Real Life Stories
Kids & Families | Mind & Spirit | Health & Wellness | Seniors & Aging
Kids & Families
Adoption and Foster Care
“The Little Boy and His Social Worker.”In today’s Wednesday’s Child segment we meet a young man who says the foster care system may have saved his life.
Early Childhood Development
“School Feeds Needy Kids on Weekends.” Every Friday after school, fourth-grader Jeremiah Wilson bursts into the social worker’s office at Shaw Butte Elementary School to grab a backpack filled with enough food to get him through the weekend.
Family Safety
“Caseworker Turnover Hurts Agency, Families, Kids.” A year after a strike that officials say left animosity and hard feelings on both sides, Franklin County Children Services officials are raising new concerns about the agency’s trouble holding on to child welfare workers.
“Protecting Kids from Child Predators.” This latest case of alleged wrong-doing at the hands of an educator, just one of several we’ve seen in Michiana recently. They left some parents concerned and cautious about who’s in their child’s classroom.
“Remembering 143 Victims.” In the United States, the most dangerous place for a woman is in her own home.”
“Solidarity Mission Reaches Out to Embattled Israelis.” JERUSALEM — Some 500,000 Israelis who fled southward from the northern part of the country returned home last week while others left their bomb shelters following the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which formally ended the war in Lebanon.
“Out of the Shadows: Child Pornography Offenders.” As of July 1, life for those involved in child pornography in Kansas got a whole lot riskier.
“Malicious Deeds: It Doesn’t Take Physical Contact to Leave Scars.” All the popular girls in Elly Troxell’s third-grade class at Ashland Grade School took tumbling at Vickie B’s gymnastics and dance studio. And they all had the shoes to prove it.
“From Homelessness to Independent Living.” The single, middle-aged woman had moved from a shelter into a Section 8 apartment. She had one bed and one folding chair.
“Message to Victims: It’s Not Your Fault.” It’s all the same.Carlene Cox, a local licensed clinical social worker has seen it all — hundreds of children and teens and adults of both genders and many backgrounds – and she’s here to tell you it’s all the same.
“They Fear Dad’s Death. Don’t Eat or Sleep. But They Can Learn to Cope”. On the fourth floor of Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Doug Lehman counsels the littlest people affected by the war in Iraq.
“Ed Garrison’s Retirement Completes Long Devotion to Social Services.” For the Pitt County Department of Social Services, the new year will begin in a way it hasn’t since 1979. It will begin without Ed Garrison.
“Treating Trauma of Abuse Starts With Study.” Fairfield-Renee Stewart-Cox decided to be a social worker like her older brother while attending Armijo High School, but the seasoned county employee now admits she knew little then about the challenging profession.
“Keeping County Children Safe”. Renee Stewart-Cox decided to be a social worker like her older brother while attending Armijo High School, but the seasoned county employee now admits she knew little then about the challenging profession.
Healthy Parenting
“His Wish Is Their Command.” There’s a lot more to spoiling kids than simply succumbing to their material desires. Sure they may have every electronic gadget on the market, not to mention their own wheels and unfettered access to the family credit card. But as psychologist Dan Kindlon found out in a survey of upper middle-class parents and adolescents, overindulgence is not just about what parents give their teens, but how they treat them.
Schools and Communities
“School Social Worker Honored.” While enjoying an unusual break in the beauty parlor five years ago, school social worker Olivia Benford had a mysterious note placed in her hand by one of the stylists.
“Malicious Deeds: It Doesn’t Take Physical Contact to Leave Scars”. All the popular girls in Elly Troxell’s third-grade class at Ashland Grade School took tumbling at Vickie B’s gymnastics and dance studio. And they all had the shoes to prove it.
“Sleep Deprivation Affects Performance at School and Work.” When you get too little sleep on a regular basis, a condition known as sleep deprivation can occur, causing you to shortchange yourself on a very important aspect of life.
Youth Development
“It’s a Whole New Ball Game: Turning Young Lives Around.” 12-year-old Hansel Rodriguez sits in a chair in the teacher’s lounge and seems perfectly at ease talking to adults. It’s an amazing change for a young man who, only a few short years ago, refused to speak — even to his mother — hated school and fought every day with his classmates.
