NASW-NJ Blog

2012-02-07T20:37:00.002-05:00

In my message last week I noted the Governor Christie's nomination of Bruce Harris to the State Supreme Court. If confirmed by the state Senate, Harris, who was elected mayor of Chatham Borough last November, would be the third African-American and first openly gay justice named to the state Supreme Court — and the seventh openly gay justice in the nation. [The Governor also nominated Phillip Kwon, who worked under Christie when he was U.S. attorney].

Following closely on the heels of this announcement, the Governor proposed putting same-sex marriage on the ballot in November. Again, advocates across the state spoke out, this time challenging the Governor's call for a public vote to settle the topic. Why? Because they believe that it's not fair to let voters decide this issue, just as voters didn't decide on other civil rights issues at the ballot box.

And while recent recent polls have shown the majority of New Jersey voters support allowing same-sex marriage, the ballot issue would be a costly and divisive fight, and advocates know the odds are against them.

Your thoughts?

2012-01-12T14:18:00.002-05:00

Remembering Gabe Zimmerman, MSW

It was January 10, 2011 that Gabe Zimmerman, MSW, a much respected aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Chairperson of PACE of NASW, Arizona Chapter, was killed in a mass shooting in which 19 people were shot, six fatally, and the congresswoman injured.

Zimmerman was community outreach director for Giffords and had worked for the congresswoman since she took office in January 2007. He was the first congressional staff member in the nation’s history to be killed in the line of duty. In his memory, Gabe's friends and associates held a six-mile hike on South Mountain near Phoenix, Ariz. He was an avid outsdoorsman and his friends thought a hike was an ideal way to honor him.

Click here to read NASW's January 10, 2011 press release on the loss of Gabe Zimmerman.

You can leave your thoughts on this tragic loss here.

Thanks.

Walter Kalman
NASW-NJ Executive Director

2011-11-30T14:23:00.004-05:00

The media reported this morning that child protection officials removed a 200-pound 8-year-old Cleveland Heights, Ohio third-grader from his home over concern his mother could not control his weight. Click here for article.

The child is severely obese and in danger of developing hypertension or diabetes. This is the first time state officials recall a child has been put in foster care for purely weight-related issue.

Your thoughts?

The Top 1 Percent

2011-10-28T13:03:00.004-04:00

The top 1 percent of earners more than doubled their share of the nation’s income over the last three decades, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday. The study was requested by Senators Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana and chairman of the Finance Committee, and Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, when he was the senior Republican on the panel. You can read the article here.

While I encourage you to read the full article, here are some of the points it makes:

¶ The share of after-tax household income for the top 1 percent of the population more than doubled, climbing to 17 percent in 2007 from nearly 8 percent in 1979.

¶ The after-tax income of the most affluent fifth exceeded the income of the other four-fifths of the population.

¶ People in the lowest fifth of the population received about 5 percent of after-tax household income in 2007, down from 7 percent in 1979.

¶ People in the middle three-fifths of the population saw their shares of after-tax income decline by 2 to 3 percentage points from 1979 to 2007.

I have been writing about income inequality in several issues of newSWire™, and feel that it's incumbent on all of us, as social workers, to make our voices heard on this issue - a core concern for those we serve and ourselves.

Your thoughts?

Morning Joe, Poverty, and Wall Street

2011-10-13T22:02:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, the "Morning Joe" program on MSNBC featured a segment with Tavis Smiley and Princeton University professor Dr. Cornel West. The topic was poverty in the U.S., and they spoke about a "Tavis Smiley" PBS show that features clips from an 11-state, 18-city tour Smiley and West took in August to detail the economy's effect on individuals and families.

While poverty has increased among all ethnic groups, except Asians, blacks have been the hardest hit; the black poverty rate is 27.4 percent; the Hispanic rate is 26.6 percent. In comparison, the poverty rate for white Americans was 9.9 percent.

On their tour, Smiley and West found that poverty's face is changing."The new poor in this country is the former middle class," Smiley said. Both men called for a national poverty summit to bring together economic, social and cultural leaders.

While you may not have seen the Smiley PBS special, it would be hard to miss the coverage of the Occupy Wall Street protests, which continue unabated. Protesters are demanding efforts by Congress to reduce inequality and to support the needs of the thousands of out-of-work Americans. They also want increased financial regulation, more resources to reduce unemployment, and a push to erase economic inequality.

Clearly, whether it's Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West or the thousands of protesters on Wall Street (and other cities nationwide), we are hearing more voices being raised about the plight of the poor and the unemployed.

Again, as I have over the past several weeks, I invite your thoughts on what is taking place in our economy and among our citizenry. As the Buffalo Springfield song of the 60s put it: " There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear."

As social workers, what can we contribute to the discussion? How do we express what social workers think and feel about the plight of the poor?

Yeah or Nay? by Walter Kalman, NASW-NJ Executive Director

2011-10-06T23:54:00.003-04:00

I've talked in my recent NASW-NJ newSWire messages about the rising poverty rate, and the role social workers must play when so many more people are unemployed and eking out an existence on little or no money. The Census Bureau recently reported that another 2.6 million people slipped into poverty in the United States last year, and the number of Americans living below the official poverty line, 46.2 million people, was the highest number in the 52 years the bureau has been publishing figures on it.

Now I'd like to talk about the role social workers have in speaking up for social justice. Clearly, from the economic data alone, this country is on a very slippery slope where the needs of the poor and middle class are being eroded every day. But politically we’re trending in just the opposite direction: we are ignoring the needs of the poor and middle class and aiming to shred our social safety net programs such as Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. Moreover, we even question the rights of those who lack health insurance.

Here's an example of the latter:

In a recent political debate, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked Representative Ron Paul what we should do if a 30-year-old man without health insurance suddenly found himself in need of six months of intensive care. Mr. Paul replied, “That’s what freedom is all about — taking your own risks.” When Mr. Blitzer pressed him again, asking whether “society should just let him die”, the audience erupted with cheers and shouts of “Yeah!”

I say "no" to this kind of cruelty. I say "no" to letting people die from lack of medical care. I say "no" to making enemies of those with low incomes who can’t afford insurance, or can't get insurance because of a chronic condition.

As social workers, we need to make our voices heard. Just as the protesters on Wall Street and in other cities - who are growing in number every day - have spoken out about unemployment and economic inequality, we need to think about our role as social workers in speaking up against the unfeeling, insensitive people who shout "Yeah" to letting a 30-year-old uninsured person die for lack of health insurance.

I welcome your thoughts. What do you think about the social worker's role in society today? What do you think about protecting those most in need?

Social Workers and 9-11 --10 Years Later

2011-09-15T08:30:00.002-04:00

Since 9-11, social workers have helped America to heal from one of the most destructive disasters in U.S. history.

Social workers have also challenged policymakers and other leaders to make the lessons of 9-11 lasting ones. Our profession has advocated for increased cultural competence training for professionals; championed greater support for the brave men and women sent to fight the resulting wars; and helped families of all descriptions address the impact of long-term grief and loss. Here's a link from our NASW national website to social work efforts to help our nation recover and grow after 9-11. MORE

What do you think about the social work role post 9-11? Is there more we can be doing?

Hurricane Irene - Social Work Response

2011-08-31T17:24:00.002-04:00

To all our Members: We hope that you, your families, and your homes are safe following the recent storm.

While Hurricane Irene may be recent history, seven people in NJ lost their lives, the rising floodwaters destroyed homes and businesses, and communities across the state continue to cope with the storm's aftermath. Thousands of New Jerseyans have had to seek refuge in shelters or have spent days without power.

I know that social workers across the state have been busy reaching out to those affected by the hurricane. If you have helped in your community, you can share your story here on our blog.

And now a word from Warren Buffett

2011-08-18T16:57:00.005-04:00

Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times this week. It's entitled "Stop Coddling the Super-Rich." You can find it here. And here’s an excerpt:

While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as “carried interest,” thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they’d been long-term investors.

