Child abuse increases risk for later sexually coercive behavior in some men

Journalist:  ScienceDaily          

Date:  October 24, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the results of a study which found that young boys who experienced physical or sexual abuse as children were more likely to engage in behavior that was sexually coercive.  They were more likely to use such behaviors against female partners during adolescence and young adulthood.  Boys who were victims of such abused were 4 ½ times more likely to engage in such behaviors than were boys who were not abused.

Relevance:  Social workers provide a variety of services to men who engage in coercive sexually abusive behaviors.

Questions:

1. How was sexually coercive behavior defined in the study? Why is it important to have conceptual definitions in research studies?
2. What are the most used forms of sexual coercion?
3. What percentage of men in the study experienced childhood sexual abuse?
4. What percentage of men in the study reported coercive behavior but did not report experiencing childhood sexual abuse?
5. What study was used to obtain the data? Can you describe the sample? How and when was the data collected?

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Online counselling growing in Canada

Journalist:  The Canadian Press        

Date:  October 27, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the growing interest in online counseling in Canada.  The use of online counseling, while controversial, has grown in Canada over the last 10 years.  Numerous challenges that are associated with online counseling are examined as well the need for guidelines that address the provision of online counseling.

Relevance:  This article describes one way that technology can impact social work practice.

Questions:

1. Can you identify two challenges associated with online counseling that are discussed in the article?
2. Why are some individuals wary of online counseling?
3. Why are guidelines and best practices needed that guide online counseling?
4. Why are clients in urban areas becoming more comfortable with online counseling?

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Iowa City social worker cited for friendship with client

Journalist:  Unknown        

Date:  October 27, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the results of a disciplinary hearing in which a state Board of Social Work found that a social worker engaged in a friendship relationship with a client.  The social worker had an established therapeutic relationship with the client and also formed a friendship resulting in a dual relationship.

Relevance:  Social workers need to be aware of and adhere to the National Association of Social Worker Code of Ethics.

Questions:

1. How long did the social worker have a therapeutic relationship with the client?
2. What activities formed the basis of the social worker’s friendship with the client?
3. What are the provisions of the settlement agreement?
4. Can you cite the National Association of Social Worker Code of Ethics statement regarding dual relationships?
5. What can social workers do to avoid forming dual relationships with clients?

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Western takes back the night

Journalist:  Lauren Staten       

Date:  October 13, 2008

Summary:  This article describes a university’s events that were held for the annual Take Back the Night march and rally.

Relevance:  Social workers provide a wide range of services to victims of domestic violence and also participate in Take Back the Night marches and rallies.

Questions:

1. How many years has this university held a Take Back the Night march and rally?
2. What is the concept for Take Back the Night?
3. When is Domestic Violence Awareness month?
4. In addition to the march and rally, what other events were held at the Take Back the Night event?

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Seattle officers specialize in mental health cases

Journalist:  Associated Press        

Date:  October 13, 2008

Summary:  This article describes a Crisis Intervention Unit comprised of police officers who specialize in providing services to mentally ill individuals.  The unit provides services to individuals who commit misdemeanor crimes in an attempt to address situations before more serious crimes are committed.  The officers conduct threat asseseements and other needed services.

Relevance:  Social workers provide a variety of services to individuals who experience mental illness, and also collaborate with police officers around mental illness issues.

Questions:

1. Describe several cases that the Crisis Intervention Unit has handled?
2. According to the article, are individuals with mental illness more violent than the general population?
3. When did the Crisis Intervention Unit begin? How has it evolved? What are the future plans for the Unit?
4. Where do the officers primarily refer cases?

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New law meant to improve stability for foster care

Journalist:  David Crary      

Date:  October 13, 2008

Summary:  This article describes a new law, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, which was recently signed by President Bush.  Among the provisions of the bill are the availability of financial assistance to persons through age 21 while the person is working or attending school, and optional provisions for states to participate in the new guardianship program for relatives that extend foster care support beyond the age of 18. 

Relevance:  Social workers play an important in child welfare.

Questions:

1. How is the bill viewed within the child welfare community?
2. What are the five provisions of the bill mentioned in the article?
3. On a daily basis, approximately how many children are in the U.S. foster care system?
4. What encouragement is offered to states to implement the bill?
5. What initiatives are missing from the bill?

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License of Virginia Beach social worker suspended

Journalist:  Shawn Day     

Date:  October 2, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the indefinite suspension of a clinical social worker’s state license.

Relevance:  Social workers can have their state licenses suspended indefinitely for misconduct.

Questions:

1. What are the accusations made against the clinical social worker?
2. What organization issued the orders to stop practicing?
3. In what way is the clinical social worker accused of breeching confidentiality?
4. Can you find components of the NASW Code of Ethics that address these issues? What does the NASW Code of Ethics suggest about these issues?

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ECU grants to encourage students to work with older adults

Journalist:  Unknown     

Date:  October 3, 2008

Summary:  This article describes the purpose of grants that are provided to schools of social work.  The funding is intended to increase learning opportunities among students providing services to older adults.  One purpose of the funding is to reduce or dispel the misconceptions that undergraduate social work students have regarding older adults, and to encourage undergraduate students to pursue gerontological social work course, employment or a graduate degree emphasizing the provision of services to older adults.

Relevance:  This article describes efforts to increase the number of students who practice gerontological social work.

Questions:

1. How many institutions have received grants from the Gero-Ed Center’s Curriculum Development Institute Program?
2. What are the aims of the grants?
3. How do the numbers of older adults living in Oklahoma compare to other states?
4. What is the name of the sole accrediting agency for social work education? How many educational institutions are members of the agency?

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Irondequoit social worker’s top priority is helping people work through problems

Journalist:  Daniel Wallace     

Date:  October 3, 2008

Summary:  This interview with a social worker describes how the social worker began a professional career in social work, the type of therapy technique used, professional challenges and hurdles, and personal journeys.

Relevance:  When acquiring social work experience, social workers face a variety of professional and personal challenges and hurdles. 

Questions:

1. How did the social worker’s interest in helping others begin?
2. What therapy technique does the social worker use?
3. Was the social worker able to find a job right away? How has the situation changed?
4. How does the social worker balance work responsibilities? Is it important for social workers to balance work responsibilities? Why or why not?

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Breaking the chains

Journalist:  Michelle Leverett    

Date:  September 25, 2008

Summary:  This article describes a social work internship where students provide a variety of services to the prisoner reentry population.  The internship also assists with training students to obtain a non-profit license for those who are interested in starting their own non-profit social service agency.

Relevance:  Social workers and social work interns provide a variety of service to diverse populations.

Questions:

1. What types of services are provided to the prisoner reentry population by social work interns?
2. How many credit hours of internship are required at the school of social work mentioned in the article for undergraduates? For graduates?
3. Why are internships such as these important to the university?

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