Although most work behind the scenes with little recognition, professional social workers are increasingly showcased in the media with the help of reporters, columnists, bloggers and television producers, film and documentary writers and directors.  This year NASW wants to recognize media professionals who help raise awareness about social work services in communities and critical social issues.

 NASW invites you to nominate newspaper articles, newspaper columns, magazine stories, websites, blogs, radio segments, television news programs, network and cable TV shows, commercial films and documentaries that you think best portrayed the social work profession in 2011. Nominations will be accepted online from January 1 through 31, 2012.

NASW members will be asked to vote on the finalists during Social Work Month in March.

Submit as many separate entries as you wish. The winners of the 2012 NASW Media Awards will be announced in April.

If you have questions about nominations or voting please contact Greg Wright at gwright@naswdc.org.  Thanks for your support!

Nominations have closed.  

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Damron: The emotional toll of 9/11
The State
Six of us sat behind telephones, struggling to ignore the television cameras, the lights and the news crew in front of us. We were social workers and mental health clinicians invited by Channel 19 to take phone calls. It was one week after 9/11.

9/11 Ten Years Later: An Interview with Ground Zero Counselor Tab …
WHQR Public Radio
As part of WHQR’s special coverage for the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Jemila Ericson interviewed Tab Ballis, a licensed clinical social worker in Wilmington.

Memories of 9/11: Pamela Spitz
New York Times (blog)
As the 10th anniversary comes and goes, I will continue to do my work as a social worker in honor of my dad who never came home that day.

9/11 TEN YEARS LATER: Attacks still fresh for some, grief counselors say
The Mercury
The challenges have only evolved, and I think that that is a misconception people have, that it’s 10 years later and people should be ‘over it,’” said Michelle Doherty, a Branford resident and licensed clinical social worker at Voices of September 11^th in New Canaan. “But I think it’s the tip of the iceberg; we’re just starting to see more survivors come forward” in need of services.

‘I Was at Ground Zero; There Was No One to Save’
Arutz Sheva
By Hana Levi Julian, LCSW-R “Can you handle it if I send you the link to the new video clip of Ground Zero?” My colleague wasn’t being kind last Thursday night. He simply knows the truth. Ten years ago today, I was one of the people working “the pile” — desperately yanking hunks on concrete off the smoking ruins on September 11, 2001, praying there would be someone under there left to save.

Local man helped to counsel 9/11 victims’ families
Fulton Sun
Fulton native George Garner, a licensed social worker and associate professor of social work at William Woods University, is one of those people. Garner spent eight days in October 2001 volunteering in New Jersey and New York City counseling victims’ families as they struggled to deal with what had happened to their loved ones.

Asheville couple recounts Sept. 11 experience
News Record and Sentinel
Jimmie would also soon start work as a director at the Columbia Graduate School of Social Work. Little did we know, what lay ahead of us a week later. Jimmie was busy unpacking the mountains of boxes in our apartment and I was making my first presentation with the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences to an 8:30 a.m. meeting of the Graduate Faculty Department Heads that following Tuesday, Sept. 11.

9/11 shapes worldview of generation of kids
USA Today
Jennifer Hogan, 25, of Waterford, Mich., worked with a group helping victims of domestic violence. Most of her friends, she said, are teachers, social workers, counselors. Katrina, 9/11, the wars motivate their work.

Why schools need to teach 9/11
Salon.com
We also know about 9/11′s long-term legacy — we have healthcare data showing that it created a kind of mass post-traumatic stress disorder, and we have evidence that it generated a significant rise in anti-Muslim bigotry.

Give an Hourâ„¢Joins with Points of Light and the HandsOn Network, Partners with National Mental Health Associations to Recognize 10th Anniversary of September 11 Attacks
PR Web
Give an Hourâ„¢, a national nonprofit organization providing free mental health services to members of the military, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, their loved ones, and their communities, is joining with Points of Light and the HandsOn Network to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11. GAH is partnering with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, and other national and state associations to engage mental health professionals in recognizing the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

The following links were sent from IFSW:

Washington, 9/11
BBC
September 11th 2001 dawned bright and clear on the East coast of the United States. At 8:46 am President George W Bush was in Florida promoting his education policy and Vice President Dick Cheney was in Washington when a Boeing 767 – American Airlines flight 11 – crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

The 9/11 Letters
BBC
Five internationally acclaimed writers consider the impact of the momentous events of September 11th 2001. Ten years on, these authors use imaginative letters to reflect on the consequences for Britain, America and the world.

Radio Programmes: September 11 Attacks
BBC
15 Radio Programmes

Twin Towers and terrorism: the impact 10 years on
BBC
It was the day that changed the world for ever. Or did it? Ten years on, two leading commentators, Jason Burke and Francis Fukuyama, offer an analysis of its long-term impact, and how terrorism works.

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Michael B. Friedman. Photo Courtesy of Columbia University.

National Association of Social Workers member Michael B. Friedman MSW is quoted in a recent New York Times article, “How to Find Mental Health Care When Money Is Tight.” Friedman said not all mental health problems such as worry over a job loss require a therapist.