These and other blessings are showered upon us by legislators in Washington who feel compelled to protect us, much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered species. It’s nice to have friends in high places.

Last year my federal tax bill — the income tax I paid, as well as payroll taxes paid by me and on my behalf — was $6,938,744. That sounds like a lot of money. But what I paid was only 17.4 percent of my taxable income — and that’s actually a lower percentage than was paid by any of the other 20 people in our office.

And I'll add another item from the New York Times that appeared after the debt limit bill passed:

Each year, the government provides $1 trillion in tax breaks ...Right now, wealthier taxpayers get the greatest benefit. The process needs to be reformed so that most of the help flows to those who most need it: low- and middle-income taxpayers.

As social workers, many of those we serve are low-and middle-income taxpayers. They don't get the tax breaks that Warren Buffett and other wealthy folks enjoy. Those we serve may not have a job, they may be on welfare or unemployment, or they may be struggling to make a dollar stretch as far as possible.

Yet, as social workers, we persevere and do our best to help those we serve. That's a tall order, but we try very hard. And we also get involved in advocacy and political action, two things that can have an enormous influence on the positions our politicians take here in NJ and nationwide.

I'd like to hear from you about Buffett's comments on taxes and on what we can do as social workers to make a difference - to balance the equation.

Would You Let a Social Worker Handle Your Investment Portfolio?

2011-07-29T16:45:00.002-04:00

A Message from the NASW-NJ Executive Director Walter Kalman

I thought you might be interested in this July 18th NASW press release.

"...The National Review posted an article entitled “Would You Let a Social Worker Handle Your Investment Portfolio?” attacking Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI), and specifically the Battery Innovation Act that Senator Stabenow recently introduced. The Battery Innovation Act encourages businesses, local government and universities to collaborate on advanced science and engineering efforts related to battery production. It is specifically designed to boost jobs and productivity throughout Michigan...

This attack implies that Senator Stabenow’s social work training has somehow rendered her incompetent to serve on the Senate’s finance committee...If anything, social workers have a uniquely helpful perspective on the importance of finances, since many of our members work with economically vulnerable members of society.

The National Review could have balanced their piece by including Senator Stabenow’s strong record of cutting taxes on property, small business and manufacturing, dating back to her time in the Michigan state legislature. Such achievements are directly in line with The National Review’s own philosophy, and yet TNR chose to ignore them.

NASW supports Senator Debbie Stabenow in her wide range of legislative achievements, and wishes The National Review could have been more fair and reasonable in assessing her significant and impressive policy record."

I'm not going to weigh in on the pros and cons of Senator Stabenow's legislation, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on the "Would You Let A Social Worker Handle Your Investment Portfolio." Is this another instance of labeling social workers? What's your take on the National Review article?

Aging in America

2011-07-13T11:15:00.007-04:00

I read a couple of interesting news items this week. Since both stories deal with the realities of life in the U.S. today, I thought that all of us, as social workers and concerned citizens, might find them informative.

One story concerns life expectancy. Apparently, in large swaths of the nation, it has stopped increasing. In fact, it's even declined slightly over the decade that ended in 2007, particularly among women. This decline appears largely due to the growing inequality of American society. In less affluent communities, such as those in rural areas of Appalachia and the Deep South, or in the low-income neighborhoods, residents have life expectancies shorter than people in some Third World countries, along with comparable rates of infant and child mortality. Here's a link to the full article.

A second article, also related to age, concerns the caregving role. According to a new study, since 1994 the percentage of Americans who provide care for their aging parents has tripled since 1994. And these caregivers lose an estimated $3 trillion in wages, pension and Social Security benefits when they take time off from work to provide this care. Here's a link to the full article.

Clearly, we're seeing great changes in American society. These changes will affect our role as social workers and as advocates for those we help every day. I'd like to hear what you think about these, and other, trends we're seeing as a nation. Your thoughts?

VOTE

2010-11-01T09:29:00.001-04:00

Still pondering WHO to vote for on Tues, Nov 2nd? Consider voting for our NASW-NJ endorsed candidates: http://tinyurl.com/NJEndorsements.

2010-08-12T13:13:00.003-04:00

The Annie B. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book is available online at: http://datacenter.kidscount.org/databook/2010/OnlineBooks/2010DataBook.pdf

Searching for the Soul of Atlantic City

2010-06-11T15:17:00.003-04:00

Here's a great article by NASW-NJ members Rich and Elizabeth Lombino. They were in Atlantic City presenting at the NASW-NJ Annual Conference. Rich also facilitated a discussion following the screening of Dark Days, a film about homeless individuals living in the tunnels below New York City.

Read the article at: http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/searching_for_the_soul_of_atlantic_city

Governor Nominates Allison Blake to Lead DCF

2010-05-14T11:56:00.004-04:00

We are very pleased that Governor Chris Christie has nominated former NASW-NJ President, Dr. Allison Blake, to be the new Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Many of you will remember Allison's tenure as NASW-NJ President from 2005 to 2007. During that period, we made major strides in our Chapter's work on key issues, such as child abuse training in cooperation with schools of social work statewide.

Now, with her nomination, we are taking another major step in our Chapter's relationship with DCF and the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).

Never has the emphasis been placed so squarely on social work as child welfare's primary discipline. Today, the direction in social work within state government is clearly toward mandated social work training and ensuring trained social workers in supervisory positions.

The leaders who have driven these changes have predominantly been social workers, such as Allison Blake, Eileen Crummy, Christine Moses, Lisa Eisenbud, and Jackie Zavaglia.

We can all take great pride that one of our own, and our former NASW-NJ President, has been selected to fill this very important Cabinet position in state government, and that we can continue to work closely with DCF and DYFS to build on our successes.

We wish Allison a speedy confirmation process and a successful tenure as Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families.

Freedom

2010-03-30T10:36:00.006-04:00

Here's a quote from a commencement address by the late David Foster Wallace, author of Infinite Jest, which Time magazine included on its All-Time 100 Greatest Novels list. Foster was speaking to Kenyon College’s graduating class of 2005. The full address has now been issued in book form as This Is Water, by Little, Brown, and Co. We think this quote speaks to our social work values and what we do for people every day.

“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.”

How about you? Is there a quote that you think speaks to the values we, as social workers, hold dear?

Message from NASW-NJ Executive Director Walter X. Kalman

2010-03-19T22:58:00.003-04:00

Gov. Chris Christie's proposed a $29.3 billion 2010-11 state budget. And while I’m not going to join the chorus of supporters or detractors, I will say that, on face value, this budget is not good news for the individuals, children, and families we serve.

If we look at the Governor's intention to let the surcharge on the wealthiest New Jersey residents expire – a revenue source that represents an estimated $1 billion of the budget – we know that not everyone is going to be held accountable for heeding the Governor’s statement that “difficult times call for shared sacrifice.” The Governor has proposed some very important, and overdue, changes to the way we do business in Trenton. But if the burden is all placed on the poor and middle class, this is nothing more than warmed-over Reaganomics, which put the nation on a slippery slope financially.

The budget cuts in the Governor’s proposed budget mean that townships in Sussex, Burlington and Passaic counties will have their aid cut by the largest percentages. Also of great concern is that residents in Newark, Jersey City, Camden and Trenton, where many of our clients live and work, will see the biggest reductions in raw dollars. Schools will also face enormous revenue reductions, with cuts of 40-, 50- or even 100 percent of state aid allotments for the coming year. Clearly, schools will have to cut programs and services, and put teaching positions, office staffing, and administrative positions on the chopping block.

Governor Christie said that his budget is designed to be "the first step on the path to a brighter future." Unfortunately, the road to a brighter future may be one marked by reduced or suspended programs for children, senior citizens, and the state’s poorest families.

Certainly, we will need to analyze and discuss the Governor’s budget in the months ahead and be ready to make our position as social workers heard as the Legislature grapples with the realities of these revenue reductions. Our upcoming Annual Conference will be a good time to continue that discussion.