“Families Struggle With Time Crunch”. Standing in the back of a dance studio, Pam Gallant had a chance to breathe. For that moment, she stood still and wasn’t checking her calendar, where every day is filled with activities scrawled meticulously in blue and black ink.
“Many Gay Teens Are Coming Out Earlier at Earlier Ages.” Chris Krug had thought she was a lesbian from the time she was 8, but she felt certain after developing a serious crush on her best friend.She was in the fifth grade at the time.
“Sleep Deprivation Affects Performance at School and Work.” When you get too little sleep on a regular basis, a condition known as sleep deprivation can occur, causing you to shortchange yourself on a very important aspect of life.
“Youth Counselor Takes Team Approach.” Dawn Newsom wants to help kids. She especially hopes to help them navigate the turbulent waters of social pressure and media exposure.
“Proving a New Life Can Lead to a Life Full of Joy.”Pregnant at 15, she received a master’s at 29. In a country that claims to value the sanctity of life, it’s amazing how much scorn is still heaped upon pregnant teens who decide to keep their babies.
“It’s National Social Work Month.” Do You Know What Your Social Workers Do? I’m a social worker, mom, freelance writer, and spy— not always in that order.
“The Good Guys: Athletes Who Care.” Driven by a desire to give back to the community, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter created a foundation that assists at-risk youngsters. His efforts, along with those of his parents and sister, reap real results and make him No. 1 on TSN’s annual list of The Good Guys in pro sports.
Mind & Spirit
Addictions
“Parents Get Lessons About Meth, Other Drugs.” A postponed meeting on drug and alcohol use among high school students took on more importance last week after the recent death of a young Homer woman from a drug overdose. Even before Bethany Woodworth, 19, died last month, the Homer High School Parent Teacher Association had planned a presentation to discuss the issue.
“Full-Time Help: Portage County Jail Uses Social Workers.” In Portage County, Wisconsin, inmates have access to a full-time social worker, but many jails only have someone part-time or use Health and Human Services on an on-call basis.
“Addiction Can Have Many Causes.” Like diabetes and cancer, substance abuse and addiction are diseases, say local experts, and a reflection of a human truth that some people will always look for solace, joy, meaning or release in a pill, bottle or chemical. But substance abusers also find — and cause — a great deal of misfortune.
“Helping Problem Gamblers Become Winners at Life.” A preoccupation with gambling may cause some people to risk more than money. They may be gambling their health, happiness and their family’s welfare.
Anxiety
“Coping On Our Own.” Feeling edgy and out of sorts? Confused by your cranky mood and overreaction to criticism? Can’t talk to your therapist because he’s away, unavailable, or you’re not in therapy at the moment?
You don’t have to tough it out alone.
“Panic Attack Can Seem Like Heart Attack.” Out of the blue, Linda Hartwich feels like she is having a heart attack. The 46-year-old La Crosse area woman begins to sweat. Her heart pounds, her ears ring. She’s nauseated and feels like she’s going to pass out. She can’t function for four to six hours, and can’t work.
“Unlearning Fear of Driving.” When it’s snowing or raining, Sarah Bisconte, 46, a public relations specialist who lives and works in suburban New York, dons “a long, royal blue goose-down coat that makes me look like a cross between an astronaut and the Michelin Man,” and walks five miles a day to and from work — just as she does when the weather is nice.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
“Winston’s Problem: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Social Worker, Anise Hopkins, works with third grade student diagnosed with ADHD. From the initial evaluation to educating the student’s parents and teacher, she ensures they all understand ADHD and offers solutions to help cope with the disorder.
Depression
“MTV Campaigns Against Depression.” Nearly half of all college students have felt too depressed to function, but only 22 percent would consider seeking help — and researchers say the shame and stigma surrounding mental health issues may be to blame.
“Shorter Days of Fall Herald Arrival of Seasonal Affective Disorder.” For many, the transition from the warm months of summer to the brisk days of autumn can be quite stressful. That stress can lead to depression, lethargy, loss of libido and even overeating.
“Hopeful Light Shed at Depression Forum.” Major depression is more than feeling “blue.” It’s a brain disorder that can end in suicide. Medicine, psychotherapy, alternative therapies and lifestyle changes can help, 80 percent of the time.
