Social Work has evolved in recent years, and the landscape continues to change. Licensure dipped in 2020–2021 due to the pandemic but rebounded strongly in 2022. Employers’ demand for licensure is increasing in both public and private sectors. The landscape shows that the profession is more diverse than prior to 2019 but also more divided, with an ongoing lack of consensus around professional identity being a key challenge.
One of my patients recently informed me that November is the National Month of Gratitude. This makes sense given the date of our Thanksgiving Holiday. It reminded me of some basic mannerisms and courtesies associated with general civility but also within the context of professional social work. Patients often express gratitude for the care they receive at my clinic. Their topics of discussion are typically too delicate to share with family and friends. Many feel socially isolated or disenfranchised to openly discuss such sensitive and personal matters. Similarly, I try to remain grateful to my patients for inviting me to discuss their private thoughts and feelings.
Best Practices in Mental Health is a premier, peer-reviewed journal that represents the highest quality scholarship in the field of mental health. With a comfortable format and a broad scope, BMPH is an excellent resource that provides an interdisciplinary and evidence-based focus for its audience of mental health educators and practitioners. Editor Daphne Cain is at the helm of curating new research from recognized experts on established best practices and from leaders in emerging best practices. The hand-picked editorial board ensures the journal keeps with National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) priority to promote the integration of technology, replicate and improve promising practices, and continue to provide diverse and enlightening perspectives that allow readers to remain engaged with the best research available in the mental health field.
This year has been very busy for the ABCSW - from the change of traditional management to association management, a new name, on-boarding new board members, a change in leadership, an updated strategic plan, the creation of new committees and a new website - all in the midst of a pandemic, election year and social justice movements. The ongoing work to support Clinical Social Work continues to make us proud to be part of this amazing FAMILY.
The American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW) is united with the voices being raised across America who are demonstrating and demanding an end to institutionalized racism in all its forms. We are committed to uphold the dignity, human rights and freedom of all individuals without regard to their race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or religious beliefs.
The American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW) prides itself on being a close organization of clinical social workers who support each other through everything, especially during a time like this. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has impacted us in every aspect of our lives – professionally, personally, financially and mentally. We empathize with you as all of us go through this together.
