AOSW Connections

Roadmaps, the old-school paper fold-out guide, may be outdated with GPS on most phones today, but maps have long been valuable visual reminders of a trip, a journey about where one started traveling and what they saw and experienced along the way to the next destination. Visual maps also provide opportunities, options, and hope about where one might want to go in the future.  

Advance care planning – the term sounds preparatory, informed and organized. In actuality, the creation of an advance directive or plans for a future in which you may need help making decisions or caring for yourself can be anxiety-provoking and fear-based, offering significant fodder for procrastination. We could reason that anyone reaching the age of 18 can and should have a plan to make their wishes known and identify who will support them in this plan. So, why don’t we? (See anxiety-provoking, fear-based and procrastination, above.) 

Three simple words can forever change your life. They have the ability to shift your focus to what truly matters. Those three words, “You have cancer,” have a distinct way of dividing your life into two halves, BC – before cancer and AD – after diagnosis.  

A cancer diagnosis often brings feelings of fear, anxiety, and a sense of losing control. For adolescents and young adults (AYAs), these emotions are intensified by the many uncertainties in their lives. Between work, school, employment, friendships, romantic relationships, and all the complex changes that arise during early adulthood, a cancer diagnosis can further compound an already confusing and often daunting time (Sansom-Daley & Wakefield, 2013).

There is substantial research indicating lower rates of advance directives (ADVs) completion in Hispanic and Black communities. Various factors contribute to these lower rates, including cultural beliefs, mistrust, lack of awareness, religious views, family dynamics, and communication barriers. When engaging in conversations about advanced care planning with patients and family members from historically marginalized communities, oncology social workers must remain mindful of how these factors can impact these difficult discussions. 

Here two social workers will discuss their ongoing journeys toward greater cultural awareness when engaging traditionally marginalized communities in discussions of advanced care planning. 

It’s estimated that only about one-third of American adults have completed a living will, healthcare power of attorney, or both. The numbers are similar whether an individual has a chronic illness or is healthy (Yadav et al, 2017).  The reasons these numbers are low are not hard to imagine—discomfort with thinking about end of life; not having time to discuss with a provider during a medical visit; or simply believing “I’ll do it later,” to name a few.  

Thank you to all who attend the AOSW’s 40th Annual Conference: Harnessing the Past for Growth in the Future. If you missed being with us in May, you can still purchase 2024 conference recordings and earn CEs.  

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my life in terms of seasons. Thinking this way has been something that’s resonated with me for as long as I can remember, but I’ve leaned on it the last few months more so than I’ve ever done before. As I shared in the last issue, I became a mom in January. Since my son was born, I’ve found myself thinking things like – “I’m in the season of being a new mom,” or “This is really hard right now, but I’ll get through it.” I’ve also found myself even saying these things out loud. This perspective has not only helped me cope with the things that feel really challenging, but it also helps me be graceful with myself as I’m moving through whatever may be happening in my life.  

One of my favorite things about numbers and data is the concreteness of it all. So much of social work is working with shades of gray, it can be refreshing to look at complex challenges from the crispness of an Excel spreadsheet. One of my major duties as Secretary-Treasurer is managing the creation and approval of the budget.

The AOSW Membership Committee is excited to announce the relaunch of the Mentorship Program.  This free member benefit is self-service. To participate, simply update your Member Profile to reflect your interest in volunteering as a mentor, mentee, or both.