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The 2004 Social Work Month Gala
Dr. Francis S. Collins delivered the
keynote address at the Third Annual Social Work Month Gala in Washington,
DC, to nearly 200 social workers, community leaders, and other supporters.
This year's Gala, held at the Omni Shoreham on March 11,
2004, honored health care social workers with an emphasis on the
role of genetics in social work. Dr. Collins recognized NASW for
its leadership in the field of genetics, and applauded NASW's Standards
for Integrating Genetics in Social Work Practice.
Dr.
Collins, director of the National
Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of
Health, led the Human Genome Project, which announced the completion
of an international effort to sequence the three billion DNA letters
in the human genome in April 2003. Dr. Collins is optimistic about
the chances of uncovering hereditary contributions to common diseases,
such as heart disease, cancer, and mental illness.
As
advances in the genetics field continue to develop, so too will
the ethical, legal, and social issues. Dr. Collins noted social
workers-and all health care providers-
must become "genetically literate" to effectively respond
to these issues. He said NASW's practice standards on genetics
are a key step in integrating genetics in social work practice,
and offered a "top ten list" of genetics skills for social workers:
- Taking a relevant family
history
- Developing a network for
genetic referrals
- Locating genetic resources
when you need them
- Counseling those undergoing
genetic testing
- Encouraging family communication
about genetic issues
- Understanding the genetics
of psychiatric diseases
- Counseling about differences
in drug response
- Counseling patients with
cancer or a fear of cancer
- Developing cross-cultural
skills in genetic counseling
- Advocating for legislative
protections against genetic discrimination
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