Study: Feminist-minded men tend to earn less

Journalist:  Shankar Vedantam 

Date:  September 22, 2008

Summary:  This press article describes the results of a recent study that found men who hold egalitarian attitudes about the role of women earn less than men who hold traditional views about the role of women.  This is the first study providing evidence that men may experience income disparities resulting from gender differences.

Relevance:  The results of this study together with gender-gap theory are relevant for the social work profession.

Questions:

1. What were the differences in income found in the study?
2. Describe the four groups of workers examined in the study?
3. Describe the sample. What is the age of the sample? Who tracked the sample? When did the study begin? What are the average salaries among the sample?
4. What are some of the criticisms of gender-gap theory? How can these criticisms be applied to this study?

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University of Washington School of Social Work and Partners for Our Children awarded top national recognition

Journalist:  Partners for Our Children

Date:  September 22, 2008

Summary:  This press release describes a public-private partnership established between a state department of social services, a school of social work, and the private sector.  The partnership was awarded the 2008 Academic Excellence Award by the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).

Relevance:  Public-private partnerships that involve schools of social work can improve client services through combining diverse resources.  

Questions:

1. What types of resources are combined through public-private partnerships such as the one described in the article?
2. What is the focus of the research conducted by the partnership?
3. How is the partnership focused on improving client services?
4. How can state agencies benefit from public-private partnerships?

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Web site created as recovery source

Journalist:  Carey O’Neil   

Date:  September 22, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the purpose of a Web site that was launched in honor of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.  Graduate social work students played a key role in developing the Web site.

Relevance:  Technology can be used in a variety of ways to enhance social work practice. 

Questions:

1. When is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month?
2. What goal did students have in mind when developing the Web site?
3. What project inspired students to develop the Web site?
4. What are the aims of the Web site?

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On the curb looking up

Journalist:  Marilyn Smulders   

 

Date:  September 10, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes a film project initiative that focuses on teaching homeless youth skills to tell their own narrative stories about their experiences of living on the streets.  

 

Relevance:  A variety of initiatives exist that involve social workers and provide skills to clients.

 

Questions:

  

1. What type of skills do participants learn in the film project initiative?
2. What is the nature of the new research study the emerged from the film project initiative?

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Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week calls on bloggers to become partner and help stop bullying

 Journalist:  Unknown

 Date:  September 15, 2008

Summary:  This article describes National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week and efforts to increase awareness about bullying.

Relevance:  Social workers, particularly those who are employed in schools may work with individuals involved in bullying.   

Questions:

1. When is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week? How many National Bullying Prevention Awareness Weeks have been held in the past?
2. What materials are available for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week?
3. What organizations are cosponsoring National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week?

 

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Changing demography means changing needs for social work agency

Journalist:  Unknown   

 

Date:  September 12, 2008

 

Summary:  This article reports that the increase in the number of Latino immigrants settling in Toronto has promoted the Catholic Children’s Aid Society to hire more Spanish and Portuguese speaking social workers. 

 

Relevance:  Cultural competence is necessary skill for social work practice.

 

Questions:

 

1. How long did it take before the client described in the article was assigned a Spanish speaking social worker? Why did it take so long?
2. What does the 20 year old mother report that she gained from having a Spanish-specking social worker?

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For some children in state care, adoption comes as happy ending

Journalist:  Chuck Lindell  

 

Date:  September 8, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes various cases that come to the attention of a placement review hearing for children in state care who are awaiting adoption.

 

Relevance:  Social workers provide a wide variety of services in the adoption field.

 

Questions:

1. What are some of the reasons why older children experience more difficulty with the adoption process?
2. Describe a case that has come to the attention of the placement review hearing. How was the case handled? Does adoption look promising? Why or why not?  

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A bit for the society

Journalist:  Megha Shenoy

 

Date:  September 8, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the changing nature of social work volunteerism in India.  No longer are volunteers only housewives, students and the elderly.  The country is beginning to see an increase in the number of management professionals, engineers, and individuals with doctorate degrees volunteering.

 

Relevance:  Volunteers are an important component of human services.

 

Questions:

1. What is a NGO?
2. What do management professionals, engineers, and individuals with doctorate degrees offer as volunteers?
3. Why are volunteers important to individuals who receive human services?
4. Why are volunteers important to human service agencies?

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Former county social worker supervisor may get $117,500 in harassment settlement

Journalist:  Bob Cuddy  

 

Date:  September 8, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the latest events in an ongoing litigation that involves a former county social work supervisor and a sexual harassment case.  A 17 year veteran of a department of social services was fired after providing testimony that contradicted the supervisor’s testimony in a sexual harassment case.  If county supervisors approve of the settlement, the former county social work supervisor will receive $117,500.

 

Relevance:  Social workers may be involved in litigation as result of co-worker or client issues.

 

Questions:

1. What are your thoughts about this case? Do you feel that the settlement is fair?
2. What does the NASW Code of Ethics say about sexual harassment?

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BIA hopes ‘community policing’ cuts crime

Journalist:  Carson Walker

 

Date:  September 2, 2008

 

Summary:  This article describes the use of community policing on several native American reservations to reduce crime.  Community policing involves police officers collaborating with professionals in education, health care, and social work, among others, on issues related to public safety.  Since its inception, community policing has shown promising results in terms of increasing arrests.

 

Relevance:  Social workers collaborate with other professionals including police officers.

 

Questions:

 

1. What is the goal of the Tribal Law and Order ACT?
2. What is the BIA?
3. Can you describe the crime rate on Native American reservations?
4. Describe the concept of self-determination? Do you think that self-determination alone will solve some of the problems facing Native American reservations?

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