NASW Statement on Sen. Edward Kennedy's Death
from NASW
The National Association of Social Workers is deeply saddened by the death of United States Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who after a year-long battle with brain cancer, died this week. Sen. Kennedy has been a champion for many social policies of significance to social workers and their clients throughout his tenure in the Senate of more than 40 years. More

2009 Conference – the Unique Blend of Workshops
from NASW IL
The 70 regular workshops and eight intensive workshops offered at next week’s NASW IL Statewide Conference have been in the planning stages for several months. Much earlier this year, our Conference Committee Conference assessed, reviewed, and categorized the high level presentation submissions that are now being offered at the conference. Over the past decade, the Illinois Chapter has really prided itself on its workshop offerings from social work academics and researchers, as well as practitioners – a very good blend of the two. We have also added a new feature to this conference; the books of many of our presenters will available for sale at our bookstore in the Exhibit Hall. More

Social Security Struggles with Disability Backlog
from NPR
When someone gets sick or disabled and can no longer work, they can turn to Social Security and ask for disability benefits. For David Richards, it would pay him about $1,000 a month. Richards, Stage 3 colon cancer, continues to wait for his disability benefits. More

Illinois Governor Urged to Address 'Human Rights Crisis' at Tamms Prison
from The Belleville News-Democrat
Legislators, mental health, legal experts and clergy are urging Gov. Pat Quinn to address what they described as a "human rights crisis" at the state's only supermax prison, Tamms Correctional Center. Leaders of faith-based, community and civic organizations and state legislators have signed a letter to Quinn, asking the governor to intervene in the operation of the prison. The letter follows a News-Democrat investigative series – Trapped in Tamms – which ran earlier this month and outlines conditions, including that the prison has held some inmates in solitary confinement for more than 10 years. More

Hard Working: When Unemployment Benefits Run Out
from Chicago Public Radio
The unemployment rate in the Chicago area in July was 10.7 percent, higher than the national average. For many people, the search for work started months and months ago. As of last month, a third of job seekers in the country have been out of work for more than half a year. More

Divorce Survival
from The Chicago Tribune
Personal problems such as divorce or a troubled marriage often become so overwhelming that they threaten to sabotage all aspects of one's life, including career. During this challenging time, it becomes especially important to exercise as much "damage control" as possible. To maintain your professional life despite your personal problems, you'll need to prioritize at work in ways you might not have done in the past. More

Study: Parents of Children in Intensive Care Can Develop Acute Stress Disorder
from The Houston Chronicle
A groundbreaking study from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that parents with children in neonatal intensive care often develop symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder — more commonly considered an after-war diagnosis. In a small sample of 18 parents, researchers found that the trauma of having an infant hospitalized left 33 percent of fathers and 9 percent of mothers with symptoms akin to PTSD. Fathers showed a more delayed onset of symptoms, but by the fourth month with a child in intensive care, they were at even greater risk than mothers. More

The Voices of Narcolepsy
from The New York Times
In the latest New York Times' "Patient Voices" feature focuses on narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that can lead to sudden “sleep attacks” during any type of activity at any time of the day. But as you’ll learn listening to the stories in Patient Voices: Narcolepsy, created by Web producer Karen Barrow and contributor Sarah Arnquist, having the disorder isn’t just about nodding off occasionally. More

Report Looks at Sexual Curiosity in Children
from The Chicago Tribune
More than half of all children will engage in some kind of sexual behavior before their 13th birthday -- a statistic that can make even the most laid-back parent squirm. So, how do you tell the difference between an innocent "I'll-show-you-mine-if-you-show-me-yours" game and something more ominous? A new clinical report being published in Pediatrics offers moms and dads some guidance. More

Dispelling the Link between Mental Illness and Violence
from The Star-Ledger
The recent tragedy in Morris Township, N.J., in which Jenny Erazo-Rodriguez allegedly killed one of her daughters and attempted to harm her other daughter and herself truly touches the heart of our community. At the same time, we cannot let this incident give rise to the negative stereotypes and myths that are too often associated with mental illness. According to a 2003 report from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 61 percent of Americans think that people with mental illness are likely to be dangerous to others. More