Using podcasts for continuing professional development
Martin Webber
MAY 19, 2022
Toolkit to assist reflections on the Social Work Research Podcast for continuing professional development.
May, 2022
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Technology Disruption Readiness Plan: A Best Practice for the Social Work Classroom
Teaching & Learning in Social Work
MAY 20, 2022
In social work education, one lesson we can take away from the COVID pandemic has brought many lessons to social work education is to be ready when a crisis or disruption requires an instructor and students to quickly shift an entire course, a class session, or even an assignment. In today’s world, this typically means understanding when and how to adapt our learning environments to incorporate or adjust for digital technologies, both hardware (i.e., portable devices, laptops, WiFi access)
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Four Strategies to Cope with Adversity
Gary Direnfeld
MAY 28, 2022
It may be the biggest, but not the first stressful event in my life, my impending open heart surgery. With those prior events, I have had episodic/situational anxiety. What works for me in terms of managing the fear/dread of overwhelming situations is remembering the transient nature of these circumstances. One way or another, things change and those issues will be addressed.
Proposed Mental Health Act overhaul included in Queen’s Speech
Community Care
MAY 10, 2022
Proposals to overhaul the Mental Health Act 1983 will be considered by Parliament over the next year, the government announced today in the Queen’s Speech. It will produce a draft bill designed to reduce the number of detentions, tackle longstanding racial disparities in the use of compulsory powers and end the detention of people on the sole grounds of them being autistic or having learning disabilities.
5 Must Haves for Case Management
Advertiser: Caseworthy
Thousands of nonprofits rely on case management software to help collect data, manage programs, coordinate with agencies, and provide life-changing health and human services. Adopting a cloud-based case management platform is essential for nonprofits and government agencies to operate more efficiently and make better use of their funding and budget.
How Do You Talk About Mental Health?
My Brains Not Broken
MAY 10, 2022
During Mental Health Awareness Month , there is a lot of attention focused on knowing what mental health challenges look like. It makes sense – mental illness and mental health disorders have become much more prevalent in the past few decades and the pandemic has only amplified that, so awareness is extremely important. But there are so many things to be aware of when it comes to mental health that not everyone might know.
Emerging Words for the Future – Spring 2022 Edition!
Social Work Futures
MAY 18, 2022
Over the last couple of years and through my own foresight journey (as a social worker and a human)…I’ve found emerging language regarding the future to be really interesting, illuminating, sometimes troubling, and valuable. Sometimes there are words that are more “pop culture” words that emerge from the mainstream (they are a little like popcorn…not much substance).
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Social Work Update brings together the best content for social work professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
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New IFSW Global President Elected
International Federation of Social Workers
MAY 14, 2022
IFSW is delighted to announce that the new global President is Joachim Mumba from Zambia. His 4-year term as president will commence on the 16th of May. He follows on from Silvana Martinez who steps down at the end of her 4-year term at the end of the IFSW General Meeting which is currently in […].
When Little Ones Play Dress-Up
Gary Direnfeld
MAY 15, 2022
Periodically I am asked about a toddler/preschooler who prefers to wear clothes aligned with the gender other than physically presented at birth. At times it creates a source of conflict for the parents. Where those parents are separated, that conflict can escalate significantly. Here is a recent response I provided a family law lawyer whose client was involved in such a situation: —————– At that age, we don’t know if there is truly a gender issue for th
65,000 adults waiting at least six months for assessment as unmet needs mount, warns ADASS
Community Care
MAY 13, 2022
Sixty five thousand people in England have been waiting at least six months for an adults’ services assessment as unmet needs mount, directors have warned. The figure, dating from the end of February, is six times that recorded in September last year, and comes with most directors reporting they have had to prioritise assessments for cases of suspected abuse or neglect, hospital discharge or reablement following a temporary residential care stay.
Closing Out Mental Health Awareness Month 2022
My Brains Not Broken
MAY 31, 2022
Every year when I reach the end of Mental Health Awareness Month , I try to reflect. I reflect on mental health in the state of my community, my city and my country, and I wonder if anything has happened this month that could lead to substantial change. This year, I have to say I’m a little discouraged. I know I’m usually a little more positive about mental health awareness, but after this month it seems like we have so much of it backwards.
Get Connected: Using Social Media for Social Work Success
Speaker: Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW.
You may have the clinical skills to manage a private practice, but your success could actually hinge on marketing skills. For a thriving practice, you need to differentiate yourself from others and present yourself in a way that attracts referrals. These days, much of that happens online, including on social media. In this webinar, Gary Direnfeld will discuss how social media marketing can help you build your private practice and grow your client base.
How might social work be different in the future?
Social Work Futures
MAY 24, 2022
Let’s have an imagination session! Think about how different a “typical social work job” was 50 years ago. That would be the year 1972. And imagine how different it might be 50 years from now – the year 2072. What will the world be like? What will our global and local challenges, opportunities, strengths, crisis, dynamics and possibilities be at that time?
