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This past brutal winter drove home the cruel reality of weather’s unpredictability and how it can suddenly affect our lives, uproot us from our homes, cause great discomfort, and endanger our families and friends. As if these risks weren’t enough, imagine that you were also a 24/7 caregiver of a parent, partner, or other loved one. What would you do to ensure that individual’s safety and care? The author of our monthly E-News Exclusive didn’t face a weather-related emergency but did face his own health condition that required him to make plans for his wife to be cared for while he was hospitalized and in physical therapy. As an advocate for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers, he urges social workers to help guide their clients in advanced planning for loved ones who need 24/7 care in the event of an emergency or even an anticipated interruption of care for a loved one by a 24/7 caretaker. Options are available, and the key is to investigate those options in advance to see which ones meet the client’s needs in the event of interrupted care. We welcome your comments at SWTeditor@gvpub.com. Visit our website at www.SocialWorkToday.com, join our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter. — Marianne Mallon, editor Helping Caregivers Prepare for Emergencies By Allan S. Vann, EdD, MS My wife, Clare, has Alzheimer’s disease and recently was placed in the dementia unit of an assisted living facility. However, when she was at home and I was her 24/7 caregiver, I had thought about what I would have done if an emergency had prevented me from caring for Clare. This was an even more heightened concern once I learned that I would soon need hip replacement surgery. If Clare were at home with me when I had the surgery, I would have had to make arrangements for her 24/7 care for the period of my hospitalization and subsequent physical therapy in a rehabilitation facility. Fortunately, by the time I needed surgery, I already had placed Clare in the assisted living facility, so she was well cared for during my hospitalization and rehabilitation. But what if I needed this surgery earlier, while Clare was still living with me at home? What would I have done? Full Story »   Helping Caregivers Prepare for Emergencies Mindfulness, Women, and Child Abuse Ethics Education in Social Work Big Data's Impact on Social Services Support for Those With Memory Loss and Their Caregivers Research to Study Mental Health of Patients With Cancer Mindful Meditation in Schools Helps Students' Performance Affordable Care Act Spurs Health Professionals Back to School Tech & Tools CO Quit-Smoking App Motivates Change A new quit-smoking app helps calculate how much money you save by avoiding cigarettes and sends a gentle reminder about quitting whenever you walk into one of hundreds of convenience stores around Colorado. Learn more » Video Conference Brings Distance Caregivers Closer By bringing a video conference into physician consultations, distance caregivers can join the health care conversation with their loved ones. Learn more » Social workers care about their clients, but rarely do they have time to care about themselves. Show yourself a little appreciation with field-inspired gear from our Gift Shop. We've got the perfect item for every situation from busy days in the office to at home visits. Check out our secure online shop today or call toll-free 877-809-1659 for easy and fast ordering.

Social Work Today Honored by National Association of Social Workers Chosen as 2014 NASW Media Award Winner for Best Trade Publication The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) recently announced winners of the 2014 NASW Media Awards, and Social Work Today is proud to have been selected as Best Trade Publication. The NASW cites several articles from 2013 that were particularly noteworthy, including those on the growing use of hospice care, adoption competency in clinical social work, and living with co-occurring disorders. "Our Social Work Month theme was 'All People Matter,' and the winners of this year's media award certainly reflect that," NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, said. "The award recipients, through their work in print, TV, blogs, and other media, demonstrated to the public some of the many ways social workers help people overcome life's challenges and succeed." In addition to Social Work Today, NASW Media Award recipients include documentary filmmakers, television producers, bloggers, newspaper reporters, columnists, and other media professionals who helped spotlight social work services and critical social issues in 2013. More than 1,350 people visited the website SocialWorkersSpeak.org, an NASW site that tracks how social workers are portrayed in the media, to cast their votes for 47 nominees. Click here for more on this year's winners. Visit SocialWorkToday.com to subscribe and enjoy the quality content that has earned Social Work Today this honor from the professionals we serve. Program Supports Individuals With Memory Loss, Caregivers The Washington Post reports on a program that gives those with memory loss techniques to improve recall, supports caregivers, and provides a place to connect with others facing similar challenges. New Research Will Study Mental Health of Patients With Cancer According to USA TODAY, new research by the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute hopes to bring social and mental health professionals to patients' aid before they reach a crisis. Mindful Meditation May Help Students' Academic Performance The Los Angeles Times reports that mindfulness programs are helping students with focus, attention, and calming emotions, and teachers and administrators see it as a tool that also may boost school performance. Affordable Care Act Spurs Health Professionals' Return to School According to The New York Times, the complexities of the Affordable Care Act are motivating some health professionals to pursue higher education. The nation's top employers and recruiters of social workers advertise in Social Work Today magazine and post their job openings on AlliedHealthCareers.com. Check out the most recent opportunities that have been submitted by employers across the country! Licensed Clinical Social Worker CRAassociates, Inc, MS, US Recovery Services Clinician Southwest Counseling Service, WY, US Outpatient Mental Health Clinician Southwest Counseling Service, WY, US Social Service Opportunities The Children's Village, Dobbs Ferry, New York, 10522, US Lead Primary Therapists Natchaug Hospital, Connecticut, 06250, US Master's Level Clinician/Clinical Care Coordinator The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc., Central Massachusetts, US Social Work Today's CE program offers social workers the opportunity to earn CEs from the comfort of their homes or offices. Visit www.SocialWorkTodayCE.com today and join the thousands of professionals from across the country who have already have taken advantage of this great program. Simply read an issue of the magazine, complete the online exam or the printed exam published in the magazine, and most issue exams will earn 2 CE credits! PLUS, you have the opportunity to earn CE credits from past issues, too! See what all the talk is about. Visit www.SocialWorkTodayCE.com today for more information!   Mindfulness, Women, and Childhood Abuse — Turning Toward What’s Difficult Though change is not the goal of this practice, by leaning into acceptance of what is here right now, individuals become aware that choice exists. Read more » Ethics Education in Social Work — Transformation of a Profession Social work is a different profession than it was decades ago, and education has adjusted to and reflected the major cultural and technological changes that have affected the profession’s ethics. Read more » Big Data’s Impact on Social Services Informed by Big Data analytics, social workers can play a more active role in ensuring overall care outcomes. Read more » A Secure, Anonymous Résumé Bank Job Alerts Sent to Your E-mail Have a product, service or educational program you want to market to social work professionals, or an open position that you need to fill quickly? Social Work Today offers many flexible advertising programs designed to maximize your results. From print advertising to e-newsletter sponsorships, website advertising to direct mail opportunities, Social Work Today helps achieve your goals. E-mail our experienced account executives today for more information or call 800-278-4400! AlliedHealthCareers.com is the premier online resource to recruit social work professionals. Post your open positions, view résumés and showcase your facility's offerings all at AlliedHealthCareers.com!