“Manic Episodes Can Result in Disastrous Crash.” Judy Eron is a licensed clinical social worker, and she knows firsthand what it’s like to deal with manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
“Springtime Spike in Depression, Suicide Threats Expected.” One said she was going to kill herself with the gun she had in her hand. Another said she was going to cut her wrists with a knife. One teen boy made suicidal statements to his mother and then took off in an automobile.
“Helping Seniors.” If not for Tim Malone, 86-year-old William Baldridge would spend most of his time alone in the small home he built on an expanse of juniper and sagebrush near Bend.
Eating Disorders
“Teen Creates ‘Real Barbie’ to Fight Eating Disorders.” She is the one who every girl hopes will be at her birthday party. Her clothes are stylish, she always looks so together, everyone wants to be like her. Her name is Barbie, but the image she promotes is not all that pretty, and it is one that the professionals and volunteers of the South Shore Eating Disorder Collaborative (SSEDC) hope to shatter with their “Get Real Barbie” tour.
Grief and Loss
“Learning How to Mourn.” You might have thought you were in the wrong place if you stepped inside Sol Levinson & Bros. Funeral Home on Wednesday night, May 10. The chapel filled with bouts of laughter from the approximately 400 guests inside.
“Grief Through the Eyes of the Children at Camp Jonathan.” Jonathan was a six-year old boy who died in 1988. Social worker Mary Lee Carroll, LCSW, served as his hospice volunteer.
“Grief Through the Eyes of the Children at Camp Jonathan.” (Spanish version) Jonathan tenía seis años cuando murió en 1988. La trabajadora social Mary Lee Carroll, LCSW lo acompañó como voluntaria de hospice.
“Words of Comfort.” Grief is an intensely personal process, but caring friends and co-workers can be an important help in a time of bereavement. “Be strong.” “He’s in a better place.” “It’ll be OK soon.” When a friend is grieving, it’s natural to reach for words you hope will provide some comfort.
Obsessions and Compulsions
“Compulsion for Clutter Poses Home Hazard.” The trim-looking Orangevale home has a secret. Inside are towering piles of stuff that fill the rooms, line every hallway and block doorways. Leaning against the walls are unopened portable grills, rolls of Christmas gift wrap, and empty boxes and bags.
Relationships
“Financial Infidelity.” You can tell something about a woman’s marriage by the way she pays for her facial or perm, says Angela Allen. Allen owns From Head to Toe salon and spa in Greensburg, which provides hair treatments, facials and other services to a mostly female clientele.
“New Marriage Tests Bonds: Longtime Friends, Mom and Stepmom Bridge Personal Hurt With Maternal Love.” Christine Cusick and Lisa Smith sat in the stands behind Vince’s Sports Center in Newark last Sunday. They were doing the mom thing, cheering Lisa’s 5-year-old son, Joseph, as he swung the bat and dashed to first base. They weren’t always this friendly.
“Issues With In-Laws: Tolerance Key to Dealing With Extended Families.” Tolerance is key to dealing with extended families. In-laws are people, too. Or at least that’s the message from three Rutherford County residents whose credentials give them status as experts on the often-touchy subject.
“One of the Things That Social Workers Can Do: Teaching Marital Communications Skills.” Unfortunately, half of all first marriages in this country end in divorce. And while couples break up for a variety of reasons, the most frequent problem reported by unhappy couples is poor communication.
Schizophrenia
“Mentally Ill Man on Long Road.” Phil Wiggins’ emergence from 44 years in a state psychiatric hospital has been a series of highs and lows, mirroring the promise — and challenges — of the mental health reform effort he personifies.
Stress Management
“Veterans and Combat Stress.” Army National Guard Specialist Chuck Ross had been home from Iraq for a few months when he and his wife Jennifer came to a decision. Chuck was having trouble adjusting to life back home in America.
“First Responders Get Help Dealing With Stress.” Sometimes the horror is too much, even for veteran cops.
“Images Heal the Wounded Psyche.” The world is awash in the trauma of war and natural disasters — Oklahoma City, 9/11, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, to name a few. But a phoenix has risen from the ashes of these blockbuster catastrophes: Data about the human brain and lots of it.
