Top 5 for 2014 at The New Social Worker

by Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW

     As 2014 comes to a close, let's take a look back at this year. The New Social Worker's 5 most-accessed articles for 2014 are listed below. I think this list is a good reflection of what is on social workers' minds. The top 5 are:

  1.  What Is an Ethical Dilemma? by Karen Allen. This article from Spring 2012 outlines the criteria for a true ethical dilemma, as opposed to a difficult situation with ethical considerations. This has consistently been our most popular article.
  2. What I Wish I Had Known: Burnout and Self-Care in Our Social Work Profession, by SaraKay Smullens. This article from our Fall 2012 issue was voted winner of the 2013 NASW Media Award for Best Magazine Article. This article and the topics of burnout and self-care resonate with social workers everywhere as they strive to cope with the struggles of the profession. Look for SaraKay's book on this topic in 2015.
  3. 10 Essential Tips for Your Amazing Social Work Résumé, by Valerie Arendt. This article from our Summer 2014 issue was the first installment in our new column, Social Work Career Connect. Watch this column for more practical career tips from Valerie.
  4. Client Relationships and Ethical Boundaries for Social Workers in Child Welfare, by Rose M. Handon. This article from our archives continues to be one our most popular pieces, as it addresses critical pieces of practicing effectively and competently.
  5. What Every Social Worker Needs To Know About DSM-5, by Martha Teater. This article addresses some of the most common questions and concerns that social workers have about the newest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.

     In 2014, we also began publishing a new column, Achieving Racial Equity Through Social Work, by Mary Pender Greene, Sandra Bernabei, and Lisa V. Blitz, as part of an ongoing commitment to address the issue of structural racism in our society. My hope is that this column will raise social workers' level of knowledge about the issue, including how to talk about it and what they can do about it in their everyday lives and in their social work practice.

     We are closing out 2014 with 89,000 Facebook "likers," 5,500 Twitter followers, 20,000 members of our LinkedIn group, and 50,000 combined subscribers to The New Social Worker digital edition and the Social Work E-News.

     I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store here at The New Social Worker. I hope you'll be a part of it!