Turn Professional Aspirations into the Job of Your Dreams with   

       NASW’s Social Work Career Guidebook

Have you wondered how to channel your passion for change into not only your professional success but also a lasting legacy? Social workers, often referred to as “agents of change,” join the profession with the intention of making the world a better place. However, most social workers do not learn a systematic approach to fostering change in their own career advancement.

By focusing on your personal and professional growth, you can build a legacy that extends beyond immediate impacts, ensuring that your contributions endure and inspire future generations of social workers, clients, and communities. This interactive guidebook will provide you with useful tools and inspiration for every stage of your social work career journey.

The authors of The Social Work Career Guidebook, Jennifer Luna, Cindy Snell, and Michelle Woods, have decades of experience leading career services offices in top-tier social work schools. They break down the stages of career development and provide tips, easy-to-access exercises, and resume and correspondence samples.

The chapters will guide you through applying for jobs, interviewing, evaluating offers, negotiating salary and benefits, and successfully onboarding at your new job. Case studies and appendices provide strategies for building and documenting your network, interview questions and tactical responses, personal budgeting templates, and tools for evaluating single and multiple job offers.

Throughout, the authors encourage the readers to take a long view of their career and their legacy. Whether you are a recent social work graduate or a seasoned expert, this book will set you on a path toward your ideal job and professional fulfillment. Follow this link to learn more about the authors and read a sample chapter and reviews.

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Learn more about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, CEU books, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards by visiting the Press website. If you have questions, please email NASWPress@BrightKey.net or call 1-800-227-3590.

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More NASW Career Tools . . .

Start the new year with purpose and intention! Earn continuing education credits by reading select NASW Press books via the NASW Social Work Online CE Institute. Titles range from early childhood education and care, ecosocial work, economic well-being, mentoring women for leadership, and social work ethics to burnout, self-care, and meditation, digital practice, and social entrepreneurship to name a few. Visit the NASW Press website to learn more about the full list of books offered and how to participate.

Substance use during pregnancy can lead to poor outcomes. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) can occur when a developing baby is exposed to alcohol before birth. People with FASDs can live with lifelong behavioral, intellectual, and physical disabilities. Tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risks for birth defects of the mouth and lip, as well as preterm birth, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, prenatal cannabis use has been linked to fetal anomalies as well as developmental problems such as low birth weight and attention and learning issues, as well as higher stillbirth rates, lower Apgar scores (which measure a newborn’s health after birth), and increased risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission.

Social workers are uniquely positioned to put prevention into practice by screening all clients, including pregnant people, for alcohol and other substance use. And they can talk with clients who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant about avoiding alcohol and other substances during pregnancy. Given that every pregnancy is different, it is not possible to predict how each baby will be affected by maternal substance use. The safest pathway is to avoid any type of substance use during pregnancy.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the NASW Foundation are collaborating with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work in a national effort to engage social workers in the prevention of substance-exposed pregnancy. The FASD National Partner Network is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative that puts social work at the center of prevention practice, along with colleagues in family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, nursing, and medical assisting.

Resources

• NASW Practice Perspectives: Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
• FASD Fact Sheets (FASD United)
• Glimpses of FASD – Meet Brenna! (youtube.com) (FASD United)
• Video Series: Lived Experiences with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CDC)
• Cannabis Use During Pregnancy (American Academy of Family Physicians)

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Article by Diana Ling, MA, Senior Program Manager; and Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, Senior Health Strategist; Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin.

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This initiative, Engaging Social Workers in Preventing Alcohol- and Other Substance-Exposed Pregnancies, is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $913,610 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

What are mission-driven profits?

It simply means that an organization doesn’t generate profits for profits’ sake, but those profits are generated for a higher ideal. Such as being used to expand services to the needy, invest in its people (e.g., training or pay equity) or provide for a stronger balance sheet so that the company has enough cash/investments to survive the inevitable downturn in its business.

Most businesses have teams of people who generate revenues that are the catalyst for these mission-driven profits. But what about cost centers, like a finance department, that spend but don’t actually make any money?

As a chief financial officer for many organizations, such as Bread for the City (a charitable nonprofit in DC that provides food, healthcare, legal and social services), I have led finance teams that, by definition, were cost centers –  because we didn’t generate revenues. And like most cost centers, we didn’t think of ourselves as being able to help produce mission-driven profits.

But we can and have. It just takes the form of lowering costs, which has the same effect as increasing revenues, but ideally, without sacrificing jobs or quality of service.

