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News Articles: social workers

Larisa, 76, lives alone in her apartment in Sloviansk, Ukraine. She hasn't been outside since before the war.

For older Ukrainians in front-line cities, visits from social workers bring comfort

In Sloviansk, many of those who remain are over 60. Social workers help with food, medicine and cleaning. An 86-year-old calls her social worker "Firefly," saying, "She brings light in a dark time."

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By:
  • Elissa Nadworny and
  • Claire Harbage
Yanna McGraw is one of about a dozen full-time social workers working at libraries across the Midwest. A representative of the Public Library Association says over the past decade, more libraries have been finding ways to partner with social workers.

Why your local library might be hiring a social worker

Libraries in some cities are investing in staff members who can help patrons with complex issues such as housing insecurity, finding mental health and more.

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By:
  • Darian Benson
Therapist Kiki Radermacher was one of the first members of a mobile crisis response unit in Missoula, Mont., which started responding to emergency mental health calls last year. That pilot project becomes permanent in July and is one of six such teams in the state — up from one in 2019.

In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health

Montana now has six mobile crisis response teams — up from one in 2019 — with more in the works. Each team has a different makeup, but all use mental health support to diffuse tricky situations.

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By:
  • Katheryn Houghton
Oakland City Vice Mayor and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan says sending police to mental health and behavioral calls they aren't trained for is a mistake cities keep repeating.

Oakland Becomes Latest City Looking To Take Police Out Of Some Nonviolent 911 Calls

The city's fire department will oversee the pilot project that aims to pair an EMT with someone with lived experience in the mental health, addiction, criminal justice or homeless services systems.

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By:
  • Eric Westervelt

Helping Hands Need A Break, Too: How To Lend Support Without Burning Out

These days, there are hundreds of reasons to open your heart to others, but it's easy to get exhausted. Try these tips honed by social workers for staying healthy and empathetic.

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By:
  • Juli Fraga and
  • Kelsey Crowe
Michelle Huston, left, and her daughter, Lauren Magaña, reflected on their careers as social workers during their first interview with StoryCorps in Atlanta in 2018.

Together, Mother And Daughter Social Workers Face New Challenges In A Pandemic

Lauren Magaña and Michelle Huston work with elderly patients. It's challenging work that's been even tougher during the pandemic. They care for people at the end of their lives, now from a distance.

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By:
  • Janmaris Perez