Latest news with #SocialWorkMonth
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
It's time to pay social work interns in Idaho
If we want to strengthen the social work profession and retain skilled practitioners, we must ensure students begin their careers with dignity, stability and financial fairness, write the members of Payment for Placements BSU. (Getty Images) Imagine dedicating 20 hours per week to supporting families in crisis, assisting survivors of domestic violence, or helping individuals navigate mental health challenges, all without pay. Now, imagine being required to pay tuition for the academic credits tied to this unpaid work. For both undergraduate and graduate social work students, these concepts are not imaginary, they are reality. Social work is built on justice, dignity and service, yet social work students face financial, physical and emotional hardship before they enter the workforce. Unpaid internships push students into debt, force them to juggle multiple jobs, and demand personal sacrifices. All to enter a profession already struggling with burnout and workforce shortages. If we want to strengthen the social work profession and retain skilled practitioners in Idaho, we must ensure students begin their careers with dignity, stability and financial fairness. March is Social Work Month, a time to recognize the critical role social workers play in our communities. This year's theme, 'Compassion + Action,' is a call to do more than just appreciate social workers. It's a demand to support them in tangible ways. In Idaho, the need for social workers has never been greater. Social workers address mental health crises, substance use disorders, child welfare and foster care cases, and housing instability, all of which have reached critical levels across the state. Without social work interns, many agencies would struggle to operate at full capacity, limiting services to those who need them most. Action is needed to support the next generation of social workers. Social work students provide direct services such as case management, crisis intervention and advocacy. They support students in crisis, connect families to essential resources, and even work with policymakers to improve social policies. However, these students are expected to do this vital work for free all while balancing coursework, living expenses and tuition costs. This is unsustainable, and unethical, and drives potential social workers out of the field before they even graduate. Adding insult to injury, social work students must pay tuition, often up to $3,000 per year for the internship credits required to graduate. This is on top of transportation costs, child care and other basic living expenses, making unpaid placements especially burdensome for low-income and marginalized students. Many have no choice but to take on additional debt, while others are forced to cut back on coursework or drop out altogether. While students in fields like business and engineering often receive paid internships or stipends, social work students are left to fend for themselves despite providing essential services to their communities. Idaho's social work shortages will only grow if we continue to discourage students from pursuing this vital career path. Progress toward paying social work interns is already happening. The National Association of Social Workers and the Council on Social Work Education have called for reforms to social work internships. Some universities and states have already piloted paid internship models. This proves that change is possible, but only if institutions and agencies prioritize paid placements. Universities must work with agencies to secure funding for student stipends and social service agencies should advocate for budget allocations that support paid student placements. A profession built on social justice and advocacy must practice what it preaches. Paying social work students for their essential contributions is not just fair, it is necessary for sustaining practitioners and helping Idaho's communities thrive. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Owensboro City Commission agenda, April 18, 2025
At its meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, the Owensboro City Commission will consider the following: • Proclaim 'Social Work Month.' • Recognize the retirement of Shenna Adamic, Telecommunicator. • Receive the Owensboro Fire Department's annual report. • Receive a City of Owensboro website update. • Review city projects. • Consider board appointments. • Consider approving on second reading an ordinance adopting text amendments to he Metropolitan Zoning Ordinance, specially regarding revisions to Article 18. The revisions pertain to definitions of substantial improvement to existing structures and standards for manufactured homes and recreational vehicles. • Consider approving a municipal order to apply for $11.465 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and authorizing the funds be distributed to Owensboro Grain Holding Co. Inc. to construct a river wall, to ensure the continued stability of the company's facilities. Owensboro Grain will be entirely responsible for the 25% matching funds for the project. • Consider directing the mayor to apply for a $64,985 grant through the state Office of Homeland Security for firearms and sights for the Police Department. • Consider directing the mayor to apply for a $64,985 grant through the state Office of Homeland Security $51,227 to purchase ammunition for patrol rifles and pistols for the Police Department. • Receive the financial report for the period ending Feb. 28, 2025. {div}• Consider new hires and promotions. {/div} • Consider going into closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(b), for discussion on future acquisition or sale of property.
