Public Health & Social Work Archives - Page 5 of 5

4 Jun, 2014

Ask Nicole: Should Child Protective Services Get Involved When a Young Woman Seeks an Abortion?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T18:19:52-04:00June 4th, 2014|Categories: Public Health & Social Work|Tags: Ask Nicole, Social Work|0 Comments

Do you have a question that other Raise Your Voice community members can benefit from? Contact me and I’ll answer it!

I recently received the following question from a social work graduate student, who recently completed her first-year graduate internship (known as a field placement in social work) at an urban reproductive healthcare clinic:

Hi Nicole!

I recently finished my first year in graduate school for social work. Coming into social work school, I had a big interest in being in clinical study and I’ve envisioned myself working one on one with adults. I was placed in a local clinic that deals with most healthcare needs, and I was placed in the reproductive health access department as an intern. After being in my placement, I’m starting to gain an awareness of how important access to reproductive healthcare needs are for young people and communities of color, and I’m starting to become more interested in doing community practice instead of working one on one in a clinical setting.

A few weeks ago, a few classmates and I were reflecting on our field placement experiences. When I mentioned the great experience I had at my placement, one of my classmates told me that it is unethical for social workers to assist in helping people obtain abortions and that we have a duty to report it to Child Protective Services, especially when the person wanting an abortion is a young girl who is being sexually abused. This is based on the NASW Code of Ethic, she says. My classmate said that social workers, above all things, should protect life, and that includes the life an unborn child.

While I enjoyed my field experience (and, by the way, I also assisted other healthcare needs besides abortion), I’m starting to wonder if my classmate is right. Being that you’re a social worker that has a lot of experience in reproductive rights, can you share your insights?

Thank you!

I was excited when this student allowed for me to share her question. There are several parts to her questions, but before I share my answers, here’s a little background on social workers and our roles in reproductive healthcare:

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20 Mar, 2013

Ask Nicole: “Is a Career as a Reproductive Justice Social Worker Possible?”

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T18:06:04-04:00March 20th, 2013|Categories: Public Health & Social Work|Tags: Ask Nicole, reproductive justice, Social Work|0 Comments

Do you have a question that other Raise Your Voice community members can benefit from? Contact me and I’ll answer it!

I recently received the following question from a young woman who is currently studying social work at an undergraduate university:

Hello! I just found your website, and I am blown away; you’re living my dream life! I’m currently one year away from graduating with my [Bachelors degree in Social Work], and am looking at different options for where to go next. Thinking about the future is scary!

Before flipping through your site, I had never heard the term “reproductive justice field”, but that’s what I want to work in, in a nutshell. But, “reproductive justice” isn’t on the list of social problems that we generally acknowledge in class, and sometimes I feel like I can’t pursue this topic that excites me so much with my social work degree.

So my question is, where do I go from here? I’ve been looking at different grad school programs, and there are so many different options! Do you think that a concentration in public policy would be more helpful than a general practice degree? Do you have any tips for actually finding employment in the “reproductive justice field”? I’ve interned with [pro choice organizations] and am looking into starting a pro choice group on my campus next year; but I’m looking for a sign that any of this can work beyond college.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! Oh, and thanks for being awesome!

Since March is National Social Work Month, I was really excited to receive this question. A degree in social work is one of the most diverse degrees one can obtain. There are many people in various social justice movements and in many career fields that are social workers. As a social worker, you use your skills of engagement to analyze, discover, and develop strategies to work with individuals, agencies, and communities in ways that are holistic and empowering.

Generally, most people are surprised to find out that I’m a social worker. When I’m asked, “What do you do?”, it’s the first thing that I mention. They’re even more surprised at the career I’ve developed and the experiences I’ve had throughout the years. Though I’ve been in the reproductive justice (RJ) field much longer compared to social work, the skills and theories I learned as a social worker student serve to enhance my work in RJ.

I’ve broken down the question above into four separate questions to tackle: (more…)

13 Feb, 2013

How Can Adults Help Teens in Unhealthy Dating Relationships?

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T18:04:02-04:00February 13th, 2013|Categories: Public Health & Social Work|Tags: Youth, Youth-Adult Communication|0 Comments

Healthy relationships are essential for overall well-being, especially for young people. Occasional arguments are expected, but never should there be any physical, emotional, or psychological harm done to anyone in the relationship.

This can be particularly tricky for teenagers, who are still at a time in their lives in which they are coming into their own and figuring things out. Think about it: As a teenager (and even as a young adult), you were still developing, physically and mentally, even if you believed that you were “grown enough” to do and make certain decisions. Some of the decisions you made probably weren’t the wisest (I can definitely think of a few occasions in which I didn’t make the best decisions), but there were also decisions you made that ended up being the best for you at that time as well.

More often than not, when you look back, many of the decisions you made were influenced by many factors, including your peers, the media, entertainment, and your home environment. When we constantly see something or are told something, regardless of it being “good” or “bad”, we come to find that our lives and decision making begin to become shaped by it.