In the past, we’ve been able to do such things as properly classify staff for workers compensation insurance, which lowered premiums, found new vendors that were more aligned with our mission and values, and improved our cash management procedures, all of which saved over $1 million. Then it hit us, “How many jobs did we just support so that the organization could fulfill its mission?!”

At the National Association of Social Workers, we continue to produce savings so that NASW can provide critical advocacy for social workers, such as the social work interstate compact, improving medical reimbursements for clinical social workers, and student debt relief.

This is work in which dues just don’t completely pay for. But it’s mission-critical work that someone has to do. I’m thankful that it’s
NASW!

Through effective cash management, reallocating costs to lower our tax liability and shifting more support services to our NASW Foundation, we were able to save over $700,000.

Here’s the powerful thing. Those profits are automatically reinvested in fulfilling the core mission. For NASW, it’s to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.

Sekou “Koe” Murphy is NASW’s Chief Financial Officer.

The third edition has been updated to view documentation through person-first language and includes a new chapter on bias-free language selection, with examples and exercises to ensure appropriate wording choices are used related to age, disability, immigration and socioeconomic status, and gender and sexual orientation.

Going beyond clichéd self-help advice, Self-Care in Social Work, 2nd Edition, by Kathleen Cox and Sue Steiner, applies a cognitive coping framework to social work activities to support practitioners in preventing or reducing burnout, secondary trauma, and vicarious trauma. This framework is woven into chapters devoted to self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-efficacy, applying social work skills to the practitioners themselves.

Further, the authors posit that it is the responsibility of supervisors and organizations to ensure social workers’ well-being and emotional safety. Whereas most self-care strategies encourage individuals to engage in activities that enhance their health and well-being, such as exercising, eating well, sleeping more, getting massages, meditating, or taking bubble baths, this book also recognizes the importance of the person-in-environment framework in shifting our thinking about self-care.

Have you wondered how to channel your passion for change into not only your professional success but also a lasting legacy? Social workers, often referred to as “agents of change,” join the profession with the intention of making the world a better place. However, most social workers do not learn a systematic approach to fostering change in their own career advancement. By focusing on your personal and professional growth, you can build a legacy that extends beyond immediate impacts, ensuring that your contributions endure and inspire future generations of social workers, clients, and communities. This interactive guidebook will provide you with useful tools and inspiration for every stage of your social work career journey.

The authors of The Social Work Career Guidebook, Jennifer Luna, Cindy Snell, and Michelle Woods, have decades of experience leading career services offices in top-tier social work schools. They break down the stages of career development and provide tips, easy-to-access exercises, and resume and correspondence samples. The chapters will guide you through applying for jobs, interviewing, evaluating offers, negotiating salary and benefits, and successfully onboarding at your new job. Case studies and appendices provide strategies for building and documenting your network, interview questions and tactical responses, personal budgeting templates, and tools for evaluating single and multiple job offers.

The misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) has severe emotional and financial consequences for users, their families, and society. The collective effects are often devastating, because the magnitude of the problems associated with alcohol, tobacco, and drug dependency is far-reaching.

Social workers in practice areas related to children and families, older adults and aging, and health and wellness are well aware of the need for effective ATOD interventions to address these problems. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: Challenging Myths, Assessing Theories, Individualizing Interventions, 2nd Edition, edited by Ann A. Abbott, prepares new social workers as well as updates seasoned professionals for the new realities and challenges in this specialization.

Learn more about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, CEU books, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards by visiting the Press website. If you have questions, please email NASWPress@BrightKey.net or call 1-800-227-3590.

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You Might Also Be Interested In . . .

NASW Press offers continuing education credits on a wide array of books via the NASW Social Work Online CE Institute. Titles range from ecosocial work, economic well-being, mentoring women for leadership, and social work ethics to burnout, self-care, and meditation, digital practice, and social entrepreneurship to name a few. Visit the NASW Press website to learn more about the full list of books offered and how to participate.

Here is information from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) to help the public and news media.

NASW CEO Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, is an expert on mental health, substance use disorders, and the social work workforce. To arrange and interview with Dr. Estreet or other NASW experts contact:

NASW Communications Director Greg Wright

Email:  media@socialworkers.org or call 202.336.8324

Resources:

Click to download and print The Crucial Role of Social Workers in Supporting Individuals and Families.

The document can be used during public events and visits to policymakers.

