Reflections on a pandemic: Disruptions, distractions and challenges of a clinical social worker on the frontline in New York City

Abstract

For many of us, COVID-19 markedly changed our world and how we operate in it daily. While the behavioral health ramifications of this pandemic are not fully known, they have clearly had an impact. For weeks, we all watched in disbelief as COVID-19 ambushed China, Italy, and other countries. When President Trump implemented the March 16, 2020, live broadcast detailing plans of how our nation would address COVID-19, we knew that it was just a matter of time before we began to experience what we saw happening around the world. Quickly, the escalation of COVID-19 in the United States caused a major shift for social work education, practice, and research. Social workers are serving in critical roles during this pandemic and providing care for COVID-19 patients and their families. The purpose of this article is to provide reflection on the disruptions, distractions, and challenges of a social worker serving in a leadership role on the frontlines at the Javits Center in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic.