Petition demands UMich School of Social Work fund degree-required internships
The Michigan Daily
Students in the University of Michigan School of Social Work drafted a Payment for Providers petition calling for Masters of Social Work students to be financially compensated for field work. A similar version of the petition was drafted in 2017, but the majority of field work positions through the SSW remain unpaid. MSW students must complete 16 hours of field work a week in their first semester and 28 hours a week in the following semesters, according to criteria set by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Will worker shortage disrupt California homeless strategy?
Cal Matters
But pay is only one part of the problem, says Deborah Son, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers’ California chapter. She represents 9,000 of the state’s roughly 75,000 certified social workers – and says all of them are impacted by the severe shortage of affordable housing in California. “We can bulk up the workforce and get people jobs and create jobs,” she said, “but if we don’t create the housing structures that are necessary, and we’re talking about the intricate systems necessary, your efforts become moot.”

Nancy Kislin is a member:
Don’t Teach Children to Be Martyrs
Psychology Today
Training kids that it is their job to defend themselves and others is telling them that they are not safe—that we, the adults, can’t protect them. Lena, a seasoned high school teacher whom I interviewed while conducting research for my book, Lockdown: Talking to Your Kids About School Violence, admitted that she keeps a baseball bat next to her classroom door, just in case. I asked, “Just in case?” She answered, “Yes, just in case a shooter or another dangerous person enters the classroom, I have a bat. I can’t imagine not being able to do something to try to protect my students.”

Curtis Au is a member:
Helping Adults Care For Aging Parent
MSN
Curtis Au, a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Westchester County, is forming a new online support group for adults who have taken on the role of caregiver for their parents. “It’s a huge responsibility that most people aren’t prepared for when the roles are reversed and now it’s the daughter or son taking care mom and dad.” Au said. “A group like this one can provide a safe space to connect with others who truly understand what you’re going through and can provide the kind of support caregivers need.”

Allison Carpenter is a member:
[Video] Library partners with Family Service Rochester to add social worker
KIMT
It’s been about two months since Family Resource Center and the Rochester Public Library have teamed up to hire an in-house social worker for the library. GPS Social Worker Allison Carpenter works at the library 30 hours a week to provide guidance to resources such as housing, food, warm clothing, or treatment for chemical dependencies. Carpenter says she knew access to these services was crucial, but did not fully realize how big a hub the library is for people who may need them.

Shelby John is a member:
The 16 Best Mental Health Podcasts To Help You Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And More
Women’s Health
Shelby John, LCSW, a clinical social worker who specializes in addiction, anxiety, and trauma, loves mental health podcasts because they are not only extremely accessible for most people, but they are also free. “The freedom to be able to listen to episodes whenever and wherever you want is incredible,” she says. “This allows people who maybe otherwise would not go to therapy or hire a coach to access knowledge and practical skills from professionals.”

Tracy Ross is a member:
3 Obstacles To Expect From an Introvert-Extrovert Relationship—Plus Whether It Can Work at All
Well + Good
According to relationship therapist Tracy Ross, LCSW, introvert-extrovert relationships are pretty common, and that might be in light of humans craving balance. “Introverts and extroverts are attracted to each other because of the differences,” says Ross. And, in some ways, this can work really well, like when the more introverted person feels like they need more social appointments on their calendar, or when the extroverted person is feeling overwhelmed by their commitments.

More women in a STEM field leads people to label it as a ‘soft science,’ according to new research
SWVA
In 2015, 83% of social workers were women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A study by the National Association of Social Workers found only 10% of these men considered a social work career path before college. One reason for the disparity may be a bias about who is able to best fill roles that involve caring for people. Men make up only 10% of the membership of the American Counseling Association, a drop from 30% in 1982.

Stacey Freedenthal is a member:
Crisis Text Line ends controversial relationship with for-profit AI company
Mashable
Critics, however, found the partnership alarming, particularly because Loris could access anonymized exchanges conducted by Crisis Text Line. Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., an associate professor of social work at the University of Denver and a licensed clinical social worker who treats suicide loss survivors, called the arrangement “concerning.” “Unless the Crisis Text Line starts all conversations w/”YOU CONSENT TO THIS CHAT BEING ANONYMIZED & SOLD FOR PROFIT,” it’s wrong, IMO,” she wrote on Twitter.

Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio is a member:
[Video] The history of inequality and how to be part of the solution
Mass Appeal
No matter who you are, what ethnicity, background or upbringing you’re from, we all have bias. But to make a better world it’s important to admit your bias and work to eliminate it in order to make life more equitable for everyone. Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, author, therapist, and Clinical Social Worker, is here with some ways we can all make this a better world.