Welcome to the Student Ambassador Blog!

Welcome to the Student Ambassador Blog!  This blog was created by current student Ambassadors of the UNC School of Social Work MSW programs for people like you: Prospective students interested in getting a glimpse of our Master of Social Work program from the student angle.  Feel free to contact Student Ambassadors if you want to learn more!

Sawubona! South Africa Travels.

Tomorrow marks the start of The School of Social Work’s 8^th study abroad tour in South Africa. Students from UNC, as well as visitors from other schools of social work across the country, will be joining clinical assistant professors Sharon Thomas and Dan Hudgins, as well as assistant professor Dr. Gina Chowa on a two week trip to both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Having grown up in Cape Town, South Africa, I can attest to the fact that for many of these students, this trip will be one of the most significant and inspiring journeys of their lives. South Africa is a land prime for examining social issues, development strategies, and health programs. The country is still in the midst of forming new social and economic systems, and participants will have the opportunity to visit significant governmental, non-governmental, neighborhood and community grassroots organizations, examining how the country responds to many of its social issues. Visits to local townships and cultural and tourist landmarks are some of the highlights of the trip, as students will interact with local peoples and gain a better understanding of life in post-Apartheid South Africa, including the continuous struggle with issues such as HIV/AIDS, political transitions, and racial and cultural clashes. South Africa also lends itself to an abundance of some of the most exotic animals on Earth, and I will be willing to bet that feeding giraffes, walking beside penguins, and seeing lions hunt will be experiences the participants will talk about for years to come. So I wish them all good luck, and I cannot wait to hear about their journey and the self-discovery that takes place along the way.

Until then, Totsiens ( Afrikaans for good bye).

Social Work Research (not so scary!)

As an incoming first year MSW student I often felt lost in the introductory research course. Other students were well-versed in qualitative and quantitative data analyses while I was second guessed myself at every turn. Although I preserved through the foundation research course, I left the course feeling like an inadequate social work researcher. An opportunity presented itself to work with the Associate Dean over the summer as a Research Assistant, so I jumped on board! Working as an ‘RA’ was an invaluable experience and has forever changed my opinion and interest in social work research!

Working as an RA has provided me with pragmatic and useful exposure to research. Working with the Dean led to another research opportunity to work as an RA during my second year. There is a distinct difference between learning about literature reviews and writing a literature review. Furthermore, there is much more value in writing research questions and analyzing data than learning about it in a classroom. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Susan Snyder this past academic year to co-author at least one, hopefully two, manuscripts for publication. Working with Dr. Snyder has opened my eyes to the possibility of continuing my work in research.

Trust me- I was never the research guru. Math has always scared me. I am a macro student, but I enjoy working with clients and consumers. Please allow me to dispel the misnomer that working in research means no personal interactions, days spent behind computers, and crunching numbers. While yes, there is some of that, I have had plenty of ‘micro’ social work opportunities while conducting research. I urge all incoming students, and current first year students, to consider applying for RA positions! It is well worth your while! 

Spring Fever

Despite being stressed out from school, the gorgeous spring weather was much needed to pick my spirits up. The campus is really beautiful and another reason why I love it here. I couldn’t help but take some pictures of the blooms today while I was out to grab lunch.

In other news, UNC’s men basketball team is in the NCAA tournament with a #1 seed. March Madness is upon us. Go Heels!

Social Media and the Social Work Professional

• What do you do when one of your clients stalks you on Facebook?
• Or, what if someone you conversed with in a blog discussion reposts your comments out of context and in an unprofessional light?
• What happens if another professional dealing with a crisis texts you requesting you reply with sensitive client information you know is protected by HIPAA?

These are just a few of the complex questions that face healthcare professionals more and more frequently.  According to the 2011 UNC -School of Social Work Field Education Program Manual (SSW-FEPM), social work students and professionals are bound to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics in their professional and personal lives. As stated in the SSW-FEPM, “We must be cognizant that the legal, ethical and clinical responsibilities we have as professionals does not cease when we leave the agency nor is it confined to the physical setting of an office”. Nowhere are these boundaries more in a constant state of flux than when using social media. With every new iteration of social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter; with each new cell phone upgrade; or with any installation of a new software application the corresponding privacy settings and protocols evolve as well. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, (2008), regardless of what the social media developers and promoters might suggest is appropriate, ultimately it is the responsibility of the social work professional to adhere to this code (Section 1.06) and take all necessary precautions to avoid conflicts of interest, set and maintain appropriate professional limits, and avoid dual relationships which have the potential to blur boundaries between themselves, their clients, their agency and their co-workers. While these might not seem to be safety issues at first, failuer to manage social media relationships and maintain appropriate security, privacy and confidentiality settings, puts social work professionals, their clients and their employers at risk for intrusion and infringement of their rights (Section 1.07).

