Mississippi aid program gave little help to renters but millions to a top law firm
The Washington Post
Gwen Bouie-Haynes, executive director of the Mississippi chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said her organization has been working in concert with other groups to hold clinics across the state, to help people in rural areas fill out paper applications that are then sent onward to the MHC. “It does seem to be taking too long for the processing of the application,” Bouie-Haynes said. “It is rather challenging for the community with the processing because the question becomes, when will I know if my application has been approved or not?”

Evicted: A conversation on policy, activism and economic well-being
The Mississippi Link
Gwen Bouie-Haynes, executive director of The National Association of Social Workers – Miss. Chapter, noted that underserved communities are greatly impacted. “We’ve seen persons with disabilities. The visually impaired may not have the visual capacity to fill out an application. This is a crisis. It is also a human life crisis and a public health crisis that [is troublesome].” Bouie-Haynes added that social workers found both strength and stress within communities of color. Many are raising questions such as: “Will I have a place to stay?” “How will I meet the utility bill?”

‘Like we’re going backwards’: Raleigh, Durham protesters oppose Texas anti-abortion law
News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Raleigh’s “Rally for Abortion Justice” brought hundreds of people to Bicentennial Plaza. The protest was organized by a coalition of local advocacy groups — including the ACLU of North Carolina, El Pueblo Inc., Muslim Women For, NARAL Pro-Choice NC, National Association of Social Workers North Carolina, NC Now, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, PSL Carolinas, SisterSong and Triangle Abortion Access Coalition.

Betty Rounds is a member:
Retired Social Worker’s New Book Covers Topics Tying into the Importance of the Field
Yahoo
For those thinking about or just beginning their career as a Social Worker, it is hard to picture what life would look like. Retired Clinical Social Worker Betty Rounds’ L.C.S.W new book “I Am a Counselor: Now What” gives readers an inside look into the career of Social Work while also providing them with tips and encouragement to stay in the field.

New prisons study confirms harmful impacts of solitary confinement, value of mental health treatment and care
The Progressive Pulse
The Study confirms what has been known for years: our prisons will be safer and people will return to our communities healthier if prison mental health treatment is fully funded. “This study provides clear evidence that North Carolina should invest more in best practices like TDUs and funding behavioral health staff including social workers that result in better outcomes for North Carolinians,” said Valerie Arendt, Executive Direction of NASW-NC.

Jack Haden is a member:
Pandemic Mental Health: Self-Diagnosing, Disparities and U Resources
Daily Utah Chronicle
During a time when the focus has been on the country’s physical health, mental health may be falling by the wayside. In a February 2021 article the Salt Lake Tribune said 640 Utahns die by suicide annually. Jeremy Kendrick, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, and Jack Haden, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health intervention specialist at the University of Utah Counseling Center, both agree mental health has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amanda Geraci is a member:
They use live bees for mental health therapy at their Philly biz, Half Mad Honey
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Therapy sessions are co-facilitated by Mraz, who’s pursuing her master’s of public health degree in social and behavioral sciences and health communication at Temple, and by Amanda Geraci, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in trauma and dual diagnosis treatment. The 90-minute sessions, which are held for groups, couples, and individuals, begin with participants gearing up in beekeeping suits and heading to the apiary. There, Geraci has guests conduct a self-body scan, asking them to relax, take deep breaths, and notice if there’s any pain or tension in their body.

Jennifer Rupp is a member:
Canyons School District ‘suspends’ instruction program over sexual content
KJZZ
2News left messages for a Committee for Children media representative but did not hear back by Wednesday evening. We were also not able to reach loveisrespect.org, which may be tied to a national domestic abuse hotline. At a Canyon’s School Board meeting Tuesday evening, licensed clinical social worker Jennifer Rupp spoke in favor of keeping Second Step in elementary schools. “It teaches very basic skills, essential to being college-ready and career-ready,” she said, “such as following directions, listening to learn, resolving conflicts and solving problems.”

James Rodriguez is a member:
13 Tips for Getting the Absolute Most Out of Therapy
Self
While you may be limited in your options based on your location or your health insurance coverage (or lack thereof), there are several online databases that can help you narrow down what you’re looking for, such as experience working with certain marginalized groups, says psychologist James Rodriguez, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., director of trauma-informed services at the NYU McSilver Institute.

Linda Lee is a member:
$100M Cancer Facility Planned for Baton Rouge
Biz of New Orleans
Our Lady of the Lake announced the establishment of the Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute and plans to break ground in 2022 on a new state-of-the-art cancer center that will be a destination and leader in advancing cancer care for Baton Rouge and the Gulf South region.… Daniel Nuss, MD, will lead Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute and Linda Lee, LCSW, will serve as administrative vice president.

Karen Zandi is a member:
Researchers aim to understand COVID-19 in children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
URMC
“COVID-19 poses a considerable threat to our students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as medical complexities,” said Karen Zandi, LCSW-R, President/CEO of Mary Cariola Center. “This partnership will provide crucial insight into this deadly virus and will allow us to update, revise, and create best practices beyond what we are currently doing. Ultimately, it means we will be able to keep our students and staff healthy and provide peace-of-mind to their families, while providing important research data to help schools in general and other schools like ours.”