Sharyn Wolf

Sharyn Wolf, MSW, LCSW, was a marriage counselor who had written books  on improving marriages and had even appeared on the Oprah show eight times to share her wisdom.

Unfortunately all Wolf’s tricks for helping others maintain happy marriages didn’t work in her own relationship. Cheers to Huffington Post for running this very honest column from Wolf on why she decided to end her marriage.

“I’ve learned from my mistakes, and that knowledge lets me feel that I can survive the emptiness and make room in my life now for whatever comes next,” said Wolf, who is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Wolf will detail her journey in an upcoming book, Love Shrinks: A Memoir of a Marriage Counselor’s Divorce.

To learn more about how social workers help people in relationships, visit NASW’s “Help Starts Here” Relationships Web page by clicking here.

Truddi Chase. Photo courtesy of The Oprah Show.

Social worker Laura Blum Romano, MSW, LCSW, will reportedly appear on the Oprah Show today to talk about how she was inspired by the popular program, which is in its final season. 

Twenty years ago Romano saw an episode about Truddi Chase, a woman who claimed to have multiple personality disorder. Romano, who was then 14, said that episode helped inspire her to become a social worker.

“It will probably be an extremely brief scene,” said Romano, who spoke to SocialWorkersSpeak.org about today’s segment.

However Romano said she was proud to appear on the show because mental illness is an important issue for social workers. “I love being a social worker,” she said.

Romano is not the only social worker who may appear on Oprah today. Host Oprah Winfrey will also reportedly talk to social worker and author Erin Merryn about her campaign to pass laws to help other sexual abuse victims.

Check local listings for airtimes. And to learn more about today’s episode visit the Oprah Show by clicking here.

UPDATE: To watch Laura Blum Romano’s appearance on The Oprah Show click here.

Erin Merryn. Photo courtesy of her Web site.

Social worker Erin Merryn is scheduled to appear on Oprah on Wednesday Oct. 6 to discuss her push for laws to help fellow sex abuse victims, according to her Web site. Please check local listings for air times.

Merryn, who was recently featured in Time Magazine, successfully lobbied the Illinois state Senate to pass “Erin’s Law.” The law would create a task force to come up with strategies to reduce child sexual abuse and let school boards implement similar plans.

Merryn wants similar laws passed throughout the nation.

To read more about Merryn’s quest to appear on Oprah read her blog by clicking here.

Erin Merryn. Photo by Dan Jeffers.

Cheers to Time Magazine for this inspiring article on social worker Erin Merryn.

As a child Merryn was sexually abused by a friend’s uncle and later a cousin. As an adult Merryn decided to fight back and help others.

She successfully lobbied Illinois lawmakers to pass “Erin’s Law,” which would create a task force to come up with strategies to reduce child sexual abuse and let school boards implement similar plans. The bill passed the Illinois State Senate and the House is expected to consider it in November.

Merryn is also talking to law enforcement and abuse prevention groups around the country and taking her story to Oprah in hopes of starting a nationwide effort to pass such laws.

Visit Merryn’s Web site by clicking here.

Special Committee on Decolonization Urged to Visit Guam as Petitioners
UN Department of Public Information
RIMA ILARISHIGH PETER MILES, Women for Genuine Security, called for immediate United Nations action to advance the protection and fulfilment of the right to self-determination of Guam’s Chamoru people.

Carol the Coach’s Dream About Oprah: We Can Help
Lawrence Journal World (blog)
Carol Juergensen Sheets (LCSW PCC CSAT Motivation Speaker) is a mighty name for a woman of such small stature, but it suits her powerful spirit and her ability to dream large.

Brenda Wade

Brenda Wade, NASW member and a social worker for Baltimore City Public Schools, saw  Oprah Winfrey interview singer Mariah Carey about her role as social worker Mrs. Weiss in the film “Precious.” Wade said the film excerpts she saw made her concerned social workers would be unfairly portrayed in the movie.

Wade is deeply committed to the social work profession. She is executive director of Achievement Services Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to empower young people. And she writes the blog “Diary of a High School Social Worker.”

So Wade wrote director Lee Daniels. To her surprise he contacted her. Social Workers Speak! interviewed Wade about her experience: