The Social Work Bubble Podcast
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a therapist in Central New York, and began The Social Work Bubble to create more conversations and community around social work! The podcast is meant as a resource for those interested or in the field, and dives into clinical practice, intervention, ethics, case studies, and licensing, MSW programs, and everything in between! Use this as a space to build community with fellow social workers so we can all thrive in this wonderful field!
Ep. 102 Why & How I Became a Social Worker
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I share my personal social work journey, including why I entered social work, changing my major from nursing to human services, and what ultimately led me to being a therapist in private practice. If you're considering social work, questioning your path, or anything in between, this episode can offer insight into my own journey & how I decided to move on particular paths.Â
Laura Swanson, LCSW began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community, highlight social work voices, and shed l...
Ep. 101 6 Grounding Exercises to Prevent Burnout!
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I use the Anti-Burnout Card Deck to walk you through six different prompts yo can use to ground, prevent burnout, empathize with clients, and get through tough workdays. This is a great episode to put on during your work day, and I share my own experiences and reactions to the prompts. Enjoy!
The Anti Burnout Card DeckLaura Swanson, LCSW began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community, highlight social work voices, and shed light on the variety that...
Ep. 100 Top Lessons I've Learned 6 Years a Therapist
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are celebrating the 100th podcast episode with a breakdown of the biggest lessons I've learned in my first 6 years as a therapist & social worker! The highs, the lows, these are my takeaways from these 6 years of work!
Laura Swanson, LCSW began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community, highlight social work voices, and shed light on the variety that social work offers. Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can...
Ep. 99 Stepping Up to Nonprofit Leadership! ft. Kathy Archer
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Kathy Archer, an incredible coach for women leaders in the nonprofit world! Kathy gives great insight on leadership, her observations on how people struggle to step into leadership, being authentic, and more! An important conversation for any social workers wanting to progress their career!
Kathy Archer If leadership feels heavy and lonely, you're not alone. Leadership coach Kathy Archer helps nonprofit women leaders stop drowning in work, doubting themselves, and carrying it all alone. After 25 years as a n...
Ep. 98 Making Money & Other Social Work Myths ft. with Jenna Rodjenski, LCSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Jenna Rodjenski, a social worker and group practice founder & owner from Philadelphia! Jenna sheds light on how she challenged some beliefs about social work, making money in social work, being firm with boundaries & what it can look like to really thrive in this work! An empowering conversation that left me with an excitement for social work & a refreshed perspective on what my own work life balance can look like.
Jenna Rodjenski, LCSW, is a therapist, End of Life...
Ep. 97 Embracing Leadership & Avoiding Burnout ft. Tenisha Tolen, LMSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Tenisha Tolen, LMSW all about her journey in social work, including how she stepped into leadership roles, what it takes to be a leader in social work, setting boundaries, and how we can address the gaps in social work leadership and diversity!Â
Tenisha is a Licensed Master Social Worker and the founder of Safe Space Behavioral Health, a wellness platform dedicated to helping individuals heal, grow, and lead with authenticity. Through her work, she offers coaching, mentorship, therapy, a...
Ep. 96 Passing & Privilege: An NYU Social Work Story ft. Ashley Escobar
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Ashley Escobar, an MSW student at NYU, recounting how she reconciled her Latina identity with being white passing, observations on being white passing in social work, and how she is finding her power within the current political and social climate.
Ashley Escobar is from West Harlem and of Ecuadorian descent. She earned my BA in Psychology from the City College of New York in 2021, and is currently pursuing her MSW at NYU. Ashley's goal is to work with...
Ep. 95 7 Lies that Social Workers Believe
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I get into 7 lies that social workers, and break down these myths so that we can be the best social workers we can be!
Laura Swanson, LCSW began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can all thrive in the wonderful field of social work!
If you enjoyed today's episode, please...
Ep. 94 ft. The Vital Role of Geriatric Social Work ft. Chaundra Scott, LMSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Chaundra Scott and dive into her own social work journey & the wonderful and essential world of geriatric social work! We discuss Chaundra's passion for the aging and older population & the need for more social workers in this niche & so much more!
Chaundra Scott, LMSW is a Maryland based & licensed social worker with 20+ years of social work experience. She compassionately supports families in need with discharge planning, placement, care coordination and elderly support. She earned her MSW degree from...
Ep. 93 Finding Purpose in Adoption Recruitment! ft. Kristy Ashley
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Kristy Ashley, and adoption recruiter with the Children's Home, as she details her journey in this field, what her role typically looks like, and meaningful moments she has experienced as an adoption recruiter.
Kristy Ashley is an Adoption Recruiter based in Binghamton, NY, with nearly 22 years of dedicated service at The Children’s Home. She holds an associate degree in Early Childhood Education and has spent her career working with children of all ages and backgrounds.
Th...
Ep. 92 Social Work Needs to Change for Social Workers! ft. Emma Yeager, LMSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, Emma Yeager and I dive into why mentorship is such a crucial piece to thriving in social work & how we aim to fill this need with The Social Work Neighborhood mentorship program!
The Social Work Neighborhood Mentorship: Want to mentor another social worker? Or do you need a social work mentor? Join The Social Work Neighborhood! (Free social work mentorship)ÂEmma Yeager, LMSW graduated with her Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) from Stephen F. Austin State University in December 2022 and with h...
Ep. 91 All Things Telehealth & Remote Social Work ft. Catherine Moore, LCSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Catherine Moore of Social Workers, Rise! and we get into the nitty gritty of teletherapy, working from home and how we make it a space we can thrive in!
Catherine Moore, LCSW is a Mental Health speaker, best selling author, podcaster, and therapist. Catherine was born & raised in Southern California. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) in 2009 and a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) in 2015 from California State University, Long Beach. Catherine has experience...
Ep. 90 Labor Organizing & Building Community for Social Workers! ft. Nohemi Acosta
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, I speak with Nohemi Acosta, LMSW. Nohemi is an incredible social worker who details her non-traditional social work journey, including her work with labor organizing, what the profession needs to change & the importance of building community!
Nohemi Acosta, LMSW (she/her) is a passionate social worker, advocate, and therapist dedicated to providing culturally competent, anti-racist, and trauma-informed care. As the daughter of immigrants and someone who has personally navigated systemic barriers, Nohemi brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her...
Ep. 89 Balancing Passion & Pressure: The Social Worker’s Journey to Resilience ft. Malaysia Harrell
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we speak with Malaysia Harrell, a seasoned social worker with incredible insight & experience. Malaysia details her social work journey, including how she escaped burnout after a near death experience.
Malaysia Harrell is a psychotherapist, spiritual transformation coach, award-winning entrepreneur, veteran, keynote speaker, and author who helps women find freedom and fulfillment. But really, she is a healer, an unleasher, and a light that leads women back to their true selves so they can live fully and finally. As a licensed psychotherapist...
Ep. 88 The Ins & Outs of Emotional Support Animals & ESA Letters ft. Daniel Maigler
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we speak with Daniel Maigler, LCSW & mental health advisor of Paws for Patrick. Dan gives incredible insight on emotional support animals, how therapists can screen for & write ESA letters & more!
Daniel Maigler, LCSW is the mental health advisor for Paws for Patrick, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting young people with emotional support animals. He has been a school social worker and therapist in private practice for over 20 years. Dan is also the host of his podcast, "Not Allowed to Die," where...
Ep. 87 Supporting Clients in this Political Climate
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we get into how social workers can support clients during heightened political times, including by talking about politics, stepping away from western individualism & empowering collective and community action.
Laura Swanson, LCSW began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can all thrive in the wonderful field of social work!
If you...
Ep. 86 Family Building & Navigating Adversity with Adoption ft. Julie Ryan McGue
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we speak again with author & adoptee, Julie McGue, talking further about experience with adoption, having a twin, infertility, family building & more! A very insightful conversation for everyone to listen to.
Julie Ryan McGue is an American writer, a domestic adoptee, and an identical twin. In her books, essays, and blogs, she explores the topics of finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it. Her award-winning memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging...
Ep. 85 Being Outspoken in Social Work & Challenging Saviorism
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we talk about a couple articles I read about social workers needing to be more outspoken & about a social worker that is dealing with compassion fatigue.
Laura Swanson, LCSW began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can all thrive in the wonderful field of social work!
She also owns Inner Compass Psychotherapy...
Ep. 84 Sides Hustles & AI Listening to Sessions
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we get into sides hustles that won't drain social workers, using AI to listen to sessions and write notes, finding a therapy office space & explaining our job to others.Â
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can all thrive in the wonderful f...
Ep. 83 The Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact 101
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we dive into the latest developments and overview of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, what this entails and pros/cons for social workers!Â
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can all thrive in the wonderful field of social work!
Ep. 82 Dual Relationships in CPS, Getting into Admin, & Imposter Syndrome
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are diving into conundrums faced by fellow social workers and providing insight on their dilemmas on Reddit, including a CPS worker having a child in class with a former client, transitioning from direct work to administration, and not feeling confident after starting at a new job!Â
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is t...
Ep. 81 NASW Sucks, Changing Careers & Setting Boundaries in Social Work
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are diving into conundrums faced by fellow social workers and providing insight on their dilemmas - From not seeing the point of the NASW, considering what other career they could have, and releasing the emotional burdens of social work.
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build...
Ep. 80 Embracing AI & VR in Therapy ft. Amity Cooper
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Amity Cooper, Therapreneur to dive into how therapists can reject fear & lean into using AI and VR to support their practice!
Amity Cooper is a seasoned entrepreneur, trained mental health professional, and entrepreneurial coach.
For over 20 years, Amity has run a variety of businesses, from designing handbags to making and manufacturing gourmet chocolates, which has given her the knowledge and experience to help others start and run their own businesses. Now, as a trained therapist...
Ep. 79 Making Money in Social Work! ft. Teddy Nguyen
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Teddy Nguyen, a social worker & financial coach to dive into the widely held negative beliefs about money that social workers hold & to get into strategies to support financial wellbeing!Â
Teddy Nguyen is a Texas-based social worker and Financial Coach. He brought his experience working with addiction recovery, homelessness, mental health, and child welfare into the personal finance world. He sees an incredible amount of pessimism when it comes to personal money management, and his goal is to b...
Ep. 78 How Social Work School Needs to Change! ft. Emma Yeager, MSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Emma Yeager, a recent MSW graduate to dive into her experiences with social work education, gaps in our education, feeling unprepared, and how we can better support social work student interns!
Emma Yeager recently graduated with her Masters of Social Work (MSW) and passed her Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) exam in the state of Texas. She graduated with her Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) from Stephen F. Austin State University in December 2022 and with her MSW...
Ep. 77 Coworker Bullying & Overwhelming First Days in Social Work
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, Laura
reviews a prompt from the Anti-Burnout Card Deck on mindful eating during the work day, and gives advice to fellow social workers experiencing bullying from a coworker and being overwhelmed with their first job post-grad.
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up s...
Ep. 76 My Road to Clinical Licensure!
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, Laura shares her recent experience studying & passing the ASWB's LCSW exam! Stay tuned for information on the application process & fees, tools I used to study, and what's next as an LCSW!
Laura Swanson, LCSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can all thrive in...
Ep. 75 Social Workers In it For the Money & Wearing Expensive Items
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we get into a mindfulness prompt from the Anti-Burnout card deck, and diving into Redditors issues with public opinions on social workers and money, and if it's okay for us to wear expensive items.
Laura Swanson, LMSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers and build each other up so we can...
Ep. 74 The Basics of Cognitive Behavior Therapy
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we get into cognitive behavior therapy, one of favorite modalities! I talk all about the cognitive triangle and specific ways we can support clients in changing thoughts and behaviors. A great framework to see if you'd be interested in pursuing more training, or getting to know some basics to incorporate into your social work!Â
Laura Swanson, LMSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and s...
Ep. 73 Good Supervision: What is it & Why It's Important! ft. Francesca Sternfeld
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Francesca Sternfeld, LSCW, SIFI, to dive into all things supervision! Francesca shares her incredible passion & insight into supervision, including the importance of it, skills supervisors can use, how students can use it to evolve in their work and more!
Francesca Sternfeld, LCSW-SIFI is a clinician, educational coordinator and outreach specialist for the Puerto Rican Family Institute in New York City. She infuses practice with insights drawn from her varied experiences in the worlds of political science...
đź”’ SWB+ Ep. 6 Giving Advice to Fellow Social Workers on r/socialwork & r/therapists
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we dive into Reddit forums r/social work and r/therapists to give advice to other professionals on leaving the field, starting a private practice, and staying present and engaged with telehealth sessions. We also do a mindfulness prompt from the Anti-Burnout Card Deck!
Laura Swanson, LMSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her...
