Self-Care A-Z: Three Tips for Tending a Self-Care “Garden”
April is National Garden Month. Using a garden metaphor, don't mistake a snake for a water hose, learn to plant your own garden, and don't wait until you're hungry to grow.
View ArticleEarth Day and Every Day—Climate Justice Is Social Work
For a growing number of social workers, Earth Day is the work of every day and is part of a bigger, bolder movement for climate justice. Whatever your specialty in social work may be, I invite you to...
View ArticlePieces of A Woman: Exploring the Birth and Death of a Longed-For Child
Review of the film, Pieces of a Woman. SaraKay Smullens reviews from a social work point of view.
View ArticleThe Vote: The Other Vaccine
COVID-19 and the vaccine roll-out are rife with preventable inequities. Helping people vote is one of the most effective and most underutilized ways we can amplify our clients' voices and vaccinate our...
View ArticleEthical Issues With Termination Under Pandemic Conditions
Termination of services with clients has always been a consideration of social work ethics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, termination considerations became more critical for some.
View ArticleIn the Spotlight: 12 Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Social Workers
Anti-Asian violence has been increasing, and some say that dehumanization of Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) in the U.S. is a contributing factor. API Heritage Month, in the month of May, is an...
View ArticleSelf-Care A-Z: What I Learned About Self-Care From My Mother
We never discussed “self-care.” But, I got enduring lessons in self-care—though neither of us had that language—from my mother.
View ArticleThe Magic of Questions
Our code of ethics implores us to prioritize a client’s right to self-determination. To put this into practice, we want to move away from giving advice and help clients devise their own solutions. But...
View ArticleRace and Correctional Systems: An Interview with Dr. Jason Williams
It would be a disservice to talk about social policy in the absence of analyzing racial disparities among programs, services, and their effects on everyday people. This interview with Dr. Jason...
View ArticleSocial Consciousness in the Digital Age: Using Social Media To Create A...
Social media is our virtual state, and our respective network is our ZIP Code. We have the access to initiate positive change and create a better collective experience within our digital neighborhood.
View ArticleSelf-Care A-Z: Self-Care as Sociopolitical Liberation for Black Women
In ever-deepening ways, self-care is liberatory. Through self-care, solitude transformed into deeper connection to myself, nature, and womankind. Through self-care, I found spiritual connections with...
View ArticleEthics Alive: Special Report on the 2021 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics
In recent additions to the NASW Code of Ethics, self-care has been added as paramount for competent, ethical social work practice. Also, social workers must take action against oppression, racism,...
View ArticleAdvocating on Campus: Three Lessons Learned
Advocating for gender neutral/family restrooms on her university’s campus as a social work student taught Sydney 3 important lessons. Advocating is hard work, and people will disagree with your...
View ArticlePerspective: “AAPI” Is Not Shorthand for “Asian” — Why Social Workers Need To...
Pacific Islanders did not ask to be part of “AAPI” and have actively resisted to maintain separation. Why, then, does “AAPI” still get used?
View ArticleA Professor’s Viewpoint in the Midst of the COVID Pandemic: Lessons From My...
Let us find a way to end this cycle of illness and reopen our campuses safely. The students need the professors to teach the courses again, live and in person.
View ArticleSelf-Care A-Z: National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics...
Effective June 1, 2021, for the first time ever, the NASW CoE includes explicit attention to self-care. These changes bring an important legitimacy to self-care within the profession. This is a...
View ArticleNot a Minority: Why Language Matters in Ending Biases and Improving Mental...
Negative words and language can have a detrimental impact on our mental, spiritual, and physical health. We can do our part to help end the generational trauma that has been experienced by the use of...
View ArticleA Simple Visit: Reflections and Opportunities in the Time of COVID-19
What began as a simple visit to appease my father’s concern for his friend during the COVID pandemic turned out to be one of accomplishment and much-needed interpersonal bonding.
View ArticleTransitioning from Graduation to the Workforce: Entering a New Landscape
Dr. Veronica Hardy, "Your Social Work Mentor," talks about transitioning from graduation to the workforce. Tips include applying school assignments to job search, building a professional digital...
View ArticleA Story for Graduating Social Work Students—The Winding Path
One of the things that has been most interesting to me in life is how our paths can wind and twist in exciting and unexpected ways. As you embark on this graduation, I encourage you to stay open to the...
View ArticleSelf-Care A-Z: Rage, Joy, Justice, and Self-Care
Self-care engages an alchemy of righteous rage and just joy. Anger and joy might appear on the surface to be conflicting opposites. Yet, they’re actually complementary yin and yang of our human emotions.
View ArticleSeries Review: Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown - Two Love Letters and a Serious Omission. SaraKay Smullens provides commentary on the popular HBO series Mare of Easttown.
View ArticleMental Decluttering, Impostor Syndrome, and Pioneers? Preparing for Pivot...
In this entry in the Vision. Intention. Strategy. Your Social Work Mentor series, Dr. Veronica Hardy explores mental decluttering, impostor syndrome, and gaining inspiration as you prepare for "pivot...
View Article7 Ways To Overcome Impostor Syndrome as a New Social Work Graduate
Those feelings of being “inadequate” when you are, in fact, quite competent are known as impostor syndrome. Here are seven ways to help you feel confident and overcome impostor syndrome as you navigate...
View ArticleSelf-Care A-Z: The Art of Practicing Self-Care
Another self-care article – sure, we all know what self-care is and how important it is for social workers. Overwhelmed by the thought of scheduling self-care? Start with 15 minutes a day.
View ArticleRestorative Justice: Finding a Better Way
Restorative justice focuses on both the offender and the victim, with rehabilitation and relationship at the forefront. Models discussed include victim inclusion, sentencing circles, and...
View Article4 Steps to Your Financial Makeover - An Overlooked Aspect of Self-Care for...
Enhancing your financial literacy, assessing your financial history, identifying your financial priorities, and creating a financial plan are all steps toward your financial makeover - an overlooked...
View ArticleHousing, Homelessness, and COVID-19
Safe, decent, affordable housing cannot and should not be considered a luxury. It is literally a matter of life and death.
View ArticleSelf-Care Is 24/7! Join The New Social Worker on July 24th for International...
Self-care is paramount to ethical social work practice. July 24th is International Self-Care Day. Let’s have some fun and join in the Self-Care BINGO CHALLENGE. Invite your colleagues to participate...
View ArticleSelf-Care A-Z: Simone Biles Is a Self-Care Champion. You Can Be, Too
For most, the invisible “balance beam” in our lives may seem broad and negotiable. We can’t be the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in gymnastics like Simone Biles. But we can be like her, as champions of...
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