I was involved in a lot of volunteer things that really were social work, and I found those much more satisfying. So I did. When I first was in graduate school, there was a trend toward private practice and a kind of abandonment of social work's basic commitment to the poor. I was puzzled because the thing that has attracted me to social work all along has been a commitment to poor people. Now we're seeing that pendulum swing back again.
Social work is much more about social justice and advocacy.
The other change is in managed care-we're starting to see some social work activism reform that. Until now, unrealistic limitations have been placed in terms of how much therapy or how much inpatient treatment mentally ill people can have. In Iowa, things like depression are covered only up to a point, and eating disorders, which are rampant and can be life-threatening, are not covered. People always ask that, and some are offended by the answer. It takes discipline.