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 […]
Be an Agent of Change: Ray Schwartz (’70) Recounts His 50 Years in Social Work
Posted on May 8, 2018 ·
The Healing Power of Clinical Social Work
Posted on April 2, 2018 ·
People come to therapy for three reasons: to heal, to problem solve, and to grow. Psychological wounds heal only through the soothing, transformative, and liberating power of successful attachments to other human beings. Our psychological selves come into being through attachment and we grow and develop as psychological beings through successful attachment and attachment supported […]
Filed Under: Mental Health, Social Work Practice
Social Workers and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
Posted on February 8, 2018 ·
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, commonly referred to as CSEC is a form of Human Trafficking that affects minors and youth around the nation and around the world. CSEC is a broad term that includes any form of sexual exploitation of a minor under the age of 18 who may be a Foreign National, Immigrant, […]
Filed Under: Adolescents/Children, Criminal Justice, Social Work Practice
Should We Discuss Race with Our Clients?
Posted on February 7, 2018 ·
Recently some other faculty and I hosted a workshop for our MSW students on cultural humility and motivational interviewing (MI). The premise was that MI skills and spirit can be a supportive way to discuss culture with clients, which includes race and other social identities. While we spent most of the time looking at HOW […]
Filed Under: Diversity, Social Work Practice
Learning about SIDS by Jeri Wilson, MSW
Posted on May 9, 2017 ·
For me, deciding whether or not to learn about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome was not an option, it was a necessity. My daughter Jenelle died during a nap of SIDS on March 1, 1993 while in daycare. I had heard about SIDS but had no idea how a baby as healthy as mine could die […]
Filed Under: Adolescents/Children, Personal Stories, Social Work Practice
A Collaborative Approach to Serving Community College Students with Food and Housing Insecurity
Posted on September 1, 2016 ·
Most agree that education, besides building a viable workforce, adds immeasurably to the fabric of society. Students in higher education however are sometimes forced to choose between focusing on their education or dealing with issues related to food and housing insecurity. The California State University (CSU) system, one of the largest systems in the nation, […]
Filed Under: Case Management, Field Practice, Food Insecurity, Social Work Practice
Finding the Joy in Self-Care by Nina Tomkiewicz
Posted on July 14, 2016 ·
This summer I have been reflecting on the concept of “self-care,” mostly asking myself, “What is self-care, anyway?” It’s a buzzword in the world of social work, and probably any other helping profession with risk of ‘burnout’ and the more recently coined term ‘compassion fatigue.’ We must engage in self-care to prevent the loss of […]
Filed Under: Personal Stories, Social Work Practice
SOCIAL WORKERS ENHANCING HEALTHY AGING by Dr. Joaquin Anguera
Posted on April 26, 2016 ·
I was told to give an inspirational talk about aging and at the same time bring in some of my personal experience. Well, let me start right away with some personal experience: The first day of my Gerontology class I tell students that a ship of Martians has landed on campus and that one of […]
Filed Under: Older Adults/Gerontology, Social Work Practice
Finding Purpose While at a Loss by Ashley Halverson, MSW student
Posted on March 15, 2016 ·
We don’t know each other. Maybe we share histories, likes or dislikes, but because we don’t share language or culture, I cannot ask. You are a mother of two and come from a village in northern Thailand. Far from here. I am a student from the United States, hoping to learn about international social work […]
Filed Under: Field Practice, International Social Work, Social Work Practice
Racial Justice: Moving From Macro to Micro and Back Again by Melinda Hohman, Ph.D.
Posted on November 23, 2015 ·
I always find myself amused when writing or talking about macro social work, as I am definitely more of a micro kind of person, having studied, taught, and researched Motivational Interviewing (MI) (an interpersonal communication method) for the past 15 or so years. Becoming the Director of the School of Social Work has certainly moved […]
Filed Under: Diversity, Macro Practice, Social Work Ethics, Social Work Practice