I would like to know what you think of the Governor’s proposed budget and the role social workers can play in helping those we serve to reach the brighter future the Governor predicts. Feel free to share your thoughts here.

Guest Blog on Social Workers, by Rich & Elizabeth Lombino

2010-03-11T21:36:00.030-05:00

This week's blog entry comes from Attorney-social work student Rich Lombino and social worker Elizabeth Lombino, a husband and wife team dedicated to ending homelessness. Rich works at the Coalition for the Homeless and Elizabeth has worked at the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation. Rich is currently pursuing his MSW at Columbia University, where Elizabeth received her MSW in 2002.

We encourage you to visit Rich and Elizabeth's blog on their Web site at: http://homelessness.change.org/

The following blog entry, dated March 8, 2010, is entitled:

In Defense of Social Workers

Since 1984, the White House has officially recognized March as Social Work Month. Each year, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) uses it to promote the profession in general and the specific vulnerable populations that we work with. The National Social Work Public Education Campaign was enacted during the last five years to help promote positive images of social workers.

And boy do we need the positive publicity. Social workers have long gotten a bum rap. We are often seen as "do-gooders" or decried as people who take children away from their families. Unfortunately, the media only seems to pay attention to our profession when a child tragically dies due to system neglect. Those stories are horrific, and they do happen, though rarely. Every profession has its unfavorable images. We're not alone in that.

There aren't many positive stories in the media about social workers. This is why Social Work Month is so important -- so we can give people a better understanding of the profession by describing the vast and dynamic work that dedicated social workers do. Much of this work is on behalf of the homeless.

Read more

Photo credit: Rich Lombino

NASW-NJ Annual Conference: Early Bird Registration Ends Feb 20

2010-02-16T22:59:00.002-05:00

Early Bird Registration for the NASW-NJ 2010 Conference is ALMOST OVER! Lower rates only until February 20th!

Low hotel rates of $89/night, lots of networking and fulfill your CE requirements- See here for our theme, registration information, special events & early bird prices: http://tinyurl.com/NASWNJ2010Conf

Pyrrhic victory: health care reform 1, women's reproductive rights 0

2009-11-15T12:24:00.001-05:00

HR3962, The Affordable Healthcare for America Act, passed the House of Representatives by a narrow vote. Included in the bill was a controversial amendment, introduced by Congressman Stupak, a pro-life democratic from Michigan. Under this amendment, abortion would not be included as a covered health insurance benefit under a government sponsored, tax-funded health care plan.

Many of us have fought long and hard to ensure passage of this bill, which would provide near universal health care coverage to all Americans.

Conversation overheard on my Facebook wall:

N: I'm a pro-choice Democrat and the health care reform bill doesn't take away women's rights to choose... it just doesn't want to pay for it.... as is the case with many many other things the government doesn't want to pay for....

C: But if a woman cannot afford health care and must use the government option health care then it DOES take away her right to choose

N: I'm sure there will be a provision for women who are rape victims or incest victims, etc

C: Let's hope so, because as it stands now, there are NO such provisions for survivors of rape or incest

"Anti-abortion Democrats objected that the bill still would provide a federal subsidy for insurance plans that allowed abortion. After days of tense talks, they reached agreement early Saturday with Democratic leaders and the White House on an amendment that would refuse abortion coverage to "anyone who receives federal aid to buy an insurance policy or enrolls in the proposed government health plan."

N: That's not the finished product though and I think they will have enough reasonable thinking votes when all is said and done to allow for cases of rape and incest and when the mother's life is in danger.

J: the devil is in the details... they can enact certain provisions in the final rule implementation but only if they're not expressly forbidden in the law. Right now there seems to be no wiggle room. there is still hope in the consolidated bill, but I dont see the Senate correcting this problem. Not after 60 House Democrats supported it.

The National Organization for Women had this to day: http://www.now.org/press/11-09/11-08.html

What are your thoughts? Is this a setback for women's rights in our country? Was it a necessary sacrifice to ensure this bill would pass the House in some form?

An Empty Place at the Table for Domestic Violence Victims

2009-10-29T17:43:00.001-04:00

While we put an announcement for this event in our newSWire publication last week, we were unable to make the vigil that took place in honor of Union County domestic violence victims this past Monday night. When agencies and students partner for projects like these, the results can be extremely powerful. You can read the full article here: http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/10/setting_places_at_the_table_fo.html

A Familiar Face for Equality

2009-10-22T09:30:00.003-04:00

Carol Benevy, former NASW-NJ Sussex-Warren Unit Chair, took to the streets of Washington, DC in her wedding dress for the National March for Equality on October 11th.

You may have seen pictures of Carol, and Kendra Hayes (NASW-NJ Advocacy Coordinator), in newSWire last week, but you can also read Carol's own words and see her featured here: http://zackfordblogs.com/2009/10/faces-for-equality-carol-benevy/

Yeah Carol!

2009 Election Process for Those With Mental Illness

2009-10-13T21:37:00.007-04:00

As social workers, we empower people in their everyday lives. But it's easy to forget that voting is another form of empowerment.

We know the election checklist:
1. find out names of state and local candidates
2. research their position on the issues
3. choose the candidates we support
4. make sure we're registered to vote
5. find the closest polling place
6. VOTE

But when it comes to our clients, we should also talk with them about what help they might need in getting to the polls or in voting. While we don't discuss politics with them, we can make sure their voice is heard and their vote is counted. We can do that by ensuring that they get help in voting from family, friends or responsible agencies.

Here's an article on a recent voting machine demonstration in Pequannock for a group of people with various mental illnesses: http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/10/pequannock_demonstration_helps.html

Feminism is Not a Dirty Word

2009-10-08T14:26:00.001-04:00

It may seem counterintuitive to say so, but: many Americans today are feminists. On issues from abortion rights to fair pay to professional opportunity to the need for collaboration in domestic labor, feminists have by and large won the public to their side. And you would have to dig pretty deep into the reactionary barrel to find someone who thinks women should not have the right to vote. By now, basic feminist ideals about equality between the sexes are hardly controversial, abortion notwithstanding.

Why is it then that people who subscribe to feminist beliefs and critiques so often recoil at the notion that they are themselves feminists? As far as we can tell, feminism has nothing to apologize for. No feminist has ever started a war or caused an economic crisis; that’s more than you can say for democracies and capitalists, though there is no price to be paid for claiming allegiance to democracy or capitalism. More to the point, that is far more than you can say for the increasingly rickety patriarchal order of things, with its very specific ideas about the proper place of women and its violent and exploitative means of putting them there.

We frequently hear that feminism is an unattractive thing to identify with because it is a movement for harpies and hippies and bra burners. It seems that the law of patriarchy which dictates that everything women do must be ritually devalued and diminished applies most stringently to feminism itself. But there is no reason feminism has to accept its definition from people who are hostile to it - we define it ourselves. Feminism, in fact, is for a lot of people! You have radical feminism, liberal feminism, anti- and pro-pornography feminism, Critical Race Feminism, and many others. There is a feminism for everybody.

Try saying it out loud: I am a feminist! You might find it empowering.

Un paso en la direccion correcta (A step in the right direction)

2009-09-23T16:04:00.004-04:00

New Jersey's domestic violence advocates do a great job in making sure that their literature is available in both Spanish and English. Explaining legal rights in English is difficult enough, but many bilingual court advocates are spending hours trying to convince undocumented immigrants that they have the right to be protected from partners and family.

To help empower and protect our New Jersey residents, we must be sure that they understand that their rights. To that end, please keep an eye out for a soon-to-be published brochure on legal rights in domestic violence situations. The 43-page Spanish handbook is entitled: "Surviving Domestic Violence: Your Legal Rights." This handbook can help guide clients and others who have experienced domestic violence in their lives.

We're happy to see that advocates here in New Jersey are ensuring that a handbook on state legal rights for domestic violence will be available in Spanish. It's a great start. Now we also need pamphlets in Creole, Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian, Hindi, Urdu Arabic, and all the other languages of immigrants living in NJ.

