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"What makes the profession of social work distinctive and exciting? How do social workers differ from sociologists, psychologists, and other counselors, advocates, and helping professionals? Which degrees, licenses, and credentials can social workers obtain? And in what kinds of work, or fields of practice, can social workers specialize? All these questions are worth considering when one feels led to become a professional social worker"--

Social workers often work with clients who are at elevated risk for firearm victimization or perpetration due to their personal risk factors. But are they talking to their clients about firearms? Research on social workers' firearm assessment or discussions with clients about safe storage is scarce. This study sought to better understand social workers and students' firearms training, beliefs, general knowledge, and application to practice. An anonymous, online, quantitative survey was completed by 139 social workers and students. Most social work practitioners and students had zero hours of training regarding firearms in their social work programs, their internship, and/or from continuing education units (CEUs). Those that had training asked clients about firearms. Besides asking suicidal and aggressive clients, most social workers were not routinely asking other high- risk clients about their access to firearms or their storage practices. Over half of the participants said they would be interested in future training. Social workers have unique skills and key connections with high-risk clients who are vulnerable to firearm-related risks. They have the potential to prevent gun violence, but only if they receive thorough, effective training on firearms assessment and safe storage practices.

Research methods courses elicit more anxiety than usual for graduate social work students, and the online environment may pose an even greater challenge as the personal interaction between instructor and student is reduced or absent. It is therefore incumbent on research instructors to creatively engage students, reduce anxiety, and foster learning. There is a dearth of evidence, particularly regarding online education, explicating specific teaching strategies. This exploratory study sought to provide some answers. First-semester MSW students were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, online survey at the end of a research methods course to determine which online teaching strategies were most effective in decreasing anxiety and increasing perception of knowledge. Strategies used in the class include asynchronous activities such as discussion questions, PowerPoint lectures, and email and telephone contact with instructors in addition to synchronous class sessions. Three tactics were rated by the 43 respondents as being most helpful for both decreasing anxiety and enhancing the perception of knowledge: personal contact with the instructor either via email, phone, and/or online meetings; the instructor's synchronous class sessions; and active learning strategies employed during the synchronous class sessions. Implications for teaching and future research are discussed.

Human Trafficking is a serious global crime, particularly catastrophic in Africa. An asynchronous, online, interprofessional course on Human Trafficking was developed to educate interprofessional Catholic sisters in Africa who are attempting to intervene in the crisis. This article describes an interprofessional university team's development, work processes, course product, and the initial impacts of the utilization of the interprofessional skills by the students. Specific elements deemed essential for success in creating and implementing IPE are delineated, including commitment from departments and colleges, respect for other professionals/disciplines, library support, time allowances, technology and learning design, and community relationships. Challenges and recommendations in the process as well as suggestions for future research are also discussed.