AOSW Connections
Editorial Team
Editor-in-Chief
Amy Colver, MSSA, MA, LISW
AOSW Communications Director
Jeanice Hansen, LCSW, OSW-C
Managing Editor
Patricia Sullivan
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November 2024
Volume 4 | Issue 4
President's Message
President’s Message
“If you want to hear the Universe laugh, tell it your plans.” I heard a version of this saying a couple of years ago. I remember thinking how well and how simply it summed up life. As I move toward the end of my year as AOSW president and into the beginning of my third decade as a social worker I find not only truth but solace in this statement.
Education
AOSW Education News
What an exciting year for learning! 2024 is coming to a close and we have so many exciting offerings planned for 2025. AOSW is excited to offer several opportunities to engage in learning, professional development, growth and networking.
Editor's Message
Editor's Message
It’s that time of year again, my favorite season, fall. I’m pretty sure every time I write an editor’s message during this time of year, I start it off by saying something about how much I love the season – the crisp air, the way the sun hits the trees, the beautiful colors. I apologize for a somewhat repetitive introduction, but it’s simply the best time of year, in my opinion.
Membership
Growing in Mentorship
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin
Thinking back, I am not sure I even was aware of the term “mentor” when I met my first mentor, Denise, back in 2002.
Survivorship
Therapeutic Benefits of Writing for Cancer Survivors
Writing has been recognized to have a myriad of psychological benefits. It has been found to help individuals express inhibited emotions, create a new narrative about a traumatic event, and find meaning in a stressful experience. (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005; Pennebaker & Beall, 1986). Importantly, writing has also been identified as an accessible therapeutic tool during times of stress (Adams, 1990). Research has shown that cancer patients often experience extreme distress. (Kirk et al., 2021). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that distress is common after a patient has transitioned into survivorship (National Cancer Institute, 2020). Consequently, writing has the potential to serve as a beneficial and attainable therapeutic intervention for the oncology population, including for those in survivorship.
Support for Young Adult Survivors: Navigating the Journey Beyond Cancer
For young adults (YAs) navigating life after a cancer diagnosis, survivorship is an ongoing journey that extends far beyond treatment. Nearly 84,000 YAs are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States (Miller et al.,2020). The increasing number of young adult survivors can be attributed to an increase in overall incidence of cancer in this age group in the last decade (Miller, et al., 2020).
Mental Health and Survivorship
Cancer and its aftereffects on young adult survivors can significantly impact their lifelong care during survivorship. It is imperative to understand the effects of a cancer diagnosis on young adults and its aftermath.
Transitioning Into Survivorship
Coming to the end of treatment for cancer can bring a multitude of feelings including relief and accomplishment. We also know that this period can bring fear, anxiety, and isolation. Many of the clients we work with are so focused on the next appointment, treatment, and side effect that they have little to no time to allow for the space needed to process their emotional response to a cancer diagnosis and the toll the treatments take on their bodies and minds.
The Evolution and Parallel Process of Survivorship: System, Clinician, and Individual
I have been working with individuals in the healthcare arena for 34 years now and, like many of you, I’ve been through and witnessed a lot of changes. I think it is reasonable to say that my formal social work training did not prepare me for most of it. And, how could it?
The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Survivorship in Rural Communities
The five-year survivorship rate for all cancers has improved over time, leaving more cancer survivors living longer and in need of supportive services to ensure an increase in their mental and physical health-related quality of life. Yet, inequity in access to these services still depends on where you live.