January, 2023

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Five Ways to Manage Thought Spirals

My Brains Not Broken

Earlier this week, I wrote about thought spirals , what they look like, and what we can do about them. Thought spirals can be tricky to deal with, but there are ways we can try and manage them. I’ve dealt with many thought spirals over the years, and these are some of the most effective ways I’ve found of slowing my brain down and getting back to center: Acknowledge what is happening to you.

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Learning and Growing in the New Year

My Brains Not Broken

Happy New Year! I’m sure you don’t need to read another post from me about how I feel about New Year’s resolutions ; I can save that song and dance for another year. Instead, what I’d like to focus on today is how I’m hoping to approach the year: what I can bring to the table, how I’m hoping to grow, and trying to build on what I’ve learned about myself in 2022.

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Disconnect Bridged: Getting Closer in Your Relationship

Gary Direnfeld

She thought him self-centered. He thought her a complainer. He hailed from a family where dad abandoned him and his mother, when he was an infant. Grandmother, a widow, took care of him much of the time, feeling guity for his situation. Given his mom was hard working and grandmother aging, as he got older he was simply left much to his own to manage.

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Reinstate hospital social workers to improve discharge outcomes, PSWs urge Barclay

Community Care

Hospital social workers should be reinstated onto wards to support people to achieve better outcomes on discharge, amid the current severe pressures on the NHS and social care. That was the message today from the Adult Principal Social Worker Network in an open letter to health and social care secretary Steve Barclay. The letter, which has been backed by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) England, warned that a lack of social work assessments prior to discharge was leading to peopl

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Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

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Key Components for Effective Social Work Assignments

Teaching & Learning in Social Work

Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash As social work educators, we create assignments to give our students opportunities to learn about the profession and develop competencies needed for social practice. Assignments also offer a way to assess if students are growing in their understanding of how to be professional social workers. Assignments can range from reading a chapter in the course textbook to a 20-page research paper and more.

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Book Review—Prince Harry’s Spare: The Impact of Long Denied Trauma, Emotional Abuse

The New Social Worker

In its most brutal truths, Spare is a memoir about a lonely, isolated, abused, purposeless boy who becomes determined to face his realities in order to mature. Read our review and commentary on Spare.

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Breaking Down Mental Health Terms: What is a Thought Spiral?

My Brains Not Broken

Over the years, I’ve learned a number of words, phrases and definitions that have helped me understand my own mental health. Some of these are connected to mental illness or medicine, while others are connected to mental wellness. In this recurring series, I break down some of the mental health terms I’ve learned over the years. Today, I’ll be breaking down thought spirals : what they are, what they look like and what we can do about them.

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Disability Justice and Other Concerns: The January Issue of Social Work Is Online

Social Work Blog

The January 2023 issue of the journal Social Work is now online. NASW members can read it here. Here are some of the articles in this issue: Beyond Ramps, Curb Cuts, and Captions: A Call for Disability Justice in Social Work. Despite decades of advocacy, Disabled people continue to experience ableism—such as inaccessibility, stigma, and exclusion—in all realms of social work.

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Social work is recognised as essential to Afghanistan’s development

International Federation of Social Workers

(In the photo: Members of the ASO board with IFSW representatives) At a press conference today in Kabul, the Afghanistan Social Work Organization (ASO) invited speakers from The Ministry of […]

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IASSW AIETS’ International Conference on “The role of social workers in realising the SDG’s.”

The International Association Of Schools Of Social

TITLE: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN REALISING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. Date: 18th January, 2023, Hybrid Mode, (Hybrid event/ in person Nelson Mandela University). Please register to get meeting link : [link]. CO-HOSTED BY IASSW/ ASSWA/ NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY/JOHANNESBURG UNIVERSITY/ASASWEI. Time: 9h00 to 17h00. The Sustainable Development Goals are designed to hold governments around the world accountable to ensure that the debilitating poverty and inequality in their countries are s

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Best Practices to Streamline Compensation Management: A Foundation for Growth

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.

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Self-Care A-Z: Minding Our Self-Care P’s and Q’s

The New Social Worker

A winter pause inspired some P’s and Q’s that can deepen and strengthen our self-care. Here, Erlene considers 5 P’s. Her next post will discuss Q’s of self-care, i.e., asking critical, clarifying key Questions.

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The “druggie mom” in my neighborhood

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

Betty Ford was addicted to booze and pills, and had mental health problems. But no one took away her children. Richard Blodgett admits he was using fentanyl illegally. The single father told the Associated Press he had to in order to control pain enough to support his 9-year-old diabetic son, Jakob. “I wasn’t getting high. I wasn’t abusing them. I was using them to be able to work and provide for my son,” Blodgett said.

