Falling between two worlds: Many immigrants face problems, find feeling or belonging in gangs

Journalist:  Kristin Collins                            

Date:  November 26, 2007

Summary:  This article describes the results of a study that describes the indicators which show that many immigrant teens are not succeeding. 

Relevance:   Social workers provide a variety of services to immigrant youth.  This study describes numerous issues that social work service providers may need to be aware of.

Questions:

1.      Why are Hispanic youth at risk for self-destructive and criminal behavior?

2.      What are some of the indicators that show immigrant teens are not succeeding?

3.      What is a national survey?

4.   What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of longitudinal studies?

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Play focuses on addiction among young people

Journalist:  Christine Skorepa                          

Date:  November 20, 2007

Summary:  This article describes a social work student’s efforts to raise awareness of alcohol addiction among teens.

Relevance:   Social workers often provide services to teens some of whom experience alcohol addiction.

Questions:

1.      When is National Addictions Awareness Week?

2.      How is the show “The Pressures Beyond” structured?

3.      Why is it important to examine the reasons behind the addiction?

4.   In what ways does the show “The Pressures Beyond” go beyond recognizing the problem associated with addiction?

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Social-work team is first-responder to tragedies

Journalist:  Sarah Muench                         

Date:  November 22, 2007

Summary:  This article describes an innovative team of social workers who provide 24-hour assistance at the scene of accidents and crimes.  They assist fire and police personnel with meeting the needs of victims and their families.

Relevance:   Social workers can assist first responders at the scene of an accident, crime or tragic event.

Questions:

1.      What are some examples of the types of calls that this team responds to?

2.      What type of services does the team provide?

3.      How do fire and police personnel respond to the team?

4.      How is the team funded?

5.      Is it possible to replicate this team in other communities? Why or why not?

6.      What information is needed by those who wish to replicate this team in other communities?

 

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Families come to court for Adoption Day celebrations

Journalist:  Christina Doran                         

Date:  November 16, 2007

Summary:  This article describes the history behind National Adoption Day. 

Relevance:   Social workers are employed in the area of adoption, and also provide services to adopted individuals and families.

Questions:

1.      When is National Adoption Day?

2.      When was National Adoption Day created?

3.      When in National Adoption Month?

4.      Which states celebrate National Adoption Day?

5.      What are the controversies regarding the unsealing of birth records?

 

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‘This isn’t a job for people who love success…’

Journalist:  Ben Glaze                        

Date:  November 19, 2007

Summary:  This article describes the experiences of working in a refuge for the homeless.

Observations note that the work often involves providing assistance to alcoholics, substance abusers, and violent individuals.  Observations also include noticing that younger individuals are becoming homeless.  

Relevance:   Social workers provide a wide variety of services to homeless individuals.

Questions:

1.      What other skills are needed to work with homeless individuals in addition to those mentioned in the article?

2.      Why do you think that younger individuals are becoming homeless?

 

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Number of homeless on the rise locally

Journalist:  Chris Killian                        

Date:  November 18, 2007

Summary:  This article describes a local community’s increase in the number of homeless seeking assistance.  The community has experienced a 45% increase since 2003.  Several reasons for the increase are discussed, the need for individuals to know what services are available to them and be encouraged to ask for assistance.

Relevance:   Social workers provide a wide variety of services to homeless individuals and should be aware of causes and solutions to homelessness.

 Questions:

1.      What are some of the reasons why individuals become homeless?

2.      How are the poor blamed for their poverty?

3.      What societal factors contribute to poverty and homeless?

4.      What resources are available to homeless individuals in your community?

 

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VA system ailing

Journalist:  Gary Pettus                      

Date:  November 11, 2007

Summary:  This article describes the experiences of uninsured veterans.  Most people assume that veterans have health care coverage based on their military service.  This article describes the process for determining health care coverage within the Veterans Administration system.

Relevance:   Social workers provide a wide variety of services to veterans and are also employed by the Veterans Administration.

Questions:

1.      Why do some veterans not have health care coverage through the Veterans Administration?

2.      What is the focus of the study published in the inline edition of the American Journal of Public Health?

3.      What are some of the factors that limit the health care coverage provided by the Veterans Administration?

4.      How is Medicare related to veterans’ health care coverage?

 

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Risk of disability rises in states with income inequality

Journalist:  Unknown                     

Date:  November 12, 2007

Summary:  This article describes research results that found Americans who live in states with higher rates of income inequality are more likely to have a disability.  These disabilities limit their ability to complete daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and their mobility while at home.

Relevance:   Social workers often work with clients who experience a disability, and also address issues of income inequality.

Questions:

1.      What three key findings from the research study are mentioned in the article?

2.      What is survey research?

3.      Using the article as an example, how can research results inform social work practice?

4.   What is the American Community Survey?

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Building Vietnam’s social work force

Journalist:  Unknown                     

Date:  November 12, 2007

Summary:  This article describes a workshop that was held in Vietnam.  The purpose of the workshop was to address the shortage of professional social workers in Vietnam.  Although 15,000-20,000 “amateur” social workers practice in Vietnam and 23 universities and colleges across Vietnam are involved in training social workers, social work is not recognized as a profession.

Relevance:   Professional social work practice has global implications.   

Questions:

1.      What are some of the key elements needed to become a profession?

2.      How does a Code of Ethics benefit or hinder a profession?

3.   How is social work practice in other countries different or similar to practice in the U.S.?

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America’s leading marriage and family therapist announces a new enterprise to revolutionize talk therapy

Journalist:  Unknown                     

Date:  November 6, 2007

Summary:  This article describes a treatment model that was developed by a social worker.  Practice centers will be opened throughout the U.S. within the next five years.

Relevance:   This article describes a treatment approach that was developed by a social worker.   

Questions:

1.      What are the basic principles of the practice model?

2.      What evidence is available describing the efficacy of the model?

3.      What training is required before using the model with clients?

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