This mixed-method in vivo exploratory study examines the learning strategies that prepare students for social work practice and shows that these strategies can make a measurable difference. Though many authors have called for self-awareness to promote cultural sensitivity, the concept of the integrated personal/professional self has not previously been defined, operationalized, or formally validated with any instrument. From 1999 to 2004, a total of 24 Title IV-E stipend students explored personal life issues through an individualized "SELF" course. Thematic analyses and t-tests of alumni data showed significant improvement in cognitive and ethical development, burnout reduction, and competency enhancement by participation in SELF.

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The multiethnic Placement Act (mEPA) and Interethnic Placement Act (IEPA) were passed in an attempt to eliminate race as a barrier to adoption. The purposes of the current research were to discover what child welfare social workers know about mEPA and IEPA, their views about the usefulness of the acts in addressing race issues in adoption, and how these two acts have affected their child placement practices. A randomized nationwide survey of social workers in child welfare had 261 respondents. Respondents seemed knowledgeable about the acts, but they remained uncertain about their intended purpose and lacked knowledge about research on transracial adoption (TRA). The majority of respondents indicated race is a continuing factor in adoptive placements.

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developments in genetic technologies have made it possible to test for a variety of genetic disorders in children. The increased availability of genetic testing has put pressure on adoption agencies to provide genetic testing of pre-adoptive children. This paper examines the current policy on preadoptive genetic testing of children and proposed changes in the policy raised by key policy makers on medical genetics. These policy makers call for substantial restrictions on pre-adoptive genetic testing of all children available for adoption and ignore the potential positive outcomes that such testing could make in finding suitable adoptive families for hard-to-place children. It is recommended that pre-adoptive genetic testing be expanded to include children with special needs.