Taking Care at Work: Gender, Coping, and Anti-Violence Work During COVID-19

COVID-19 transformed frontline anti-violence workers' organizational routines by transitioning to virtual formats, decreasing face-to-face interactions, and shifting client needs. To address ever-changing workplace stressors, service providers adapted and/or modified coping mechanisms. In this paper, we analyze interviews with 23 anti-violence workers in the US Great Plains region, focusing on tactics used to avoid burnout and meet client needs. We discuss how workplace pace, direct-action coping practices, and a lack of inter/intra-agency social support impact how workers do their necessary jobs. Though some challenges were pervasive pre-pandemic, anti-violence workers' experiences also highlight how "post-COVID-19” workplaces must adequately support staffers. © The Author(s) 2023.

‘You Took me Back to the sea:' Using Narrative to Explore and Inform the Practice of Social Work with Dying People

This article centres on a qualitative interview extract, the ‘Story of the Pebble', in which a West African Hospital Social Worker Ado, working in a UK context, and identifying as a Shaman, describes successfully trusting his instincts to create a symbol for a dying patient. Despite criticisms from colleagues, Ado's capacity to understand his patients needs are justified both before and after her death.The article discusses significant themes from the interview extract, including the meaning of professionalism, practice wisdom and cultural influences in a UK social work context, as well as through Ado's heritage and identification as a Shaman. The article considers holistic patient care in a medical context and suggests this has some useful lessons for social workers, particularly those involved with dying people. Although the extract, and wider research study from which it is drawn, pre-date the Covid 19 pandemic, this is referenced throughout, linking the interview extract to ways of helping practitioners and educators to consider people holistically at end of life. AD -, Chichester, UK ;, Chichester, UK

COVID-19 and the changing roles of social workers in minority communities: Lessons from the Israeli ultra-Orthodox community

Minority groups have been disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19's effects. Whereas, social workers have been instrumental in countering those effects, their roles have been understudied, particularly during the ‘new normal' that followed the outbreak. This gap is addressed by drawing on interviews with 28 social workers in the Jewish ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) society in Israel, held after the outbreak and during the ‘new normal'. Three main roles are identified: first responders, during the outbreak;a voice for community needs, in the ‘new normal';and policy translators – throughout. The findings contribute a temporal aspect to the literature by highlighting social workers' dynamic roles. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Social Work is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Productive Aging During COVID-19 - Lessons from WH SeniorLink

Introduction: According to the National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering, even before the pandemic, 24% of Americans 65+ were considered socially isolated, and 43% of adults 60+ were lonely. Both experiences are associated with serious physical and mental health problems, including increased risks of dementia, stroke, depression, and suicidal ideation. As older adults engage in stricter social distancing to protect themselves from COVID-19, their risk of social isolation and loneliness is heightened. According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 46% of adults 65+ reported that the worry and stress caused by pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. In order to combat this unique challenge, we must employ innovative, flexible solutions that adapt to the shifting circumstances and an uncertain future. Method(s): WH SeniorLink has developed an innovative program for integrating friendly visiting, mutual aid, needs assessment and case management, all delivered remotely by trained volunteers. The program was conceived, developed and executed since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions and has grown to become a fully fledged 501(c)(3) organization, and is a model of flexible service delivery during this unusual time. The program operates through a volunteerism-mutual aid model. Volunteers are trained using online modules and quizzes and supervised by a licensed social worker, including training on needs and risk assessment. Volunteers are then matched with an older adult with similar interests and language preferences to provide friendly weekly phone calls, care packages and letters. Older adults with higher needs are referred to WH SeniorLink's service navigation program which operates using the online platform, Apricot, and is staffed by masters level social work interns and supervised by licensed social workers. Service navigation involves conducting comprehensive assessments and identifying resources and referrals. Older adults who express interest are also paired with each other to provide social support. Barriers to program development have included identifying consistent funding sources and volunteer attrition. Result(s): Data shows 169% growth in contacts made with older adults between May and October, with 2.5 times more older adults served in November than in May. Initial responses to the Dejong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and qualitative data collection reflect that older adults continue to feel lonely and isolated in the midst of the pandemic, but that WH SeniorLink is helping. By placing emphasis on empowering older adults to form sustained relationships with volunteers and their peers, WH SeniorLink encourages reciprocal relationships through which older adult participants are valued for their experiences and contributions. Conclusion(s): The mission of WH SeniorLink is to strengthen community ties and improve health outcomes among older New Yorkers by providing social-emotional support and connection to essential services. WH SeniorLink was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to the myriad of new challenges faced by older adults including greater risk of social isolation and increased disconnection from essential services. However, we recognize that the pandemic has only exacerbated a problem that began long before, and older adults are at risk of being left behind in the coming months and beyond. Funding(s): WH SeniorLink is funded by a starter grant from Columbia School of Social Work and subsequent crowdfunded donations.Copyright © 2021

