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School Social Work Now!
Supporting Innovative Practice, Effective
Leadership & Applied Research
July 2012 - Vol 2, Issue 37 |
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Summer Schedule |
School Social Work Now is on its summer schedule of every other week. Resumption of the weekly schedule will be September 6th. |
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Dear (Contact First Name), | |
The gentle breezes and warm temps of summer are flying quickly by. Be sure to take care of yourself this summer and give yourself a vacation, even if it's only going to the local beach for a few hours. Everyone will benefit from a more rested "you"!
Today's news from NAPSO (the National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations): "Yesterday, NEA 'released a detailed analysis of the consequences that sequestration would have on public education. It shows that nearly all federal education programs would receive reduced funding.'" This will affect many, many districts and harm students. Read more here.
SAVE THE DATES!!
The next ACSSW professional development opportunity will be Monday and Tuesday, February 18th-19th in wonderful New Orleans, once again on the campus of lovely Tulane University. Calls for Proposals are now being accepted; deadline to submit is September 30th. Louisiana practitioners and academics are particularly encouraged to submit, but all are welcome.
Make plans to come early and enjoy the prior weekend in this exciting Southern city! It is a city full of history, intrigue, and cultural diversity. The cuisine can't be beat! And who wouldn't mind a break from the challenges of cold winter weather? Watch the website in future weeks for more details, but reserve those dates now. District team discounts will be available.
Handouts from the recent ACSSW National Research-to-Practice Summit, Evidence-Based Practices in Action, are still available on the ACSSW website. If you are interested, visit the site now. Soon, they will be available only to members and Summit participants.
Judith Kullas Shine
President
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Recommended Read for July & August | |
The School Practitioner's Concise Companion to Mental Health
by Cynthia Franklin, Mary Beth Harris and Paula Allen-Meares
Published by Oxford University Press
From OUP: The School Practitioner's Concise Companions gives busy social workers, psychologists, and counselors a quick guide to accessible, proven solutions for their students' most common problems. Built around the expert advice from the acclaimed School Services Sourcebook, each volume is a rapid reference to a key school issue.
Here, readers will find an overview of adolescent mental health disorders and step-by-step guidelines for intervening effectively. This Concise Companion covers ten major mental health issues-from depression to ADHD to autism-as well as strategies for working with co-occurring disorders and managing psychopharmacological treatments.
Each chapter is filled with charts, checklists, and cases and is conveniently organized around What We Know, What We Can Do, Tools and Practice Examples, and Key Points to Remember. A portable catalog of best practices, it brings evidence-based practice within easy reach of school professionals. Features:
- Brings out one focused section from the acclaimed School Services Sourcebook
- An affordable resource for cash- and time-strapped school-based professionals
- Features the best of the Sourcebook but in a smaller size so people who only need a little of the information don't have to buy the whole thing
Product Details 272 pages; 5 1/2 X 8 1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-537058-4ISBN10: 0-19-537058-9
OUP-Franklin, Harris... Alibris-Franklin, Harris... |
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Practice Points | |
What Works in Reentry? Clearinghouse
The What Works in Reentry Clearinghouse offers easy access to important research on the effectiveness of a wide variety of reentry programs and practices. It provides a user-friendly, one-stop shop for practitioners and service providers seeking guidance on evidence-based reentry interventions, as well as a useful resource for researchers and others interested in reentry. Click here.
The Affordable Care Act: A Resource Guide for Social Workers
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148). This sweeping health care reform legislation is intended to increase access to care for an estimated 32 million Americans and will be implemented over the next several years with a majority of the major health insurance reform provisions taking effect by 2014. . .
This document is intended to serve as a resource guide on the health care reform law, specifically highlighting many of the provisions that relate to social work, education and training, and changes to the health care system that, in some cases, will fundamentally alter how services are provided in this country.