The Ugly Truth About Mental Health Stigma
Stop Abuse Campaign
MAY 20, 2022
← Does Anyone Care? Shocking Barriers Killing Our Mental Health. Growing up, I could always feel my mom’s eyes on me as I walked into the kitchen. She would watch me as I grabbed food, whether this was in my own home or in someone else’s, to make sure that I was taking an “appropriate” amount of food. While this seems like a small act, it led to me developing a sense of body dysmorphia, as well as severe anxiety over food.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Transitions to 988
Social Work Blog
MAY 9, 2022
As America faces a mental health crisis, the need for suicide prevention services is more imperative than ever. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is ranked as the second primary cause of death in young people among the ages of 10 to 34 and the tenth most frequent cause of death in the United States. Since 1999, the suicide rate has increased more than 30 percent, with a 10 percent increase among individuals ages 15-24 (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022).
When Someone Shares Their Pain…
Gary Direnfeld
MAY 30, 2022
When someone tells you of their pain, just listen. Do not try to solve or suggest they will get through it or ask to look at the bright side. While it appears helpful, it is actually diminishing the experience of the person who as a result, may feel more immersed in their distress, not less. It can inadvertently suggest their issue is not so significant when to them, it is.
Frontline’s social work qualification rates lower than other fast-track schemes’, data shows
Community Care
MAY 20, 2022
Frontline has a lower social work qualification rate than other fast-track programmes, according to data from the providers. About 90% of Frontline candidates completed the first year of the programme – thereby earning a social work qualification – in the three most recent intakes: 2018-19 (91%), 2019-20 (88%) and 2020-21 (90%). This was below the completion rates for Step Up to Social Work’s three most recent intakes, which were 95% in 2016-17 and 96% in each of 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Why Mental Health Awareness Is Important
My Brains Not Broken
MAY 5, 2022
May means one thing on My Brain’s Not Broken – it’s time to talk about mental health awareness ! May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, which means it’s a time where there is added emphasis on how we talk about mental health in this country. And before I dive into that topic (which I’ll revisit later this month), I want to talk about the concept of mental health awareness.
10 Things – Dispatches from the Future – May 12, 2022 Edition
Social Work Futures
MAY 11, 2022
Periodic interesting things gathered – to accelerate (or disrupt) social working thinking, exploring and practice with a futures/foresight lens. 10 things seems like a good amount of things…and about as much as any of us can handle at one time. ( I’ve been away from doing this for awhile…but you can see previous posts of this kind here.).
Having a Mentally Ill Parent — What It’s Like
Nnatasha Tracy
MAY 5, 2022
I had a mentally ill parent. It was my father. He's dead now , but when he was here, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Of course, I didn't find out about that until I was an adult. That secret affected my life from the time I was a child. What it's like to have a mentally ill parent is different for different people, but here's what having a mentally ill parent was like for me.
How Social Workers Can Practice Trauma-Informed Care
Swhelper
MAY 19, 2022
SWHELPER. Sponsored Article by Adelphi University Over the past few decades, there has been increasing recognition of the widespread and profound impact of trauma on individuals and communities. The results of an international mental health survey suggest that traumatic events have affected over 70 percent of the population, and can lead to prolonged physical and psychological […].
We All Need Support at Some Time
Gary Direnfeld
MAY 27, 2022
The other evening I gathered my family for a ZOOM call to share the news of my angiogram. It came on the heels of a day that began with a call to go to hospital at 7:00 am. Owing to a number of emergency patients ahead of me and other complex patients, the procedure for my angiogam was late in the afternoon. Recovery another 2.5 hours. Although mildly sedated, the doctor walked me through the findings while still on the table.
Council at risk of losing control of children’s services as DfE sends in commissioner
Community Care
MAY 25, 2022
A council is at risk of losing control of its children’s services after the government intervened in the light of a damning Ofsted report. The Department for Education (DfE) has appointed a commissioner, Paul Moffat, to oversee and direct improvements at Sefton council, and also to determine whether it has the capacity and capability to improve itself over the long term.
Mental Health Awareness Month 2022
My Brains Not Broken
MAY 3, 2022
The month of May means one thing on My Brain’s Not Broken – it’s Mental Health Awareness Month! This is a time every year (held each May in the United States) where time and space is reserved to raise awareness for mental health. Even though we can advocate year-round, this month is a time for specific conversations about shrinking the mental health stigma and advocating for the policies and services that people need.
A Future of Reproductive Justice: Resources for Teaching, Learning and Action
Social Work Futures
MAY 24, 2022
The future I will be working on includes reproductive freedom for all. This is (another) rallying moment for the profession of social work. Yet sadly, I don’t see enough dialogue, planning and learning together about what comes next for us…how the profession will play a role in assuring this basic human right. Because to accomplish the future we want, we all need to jump in and do what we can from wherever we are, I pulled a list of signals, articles, and organizations to learn from,
Who’s Helping You? Coping with Trauma as a Health Care Worker
CAPC
MAY 6, 2022
What repeated trauma without healing can do to a health care worker—and how to establish a new and healthier “normal”.
