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This article describes the results of the first Practice Research Network (PRN) survey conducted by the National Association of Social Workers, a collaborative project funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The objectives of the PRN survey were to develop broad knowledge about social work practices and more specific knowledge about social workers' involvement with substance abuse services. Although 71 percent of the employed social workers reported taking some action related to substance abuse diagnosis and treatment in the preceding 12 months, 53 percent reported receiving no training in substance abuse during the same period. More than 25 percent of the clients seen by the sample were reported to have either a primary or a secondary substance use disorder, yet only 2 percent of the respondents reported addictions as their primary practice area. The results of the survey indicate a need to further assess social workers' role in substance abuse services and to identify training opportunities for the profession.

Objective: This non-experimental, cross-sectional study examined social workers' perceptions of bullying work relationships and their ability to construct effective coping responses to perceived workplace bullying. Methods: Quantitative data were gathered through the use of a mailed questionnaire, and qualitative data resulted from semistructured individual interviews. Participants: The quantitative sample consisted of 111 social workers from the metropolitan, Washington, DC area, who were employed in organizations. Two self-identified targets of bullying participated in the interviews. Results: Nearly three of five social workers (58%) in the sample reported being the targets of demeaning, rude, and hostile workplace interactions more than once in the previous year. Targets were more likely to work in government agencies/military and mental health outpatient organizations (19% and 18% respectively). More than a third of targets (35%) held a direct service role (clinical/direct practice), whereas almost a third (29%) identified their role as administration or management. Conclusion:The findings from this study suggest that workplace bullying may be a problem for social workers and that the social work profession may need to develop tools and guidelines to help practitioners identify, confront and extinguish these behaviors.

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