In their timely article on professionalism and online social networking, Guseh, Brendel, and Brendel (2009), point out that today’s health professionals mush also be vigilant when utilizing learning forums, online mentoring, and blogs that discuss and disseminate sensitive information. Conducting business and conversations under the assumption that others understand, maintain, and practice appropriate safety and propriety precautions can lead to a serious compromise of the privacy and confidentiality of all involved parties and the implications can be global.

Online networking, learning and enterprise are growing more popular each year and expected to continue be the primary way of interacting personally and professionally the future. With the rapid evolution of technology, the implications for safeguarding the privacy and dignity of social work and mental and behavioral health professionals, as well as those they serve, will demand constant vigilance.

References

Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (2008) Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

Guseh J.S., II, Brendel R. W., & Brendel D. H. (2009). Medical professionalism in the age of social networking. Journal of Medical Ethics, 35, 584–586. doi: 10.1136/jme.2009.029231

UNC School of Social Work Field Education Program Manual (2011) Retrieved from http://ssw.unc.edu/programs/masters/fieldeducation

Spring into Spring

Flowers like these are all over my neighborhood, although my dogs wouldn't stand still long enough for me to take a picture (source: http://thecav.edublogs.org/2011/04/page/2/)

The “spring ahead” time change happens tonight, and I couldn’t help but notice while walking my dogs that spring is in full bloom. Over the course of the past week the flowers have popped up, flowering trees seem to have come into full bloom overnight, and as sappy as it may sounds I feel like I have a new energy. With the days getting longer and warmer, I can’t help but feel excited about graduation and invigorated by the beautiful weather. This is my first spring in North Carolina and it is gorgeous, nothing like the long cold rainy spring days of the midwest. Although my spring-time energy may not be channeled into homework at the moment, it’s nonetheless an invigorating, beautiful, and motivating feeling that these warm days bring about.

Network, network, network!

Let me be honest: I really don’t enjoy networking. I don’t know if it’s because I’m so introverted that I can’t stand being in a noisy room with several different conversations going on at the same time. Or maybe it’s that I feel awkward in weak social bonds, ‘getting to know someone’ for a mostly self-interested motivation. But I network anyway. It’s kind of one of those rules of the road that I haven’t yet been able to figure out how to get past. And I probably won’t.

Last week I attended the Macro Networking Night provided by the UNC-SSW. While most in attendance were practicing in child welfare advocacy organizations or agencies—not really my interest—I did meet a couple of professionals who were more than encouraging. In this way, networking was sort of a sharing of solidarity. These folks have been in my shoes as students, trying to figure out how to make a living out of their interests, and trying to connect with someone who might be able to help make that happen. They said that finding a job may take time and that you have to really work hard to make yourself known and available to people who are looking for your skills.

The career I envision is hard to get into right out of school and typically isn’t something you apply for out-of-the blue. These positions aren’t posted on job boards. Especially in a sluggish economy. Many of your dream positions probably aren’t either. But they all encouraged perseverance and diligence. That was the networking that I needed as a student, to know that this isn’t a venture that you have to go upon on your own.

Baseball, yes BASEBALL, at UNC-Chapel Hill!

Not only does UNC have an outstanding mens basketball program, but we also have a pretty stellar baseball team as well! It struck me a few days ago when the temperature in late-February tipped 75 degrees (no big deal) that UNC baseball season is fast approaching! 

Last year my friends and I made a habit of attending mens baseball games. I have always been more of a football and basketball kind of girl, but college baseball is WAY more exciting than professional baseball. The team is energetic, vibrant, and fun. Not to mention they made the College World Series last spring. There are free giveaways between almost every inning! Concession stands are filled with traditional ballpark favorites. The stadium is located right on campus next to Kenan Stadium! 

You can’t beat Chapel Hill weather in the spring! Students are eligible for FREE tickets to all baseball game. Tickets are first come first serve. You can bring a non-student friend/spouse/partner/random person you met on Franklin Street for only $5! So the next time you and your friends are bored and not interested in spending another afternoon indoors check out a baseball game!