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May 2016 Connect with us   Sign up  |  Archive  |  Advertise

Today’s job seekers often look for benefits beyond good salary and health insurance, including job flexibility, the assurance that the organization they are working for has a sense of purpose and social responsibility, and perhaps most important, the opportunity for personal and professional development. However, professional development cannot happen when employees don’t stay long enough to establish roots. Turnover, especially in social services, is an issue explored in this month’s E-News Exclusive—what is driving it, and some possible solutions. Read about why professional development may not be happening in many social service organizations as much as potential employees would like and why turnover is a factor affecting it. We welcome your comments at SWTeditor@gvpub.com. Visit our website at www.SocialWorkToday.com, like our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter. — Marianne Mallon, editor Turnover Stymies Professional Development By Sue Coyle, MSW Turnover—the rate at which employees leave and are replaced at an organization—is an aspect of business with deep impact, particularly in the social work field. For one, it can negatively affect the services clients are offered, seek, and engage in. “In order to help more children, families, and young people in more locations, we are constantly looking to hire, train, and retain quality staff. We also promote mostly from within and need to bring on new frontline staff as others move to management positions,” says Kristen Farmer, recruiting manager at Youth Villages, a private nonprofit that works to help emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families. “The therapeutic relationships built between counselors and children and families are vital to our ability to provide effective services, and turnover directly impacts that.” It also affects an employee’s access to professional development. As Farmer notes, Youth Villages and many organizations like it attempt to promote from within when possible and appropriate. “We’re constantly preparing the next generation of leaders,” she says. “We strive to give entry-level employees the support and structure they need to grow into leadership positions.” This, however, is impossible if entry-level employees don’t stay long enough to benefit and if managers are stretched thin by openings. “Our leadership team picks up the slack if there’s a gap in frontline staff,” Farmer adds. “That affects how much time they can give to supporting the people they supervise. It can affect the amount of professional development that goes on when staff is in transition.” Full Story »   Turnover Stymies Professional Development Fighting Youth Sex Trafficking Trends in Macro Social Work Education Integrating Behavioral and Primary Health Care: Technology and Collaboration Grief in the Workplace: When It’s Not Business as Usual World Bank and World Health Organization Prioritize Mental Health Social Media Users Posting Their Whole Selves, Not Only Their Happy Selves US Suicide Rates Rise Especially Among Adolescent Girls Living Near Green Spaces May Lower Mortality Risk Tech & Tools New Study Adds Key Piece to Autism Spectrum Disorder Puzzle The use of eye-tracking technology found that children with autism spectrum disorder would focus on a speaker’s mouth rather than their eyes during emotional conversations. Learn more » 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! Clinical Social Worker—Full Time Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, MA Licensed Mental Health Professional, PLMSW, LMSW, LCSW Mid-South Health Systems, Arkansas

Fighting Youth Sex Trafficking Secrecy and poor research funding limit understanding of this problem, but social workers can learn to identify, engage with, and advocate for its victims. Read more » Trends in Macro Social Work Education While micro practice has been dominant for years, macro social work practice is regaining ground, and it couldn’t be happening at a better time. Read more » Integrating Behavioral and Primary Health Care: Technology and Collaboration Connecting behavioral and primary health care systems has been advanced by technology for more holistic patient care. Read more » Grief in the Workplace: When It’s Not Business as Usual When a loss occurs, our lives are interrupted, but we eventually return to our routines, and for many of us that includes work. Read more » World Bank and World Health Organization Prioritize Mental Health The New York Times reports that the World Bank and the World Health Organization are convening hundreds of doctors, aid groups, and government officials to start an initiative to move mental health to the forefront of the international development agenda. Social Media Users Posting Whole Selves, Not Only Happy Selves According to CNN, social media experts point to a trend among some users of sharing the whole picture of their lives, even mental health issues. US Suicide Rates Rise Especially Among Adolescent Girls NPR reports that after decreasing almost steadily since 1986, the suicide rate has risen by one quarter, to 13 per 100,000 people in 2014 from 10.5 in 1999, with a spike among adolescent girls. Living Near Green Spaces May Lower Mortality Risk According to The Washington Post, a recent study found that people who live in “greener” areas, with more vegetation around, have a lower risk of mortality. The health benefits are likely attributable to factors such as improved mental health, social engagement, and physical activity that come with living near green spaces. 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 already have taken advantage of this great program. Simply read an issue of the magazine and 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!   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. 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! Coming up in our September/October 2016 issue is our Education Spotlight. E-mail a sales representative to be part of this unique advertising opportunity. 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!