Social Work Career Development: 12/1/11

Thursday, December 29, 2011

7 Ways to Bond With Your Teen

Are you looking for some ways to help you connect with your teen over the holiday break and beyond?

Here are seven test-driven ideas to get you started:

Best Tweets in Mental Health (wk of 12/19/2011)

I'm watching twitter, google+ and the web so you don't have to...

This post is part of a weekly series, Best Tweets in Mental Health, featuring the best posts of the week, in social work, psychology and private practice concerns on Social Work Career Development.

Social Work:

Connecting
Connecting Social Care and Social Media (Ermintrude2)

"Social Work is built on relationships. We have new ways to build these relationships and new ways to open communication channels....We are living in interesting times and the social care sector can’t afford to be left behind because those relying on it need..."

Focus
College of Social Work (Ermintrude2)

"We are in a helping profession and by default we want to help, but the importance of focus is determining the difference between the things we can change through our interventions and the things we cannot change, either due to resources..."

Readers' Top 10 Social Work Career Development Posts of 2011

In case you missed any of these most popular posts on the Social Work Career Development, here they are for your reading enjoyment!

Best Tweets in Mental Health (wk of 12/12/2011)

I'm watching twitter, google+ and the web so you don't have to...

This post is part of a weekly series, Best Tweets in Mental Health, featuring the best posts of the week, in social work, psychology, mindfulness, non-profit and private practice concerns on Social Work Career Development.

Please note that this week's special event is @SWSCmedia's #TwitterRama #TwitterRamba #TwitterParty on Tues. (20 Dec) at 20:00GMT/15:00 EST. It'll be Fun+Learning!

Social Work:

But Gene, You’re Not a Poor Black Kid, Now What?
Word Up, Haay (Jovian Zayne, @jovizi)

"When we’re living in a country where on average, nine year-olds growing up in low income areas (predominately students of color) are already three grade levels behind their affluent peers, do you really think that shoving a computer in that poor black kid’s hand with no instruction, or support structure is going to be their key out of the ever widening achievement gap?..."

The Continuum of Care
Practice Wisdom (Natalie L. Hill, LICSW)

"The continuum of care... It goes along with the ethical principle of providing treatment in the least restrictive environment where the client's safety can be maintained...At the one extreme are those clients who have difficulty with some area of functioning, but are able to continue self-care..."

Menopause and Pleasure: An Oxymoron?

Not at all... Contrary to what many people believe, menopause may be one of the most exciting times in a woman's life. Aside from women being more in touch with what really matters after menopause, they are able to experience joy on a whole different level!

According to Dr Northrup, there are seven keys to open the door to wonderful pleasure after menopause:

1. Become an Ardent Explorer of your own Pleasure - in other words, notice what you enjoy; pay attention to what inspires and uplifts you.

The goal is to cultivate more joy, moment by moment and to look for ways to make those desires become a reality. For example, if you like sexy lingerie, then go shopping for some new lingerie and wear it - not just sometimes but regularly. Do the same thing with the other items on your list of things that you notice that you enjoy - do them all more often!

Best Tweets in Mental Health (wk of 12/5/2011)

"Set realistic expectations: If your family doesn't get along any other time of the year, don't expect them to get along at the holidays... Be realistic on what you can do... Keep up with the self-care... You have the time if you make it a priority..."

8 Myths (and Facts) about Feelings
Practice Wisdom (Natalie L. Hill, LICSW)

"Sometimes people even fear that intense emotion will make them "go crazy." However, that's just not true - emotions are time limited, and the peak of intensity does not last very long before the intensity starts to abate..."

A Day in the Life of a Prison Social Worker

Have you ever wondered what a typical day would be like for a social worker who works in a prison setting?

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Kays, a social worker, LGSW, who works with women at a prison in the Northeast region of the United States and will be able to provide us with a view of what her work entails.

While Lisa has less than a year of post grad work under her belt, she exhibits the insights and learnings of someone with far more experience...

Lisa - Could you provide a bit of your background? What led you to become a social worker?

I have always had an interest in psychology, but pursued a degree in English literature as an undergraduate. Then I served in the Peace Corps as an English teacher. Upon my return, I got a master’s in journalism and decided I was wholly unfit to be a journalist.

One of my professors said, “You’re an advocate. Use your voice on that.” She was right. I kept trying to put the voices of vulnerable populations into my stories and to write from that perspective—not exactly how journalism works.

Best Tweets in Mental Health (wk of 11/28/2011)

I'm watching twitter, google+ and the web so you don't have to...

This post is part of a weekly series, Best Tweets in Mental Health, featuring the best posts of the week, in social work, psychology, mindfulness, non-profit and private practice concerns on Social Work Career Development.

As you can see, some new gems have been been discovered like Mike Brown @MentalHealthCop who helps provide a view on mental health from the police perspective.

Also, please note that the Social Work/Social Care and Social Media group @SWSCmedia is hosting a live twitter debate on "Early Intervention: Concept, Context, Realities, & Prospects" this Tues, 6 Dec at 20:00 GMT/15:00 EST.