Assessment Processes of Dependency Situations in Spain: The Role of Social Work

The paper analyses the processes of assessment of situations of dependency in Spain and the role of Social Work in them. The study provides new information, trying to detect possible influences of Covid-19 on these processes and analysing existing territorial disparities. From an intentional documentary search, information was subsequently collected from the General Directorates or Sub -directorates, or the autonomous Institutes of social services through an ad hoc questionnaire, obtaining responses from the universe of analysis units (17 autonomous communities). Said information was organized into three categories of analysis: mandatory nature of the social report in the assessment of situations of dependency;place of application of the DAS and the SRS;and professional profiles of the teams for assessing dependency situations. The results show, among other results, the existence of very different interprofessional teams, the application of the scale in divergent contexts, and the different relevance of the social report in the processes. In conclusion, the need to deepen the inclusion of the social report and the professional figure of Social Work in the assessment processes is evident by contributing to the improvement of the coordination of objectives, processes, and resources.

The right times. Reconfigurations of post Covid-19 social work

The spread of the new Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus marked the start of a long phase of health emergency and quickly led to the adoption of an articulated strategy to contain the contagion. Starting from March 2020, this had important effects on the main areas of individual and collective life also in our country. Priorities of intervention and unprecedented challenges have therefore been imposed on organizations and institutions first of all in the health sector but no less in the economic and social sphere. The aim of the article is to outline an updated profile of the rhythms and professional strategies of social work in Tuscany. Taking advantage of some key concepts and giving voice to the operators through some recent research results, the article analyzes the paths of reorganization of the times and working methods of those who work with the most fragile and vulnerable and question the adequacy of spaces for individual planning and sustainability, with a dedicated attention to the intertwining of individual time and social time.

An interpretive phenomenological analysis of resilience: Implications for social work practice during contemporary social issues

Resilience is generally defined as one's ability to adapt, surpass, or rebound from the experience or threat of substantial adversity. The study of resilience is an essential and complex component of social work practice, yet research suggests that many social workers struggle with proficient knowledge as well as the mindful application of the critical construct of resilience theory. As a result, a social worker's theoretical approach may lack the focus on the constructs, aims, tenets, and assumptions of resilience theory when applied to work with diverse, marginalized, vulnerable, and disenfranchised populations. This holds especially true in challenging times such as civil unrest and global crises (i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic) when social workers are bombarded with the needs of their consumers, their community, and their own interpersonal needs. This study sought to understand how constructs of resiliency theory can be instrumental in understanding how social workers make meaning of resilience as they respond to the intersectional adversity experienced during contemporary social issues. The responses from the social workers' interviews suggested three major themes: Resilience is Active Rather Than Passive, Prior Experiences Shape Resilience Understanding, and Resilience Perspectives Impacts Social Work Practice. The findings of this qualitative research project will generate opportunities to integrate resiliency theory into a unified framework for reflective and culturally responsive social work practice in these challenging times. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Research on impacts of COVID-19 on students' clinical social work career determination in Taiwan

A quantitative method is adopted to survey 197 students at the department of social work at a university in Taiwan from April to May in 2020. The study aims to explore the impact of the new coronavirus on social work students' career determination. The result presents the participants with higher social loneliness have lower "Career Determination of Clinical Medical Social Work (CDCMSW)", and the mental burden feeling, and family relationship are predictive of the CDCMSW. © 2023 Author(s).

