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School Social Work Now!
Supporting Innovative Practice, Effective
Leadership & Applied Research
November 2012 - Vol 3, Issue 8 |
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| Come on . . . Follow Us!! |
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| Greetings! | |
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness month. Each year, the number of homeless youth increases. It is estimated that 1.6 million are homeless at some point in their lifetimes. This results in increased vulnerability and risk which can impact school performance, relationships, mental health, physical health, and nearly every facet of their lives.
Unfortunately, one of the consequences of Hurricane Sandy may be homelessness for some families, permanent or temporary. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to our Eastern seaboard colleagues, their families, and those they serve. The Quick Links column on the left lists some resources for school personnel to assist students and families through the trauma of this natural disaster. Also check out the Healing After Trauma Skills (HATS) Manual for ideas.
But one of the best ways to reach out and help in this newest natural disaster is to donate to the Red Cross. It's quick, easy, and much needed. Please don't delay.
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SAVE THE DATES!!
ACSSW -- Louisiana Conference
The Science & Art of School Social Work
February 18-19, 2013
Tulane University, Lavin-Bernick Center
New Orleans
Keynote highlights:
- Dr. Marleen Wong, director of the L.A.U.S.D. Trauma Services Adaptation Center for Schools, clinical professor with the University of Southern California, and a developer of the CBITS, addressing the subject of Children &Trauma.
- Steve Korr, trainer and consultant, Safer, Saner Schools Program with the International Institute on Restorative Practices, speaking on Restorative Practices.
Workshop samples:
- Ethics
- Restorative Practices in Schools
- Educating Students with Asperber's Syndrome
- Strengthening Our Voices
- Understanding Psychotropic Medications
- Psychological First Aid for Schools
- Aggression Replacement Training
- More!!! NOLA 2013 Conference Brochure
Team Discounts will again be available for groups of 3 or more. Watch for the brochure with more information next week!
Plus, New Orleans 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?
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Lastly, please follow us on Facebook and tweet us on Twitter! Help to "spread the word" and get the name of ACSSW out there! Links are below.
Judith Kullas Shine
President |
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Recommended Read for November | |
Hot Off the Press!!
Supporting and Educating
Traumatized Students
A Guide for School-Based Professionals
eds. Eric Rossen & Robert Hull
Published by Oxford University Press
Combining knowledge of the cognitive and behavioral effects of trauma, evidence-based interventions, educational best practices, and the experiences of veteran educators, Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students: A Guide for School-Based Professionals presents a new framework for assisting students with a history of trauma. Designed specifically for busy educators who work with traumatized students daily, this volume brings together practitioners, researchers, and other experts with backgrounds in education, school psychology, school nursing, school social work, school counseling, school administration, clinical psychology, resilience, and trauma studies to examine the impacts of numerous traumatic experiences on school-aged children and youth. The book provides practical, effective, and implementable strategies and resources for adapting and differentiating instruction, modifying the classroom and school environments, and building competency for students affected by trauma.
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Learn to Meditate -- FREE downloads | |
Learn to Meditate - Meditation Podcasts
This beginners meditation course features a variety of meditation techniques including mantra, meditating with the breath and music, concentration and meditation on a object. Each class includes a discussion topic and a guided meditation exercise. The Meditation Society of Australia (http://meditation.org.au) has no religious, political or financial affiliations, it is a community organisation designed to help people meditate. |
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Practice Points | |
Trauma-focused Cognitive-behavioral Therapy: Hope for Abused Children
With effective treatment, children can recover from sexual abuse and other traumas. In TF-CBT, one key to recovery is encouraging children to open up and talk freely about their trauma.
In the recent Penn State child sexual abuse scandal, former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly sexually assaulted or had inappropriate contact with underage boys on or near the university's campus. The fact that officials allegedly continually concealed information about these incidents reflects the secretive manner in which child sexual abuse matters are often handled. It is common for people to react to such incidents by wanting to sweep them under the rug or pretend they never happened.
But trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a model that encourages the very opposite. More.
The State of School Social Work: Findings from the National School Social Work Survey (2008)
School social work is a large and growing subspecialty in social work practice; however, little is known about present school social work practice from a national perspective. The National School Social Work Survey (n=1,639) represents the first data in over ten years to describe the diverse practice contexts and interventions employed by school social workers. The survey also seeks to better understand school social work practice in light of the significant educational reforms of the past decade that are increasingly shaping student experiences.Findings from this survey indicate that the characteristics of school social workers, the context in which they practice, and their practice choices remain largely unchanged over the past 10 years. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed based on these findings. Read full survey. |
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Leadership News | |
The Key to Great Leadership: Stop Overmanaging
Here's some interesting leadership advice for all you go-getters out there: Stop trying to do so much. That, essentially, is the counsel being given by J. Keith Murnighan, a professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, in a book called Do Nothing!: How to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader.
