“Mindfulness” is a term we hear constantly as a means to live a more fulfilled, less stressful, and more joy-filled life. It is often talked about as a tool to use in social work practice as well as an effective self-care technique. What is mindfulness? While we know that it is popular in practice, what does the term “mindfulness” really mean? Is it a self-help technique? Is it a form of meditation? Is it a state of being? Is it an intellectual understanding?...
Social Work Content
On August 9th, 2014, Michael Brown, an 18-year-old Black man was fatally shot by a 28-year-old White police officer named Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. While the circumstances of the altercation itself remain disputed, Brown’s tragic death sparked significant civil unrest, protests, and a greater dialogue about police brutality and racial discrimination throughout the United States...
Dana Grossman Leeman, M.S.W., Ph.D., is an associate professor of practice and the program director for SocialWork@Simmons. After earning her M.S.W. at the Boston University School of Social Work, she worked mainly in mental health settings. She began teaching at Simmons School of Social Work in 1996 and earned her Ph.D. from Simmons in 2004...
Social work requires a diverse and demanding range of professional, emotional, and cognitive skills. While many people who become social workers have a natural aptitude for these skills, it is essential to hone them throughout one’s career. In fact, becoming a life-long learner is an ethical requirement of professional social workers. While there is no definitive list, here are a few qualities and skills required to be a social worker...