Professional Education and Training

Five Things Social Workers Need to Know About Alcohol and Pregnancy

Pregnant Woman Sitting With Social Worker

By Diana Ling, MA, Outreach Program Coordinator, Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, and Takia Richardson, LICSW, LCSW, NASW Senior Practice Associate, Behavioral Health According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in nine pregnant women say they have had at least one drink in ... Read More »

A Poem: The Foster Adolescent

By Cynthia Henderson, PhD, LICSW, LCSW-C I am caught between leaving childhood, some of the benefits that it brought or benefits taken away In route to adulthood, am I ready, my brain is still processing the shift and feeling it has gone astray So many things I may never see again, so many places I dreamed of, will they ever ... Read More »

Integrating Adolescent Brain Development Into Child Welfare Practice with Older Youth Curriculum, Other Materials

Integrating Adolescent Brain Development Curriculum The curriculum includes links to several on-line videos that are embedded in the curriculum. Four audio files and one video file can be downloaded from this page when using the curriculum. Integrating Adolescent Brain Development Handouts  The curriculum indicates how and where these handouts are used. Integrating Adolescent Brain Development PowerPoint slides. PPT Slides Day ... Read More »

National Social Work Survey Shows Impacts of COVID-19 School Disruptions

As millions of preK-12 students return to school that will be largely virtual this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a national study of school social workers (SSWs) highlights the need to address hunger, housing instability, health, mental health and other challenges that a high proportion of students are experiencing, especially low-income students.. The study, “Opening Schools Safely in the ... Read More »

Protecting Women’s Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic

woman doing yoga at home with small dog nearby

By Diana Ling, MA, Outreach Program Coordinator, Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, and Takia Richardson, LICSW, LCSW, NASW Senior Practice Associate, Behavioral Health National Women’s Health Week, May 10 through May 16, is an opportunity for all women to take five steps to better health: Eat healthy; exercise; ... Read More »

Social Work Ethics During the Time of Pandemic

By Andrea Murray, MSW, LICSW Senior Ethics Associate National Association of Social Workers The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed every aspect of our lives over just a few weeks. The ethical dilemmas that have emerged would have been considered fodder for a disaster movie plot not too long ago, yet today these dilemmas are reality. “How do you avoid abandoning ... Read More »

National Healthcare Decisions Day in a Time of Pandemic

On April 16th each year, NASW celebrates National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) to empower individuals to engage in advance care planning. As our communities face the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of these conversations comes into new focus. Social workers can support clients, family members, and friends to communicate their health care treatment preferences. Advance care planning is not only about ... Read More »

How to Make Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Routine

Social Worker In Conversation With Pregnant Mother

By Takia Richardson, LICSW, LCSW, NASW Senior Practice Associate, Behavioral Health, and Diana Ling, Outreach Program Coordinator, Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin Alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) is an evidence-based tool backed by more than 30 years of research. Yet most people have not talked to a ... Read More »

“Let’s Talk”: Social Workers’ Vital Role in Reducing Risky Drinking

Social Worker Talking With Client Across Table

By Takia Richardson, LICSW, LCSW, NASW Senior Practice Associate, Behavioral Health, and Diana Ling, Outreach Program Coordinator, Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin Social workers are needed on the front lines of a growing women’s health issue: risky drinking. Women’s rates of deaths tied to alcohol increased 85 percent ... Read More »