AOSW Special interest groups
Special Interest Groups (SIGS) offer members with specific interests or needs a network to discuss, explore, and exchange ideas. SIGs form an integral part of AOSW and each draws their membership from the larger Association, Any AOSW member is eligible to affiliate with any, or all, SIGS. The current AOSW SIGS appear below with a link to a page listing the Coordinator, contact information, current activities, annual report and resources.
Special Interest Groups • Other Networks within AOSW
This SIG meets during the annual conference to provide a place to explore pertinent issues of concern in this time of change in health care, to share expertise in areas of fee-for-service, documentation, screening and clinical dilemmas and to network in person with those colleagues in similar settings providing similar services. Any AOSW member who provides fee-for-service or ambulatory oncology social work services, whether in outpatient clinic, free-standing center or private physician's office, is invited to attend this meeting that will also set up goals and plans for activities during the year.
This SIG provides an opportunity to inform members about SIG activities, to look at current issues in BMT, share resource information and identify future needs. Reports will be given on the mentoring program, the development of clinical/educational materials for new BMT social workers and innovative as well as traditional programs developed by BMT social workers.
This SIG serves AOSW members working with brain tumor patients in the following ways: increasing networking and information exchange, developing appropriate protocols for working with brain tumor patients, sharing new information regarding treatments and psychosocial interventions, identifying common issues facing brain tumor patients, family members, caregivers and social workers, developing education material for patients and professionals, and providing mutual support for AOSW members.
This SIG addresses the broad range of interests represented in the membership regarding both children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer and children and adolescents affected by the cancer diagnosis of a parent, close relative or friend. During the annual conference the group meets to network; to share information of practice issues, research and resources; to discuss new programs and service trends; and to identify any action AOSW may need to take on behalf of children affected by cancer.
Oncology patients are increasingly turning to complementary therapies to augment their care and enhance their total well-being. Scientific evidence is growing to support the fact that thoughts, beliefs, and emotions can have an impact on physical as well as emotional health. Oncology social workers are frequently asked by patients for information about these modalities and for assistance in choosing and/or utilizing them. This SIG was formed to provide a forum for communication among AOSW members regarding complementary and alternative medicine techniques. Goals include developing mechanisms or resources to learn how to research specific complementary approaches; developing resource lists of "model programs" which employ complementary approaches in oncology care; and development of a resource list of insurance companies which include coverage for complementary therapies.
This SIG seeks to enhance the understanding and knowledge base of diversity issues related to, but not limited to, culture, race, age, gender and religion as this impacts our profession and oncology patients. A major goal of this SIG is to heighten the level of sensitivity to the issues of diversity in oncology and increase AOSW members' knowledge base in working with diverse populations.
This SIG welcomes AOSW members who are interested in all kinds of end-of-life issues, including but not exclusive to, hospice care. There is increasing interest in palliative care, which recognizes the need to holistically address patients in order to help the patient and family achieve the best quality of life when there is no cure. The purpose of this SIG is to keep members updated on current trends in end-of-life, to provide peer support, and to provide ongoing resources relevant to hospice and end-of-life care. The End-of-Life SIG is committed to providing end-of-life educational opportunities at the annual conference, and there are regular features on current issues in the newsletter. Members are encouraged to use the peer support available within the SIG for ongoing discussion of end-of-life concerns.
Ethics impact the work oncology social workers do every day and frequently we are called upon to help patients, families, and colleagues navigate complex matters such as advance directives, treatment decisions, choices about end-of-life care, and communication with the medical team. This SIG will provide a forum for discussion, learning, and collaboration. The SIG will create guidelines and archive educational documents to help OSWs expand their understanding of specific areas, encourage members to incorporate an awareness of ethics at all points of the treatment and care continuum, encourage members to provide presentations and trainings at the annual AOSW conference and other relevant settings, and facilitate ample opportunities for Ethics Continuing Education Units required by most states for social work licensing. This SIG will help validate the interest, voice and authority that OSWs bring to this topic, and ideally foster the professional competency that will empower OSWs to pursue an active role in ethics-related work within their local communities.
This SIG focuses on activities which enhance and promote the role of social work in pain management and palliative care, both within our discipline and with our interdisciplinary colleagues. SIG members are encouraged to develop and assert clinical expertise, participate in state pain initiatives and be aware of legislative activity which impacts pain management and palliative care issues. Communication is largely through the AOSW newsletter, SWON and periodic mailings. The SIG annual meeting is held at the AOSW conference and is designed to give information, network, report on initiatives and give new directions to SIG activity. Social workers interested in learning and expanding the role of social work in the multidimensional aspects of cancer pain management and palliative care are welcome.
Radiation Therapy
The Radiation Therapy SIG provides specialized networking, the opportunity to share specialized professional expertise, education for the oncology community, and fosters support for those OSWs working in RT settings. This RT SIG will contribute to the ability of OSWs in RT settings to provide cutting edge psychosocial support to patients receiving RT and their families. The RT SIG also offers the opportunity for OSWs not working in RT settings to learn more about a cancer treatment that is often misunderstood.
Spirituality as a dimension of being is recognized as a legitimate focus for social work research and practice. This SIG seeks to bring together members interested in networking with other oncology social workers to share information and resources. This is done at the annual program meeting and through contributions to the AOSW newsletter to facilitate the sharing of rapid assessment tools, references, grant opportunities, clinical cases, and other information of interest. The Spirituality SIG has a fluid membership so that there are truly no "newcomers" and all are welcome.
OTHER NETWORKS WITHIN AOSW
Social Work Oncology Research Group (SWORG)
SWORG (Social Work Oncology Research Group) is a committee within the Association of Oncology Social Work that provides opportunities for networking as well as information and advice on conducting psychosocial oncology research. SWORG members are academic researchers as well as clinicians involved or interested in clinical research. A primary goal of SWORG is to assure that social work research in oncology serves the interest of patients and families dealing with cancer and remains relevant to the field. SWORG meetings serve as venues for research to inform practice as well as for practitioners to inform and direct research.
AOSW Cancer Survivors Network (ACSN)
The AOSW Cancer Survivors Network is a network for all AOSW members who have or have had cancer. The group has met formally at every AOSW annual conference since the mid-1990s and keeps in touch throughout the year through an informal, confidential listserv. Network members share resources, talk about experiences and discuss the challenges of being oncology social workers and cancer survivors.
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