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Medical social worker ❤️
Actually not cheap 💰
Life on a social worker salary 💵
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As a medical social worker, it's increasingly frustrating hearing unhoused people talked about like they are pests, even by other social workers. I understand that it is a burnout response, as since I've started working, our city has fewer resources like emergency shelters. Instead, people come to the hospital to seek shelter and use our facilities. While most people who are unhoused don't cause problems, it's the ones that do that make everyone else look bad by endangering our staff. Lately the mindset has been "stop enabling them with free stuff and kick them out". As a social worker who looks at the Dignity and Worth of a Person (see Code of Ethics), it's an uphill battle trying to provide whatever little help is available. In cases like this reel, my advocacy basically made my entire profession look bad in the end.

It's become a fine line preserving the dignity of unhoused people while protecting staff. Throw in limited or non-existent resources and we have a vicious cycle that strains hospital employees, resulting in the further dehumanization of the unhoused. I don't have any solutions, but it's been a lose-lose situation for everyone.

I am thankful to have a job, but it's quite soul crushing at times.

#socialworkersofinstagram #socialworker #medicalsocialworker #hospital #homeless by @cheapsocialworker
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2 days ago
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I saw this clip from California State Superintendent candidate Richard Barrera and had to throw in my super hot controversial take. University professors do not have the time nor training to teach remedial math. They are busy with their 500+ students and research projects. Yes, there are opportunities for remediation at student learning centers (typically staffed by adjuncts and students), but not for students so far behind they can't do 3rd grade level math. The nature of being a university student is that you are thrown to the wolves with minimal support and expected to perform. By simply accepting students who can't do elementary school math with platitudes and no real support structure, we are setting them up for failure. When that happens, they will have no degree and have to repay thousands of dollars of student loan debt (with accruing interest).

The better solution is to stop stigmatizing community colleges. The professors there are actually focused on teaching instead of their personal research projects. Students receive more one-on-one attention, as opposed to a university calculus class with 500+ students. Community colleges are much cheaper, and even free in some places. When a student is ready, they can transfer to university with the skills to succeed. Once they do, they will have saved tens of thousands of dollars and have a diploma with the name of just the university, not the community college.

I know many people who were not ready for university for many reasons. I also know people who failed out of university. They all went to community college and now are engineers, doctors, PhDs, professors, social workers, nurses, professional musicians, teachers, etc. They credit community college and the heart of their professors there for their successes.

Education disparity is a complex issue. A well-meaning policy can actually end up harmful in the end. Throwing a student who can't do fractions into university is like throwing a little leaguer into a MLB game. There are ways to support students who are behind without setting them up for failure. Community college can be one of those ways.

#socialworker #education #socialwork #communitycollege by @cheapsocialworker
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3 days ago
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It's Friday night and my favorite way to treat myself after a long week of social working is getting dinner. This meal from In-N-Out Burger was basically $10, leaving extra money for other treats over the weekend. I don't mind budget self-care, especially if it's delicious!

What your favorite treat meal after a long week at work?

#socialworker #innout #socialworkersofinstagram #socialwork #selfcare by @cheapsocialworker
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4 days ago
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Many people, including social workers in other fields, ask me what it's like being a medical social worker. Here's a sample of a typical day in the hospital. Please note that medical social worker roles vary depending on hospital, which is something I will discuss in future posts. 

If you're a medical social worker, what does your typical day look like?

#socialwork #socialworker #hospitallife #socialworkersofinstagram #msw by @cheapsocialworker
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5 days ago
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Once upon a time we were "healthcare heroes" and "essential workers". What a difference six years makes.

#msw #socialworkersofinstagram #socialworkers #socialwork #socialservices by @cheapsocialworker
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6 days ago
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Contrary to what our wages seem to imply, social workers are highly educated professionals. Most social work positions require a MINIMUM of a masters degree (MSW). Licensure can require thousands of hours of post-graduate work plus passing comprehensive licensing exams.

My hope is that social workers take a page from the nursing playbook and successfully advocate for better wages and working conditions. We are highly capable professionals and deserve better.

#socialworker #socialwork #msw #socialworkersofinstagram #socialservices by @cheapsocialworker
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6 days ago
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Social worker wages are insulting enough given the education required and the services we provide. If things continue down the path we're headed, I see a worsening social worker shortage, resulting in non-social workers taking our jobs. We all know what happens when non-social workers try to do our job.

The solution isn't banning social workers from taking out loans. The solution also isn't to promote taking out loans we'll never be able to pay back back with deflated wages. Perhaps it is time to start paying us what we are worth.

#socialworker #socialwork #msw #socialservices #socialworkersofinstagram by @cheapsocialworker
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6 days ago
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