Read the article here: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/nj_domestic_violence_victims_r.html

To find a domestic violence program in NJ, click here: http://www.njcbw.org/gethelp_NJservices.html

Racism?

2009-09-18T21:23:00.003-04:00

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man.”
Former President Jimmy Carter, September 16, 2009

This week President Carter said the words that many of us have been thinking but haven't said aloud. The former President pointed to racism for fueling the hysterical tone of many of President Obama’s critics. While a White House spokesperson was quick to rebut Carter's remarks, the former President's view comes after a summer of health care town hall meetings marked by out of control protests, confrontation, yelling, heckling, and berating.

Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer, September 17, 2009

And, as you can take from Tony Auth's editorial cartoon above, the demonstrations also brought out a lot of other disturbing behavior, as evidenced by the signs with President Obama's image with a Hitler-like moustache, or those with sayings like "Obama is not a Nazi - he's worse."

Add to this Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who was formally rebuked Tuesday in a House vote for shouting "You lie!" during President Obama's speech to Congress a week ago.

As I wrote in newSWire last week, the level of political discourse in this country has slipped. Fueled by the Internet, and out-of-bounds radio and television commentary, we are on a slippery slope that, mixed with racism, can become dangerous.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Walter Kalman, NASW-NJ Executive Director

Laughter, the 2nd Best Medicine

2009-09-17T13:22:00.004-04:00

My thoughts this week have been about cancer, stemming from today's news about Mary Travers* death from leukemia and the news earlier in the week about Patrick Swayze's death from pancreatic cancer. Celebrities bring cancer to the headlines, but we all have lost family and friends to cancer. For me, whenever I hear about another cancer death of someone close to me, I feel re-traumatized, helpless, and angry.

In fact, when I was starting my MSW program and listing the types of client populations and specialty areas that I felt would not be an appropriate field placement for me, I shied away from working with cancer patients and their families. To be an effective social worker and get the training I needed, I felt that I had to step away from such a difficult area of concentration.

But you know what? I'm ready to jump back into the fray, because many people survive cancer and there are outstanding services available today for cancer victims and their families. One of the most inspiring programs I have seen is Gilda's Club, a program that you can find worldwide and that people like my social worker friend Erin (one of the Wisconsin chapters) keep running with positive energy and laughter. Gilda's Club, which honors comedian Gilda Radner, was founded with the purpose of establishing cancer-free support communities where individuals can laugh, share and be themselves.

We have two Gilda's Club chapters here in New Jersey. You can find them at: South Jersey (http://www.gildasclubsouthjersey.org/) and North Jersey (http://www.gildasclubnnj.org/).

As Gilda said, "While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness."

*As a side note about Mary Travers, I'd like to mention that my parents are named Paul and Mary, and I am incredibly thankful to them that I was not a daughter named Peter. Thanks Mom & Dad.

Kendra Hayes, MSW, LSW

I Vote Because...

2009-09-03T12:30:00.003-04:00

Here's an invitation from the NJ League of Women Voters. It's a great opportunity. P.S. NASW-NJ will be blogging on nj.com/helpinghands soon too!

As many of you know, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey writes a blog on nj.com/helpinghands. In September, we will have a 5 part series "I Vote" and we are asking you, our members and supporters, to submit blog entries detailing reasons why you vote in the hope that the stories you share will inspire more New Jersey citizens to vote in November.

You may chose to share the memory of the first time you entered a voting booth, discuss voter disenfranchisement, talk about carpooling to the polls and sharing the experience with your community, or discuss voting in other countries...any nonpartisan inspirational take on "I Vote" is welcome.

Full blog entries should fall between 300 and 700 words, be written in short paragraphs, and aim to inspire and get out the vote. Entries will be published under the name of the author. If we receive many submissions, we may have to pick which one to publish.

If you do not want to, or do not have the time to write a full blog entry, please consider submitting one sentence or one paragraph to be used in the blogs. You can finish the sentence "I vote because..." and your submission will appear as a quote under your name as part of a blog.

I sincerely hope many of you will decide to share your reasons for and experiences with voting. Please email submissions by September 4, to jburns@lwvnj.org - Jesse Burns, LWVNJ Director of Communications.

Remembering Senator Ted Kennedy by Walter Kalman

2009-08-30T15:37:00.004-04:00

As I sat watching the unfolding story of the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, feeling deep sadness as another of my heroes passed into eternity, my mind drifted to the last time I met the Senator in Washington. We had met on some other occasions for lobbying purposes but this was the moment that most symbolized him for me. more

Letizia Zindell - Rutgers MSW Student

2009-08-20T16:46:00.001-04:00

We have just learned of the death of Rutgers MSW student Letizia Zindell this past week. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. We are saddened to know that another life has been lost to domestic violence. A Star-Ledger article can be found here.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver - Social Worker and Activist

2009-08-15T17:34:00.003-04:00

Eunice Kennedy Shriver - A social worker and activist, credited with transforming America's view of the mentally disabled from institutionalized patients to friends, neighbors and athletes passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at the age of 88.

Her accomplishments are impressive and many:

• She pressed for efforts to help troubled young people and the mentally disabled while her brother was in the White House. And in 1968, she started what would become the world's largest athletic competition for mentally disabled children and adults. Now, more than 1 million athletes in more than 160 countries participate in Special Olympics meets each year. Well into her 70s, Shriver remained a daily presence at the Special Olympics headquarters in Washington.

• "She believed that people with intellectual disabilities could — individually and collectively — achieve more than anyone thought possible. This much she knew with unbridled faith and certainty," her son Timothy, chairman of Special Olympics, said in a statement.

• She was a social worker at a women's prison in Alderson, West Virginia, and worked with the juvenile court in Chicago in the 1950s before taking over the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation with the goal of improving the treatment of the mentally disabled.

• A longtime advocate for children's health and disability issues, Shriver was a key founder of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a part of the National Institutes of Health, in 1962, and has also helped to establish numerous other health-care facilities and support networks throughout the country. In 2008, the U.S. Congress changed the NICHD’s name to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

• She was awarded the nation's highest civilian award, the (U.S.) Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1984 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, because of her work on behalf of those with mental disabilities. For her work in founding the Special Olympics, Shriver received the Civilian International World Citizenship Award.

• On May 9, 2009, the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in Washington, D.C., unveiled an historic portrait of her, the first portrait the NPG has ever commissioned of an individual who had not served as a U.S. President or First Lady. The portrait depicts her with four Special Olympics athletes and one Best Buddies participant.

She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her and those who because of her were able to benefit from her dedication, passion and advocacy.

-Carrie Moore, BSW, CSW

Deciding to be a consultant

2009-08-08T11:02:00.002-04:00

I recently took a big risk at my job at an AIDS Service Agency. I decided to move from being a manager to being a consultant. For family reasons, I chose to leave my position for a more flexible schedule. This allowed me to achieve a better balance between work and being a mom.

This is a risk for my job. The goal of being a director may not be attainable now. Some may see it as a step backwards. I choose to see it as a savvy move forward in my career. In this uncertain economic time, all of our jobs are at risk. We are all forced to become more creative in our pursuits. Thankfully I’m already working at an agency that allows for me to embrace being creative and focusing in on my skills. With being a consultant comes the new venture of me being a freelancer. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but felt the risk would be too great. Now it’s clear that a little risk may be the best decision I could make.

Being a social worker allows us the freedom and flexibility to be creative in our work. Social work is a career, not just a job. We can become involved in many different areas to help further our careers and also reach the most people in need. It’s exciting and fulfilling to know that I can be constantly searching for the next opportunity. Not only does it relieve boredom, but in uncertain economic times, it’s a necessity to ensure that I will continue to work even if the grant I currently work for loses funding.

I remember being in social work school and admiring those professors that not only taught classes, but also worked for agencies and had some private practice clients as well. These were the professionals that I respected the most. They embraced the skills they had and shared them with as many populations as they could. That’s the beauty of social work – we have the opportunity to affect change in multiple areas of need while at the same time advancing our professional lives and even our personal lives. This is a risk that I am willing to make.

