How to get quality sleep amid constant stress | Social worker's company focuses on empowerment | Report: Utah caseworkers need much better compensation
Stress from the pandemic and current events may prevent some people from letting their minds relax and getting quality sleep, which is an important piece of maintaining mental health, experts say. Licensed clinical social worker Karen Hoffman recommends limiting screen time before bed and engaging in activities such as reading or watching an uplifting movie.
Social worker Fatima Smith used her art background to create clothing for people of color after struggling to find clothes with empowering messages for her child. She partnered with her father to form Color & Culture, and a portion of the organization's proceeds benefit local causes.
A report from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's administration shows that caseworkers at the state's Department of Human Services are working additional jobs, while others require government assistance, to meet their financial needs. Cox's budget proposal includes wage increases for state employees, and the administration has acknowledged that Utah's wage for social service workers is challenging recruitment and retention efforts.
Corinna Dewar's health conditions have kept her at home over the past year, but that hasn't stopped her from connecting with people in the community and giving back to others. Dewar, a former social worker, mailed holiday-themed care packages with sanitizing products this past holiday season and enlisted her husband to distribute some locally, and in previous seasons she would drop off homemade cookies to neighbors.
Final weekly figures released by the CMS show around 8.3 million people signed up for coverage through the federal exchange during the 2021 open enrollment period, almost the same as the enrollment numbers a year before, despite the transition of New Jersey and Pennsylvania into state-based exchanges. Data showed plan selections climbed 7% from 2020, despite a drop in new consumers.
The US Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit has ruled against the establishment of a supervised drug-injection site in Philadelphia, holding that the proposed project would run afoul of the Controlled Substances Act and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Judge Stephanos Bibas wrote that "Congress has made it a crime to open a property to others to use drugs," but Judge Jane Roth dissented, writing that the decision could result in "excessively broad criminal liability."
The new year doesn't wipe away ongoing challenges, so leaders must continue to be resilient, compassionate, consistent and encouraging to help employees be inspired and motivated, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni. "Leaders who train their eyes to find and celebrate the positive inspire the same in those around them," she writes.
Stress doesn't have to be inevitable for hard-driving career-minded people, particularly if you build calm into your routines, exercise regularly and sleep enough, writes Larry Cornett. "It is not a weakness to admit that you need personal time to take your stress levels down a notch," he writes.
NASW's Social Work Talks podcast talked with NASW member and author George Anderson about what is emotional intelligence and why it is important social workers hone this skill. Learn more.
NASW has added automatic renewal to your options for paying your membership dues. You now can set your NASW membership to renew automatically each year on your renewal date--and it's easy to do. Automatic renewal of your membership dues is convenient, reliable, and secure. You'll be able to make changes anytime, including to update your credit card information, change your selected contributions and subscriptions, or unenroll. 3 Ways to Enroll in Automatic Renewal:
ONLINE. Log in to your NASW member account by visiting this link. Click the Auto Renewal tab.
PHONE. Call Member Services at 800.742.4089 M-F 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET.
MAIL. Check the "Auto Renew" box on your annual Membership Renewal print invoice.
