Guest Blog Post - Jay Cordova (Dec '21)

Jay Cordova
MSW-MPH Candidate Dec 21

When I was researching graduate programs, I initially looked at multidisciplinary programs because of the leg up it would give me over other job candidates. I thought about the pay increase I may get, and how I would maybe have better chances of gaining employment at a higher position than entry-level. Honestly, to begin, I didn't understand fully what strengths the study of Public Health would give me that wasn't already addressed in Social Work. Now having finished my first semester of Public Health courses, I have gained much insight into why pairing the field of Public Health with Social Work is a phenomenal route of study. The need for Public Health and Social Work integration is recognized by professionals as a way to achieve social equity (Whitestead, 2004). I would suggest there are three main reasons why having a degree in both Public Health and Social Work is beneficial.  

 First, the amount of knowledge gained through interdisciplinary study is greater than what is learned during one concentration. For example, the number of theories I am aware of are more than I would have known only studying Social Work. You may think, why do I need to know more theories, but I have already found it helpful. Some theories I have learned during my first semester of Public Health courses have helped me explain things that occur in social work.  

I was assigned a semester-long project this past semester to develop a program. I chose to create a program to address youth suicide. Youth Suicide is definitely addressed in the field of social work, which makes sense considering it is a mental health issue that is affected by social influences, but recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named youth suicide a public health concern. One of the tasks required when proposing a program is to justify the approach of the program, which is done using theory. Suicide is a topic often addressed in social work, and I knew some common Social Work theories like the Social Cognitive Theory. I chose to use the Social Cognitive Theory and found myself coming up short explaining all of the components to be considered, which explain suicide. I chose to incorporate the Health Belief Theory as a supplement and was able to cover all of the areas of my topic. I had never heard of the Health Belief  Model before taking a public health course, but I found it helpful to explain social behaviors that are health-related, in this case, suicide.  

 

 Second, being in a multidisciplinary field of study has awarded me with a greater perspective when addressing real-world issues. The field of Public Health often considers epidemiology or pathology, and Social Work often takes a strengths-based perspective. "Social work practice in the drug abuse field is closely tied to the epistemology of logical positivism" (Anastas & Lushin, 2011). For example, considering someone who smokes cigarettes, the field of Public health says smoking kills and causes cancer, and we need to help people quit. Social work may look at it as the person is smoking, but it is helping cope with the cessation of drinking for an alcoholic. The choice would be to focus on the cessation of drinking as a strength and smoking cigarettes as helping end a greater health risk. Being knowledgeable in both fields, I would consider both aspects of this issue. I would also consider the cross-section of alcoholism as a chronic illness (Public Health) that often starts because of mental illness or co-occurring with a mental illness (Social Work), (Flanigan & Ward, 2017).  

Third, my knowledge of resources has increased exponentially. For the most part, Social Work has taught me how to find resources meant to help a client or a client’s family. Public Health has introduced me to resources that address communities and larger populations. One of the best things I learned about is the County Rankings Website. Knowing how the county I live in measures on a topic gives me a better start to help solve a social work issue. To return to my previous project example about youth suicide, Social Work resources helped me determine what to include as places someone could go to for help. County Health rankings helped me understand where in Georgia youth suicide was happening at elevated rates. It would be pointless to develop a program to help a community if that community is not facing that problem.  

 

Finally, as just a personal opinion of my experience thus far, I have grown more as a person because the two fields combined give me a more holistic learning experience.  

Jay Cordova is an MSW-MPH Candidate graduating in December 2021.

Jay is currently interning at Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia. View Jay's LinkedIn here. 