Marxismo e Serviço Social: palestra do Professor José Paulo Netto

Os manuscritos ora apresentados constituem a transcrição — ainda que com algumas adaptações — da palestra proferida pelo Professor José Paulo Netto, em 29 de setembro de 2020. Desde logo, informamos ao leitor que o presente texto passou pelo crivo do palestrante que, depois de atenta leitura, aprovou-o para publicação. A atividade supracitada foi organizada pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Serviço Social, da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Como já estávamos enfrentando a crise sanitária decorrente da pandemia da Covid-19, a palestra foi realizada na forma de um Webinário, com a minha mediação. Na ocasião, o Professor José Paulo Netto abordou o tema Marxismo e Serviço Social: elementos para pensar a pesquisa, a produção do conhecimento e os desafios do trabalho dos assistentes sociais. Como destacamos já à época, o professor José Paulo Netto tem um carisma inquestionável e uma competência intelectual amplamente reconhecida. Trata-se de uma exposição sobre o tema feita por um dos mais importantes marxistas da atualidade no Brasil. Suas contribuições ultrapassam as fronteiras do Serviço Social, tanto brasileiro como latino-americano, caribenho e europeu. José Paulo Netto tem contribuído para o debate da teoria social marxista e, por isso, tem também reconhecimento em outras áreas do conhecimento, o que acaba por fortalecer o próprio Serviço Social brasileiro, haja vista que é um agente desta categoria. Quem o conhece sabe que a sua produção intelectual é acompanhada pela militância política, no contexto das lutas anticapitalistas. Não por acaso, José Paulo Netto recebeu a insígnia de ser um marxista sem repouso, não só pela sua contribuição no âmbito da academia, mas também pela sua capacidade de problematizar e colocar luzes sobre as pautas e as lutas da classe trabalhadora. A exposição de José Paulo Netto que agora chega ao público também em forma de uma publicação escrita por esta edição da Revista Katálysis foi realizada num período imediatamente precedente à publicação daquela que já tem sido reconhecida como uma de suas mais importantes produções intelectuais. Trata-se do seu livro Marx: uma biografia, que foi lançado no final de 2020 e que deu forma a um sonho que perseguia o autor desde a sua adolescência. Este sonho, talvez mais do que poderia ele imaginar, tem ganhado força social na medida em que tem suscitado nos estudiosos do marxismo, principiantes ou não, questionamentos importantes sobre o nosso tempo histórico a partir da obra e da vida de Karl Marx, o que evidencia a atualidade do seu pensamento para orientar as lutas pela emancipação humana.Alternate :The following manuscript results from the transcription — albeit with some adaptations — of the lecture given by Professor José Paulo Netto, on September 29, 2020. The text was reviewed by the speaker himself, who, after careful reading, approved it for publication. The aforementioned event was organized by the Postgraduate Program in Social Work, at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Since we were already facing the global health crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the lecture was held in a Webinar format and coordinated by me. During the occasion, Professor José Paulo Netto addressed the theme entitled Marxism and Social Work: reflections on research, knowledge production, and the challenges of social workers' practice. As we pointed out at the time, Professor José Paulo Netto has undeniable charisma and widely acknowledged intellectual competence. The theme was tackled by one of the most important Marxists in Brazil today. His contributions surpass the boundaries of Social Work, both Brazilian and Latin American, Caribbean and European. José Paulo Netto has enriched Marxist social theory in general and, therefore, he also has an impact on other areas of knowledge, which further strengthens the Brazilian Social Work, since he is a representative of this category. Those who know him are aware that his intellectual career is accomp nied by a life of political militancy, in the context of anti-capitalist struggles. Not by chance, José Paulo Netto has received the title of being a restless Marxist, not only for his efforts in the academic field, but also for his capacity to challenge and shed light on the agendas and struggles of the working class. This lecture by José Paulo Netto which now is brought to the general public in the form of a written piece, published in this issue of Katálysis Journal, was held right before the release of what has already been recognized as one of his most important intellectual works. His book Marx: a biography, which was released in late 2020 and fulfilled one the author's teenage dream. This dream come true, perhaps more than he could have imagined, has gained social force to the extent that it has raised in scholars of Marxism, beginners or not, relevant questions about our historical time from the work and life of Karl Marx, which highlights the relevance of his thought to guide the struggles for human emancipation.