The story also recommended folks enlist the services of graduate students in social work or clinical psychology because their fees are often lower. That strategy had the folks here at Social Works Speak! wondering so we decided to ask you this question:

Q: Do you think folks looking for low-cost mental health care should hire social work graduate students or use the services of professional social workers? Please leave comments below.

And to find out how social workers help people overcome mental illness visit the NASW Behavioral Health Web page or the “Help Starts Here” Web page on Mind and Spirit.

Also visit the NASW’s “Help Starts Here” section on Kids and Families.

Photo courtesy of Washington University

Nearly half of American children will be fed using food stamps at some point in their childhood, according to a new study from George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. “Food stamp use is a clear sign of poverty and food insecurity, two of the most detrimental economic conditions affecting a child’s health,” said Dr. Mark Rank, the study’s author. For more information click here.

WLKY.com – FRANKFORT, KY — Wednesday, Kentucky social workers told legislators in Frankfort the promises of a law meant to keep social workers safe have been broken.

The law was set up after social worker, Boni Frederick, was stabbed and bludgeoned to death three years ago after taking an infant for what was supposed to be a final home visit.

The Boni Bill was born as a result, but social workers told legislators budget cuts are killing its purpose.

Several social workers shared their stories of doing their jobs in fear as they tried to convince the joint House-Senate Health and Welfare committee more needs to be done to protect them. [full article]

Debra Duardo

CNN’s recent series,  “Latino in America,” gave a nod to social workers. A program segment that aired Oct. 21 featured Debra Duardo, director of Dropout Prevention and Recovery in Los Angeles. Debra decided to improve her education and job prospects after dropping out of high school, getting married, and having a baby. Ten years later Debra had earned a masters in social work. The same CNN segment also featured Cindy Garcia, an aspiring Latino social worker. Cindy is going to class day, night and weekends to gain her degree. Photo of Debra Duardo courtesy theU.com.

A CNNMoney.com headline depicts social work and several related careers as “stressful jobs that pay badly.”  However, the actual article highlighted the dedication of social workers and how they provide valuable services to families and their communities. And back in August a CNN article advised readers to pursue a career in patient advocate social work because that line of work is expected to grow 24 percent. Photo of social worker Heather Griffith courtesy of CNNMoney.com.

Social Workers, what do you think?  Leave your comment and join the discussion below.

The film “Precious” puts a spotlight on many issues social workers confront, including family violence, child abuse, HIV and AIDS and teen pregnancy.

Social workers also play an important role in the gut-wrenching film, which premieres Friday Nov. 6. In fact, pop singer Mariah Carey sheds her diva image to portray “Mrs. Weiss,” a social worker who tries to help the troubled teenager Claireece “Precious” Jones.

But is the film’s portrayal of social workers fair? Do you handle some of the some issues depicted in the movie? “Social Workers Speak” urges you to see “Precious” and let us know what you think. You can post your comments below.

And we can tell you how to reach out to your community and local media to let give them your opinion on “Precious” and its depiction of social work.

How to React to Film:
Are you pleased with how the film “Precious” portrayed social workers or are you upset? If you want to contact your local newspaper, radio or television station to voice your opinion about the gut-wrenching movie, contact Greg Wright at the National Association of Social Workers (GWright@naswdc.org). Greg can give you tips on how to get involved.

How to Find Film:
According to the press, Lionsgate studios will give “Precious” a limited theater release. Is the film playing near you? Go to www.precioustickets.com to find theaters showing the movie and buy tickets.

Ben Foster, left, and Woody Harrelson star in "The Messenger." Photo courtesy of "Moving Pictures."

Director Oren Moverman offered NASW a chance to do an advance viewing of his film “The Messenger” at NASW offices this afternoon. The movie is about soldiers who must deliver news of a death to families.

Most of the audience members were social workers. How did they feel about the film?

They thought the acting by Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster and Samantha Morton was spot on. It is also a good and timely message movie, considering the United States is still losing soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and troops are returning injured and suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. For more information on how social workers are helping the military click here to vist the NASW’s “Help Starts Here” section on Veterans Affairs.

“I enjoyed it — I thought the acting was phenomenal,” said Sharon Issurdatt, LCSW. “It’s a war movie but different. It shows the after effects.”

However, other social workers in the review audience said the film should have given more attention to the services provided to grieving families after the “messengers” deliver their grim news. The Department of Veterans Affairs hires more masters level social workers than any other industry, and many of these social workers provide guidance to soldiers and their families.

The movie mentioned casualty assistance officers several times but where were the military social workers, several audience members said?

“The Messenger” opened in limited theaters on Veterans Day.

Getty Images/Lionsgate

The press is raving over glitzy songstress Mariah Carey’s transformation into social worker Miss Weiss in the soon-to-be released movie “Precious.” But social workers have long played key roles in television and cinema. An Internet slide show from the UK’s Guardian Newspaper examines the trend.