101 Careers in Social Work - Third Edition (2019) by Jessica Ritter, Ann Obermann and Kirstin Lindsay Danhoff, is an expanded career guidebook that addresses the breath of the social work profession and the different career options available with a social work degree. The goal of the book is to help readers assess whether they are suited for a career in social work, describe more than 100 distinct career paths for social workers, and provide readers with the tools and resources they need to plan their social work careers, based on their skills and interests. It builds upon the second ..read more

March is National Social Work History Month. The 2021 theme is " Social Workers are Essential.”   From the NASW website: Social workers are essential to community well-being. As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities. As a profession, social workers frequently use their collective power to pass laws and establish policies that give more people access to community services and benefits, improving the quality ..read more

The CQ Press' Career Guide for Public Sector Students (2020) by Michelle C. Pantz is an informative book on careers in government and the nonprofit community. Geared towards undergraduate and graduate students, the booklet provides essential steps on finding your passion and the steps to pursue it. Professor Pautz (who has a background in public administration) guides the reader through an introduction to the public sector, recommended curriculum considerations, supplemental opportunities and experiences outside the classroom, and career profiles of individuals currently working in the public ..read more

It has been nearly four years since I had last taken a personality test. At the time, my results came back as an Advocate (INFJ). However, my employment history changed since that time frame -- new job, more responsibilities, and greater confidence in my skills and abilities. My specialty area narrowed from higher education to legal education. Thus, I believed this was the right time to complete another personality test. According to the 16Personalities.com, I am a Defender (ISFJ-A). ISFJ: Intuitive, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging-Assertive Role: Sentinel Strategy: Confident Individualism Def ..read more

The Economic Policy Institute, a progressive-leaning research think tank, released a report entitled "Black workers face two of the most lethal preexisting conditions for coronavirus—racism and economic inequality" (June 1, 2020). The report examines the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on black workers (click here for the press release). Key findings revealed that: Black workers are less likely to continue working from the safety of their homes; Black workers are more likely to be classified as essential workers and face health insecurity as a result; More than one in six ..read more

Many countries have temporarily shut down anchor institutions during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The deleterious effects of the pandemic is nowhere more apparent than in the higher education sector. The respiratory disease compelled many colleges and universities to cancel in-person classes, close residential halls and food courts, suspend in-person events and athletic competitions, and shift to remote learning and work arrangements mid-way through the spring terms. Campus leaders are grappling everyday with how to properly direct their students, faculty, and staff through such unprecedented ..read more

Lifelong learning is is important for personal and professional development. First, it enhances our understanding of the world around us. Second, it provides us with more opportunities for career advancement. Social workers and allied professionals in particular are required to obtain continuing education units (CEUs) for licensing renewal. CEUs are typically offered as a course, workshop, or webinar by universities, agencies, and associations. However, macro social workers may encounter challenges in finding relevant content in macro practice settings (e.g., administration, community organizi ..read more

Social workers and allied professionals need access to best practices on managing public and private service organizations. In 2018, the Network for Social Work Management composed and released a guidebook (2018) of human service management competencies that every experienced and academically trained social worker should know for the successful management of both public and private nonprofit organizations.. For Professionals, the guidebook provides the framework to four domains: Executive Leadership, Resource Management, Strategic Management and Community Collaboration. For University Staff, t ..read more

The United States and the global community are experiencing unpredictable and challenging times to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Also known as novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. It is contagious and has affected people around the world. The most common symptoms include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. Senior citizens and people with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure) are most at risk of becoming severely ill from the virus. As of March 31, 2020, ther ..read more

The Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) presented a webinar on its publication, Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Macro Social Work Practice (2015). The 300-page guide book categories macro social work under three primary focus areas: organizational administration; community organizing, and policy practice. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the nine professional competencies for macro social work practice.Each competency contains vignettes, case studies, classroom exercises, and additional resources for social work professors. The final section presents guidelines and framew ..read more