Ep. 72 How to Keep Growing as a Social Worker, EFT Tapping & Other Learnings
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by me, myself, and I, diving into strategies I've learned post-burnout to keep growing as a social worker, having passion for the field again, some interventions I've learned about, and going over a prompt from the Anti-Burnout Card Deck.
Laura Swanson, LMSW is a New York based therapist that began The Social Work Bubble in order to build community and a hub of helpful resources and support for social workers! Her aim is to connect fellow social workers...
Ep. 71 The World of School Social Work Coaching ft. Jocelyn Sailor
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Jocelyn Sailor, LCSW and District Social Work Coach. Jocelyn shares her journey in social work, describes the ins and outs of her role as a school social work coach, effective interventions, collaboration skills, and highlights the planners & resources she offers at School Social Work Solutions!
Jocelyn Sailor, LCSW is a District Social Work Coach in Connecticut, and the owner of School Social Work Solutions LLC, a mental health brand that empowers, educates, and provides resources to school...
Ep. 70 Entering Private Practice & Latinx Mental Health ft. Andrea Rodriguez
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Andrea Rodriguez, LMHC! She talks about leaving the nonprofit world to enter private practice, including how to make that decision and navigating starting a business. Andrea also highlights some mental health struggles for Latinx people - important considerations for all social workers & mental health providers!
Andrea Rodriguez, LMHC is in private practice in upstate NY. She specializes in trauma, abuse, Latino populations, immigrant experiences, and women’s mental health. She practices in English and Spanish and teaches ps...
Ep. 69 The Ins & Outs of Transplant & LVAD Social Work ft. Beats By Social Work Podcast
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by the hosts of the Beats by Social Work Podcast, Tiffany & Kristin, to dive into the essential and interesting world of transplant & LVAD social work. We get into a typical day, the power of advocacy, biggest challenges, essential skills & more!
Tiffany Coco is an LCSW in Arizona with 18 years of social work experience, In transplant for over 10 years, specializing in living donor, lung, heart, LVAD, and VCA. Now a Social Work Education Specialist. She is also involved in se...
Ep. 68 Supporting Others During Life's Hardships ft. Jordan Arogeti of SupportNow
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by the co-founder and CEO of SupportNow, Jordan Arogeti. Jordan details her journey to starting SupportNow, and online registry to offer money, meals, errands, and more to those experiencing some of life's most difficult moments. We also touch on how social workers are often the one's supporting families and creating a network of resources during these times.
SupportNow was Founded in 2021 by Scott and Jordan Arogeti, out of a desire to offer support and relief to those in...
Ep. 67 The Essential Skills of Cognitive Rehab ft. Liz Ramdas
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Liz Ramdas, a social worker that has found passion in cognitive rehab work! Liz discusses actual skills all social workers can use, the importance of screening for brain injury & shines light on this essential social work role that is often overlooked.
Liz Ramdas, MS, LMSW is a former New York City school psychologist who pursued her social work degree after many years in the school system. She took an after school job completing psychometric assessments which led...
Ep. 66 Healing Adoption Wounds & Finding Family ft. Julie McGue
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Julie McGue, a domestic adoptee and author. Julie shares her experience as she processed adoption, search for birth family, and the social workers that supported her along the way!Â
Julie Ryan McGue is an American writer, a domestic adoptee, and an identical twin. In her books, essays, and blogs, she explores the topics of finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it. Her award-winning memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, F...
đź”’ SWB+ Ep. 5 A chat about not feeling fulfilled, social justice, burnout prevention, and saying "I don't know"
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On this bonus episode, Laura chats about feeling not fulfilled doing only therapy sessions, and how there is a lack of typical social working that. She also details the importance of advocacy and social justice as we call to support those suffering in Palestine, Sudan, and the Congo. We then review two prompts from the Anti-Burnout Card Deck, and wrap up with noticing how she kept saying to clients "I don't know" during sessions.
Laura Swanson, LMSW is a New York based therapist that began...
Ep. 65 Getting Out of Debt for the Social Worker ft. Taylor G., LCSW
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On this episode of The Social Work Bubble Podcast, we are joined by Taylor, the creator of Social Work to Wealth, giving us some tips and insight into her own journey paying off debt and building wealth, and how fellow social workers can do the same!Â
Taylor is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and personal finance blogger at Social Work to Wealth. On her blog, she shares resources and lessons learned on her family's journey to paying off $277,000 of debt and retiring early. Her goal is to empower social workers t...