Murnighan, whose work was cited ... in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, argues that most effective leaders delegate almost everything they do to staff, keeping themselves free to oversee performance and think big. If they're doing things right, they should be able to work a 35-hour week and still do great--while doing next to nothing with regard to day-to-day management. Read more.
Five Reasons Why Vulnerability Can Make You a Transformational Leader
What's the key to strong leadership? It's a question that an entire sub-genre of management literature has tried to answer. For most people, though, vulnerability isn't part of the equation. Social work researcher Dr Brene Brown begs to differ. In fact, she says you can't be a transformational leader without it. . . During a workshop, Brown asked the group what they thought the biggest barrier to innovation was within their organisation. The answer? Fear of being ridiculed.
"The problem is that without vulnerability, there is no creativity," Brown says. Full article. |
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Research Highlights | |
Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence: Gendered and Contextual Effects on Adolescent Interpersonal Violence, Drug Use, and Mental Health Outcomes
Although research has indicated that intimate partner violence (IPV) increases the
likelihood of a range of negative outcomes for children, few studies have examined the shortand
long-term consequences of IPV while controlling for other relevant experiences,
investigated the multi-level nature of exposure to IPV among youth, or explored gender
differences in the relationships. This study sought to aid in this research by examining three
questions:
1. What are the direct effects of IPV exposure on youths' and internalizing symptoms?
2. What are the main effects of neighborhood characteristics (i.e., concentrated
disadvantage and collective efficacy) on neighborhood rates of youth violence, drug use,
and internalizing symptoms?
3. Does the effect of IPV exposure vary across neighborhoods? If so, is the relationship
between IPV exposure and youth violence, drug use, and internalizing symptoms
conditioned by neighborhood characteristics? Complete study.
An Effective Group Mentoring Program That Draws on Cognitive-behavioral Therapy
The low rates of graduation (~53%) combined with the high rates of violent-crime, particularly among black adolescent males, are at a crisis point in the United States. Despite the need for school improvement, reduced criminal activity, and overall health improvements - there are few, if any, current programs (especially for older adolescents) that are able to effectively target these areas in a widespread and cost effective manner. Programs that focus on social-cognitive skill development, however, have been shown to promote positive outcomes. As such, the University of Chicago Crime Lab teamed up with the organizations: Youth Guidance (YG) and World Sport Chicago (WSC) in order to develop an intervention targeting disadvantaged male youth in the Chicago Public Schools system. Read the Summary. |
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In the News | |
Evidence of Dating Violence Found Among Middle School Students
Nearly one in 11 high school students have reported experiencing some form of dating violence, according to a national study, and some local officials say they're seeing alarming numbers and evidence of abusive relationships among even younger students.
"The youngest I've known of were 11 and 12," said Sheri Dorn, an English teacher at Upland High School who incorporates teaching about dating violence and gender roles in her curriculum. One in six seventh-grade students reported being a victim of physical abuse at the hands of a boyfriend or girlfriend, according to a national study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for Blue Shield of California.
"This is something that really isn't spoken about or taught in the schools and it's so important to educate our young people about it," she said. Full story here.
Attention Disorder or Not, Prescribed Pills Help in School
When Dr. Michael Anderson hears about his low-income patients struggling in elementary school, he usually gives them a taste of some powerful medicine: Adderall. The pills boost focus and impulse control in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although ADHD is the diagnosis Dr. Anderson makes, he calls the disorder "made up" and "an excuse" to prescribe the pills to treat what he considers the children's true ill - poor academic performance in inadequate schools. Learn why he prescribes!
How Parents and Schools Can Help Build Kids' Emotional Strength
Communication between parents and schools can provide a frame of reference for parents to put things in perspective, and to break the isolation that many parents feel when trying to work with and understand their child. This can happen through parent education programs and gatherings where parents share their questions, struggles and concerns and receive reassurance and guidance from skilled and trained teachers, who can place these issues in a larger perspective. This can also happen through phone calls to the school to talk through a thorny situation, to just see if what is going on at home is in the realm of the developmental stage that the child is going through. Learn more.
Traditional or Charter Schools? Actually They Help Each Other, Study Says
Charter schools are not a silver bullet for education reform, a new report says, but applying the best practices from some charter schools to low-performing public schools may increase student achievement. Early data show that the strategy - applied in Houston and Denver pilot programs - yielded "promising" results, according to the report, titled "Learning from the Successes and Failures of Charter Schools" and released Thursday by the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution.
The study could help improve cooperation between charter schools and traditional schools, which have often viewed each other as competitors. The debate about whether charter schools or traditional schools are more effective is a false one and misses the central point, said secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the Hamilton Project's education forum Thursday in Washington. Download the report and more. |
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Webinars |
Dr. Rick Hanson presents a free seven-part video series, The Compassionate Brain,that explores effective ways to change your brain and heart and life.Each week Dr. Hanson will be joined by a world-class scholar/teacher, including Richie Davidson, Dan Siegel, Tara Brach, Dachar Keltner, Kelly McGonigal, Kristin Neff, and Jean Houston. They'll discuss different ways to use the power of neuroplasticity--how the mind can change the brain to transform the mind--to open the heart, build courage, find compassion, forgive oneself and others, and heal the world.
