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Having the right people on a technology implementation team is make or break for project success. Too often in human services, the right people aren’t involved from the beginning and by the time the project hits end users, it’s dead in the water.

In our experience, assembling a clearly defined team is the first step toward increasing user adoption when it comes to technology. While the number of people involved may differ depending on the size of your agency and the scope of the project, the general makeup should be the same.

Being a social worker can be challenging. After a difficult home visit or day in the field, inspiration can be especially hard to come by. So, why not carry a little bit of it with you?

We created these 15 inspirational iPad wallpapers to help keep social workers going, even when the going gets tough. Save your favorite (or all of them, if you'd like!) for the next time you need a motivational boost when you're out in the field, or to remind yourself of the amazing work you're doing.

Have you ever rolled out a new technology solution, only for no one at your agency to use it? Frustrating? Of course. Fixable? Absolutely.

Technology is improving efficiencies in the workplace like never before. So why is it that so many human services agencies struggle with getting their teams to adopt these new tools? Why do some agencies implement a technology solution, only to watch it fail on the front lines?

We’ll let you in on a little secret: A little bit of planning, foresight, and a properly aligned approach can often make the difference between whether or not new technology flourishes or fails. 

Children services agencies and businesses across Ohio supported child abuse prevention by dressing in blue on April 13, 2016, for Wear Blue, the statewide awareness campaign that takes place on the second Wednesday of every April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. Ohioans are encouraged to wear blue that day - to work, to school, to a community event - to show support for preventing child abuse and neglect.

Northwoodians proudly joined child welfare advocates across Ohio by donning our blue.

As part of our Marketing duties, my teammate Mae Wells-Kress and I travel the country talking to caseworkers and social workers. In those travels, we’ve asked dozens of people the same four questions about what it means to be in social work.

1. Why did you go into social work?
2. What is the most challenging thing about social work?
3. What stereotype about social work would you clear up?
4. What is the best thing about social work?