“Procrastination Has Negative Health Effects.” Putting off studying for an upcoming test may cause more than just stress. A 2002 study conducted by Fuschia Sirois and Timothy Pychyl of Carleton University in Ottawa found college students who procrastinate on their schoolwork are likely to have unhealthy sleep, diet and exercise patterns.
Suicide Prevention
“Using the Web to Prevent Suicide.” As questions of institutional liability after student suicide have received much more attention in recent years, many health officials have called for improved suicide prevention strategies. But carrying out such efforts is not the easiest of tasks when no one knows for sure what will push one student instead of another to want to take his or her own life.
“Don’t Remember Me.” Social worker, Ned Hoffner, helps ease pain of 15-year-old suicide victim’s mother. Without his help, she herself may not have survived.
Health & Wellness
Cancer
“Lance Armstrong Remains My Inspiration.” Lance Armstrong isn’t riding in the Tour de France this year, but to a bicycling fanatic like me his carbon fiber footprints are all over the race. He isn’t tearing up the time trials or climbing the Col de Tourmelet, but Lance is still out there wearing bright yellow.
“Cancer Center Provides Treatment, Support.” At the San Diego Cancer Center, treatment isn’t just about pills, injections, radiation and surgery. It’s also about feeling good, having companions and enjoying life.
“Removing Barriers to Treatment.” Alycia Hughes, LMSW, is a social worker at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Every day, she explains, she works with cancer patients to take away the obstacles that can get in the way of treatment.
“A Dose of Comedy.” There is something hilarious going on inside the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center. Strange sounds emanate from a small kitchen inside the building. Someone is barking. Someone else is mooing. And just about everyone is giggling.
“Cancer Institute Aids 20 Families.” The New Jersey Cancer Institute social work department helps 20 families living with cancer during the holiday season. Social worker, Julie Murphy, explains how the aid breaks down barriers and saves lives along the way.
Death & Dying
“Something More. The Social Worker’s Role in Hospice Care.” Hot on the trail of understanding the whole picture at hospice, I turned my inquisitive pen toward some of the actual “in-home” workers. In this case, I had the pleasure of talking with two hospice social workers, Angie Pickel and Karen Griemsmann.
“Private Discussion in Pubic: Panel Bares Personal Experiences to Continue End-of-Life Debate Begun With Schiavo.” In a panel discussion last Friday at one of the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) tri-annual delegate assemblies, end-of-life care experts, journalists, and a congressional legislative staffer shared their experiences in “covering, planning, or delivering end-of-life care” to explore “the media’s role in changing public perception of these issues.”
“Helping Kids Cope With Grief.” Social Worker, Nancy Libby, counsels students after the sudden deaths of two classmates. Everyday, thousands of social workers across the country help children deal with deaths of classmates, friends, and family members.
Disabilities
“Students Learn About Life With a Disability.” Noah Swimmer ran into the wall while trying to make his way across the room using a blindfold and cane. ”It’s impossible because everything is totally black,” said Noah, a fourth-grader at Roosevelt Elementary School. “It makes it much easier to appreciate what handicapped people go through.”
Family Genetics
“Social Worker a Ground Breaker in Texas”. John E. Davis knew when he was growing up that he “didn’t want to be a teacher or a preacher,” but in a way he combined the two when he became a social worker. He decided on his career path even before he entered Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work.
Healthy Lifestyles
“All Work and No Play.” Wednesday is the first official day of summer, which means vacation season has arrived. And there’s a mounting body of evidence suggesting using your vacation time is essential to your health.
“Sleep Deprivation Affects Performance at School and Work.” When you get too little sleep on a regular basis, a condition known as sleep deprivation can occur, causing you to shortchange yourself on a very important aspect of life.
“Social Worker Phyllis Greenberger Receives Red Dress Award from Woman’s Day Magazine.” Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., President and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research, received a Red Dress Award today in recognition of her work in leading the way in the fight against heart disease in women.
“Program Helps Families Lose Weight, Change Habits.” Deedee Pearson and her husband both struggle with weight-related health problems. So when their 8-year-old son, Chris, started having a weight problem too, their pediatrician referred the whole family to Oakwood Healthcare System’s Shapedown program.