Can't make a live session? On-demand streaming videos will be available a few days after each session's conclusion. CE credits are available for this free Online Event Series. Weekly beginning October 8, 2012, 8 p.m. ET. For weekly topics and to register, click here.
Working with Young Homeless Families: Strategies to Foster Resiliency
When designing services for young families, providers must know how to deliver trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and developmentally appropriate services. The goal of this work is to foster stability and resiliency for mothers, children, and families. Three areas to target include executive functioning, social-emotional competencies, and secure attachments. The fifth session of this course will focus on strategies and interventions at the individual (child and mother), family, and program levels that can be used by providers to strengthen young families experiencing homelessness and foster resiliency. November 7, 2012, 3 p.m. ET. Register.
ARCHIVED & AVAILABLE
Young families who are homeless often have unique needs based on both the challenges of trauma and homelessness and their developmental stage. A developmental perspective is essential to tailoring services to meet the needs of this population. During the first session of this course, we will provide an overview of development from birth through young adulthood; child and adult brain development; expected behaviors and responses at each stage; and the impact of trauma on development. Register to access.
Understanding the Impact of Trauma in the Lives of Displaced Children and Families
The prevalence of traumatic stress in the lives of displaced children and families is extraordinarily high. Experiences of trauma can have a significant impact on how families interact with each other and with service providers. In this webinar, participants will learn about the connection between traumatic stress, displacement, and homelessness; the mind-body response to stress and trauma; factors that influence our responses to trauma, particularly cultural factors; and the impact of chronic trauma on all areas of functioning. Register here to access.
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.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center is pleased to announce that the course, Large Events Emergency Management at Schools (K-12 population) is now being offered to provide emergency management training for schools. This course focuses on enhancing emergency management planning efforts throughout districts and schools by providing guidelines, checklists, and specific action items for school officials to consider. For more information and to access this course series, click here. |
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SSW Job Links | |
New this week: New Lenox, IL (Mat Lv) West Newton, MA (PT)
Continued this week: Central Falls, RI Crescent City, CA Detroit, MI
Hartford, CT 13-14 sy Newark, NJ (HS) Newark, NJ (MS)
Connecticut (Various Locations)
Dean, LSU, College of Human Sciences & Education |
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Calls for Proposals |
Dissertation Research for the 25th National Symposium on Doctoral Research in Social Work
Deadline: December 31, 2012
The College of Social Work and the Doctoral Student Organization (DSO) at The Ohio State University invites recent Ph.D. and D.S.W. recipients in social work to submit abstracts describing their dissertation research for the 25th National Symposium on Doctoral Research in Social Work held March 28, 2013, in the Ohio Union on the Ohio State University campus.
As part of the College's year long focus, the theme for this year's symposium keynote address will be "Be the Change." Dissertations completed between May 2011 and December 2012 are eligible for consideration. The authors of the selected abstracts will be invited to present their research at the Symposium, where a renowned researcher and scholar will deliver the keynote address. More info and submission guidelines.
Special Issue on School Social Work and Military-connected Schools: New Directions in Practice, Research, Policy and National Leadership
Deadline: February 28, 2013
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. |
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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.
Nestle Very Best in Youth Program Grants
The biennial Nestlé Very Best in Youth program was created to spotlight the best in youth leadership by identifying and honoring teenagers in the United States whose community service efforts are making a profound difference in the lives of others. Nestlé seeks to help young people who want to make a difference realize their dreams by donating $1,000 in the name of each winner to the charity of his or her choice. Nestlé also awards the winner a trip to Los Angeles, California, for the Very Best in Youth awards ceremony. More.
NEA Foundation-Nickelodean Big Help Grant
Sponsored by Nickelodeon and the NEA Foundation, NEA Foundation-Nickelodeon Big Help Grants provide up to $5,000 to K-8 public school educators in the United States. The Big Help Grants program is dedicated to the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches to addressing four key concerns - environmental awareness, health and wellness, students' right to a quality public education, and active community involvement. The grants target these four concerns as areas of great promise in helping students in the twenty-first century develop a global awareness that encourages and enables them to make a difference in their world. Applicants must be practicing U.S public school teachers or public school education support professional. The application process is the same as for the NEA Foundation's Student Achievement grants. Applicants should specify that their request is for the Big Help Grants program in their application. Application deadlines are February 1, 2013 and June 1, 2013. Link to RFP.
Milk Carton Art Contest
Made By Milk Carton Construction Contest, a unique nationwide design competition, promotes nutrition and provides educators with a platform to teach a valuable, hands-on lesson in recycling.Schools across the U.S. can win up to $5,000 by having classroom teams design and construct creations made from empty school milk cartons. Entry deadline is Nov. 16, 2012. Learn more. |
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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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