Stephen Cummings

As social workers, we know all too well the demands of our daily work.  We also know the importance of keeping ourselves informed of our world, from the local community to national and global events and conflicts. Factor in the rapid flow of information, where the news cycle is compressed ever more tightly, and we find ourselves working with multiple levels constantly, from micro-systems to macro-level policy.

In these trying times, it feels as if we need to be engaged multiple times a day at all levels.  For example, a social worker may be addressing multiple emergent needs at an agency (putting out fires) while providing expert testimony to a state legislator, while following the latest federal policy initiative announced this morning (one that could have a detrimental effect in the long-term if a campaign to respond isn’t started right away).

#Selfcare is important. Perhaps the framing here is different…