Evusheld prophylaxis increases social interactions and improves anxiety, depression, agoraphobia and quality of life scores

Evusheld is a combination injection of tixagevimab/cilgavimab for pre-exposure COVID-19 prophylaxis and was made available to UK private clinics from October 2022. NICE review is ongoing. Whilst efficacy analysis of Evusheld has focused on the risk-reduction of contracting COVID-19, anecdotal reports suggest additional psychological benefits from Evusheld, although supportive objective data are lacking. In this study, we used 4 well-established psychological health questionnaires to assess different psychological parameters (EQ5D-3 L quality of life (QoL) score, DSM5 Agoraphobia score, Duke's Social Support Index (DSSI) and the hospital anxiety and depression score (HADS)) in blood cancer patients treated with Evusheld at the Genesis Care (GC) Clinic, Cambridge. Patient data (pre-and post-Evusheld) were compared with a control group of GC blood cancer patients who had not received Evusheld. The study was approved by GC and all patients had consented to email contact. Questionnaire replies were anonymised and free-text comments were invited. Questionnaires were completed by 29/40 Evusheld and 54/100 control patients. With EQ5D, Evusheld did not impact mobility, self-care and pain/discomfort scores and patient/ control groups scored at similar levels. EQ5D scores for 'usual activities' and 'anxiety/depression' improved post-Evusheld (patients reporting 'normal activities' increased from 52% to 76% (control = 78%);patients reporting 'no anxiety/ depression' increased from 45% to 66% (control = 65%)). The mean global EQ5D QoL score improved post-Evusheld [69.4% to 72.9% (control = 75.7%)]. With the DSM5 agoraphobia score, Evusheld treatment improved agoraphobia parameters, reducing the mean score from 15.7 to 5.1 (control = 3.7;max = 40) with certain striking changes;72% of pretreatment patients avoided crowded situations all of/most of the time, reducing to 14% post-Evusheld (control = 11%). The DSSI score assessed social/work interactions with external household contacts and post-Evusheld the mean number of interactions over 3 weeks increased from 1.48 to 3.37 (control = 3.77). Pre-Evusheld, 52% of patients had no interactions outside their household, dropping to 20% in the 3 weeks post-Evusheld (control = 17%). Using the HADS 14-point analysis of depression and anxiety revealed on average that each parameter was 25.3% 'significantly improved' and 25.4% 'a little improved' post-Evusheld. Accepting limitations of a small study and potential biases associated with a self-funding patient cohort, Evusheld treatment broadly improved all psychological scores assessed. Free-text comments clearly indicate that Evusheld had a major positive impact on QoL/social mobility for specific patients. The Evusheld patients had higher baseline scores for social isolation, anxiety, depression and agoraphobia compared with control patients, yet Evusheld treatment appeared to improve these parameters to a level similar to control patients.