- Elizabeth Lombino, MSW, LSW
http://elizabethlombino.blogspot.com

(No) Name-Calling

2009-08-04T18:55:00.005-04:00

Through the aid of a non-profit agency called Solace for the Children, kids in need of medical treatment are able to travel from Afghanistan to the United States to receive medical services as part of a summer hosting program. From what we've read in the article below, we applaud the program for taking into account the children's basic needs and also taking the person-in-environment perspective social workers use so often.

How does Solace for Children incorporate this perspective? By considering the impact that labels and differences may have on the kids while they're here for rehabilitation, which could keep them from bonding and enjoying their summer program. These kids are encouraged to drop whichever part of their name may indicate what tribe/family they are from, in order to eliminate pre-formed biases and feuds that they would normally experience in their own country. Does this make it easier to get along with the kid next to you? Sure. Is this potentially controversial to encourage kids to take down boundaries that will exist again when back in their country? Sure. Your thoughts?

Click HERE to read the article.

Anywhere But Here

2009-08-03T12:50:00.006-04:00

We found THIS article on how NYC is footing the bill to send homeless individuals back to their countries or states of origin, or wherever a family member vouches to take them in. This effort is to prevent paying more extensive costs of a prolonged shelter stay of these individuals in shelter programs in NYC. Although we realize that some individuals will benefit from returning to their families and having a support system, we can't help but think about the larger implications of initatives like this.
Is this really a 'solution' to homelessness? Will case managers (consciously or unconsciously) discriminate between whom they choose to send away? Does this address the underlying problem of how people coming to NYC, or those who are already there, become homeless? And while we understand that it makes economic good sense to make a one-time payment to prevent long-term housing and feeding, what can be done to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place?

Labels

2009-07-30T11:53:00.004-04:00

At times, we might label our advocacy under one large umbrella, such as "LGBTI Rights". As citizens and as social workers, we have to avoid this tendency. And we have to discern both the obvious and subtle forms of discrimination taking place in our lives, as we can see in this article about a teacher here in New Jersey: http://blog.nj.com/njv_joseph_wardy/2009/07/transsexual_bashing_an_ugly_re.html.

Obama Corzine Rally

2009-07-22T01:04:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday I joined a group of Atlantic and Cape May County residents on a bus trip to Holmdel, NJ to see President Obama and Governor Corzine. As we sat on the grass and baked in the hot sun, we wondered if all of the effort would be worth it. We had our answer as the President stepped onto the stage.

Amidst the roaring, jubilant crowd, I felt the pride for our country so evident in the faces around me. There were American flags waving, patriotic tunes playing—and yet, as the President started to speak, I was reminded of something his wife Michelle said at the Democratic National Convention last year: “All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won't do - that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.” We love our country too much to not try to change it.

The President affirmed his support for Gov. Corzine and for the state of New Jersey, pointing out that New Jersey was the first state in the nation to have an economic recovery plan, that Gov. Corzine has reduced the size of the government while in office, and that 80,000 more children are now covered under the state children’s health insurance program.

The President also affirmed his commitment to one of social work’s greatest values: the dignity and worth of each human being. He spoke of the need for reform in healthcare, education, and financial regulation—areas that touch all of us, but especially those most vulnerable in our society. President Obama asserted, “We are at a moment where we have been given the extraordinary opportunity to remake our world; a chance to seize our future; a chance to shape our destiny. As difficult as it sometimes is there’s something about the American spirit that says we don’t have to turn to the past, we’re going to look forward to the future.”

The President invited us all to join and work with him, to call our legislators, to talk to our neighbors. He said, “We’re creating a movement for change that doesn’t begin in Washington, that begins here in New Jersey.” Social workers often are a voice for the voiceless; sometimes we also help people find their voices when they thought they had been silenced.

Let’s answer the President’s call to active citizenship; let’s help make our democracy work better by being “the people.” Make sure you, your clients, and your co-workers are registered to vote, and then be sure to vote. Make the phone calls, write the emails, engage your neighbors and community. We cannot walk alone—we must stand together.

Rebecca O'Meara, MSW

Get the NASW-NJ Blog Delivered Directly to You

2009-06-29T13:01:00.001-04:00

For many of us, blogs keep us connected to friends, family and other professionals. They allow us to put our thoughts and feelings right on the table, for anyone and everyone to read.

From a professional standpoint, blogs make sense: they create communities of like-minded people who want to start a conversation that can have a local or global readership. Blogs easily link us to other blogs, webpages of interest, news, research, events, and all with the click of a button.

If you're interested in reading our NASW-NJ blog, just click here: http://naswnj.blogspot.com/.

And if you want the blog to come directly to you, just use an RSS feed to stream the blog to your desktop or the bookmarks toolbar on your Internet toolbar. Here's what you need to do to set up an RSS feed:

1) Go to the NASW-NJ Blog: http://naswnj.blogspot.com/
2) Click on the orange box on the right that says "Posts"
3) Then choose one of these 3 options:

Click on "Add to Google" or "Add to Yahoo" if you want the blog posts to show up on your Google/Yahoo desktop when you open your internet browser.

Click on "Bloglines," "Netvibes "or "Newsgator" if you want to try a new way to collect all your news and blogs in one place.

Click on "Atom" to simply add the NASW-NJ blog to the bookmark toolbar on whatever internet server you use (Firefox, Internet Explorer). You will subscribe to this feed by using "Live Bookmarks." What this means is that when you open your Internet server, NASW-NJ Blog will be on your toolbar at the top and if you just click on that link, you will see all of the titles of our past blogs and most recent posting. You can pick and choose which postings you want to read because they're right there in front of you.

We invite you to blog along with us. If you have any questions about reading the blog or have an interest in guest blogging for us, please contact Kendra at khayes@naswnj.org.

Peace As We Envision It

2009-06-15T18:15:00.004-04:00

As social workers, we help our clients with their day-to-day lives. And as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs points out, this is an important framework for us to work within. But there's more than one way to look at a client's situation; we need to keep the bigger picture in mind. That's what makes a social worker a social worker.

The passionate social workers in the Peace Special Interest Group(SIG) have expanded the scope of their work on behalf of people in need. Peace can seem unobtainable, yet violence is all around us. The social workers in our Women and Social Justice SIG seek to aid survivors of domestic violence, and the social workers in the International SIG are advocating for the rights of detained immigrants in the U.S.

NASW-NJ/s newest social work intern, Leah, will be starting an SIG that will focus on children and family issues. Almost certainly, this newest SIG will tackle the issues of preventing violence, coping with gangs, and other issues.

If violence is pervasive in our society, we need to make peace pervasive too.

We are delighted to have 2900 of our Jersey National Guard troops safely home, as you can see in this clip of the parade in Trenton last week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jp_mqRMCbI.

We are saddened to see the violence in Tehran as the result of the recent election, as you can see here: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/06/irans_disputed_election.html.

We are ready for change and want to reduce what the World Health Organization has estimated is $300 billion/year in costs related to interpersonal violence (war-related costs excluded). You can find out more and join us by clicking Here.

Make the Primary a Priority - June 2nd

2009-05-29T16:13:00.002-04:00

Seems like November 2008 was just yesterday and we were at the polls making important decisions. Now we'll be returning to the polls again this coming Tuesday, June 2nd. And yes, our decisions on who we vote at the state level are just as important as they were in November. The primary will decide the final 2009 candidates for Governor of New Jersey, State Senate special election seats and the New Jersey State Assembly, as well as some of your local town and county positions. For a list of candidates, head to www.NJVoterInfo.org.

Find a candidate you believe in and contact him or her to get involved with the campaign - stuffing envelopes, sending mailings, making phone calls, getting out the vote, or taking on leadership roles. The more that we as social workers step into these roles, the more of a voice we have in the way communities are structured, services are created for the vulnerable, and social justice is incorporated into the overall political machine.