Follow NASW on Social Media

Threads (@naswsocialworkers)

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Instagram (@naswsocicalworkers)

Facebook

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Recent NASW News Hits

Social workers advocacy group endorses Harris for president – The Hill

Getting more men into so-called pink collar jobs (NASW CEO Anthony Estreet) – NPR

State partners with Michigan State University to increase and retain social workers (NASW Michigan Chapter Executive Director Duane Breijak) – Fox 47 News

It Ends With US: What Is Going On With The Film (NASW CEO Anthony Estreet) – Glamour

Colorado expanded its red flag law. Few additional cases resulted (NASW Colorado Chapter Executive Director Leanne Rupp) – States News Service

How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field (Angie Lutts, vice president of the National Association of Social Workers’ Texas chapter) – Amarillo Globe-News

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Prior to 2020, the field of social work was limited in its adoption of digital practice. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional, in-person service delivery was dramatically interrupted. Previously at a crossroads, the field is now experiencing a seemingly unstoppable shift toward modern technology-mediated forms of delivery.

Social Work in an Online World: A Guide to Digital Practice, edited by David A. Wilkerson and Liam O’Sullivan, addresses this shift and charts the changing landscape from analog to digital practice in varied client systems, system needs, and system levels (micro, mezzo, and macro). Going beyond online mental health service, which is largely individually focused and synchronously delivered, the authors offer a map of digital social work practice that can be expanded to include support, identity, community action, education, and psychoeducation. Earn CEUs.

Designed to help practitioners build writing skills in a variety of settings, Social Work Documentation, 3rd Edition, by Nancy L. Sidell, is a how-to guide for social work students and practitioners interested in improving their record keeping and documentation skills. This wildly popular, must-have resource provides practical advice on current practice issues such as electronic case recording, trauma-informed documentation, and assessing and documenting client cultural differences of relevance.

The third edition has been updated to view documentation through person-first language and includes a new chapter on bias-free language selection, with examples and exercises to ensure appropriate wording choices are used related to age, disability, immigration and socioeconomic status, and gender and sexual orientation. Earn CEUs.

Using firsthand accounts from 200 Black adolescents, Black Male Youth Raised in Public Systems: Engagement, Healing, Hope validates the fears, anxieties, and complexities of these youth. Editors Sheryl Brissett Chapman, Ralph Belk, Jasilyn Morgan, and Krystal Holland, with Bruce Tyson and Omore Okhomina, point to the need for adults to “get out of the way” so they are better positioned to obtain access to understanding how these youth consider their life journeys and under what terms they allow a relationship with an adult, which is critical and necessary for their healing.

Specifically, this book presents alternative frameworks that invite practitioners to reconsider their approach and encourage academics to explore new avenues of inquiry. Earn CEUs.

First published in 2009, The Social Work Ethics Casebook, by Frederic G. Reamer, was the first ethics casebook, including extensive cases and commentary, written exclusively for social workers. The second edition was published in 2018. This revised second edition reflects changes made in the 2021 Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and includes discussion of new and updated ethics standards, especially pertaining to cultural competence and practitioner self-care.

This book’s realistic ethics cases provide a useful tool for discussing ethical dilemmas and ethical decision making. Following each set of cases, Reamer includes commentary highlighting key ethics concepts and references to relevant standards in the Code of Ethics. Earn CEUs.

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Get more information about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards by visiting the Press website. If you have questions, please email NASWPress@BrightKey.net or call 1-800-227-3590.

As we assess the damage done by Hurricane Beryl, we know that many are without power and are evaluating their needs. We want to make sure we get the right resources to those in need. If you’re in the area impacted by the storm and have specific ways that we can help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at: naswtex.naswtx@socialworkers.org.

In the meantime, the Texas Standard offers resources for safety and support, and ABC 13 in Houston provides additional ways to donate and seek help. The NASW Texas Chapter is here to keep social workers and our communities connected as we move forward. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or immediate needs.

Texas Standard Resources: https://bit.ly/45WAZwm

ABC 13 Houston Help: https://bit.ly/4cBnkxa

Did you know that clients with borderline personality disorder are over-represented in all levels of mental health care?

Nicole Roder, LCSW-C

Research shows that about 20 percent of all patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals meet criteria for BPD, as well as 10 percent of people seeking outpatient mental health treatment.

As a DBT therapist, I specialize in treating these folks, who come to me desperate for help with changing their suicidal behaviors and dysregulated emotions. For clinical social workers, this means that we will almost definitely encounter a client with BPD at some point in our careers.

Unfortunately, despite the high prevalence of individuals with BPD in our client populations, many social workers misunderstand the diagnosis. Most of my clients have told me that their past providers seemed to dislike them, blamed them for their painful emotions, or even unilaterally discharged them without warning.