Serviço Social e TICs: a prática profissional no contexto da Covid-19

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir as contradições presentes no processo de incorporação das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TICs) ao trabalho dos assistentes sociais que atuam nas políticas de Saúde, Assistência e Previdência Social no contexto da Covid-19. A metodologia utilizada consiste em pesquisas bibliográficas, documentais (com enfoque nas publicações do CFESS) e observações decorrentes da experiência prática enquanto assistente social do Sistema Único de Saúde e do Sistema Único de Assistência Social1 1 Até novembro de 2020, a autora Erika Valentim atuou como assistente social nas políticas de Assistência Social e Saúde, mais especificamente no Centro de Referência Especializado em Assistência Social (CREAS) e em hospitais de referência contra a Covid – 19. Atualmente é assistente social atuante na Política de Educação, assim como a autora Fernanda Paz. . Foi possível identificar que o uso das TICs acontece de forma heterogênea e desigual nas políticas sociais, como estratégia para a continuidade dos atendimentos nos serviços públicos, ao mesmo tempo que apresenta aspectos comuns, entre os quais se destaca a recorrência a meios digitais não institucionalizados. Tal incorporação esbarra em questões éticas, na falta de acesso das populações mais vulneráveis aos meios digitais e na lógica produtivista que tende a intensificar a precarização do trabalho.Alternate :This article aims to discuss the contradictions present in the process of incorporating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into the work of social workers who work in Health, Assistance and Social Security policies into Covid-19's context. The methodology used consists in bibliographic and documentary research (focusing on publications from the CFESS) and observations due to a practical experience as a social worker in the Unified Health System and the Unified Social Assistance System. It was possible to identify that the use of ICTs happens in a heterogeneous and unequal way in social policies, as a strategy for the continuity of public services, but it comes up against ethical issues, in the lack of access of the most vulnerable populations to digital media and in the productivist logic that tends to intensify the precariousness of work.

Indústria 4.0: serviço social no sistema previdenciário em tempos da pandemia de COVID-19

Este texto discute o cenário do trabalho de assistentes sociais (AS) da Previdência Social (PS) no Brasil, a partir da pandemia do novo coronavírus, COVID-19. Busca evidenciar como AS responderam à pandemia, em termos do seu trabalho e quais as principais mudanças ocorridas na PS nesse período. Utiliza-se de uma entrevista semiestruturada na forma de grupo focal com AS da PS. A ênfase fundamental recai sobre os processos de informatização dos benefícios previdenciários e teletrabalho correspondendo ao aprofundamento do neoliberalismo e maior fragilização do trabalho.Alternate :This text discusses the work scenario of social workers (SW) of Brazilian Social Security (BSS) from the pandemic of the new coronavirus, COVID-19. It seeks to highlight how SW responded to the pandemic, in terms of their work and what the main changes occurred in BSS during this period. It uses a semi-structured interview in the form of a focus group with SW of BSS. The fundamental emphasis is on the computerization processes of social security benefits and telework, corresponding to the deepening of neoliberalism and greater weakening of work.

The case for online education: success factors in an MSW program through a critical feminist lens

Social work has seen a dramatic rise in online MSW programs;however, there is a paucity of research surrounding programmatic reviews. Given the dearth of supporting evidence, data were collected from online students at the University of Tennessee, College of Social Work surrounding several noted key measures for success demonstrating the compatibility between online programming and social work education. These key measures include student demographics, knowledge, student perceptions, alumni perceptions, and faculty perceptions. Data were also collected regarding the university's COVID−19 response, perceptions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and the use of a dedicated advisor to support online students. Results were viewed through a critical feminist lens and revealed that this online MSW program either did meet or exceeded success factors described in the literature. Results also identified new success factors that include alumni outcomes and the importance of dedicated advisors for online students. Implications for online teaching, administration, and research are discussed. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Social Work Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Tiempos de pandemia: impactos en el proceso de construcción de un estatuto profesional relativamente autónomo

