Data Shows More Illinois Residents Live in Poverty
from Chicago Tribune
Approximately 240,000 more Illinoisans lived in poverty in 2008 compared with 2000, according to U.S. Census data, and researchers say the statistics don't fully capture the current recession. The state's poverty rate was 10.7 percent in 2000 and jumped to 12.2 percent last year, according to the Census data that was analyzed by a Chicago-based institute. More

Identifying Emerging Social Work leaders….. Olympics Postscript…
from NASW IL
"Forever young…..," as Bob Dylan wailed. Well not exactly. Did you know that the average age of an NASW member is 54 years of age? However, we do know that there are many young social workers in our membership who are making a difference and demonstrating exemplary leadership in their professional lives. To that end the chapter is currently seeking nominations for its Emerging Leaders Award. More

Violence Affects Many Girls, Young Women, Report States
from Chicago Tribune
A report released earlier this month found that many girls in Chicago and Illinois "face serious violence in their lives," including physical and sexual abuse, threats and injury in school, and assault on the streets. The report, "Status of Girls in Illinois," -- notes that 10.7 percent of girls in Chicago's high schools skipped school in 2007 because of safety concerns -- nearly double the national average of 5.6 percent -- and that "many girls also report a pervasive feeling of threat and lack of security." More

Economic Downturn Taking Toll on Americans' Mental Health
from PR Newswire
A new national survey shows the economic downturn is taking a toll on the mental health of Americans. Individuals who are unemployed are four times as likely as those with jobs to report symptoms consistent with severe mental illness. Americans who experienced involuntary changes in their employment status, such as pay cuts or reduced hours, also are twice as likely to have these symptoms, even though they are employed full time. More

Former Foster Child in Chicago Now a Million-dollar Scholar
from Chicago Tribune
Derrius Quarles leans back in his seat and methodically debates Aristotle's theory of truth during freshman honors English class at Morehouse College. He strides across campus in a navy blue tailored suit and a bold red sweater handing out business cards that boast "Student/Entrepreneur/Leader." But behind the 19-year-old's dauntless appearance is a past that few on campus know. More

Revisiting Parental Alienation Syndrome
from Social Work Today
Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) is a theory that has been the subject of much debate. This article looks at what critics of this controversial theory have said about both its scientific foundations and its practical applications in legal settings, particularly its effect on children and families. More

Report: Rate of Enrollment in Medicaid Rose Rapidly
from The New York Times
The recession is driving up enrollment in Medicaid at higher than expected rates, threatening gargantuan state budget gaps even as Congress and the White House seek to expand the government health insurance program for the poor and disabled, according to a recent survey. More

Childhood: Autism Diagnoses Rising, U.S. Reports
from The New York Times
More than 1 in 100 American children and teenagers may have autism, Asperger’s syndrome or a related developmental problem, although such diagnoses often do not hold up, according to a government report. The estimate, based on a telephone survey of some 78,000 households and published in the journal Pediatrics, is the highest yet of the prevalence of so-called autism spectrum disorders, which include everything from severe autism to milder social difficulties to “pervasive developmental disorder,” a description given to many troubled children. More

Champaign County Gets $9 million Grant to Help Kids
from Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
Five years after losing out because of a state clerical error, Champaign County has won a $9 million federal grant to overhaul services for troubled youths. The six-year grant will fund an ambitious program to coordinate and improve help for children and teens with serious emotional problems, and give families a much bigger say in their treatment. The money comes from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA. More

More Cities are Putting Social Services Under One Roof
from USA Today
Many cities facing an increase in demand for social services are turning to a one-stop, centralized office to handle the challenge. Neighborhood Place, which originated in Louisville in 1993, came to Louisiana this summer with two locations in Sabine Parish in the western part of the state, and another site is scheduled to open in New Orleans in January, according to state Secretary of Social Services Kristy Nichols. Similar centers have opened in Hawaii, Texas and Virginia, partly because of the economy, she says. More

Internet Addiction Linked to ADHD, Depression in Teens
from CNN
Some children and teens are more likely than their peers to become addicted to the Internet, and a new study suggests it's more likely to happen if kids are depressed, hostile, or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or social phobia. Although an Internet addiction is not an official diagnosis, signs of a potential problem include using the Internet so much for game playing or other purposes that it interferes with everyday life and decision-making ability. More

Bullied for Being 'Gay'
from The New York Times
I don’t know that my 11-year-old child is gay yet, but he does get teased for having mostly female friends and for being "girlie," a concerned New York Times reader wrote. We talk about these issues when they come up, of course. The school is good about responding to the students who tease him. My question is: Is there some way that he can respond to the bullies that will effectively shut them up? More

Upcoming Events Resolving Ethical Dilemmas (10/09/09) A Counter-Intuitive Approach to Resistance in Social Work: Building Therapeutic Attachment While Supporting Healthy Autonomy (10/15/09)