department of Health and Human Services. Cancian is professor of public affairs and social work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work and an affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty and the Center for Demography and Ecology. Cancian’s expertise on children, families and income inequality policies prepares her for the leadership role at ACF, according to a statement released by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Cancian has served as ass...

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Social workers have been selected to serve on the National Academies ad hoc committee “Developing Evidence-Based Standards for Psychosocial Interventions for Mental Disorders.” The committee is charged with developing efficacy standards for psychosocial interventions used to treat mental disorders. Members will explore strategies that different stakeholders might take to help establish these standards for psychosocial treatments. Social workers on the committee include Enola Proctor, director of the Center for Mental Health Services Research at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis;...

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Kelsey Carroll sits outside of Somersworth High School in New Hampshire. The school implemented a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program to reach out to troubled students like Kelsey. A documentary that focuses on Kelsey’s progress, “Who Cares About Kelsey?” will be part of the film festival taking place during the NASW national conference in July in Washington, D.C. — Photo by Dan Habib/whocaresaboutkelsey.com Social worker Bethany Case (photo below, right) said she is eager to attend the NASW national conference “Social Work: Courage, Hope & Leadership,” taking place July 23-26 in W...

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Kelsey Carroll sits outside of Somersworth High School in New Hampshire. The school implemented a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program to reach out to troubled students like Kelsey. A documentary that focuses on Kelsey’s progress, “Who Cares About Kelsey?” will be part of the film festival taking place during the NASW national conference in July in Washington, D.C. — Photo by Dan Habib/whocaresaboutkelsey.com Social worker Bethany Case (photo below, right) said she is eager to attend the NASW national conference “Social Work: Courage, Hope & Leadership,” taking place July 23-26 in W...

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The popular television sitcom The Office put Scranton, Pa., on the map. It’s also the area where NASW-Pennsylvania Executive Director Ron Simon is from, and where he earned his MSW at Marywood University. Simon said he has known since high school that social work is what he wanted to do, but an undergrad adviser at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., strongly urged him away from a BSW. Instead, he worked toward double bachelor’s degrees in psychology and English. “He told me social work is a dying field,” Simon said. “But I knew I wanted to interact with people, and I wanted to make a difference.” Despi...

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It’s critical for social workers to take the time and make sure their advance directives are in order, says California licensed clinical social worker Joni Diamond. “Life is so fragile. We never know what tomorrow brings,” she said. Social workers are also well positioned to help clients discuss their health care choices and goals, Diamond said. “We are able to be a role model for them and help them discuss these critical and sensitive decisions.” NASW is promoting the observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day, or NHDD, taking place April 16. NASW joins hundreds of organizations, health care providers ...

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Three social work students helped the NASW Wisconsin Chapter lobby state representatives for support of the Social Work Safety bill. From left are Andrew Selander; Wisconsin State Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay; Becca Zien; and Nicholl Leonhard. The NASW Wisconsin Chapter is working to keep social workers and other human services staff safe from a law that allows homeowners to use deadly force in potential home invasions. Wisconsin lawmakers in late 2011 passed the Castle Doctrine, which states that if a person has “reason to believe” someone is breaking into their home, deadly force can be used without fear of being prosecute...

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