O surgimento da pandemia de Covid-19 trouxe uma explicação imposta para a crise estrutural do capital, que vinha sendo gerida a partir de uma ofensiva do capital contra todas as conquistas do trabalho. Nesse contexto, a extensão inédita da assistência, como mecanismo privilegiado para enfrentar a dessocialização e o risco de sobrevivência de grandes contingentes expulsos do vínculo empregatício, ganha nova legitimidade na medida em que sua plasticidade tornou adequada para enfrentar a sobrevivência de novos contingentes atingidos pela pandemia. Esse contexto traz novos desafios à busca de ampliar a autonomia relativa da profissão de Serviço Social.Alternate :La emergencia de la pandemia covid 19 trajo una explicación impostada a la crisis estructural del capital, que venía siendo administrada en base a una ofensiva del capital contra todas las conquistas del trabajo. En este contexto la extensión sin precedentes de la asistencia, como mecanismo privilegiado para atender la desocialización y riesgo de supervivencia de grandes contingentes expulsados de la relación laboral, cobra nueva legitimidad en tanto su plasticidad la volvió apropiada para atender la sobrevivencia de nuevos contingentes afectados por la pandemia. Este contexto coloca nuevos desafíos a la búsqueda por ampliar la autonomía relativa por parte de la profesión Trabajo Social.Alternate :The emergence of the covid 19 pandemic brought a false explanation to the structural crisis of capital, which has been managed based on an offensive by capital against all the conquests of labor. In this context, the unprecedented extension of assistance, as a privileged mechanism to deal with the risk of desocialization and survival of large contingents expelled from the employment relationship, gains new legitimacy to the extent that its plasticity made it adequate to attend to the survival of new contingents affected for the pandemic. This context poses new challenges in the quest to expand the relative autonomy of the Social Work profession.

Social Work Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Challenges and Future Developments to Enhance Students' Wellbeing

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, educational systems were forced to adapt to the new reality of online learning, causing practical academic specializations, such as social work (SW), to be severely affected. To highlight the perspectives of SW students during the pandemic, we used a mixed sociological approach that combined exploratory qualitative research (using the focus-group technique) with cross-sectional quantitative research. Participants who had both on-site and online SW studies before and after the COVID-19 outbreak were included in the study. The study was conducted during a period when almost all educational activities were held online. We aimed to investigate students' perceptions of the educational process during the pandemic, how their wellbeing was affected, and their perspectives on educational and professional development. Students identified advantages of online learning, such as discovering online learning tools, and disadvantages, mainly marked by concerns about their career path once practical activities were heavily limited by institutional measures and policies. Our conclusions suggest that in a post-pandemic context, universities should provide continuous feedback, integrate students' opinions into policies, offer material and technical support, facilitate access to high-quality resources, enrich the SW curricula with resilience programs, and organize peer-to-peer mentoring activities.

Shaping the Future of Social Work Practice in Healthcare: Addressing COVID-19 Needs through Integrated Primary Care.

COVID-19 has illustrated the urgency of promoting integrated healthcare as the model of the future, with social workers not only supporting the physical and mental health of providers and patients, but also leading efforts to transform systems, policies, and social work education. Primary care, where the role of social workers is continuing to grow, is a central location for integrating the treatment of medical, social, and behavioral problems. In these settings, social workers can take the lead to meet community needs, assist in public health efforts, and bolster the frontline medical workforce. The following article reflects upon what we as social workers have learned a year into the global pandemic and how we can apply this knowledge to shaping the future of social work in primary care. Authors consider how the multiple medical and psychosocial needs of patients affected by COVID-19 are addressed in primary care through three core functions of social work: providing behavioral healthcare, coordinating care, and undertaking population health-based interventions. Article ends with a discussion about how social work can respond to the urgent task of transforming health within the context of social work practice, policy, and education for the next generation of healthcare social workers.

Connecting children with birth defects to health and social service programs: A collaboration between the Texas Birth Defects Registry and agency social workers.

BACKGROUND: Timely referral to services for children born with birth defects can improve health outcomes. Birth defects surveillance registries may be a valuable data source for connecting children to health and social service programs. METHODS: Population-based, state-wide data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) were used to connect children 9-18 months old, born with select birth defects with DSHS social workers. The social workers reviewed developmental milestones and referred children and their families to various health and social service programs. We tabulated the proportions of children meeting milestones and referral characteristics by referral program type and type of birth defect. RESULTS: Social workers reached 67% (909/1,362) of identified families. Over half of children (54%, 488/909) were not meeting the developmental milestones for their age. Social workers provided over 3,000 program referrals, including referring 21% (194/909) of children to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) and 28% (257/909) to case management. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate a method of leveraging a birth defects surveillance system for referral services. Given the large number of referrals made, our findings suggest that birth defects registries can be a valuable source of data for referring children to programs.

