How Social Workers Can Keep Hope During Tumultuous Times
If you’d asked social workers two months ago, I don’t think many would have predicted the state that we would be in today. Social workers often serve the most vulnerable populations, so when rights are removed and people’s livelihoods are threatened, social workers intimately feel the effects. Whether they’re working with clients who are immigrants, […]
Building Rapport with Tough Clients
There are plenty of social work interventions, but the worker-client relationship is the foundation for nearly all of them. Social workers must learn therefore how to navigate all types of client relationships and how to build rapport with the most easygoing clients to the toughest. Common Challenges with Tough Clients When I worked in community […]
Home Visiting as a Rite of Passage: The Benefits of Starting as a Home Visitor
Social workers gain experience in a variety of settings over the course of their career but home visiting is often our first stop, a collective initiation into the “real world” way of social work. And with good reason—home visiting offers those at the beginning of their career a rich introduction to both the art and […]
Best Practices for Training Staff on CPT Code Documentation
Accurate CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code documentation is critical in social services organizations and healthcare settings. Social workers who interface with billing or case management tasks often rely on correct coding to secure reimbursements, avoid legal risk, and support quality care. Proper CPT code training will help staff members understand the nuances of these codes […]
Effective Strategies for Community Engagement With Native American Populations
In tribal social work, engaging Native American communities requires cultural humility, historical awareness, and a commitment to equitable collaboration. As a social worker, you face unique challenges when partnering with tribal populations, including systemic disparities, historical trauma, and the legacy of colonial practices. Your role isn’t to “fix” tribal communities but to empower them through […]
Understanding the Cost of Community Services: A Breakdown for Nonprofits
Managing community services requires more than compassion and strategic vision. It also demands a thorough understanding of the cost of community services. An accurate breakdown of expenses ensures that community services remain impactful, transparent, and sustainable over time. Still, many find it daunting to itemize direct program costs, overhead, and any hidden fees that might […]
How to Measure the Success of Transitional Housing Programs
Transitional housing programs provide temporary accommodation and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. These services typically last for 6-24 months while the individuals work toward securing permanent housing and greater self-sufficiency. There’s no denying that transitional housing programs are critical in solving homelessness. But just understanding what is a transitional housing program […]
Simple Ways to Increase Continuing Education for Your Organization
We’re still fresh into the new year, which means that it’s a perfect time to start thinking about continuing education. Organizational learning should be a year-round endeavor, but many human service organizations find themselves falling short of their continuing education goals. I’m going to share with you some common obstacles to continuing education in human […]
Celebrating Social Work Month: Stories From the Field
Social Work Month is an occasion to spotlight the tireless efforts of social work professionals who dedicate their lives to empowering individuals, families, and communities. As we honor this year’s theme, “Social Work: Compassion + Action,” we celebrate not just the profession but also the human stories that define its impact. These narratives remind us […]
Rethinking Casenotes: How Casenotes Can Save A Life: A Case Example
It’s no secret that casenotes are not at the top of social workers’ favorites list. Documentation in social work requires timely and thorough casenotes which, at times, may seem like an obstacle to social workers’ direct work with clients. It’s not uncommon therefore for workers to question the value of casenotes and seasoned peers might […]