|
School Social Work Now!
Supporting Innovative Practice, Effective
Leadership & Applied Research
October 2011 - Vol 2, Issue 7 |
|
|
|
Bookmark These |
Some Free, Some Not
|
|
|
|
Greetings! | |
ACSSW will host an exciting conference in New Orleans from January 30-31, 2012. In collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Education, Tulane University, Louisiana State University, and school social work leaders, this will be the first conference in Louisiana that focuses solely on school social work practice. Learn about action research, evidence-based SSW practice, trauma and violence in schools, ethics and boundaries, and more.
In addition to thought provoking, informational and interactive breakouts, you will be able to enjoy the charming hospitality and intriguing sights of the "Big Easy". . .
A Little About New Orleans
Here, in this little corner of the American South, where European traditions blend with Caribbean influences, the history is as colorful as the local architecture; the food is the stuff
of legend. Haitian and African Creoles developed an exotic, spicy cuisine and were instrumental in creating jazz and Cajun Zydeco.
The street names are French and Spanish, the Creole architecture comes in a carnival of tropical colors, and the voodoo is a Caribbean import. The magic is irresistible.
Come and experience the most celebrated and historic core of the city - including the Faubourg Marigny, French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District,
Magazine Street corridor, Garden District, and the beautiful St. Charles Avenue, lined with shady oaks, stately homes and historic mansions ... a place like no other ... a sensory
overload with an authentic spirit ... a way of life that began three centuries ago and remains today.
Read more and Save the Dates for New Orleans!! More details to come soon! Start planning now.
Judith Kullas Shine
President |
|
Professional Development Opportunities |
It's Fall!! And that means it's time to take advantage of one or more of the many professional growth opportunities across the country. This link includes state, national and international professional development opportunities. New events are added several times a month. If you represent an organization with PDOs of interest to school social workers, please contact ACSSW with details. All submissions will be considered for posting based upon relevance, timing, and interest level.
|
|
Recommended Reads | |
Bullying at School (Understanding Children's Worlds) What We Know and What We Can Do
by Dan Olweus
Reviews at Wiley.com
"The problem of school bullying is one of growing dimensions and is of tremendous concern to teachers, parents, and many of the children themselves. Professor Olweus is without question the world's leading authority on the topic. His book is a succinct yet accurate and thorough statement of the problem and what educators and parents can do to alleviate it. It will be invaluable to its intended readership." Professor David G. Perry, Florida Atlantic University.
"Dr Olweus' program, which is in place at 42 Norwegian schools, is the first program against bully/victim problems to be scrutinized by scientific research... The program has been so successful that it is now being set up in several other countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the United States. For Dr Olweus... has studied the problem of bullying for 20 years... Dr Olweus' intervention program is described in detail in his book Bullying at School." Pediatric News
|
|
|
|
|
Practice Points | |
When students reach adolescence, they have often been known to devise destructive outlets for their self-expression (e.g., suggestive dress, tattoos, piercing, and sexual risk-taking). Recently growing in popularity, to almost epidemic proportions in the general adolescent population, is the act of selfinjury. Self-injury refers to the intentional self-infliction of wounds by cutting, burning, or otherwise wounding of the skin without the intent to die (Walsh, 2006).
Such behaviors are becoming an increasingly prevalent phenomenon and are plaguing teens, parents, and schools. A study by Olfson, Geameroff, Marcus, Greenbers, and Shaffer (2005) noted that self-injury incidence reports increased among patients in community hospitals between 1990 and 2000 from 4.3% to 13.2%. Furthermore, the incidence among adolescent inpatients has been cited at an alarming 40% (Hurry, 2000). Read full article.
Schools' Reaction to Suicides May Do More Harm Than Good
For schools reeling in the aftermath of a student's suicide, some mental health experts say that paying tribute to the teen with candlelight vigils, hallway locker memorials and all-school assemblies may do more harm than good. Though school officials are well-intentioned, "the first goal after a student suicide should be eliminating the contagion that can lead to copycat suicides," says Darcy Haag Granello, professor of counselor education at Ohio State University and co-author of "Suicide, Self-Injury, and Violence in the Schools: Assessment, Prevention and Intervention Strategies" (Wiley)... Rappaport advocates the practice of incorporating mental health screenings into routine adolescent health care - for example, the program TeenScreen, a nonprofit health initiative developed by Columbia University's National Center for Mental Health Checkups, which is used by more than 1,500 primary care providers and almost 600 schools and community-based sites (teenscreen.org).
More.
The Quest for Evidence-Based Practice: A View from the United States
Abstract: Summary This article describes how a reliance upon social and behavioral science
research is the feature distinguishing modern professional social work from prior nonprofessional
efforts at providing social care. A number of formal efforts that attempted to more closely link science and practice are described, including the empirical clinical practice movement, the empirically supported treatments initiative, and, most recently, evidence-based practice (EBP).