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At A Moment’s Notice

My Brains Not Broken

It happens every so often: I’ll be having a good day, minding my business and enjoying myself, when a thought pops into my head. Sometimes it’s an anxious, irrational thought. Other times it’s a negative thought about myself, one that I’ve likely had a hundred times before. It doesn’t matter what the thought is, really; what matters is whether or not I engage with it (or them, if the thoughts are persistent enough).

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NASW South Carolina strongly opposes legislation to repeal social work licensure

Social Work Blog

The South Carolina State House with the state flag flowerbed in the foreground. The National Association of Social Workers South Carolina Chapter (NASW-SC) is strongly against the proposed House Bill 3515, also known as the “Entrepreneur Freedom Act.” The purpose of this bill is to repeal and do away with licensure for social workers and many other professions in SC.

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5 Must Haves for Case Management

Thousands of nonprofits rely on case management software to help collect data, manage programs, coordinate with agencies, and provide life-changing health and human services. Adopting a cloud-based case management platform is essential for nonprofits and government agencies to operate more efficiently and make better use of their funding and budget.

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Podcast on Social Work in Ukraine

International Federation of Social Workers

Wars demolish the infrastructure of societies, displacing people and destroying economic and social functioning often contributing to intergenerational trauma. Andy McClenaghan from the BASW podcast series ‘Let’s Talk Social Work’ […].

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Worst Advice for Bipolar I’ve Ever Received

Nnatasha Tracy

I focus on good advice for bipolar disorder here, but whoah boy, have I also received some of the worst advice for bipolar disorder you can imagine. This advice has come from loved ones, natural medicine practitioners, and even a psychiatrist. However, just because the advice comes from someone you respect doesn't mean it's good advice. Here is some of the worst advice for bipolar I've ever received.

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Self-Care A-Z: Mind Your Q’s—Better Questions Are Keys to Better Self-Care

The New Social Worker

What’s your guiding self-care question? Typically, we assume answers are the most aspect of life. But questions matter more. Mind your P’s…and Q’s! Here’s a sampling of 11 questions to spark ideas for your personalized one.

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You Asked, We Answered; 12 Questions about Trauma-Informed-Care

Relias

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a crucial piece of the behavioral health landscape. It’s a framework that puts the person at the center of care and allows their needs to drive the approach to care. In true TIC, the practitioner will ask “What happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you.” Many behavioral health organizations have started to use TIC practices when interacting with clients, as well as staff.

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Get Connected: Using Social Media for Social Work Success

Speaker: Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW.

You may have the clinical skills to manage a private practice, but your success could actually hinge on marketing skills. For a thriving practice, you need to differentiate yourself from others and present yourself in a way that attracts referrals. These days, much of that happens online, including on social media. In this webinar, Gary Direnfeld will discuss how social media marketing can help you build your private practice and grow your client base.

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A Reflection on Depression

My Brains Not Broken

Sometimes, depression takes. It takes things away from you, and you feel empty. You didn’t even know you wanted some of these things. But depression puts those things out of reach, making you feel less than once again. Depression doesn’t care what your plan is, or what your goals are. Your timeline is irrelevant in this scenario. All that’s in front of you is a long, painful, endless moment, as far as you can see.

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NCCPR news and commentary round-up, week ending January 25, 2022

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

● The Imprint has a good round-up of research documenting the confusion of poverty with neglect. Raise the minimum wage and you reduce what family policing agencies call “neglect.” Increase SNAP benefits: Less “neglect.” Expand Medicaid: Less “neglect.” Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit: Less “neglect.” As the story puts it: Notably, the type of public benefits offered doesn’t seem to make a difference.

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Call for abstract: ICSD 2023 Biennial Conference

The International Association Of Schools Of Social

Call for abstract: ICSD 2023 Biennial Conference Conference theme: Social Development in times of crisis: Challenges and responses The conference will be held as a hybrid conference from 23 to 25 August 2023 The conference is organized and structured into three main tracks – Planet in Crisis, Health and Wellbeing, and Peace and Stability. Topic Areas of Particular Interest We are looking for contributions within and across the outlined tracks that address the following topics: Degrowth and

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Lisa Fedina, Shanna Kattari and Camille Quinn named SSWR Fellows.

Michigan Social Work

Assistant Professor Lisa Fedina, Associate Professor Shanna Kattari and Camille Quinn have been named Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR). SSWR Fellows are members who have served the society’s mission with distinction — to advance, disseminate and translate research that addresses issues of social work practice and policy and promotes a diverse, equitable and just society.

