By Courteney Stuart When Brenda Mitchell’s 31-year-old son Kenneth was gunned down outside an Illinois bar in 2005, she took on the role of raising his three young children amid her own devastation. “I truly learned firsthand the impact on families as well as...
violence
American Epidemic: From First Response to Research, Social Workers Tackle Gun Violence
When Brenda Mitchell’s 31-year-old son Kenneth was gunned down in 2005, she took on the role of raising his three young children amid her own devastation.
NASW on amicus brief that helped lead to ruling upholding rights of sexual assault survivors
NASW’s amicus brief discussed the important ways that gender bias by law enforcement, including reliance on harmful sex-based stereotypes, not only leads to failures in sexual assault investigations but also compounds the trauma of sexual assault survivors.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Here’s What You Should Know
By Rita Webb In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness month was observed. Two years later, Congress passed a law making it official. Domestic Violence, a preventable, global and domestic public health problem, does not discriminate and impacts...
Remembering September 11: Ten Years Later
September 10, 2021 Our nation lost nearly 3,000 lives 20 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. As we remember the families, colleagues and communities most devastated by that deadly act of international terrorism on American soil, we also reflect on the series of tragedies...
Children’s Experiences with School Lockdown Drills: A Pilot Study
In response to the threat of school shootings, lockdown drills have become commonplace in K–12 schools throughout the United States. Educators, parents, and others continue to debate the potential disruptive and traumatizing impact drills have on children. A small...
Despite Derek Chauvin verdict, we must reimagine law enforcement
By Mel Wilson, MBA, LCSW NASW Senior Policy Advisor Like millions of Americans, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was relieved with the guilty verdict imposed by the Minnesota jury upon Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Although...
Report of Police excessive use of Force on a Child is Deeply Troubling and Unacceptable
By Melvin H. Wilson, MBA, LCSWNASW Senior Policy ConsultantSocial Justice and Human Rights And Samantha Fletcher, PhD, MSWExecutive Director, NASW New York State ChapterPolice in Rochester, NY on Jan. 30 used pepper spray and handcuffs to subdue a nine-year-old girl....