Findings EBP is correctly seen as a process of inquiry intended to help practitioners and their clients make important decisions about the services the clients receive. EBP is a process, a verb, not a noun. There is no such thing as evidence-based practices, since in EBP one decides what services to provide by taking into account not only research evidence but also client preferences and values, situational circumstances, professional ethics, the practitioner's existing skills, and available resources.
Applications From this perspective it is a misuse of the term EBP to refer to specific interventions or assessment methods as evidence-based. At best, interventions or techniques may be labeled as empirically supported or research-supported. The current status of EBP within American social work is seen as healthy and growing, although misconceptions regarding this process are common.
Complete article.
How to Help My Anxious Child
Current research from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Children's Mental Health Ontario (kidsmentalhealth.ca) indicates that anxiety affects one in six children and of those children, only one is receiving treatment. What is even more disturbing is that the incidence is expected to increase by 2020. According to further findings published in Publicly Speaking. . . in any given classroom of thirty-two students, four are at high risk of performing poorly in school, missing out on important social experiences, and possibly engaging in substance abuse. It is important to identify who these kids are so that they can be helped to navigate the pitfalls that come with avoidance and other poor coping skills. Read on Liana Lowenstein's website. |
|
Leadership News | |
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves." But, becoming a great leader isn't easy. Successfully maneuvering a team through the ups and downs of starting a new business can be one of the greatest challenges a small-business owner faces. . . It turns out, the skills and talents necessary to guide your team in the right direction can be simple, and anyone with the determination can develop them. Here's a list of 10 tips drawn from the secrets of successful leaders. Read more. Take the Leadership Style Quiz. |
|
Research Highlights | |
Abstract: Standard English Learners (SELs) are ethnic minority native speakers of English whose mastery of the "standard English language" used in the curriculum of schools is limited due to their use of ethnic-specific nonstandard dialect. Research in language development highlights language as a tool that allows the individual access to basic civil rights and opportunities in the area of politics, economics, and education. A correlation exists between proficiency in the use of Standard English and academic achievement, thereby highlighting the importance of validating the intangible language heritage that these students bring to the school environment while they are schooled in the use of Standard English. Learn more.
Dropout Prevention: Do Districts Pursue Best Practice Recommendations?
Abstract: This report focuses on the reality that the dropout situation is unlikely to improve as long as policy and practice fail to ensure students have a comprehensive system of student and learning supports. To highlight the intervention problem, the emphasis is on first comparing federal practice guidance recommendations for addressing the dropout problem with data about what schools are doing; then, we stress the need to embed dropout prevention into development of a unified and comprehensive component for addressing barriers to learning and teaching and re-engaging disconnected students at every school. Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA Report. |
|
In the News | |
Child Mental Disorders: New Diagnosis or Another Dilemma?
... Experts in pediatric mental health readily acknowledge that their failure to pinpoint the problem with children like Cecelia makes a difficult situation worse. And some of them are pressing for an unconventional solution: a new diagnostic category called disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, or DMDD. Creating a diagnosis is considered a radical step in mental health circles, and the proposal has sparked much debate. The controversy underscores the fact that therapists simply don't know what to make of the estimated 3% of children in the U.S. who suffer from severe irritability and emotional outbursts. "Everyone wishes we could have a genetic test or a blood test" to determine which disorder a child has, said Erik Parens, senior research scholar at the Hastings Center, a bioethics think tank in Garrison, N.Y. "Unfortunately, nature doesn't work the way we wish." As a result, parents may be told their children have conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, depression or bipolar disorder - if they get a diagnosis at all. Adding disruptive mood dysregulation disorder to the list of ailments doctors may consider would reduce the number of children misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated with powerful psychiatric medications, proponents say. And, they add, improving treatment for children who have problems with mood and temper would reduce the number of children at risk of falling through the cracks in school and society. ... "We had to do something about it," said Dr. David Shaffer, a child psychiatrist at Columbia University in New York and member of an American Psychiatric Assn. work group that proposed adding disruptive mood dysregulation disorder to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the book that forms the bedrock of psychiatry. That would allow doctors to reclassify a significant portion of children who are considered bipolar, he said. Full story.