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Empower Your Nonprofit With Effective Payroll & HCM Services

Managing a nonprofit involves many challenges, but payroll and HR shouldn’t be among them. Our guide, "A Buyer’s Guide to Payroll & HCM Services," helps nonprofits choose the best provider. Efficient payroll services ensure timely, accurate payments, vital for maintaining staff and volunteer morale. Compliance support helps navigate complex labor laws and avoid costly fines.

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I Was Fired From 3 Startups in One Year

Beautiful Voyager

Photo taken in 2015, my year of sorrow and collapse 2015 was a rough year for me. I didn't start it thinking I’d be repeatedly hurling myself against a wall, but that's what ended up happening. I banged myself into new shapes and watched parts fall out along the way. The whole time, I kept thinking, Silicon Valley embraces failure, right? I heard these words a lot.

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New Peripartum Depression Study Shows Gap Between Screening and Outcomes

Relias

On Maternal Health Awareness Day , I would like to bring awareness to the publication of our peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine , “ Improving maternal mental health: Assessing the extent of screening and training about peripartum depression.” In this article, we examined results from our recent peripartum depression study, co-authored by researchers and clinicians at Relias.

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Mental Health and Complacency

My Brains Not Broken

There have been many moments along my mental health journey where I’ve felt like I’ve failed. I don’t quite know how I’m failing or in what way, but I feel that I am. There’s a sense of impending doom, a fear that I am not living up to my potential, that I’m not accomplishing enough. Enough what? you might ask. To be honest, I don’t know what to tell you.

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Montana is a perennial candidate for child removal capital of America. The state family police agency wants to keep it that way. That's why it's fighting an excellent bill.

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

If the bill becomes law, Montana's family police agency will no longer be able to do whatever it damn well pleases to whomever it damn well pleases, and plead its own incompetence as an excuse. Last week, the Montana House of Representatives Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill that could move Montana to the forefront of doing child welfare right Year after year, Montana tears apart families at the highest or second highest rate in America , even when rates of child poverty are factored

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How “Sending the Elevator Back Down” Promotes Equity

Nicole Clark Consulting

How can “sending the elevator back down” promote equity? January is National Mentorship Month, highlighting the power of mentorship and its benefits. Mentoring fosters trust and understanding between a more experienced person (mentor) and someone with less experience (mentee). Ideally, mentoring is mutually beneficial, provides routine exchange of perspectives, and builds on knowledge and trust.

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Social Work in Social Policy: Engagement Strategies for Today and the Next Generation—A Book Event | January 26, 2023

The International Association Of Schools Of Social

Social Work in Social Policy: Engagement Strategies for Today and the Next Generation—A Book Event |. January 26, 2023 (virtual event, register to receive link) REGISTER. Social workers have profoundly shaped social policy for over a century, but how can they continue to influence it effectively? On January 26, join an international team of sponsors for Social Work in Social Policy: Engagement Strategies for Today and the Next Generation—A Book Event , a panel discussion with John Gal and Idi

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Social Work Can Play a Critical Role in Pain Management

Social Work Blog

By Paul R. Pace Social worker Jennifer Kljajic lost her brother to suicide when he was tapered off from opioids too quickly after taking them as prescribed for years due to a chronic pain condition in 2018. It was not until a year later that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published guidelines that warned against fast tapering due to the risk of suicide.

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Autism Social Skills Training: Strategies for Developing Empathy

Relias

Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have some level of difficulty with social communication and interaction skills. They may find it difficult to engage in conversations, understand implied social rules, respond to nonverbal cues, or see others’ perspective. Using autism social skills training can help your clients, children, and adults alike improve their skills in these areas.

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Sitting With Feelings That Won’t Go Away

My Brains Not Broken

After writing earlier this week about how my mental health catches me off guard , I wanted to build on that message and have some tips and techniques for people to use when the same thing happens to them. But before I could dive into that, I had a few thoughts that were nagging at me. I understood how these things catch me off guard, but I couldn’t understand why.

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Update: Missouri’s take-the-child-and-run approach leads to tragedy

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

This agency's failure to follow federal law contributed to an unspeakable tragedy Last fall, I took issue with how KCUR public radio in Kansas City handled a story about the failings of the state’s family policing system (a more accurate term than “child welfare” system). In many ways, it was a good story, but it still missed the point. I concluded it this way: This was certainly a better story than many, perhaps most day-to-day reporting on “child welfare.