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We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this newsletter! If you’d like to help us in writing, please send us a message by replying to this email. We are considering adding sections on international social work, jobs in the field, and recommendations on books, podcasts, and other interesting materials for social workers.

Today’s question: When was the first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders first published?

News

Resettling Afghan evacuees

As of February 2022, some 65,000 Afghans evacuated during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan have settled in U.S. communities.

The official name of the program is Operation Allies Welcome, and it seeks to resettle tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees successfully across the United States. How does it all work? There are two main steps:

1. Evacuees first go through rigorous security and health checks

2. Evacuees are then matched with private groups including various religious groups that help the evacuees secure housing, work, education, and healthcare. These agencies get $2,275 in funding for each evacuee that they support.

The ultimate goal is to help the evacuees transition into our society, at least while their immigration status is still valid.

Yet this is not without its challenges. There has been a housing shortage so severe that the government has partnered with AirBnB to help provide emergency housing. Furthermore, there are many complications regarding the legal status of the evacuees, and questions regarding their permanent resettlement in our country.

Other social work-related news

• Charlamagne da God seeks to help 10 million black Americans see a therapist over the next 5 years

• When will it stop? Yet another Asian woman is killed in NYC by a man who was homeless

• The White House issues a public announcement around National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

• The mental health struggles of crypto traders

Policy

Child poverty and tax credits

From July to December of 2021, Child Tax Credits were expanded. The payments provided $250 per child aged 6 to 17 and up to $300 per child aged under 6. These credits reached over 61 million children in over 36 million households.

Unfortunately, the Child Tax Credit expired at the end of 2021. A recent study on the impact of the expired expanded Child Tax Credit showed troubling findings:

• The expiration of the expanded Child Tax Credit has led to 3.7 million more children living in poverty - a 41% increase between December 2021 and January 2022

• Monthly poverty also increased by 17% between December 2021 and January 2022 for the whole US population

• Latino children experienced the largest percentage point increase in child poverty

Other reads on policy

• Thousands of children in Delaware are unable to obtain medical coverage due to their immigration status. A recently introduced bill seeks to change that

• Although most U.S. adults over the age of 65 have some mental health coverage through Medicare, many are not seeking services due to financial barriers

• How well are schools in different states supporting the mental health of children?

Research

Research on overdose suicides

From 1999 to 2019, U.S. overdose deaths tripled from 6.1 to 21.6 per 100,000 people and suicide rates increased 35.2%.

Researchers tried to better understand this increase and whether there is variation in the rates according to month, day of the week, and sex. The research had some very interesting insights:

1. Suicide by overdose was lowest on Saturday, but suicides seemed to increase when there was more daylight

2. There have been increased suicides by overdose in 15- to 24-year-old men from 2015 to 2019

3. There have been increased suicides by overdose in 15- to 24-year-old women from 2014 to 2019

4. There have been increased suicides by overdose in 75- to 84-year-old men and women from 2001 to 2019

5. Rates were highest among women aged 45–64 during 2001–2019

Other reads on research

• Research found that there are promising treatment options for the treatment of individuals who are mentally ill and involved with the criminal justice system

• Increased mental health disorders in those with COVID-19

Books/Podcasts for Social Workers

• Inside Schizophrenia

• Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work

Have any other recommendations? Send them in by replying to this email.

Answer: 1952

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