News

As we continue to publish Social Work Responds, we are committed to addressing both pandemics—COVID-19 and systemic racism. In reviewing the survey results for topics that our readers asked us to cover in this joint communication, “professional development opportunities” was among the top three concerns. When considering how to approach this topic with regard to these pandemics, the subject of interprofessional health care rose to the top. Read more.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) today presented research which shows that more than 9 in 10 social work students who had in-person classes move online during the spring 2020 semester would be interested in returning to the classroom this fall. The survey, conducted in partnership with faculty from California State University, Sacramento, Division of Social Work, showed the impact to students when social work education moved online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to current events and the pervasive social injustices facing our society, the Journal of Social Work Education (JSWE) has compiled a collection of articles with a focus on race/racism, oppression, social justice, and related topics that social workers and social work educators are committed to addressing and resolving. The articles will be open access until September 30, 2020. Read more.

In the June 5 issue of Social Work Responds, we explored the role of the social worker in the face of two pandemics that disproportionately affect communities of color, COVID-19 and institutional racism. Each crisis requires urgent attention and action, calling on social workers, regulators, and social work educators to be creative in responding to the needs of individuals and communities. This week’s issue continues to focus on how social workers are uniquely qualified to address both pandemics. Read more.

On behalf of CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation and Commission on Educational Policy, CSWE is pleased to announce that the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for professional practice doctoral programs have been approved. Read more about the standards here.

CSWE proudly announces the recipients of the 2020 Professional Recognition Awards. Alice Gates, Betty J. Ruth, Kay Hoffman, and Rebecca Gomez represent the best of the best among social work educators, and CSWE is honored to highlight their achievements and extraordinary work. These recipients will be recognized during the 2020 Annual Program Meeting, November 11-15. 

Saundra Starks, EdD, LCSW, chair of the CSWE Board of Directors, shared her advice and challenges for the 47,000 social work program graduates entering the workforce this year. CSWE created a dedicated space for students, faculty members, social workers, allied health-care providers, and others to leave thoughts, messages, videos, and photos for the Class of 2020 in CSWE Spark. 

Since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May, daily protests have taken place around the world as people express their shared grief and outrage at the growing number of unarmed African Americans who have died recently at the hands of police. These recent wounds have opened up deep societal scars because we are in the middle of two pandemics that disproportionately affect communities of color. Read more.

Darla Spence Coffey, PhD, MSW, president and CEO of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and Saundra Starks, EdD, MSW, chair of the CSWE Board of Directors, released the following statement regarding issues of social justice that have been brought to the national forefront.
 

Forced to forego the traditional gatherings to celebrate graduation, social work graduates, educators, and programs have found ways to bring special meaning to commencement events through technology and social networks. To support those efforts, CSWE has created a dedicated space for students, faculty members, social workers, allied health-care providers, and others to leave thoughts, messages, videos, and photos for the Class of 2020. Read more.