Study says social work schools too political

Journalist:  Star De La Cruz              

 

Date:  September 18, 2007

 

Summary:  The results of a recent study suggest that social work education provided at the top 10 public universities with the highest enrollment is too political.  The study has been criticized due the small sample size and the use of existing of data based on online documents.

 

Relevance:  This article can provide a basis for discussing the impact of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), requiring students to conform to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), examining mission statements, and social work courses descriptions.

 Questions:

1)      Based on what you read, do you think that the lines between academic practice and political activism are blurred in social work education? Why or why not?

2)      What do you think about the methodology of the study? Why?

3)      How might the methodology be improved?

4)      Do you think that these results are generalizable to other academic institutions? Why or Why not?

 

 

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Smart Start cuts force DSS staff reductions

Journalist:  Kathy Chaffin              

 

Date:  September 25, 2007

 

Summary:  A Department of Social Services has eliminated two social work positions because public funds were not available to pay the overhead costs for these positions.

The Department did not have enough money in the budget to cover overhead, and no extra state funds were available.

 

Relevance:  This article illustrates how budget constraints can affect the provision of social work services.

  Questions:

1)      What are your thoughts regarding budget constraints and the provision of social work services?

2)      Do you think that social services should receive priority over other budget items?

3)      Do you have any ideas on what more could be done to restore funds?

4)   If so, how realistic are your ideas given the information provided in the article?

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Social justice has no language barrier

Journalist:  Daniel Jerez            

 

Date:  September 24, 2007

 

Summary:  The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) conducts a social work exchange program that invites social work workers from countries in Latin America and South Africa to come to the U.S., while sending American social workers to other countries.  This year Chicago was selected as the program site. The intent of the social work exchange program is to help agencies provide better services to clients and communities.

  

Relevance:  Given the globalization of society and social work practice, social work exchange programs such as these offer important learning opportunities.

Questions:

1)      What are the goals of the social work exchange program?

2)      What do you think about the delegation visiting suburban social work agencies?

3)      Can you list what international and American social workers might learn from this exchange program? 

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School social work program discussed at CE

Journalist:  Brenda Crites            

 

Date:  September 12, 2007

 

Summary:  A school social worker organized and conducted a meeting to introduce parents to mental health and other services that were available for children.  Free parenting classes were also made available to parents and a truancy officer spoke to parents regarding truancy policies and the importance of modeling timely attendance for children.

 

Relevance:  This article illustrates how school social workers can organize informational meetings for parents to familiarize them with services that are provided.

 Questions:

1)      What types of services were offered to parents and children?

2)      Should service usage be monitored? Why or why not?

3)      If service usage should be monitored, how might a plan be developed to do so?

4)      What are the laws regarding unexcused absences from school and truancy in your State?

 

 

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Adult day care centres face axe in social work reform

Journalist:  Gerry Braiden           

 

Date:  September 13, 2007

 

Summary:  In Glasgow, a social work inspection agency found that providing day care for adults with learning disabilities did not meet the needs of the clients.  As a result, attempts are being made to redesign and improve services to adults with learning disabilities that are presently in the early stages of this process.  It is estimated that during this process, between 870 and 1600 adults with learning disabilities would be affected by cuts in services.

 

Relevance:  This article illustrates the impact that evaluation studies can have on services provided to clients and shows that not all stakeholders will agree with report findings and efforts to improve services.  

 Questions:

1)      How can social work skills be used to support opposition to these cuts in services?

2)      The NASW Code of Ethics suggests that social workers should monitor and evaluate social policies, the implementation of social programs, and interventions.  What should be done if these efforts determine that policies, programs or interventions are not helping clients?

3)   Based on the NASW Code of Ethics, and the statement indicating that a social work inspection agency found that providing day care for adults with learning disabilities did not meet the needs of the clients, would you support or not support these cuts in services? Why or why not?

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Strong child support enforcement gets mixed reviews

Journalist:  Alina Boey          

 

Date:  September 17, 2007

 

Summary:  A five year research study found that child support payment enforcement increased nonresident fathers’ involvement with their children, but also reduced the chances that parents would marry.  The study suggests that the majority of unmarried parents were involved in committed relationships when the child was born, most of these relationships deteriorated within five years of the child’s birth, and child support enforcement had a mixed effect on families.

  

Relevance:  This study shows the impact of social policies on unmarried families.  

 Questions:

1)      According to the results of this study, how does child support payment enforcement increase fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives?

2)      What were some of the negative outcomes on families that result from enforcing child support payments?

3)      What percentage of children in the U.S. are born to unmarried parents?

4)      What are the three major findings of this study?

5)      Based on the results of this study, how would you apply these results when working with unmarried parents experiencing child support payment enforcement?

 

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UM study indicates frail elders vulnerable to mental health problems

Journalist:  Unknown          

 

Date:  September 10, 2007

 

Summary:  According to an associate professor in a School of Social Work who collaborated on a study of elderly individuals receiving community based services, 40% of the sample experienced a mental disorder.  The study suggests that mental health services should be included in community based care and long term programs.

 

Relevance:  This study shows how research results can be used to justify the provision of additional services to clients.

 Questions:

1)      In what order did the elderly experience mental disorders?

2)      Who was most likely to experience a mental disorder among the elderly sample?

3)      Why should the results based on race be interpreted with caution?

4)      Is it important to conduct a needs assessment prior to providing services to clients? Why or why not?

 

 

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Private company finding profits in special education

Journalist:  Will York         

 

Date:  September 10, 2007

 

Summary:  A social worker left the field to provide education to students requiring social education intended to make a profit.  The social worker was not satisfied with the way that special education children were being educated in public schools.  The company has been successful and reported revenue of $75 million dollars this year. 

 

Relevance:  Social workers often develop new ways of providing services to individuals in need based on their experiences providing services that they feel could be improved.       

 Questions:

1)      Do you think that providing special education to students that makes a profit can improve education? Why or why not?

2)      Why do voucher programs for special education provide less accountability and not help improve public schools?

3)      What are your thoughts regarding the hiring of unlicensed teachers in private schools?

4)      Does licensing improve teaching?

5)      Does licensing of school social workers improve social work services?

 

 

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Fired manager sues county

Journalist:  Bob Cuddy        

 

Date:  September 11, 2007

 

Summary:  A social work supervisor whose testimony contradicted that of her management states that she was terminated because of this.  Her management disagreed and cites other reasons why the supervisor was terminated.  The case is still being handled in court.

 

Relevance:   Social workers often find themselves in situations where they do not agree with management or may need to engage in “whistleblowing”.     

 Questions:

1)      What additional facts would you need to be fully informed about this case?

2)      What are your thoughts regarding the facts of this case as presented the article?

3)    Are there any similarities between this case and “whistleblowing”?

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My first job: Still making a difference

Journalist:  Tonya Strickland        

 

Date:  August 29, 2007

 

Summary:  This article describes how an administrator employed in a local chapter of the American Red Cross was employed in numerous positions and performed many tasks before accepting the current position.

 

Relevance:   Social workers often have had many job positions before accepting an ideal position.  

 Questions:

1)      What do you think about having many job positions before finding an ideal position?

2)      How might a social work degree and a public administration degree be an asset?

3)      Do you know what the NASW Code of Ethics suggests regarding social workers and public emergencies?

 

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