Remember, there are at least 3 main reasons social workers should consider being active in politics:
1) The nature of our professional mission (our responsibility to advocate for our clients)
2) The skills that we bring to the political process (community needs assessments, meeting people where they are at, understanding complicated interpersonal dynamics)
3) The preponderance of issues facing federal, state, and local policy making bodies relating to social services and welfare policies

Regarding voting on Tuesday, June 2nd: If you have any questions or need assistance with problems that you may encounter at the polls, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey has announced that they will be staffing a VOTEline (1-800-792-VOTE) from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Primary Election Day.

Bonus: Can you tell me why elections are always held on a Tuesday?

Save Our CILS! by Peter Gimbel

2009-05-16T23:15:00.004-04:00

Save Our CILS! by Peter Gimbel

At noon on Thursday, May 14, a crowd of 250 people gathered in front of the state house in Trenton. We were there to protest a proposed 20% cut to our state's budget for Centers for Independent Living(CILs).

I, who had never been to any kind of protest before, quickly found myself caught up in the excitement. I was soon joining in with the chants of “stop the cuts now!” and “No cuts! No ifs, ands, or buts!” Before I knew it, I had let someone hang a sign on the back of my power wheelchair that read “You cut $, we bleed!”

Hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans with disabilities depend on their local CIL (Center for Independent Living) to navigate the confusing maze of New Jersey’s disability services. CILs also provide employment and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. Without the support of a CIL, many people would be unemployed, isolated, and even forced to live in nursing homes.

Norman Smith, chair of the New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council (NJSILC) began the rally with a rousing speech. He urged Governor Corzine to “leave our funding alone!”, and the cry was taken up by the crowd. Mr. Smith went on to point out that the $125,000 cut will be devastating to the five CILs that are supported by state funding, but won't even make a dent in the state's deficit. He ended his remarks by saying that CILs are “the only state-funded program where people with disabilities provide services and support to other people with disabilities,” including returning wounded veterans.

On the day of the rally, Anita Clavering authored a guest column in her local paper, the Sentinel. She identified herself as a part-time employee of the Alliance for Disabled in Action, the CIL that serves Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. “If it wasn't for the alliance,” she wrote, “I would have never had the information, resources and programs that I am able to use so I can live a full and independent life as a voter, taxpayer and contributing member of the community.” She now fears for her job and her independence.

To get involved in this and other issues, the Disabilities Special Interest Group of NASW-NJ is a great place to start. Check the NASW calendar for meeting times. You can also find information related to disabilities on my blog at http://gossamerpenguin.blogspot.com.

Planes and PTSD

2009-04-30T16:36:00.007-04:00

We're wondering how many of you in North Jersey or New York had clients calling you about the Air Force One Boeing 747 that flew low and between buildings earlier this week?

We also wonder if any of you (like your blogger) felt the panic -- now almost 8 years later -- upon hearing the plane and flashing back to 9/11. Some of the videos of Monday morning's flyover, with people on both the NJ and NY side running from their office buildings and shouting in distress, were very distressing.

Two observations about Monday's videos: 1) It was thoughtless to fly so low in neighborhoods that experienced 9-11 firsthand and 2) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is clearly at work with many of us. This incident brought back the steps we've been told to take in an emergency, the loved ones and colleagues we've lost, and our own concerns for safety. We wonder how many of us may need help from a social worker in coping with what is probably undiagnosed PTSD.

What is your take on this incident?

(Note: For those of you interested in learning more about social work related to various types of trauma, we'll be sending out information soon on a free 2-day Training Institute on Trauma that will be taking place in June in New York City. Keep an eye out.)

Dear New Jersey: We're Ready for Same-Sex Marriage

2009-04-15T12:52:00.007-04:00

In December 2008, the New Jersey Civil Union Commission issued a report which concluded that there is "overwhelming evidence" that civil unions do not provide the same protection as marriage. The Commission's report boosted New Jersey's advocacy efforts for same-sex marriage. As advocates, LGBT individuals and LGBT allies, we want the discrimination in New Jersey to end.

Some people feel that civil unions are fine and don't understand why the term "marriage" needs to be used instead. Here's one very important distinction: there have been many situations in which one partner cannot make medical decisions for an incapacitated partner because doctors, nurses, or hospital staff don't recognize the term "civil union." Many people don't know what civil unions permit, and that fact alone makes civil unions and marriage unequal.

This month, both Iowa and Vermont have ruled that state laws banning same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. These are great victories, but now New Jersey has to do its part. We have groups organizing here in NJ, including the NASW-NJ LGBTI Special Interest Group, the NJ Lesbian and Gay Coalition, and Garden State Equality. But we need help in getting the NJ Legislature to MOVE on this.

We need our membership to assist us with making a powerful statement. Would you be willing to help bring same-sex marriage in NJ? Let us know if you'd like to join the fight. Contact Kendra Hayes at khayes@naswnj.org.

We're Ready to Run by Lisa N.

2009-03-28T13:27:00.007-04:00

Several NASW-NJ members, staff and interns attended Ready to Run last weekend. Ready to Run is an annual campaign training program for women. The Center for American Women and Politics sponsors the program and NASW-NJ co-sponsors it.

Politics not your interest? As someone who attended, let me tell you...this program is still for you! Here's the beat on the street from one of our members:

Prior to this program, I really never gave any thought to running for office. I worked on Obama’s campaign and enlisted my daughters in canvassing and making phone calls, but that was the extent of my political efforts outside of voting. Recently another social worker encouraged me to be a voice and advocate for people through politics. Tongue in cheek, I said “Sure.” Then by divine intervention, or something to that effect, an opening in this program came up.

My first thought at the Ready to Run dinner was that I was surrounded by an array of intelligent women. I felt like the little engine that could in that arena. I loved looking at the diverse tapestry and listening to bits of conversation at other tables. My dinner companions were wonderful - so much so that we exchanged information and want to work together. We came from different backgrounds but our cause is the same: to help our own families, communities, or agencies in some way. One woman at my table is currently running for office in New York. She came to learn what NOT to do in a successful campaign. We learned a lot about that too!

In the afternoon, I attended Political Parties 101: Ms. Jeanine LaRue and Ms. Margaret Nordstrom were enlightening, honest, and hilarious. Coming from different backgrounds and facing different obstacles, Jeanine and Margaret are highly successful. I really related to Ms. LaRue because she did not intend to be in politics but made it. She had a lot of unlikely allies but they believed in her intentions and her integrity. That is my lesson from her: never burn your bridges because you never know who is coming to dinner.

Here's my take away from the session: there are many paths into politics and many ways to be a voice. Moreover, social workers make natural politicians and community leaders.

I hope to return to Ready to Run next year. Maybe one day I will sit up on the dais and talk about my start with NJABSW and NASW and look back over an honest and ethical career of being a voice for many on a local, state, or national level.

What's next for me? Hm mm...maybe a local council seat by 2012!

Have you heard about/attended Ready to Run? You can share your observations here.

Sandplay Therapy by Guest Blogger Gretchen Morgan

2009-03-22T15:42:00.003-04:00

Often, when working with clients with a history of trauma, either single incident or pervasive, the defense mechanisms that functioned to help them survive, become a barrier to healing. Some common defenses that hinder the process of healing are intellectualization, rationalization, projection and even dissociation. Stripped of our defense mechanisms, Sandplay Therapy allows the client to tap into the psyche.

Never heard of Sandplay Therapy before?

Through the use of symbolic figures, a person is able to create in the sand tray stories that examine their wounds, the effects from those wounds, and the possibilities for resolution. The therapist is then able to help a person to connect insights to feelings and begin the journey toward healing. Through Sandplay, the adult client is able to build the skills necessary to avoid the problematic patterns of the past. Children's thoughts and feelings are given a voice through symbolic play, enabling them to resolve their issues in a language that they understand.

Gretchen Morgan, MSW, LCSW

Social Workers - Very Special People

2009-03-13T17:51:00.004-04:00

In celebrating National Professional Social Work Month, we'd like to encourage you to get out and volunteer for an organization of your choice, sign up for a charity walk, and actively get your family and friends involved in the work you do. Speak positively of the experiences you have as a social worker, mentor another social worker (click HERE), and join the groups that you've been talking about getting involved with for months or years. Explain the concept of social justice to someone you know.

In addition to getting involved passionately this month, also take some time to honor yourself. In working here at NASW-NJ, this social work blogger has met many exceptional NASW-NJ members. Our membership includes people who have met with Dr. Martin Luther King, worked for DYFS for more than 20 years, held vigils at dentention centers, risked arrest, run for office, changed laws, started programs without staff or money, and the list goes on and on. It's truly awe-inspiring.

We invite you to take a seat at the table and learn more about the many ways (50 of them) that others use their social work degrees. Click Here!

Happy Social Work Month NASW-NJ Members!
-Your Friday Social Work Blogger

DUTY TO WARN: Tarasoff vs. Clinical Care (where clinical care, risk management and ethics meet)

2009-03-09T08:31:00.002-04:00

It’s a Friday afternoon and you are sitting with your last client. And it’s a three-day weekend! Everyone else has already left for the day; it's just you and the receptionist and when you are done with this client session, the day will be done!

Wait? What did she just say?

“I’m gonna kill him!” you hear your client say.

“How do you mean that? That you’re very angry?” you ask, hoping that this won't go in the direction that you know it will.

She answers with a raised voice “No. I mean I’m gonna kill him! I am tired of his abuse and lies and I’m gonna fix it TONIGHT!”

“OH NO!” you think to yourself.

What do you do? Do you know how to respond to your client this situation? Do you know what actions to take? Do you know how to document this?

On a regular basis, social workers confront situations such as this one in their practices. Situations that involve the risk of harm and the question of confidentiality. Situations that demand very quick thinking on how to respond within the conflict between these two areas.

What's your thinking on this very difficult practice area? Is this something you've encountered in your practice?

At the NASW-NJ Annual Conference, I will be presenting a workshop to help provide social workers with a paradigm to understand this situation. I will provide tools on how to respond to these clinical and ethical dilemmas. We must learn these skills before we encounter these situations, so we can prevent danger to ourselves, our clients, and others - consider it preventative care! Encourage your agencies to provide these trainings, come attend my workshop at the conference, make sure that you are well-informed and prepared.

Submitted by James H. Andrews, LCSW, BCD, Forensic Fellow

Self-Identification

2009-02-28T11:46:00.003-05:00

One of the fundamentals of social work practice is allowing clients to self-identify, which helps us learn more about how they view their needs from their own perspective. Similarly, MSW students, at some point in their education, must self identify, deciding if they are "macro" or "micro" social workers.

Yet whether a student decides on macro or micro practice, today’s bleak economy is forcing many new MSWs to accept whatever positions they can find, and then hope they are qualified and flexible enough to meet the demands of those jobs. In so doing, their roles often shift, which affects how they see themselves and how they identify themselves as social workers.

In social work, we work in so many different capacities: our world of practice is wide open. We can specialize in many areas, move from micro to macro practice and vice versa, and shift positions based on who we meet and what experiences we have on the job.

So here’s the question of the week: How do YOU self-identify? What title do you use? Does it change depending on the people wth whom you come in contact, or because of other factors?

NOTE: Here’s an interesting article that points out how, in these difficult economic times, more people are preparing to work in a rewarding field like social work. http://www.syracuse.com/progress/index.ssf/2009/02/hard_times_steer_some_toward_s.html

New Aging

2009-02-21T16:08:00.010-05:00

It's easy to follow the same line of thinking in delivering services, resorting to patterns and programs we've used over the years.

Well, here’s a switch:

One of our NASW-NJ interns, an avid NPR listener, told us about this news item: a new emergency department at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Md - an ER built with older adults in mind. You can find the article at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100823874

Only infants go to the emergency department at a higher rate than people 75 and older, and many hospitals have set up separate emergency rooms just for kids. Now, Holy Cross Hospital has set up an ER specifically for patients 65 and older.

The article describes how every aspect of the separate hospital emergency room for elderly patients fits their needs. They even selected paint color which ensured that older patients would be able to see their way better around the offices and enjoy a color scheme more pleasant to their aging eyes.

Holy Cross's ER for aging patients employs doctors and nurses trained in geriatrics. They also have a full-time geriatric social worker, a position not usually found in a regular emergency room. With the statistics in the U.S. all pointing to the impending explosion in the ranks of the elderly as baby boomers reach their senior years, emergency room programs like the one at Holy Cross will be critical components of care in the future.

Do you know of programs in New Jersey that serve the aging in creative ways? What part do you see social work playing in meeting the needs of the elderly? If you're a geriatric social worker, how is your agency or health care setting meeting the needs of elderly patients or clients?

Guest Blog: Black History Month

2009-02-13T15:34:00.004-05:00

Black History Month is a time to reflect upon the collective story of people of African-descent and our contribution to the making of this democratic republic. We celebrate the courage and sacrifice of the ancestors who broke the chains of oppression. We stand on their shoulders and with pride assume the responsibility of the inheritance of their legacy.

Our ancestors survived many things, among them- slavery, a Civil War, lynching, a Great Depression, Jim Crow and segregation. Many African Americans today are far too vulnerable to many personal, familial and community risks that are residuals of our historical enslavement. Racism and oppression have their roots in chattel slavery and remain a pernicious residual threat to the personal and collective wellbeing of African Americans today.

The ability to meet threat head on and to overcome it is what resilience theory is all about. What are the protective factors for African Americans, their families and community that help to fend off threats? What do you think they are?

Our resilience is rooted in our historical enslavement too! Do not just take my word for it, read the actual words of the last living slaves in America as they told their personal narrative to agents of the Work Progress Administration between 1936-1938:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snhome.html
Their resilience, our inherited resilience comes shining though!

If you want to learn about historical African American Resilience as deduced from a study using a sample of the WPA Narratives, join me for the discussion on Tuesday May 5th at 9:30am at the NASW-NJ Annual Conference.

Submitted by
Barbara E. Milton, II, PhD Candidate, LCSW, C-ACYFSW

The Practice of Honoring Diversity: Guest Blog by Lee Mun Wah

2009-02-05T22:12:00.003-05:00

With more people of color and women in the workforce, the issue of how to relate has become more complex and tense. There are no blueprints or models for where or how (to begin) to practice diversity. Earlier attempts at achieving diversity through representation were misleading because several key issues were fundamentally missing.

First, representation is only effective if women and people of color are in positions of power to hire and fire, as well as to influence and change policy. Secondly, the challenge of the twenty-first century is the need for open discussion of racism and sexism. So often these two issues are only discussed if there is a crisis and/or a lawsuit is filed. By then, both sides are polarized and adversarial. Thirdly, there is a need to have a relationship with each other. The idea of getting to know each other is a new concept for most corporations. The notion of dealing with each other personally, in ways that could engender anger and conflict, is often frightening for most institutions that have no experience in entering into such a dialogue with each other.

How well does your workplace practice honoring diversity?

(Note: You can hear Lee Mun Wah speak on May 5th at the NASW-NJ Annual Conference: http://www.naswnj.org/displayconvention.cfm?conventionnbr=5377)

February is Black History Month!

2009-02-02T10:13:00.006-05:00

Welcome to Black History Month!

Did you learn much about African-American pioneers in social work and social welfare in your social work education? Clearly, with our nation's first African-American President and his historic achievements, we'd like to honor others who have accomplished much in their lives and work.

Before social work became an established profession, there were many African-American women - especially Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth - who used social work principles in their lives. Lugenia Burns Hope (1871-1947) dedicated her life to community work in the south, working through a network of African American women's clubs, creating self-help models to address poverty, unemployment, and illness. She also helped create the first African American School of Social work, now known as the Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work.(http://www.naswdc.org/diversity/black_history/2005/hope.asp).