Empowering people with learning disabilities to make end of life plans
Social Care
MAY 20, 2022
"People with learning disabilities have an equal right to a ‘good death’." [Image from freepik.com]. Talking about death and dying is difficult for most of us, but historically it has been a huge barrier for people with learning disabilities. During the last major project I supported MacIntyre with, the Department for Health and Social Care VCSE funded Dementia Project , it became apparent that many people with a learning disability are not being involved in conversations about their end of life
When Your Young Adult Child is Totally Out of Control
Gary Direnfeld
MAY 17, 2022
One of the most challenging situations is having an older teen or young adult whose behavior is quite out of control. The more you seek to set expectations, the more challenging the behavior, up to threats of violence, destruction of property, self harm, suicidal gestures. Most often this situation didn’t happen overnight, but rather there was a history of ever increasing difficult behavior.
Regional care commissioning ‘risks greater costs, bureaucracy and remote decision making’
Community Care
MAY 31, 2022
By Mithran Samuel and Charlotte Goddard. The care review’s plans to tackle the shortage of suitable care placements risk increasing costs and bureaucracy and making decision-making more remote from children and young people. That was the verdict of sector bodies representing councils, private providers and children and young people in relation to last week’s final report from the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.
Why It Needs To Be Okay Not To Be Okay
My Brains Not Broken
MAY 24, 2022
It today’s digital world, lots of thoughts and feelings can be boiled down to a slogan or a hashtag, something that will grab a person and make them want to learn more or take action. When it comes to mental health there are a lot different ideas and slogans, but one of the most popular is the phrase it’s okay not to be okay. Usually that’s said in a way that is reassuring or a catalyst for change, but today I also want to talk about how this can help pave the way for a new nor
Yoga and Bodywork: Healing Interventions for the Mind and Body
inSocialWork
MAY 17, 2022
Katiuscia Gray. Social work is the person-in-environment profession that so often relies on the biopsychosocial model. And yet, the mind-body connection can easily be overlooked in the assessment and intervention process. How might social workers incorporate bodywork into their practice in order to treat the whole person? Bessel van der Kolk has stated that “the body keeps the score.” Accordingly, it makes perfect sense that helping professionals’ attempts to help people cope and hea
Joshua Kemble on Creating Another World
Beautiful Voyager
MAY 8, 2022
A page from Jacob's Apartment by Joshua Kemble. Joshua Kemble, award-winning artist and author of Two Stories, revisits Beautiful Voyager to share the story of his latest graphic novel, a beautiful book about identity, purpose, creativity, and love. BEVOYA : It's great to talk to you again Joshua! What's changed since last we talked ? Illustrated self-portrait by Joshua Kemble.
Conversations on Social Work Careers: The Social Work Job Market in 2022 is HOT!
The New Social Worker
MAY 9, 2022
Our host Jennifer Luna is joined by Cindy Snell from the Boston College School of Social Work and Michelle Woods of the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Join them as they discuss the HOT social work job market of 2022.
Safe Word for Family Gatherings
Gary Direnfeld
MAY 2, 2022
For some family gatherings you just have to have a safe word. It could be a nod, a look, a gesture, a comment whispered in your ear. Once seen or heard, it’s time to leave. No discussion, no drama, no explanation. Just leave. When someone is marching down trouble street, you don’t have to join the band. Kids? Take them quietly with you and go.
‘Why social work needs to become more skilled in kinship care’
Community Care
MAY 3, 2022
By Dr Lucy Peake. There are twice as many children in kinship care in the UK than there are in foster care, yet this type of care remains largely invisible – to the public and policymakers, but often to professionals too. This means that support for kinship care families often falls short of what is needed to help them cope, or is missing altogether.
Mental Health Resources to Know And Share During Mental Health Awareness Month
My Brains Not Broken
MAY 19, 2022
Today’s post will be a little shorter than usual, but there’s a good reason for that. Sharing our experiences around mental health is crucial to shrinking the stigma and improving the way we treat mental health in our communities, but it’s also important to share resources. Mental health resources exist in many more places than we might think, and by connecting with these organizations and sharing them with others, we can make sure others have the resources they need, when they need them.
Power, privilege, and passing judgment in “child welfare”: The Massachusetts “Child Advocate” gets it wrong again
NCCPR Child Welfare Blog
MAY 27, 2022
Massachusetts "Child Advocate" Maria Mossaides Consider the relative positions and power of two women in Massachusetts. Crystal Sorey is the mother of Harmony Montgomery, a child who was taken from her because of her illness – drug use - and ultimately placed with her father. Harmony was last seen toward the end of 2019. We still might not even know that Harmony is missing were it not for her mother’s persistence in demanding answers.
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