On October 22, NASW participated in an advance screening panel for a powerful new movie called Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire.  This film chronicles the harrowing journey of an obese, abused and illiterate teenager in New York City who seeks a better life for herself and her two children. Lee Daniels directed an all-star cast including comedienne Mo’Nique, rising star Paula Patton, and rocker Lenny Kravitz, and introducing Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe as Precious. In a surprising twist, pop diva Mariah Carey plays a no-nonsense social worker, Mrs. Weiss, who confronts Precious’ mother about incest and other physical and emotional abuse of her daughter. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry served as executive producers for this gripping story of personal triumph over family violence and social isolation.

During the discussion portion of the screening–coordinated by Liquid Soul Media in partnership with Lionsgate Productions–more than 300 Baltimore and Washington area residents discussed issues that included:

• Education as the pathway from poverty and despair
• Value of community networks and service coordination
• Impact of untreated mental illness on families
• Risk-taking and courage when reporting abuse
• Increased and sustained funding for prevention programs
• Reducing isolation among vulnerable children and teens

Questions for social workers: Do you plan to see the movie?  Do you have any expectations about how the social worker character will be portrayed?  Leave a comment below.

NEW: Join a discussion of this movie and others, current TV shows and news coverage…from a social work perspective.  Visit our new social media driven site,  SocialWorkersSpeak.org today!

We’ve received emails from social workers regarding TNT’s new show “HawthoRNe”, starring Jada Pinkett Smith.  What are your thoughts on how the social worker charater is being portrayed on that show? Leave your comment below or on Facebook.

Here is some of the buzz about the show, from around the web, that mentions social work :

Truth about Nursing : “The physician arrives, concurs with Hawthorne’s assessment, and they head to the NICU. Later, Hawthorne tries to protect Isabel from a social worker who sees it as a case of endangerment and has called Protective Services. Hawthorne argues that Isabel rescued the baby. When Isabel stops by to see Moses in the NICU, it’s clear that she has no idea what’s going on, and blames Hawthorne and the hospital for making the baby sick. Hawthorne tries to console her, and to explain that they are helping the baby. Isabel, who veers very quickly from one mood to another, takes out a dollar bill and gives it to Hawthorne “for [the baby's] future.” However, at that point the social worker shows up with the police.”

Pop Matters : “At Richmond Trinity Hospital, Christina Hawthorne (Smith) is the Chief Nursing Officer. She battles for her patients, explaining to one social worker, “I jeopardizes my job every day” for the good of her patients. Her foes include incompetent doctors who talk down to nurses, hospital administrators with their eyes on the bottom line, and the kind of bureaucratic red tape the health care system produces on a daily basis.”

Amy’s Life in Brief : “So, don’t ask me why I watch hospital-based TV shows. I know, I work in a hospital…I should have my fill. But, nevertheless, I still like them. I still like them, even when they portray social workers in a rather negative light.

So, I was intrigued by this new show, Hawthorne, on TNT. It goes at hospitals from the nurses’ perspective, with the main character being the head of nursing services. I won’t go into all the ways the show wasn’t true to what goes on in hospital. That can be said about any hospital show. Anyway…I just got done watching the pilot episode.

In the pilot episode, there was a social worker involved. Maybe I shouldn’t get all up in arms because they didn’t come right out and declare this character a social worker, but it was implied. Essentially, and I’m sorry if you have recorded this show and haven’t had a chance to watch it, a mentally ill, homeless woman (who has previously been befriended by the title character) shows up with a newborn infant at the hospital. The title character sort of convinces her to let the baby be brought into the hospital for medical evaluation.

So, they get the baby inside and the social work-y character is implying that she will be contacting CPS. Of course, the title character responds (paraphrasing here), “Why? She didn’t do anything wrong!” There is some protest from social work-y character and then agrees to wait a bit before contacting the authorities. (more…)

New York (CNN.com) - Linda Garcia-Rose, a social worker who counsels post-traumatic stress disorder patients in an office three blocks from where the World Trade Center stood, called the flight an “absolute travesty.” Watch the White House respond to questions about the scare »

“There was no warning. It looked like the plane was about to come into us,” she said. “I’m a therapist, and I actually had a panic attack.”

Garcia-Rose, who works with nearly two dozen patients ages 15 to 47, said she was inundated with phone calls from patients.

“They’re traumatized. They’re asking ‘How could this happen?’ They’re nervous. Their anxiety levels are high,” she said.

Garcia-Rose said she is considering filing a class-action suit against the government for sanctioning the plane’s unannounced flight.

“I believe the government has done something really wrong,” she said.  - Quote from Official who OK’d N.Y. flyby accused of ‘felony stupidity‘

The Aging Boom: Is Your Clinical Practice Ready?
In Conjunction with the ASA/NCOA Aging in America Conference
March 15-16, 2009 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Visit http://www.socialworkers.org/agingConference/for more information

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - Early Registration extended to February 20, 2009

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sandra A. Lopez, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
Key Challenges in the Aging Boom: Honoring Diversity in Older Adults

PROGRAM FEATURES
. 3-hour tools to use: Risk Management, Ethical
Decision Making, and Medicare Documentation
and Reimbursement.
. General sessions about workforce trends and
advancing your career with older adults.
. 16 breakout sessions for social workers

When did you decide to become a social worker?
Who influenced you?
Was there an event or person who most influenced your decision to become a social worker?

