Hug your dog day: harmful or harmless?
WINKNews
“I really think it should be love your dog, not hug your dog,” said Tara Moser, Counselor at Delta Family Counseling. Moser works with canine therapy dogs, Bode and Abbey. They interact with children daily but their blog makes it clear, not every dog can tolerate a hug. Instead, Moser says, allow the dog to solicit affection.

Giving More Support to Support-Group Leaders
The Wall Street Journal
“It’s very important for a leader to be very present in the beginning, and establish an identity, but then take a position on the periphery of the group,” says Geoffrey Greif, a professor of social work at the University of Maryland who has trained support-group leaders for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. “You are there to monitor progress, to start and stop the conversation and help with any issues that arise.”

Remember, There is No “Other”
The Jewish Journal of Greater L.A.
This weekend I was in Sacramento to attend an event put on by the National Association of Social Workers, called Lobby Days. The event was a culmination of 1400 social work students from schools all over California, giving us the opportunity to speak with senators about three specific bills.  On Monday, a couple hundred of us gathered to have a rally in front of the Capitol.  There was an amazing synergy, as we were all so passionate about helping to give a voice to the communities that are so often marginalized.

A mission to end child abuse
CNN
Brooke Baldwin talks to Michael Petit about efforts being made to create a national strategy for preventing child abuse in America.

Social Workers Host Five Wishes Program
KULR-TV
By Gillette Vaira BILLINGS – Monday was National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day set aside to encourage people to make decisions about advanced care. Rocky Mountain Hospice hosted an open house highlighting the “Five Wishes” program to help people plan for end of life care.

UTM Social Work Program wins first in poster competition
UTM Pacer
By Courtesy Social Work faculty & advisers On March 28, 2012, the National Association of Social Workers Tennessee Chapter held their annual Legislative Conference. better known as Social Work Day on the Hill. This event draws over 600 students, faculty and professionals statewide each year.

Dare to Love Yourself First
Huffington Post (blog)
I just read a compelling book by social work researcher Brené Brown called The Gifts of Imperfection. She gathered many people’s stories and looked for clues about what distinguishes those who feel worthy (whom she calls “wholehearted”) from those who struggle with feeling worthy. She then compiled guideposts for how to achieve that sense of worthiness in our own lives, a great challenge for most of us.

“Bully”: Movie sparks conversation
Indianapolis Star
Runkle-DeLorme and Lynn Highley, a licensed clinical social worker who attended Tuesday’s screening, recommend that schools adopt evidence- and research-based programs to combat bullying.

Dispatcher in Powell murder-suicide reprimanded
The Seattle Times
A news report says a Washington state dispatcher who took a 911 call from a social worker just before Josh Powell killed his children and himself has been reprimanded. The Associated Press No comments have been posted to this article.