References 

 

• Flanigan, A., & Salm Ward, T. (2017). Evidence and Feasibility of Implementing an Integrated Wellness Program in Northeast Georgia. Health & Social Work, 42(3), 143–150. https://doi-org.proxy-remote.galib.uga.edu/10.1093/hsw/hlx021 
•  Lushin, V. (2011). Harm reduction in substance abuse treatment: Pragmatism as an epistemology for social work practice. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions., 11(1), 96. 
•  Whiteside, M. (2004). The challenge of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the social determinants. Australian Social Work, 57(4), 381. https://doi-org.proxy-remote.galib.uga.edu/10.1111/j.0312-407X.2004.00168.x 

What it Means to be a Dual Professional- Guest Post by Kellye Call Morgan (Dec '21)

Kellye Call Morgan -
MSW/MPH Candidate (Dec '21)

When I first began my studies as a social work graduate student, the idea of applying for the Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH) dual degree program was brought to me a few times. I could not quite understand how the two fields worked together but trusted the professors’ suggestion and entered the program. Fortunately, it was soon obvious why these two degrees work so well together and how we can use this dual program to market our professional identities in academia and the workforce. 

Scanlon (2011) states that our professional identity is multidimensional, and the formation of our identity is dynamic. Professionals should always aim to continue learning as they move through their career and having a background in two fields will push dual professionals towards that goal. Those who hold MSW/MPH degrees can continuously work on two identities based on two different lived experiences and how they can be molded into one. Using dual degrees also furthers the idea of “crafting” your professional self to adjust behaviors in order to work well in different job environments (Scanlon, 2011). We have the unique ability to craft ourselves as dual professionals who can adapt to many different colleagues and clients. This will enable us to get along with an interdisciplinary team, a likely possibility for many of us heading into the medical or public health field. For example, we are able to use our social work education to adjust how we speak to a client or advocate for their needs, and we are able to use our public health background to advocate for policies in front of lawmakers or heads of organizations.

An interdisciplinary approach is the combination of ideas, theories, and methods from two or more disciplines or fields (Stokols et al., 2013). Based on this definition, dual-degree holders are uniquely positioned to work in interdisciplinary teams. However, we are also able to take a transdisciplinary approach in our work to help our teams reach innovative solutions that can change our fields. This means not only integrating different perspectives but using them to transcend the current concepts and research of all fields involved (Stokols et al., 2013). Dual degree professionals have an extensive background in blurring the lines between multiple fields. For example, when an MSW/MPH student is in a social work class, they can bring public health perspectives to help fellow students see how things are affected at a more macro or population level. When they are in a public health class, they can remind their classmates to consider the humans behind interventions and take individual-level attributes into account. This leads to more effective ideas and solutions, and makes dual degree professionals invaluable in their positions. Stokols et al. (2013) also mention that a transdisciplinary approach values an understanding among teams that every member’s background holds merit, and there is a responsibility for each team member to know everyone’s knowledge and skills. Dual degree team members have been taught the value of this in their schooling and can then help foster this approach among their professional team. 

I have already seen the value of having two degrees in real-world experiences. My field education for my generalist year in the social work program was at a hospice agency. Hospice agencies require working in interdisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and administrators. Within this agency, I witnessed the challenges of working with those whose educational experiences were all vastly different from other members of the team. A public health social worker would have been useful at this agency in helping to promote understanding of everyone’s roles to create the best outcomes for patients, a concept that Ambrose-Miller & Ashcroft (2016) also touches on. For example, nurses are taught to be very patient-focused while social workers focus more on the entire family. Oftentimes, the nurse would intervene on behalf of the patient instead of listening to the social worker, throwing off the family dynamic that the social worker had been helping to keep balanced during a delicate time. Had trust and understanding of roles been developed, this may not have happened as often. Dual degree professionals are also trained to advocate for themselves and their unique perspectives. This is important to interdisciplinary teams so that all ideas can be incorporated into solutions and interventions. I have had experience with this in my specialization year internship, where I am working in more of a public health setting. I have been able to draw upon my unique education to advocate for clients and bring my team ideas that had not previously been considered. 

I have learned that being a dual professional means calling on different backgrounds, lived experiences, and theoretical frameworks to bring about transformative change in the areas in which we work. Receiving training in two different fields means we do not see divisions between other professions, and we can appreciate their perspectives, even when they differ from our own. Our work often lies, then, in helping others to see the value other professionals (and clients) can bring and advocating for our expertise to be heard, as well. As one of my classmates this semester mentioned, if you do not have a seat at the table, you are on the menu. Dual degree holders have the potential to hold two seats at the table and we must take that opportunity or risk two empty chairs. 

- Kellye Call Morgan, MSW/MPH candidate, expected graduation December 2021. 

Kellye is currently interning at the Center for Active Living at the Athens Community Council on Aging.

View Kellye's LinkedIn Profile here.

References

• Ambrose-Miller, W., & Ashcroft, R. (2016). Challenges Faced by Social Workers as Members of Interprofessional Collaborative Health Care Teams: Table 1: Health & Social Work, 41(2), 101–109. doi: 10.1093/hsw/hlw006
• Scanlon, L. (2011). ‘Becoming’ a Professional. In L. Scanlon (Eds.), Becoming a professional: An interdisciplinary analysis of professional learning (pp. 13-32). Springer, Dordrecht.
• Stokols, D., Hall, K. L., & Vogel, A. L. (2013). Transdisciplinary Public Health: Definitions, Core Characteristics, and Strategies for Success. In D. Haire-Joshu & T. McBride (Eds.), Transdisciplinary public health research, education, and practice (pp. 3-30). John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

What It Means to Be a Dual Profession - Guest post by Amanda White (Dec '21)

Amanda White, MSW/MPH Candidate Dec '21

I started off solely as a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed MSW candidate eager for more. I inquired about the MPH program prior to admission to the MSW program, but I thought it'd be too late to apply. Lo and behold, the opportunity presented itself again after the semester started. I guess it was meant to be. How could I not take the chance? I was filled with joy. I wanted to expand my mind, my knowledge; I wanted to pair my social work skills with other disciplines. With past experienced doing medical social work and loving it, I thought obtaining a dual MSW/MPH degree would not only set me apart from others, but it would provide me with a variety of job opportunities. To be a dual professional, I figure I'd need to have multiple perspectives from different backgrounds. The dual MSW/MPH program here at the University of Georgia is preparing me for just that.

The National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics (2017) values service, social justice, dignity and worth of a person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These values are set to be the foundation of social work's unique purpose and perspective. While the majority of my MSW course work focuses on these values, they enable me to work with individuals through a special type of lens. I am equipped with compassion, cultural competence, and more to address social problems with any oppressed and vulnerable group.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) Code of Ethics (2019) values professionalism and trust, health and safety, health justice and equity, interdependence and solidarity, human rights and civil liberties, and inclusivity and engagement. Though these values differ a bit from the NASW Code of Ethics, they play on one another. The APHA set of standards aids me in creating resources and implementing programs through a health promotion lens for oppressed and vulnerable populations.

In comparison, social work and public health are linked together with a common goal of addressing social determinants of health, promoting population health, and advancing social justice (Bachman, 2017). The two, when combined, can support both professions in working toward ways to better understand an individual's health as a community. While public health focuses on prevention, social work is geared toward intervention; together, they can ensure that people are receiving the necessary resources and healthcare services that they need.

As I am still learning and growing, the two degrees are preparing me to bring two distinctive disciplines together as one. Using compassion from a social work perspective and technical skills from a public health standpoint, combined, they can make a major impact. I will maintain my commitment to learning as I continue to strengthen my skills in both arenas. Pursuing a dual degree may not be easy, but it sure is worth it and beneficial. Another useful tool in my toolbox!

-Amanda White, MSW/MPH Candidate, December 2021

Amanda is currently interning at WellStar Cobb Hospital.  

View Amanda's LinkedIn profile.