Let us know the answers to these questions below, in the comment box.

New Report from The Center for Workforce Studies
Who Wants to be a Social Worker?
Career Influences and Timing

The 2004 benchmark national study of licensed social workers provided a wealth of information about social workers’ roles and work environments. The study also raised new questions about the social work workforce that required further exploration. Although the 2004 findings pointed to a looming shortage of licensed social workers, there was still much to learn about why this was the case. In what ways did career decision points, educational debt, workplace stressors, and other factors influence the recruitment and retention of this professional workforce? The NASW Membership Workforce Study was an effort to respond to such remaining questions and to gain more insight into the social work workforce.

Source: Google News

Web site created as recovery resource
Red and Black, GA
Graduate students in the School of Social Work are giving back the community by helping people overcome addictions. In honor of September’s National Alcohol …

Names in the news
Baltimore Sun, MD
The University of Maryland School of Social Work has announced the addition of four new faculty members. Charlotte Lyn Bright joins the school as an …

Social workers becoming an important part of school
Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth, TX
As schools grapple with social issues such as childhood hunger, cyberbullying and teen pregnancy, the need for licensed social workers is crucial to student …

Unsung heroes of the ‘golden hour’
Pasadena Star-News - Pasadena, CA
Social workers and chaplains make contact with them, providing invaluable support. But once the trauma team and trauma surgeons have finished their …

Eastern Michigan University social work professor wins national award
The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com - Ann Arbor, MI
Leisa Thompson | The Ann Arbor NewsElvia Krajewski-Jaime, who recently won the National Association of Social Workers‘ 2008 Social Worker of the Year award, …

The National Association of Social Workers was outraged to hear Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, one of the nation’s vice-presidential candidates, malign in a live international broadcast the work of community organizers.

The social work profession takes great pride in its community organizing roots and lauds the contributions of its members, and other professionals, who commit their careers to helping residents of different communities organize their resources and take social action to improve life for themselves and their families. Small town reformers and urban community organizers have much in common.

The concepts of community organizing, community building and community development undergird the premise of American democracy. As a result of these efforts, institutions and officials often deliver more effective economic growth strategies, as well as mental health, health, and family services for people of all ages.

Community organizing is also the foundation of most successful political campaigns. Meeting fellow Americans in their communities and working with them to find solutions to problems that limit their potential is valuable and necessary work—with significant responsibilities.

The profession of social work was founded on the legacy of outstanding women leaders such as Nobel Laureate Jane Addams, who practiced community organizing in the Settlement Houses she created for the poor and working class immigrants of Chicago. The profession also counts Civil Rights icons such as Dr. Dorothy I. Height among its luminaries. It is fitting that both women are considered two of the most influential people in American history, and are inspirations for many of our country’s finest leaders.

During this election year, NASW encourages both parties to stay focused on issues of substance to the American people. We hope that instead of denigrating the lives and work of huge segments of the population, candidates will demonstrate how their plans for the country will protect and elevate the quality of life for all Americans.

Kelli Garrett, a member of NASW, Tennessee Chapter and program services manager with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, was quoted in this CBS Evening News clip that ran on Monday, June 2, 2008.

Direct link to the video: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4147702n

She was also quoted in a recent USA Today article, “New breed of American emerges in need of food“.

News Source:Google News

School social workers help needy families
Tampa Bay’s 10 - St. Petersburg, FL
School social workers go shopping at OASIS (Outreach Assisting Students In Schools), a program that offers the basics for free. Volunteers help sort donated …

Thousands of kids saved from drug environments
San Diego Union Tribune
By Kristina Davis These are scenes that social workers like Norma Rincon frequently encounter after police raid a drug-infested home. …

Too Old for a Blankie?
Mom Logic - Burbank, CA
Luckily, momlogic friend and parent educator Jill Spivack, LCSW had some reassuring advice. First of all, she says, never forcibly remove a blanket or other …

Striking social workers air grievances at Knesset meeting
Jerusalem Post - Israel
Perry said that the average social worker is currently responsible for the well-being of 100-120 children - and 100-200 case files - and this overload had …

Study of ‘94 Adoption Law Finds Little Benefit to Blacks
Washington Post
Because the law forbids discussion of race during the adoption process, it prevents social workers from preparing white parents for the challenge of raising …

New director finds helping others ‘very satisfying’
South Bend Tribune - South Bend, IN
By ROBIN TOEPP PLYMOUTH — Social work is an umbrella category for a career encompassing a lot of different roles, and not one that Indiana native Connie …

In the Red: Social Workers and Educational Debt

The 2004 benchmark national study of licensed social workers provided a wealth of information about social workers’ roles and work environments. The study also raised new questions about the social work workforce that required further exploration. Although the 2004 findings pointed to a looming shortage of licensed social workers, there was still much to learn about why this was the case. In what ways did career decision points, educational debt, workplace stressors, and other factors influence the recruitment and retention of this professional workforce? The NASW Membership Workforce Study was an effort to respond to such remaining questions and to gain more insight into the social work workforce. Click here to view the study.