Social workers busy getting the Christmas Cheer Toy Shop ready. Photo courtesy of the Moultrie Observer.

Cheers to the Moultrie Observer in Georgia for this article about school social workers who are pushing to get a charity toy shop well stocked before the holidays.

With the economy still in poor shape and unemployment high, Colquitt County school social workers said they expect demand to be 30 percent higher this year.

“This year is going to be a hard Christmas for a lot of people,” said Sandy Hooks, a social worker at Cox Elementary School. “ Money’s going to be tight. Rent’s not going down. The price of food’s not going down. Gas is not going down. Everything is up.”

To learn more about how social workers help provide for the physical and emotional needs of  young people visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Schools and Communities Webpage by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Jeers to the Georgia state government for considering $600 million in budget cuts that some students said could force public colleges and universities to cut social work and other course offerings.

About three dozen students held a protest at the state capitol on Wednesday to protest the cuts. About a third came from Dalton State College. Many of the Dalton State students study at the School of Social Work and are afraid budget cuts could force the school to close the program.

“If they cut the program, then everything I’ve done this far won’t matter,” Dalton State sophomore Benji Parker, 22, said. “Hopefully the credits transfer, but who knows?”

Students plan larger protests later this month. Read the full story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution by clicking here.

Teenage prostitutes from the documentary "Very Young Girls." Photo courtesy of the Boston Phoenix.

Cheers to Georgia state Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) for introducing legislation that would end prosecution of girls under age 16 for prostitution. Instead, they would be referred to programs to help them escape exploitation.

“Sixteen years old is the age of consent in Georgia, and anyone who is less than 16 will not be charged with prostitution,” Unterman man. “We consider them a victim, not a prostitute. They need care and counseling.”

Unterman is a social worker and registered nurse. To read the full Atlanta Journal Constitution article on her proposed legislation click here.

To read more about how social workers help teens in crisis, visit the National Association of Social Workers “Help Starts Here” Youth Development Web page by clicking here.