Bringing a Havanese puppy into her family's home, even though she resisted at first, ended up being one of the most soul-affirming things she ever did, writes licensed independent clinical social worker Elisabeth LaMotte. LaMotte ties in the brief but meaningful relationship she developed with Michael Gerson, whose writing was essential to her ability to process her dog's decline and eventual passing.

Wichita State University master's of social work student Donna Tran has refined her philosophy about the profession through her academic work, a practicum at United Way of the Plains and a part-time integrated care role at Comcare Crisis of Sedgwick County. Tran says she has learned the importance of collaboration, adaptability and systemic advocacy. Tran references her participation in her community's point-in-time count for homeless people and her work helping someone who needed long-term care transition successfully from the hospital to a permanent home.

Missoula, Mont., social worker Theresa Williams sees the many gaps faced by people in the city with mental illness as she leads the county's crisis intervention team. The state's legislature has allocated $300 million to be invested over a multi-year period to improve mental health services, but the area's housing situation and the state's lack of sufficient mental health inpatient options all contribute to ongoing problems.

Tribal nations in Oklahoma are teaching Indigenous languages to youth, despite historical efforts to erase them through US Indian boarding schools. For example, Lawton Public Schools offers courses in Comanche and Kiowa, helping students connect with their heritage and improve mental health.

Florida lawmakers are considering House Bill 929 to address the increasing suicide rate among firefighters, which is 18 per 100,000 compared with 13 per 100,000 for the general population. The bill, introduced by Rep. Erika Booth, would enhance firefighter safety and mental health by requiring fire departments to report suicides, replacing toxic chemicals in gear and limiting work hours to 42 per week.

Twelve Republicans sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., warning they would not vote for a budget reconciliation package that significantly cuts Medicaid. The House, which previously passed a resolution requiring $1.5 trillion in cuts, is negotiating the extent of reductions amid pressure from the Freedom Caucus for deeper cuts. "We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations," the letter said.

Creating a culture-first company where your teams look forward to working each day involves setting clear expectations up front, introducing changes in increments, offering shared learning experiences and creating accountability methods, writes Thiru Thangarathinam, the founder and CEO of KeenStack. "A culture-first company is a business that is built around people and, therefore, built to succeed," Thangarathinam notes.

The "trust fall" exercise that's popular with team-building events can make you believe trust happens dramatically, but author and leadership expert Mike Robbins writes that trust is formed over time when you do what you say you will, take ownership of mistakes and offer empathy to your team. "This might sound simple, but consistency builds trust," Robbins writes.

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