The National Association of Social Workers and CancerCare^® Present “Understanding Cancer: The Social Worker's Role”

A FREE two-hour online course for social workers and mental health professionals.

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and CancerCare^® , with generous support from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, present “Understanding Cancer: The Social Worker's Role.”

This free two-hour Web-based course, available April 15, is geared toward social workers and mental health professionals.

Employed in more work settings and across more disciplines than any other professional group, social workers interact with cancer patients, as well as the full spectrum of the community, helping millions of people through clinical interventions and social services each day.

“The social work profession is distinguished by an advanced understanding of psychosocial needs. Social workers understand that severe illness, such as cancer, affects every part of a person's life, including relationships with family members, co-workers, friends, and the community,” says NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH. “Social workers are trained to help people adopt effective coping strategies to make life manageable.”

“The beauty of the program is that we are expanding social workers' knowledge about oncology, says CancerCare^® Executive Director Diane S. Blum, ACSW. “Trained social workers will then be able to better provide services to people in local communities.”

The “Understanding Cancer” Web-based education program is expected to train 5,000-7,000 social workers per year, thereby benefiting more than a quarter of a million individuals in the U.S. , and thousands of others abroad.

Topics covered by this course will include education about cancer; common cancer terms; cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment; common myths about cancer; cancer treatments and their side effects; and pain management for cancer patients.

In addition to the physical aspects of cancer, “Understanding Cancer” will also spotlight psychological challenges and issues related to this widely feared disease, including:

• Assessing the impact of patients' personal and cultural beliefs about illness and medicine;
• Handling fears about financial and/or employment losses; and
• Dealing with emotional/mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, the importance of hope, and the bereavement process.

Please visit www.socialworkers.org or www.NASWWebEd.org for more information about “Understanding Cancer: The Social Worker's Role.”

The National Association of Social Workers Insurance Trust is an entity created in 1967 by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for the purpose of designing, securing and overseeing high quality, competitive insurance programs that are offered to the NASW membership.  Through the Trust's insurance programs, the Trustees strive to creatively meet the changing and diverse insurance needs of social workers, thereby enhancing the value of NASW membership as well. The Trustees, who are five social workers, are fiduciaries and are ever mindful of their commitment to maintaining the financial stability and fiscal integrity of the NASW Insurance Trust.

Cancer Care  is dedicated to helping people face the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Cancer Care  provides the highest-quality professional support services—including counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help—free to people with cancer, their loved ones, bereaved family members, and health care professionals across the country. Founded in 1944, Cancer Care  now serves more than 80,000 people each year, of all ages, with all types of cancer and at any stage of the disease. More information about Cancer Care  can be found online at www.cancercare.org or by calling (800) 813-HOPE (4673).