University of Kentucky Launches Online Social Work Undergraduate Degree

Helping people in need is more than a career—it’s a calling. Now, students can answer that calling by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) from the University of Kentucky completely online.

Times are tumultuous, and 2020 has brought challenges like never before. From a public health crisis to movements against social injustice, communities are in critical need of continued support. Social workers aim to provide that support by offering services to improve overall safety and well-being.

The hope is, behind every person or community going through a difficult challenge—abuse, addiction, discrimination, poverty—a social worker is there to help address it.

Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

“Now, there is a heightened need for social workers who are trained to explore and implement innovative solutions to society’s most pressing challenges,” says Jay Miller, PhD, CSW, dean of the College of Social Work (CoSW). “By extending our undergraduate degree offering into the virtual space, we are creating opportunities for more people to actualize their goals of becoming social work professionals in their communities.”

The growth in child abuse and neglect cases, the devastating opioid epidemic, and complex mental health issues are overwhelming social workers with complicated caseloads.

Additionally, COVID-19 has created a storm of factors that will almost certainly lead to an increase in unreported cases of abuse and neglect. As school closures remain in effect, at-risk children are cut off from helping professionals. At the same time, vital parts of the child welfare system are still under immense strain. From mandatory court appearances to home-based parenting programs, the pandemic is making it more difficult to serve children, families, and communities.

The BASW program is designed for anyone who is passionate about being a catalyst for change. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed for careers in social work and social justice, with curriculum spanning advocacy, crisis intervention, social policies, and more. The program offers a unique lens through which to view individuals, families, communities, and society at large.

“The social work profession has a rich tradition of emphasizing the value of individuals' experiences and of understanding the complexities of inequality,” explains Diane Loeffler, PhD, director of undergraduate studies. “Our fully online undergraduate program option will prepare students to practice social work in a wide array of settings, with an emphasis on social justice."

Amid unprecedented challenges, Miller hopes the CoSW's proactive approach will transform communities and the lives of people who call those communities home. “We know the power of social work in addressing the needs of individuals, families and communities," he says. “This new offering is another way that we seek to actualize our commitment to the well-being of individuals in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond.”

You can find more information on the BASW program at uky.edu/academics/bachelors/social-work-basw-online. To help students become well-rounded practitioners, the CoSW offers a wide array of degree paths and certificates. To learn more about other programs, you can visit the college website at socialwork.uky.edu.

— Source: University of Kentucky

Inspiring 'Creativity' in Palliative Care and End of Life

Say you could plan for death as you might any other event: the visitors, the atmosphere, the lighting, the music. Even the way the next generation would experience your life story—your legacy—could be woven into the plan. It's an idea that a Southern California arts school has partnered with a nonprofit hospital near Los Angeles and delivered for patients and families.

"Our clinical partners brought medical expertise to the table; our students brought creativity," says Roger Holzberg, a faculty member at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and cofounder of Reimagine Well.

"We believe in using our gifts to comfort the human spirit and provide compassion. We are excited to share this new creative tool kit with our patients and families," says Lisa Ortega, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, CLNC, director of outpatient programs at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita, CA.

The Healthcare by Design course partnered in the effort with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where the pilot program for patients and families is now in use.

This novel collaboration between clinicians at the hospital and the class has yielded a first-of-its-kind dynamic digital guide, offering patients and families "creative healing solutions that reduce anxiety, enable mindfulness experiences, create memories, and ease the fear of the unknown," says Shannon Scrofano, CalArts faculty member and coinitiator of the course.

"They can now create experiences and memories in ways that best support the life of the person with the life-limiting diagnosis and keep their legacy alive," Holzberg says.

The team hopes the comprehensive approach developed in Santa Clarita will find broader adoption in adult palliative care nationwide.

The program includes analog ideas such as a grandmother's cookbook so her recipes might continue to nourish her family, and more technology-centered options, such as video streaming to virtual events and places of faith, as well as ideas like living family trees.

The CalArts artists are passionate about applying creativity to make a family's journey with a loved one at the end of life calmer and more fulfilling.

Life Quilt is a stand-alone interactive PDF. "Our hope is to share this creative experience with any family or patient who feels it would be helpful," Ortega says. It can be downloaded at expo.calarts.edu/2020/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/05/LifeQuilt_2020-v2-1.pdf.

A project of the CalArts School of Theater's innovative Experience Design track, the class is in its third year. The class partners with a hospital to tackle real-world problems that confront patients today.

— Source: Reimagine Well