With the third virulent spike of the COVID-19 pandemic descending on the world, social workers are taking a pro-active, creative look at how they can be of service to the most vulnerable. They sit in a unique position during a public health crisis, one that’s often overlooked. From offering emotional and mental health support to educating the larger community, their role entails navigating what is often a complex and evolving situation.

Sometimes this blog can do nothing more than report the devotion to service demonstrated by social service agencies and nonprofits across the country. Four nonprofits reached far outside their comfort zone to help mitigate the devastating effects of COVID-19. Here are their stories.        

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced awards of more than $144 million to enhance services for victims of crime nationwide. OJJDP awarded more than $54 million to support the effective investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases and improve positive outcomes for child abuse and neglect victims. This includes OJJDP's support of children's advocacy centers (CACs) to address child abuse and neglect and training and technical assistance for CACs, multidisciplinary teams, and child abuse professionals.

OJJDP also awarded funds to support Court Appointed Special Advocate programs nationwide and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to improve juvenile justice and dependency systems’ response to child abuse and neglect, as well as child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. In addition, OJP awarded nearly $101 million to combat human trafficking.

View the OJP fact sheets for additional information about the awards to improve services for victims and the awards to combat human trafficking.

The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced awards of more than $341 million to combat addiction nationwide. OJJDP awarded more than $19 million to support its Family Drug Court Program and more than $5 million to support its Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program. OJJDP also awarded $14 million under its Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative to address opioid and other substance abuse. In addition, OJJDP awarded nearly $9 million to fund OJJDP’s Opioid Affected Youth Initiative to support opioid-focused prevention and intervention programs. Another $1 million will fund training to serve families impacted by opioids under OJJDP’s Child Abuse Training for Judicial and Court Personnel program.

For additional information about these awards, see the OJP fact sheet.

A United Nations policy brief just published outlines the unique vulnerability of women across the globe to this COVID-19 pandemic.

UN Policy Brief – Summary of Findings

• The pandemic is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems which are in turn amplifying the impacts of the pandemic.
• Compounded economic impacts are felt especially by women and girls who are generally earning less, saving less, and holding insecure jobs or living close to poverty.
• Unpaid care work has increased, with children out-of-school, heightened care needs of older persons, and overwhelmed health services.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic deepens economic and social stress coupled with restricted movement and social isolation measures, gender-based violence is increasing exponentially.
  

It's funny how something so simple as a Favorites Menu can be a game changer.  With this short demonstration we hope to show you  how our Favorites Menu is transforming how cases are managed.  The favorites menu can be configured by a user to match their role and function at an agency.  Enjoy discovering how something so simple can transform how you work!

Reports, Reports, Reports!  Our newest line of reporting tools continue to improve and offer several types of data analysis functions to help you really dive into those things that are making the biggest impact at your agency.  Check out this comprehensive overview.  NOTE:  Use the scroll bar to check out different areas - the new tools are powerful.

Only social workers who deal with childhood hunger every day realize how devastating the COVID-19 pandemic has been for millions of everyday school children who attend school with your children and mine. For many of your children’s classmates, not attending in-person school has meant missing 5 essential meals a week and, in many cases, the bulk of their nutrition.

While singing the praises of our dedicated case workers during the coronavirus pandemic, I have received numerous inquiries from readers who do not know what case workers do in hospital and post-care settings. Apparently, the critical role of medical social workers is not clear to the general public. I thought it best, therefore, to let them speak for themselves.

Adults 65 and older account for 16% of the US population but 80% of COVID-19 deaths. Even as most states begin to gradually reopen society to restart a stalled economy, the message to the elderly is “NOT YOU”. You best - “STAY HOME” – “ISOLATE” - “QUARANTINE” while the rest of society risks illness trying to get on with life.

Social workers who work with the elderly are concerned. They say that during times of crisis, mental health cannot be overlooked. Loneliness and social isolation for older adults have a deep, emotional impact, sometimes leading to social disorders such as depression and anxiety. Social isolation has also been linked to increases in emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and nursing home placements.