"We're kind of on the back burner": Psychological distress and coping among medical social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical social workers are essential members of healthcare teams, especially during a pandemic. Their scope of practice includes conducting psychological assessments, coordinating social services, connecting patients to resources that address social determinants of health, discharge planning, and patient advocacy. Social workers' experiences of psychological distress were unique even before the COVID-19 pandemic; their work demands a high amount of emotional investment as they frequently witness others' pain and suffering and navigate various daily challenges and crises. This study explores psychological distress experienced by medical social workers and the coping strategies used by these professionals during the pandemic prior to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Faced with conflicting information from state and federal agencies, social workers dealt with resource shortages, took on additional roles and responsibilities, and contended with regular value conflicts and ethical dilemmas. Our findings indicate that medical social workers are not sufficiently protected or prioritized in their workplaces and that infrastructure to support social workers' emotional wellbeing is lacking. Distinct themes that emerged from the data under the umbrella of psychological distress include feeling unprotected, overburdened, and undervalued. We discuss a need for targeted policy and sustainability-oriented solutions to improve coping and resilience, mitigate psychological distress, and prevent burnout among medical social workers.

Optimizing the pediatric patient centered care medical home through a trauma informed care lens

The need for mental health services in primary care settings to address trauma remains a pressing issue for pediatrics. The existing literature supports the compatibility of Trauma-Informed Care Principles in Patient-Centered settings to address trauma, yet despite professional guidelines highlighting these models, a specific example within a primary care setting remains unrealized. This paper will conceptualize a Trauma Informed Medical Home model with Integrated Behavioral Health utilizing some aligning concepts such as safety, accessibility and collaboration found within the Trauma Informed Care and a Medical Home guideline. The resulting conceptualized model will represent a strengthened primary care setting where the delivery of mental health services using a trauma-informed lens can optimize patient-centered primary care medical home services.

The Meaning of Online Social Work Education for Students and Faculty during COVID-19: Between Preservation and Change

Academic online social work (SW) education has developed over the decades, fully transitioning to it following the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have examined the emotional responses, coping strategies and resilience of faculty and students to this transition. Our aim is to examine online education experiences and their meaning for faculty and SW students following the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed based on principles of thematic analysis. Interviewees included fifteen SW students and fifteen faculty members at schools of SW (n = 30) from universities and colleges throughout Israel, who also participated in a quantitative survey addressing online SW education. Findings include two themes: (i) Between the illusion of intimacy and the illusion of anonymity: Is it so? (ii) Experiences of difficulty, acceptance and choice relating to online education interactions. Both themes refer to interpersonal dimensions of communication and contact between faculty and students and among students. The desire to preserve a traditional education format versus openness to the online platform is discussed using critical reflexivity. Alternative education programmes combining the two should be developed. The unique and deceptive interplay between intimacy and anonymity in the online space should be considered in courses relying on interpersonal interaction and self-disclosure. The COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 has dramatically changed lives in all domains, including the format of social work (SW) education, which shifted from face-to-face encounters to online. Although online education had been developed in SW education before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was restricted to SW courses on theory and policy and was never fully employed to include courses teaching SW practice skills. Accordingly, our aim is to examine online education experiences and their meaning for faculty and SW students following the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed. Participants included fifteen SW students and fifteen faculty members at schools of SW (n = 30) from universities and colleges throughout Israel. Students and faculty addressed the illusion of intimacy and anonymity in the online space, revealing its complexity, including difficulties, acceptance and choice relating to online education interactions. Findings refer to interpersonal dimensions of communication and contact between faculty and students and among students. We discuss preserving a traditional education format versus openness to online platforms and suggest developing alternative education programmes combining the two. Furthermore, the unique and deceptive interplay between intimacy and anonymity in the online space should be considered in courses requiring interpersonal interaction and self-disclosure.