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national campaign to raise awareness about the impact of violence in teen and young adult dating relationships, and to share ways to help teens and young adults develop healthier dating relationships. While young men are often victims of teen and young adult dating violence, young women are more likely to be victims.

How can adults help teens and young adults in unhealthy dating relationships? Here are five recommendations: (more…)

5 Mar, 2012

Guest Post- HIV 101: Killing the Stigma Behind the Disease

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T17:42:19-04:00March 5th, 2012|Categories: Public Health & Social Work|Tags: Guest Posts, HIV|0 Comments

March 10th is National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and this week, I’m bringing you a guest post by novelist Diamond Cartel, speaking directly to young girls.

“Writing is not only my passion; it’s my purpose.” That is clearly evident in every novel, short story, article, and literary work produced by Diamond Cartel. Since the age of eight, writing has been a way for her to express what she’s feeling, thinking, and experiencing in life. With three novels, a compilation, and a motivational book all under her belt, Diamond utilizes her passion for words to tell a story to the hearts, minds, and spirits of everyone she comes in contact with. Adding her own twist to traditional storytelling, Diamond doesn’t just write to entertain, but also to empower and encourage. That is why she is the self-professed “novelist like no other.”

Outside her role as a novelist, Diamond also doubles as The Motivational Rockstarr. Under this persona, her goal is to motivate, inspire, and teach others the fundamentals of being successful and following your passion. Everyone has an artist within them. No matter if you’re a writer, painter, photographer, or entrepreneur The Motivational Rockstarr has something to fuel your drive, give you clarity, and provide you with the tools you need to progress along your path.

Diamond loves to simply live and experience life. An avid explorer, she loves to travel. No distance is too great or too small for exploring. She also loves to spend quality time with her children, get lost in a night of music and dancing, and make others laugh like there’s no tomorrow. Diamond truly lives to love and loves to live.

Keep in touch with Diamond by following her on Twitter, watching her motivational videos on YouTube, and checking out her Facebook page!

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Quick: What do you know about HIV and AIDS?

The look of confusion on your face says it all. Chances are you rattled off some myths that have been circling about the disease since it was discovered in the United States in 1981. Lack of information and inaccurate information are the breeding grounds which cause the virus to multiply and spread like wildfire. It’s time to seize some of these myths and put an end to the countless number of stigmas surrounding HIV and AIDS.

There are only three proven methods to which you can contract HIV and AIDS. They are through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of needles, syringes, or rinse water with an infected person, or from an infected mother to her unborn child. You cannot get it from kissing, physical contact (hugging, shaking hands, etc.), drinking after an infected person, breathing the same air, or from bodily fluids such as saliva, tears, or sweat.
You can’t tell if someone is infected by looking at them. There is no “look” solely dedicated to a person infected with HIV. You can’t tell the difference between a healthy person versus an infected person solely based on their appearance.
A positive diagnosis is NOT a death sentence! With the advances made in medical technology, people infected with HIV are living longer, healthier, more active lives than ever before.
HIV is not a “gay man’s disease.” The rumor that HIV was a disease for “gay people” has been dispelled years ago. While the rates among homosexual males are higher, they are by no means isolated to the gay community.
HIV is not a punishment from God. This was the predominant thinking of people in the 80’s and early 90’s. While it’s not as common today, some people still have this mentality. Despite all of the progress that has been made with HIV, in the minds of some it will always be classified as a “punishment from God.”

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8 Feb, 2012

10 Reasons Why Your Daughter Won’t Talk to You About Sex

By Nicole Clark, LMSW|2021-08-19T17:40:24-04:00February 8th, 2012|Categories: Public Health & Social Work|Tags: Parent-Child Communication, Youth|0 Comments

In the work that I’ve done with young women throughout the years, I’ve come across one important thing: while young people may build their thinking and decisions based on their interaction with their peers, many young people would actually prefer to get facts about sex and sexuality from family members and other trusted adults.

When I was younger, my mom didn’t really talk to be me about sex and sexuality. When it came to sex, my mother spoke more of the consequences of pregnancy, compared to sexually transmitted infections, self-esteem, and even pleasure. As a young person, I wondered why my parents chose to put my sister and I in those classes where that focused more on showing pictures of people with STIs. (You know those classes!)

At the same time, I remember not being comfortable speaking with my mom about sex, sexuality or anything remotely close to it. I perceived that she would shut me down, that she would think I was having sex even when I wasn’t, or I believed that I would be lying and not telling the truth.

Given that I do most of my work with women and girls, today’s post is focused on the mothers and other female caregivers in a young girl’s life. Young people are more likely to open up to parents and caregivers when they feel valued, respected, and that their voices and opinions are going to be heard. Here are 10 reasons your daughter* may not be comfortable talking with you (and some tips you can take to help her open up to you when she’s ready.) (more…)

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