In October, Brigham Young University announced that it would discontinue its undergraduate social work program. Students, social workers and the NASW Utah Chapter disagree with this decision. Read here from the Salt Lake Tribune about this decision and student protests to the decision.

In a letter the NASW Utah Chapter wrote to the president of BYU, Cecil Samuelson, they stated their concern for the decision made by David Magleby, dean of the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences. They noted the value of a Bachelor of Social Work, the unique education of a BSW student to work in social services in Utah, and the complement that the BSW program brings to the MSW program that already exists.

Most importantly, they noted the need for more, not less social workers available to serve the citizens of Utah.

How do you feel about this decision? How do you feel this will effect Utah and its citizens?

DreamWorks Television and Mark Burnett Productions are casting engaged couples for a potential new reality show on a major cable network. They are looking for couples who are looking to have a unique wedding, but who are not able to plan that special day because they are putting the needs of others before their own.

They are specifically looking to feature a social worker and his or her fiancé in one of the episodes. They hope to give this warn, friendly couple the wonderful wedding because they deserve it so much.

Please email your full story and include a recent photo in .jpg format, along with daytime and evening contact information to kcanning@markburnettprod.com.

The deadline for submissions is December 21, 2007!

Police: Mom’s death likely suicide
phillyBurbs.com - Philadelphia, PA, USA
… but depression and feelings of hopelessness are common, said Sharon Worthington, a clinical social worker with the Family Service Association of Bucks …

A Holiday Medley, Off Key
New York Times - United States
… issues all at the same time,” said Karen Erlichman, a licensed clinical social worker in San Francisco who specializes in counseling interfaith couples. …

Mental health facility expands
Hudson Valley Press, NY - Nov 28, 2007
She received her education and training at Columbia University. , a licensed, certified social worker (LCSW) is a graduate of Indiana University. …

Quiz: Do you and your partner fight fair?
MSNBC
When my partner and I fight one or both of us do the following: Laura Berman, LCSW, Ph.D., is the director of the Berman Center, a specialized health care …

BSU joins social work consortium
International Falls Daily Journal, MN
The social work program at Bemidji State University has received a $26873 federal grant to support its participation in the Bachelor of Social Work Child …

New certification makes UTA students more marketable
Pegasus News, TX
By Pegasus News wire A new University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work certification – the first of its kind in the country – will equip the …

Initiative trains students to successfully connect schools with…
University of Chicago Chronicle
“We’ve successfully developed 27 community school placement sites and significantly integrated the school social work and community schools’ concentrations …

Palestinian student trades rifle for amnesty and quest for peace
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 8 hours ago
Today, Hamed is studying for an undergraduate degree in social work at the Arab Al-Quds University in Jerusalem and hoping to find a wife. …

Join NASW’s Specialty Practice Sections (SPS) on December 13, 2007 at 1:00 pm EST, for a live practice teleconference*

This teleconference will look at the difficulties in understanding children and adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism.

*Exclusively for SPS Members
Click here to register now

Social workers are reminded to check with their state licensing boards to confirm that distance learning and/or home study education is accepted for continuing education credit.

Teens offer less support when peers disclose severe dating violence
PhysOrg.com - Evergreen,VA,USA
Daniel Saunders, a co-author and professor in the UM School of Social Work, said: “The victim’s friends might have also responded differently based on what …

Freud & the Imagination of Utopia
New York Sun, NY
At the Austrian Embassy, Golnar Simpson, a clinical social worker, emphasized that the “diversity of theoretical schools, changing patient populations, …

South Middleton School Board appoints Vensel as new director
Carlisle Sentinel, PA
A Boston-area native, the 44-year-old clinical social worker said she wanted to serve the school district that has provided wonderful social and educational …

UW Social Work Student Receives First Cheney Fellowship for Study …
University of Wyoming News, WY
4, 2007 — “I want to get over there and see what they’re up to,” says Joseph Marrazzo, a University of Wyoming master of social work student who will soon …

First social work committee committed to livelihood
China Internet Information Center|, China - Dec 3, 2007
China’s first social work commission was officially established yesterday. The Beijing Social Work Committee has pledged to resolve a series of social …

Social work bosses face degree question
The Olympian - Olympia,WA
But lawmakers questioned the need to follow national standards, noting a lack of evidence that master’s degrees in social work lead to better outcomes for …

Social Work building crumbles
The Hullabaloo Online, LA
The School of Social Work building is facing an investigation into to its state of disrepair. The inquiry was prompted by a student’s complaint of health …

Social worker sees progress in AIDS battle
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, HI
Antone has seen many changes in treatment and survival of HIV/AIDS patients over the years as a social worker at the Hospice, Life Foundation, …

GPS to track social workers, ticket writers in Baltimore Co.
Baltimore Examiner, MD
… officials recently began tracking employees they think are most likely to encounter violent situations — social workers and parking ticket writers. …