Today a social work colleague asked me how I find my community-based work with individuals experiencing chronic homelessness to be “sustainable.” The question was not about caseload… Read more “Success”
Tag: social work
Ya Burnt Up or You’re Burned Out
Early in my social work career I had a client who loved to tell me I was ‘burnt up’, a colloquialism indicating disbelief or disagreement. Each time… Read more “Ya Burnt Up or You’re Burned Out”
dear social worker
You, dear social worker, you are incredible. I do not know you, but I know this is true. I know that you live a life dedicated to… Read more “dear social worker”
drugs and bugs and weapons (oh my)
“Did you see that gun?” my colleague asked me as we left the home of our shared client. I had indeed seen the gun. I also saw… Read more “drugs and bugs and weapons (oh my)”
More Similar Than Different
Check out The Banshee as published in Youth Today, “the only independent, nationally distributed print and digital newspaper that is read by thousands of professionals in the youth service… Read more “More Similar Than Different”
Occupational Hazard
Last night I sat on my bedroom floor, not yet ready to crawl into bed. I listened to “No Hard Feelings” by The Avett Brothers more times… Read more “Occupational Hazard”
To My Faithful Followers
To My Faithful Followers- Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of my first public blog post on “Confessions of a Banshee.” Consequently it also marks the one… Read more “To My Faithful Followers”
What Else It Really Means to be a Social Worker
Want ignorant assumptions, inauthentic praise or unwitting pity from others? Just tell them that you are a social worker. “Oh, so you like fix people?” “How noble… Read more “What Else It Really Means to be a Social Worker”
The Time I Got Chlamydia
Once upon a time, I got chlamydia. I was in Venezia, Italia and it was my 23rd birthday. My boyfriend back home (a grocery store butcher) had… Read more “The Time I Got Chlamydia”
Self-Determined to Self-Destruct
It is no secret and no surprise that social work is a tough profession. Social workers are notoriously overworked, overstressed, underpaid, and underappreciated. Social workers are graceful… Read more “Self-Determined to Self-Destruct”