As the population ages, many adult children are grappling with an unprecedented social, cultural, economic, and personal revolution as they transition into the primary caregiver role for their aging parents. Produced, written, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Michael Kirk, Caring for Your Parents is a moving two-hour special that draws much-needed attention to this universal reality. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/  Read More →

It’s time to thank the entertainment industry and mental health consumers once again for giving a voice to people with mental health problems. The Voice Awards honor writers and producers who incorporate dignified, respectful, and accurate portrayals of people with mental illnesses into film and television productions, as well as mental health consumer leaders for their contributions in reducing stigma and discrimination. If... 

Below is a letter that NASW sent to the Executive Producer at Grey’s Anatomy when an incorrect statement was made about social work training and education: December 12, 2007 Ms. Shonda Rhimes Executive Producer – Grey’s Anatomy 4151 Prospect Avenue Los Angeles CA 90027 Dear Ms. Rhimes: Every day, millions of people all over the country look to television dramas to entertain them. Many take the information gleaned... 

We know social workers serve their clients and their communities on any given day. We know we are a profession dedicated to communities, families and individuals. We know that we need to tell more people, with pride, about the good work we do. The National Social Work Public Education Campaign has created tools for social workers to use to educate people about the breadth and depth of the profession. We have created... 

In an October 14 column, conservative columnist George F. Will attacks the social work profession for advocating for social justice. To read the entire column, click here. NASW responded to Mr. Will’s column with a Letter to the Editor to The Washington Post. Please click here to read the letter from Dr. Elizabeth Clark, executive director of NASW. What do you think about this criticism of the social work profession... 

CBS’s show Kid Nation has created a buzz among child advocates. The premise is 40 children have 40 days to create a community in remote New Mexico in a parent-free environment. They feed themselves, clean their living quarters and start their own businesses. The challenge for these young people is to “stick it out” and prove they can be pioneers of their own community. Child advocates have obvious concerns... 

Click here to view a Social Work rap written and performed by Professor Ralph Fertig of the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work. What a creative way to get students excited about their profession! What ways did a professor of social work get you excited about your profession? If you are a professor, how do you engage your students in feeling proud of social work?  Read More →

Social worker Michael Petite and his organization Every Child Matters has set out this election season to bring to light the disparate treatment of children in the US. Some states provide the funding necessary to provide for vulnerable children, while others are scraping the bottom to piece together funding for children’s programs. These states just happen to coincide with different political ideologies,... 

On June 6, my phone rang with the call of Jan Hoffman, a writer for the New York Times. With a little bit of excitement and a little bit of anxiety, I prodded the reporter to know more about what kind of a story she was writing about social work. This could be a great opportunity to highlight the important work of social work on a national stage and I was eager to learn more about her story. She had also... 

“When Lifetime’s State of Mind premieres on July 15, viewers will be treated to an unconventional television portrayal of psychotherapists. Bisexual author Amy Bloom (Normal, Love Invents Us) — writer, creator and co-executive producer for the one-hour drama starring Lili Taylor — characterizes it as “backstage with therapists.” She should know. Besides being a critically acclaimed author...