It is important to note that this document does not include every program or provision that touches social work. Also many of the new discretionary programs that were authorized in the law depend on annual appropriations from Congress and will not be fully implemented until funding is obtained. ACA Resource Guide
Physical Punishment and Mental Disorders: Results from a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample
The use of physical punishment is controversial. Few studies have examined the relationship between physical punishment and a wide range of mental disorders in a nationally representative sample. The current research investigated the possible link between harsh physical punishment (ie, pushing, grabbing, shoving, slapping, hitting) in the absence of more severe child maltreatment (ie, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, exposure to intimate partner violence) and Axis I and II mental disorders. Read more. |
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Leadership News | |
It's hard to boil leadership down to one or two elements, and we probably shouldn't try, but if there's one essential component to leadership success, it's the ability to INFLUENCE others in positive ways. Jim Clemmer discusses the factors that either increase our ability to influence (and lead) or impede our ability. Take special note of the bullet points in the middle of the article, since they provide great insight into what is required to influence others, and enhance leadership success. More.
People say all sorts of things, and make all kinds of statements. Some of those are very meaningful, even profound and worth paying attention to. But a good percentage of what people say and write actually have no meaning whatsoever. . .
Meaningless utterances are part of normal human interaction. Still, it's good to understand when utterances have real meaning, and when they don't. Being able to distinguish between the meaningless and the meaningful can help us decide whether to enter into the discussion, or ask for clarification before continuing. Learn more. |
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Research Highlights | |
Teen Dating Violence: A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography
This annotated bibliography and summary of research identify significant research carried out in the decade since 1999 on the issue of dating violence among high school and middle school youth. The publication includes information about how adolescent dating violence is defined and measured. It examines the prevalence of such violence, the factors that influence dating violence for teens, and the types of programs that might be effective for prevention or intervention. The bibliography and summary cover quantitative and qualitative literature on the definition and prevalence of, as well as risk factors for, adolescent dating violence (also called teen relationship abuse). Commonly researched risk factors, correlates, or predictors of teen dating violence include demographic and community-level factors as well as family level, individual-level and situational risks. The literature survey also encompasses research on the harmful effects of dating violence during the current relationship and in future relationships. Finally, the bibliography and summary cover the literature on the effectiveness of prevention programs and on responses to the issue of dating violence in the law and legal systems. Read full report.
Place Matters
Poverty is one of the most difficult barriers to learning and leading a healthy life. This study of Orleans Parish, LA, provides insight that might be applicable to many impoverished neighborhoods.
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and the Orleans Parish, LA, Place Matters team . . . released a report documenting how neighborhood social and economic conditions in New Orleans powerfully shape racial and ethnic health inequities in the city. The report, "Place Matters for Health in Orleans Parish: Ensuring Opportunities for Good Health for All," finds that residents' zip codes are an important indicator of the health and health risks. Importantly, because of persistent racial and class segregation, place of residence is an especially important driver of the poorer health outcomes of the city's non-white and low-income residents. The report, prepared by the Joint Center and the Orleans Parish Place Matters team in conjunction with the Center for Human Needs at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Network for Geospatial Health Research, was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the range of social, economic and environmental conditions in New Orleans - which is the only municipal jurisdiction in the parish - and documents their relationship to the health status of the city's residents Summary. Full report. |
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In the News | |
What's So Special About Social Work and Social Justice?
. . . What's so special about social work, then? Social work makes three main contributions to social justice, which are very distinctive. First, it is concerned with the 'social': to improving social relations between people. . . Second, it focuses on people who lose out because they need housing or financial support but don't fit the criteria. . . Third, social workers have always been prepared to intervene in social relations. Complete article.
Prominent Charter Networks Eye Fresh Territory
A handful of prominent charter school networks that have won praise for their academic performance and unorthodox models are expanding to new parts of the country, in some cases after receiving recruiting pitches from state and local officials determined to bring proven operators into their communities.
Until now, organizations such as Aspire Public Schools and Rocketship Education, both headquartered in California, and BASIS Schools, Inc., of Arizona, which have been held up as worthy of emulation, have focused their work within their states' boundaries. But in recent months, those organizations and others have announced plans for incremental growth, the success of which could determine whether they venture into other cities and states in the years to follow. Continue.
Cyberbullying Scourge of the Internet - Infographics
This article includes data about the prevalence of cyberbullying -- increasingly made easier by social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter. The article also points out the inherent dangers of such bullying, which can have real-world consequences. However, the recent bullying of a bus monitor, captured on video, went viral and resulted in an outpouring of support for the victim. Article from ASCD.
