U.S. Senator Mikulski Reintroduces Social Work Reinvestment Act to Honor Dr. Dorothy I. Height
from the National Association of Social Workers
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, introduced legislation that will strengthen the nation's workforce of more than half a million professional social workers. The goal of S. 686 is to ensure access to a range of critical social work services provided in hospitals, schools, clinics, agencies, the military, and in private businesses. The bill is named in part for Dr. Dorothy I. Height, one of the key architects of the civil rights movement and a distinguished social work pioneer. More

Winding Up Social Work Month 2009
from NASW IL
I spent the day in Bloomington, Ill., on Wednesday for the East Central District's Social Work Day event, "Understanding Mental Illness in Children: Recognition, Impact and Intervention," which was sponsored in part by the NASW IL, the Kirk Haney Fund, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois and the School of Social Work at Illinois State University. Opening up the event, Candi Gray, East Central District, Kathy Wehrmann, Chapter President and I presented the 2009 District Awards to two highly respected and thought of professionals in the Bloomington-Normal area. More

Social Worker Bill Passes
from Central Illinois Proud
A bill, sponsored by Peoria Senator Dave Koehler, to protect school social workers, counselors and psychologists passed the Illinois Senate Thursday and was sent to the Illinois House for consideration. The bill prohibits schools from punishing or discriminating against social workers and others who refuse to share privileged or confidential student information. Koehler says those workers should never be forced to choose between their professional ethics and their jobs. More

Alzheimer's Cases Growing
from The Chicago Sun-Times
Every 70 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease, according to a report from the Alzheimer's Association that estimates 5.1 million Americans over 65 now have the disease and says the number is creeping higher year after year. The report indicates that about 2.7 million people over 85 have the disease, but, by the time the first wave of baby boomers reaches 85 in 2031, an estimated 3.5 million people that age and older will have Alzheimer's. More

Chicago Parents in Crisis: Extended Child Care Proves a Godsend
from The Chicago Tribune
In a desperate but loving attempt to get their lives on track, Samer and Yvette Assaf handed their children to strangers nine days ago. The overwhelmed young couple—both 19—plan to spend two months saving money from their retail jobs, moving into an apartment and buying a car. Then they will return for their children. In the meantime Baylee, 2, and Julian, 2 months, will live with different families in Des Plaines who volunteer with Safe Families for Children, a rapidly growing non-profit. The network places children with host families while their parents try to mend their broken lives. More

Teen pregnancy: Chicago Group Helps Young Mothers Get Past 'Bump in the Road'
from The Chicago Sun-Times
It would have been so easy to write off Cinthia Salas as just another grim statistic. Pregnant at 14, she was at risk for everything from poverty to losing a child to "the system." Instead, the Southwest Side teen is poised to graduate from Curie High School in June—the first person in her family to do so. Salas was able to reach this major milestone thanks in part to a teen pregnancy prevention organization that aims a simple message at young mothers: Finish high school, be a good mom and don't get pregnant again. More

Child Suicides: Recent Suicides Put Spotlight on Preventing Tragedies
from The Chicago Tribune
Once considered taboo, childhood suicide and depression are being talked about with increasing candor, a social movement that became especially relevant last month when three Illinois children—a 10-year-old and two 11-year-olds—took their own lives in succession. The three suicides were unrelated, but prompted calls from experts and legislators to examine the toll not only on their families, but entire communities, as they push for new and earlier interventions to avoid tragedy. More

A General's Personal Battle
from The Wall Street Journal
Maj. Gen. Mark Graham is on the frontlines of the Army's struggle to stop its soldiers from killing themselves. Through a series of novel experiments, the 32-year military veteran has turned his sprawling base here into a suicide-prevention laboratory. One reason: Fort Carson has seen nine suicides in the past 15 months. Another: Six years ago, a 21-year-old ROTC cadet at the University of Kentucky killed himself in the apartment he shared with his brother and sister. He was Kevin Graham, Gen. Graham's youngest son. More

Group Addresses Question of Health Disparities
from WSL-TV
A call to action was issued from African American and Latino groups over what they called alarming health disparities affecting their communities. The collaborative group called Communities United Against Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, says African Americans and Latinos suffer higher instances of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, obesity and mental health ailments. Social and public health experts from those communities say the disparities need to be recognized as an epidemic. More

Missouri System Treats Juvenile Offenders with Lighter Hand
from The New York Times
VonErrick celebrated his 14th birthday last year by committing a daylight carjacking, beating the driver to the ground. With a long record of truancy, assault, and breaking and entering, he was sent to a state group home — the same home that his two older brothers passed through after their own scrapes with the law. Both of those brothers are out now. Tory, 16, has A grades and plans to attend college. Terry, 20, has a job and has had a clean record for four years. VonErrick was recently released and immediately started high school. More