I became a Social Worker by accident while at UCLA, studying for B.A. and M.A. in History. With no job in sight, I saw one for a state job in “public welfare” and took it when offered. After 4 months of training in all of the rules and regulations required of an applicant to be […]
Psychiatric Social Work in the ER by Candy Elson, LCSW
As some of you know, I work in a local emergency room as a “psychiatric liaison” a couple of week-ends a month and sometimes I get called in for four hours of an evening is someone calls in sick and they need coverage. You never know what to expect and it is amazing the number […]
Police, Minority Communities, and Trauma by David Eisenberg, LCSW, Ph.D.
I didn’t plan this, but it ends up that my social work career has had an underlying focus on trauma. My first professional assignment involved studying the traumatic consequences for frail elders when moved involuntarily. Forty years later I am working with suicidal veterans. In between I’ve had a whole host of work experiences that […]
A Decentralized Service Delivery Model Benefits Clients and Providers at SURVIVORS By Carin Anderson, MSW Intern
Social work, like other human service professions, requires the clinician to practice self-care to balance work with physical, emotional, and psychological well being. This is especially true when working with torture survivors. Even those such as immigration court clerks or interpreters need to be cognizant that the work they are doing can have an effect […]
Immigration Issues for Social Workers
Immigration Issues for Social Workers[1] Social workers are often on the front lines of helping people in emergencies, and in communities like San Diego many of the people social workers help are immigrants. Some of these immigrants are lawful permanent residents (“green card holders”) and others have no legal status (“undocumented immigrants”).[2] This article […]