Alarms Sounded as Federal Education Cuts Loom
A pair of new reports out today [July 10] raise dire warnings about the impact on school districts and federal education programs from the sweeping, across-the-board spending cuts set to hit all federal agencies in early January if Congress doesn't act to head them off.
The reports, from the American Association of School Administrators and the National Education Association, take a close look at the threat posed by what's known as sequestration, the automatic budget cuts that loom as a result of the deal last August to raise the federal debt ceiling. Almost every area of federal spending, from education to the military, would see cuts ranging from 7.8 percent (according to the Congressional Budget Office) to 8.4 percent (according to analysts from the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which works on fiscal policy). Read more. |
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Webinars | |
The Institute of Education Sciences will host a series of funding opportunities webinars in April - August, 2012. These webinars will focus on a wide range of topics for applicants to the FY 2013 grant programs, including the application process, grant writing, and overviews of specific funding opportunities. Full descriptions of the webinars are available and registration is now open. For further information and to register, click here.
Thursday, July 19, 2 p.m. Eastern Time
This second Webinar in the "Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges Faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Intersex Youth" Webinar series will address key research findings, approaches to working with diverse families, and resources, tools and strategies for family education and intervention used by three programs: The Family Acceptance Project, San Francisco State University; Greater Boston Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); and the Green Chimneys Program of New York City. To register, click here.
ARCHIVED & AVAILABLE
Rural and LGBTQ Youth Suicide The Children's Safety Network released an archived webinar on: Youth Suicide Prevention Community of Practice, Special Populations in Youth Suicide Prevention, and Rural and LGBTQ Youth. Presenters addressed two populations at increased risk for youth suicide and shared strategies to reduce these risks. Speakers also discussed obstacles and barriers unique to rural populations. To download the archived webinar click here. This Teen Screen Webinar has been archived and is now available for your viewing. Listen to a discussion on the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, the latest treatment strategies, and co-managing these disorders with the clinical team to avoid relapse and achieve a successful outcome. Access archive.
Engaging Parents in Schools and Student Learning
Sponsored by Education Week, Dr. Steven Sheldon(Center for Social Organization of School, Johns Hopkins University) and Dr. Karen L. Mapp (Harvard University) presented a webinar on "Engaging Parents in Schools and Student Learning." They presented why parent engagement matters, identified promising practices that schools and districts are using, and gave suggestions on how schools can move beyond these practices to develop systems that support the engagement of families and communities in students' education. To download the on-demand webinar presentation click here. |
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SSW Job Links | |
New this week: Danville, CA LaPlata, MD St. Johnsbury, VT
Continued this week: Bellevue, WA Berlin, CT Berwyn, IL Burr Ridge, IL
Chelsea, MA Dolton, IL Eau Claire, WI Evanston, IL Falcon, CO
Gages Lake, IL (SPED) Johnston, IA (PT) Lake Forest, IL Lawrence, KS
Pittsburg, KS Robbinsville, NJ Rush City, MN Swanzey, NH
Topeka, KS Tucson, AZ White Bear Lake, MN
Connecticut (Various Locations) |
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Calls for Proposals |
Special Issue on School Social Work and Military-connected Schools: New Directions in Practice, Research, Policy and National Leadership
Deadline: February 28, 2012
Guest Editors: Ron Avi Astor, University of Southern California Schools of Social Work and Education & Rami Benbenishty, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
Children & Schools will publish a special issue on the needs of public schools serving military-connected students. These students experience multiple deployments, family separations, and other stressful life events that their non-military-connected peers do not undergo. Recent studies have shown that supportive schools can shield students from intense depression, conduct problems, feelings of alienation, anxiety, and school failure; however, for schools to serve as protective settings for military-connected students, school personnel need to be aware of both this population's presence and its particular needs. . .
School social workers can take a national leadership role developing and implementing practices and policies that address the needs of military-connected students. . .
The overarching goal of this special issue will be to present articles that describe the current state of
school social work knowledge and best practices in military-connected schools and provide insights
and implications that will help teachers, principals, school social workers, and other staff better serve
military-connected students in the future. Manuscripts examining the perspectives of school staff,
students, and parents in military-connected schools and outlining best practices for such schools are encouraged. More information and to submit.
