Editor's E-Note
In this month’s E-News Exclusive, a therapist in private practice and a mental health practitioner for the public school system asks the question: “How can I remain an ethical social worker if I am forced to obey legislation that is in direct opposition to my professional and personal code of ethics?”
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— Kate Jackson, editor |
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Pushing Back Against Extremist Legislation
By Emerson Coyle, MSW, LCSW
Social workers are the voices of the ignored, underserved, stepped on, and dismissed. Social workers are the advocates and drivers of change on every level. Social workers validate, support, respect, care, connect, encourage, and promote autonomy. A social worker is who I am at my core. So, what am I supposed to do when, as an openly queer, trans, nonbinary clinical social worker, I am facing constant attacks on my very existence and the existence, rights, protections, health, and safety of the population that I am so passionate about serving?
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In the state of Kentucky alone, the LGBTQIA+ community is facing another round of extremist legislation that seeks to remove the rights and protections of a population of people. There have been 11 separate pieces of legislation introduced in recent months, of which two have passed into law. One such piece of Kentucky legislation is Senate Bill 150, which was passed into law after the Governor’s veto was overridden on March 29, 2023. This legislation contains much of the agenda of former Kentucky House Bill 470, which was passed by the Kentucky House on March 13, 2023, and subsequently defeated on March 30.1 According to the Human Rights Campaign, this bill is “a sweeping gender-affirming care ban that will force medical providers to halt all forms of age-appropriate, medically necessary, and gender-affirming treatment that many young trans people currently receive.”2 This is only one example of the hundreds of pieces of legislation in various stages across the United States that seek to harm the LGBTQIA+ community.
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The Kids Aren’t Alright
In an op-ed in the Chicago Sun Times, a school social worker in the Chicago public school system argues that students can’t learn if they can’t heal from trauma.
When Children Are Abused by Both Parents
Research focuses on abuse by one parent, but a new study indicates that one in five children is maltreated by both parents, and the factors involved aren’t always predictable.
What You Can Do With an MSW
Fortune Education explores the outlook for employment in the field of social work and the range of career paths individuals can take with an advanced degree in social work.
Becoming a Correctional Social Worker
For anyone interested in a career working with incarcerated people, Forbes details the nature of the role and the requirements for entry into the field. |
Empowering Disabled Girls
Disability EmpowHer Network offers a range of programs that empower girls and young women with disabilities through mentoring and transformational learning experiences. Learn more »
Jobs and Career Guide for Social Workers
New from BestColleges is 15 Social Work Jobs & Careers for Social Workers, a comprehensive overview of opportunities in the field. It’s designed to help social workers navigate the job market and find meaningful, rewarding work that aligns with their passions and interests. Learn more » |
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