Myths and Facts About BPD

It’s true that BPD is difficult to treat, especially without specialized training and an accurate understanding of the disorder. My hope is that, by dispelling certain myths about BPD, this article can help social workers combat the structural stigma that surrounds this diagnosis and advocate for better treatment of clients with BPD.

Myth: BPD is untreatable.

Fact: Many people with BPD recover.

There are several treatments that have been shown to be effective in treating BPD. The most well-researched is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is what I practice. I work for a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Program that includes individual therapy, a weekly skills group, and between-session phone coaching. I have personally treated many people with BPD who have fully recovered. I’ve seen people go from frequent suicide attempts and having raging fights with loved ones to living full and satisfying lives.

Myth: BPD can’t be diagnosed in children or teens.

Fact: BPD can be diagnosed at any age.

I’ve treated quite a few adolescents with BPD. There is nothing in the DSM that requires clinicians to wait until a client is an adult to give the diagnosis, as long as the symptoms have been present for at least a year and are not better explained by normal development or another disorder. In fact, BPD symptoms (which you can find below) often first appear during the teen years, and diagnosing a client early can help them get access to treatment.

Myth: People with BPD are manipulative and impossible to work with.

Fact: People with BPD are doing the best they can.

I have gained so much from my clients. When someone has untreated BPD, it is true that they often experience uncontrollable emotions and behaviors. They might feel intense sadness, fear, shame, or anger and engage in disruptive behaviors like self harm or isolation. When they behave this way, their therapists and loved ones might feel manipulated, but feelings aren’t facts. The truth is that they are using these behaviors to relieve their painful emotions. Figuring out and changing the causes of behaviors works better than judging and blaming.

Hopefully, learning about these myths and facts will help social workers show empathy to their clients with BPD and refer to effective treatment when necessary.

Nicole Roder, LCSW-C, DBT-LBC, is a bilingual, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification certified therapist in Columbia, MD. Find her online at https://www.gladstonepsych.com

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds and appreciates the Biden Administration’s  Executive Action (EA) announcing the creation of additional pathways for legal status and work authorization for spouses of U.S. citizens and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients — as well as undocumented youth, known as “Dreamers.”

For undocumented immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens, the Biden EA will now enable them to qualify for parole in place, which means they can stay with their families as they apply for permanent residency. Prior to the EA, the undocumented spouse had to return to their home countries to modify their status. This often resulted in years of separation from children and spouses, and sometimes led to permanent separation. Not only can they now complete the process in the U.S., they will also be authorized to work in the U.S.

It has been estimated that there are as many as 1 million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens living in the U.S. These households are often referred to as mixed-status families. Just as significantly, there are more than five million children living with at least one undocumented parent.

It should be noted that the provisions in Biden’s EA have the support of the American people. According to recent polling, a significant majority of voters support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented caregivers and spouses of U.S. citizens. Additionally, research indicates that when separated from their parents, the emotional and social development of children is impacted. Conversely, under the new EA, children will benefit greatly when their families achieve stability and economic mobility gained through lawful status and work authorization.

As far as DACA recipients are concerned, new guidance on the D-3 waiver program  will allow eligible DACA recipients and other Dreamers a streamlined way to apply for work visas. The result of this change is that tens of thousands of Dreamers will now be eligible for work visas and a pathway to permanent status. This policy removes the uncertainty facing many DACA recipients, their families, and other undocumented youth who have been locked out of the DACA program. There are more than a quarter million U.S. citizen children with at least one parent who has DACA.

The immigration justice community, which includes NASW, is fully supportive of the Biden Executive Action. It demonstrates the administration’s continued effort to eliminate barriers to immigration policies that support families.

Studies indicate Black fathers, even when absent from the home, tend to be more engaged with their children than fathers of other groups. However, Estreet said Black fathers can experience mental health stressors that other groups do not and it is important they seek out therapy, including from clinical social workers.

“Black men are facing higher challenges, you know, when compared to other groups, such as economics, health care, educational disparities, systematic racism, social injustice,” Estreet said. “You know we are one of the only groups of people who can literally be watching the news and see somebody that looks like us and from communities like us be shot down and killed on live TV.”

“I would really say that therapy works, right,” Estreet said later. “You know, find yourself a therapist, preferably a social worker. I am a little biased.”

Take time to listen to Estreet’s interview below:

Social workers help people overcome mental illness so they can live more fulfilled lives. Learn more at NASW’s HelpStartsHere.org.