References
American Public Health Association. (2019). APHA Code of ethics. Retrieved May 3rd 2020, from https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/membergroups/ethics/code_of_ethics.ashx?la=en&hash=3D6643946AE1DF9EF05334E7DF6AF89471FA14EC
Bachman, S. S. (2017). Social Work and Public Health: Charting the Course for
Innovation. American Journal of Public Health, 107, S220. https://doi-org.proxy-remote.galib.uga.edu/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304209
National Association of Social Workers. (2017). NASW code of ethics. Retrieved May 3rd, 2020,
from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

Why the Social Work and Public Health Professions Belong Side-by-Side - Guest Post by Ansley Kasha (May '21)

Ansley Kasha MSW-MPH
May '21

My decision to pursue a Social Work Master's degree and a Public Health Master's degree at the same time was not thought out. In all honesty, it was impulsive. I had already been accepted into the University of Georgia’s Advanced Standing track for my Master of Social Work degree, and I was enthusiastically ready to complete my education and finally see the letters “MSW” at the end of my email signature. I thought this would be enough to satisfy my internal desire to professionally help others and leave a meaningful mark on the world, but I was wrong. I realized in my first semester of grad school that I still felt a sense of unfulfillment, but I was unsure of the origin of this unfulfillment. This is when I was first introduced to the idea of pursuing an additional degree in the field of public health by Dr. Rebecca Wells, and it was the best impulsive decision I have made for myself to date.  

As I continue to pursue my two degrees, I increasingly self-identify as a public health social worker. This personal identification is rooted in an intense passion for health promotion in the interest of the public and the responsibility and privilege to uphold the ethical principles and values of the social work profession. A dual professional like myself has the unique opportunity to make the most informed decisions for a desired population by pulling expertise and knowledge from complementary professions. Social work and public health are complementary because their domains of service are oftentimes separate, but they share the same overarching goal of improving the well-being of others.  

Social work as a whole is overwhelmingly micro in its approach, focusing on individuals and families. Professional social workers “protect society’s most vulnerable individuals” by “connecting their clients with important resources” (2U Inc., 2021) Public health, however, is macro in its approach, focusing on the larger communities and populations. “Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work, and play” (American Public Health Association [APHA], n.d.). The intersectionally of these professions lies within the unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others.  

My personal definition of a public health social worker is someone who is interested in positively impacting large populations on a macro scale while actively implementing professional social work ethics and values. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) outlines six professional values and ethical principles in the Code of Ethics that align with the profession. The NASW Code of Ethics places emphasis on the following values: Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence (National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2008). I believe the best way I can do my dual degree justice is to incorporate my social work ethics and values into every aspect of the work I do in the public health field. Social work ethics are sound and reliable. It is my personal and professional opinion that every profession should implement a moral code of conduct that rivals that of social work. The recognition of the shared human experience is invaluable to the public health social worker because it provides a grounded framework for providing essential services and exploring interprofessional collaboration.  

I am truly honored to be privileged enough to pursue a dual Master's program in the professions of social work and public health. By the end of the Spring 2020 semester, I will have exactly one more year until I graduate and get a “big girl” job. I do not know where my two degrees will lead me, but I am confident in my ability to represent both professions with grace and humility. My impulse decision to follow my intuition when I felt unfulfilled only pursuing my Master of Social Work degree is something I am proud of. I hope that this same intuition follows me into my professional career as I aim to be the best public health social worker that the University of Georgia has ever seen!  

 

- Ansley Kasha, MSW/MPH graduate, May 2021. Ansley is currently working at the UGA College of Public Health as part of the Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group (TSREG) and also works on the Georgia COVID Perinatal Experiences (COPE) study through Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health

View Ansley's LinkedIn Profile here

 

References 

American Public Health Association [APHA]. (n.d.) What is public health? Retrieved from https://www.apha.org/what-is-public-health
U2 Inc. (2021, June 11). Macro, Mezzo and Micro Social Work. Social Work License Map. Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://socialworklicensemap.com/become-a-social-worker/macro-mezzo-and-micro-social-work/.
National Association of Social Workers [NASW] (2008). NASW Code of Ethics (Guide to the
Everyday Professional Conduct of Social Workers). Washington, DC: NASW.