Social workers play a major role in providing psychosocial care to persons with cancer, as well as to their families, and caregivers, through networking, education, advocacy, research, and resource development. In fact NASW National Director Betsy Clark’s background is health care with a specialization in oncology. She has worked in direct clinical practice; has held several academic positions including an associate professorship in medical oncology; has been a hospital administrator; has conducted research and has published in such areas as cancer survivorship and bereavement. Betsy is past president of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and an advisory board member of the Intercultural Cancer Council, a partner with C-Change: Collaborating to Conquer Cancer.
As noted in a recent article in the May 2010 National NASW News, the demand for cancer care in the near future will far outpace the workforce trained to help people with the disease. NASW is joining the campaign to address this problem by encouraging non-oncology social workers and social work students to strengthen their core understanding of cancer.
National Cancer Survivors Day will be observed in a variety of settings around the state of Illinois. One of those settings is the Community Cancer Center in Normal, IL. The center’s mission is to improve the health status of individuals by providing comprehensive, community-based cancer care. Candi Gray, MSW, LCSW, OSWC, chair of the NASW IL East Central District and member of the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, is the only social worker at the Community Cancer Center. She notes that “as an oncology social worker, I have the privilege everyday to help those who are affected by cancer find the knowledge, support, and hope they will need to face the challenges and changes their diagnosis brings.”
This past April, the Oncology Nursing Society, the Association of Oncology Social Work, and the National Association of Social Workers developed a Joint Position on the Role of Oncology Nursing and Oncology Social Work in Patient Navigation.Additional cancer resources for social workers can be found at here.
