Pa. Christian college ends social work program citing gender, sex guidelines
PennLive
Johanna Byrd, executive director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, condemned the closure, saying the university seemed to be sending an incorrect message that social workers can’t have or maintain their faith and do their jobs. “There are a lot of Christian colleges that have social work programs, and this is the first one that has reacted to this by saying we’re going to close our social work school. We of course have concerns that could be part of a trend,” Byrd said, noting a failed push in Texas last year to allow social workers and others to decline to treat people based on their religious convictions about gender and sexuality.

Amy Blank Wilson is a member:
[Video] Tiny homes part of effort to battle homelessness for people with mental illness
abc11.com
“Affordable housing is a major driver of homelessness for many people and especially people with serious mental illness,” said Amy Blank Wilson with UNC’s School of Social Work. Thanks to her and the school’s public-private partnership, there’s a glimmer of hope in Chatham County between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. It’s called the Tiny Homes Village at the Farm at Penny Lane. Heavy equipment is still clearing ground at the old farm site. But a model tiny home has already been constructed and in the next year 14 more will join it according to Blank Wilson who said, “We’re going to provide proof of concept that tiny homes can be used as a form of affordable housing for people with serious mental illness.”

Christina Mason is a member, and Legislative Action Committee member for NASW-WA:
When crimes are mixed with addiction, drug court offers solutions
The Seattle Times
KCDDC provides an offramp from incarceration and the legal system. Those who successfully complete the program get their charges dismissed in as few as 10 months. For people of color, who are disproportionately and unfairly represented in the criminal legal system, this offramp is an important response to the systemic racism that infects the criminal system. And it represents a second or third chance at treatment and recovery for people who have already received pre-filing diversion.

Ryan Sheade is a member:
Why so many American families are mortgaging their futures to pay for the present
Fast Company
The first in his family to go to college, Ryan Sheade was raised by a single white mother who worked hard to open up a better future for him.… The couple are both social workers in Scottsdale, Arizona, living the dream of being their own bosses in a practice that assists clients struggling with mental health and decades of trauma. The irony is that they themselves find it increasingly hard to earn enough to build a financially secure life for themselves and their three children.

Erica Sandoval is a member, and president of NASW-NYC:
Why Leaving the Nest Is Harder the Second Time Around
The New York Times
Erica Sandoval, a licensed clinical social worker and president of the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said young adults have always faced challenges when leaving home, but the pandemic has added an additional wrinkle of uncertainty to what their lives will look like going forward. “There are a lot of different emotions due to the fact that you’re really not sure what it’s going to be like,” said Ms. Sandoval. “The world is not the same.”

Theresa Nguyen is a member:
How to know when you need a mental health break and ways to make the most of it
The Washington Post
“American society has a lot of pressure or expectation about job performance,” said Theresa Nguyen, a licensed clinical social worker and chief program officer of Mental Health America. “We’re at a turning point. More people are understanding what it feels like to work to the point of breaking, which is far beyond when we should be thinking about taking a mental health break.”

Richard Nizzardini is a member:
Why do we love true crime — and is it healthy for us?
NBC News
Rick Nizzardini, a licensed clinical social worker in San Francisco, told me, “These shows touch on the hallmark elements of trauma: a sense of powerlessness, a shattering of our sense of safety in the world and the violation of attachments to family, friends and community.” He added, “This can raise emotions to the surface that often feel dissociated or cut off from processing, but can be helpful for recovery in the right context.”

Jennifer Kelman is a member:
Why face-to-face gatherings still matter
WRCBtv
The lack of in-person connection during the pandemic has threatened our collective mental health, said Jennifer Kelman, a licensed clinical social worker in Boca Raton, Florida. For this reason, Kelman said people should return to real-world meet-ups as soon as they feel it is safe. “So much was lost in this last year,” said Kelman, who serves as an on-demand psychology expert for JustAnswer.com. “Many of us have forgotten how to relate on a fundamental level, and it’s important we get that back.”

Mayor de Blasio, CUNY Announce Scholarship Program to Advance Careers of City’s Human Service Workers
NYC
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the Human Services Career Advancement Scholarship, the City’s landmark new program for offering eligible human services workers an opportunity to advance in their careers by earning a City University of New York (CUNY) degree or a social work license. This scholarship program, offered through CUNY and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, will help create a pipeline of qualified New Yorkers to lead the city’s human services organizations.

Hayden Dawes is a member:
Conversations with a compassion warrior: A social worker on LGBTQ+ mental health
Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina
In discussing LGBTQ+ behavioral health, centering the voices of LGBTQ+ behavioral health specialists is essential. We reached out to Hayden Dawes LCSW, LCAS to clarify the role of health plans in supporting whole health for our LGBTQ+ members. Here’s what he had to say.

Hollywood Actors Eric Roberts and John O’ Hurley Endorse the White Ribbon VA Campaign Against Domestic Violence
Digital Journal
Hollywood actors Eric Roberts And John O’ Hurley have become ambassadors and supporters of the White Ribbon VA Campaign Against Domestic Violence.… “White Ribbon VA is a joint action of White Ribbon USA, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and National Association of Social Workers during months of April and October to raise awareness about domestic violence, women’s rights, and harassment in the US. White Ribbon VA gaining more nationwide exposure. Celebrities such as Salma Hayek, Stella McCartney, Sir Paul McCartney, Harry Styles, Naomi Campbell, Cara Delevingne, David Beckham and many other opinion leaders support White Ribbon cause around the world by wearing the white ribbon badges”, says Veronika Mudra, CEO and founder of White Ribbon USA.