Hello --
The year 2022 is around the corner, and it is time to present The New Social Worker’s annual “wrap-up.” What a year!
As of December 22, 2021, The New Social Worker's website received 2,010,971 page views this year. What have all of these
social workers been reading over the past 12 months? Let's take a look
at The New Social Worker's most popular articles from 2021.
This year’s top articles list is a bit different from those in
past years. I am listing the top newly-published article for each month
of 2021, based on the number of online page views. The listed articles
represent what you, our social work readers, have been reading during
this year of continued uncertainty and change.
Top Articles Published in 2021 by The New Social Worker Magazine, Month by Month
So, here are the most popular articles (based
on number of online page views) of those we published in 2021. Read them
for yourself, if you missed them! They are:
Overall Top New Article for 2021
Ethics Alive! Special Report on 2021 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics, by Dr. Allan Barsky. This article, part of the Ethics Alive! series, provides an overview of additions to the Code of Ethics that went into effect June 1, 2021. In these additions to the NASW Code of Ethics,
self-care has been added as paramount for competent, ethical social
work practice. Also, social workers must take action against oppression,
racism, discrimination, and inequities, and acknowledge privilege. This is a must-read for every social worker.
January 2021: Performative Allyship
Are You a Social Worker Guilty of Performative Allyship for Black Lives Matter? by Dr. Maxine Davis and Dr. LaShawnda Fields. This article asks what
you can do with anti-Black racism in your inner circles (personal and
professional). “...it isn’t sufficient to ‘agree to disagree,’
deciding not to discuss racial oppression for the sake of comfort. If
one is truly a vessel for change in the liberation of Black people, then
it does not come without cost.” Several suggestions are made, such as
citing Black authors.
February 2021: Rare Disease Day
Listen to the Zebras: Celebrating Rare Disease Day,
by Angela Pokorny. Rare Disease Day occurs on the last day of February.
The zebra is a symbol for rare diseases, because the zebra is the rare
animal that may not be expected or recognized. Angela Pokorny wrote
about her experience as someone with a rare disease.
March 2021: Social Worker Awareness of Racism
April 2021: Cultural Humility
What Is Cultural Humility? 3 Principles for Social Workers, by Dr. Mara Gottlieb. Gottlieb wrote about the differences between
cultural competence and cultural humility. “One aspect of cultural
humility is the notion of being teachable, that in order to practice
with the greatest amount of respect, I need to be open to the
possibility that what I thought was true or right might not be the whole
story.”
May 2021: Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics, Mothers & Self-Care
June 2021: Self-Care and Social Work Ethics
July 2021: Financial Makeovers for Social Workers
August 2021: Simone Biles’ Self-Care
Simone Biles Is a Self-Care Champion. You Can Be, Too,
by Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens. Earlier this month, Simone Biles was named
TIME magazine's 2021 Athlete of the Year. Erlene wrote in this August
post, “I don’t know much about gymnastics. But, I know a lot about
self-care, and I recognize a champion when I see one. In extricating
herself from Olympics competition, Simone Biles offers a self-care
exemplar. Although exceptional in its high profile, we all can emulate
her example.”
September 2021: Self-Care Awareness Month & DSW Degrees
Is the DSW Degree a Good Fit for You? by Dr. Laura Escobar-Ratliff. DSW degree programs are on the rise
across the U.S. This surge in DSW programs and the launching of the
accreditation process by CSWE may cause many to wonder: Why is the DSW
needed? How is it different from the PhD? What impact will this degree
have?
October 2021: MAID Netflix Review
November 2021: Morning Routines for Social Workers
7 Powerful Morning Routine Starters for Social Workers,
by Cassandra Martin-Himmons. “Your job is never done as a social
worker. It can be gratifying, but also stressful. One way to manage
job-related stress is by starting your day positively, which you can
achieve through a morning routine.”
December 2021: BRUISED Netflix Review
In Defense of Halle Berry’s “Bruised”—A Film Gift to Social Work and Our Clients, by SaraKay Smullens. This story of a fighter received negative reviews in the general media. SaraKay disagrees. “ Bruised is not a film depicting success in the violent, life-threatening
martial arts arena, or being destroyed by it. Instead, it is a family
drama about surviving in the violent, unjust, and terrifying arena of
life.”
Editor’s Picks/Hidden Gems
I have chosen one additional article from each issue in 2020 to share with you. And they are...
Also in 2021...
SaraKay Smullens continued to write film/TV reviews and commentary on some of this
year's most popular shows, from a social work perspective. Her recent
reviews reflect continuing popularity of streaming services as the
COVID-19 pandemic continues, as well as a trend toward popularity of
movies on social issues.
This year, we began a new column, Vision. Intention. Strategy. Your Social Work Mentor, with Dr. Veronica Hardy. This popular online column combines writing and video to provide tips on life and workplace issues for social workers.
Thank you to our 2021 magazine columnists:
Click on their names to check out their offerings!
I want to especially thank Stephen Cummings and Barbara Trainin
Blank. Stephen wrote the Social Work Tech Notes column for four years,
from Winter 2018 through Fall 2021. Barbara wrote the Student Role Model
column from very early in our publishing history (mid-1990s) until Fall
2021. Thank you so much, Stephen and Barbara!
Looking Forward to 2022
With the start of 2022, The New Social Worker is making some big changes, which were announced in our Fall 2021
issue. The biggest change is that we are no longer publishing in the
traditional 8.5 x 11 magazine format (PDF and print). All articles will
be published on our website only! (This actually already started in the
last quarter of 2021.) Each article will be tagged with the month and
year, so you can click on the tag to find other recent articles.
With this change, we will make some changes to our e-newsletter.
The former e-news and magazine mailings will be combined into one
mailing, sent out 1-2 times per month. We also plan to make available
specialized e-mails based on your interests, such as ethics, careers,
self-care, and technology. Look for more information on this later!
In 2022, we are renewing our emphasis on social work careers and
career development. With that emphasis in mind, we introduce an
inspiring new video series by Your Social Work Career Coach Jennifer Luna!
I cannot wait for you to see her first video. This series will feature
interviews that center on social work careers and career development. We
are so fortunate to have Jennifer's expertise in this area.
Finally, and with great anticipation, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Gina Griffin is joining us to write a technology column called Social Work Tech
Talk! Gina will be writing about useful apps for social workers, among
other tech-y topics. Watch for Gina's first column early in the year.
I'm excited! See you in 2022.
Warmly and with appreciation,
Linda
Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW Publisher/Editor
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