Special Edition of Social Work and Christianity: Towards A Christian Critique of Evidence-based Practice in Social Work
Deadline: September 1, 2012
Guest Editors: Michael S. Kelly, Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work & Cynthia Franklin, University of Texas-Austin Evidence-based Practice (EBP) is now entering its second decade in social work scholarship and practice. This special issue seeks to add a Christian perspective to the literature on the implementation of EBP in social work practice, policy, and education. Many scholars and practitioners hail EBP's impact on client outcomes and argue that it represents a deepening of our ethical commitment to empowering practitioners with a process and tools that lead to the best possible client care, while other scholars point out the limitations of the EBP approach. This special issue of Social Work & Christianity seeks to expand the epistemological and practical discussions about EBP to add a further (and we believe, necessary) complication to the debate over EBP in social work: namely, how can EBP be practiced in the multitude of Christian social work contexts we see around the world? This special issue seeks to further debate the pros and cons of using EBP in social work by asking simply, "How can Christian social workers incorporate EBP into their work?" Papers for this special issue are encouraged to look at EBP as a process that integrates clinical expertise, client circumstances, research evidence, and client values and to formulate a paper discussing one or all of those dimension from a Christian perspective. Papers can employ a variety of methodologies, though special emphasis will be given to papers that use a conceptual lens to build a foundation to either critique or defend EBP from a Christian social work perspective. Papers can be up to 20 pages, double-spaced and in APA style (6th Ed.). Contact Michael Kelly at Loyola with any questions and to submit papers as email attachments. |
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Grants & Funding | |
Search Tool Helps Users Find Grants to Fund Youth Programs
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs has created an online Web Tool that allows users to search for federal grant opportunities by youth topic or federal agency. The tool uses a filter to search for grants that are likely to fund youth programs. To learn more and determine if you are eligible, click here.
Learning & Leadership Grants
The National Education Association Foundation will fund the Learning & Leadership grant to support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education to improve practice, curriculum, and studentachievement. Grants will be provided to individuals (to fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research) or groups (to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment) in the amounts of $2,000 or $5,000 respectively. The deadline to submit applications is October 15, 2012. Click here for more.
Social Work Education, Research, and Practice Grant Program
The New York Community Trust will provide funding to academic institutions and nonprofits that partner with academic institutions both nationwide and in New York City that build an evidence base for social work intervention. Grants may be used to support projects that are innovative in both the classroom and field and connect training and research to communities, make macro practice a priority and improve training in policy, management, and leadership, and support research that helps social workers improve practice and addresses larger social issues. The deadline is September 28, 2012, although applications are accepted year round. Awards in December. For more information and to apply click here.
Good News for SSWs: Race to the Top Grant Applications
NAPSO co-chair, Myrna Mandlawitz, shared information on the new RTTT grant applications. The "eligible applicants" are school districts, consortia of school districts, and education service agencies. Applicants can focus in on a few schools within a district, specific grades, or even specific subject areas. The only caveat is that a school district can only be part of one application. The other important feature is the heavy emphasis on "personalizing" and "individualizing" education. In fact, "personalized learning environment" is an absolute priority all applicants must meet.
Applications are expected out in early July and will be due in October, with the hope of awarding of 15-20 grants in December. It is important to check if your school/district is applying for the grant. If so, it is an opportunity to "get to the table" and help the district to address the social and emotional needs of students and recognize that school social workers provide many services in these arenas. More information.
CVS/Caremark Community Grants
CVS/Caremark Community Grants are currently accepting proposals for programs, targeting children under age 21 with disabilities, which address health and rehabilitation services or enabling physical movement and play. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: non-profits located in states that also have CVS stores. Deadline: October 31, 2012. More info. |
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ACSSW Activities | |
ACSSW's present activities include:
- increasing research projects and their application within the school environment;
- developing a national school social work role framework paper;
- establishing a National Center for School Social Work Practice, Leadership and Research, a long-term goal,
- hosting the 2nd Louisiana State-wide School Social Work Conference, February 18-19, 2013, in New Orleans, LA, at the Tulane University Lavin-Bernick Center.
- presenting the 4th National School Social Work Research Summit. Watch for details to come.
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. |
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