HIV/AIDS
“Breaking the Code of Silence.” In a small, two-bedroom home on a quiet street in Modesto, Maria is trying to find her voice. Colorful, unscented candles flicker in the hallway. Framed pictures of Jesus hang on the walls, beside those of her children. Abuse has shaped her life. Rape. Beatings. Deception by those she loved and trusted.
Living With Illness
“The Cost of Caring.” Felicia Pate has a sad little boy on her lap. Trent looks lethargic and swollen, as if there were more pressure against his stomach and cheeks than his 3-year-old frame can bear. “Why don’t you smile and take a pretty picture?” his mom asks gently. He shakes his head and begins to cry.
Pain
“Neurotherapy Treatment.” For 25 years, I worked as a registered respiratory therapist and worked in the hospital and homecare arenas. However, I was lucky enough in my mid-forties to have another chance to return to school and follow a path that I always wanted – to join the social work profession.
Seniors & Aging
Advance Care Planning
“Advance Directives Help You Plan Your Care.” There may come a time when, due to a health crisis resulting in loss of mental capacity, you won’t be able to tell others the type of medical care you’d like to receive.
Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia
“Card Shark.” If York’s close-knit community of bridge players were a family, then Charlotte Roseman would be its grandma. But she’s not the type of grandma who forgets your name and sits meekly in a corner. No, Roseman is the type of grandma who welcomes you warmly to join her for a game of cards — then soundly beats you, all while maintaining a polite and delighted smile.
Caregiving
“When Mom, Dad Move In.” Louise Hernandez, consummate caregiver and fiercely independent, raised eight children. Three years ago, one of them, Cesaria Hernandez, figured it was time to take care of her mother.
“Depression and the Elderly: Caregivers Face Specific Challenges.” Aging can be difficult for people getting older, and for those who are their caregivers. “But it is also an opportunity to be more human,” said Kristin Swanson, a social worker for Enloe Medical Center Behavioral Health.
“Fewer Social Workers Ready to Care for Rising Number of Elderly.” As her elderly client lay dying in a semi-conscious state, social worker Susan Fleischer murmured to him as a nurse held the phone to his ear.For days, family and friends gathered around the man, who was in his 90s, believing he could no longer hear or speak. But Fleischer, a licensed clinical social worker, knew that the man needed encouragement to let go of his life.
“Elder Care for Gays, Lesbians Catches On.”
Joy Silver had never seen a nursing home quite like it: There was pulsating music, a spinning disco ball and, yes, even scantily clad go-go boys.”I said to myself, `Yeah, that’s what I want. I want that party when I get to be that age,”‘ Silver would say many years later when remembering the nursing home in New York’s West Village.
“Families Need Break From Care.” A 45-year-old son with Huntington’s Disease who can’t be left alone and a need to work part-time. A 30-year-old disabled child with a mom whose eight hours of respite from the disabilities board often gets cut to nothing and an 85-year-old grandmother who can’t help.
“Building Bridges for Seniors and Bridges Between Cultures.” Mrs. Choi and her interpreter sit together in the living room of the Wilshire Christian Manor, an apartment complex for seniors in Los Angeles. Eun Joon Choi describes how she felt when she first came to her new home in the United States.
“Employers Examine the Toll Family Tensions Can Take on Caregivers of the Elderly.” Simply reuniting for the holidays once a year is tense enough for most families. Caring for an elderly parent or relative, often through years of sickness and decline, can tear a family apart. Siblings and other relations must deal with financial strains, complex medical decisions, infuriating bureaucracies, and old personality conflicts rekindled by new stresses.
Residential and Long-Term Care
“A Helping Hand.” Two years ago, Carl Gorski, 39 years old, learned that his older aunt was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. A doctor told Gorski that his aunt could no longer live alone without at least some assistance. Like a good nephew, Gorski was only too happy to lend a helping hand. But there were a couple of obstacles he needed to address. Full Story
Lifespan Planning
“Renee is a working professional with a husband and child.” She and her immediate family live in the Southwest region of the country. She has recently been informed by her aunt’s physician that she will need to come to California to take care of her aunt Louise.
Vital Aging
“Seniors Stay in Their Prime.” It’s the 9 o’clock rush. Clients file in and scan their membership cards at the front desk, tapping the touch screen to register their activities. Several walkers already circle the track. Aerobics instructors open their classes with stretches and lively greetings. Fitness equipment stands ready for use.