New Laws Take Aim at Bullying
Twenty-one states have passed laws this year aimed at preventing and reducing bullying in schools. The laws vary in scope with the most far-reaching in New Jersey requiring schools to employ specialized personnel and report all incidents to the state. Many states also are working to address online bullying, provide new protection for victims of bullying, and are requiring new training for teachers on bullying prevention. In some states, however, budget constraints are making it challenging to implement such programs. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)
Early, Intense Therapy Benefits Children with Autism
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are typified by impaired social-communication skills. Children and adolescents with ASD have difficulty understanding, interacting and relating with others. New research suggests intensive therapy, especially at early ages, can help children achieve the best outcomes. The intensive therapy helps children with autism improve social and communication skills, say the leaders of a current study. "It's important for children with autism to begin treatment as soon as possible," said clinical psychologist Dr. Micah Mazurek, assistant professor in the Department of Health Psychology at the University of Missouri. "The more intense or comprehensive the therapy, the better it is in terms of helping children improve social and communication skills." Researchers reviewed data from more than 1,000 children and adolescents with ASD. The investigators focused on changes demonstrated for social-communication skills including facial expressions, gestures, language comprehension, sharing enjoyment and appropriate social responses. Over time, a striking majority (95.4 percent) of children demonstrated improvement for these skills with children who had received behavioral, speech and occupational therapy benefitting the most. The response to therapy was greatest among those with higher nonverbal IQs. Click here to read more. |
|
Research Survey Request for Assistance | |
Bibliotherapy & School Social Workers
I am a doctoral student at Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Science, River Forest, Illinois. I am seeking school social workers to complete an online survey about bibliotherapy for use towards research for a doctoral dissertation. For the purposes of this research bibliotherapy is defined as the use of books or other reading materials (poetry, magazines, comic books, etc) to assist with the counseling process. Participation is voluntary, confidential and anonymous. Completion of the survey should take approximately 30 minutes and can be done from any computer with internet access. If you are an interested social worker, or know of a school social worker who would be interested, the survey link is below. For more information, contact: Elizabeth Garcia, Doctoral Student, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Dominican University, at garceliz@my.dom.edu. Thank you in advance for your participation. Bibliotherapy Survey Link |
|
Grants & Funding | |
ING Unsung Heroes Award
ING Unsung Heroes began in 1995as a way for ING to demonstrate its commitment to the education community. Grants are given to K-12 educators utilizing new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning. Each year, educators submit applications for an ING Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its:
innovative method, creativity, and ability to positively influence the students. All K-12 education professionals, whether or not they are clients of ING, are eligible. Specifically, these individuals must be: (1) Employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school located in the United States, or (2) Full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, orclassified staff with effective projects that improve student learning. Deadline: April 30, 2012. Details here.
Libri Foundation: Books for Children
TheLibri Foundation Books for Children Grants donate new, quality, hardcover children's books for small, rural, public libraries across the country. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children's department. The average total operating budget of a Books for Children grant recipient must be less than $40,000. Deadline: January 23, 2012. Application Guidelines.
NEA Myra Sadker Student and Teacher Awards
The Myra Sadker Foundation supports educational equity efforts for students and teachers to advance social justice. Myra Sadker was a pioneer in creating fair classrooms for all students. These awards build upon her work. Teacher Awards fund a lesson, unit, or project that promotes fairness and human dignity. Student Awards fund projects or activities proposed by students of any age that promote the goals of the Myra Sadker Foundation. Dissertation Awards are designed to financially support doctoral level dissertations that explore or promote educational equity. Deadline: December 1, 2011. More. Sadker Foundation Website.
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The program was created in 1995 by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to honor middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state, and national level. A trip to Washington, DC and $1000 is the top award for students in grades 5 to 12 who have completed a colunteer service activity. Deadline: November 1, 2011. More information.
CVS: Caremark Community Grants
The CVS Caremark Community Grants Program is currently accepting proposals for programs targeting children with disabilities that address: health and rehabilitation services; a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs; opportunities or facilities that give greater access to physical movement and play; provision to uninsured individuals with needed care, in particular programs where the care received is of higher quality and delivered by providers who participate in accountable community health care programs. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: nonprofit organizations. Deadline: October 31, 2011. Learn more. |
|
Call for Papers |
The 25th Annual Children's Mental Health Research and Policy Conference
Deadline: October 31, 2011
The Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit proposal applications for research topics benefiting children, youth and their families, policy and practice. Special themes this year include: understanding the impact of a changing health care environment on system of care evaluators, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners; and a heightened focus on transition age youth and young adults up to the age of 30. Click here for more information. |
|
ACSSW Activities | |
ACSSW's present activities include:
- increasing research projects and their application within the school environment;
- developing a national school social work role paper;
- establishing a National Center for School Social Work Practice, Leadership and Research, a long-term goal,
- hosting the first Louisiana State-wide School Social Work Conference, January 30-31, 2012, in New Orleans, LA, and
- developing the 3rd National School Social Work Research Summit to be held June 24-26, 2012, in Bloomingdale, IL (a Chicago suburb) at the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort.
If you have interest in participating in any of these activities, contact Judie Shine. ACSSW strives to be inclusive and transparent in all of its activities and welcomes, whether lengthy or short, the participation of its members. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