And, of course, W.E.B. Dubois worked with Jane Addams and others to found the NAACP?

We invite you to add to the list here - and highlight the work of distinguished African-American social workers who have left their mark?

Day of Service & the Inauguration

2009-01-19T10:46:00.005-05:00

We apologize for not blogging recently. We had a few technical glitches to fix, but we're back on track and pleased to return in time to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Tuesday's historic inauguration.

This year, Dr. King's birthday, a national holiday, is being observed as a day of service across America. (http://www.mlkday.gov/) But we have one wish for this day of service: to help our children realize why they have the day off from school.

Too many children (and even some adults) know too little about the civil rights efforts in the U.S. Yet children and students were a vital part of the civil rights movement. For more information on just how important children were to the civil rights struggle, watch "Mighty Times: The Children's March (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443587/), and begin teaching kids about the impact they can have on bettering our society. Teach them to be future social workers. :) Enjoy the holiday!

Also, we'd like to invite you to join us on January 20th to watch the Inauguration Day activities. We're having a potluck luncheon at 11:30 am at the NASW-NJ Office, so please RSVP to Jeff at jfeldman@naswnj.org, bring something to share, and watch history with us!

Where Are the Jobs for Women?

2008-12-22T19:45:00.002-05:00

Linda Hirshman Wants to Know "Where Are the Jobs for Women?"

We noticed this op-ed piece http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/opinion/09hirshman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=jobs%20for%20women&st=cse in the New York Times last week, reminding President-elect Obama that his economic stimulus plan for more jobs needs to "include more jobs in fields like social work and teaching, where large numbers of women work."

It's common knowledge that no political initiative escapes questions of how gender, race and class will be accounted for and considered, but we are conflicted about this particular op-ed. Give it a read. What's your reaction?

Same-Sex Marriage and Advocacy

2008-12-15T09:45:00.001-05:00

Last week was very important in New Jersey’s fight for same-sex marriage instead of civil unions. As you’ve probably read in our Dec. 10 newSWire, the NJ Civil Union Review Commission released their report and announced their unanimous decision that civil union law has failed to provide equality. The Commission deserves a round of applause for recognizing this face and making it official.

Advocacy in Action

Advocates have been saying this for a while, and now those in power are saying it too. Civil unions are just not enough. Employers refuse to offer health insurance to civil union partners, some hospitals don’t allow visits or let partners make medical decisions, and many people have no idea what a civil union is. But everyone knows what marriage is and we need to give everyone the benefits of marriage.

On another topic, related to the first: Advocacy. It is a term we use regularly in the profession, but we like to share examples of it when we can. Here are a few:

• Mass use of technology and voices: one of our staff members attended a town meeting recently in which everyone in the meeting was asked to take out their cell phones and call a list of legislators. At the moment, using scripts as our guides, 200-something people jammed the voicemails of legislators with an important and friendly message.

• Support a cause with a click of a button: many causes make it easy to send letters to legislators, using fill-in-the-blanks to add your information, like this one for marriage equality: http://eqfed.org/campaign/FinalCommissionReport.

• Repeatedly making the effort to get your clients the services they deserve: those phone calls, letters and in-person attempts (and successes!) are vital to our profession and our clients.

World AIDS Day - The Job Ahead of Us

2008-12-05T10:11:00.003-05:00

World AIDS Day (December 1st) may be over, but our advocacy efforts and the ever present reality of AIDS are still very much with us.

It seems that World AIDS Day is the one day a year when people turn to social workers and those working in HIV/AIDS service organizations and say "so, how's it going?" We wish we could say "great."

Yes, there have been advancements in medicine and treatments, and we are getting the message out. But the message can be complicated: in the early days of prevention advocacy, we warned that everyone was at risk; now we're targeting disenfranchised populations. In targeting, we have the advantage of more person-to-person interactions, but too many individuals still think it could never happen to them.

Added to this, the cost of HIV infection is at least double-fold. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control recently testified before Congress that each HIV infection cost approximately 1 million dollars in treatment and lost productivity.

We encourage you to get involved year-round, personally and professionally. Have safer sex. Be blunt with your kids about safer sex. Introduce harm reduction strategies into your agency mission and practices. Look into needle exchanges in your area and be open to referring your clients there, if appropriate (NJ has a few now! Atlantic City, Camden, Newark, and Paterson). Talk to your friends about the reality of what you see in your work.

We've included a few links below to get you and/or your agency started on the path to HIV/AIDS Advocacy, and if you have other links or stories to share, please post them in a comment.

If you'd like to be involved in our NASW-NJ HIV/AIDS Special Interest Group, please click here.

For NASW Policy Statement on HIV/AIDS: http://www.socialworkers.org/resources/abstracts/abstracts/hiv.asp

For general information on World AIDS Day and advocacy: http://www.worldaidsday.org/

For a brief history of World AIDS Day: http://aidshiv.suite101.com/article.cfm/history_of_world_aids_day

For ideas on how to get schools involved in HIV advocacy: http://www.worldaidsday.org/get-involved/schools.aspx

And we'd be glad (as would others) to hear your thoughts here about preventing HIV/AIDS.

Holiday Cheer or Cheerless?

2008-11-21T15:32:00.000-05:00

The end of the year can be a special time, bringing holidays spent with family and friends, and making us feel upbeat and giving.

But holidays can be difficult too. As social workers, we know holidays can mean covering co-workers’ shifts over the holidays, attending to donation calls, reporting on grants, managing our valued volunteers, and recognizing that holidays may not be happy times for our clients. Whether it's the onset of cold weather, reduced agency budgets at year's end, or the current deepening U.S. economic crisis, the holidays - for some of us - may not be all fun and good cheer.

With the stress of the approaching holidays, we owe it to ourselves and our clients to practice self-care. What suggestions and insights can you offer your fellow social workers about how to decrease stress during the holidays?

Talking About Race...Continuing the Dialogue

2008-11-13T22:52:00.004-05:00

We are elated that President Obama will take office on January 20, 2009. But we’re concerned that electing an African American to the presidency has fooled some people into thinking that all racial barriers have fallen – that racism in America has ended.

It's just not that easy. Yes, this is a momentous time in American history and the election marks an historic turning point in race relations in this country, but that does not mean we should stop talking about race. We must press ahead toward achieving total equality in this country.

If we need any argument that discussions must continue, we only have to look as far as Warren County, NJ. Last Thursday, someone in that county burned a cross on the lawn of Obama supporters. And while we’re proud that one of own members joined with the local NAACP and a local college to have an open discussion with students about this shocking crime, we need to ensure that everyone is prepared to discuss race and diversity openly and honestly.

We need these conversations more than ever. They might be tough conversations to have, but very necessary, as we begin the Obama years in Washington, DC.

Election 2008

2008-11-05T16:14:00.000-05:00

We went out and bought a newspaper this morning- an actual, in our hand, newsprint on our fingers, newspaper. We wanted to have the 2008 election results in print. This has been a rollercoaster of an election for many of us and it all came down to yesterday, a day when a record number of American citizens showed up and waited to cast their vote.

Some NASW-NJ staff attended the Victory 08 New Jersey Democrats event last night to watch the election results state-by-state, and it was inspiring to see how diverse the crowd was. People of all ages, races, cultural backgrounds, jobs, gender identifications and sexual orientations were talking excitedly, discussing the voting process and eyeing the giant television screens. Everyone had a different story, a separate reason for the way they voted, varied hopes for the future.

What was yesterday like for you?

Proposition 8

2008-10-24T15:25:00.002-04:00

While we are geographically removed from California, we have been closely following the news on Proposition 8, a proposed amendment that will, if passed, amend the California constitution. This amendment, which will say, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California," will be known as the California Marriage Protection Act. For more information, check out the Web site of NASW-CA.

We stand with citizen activists and our colleagues in the California social work community who decry the potential loss of a fundamental right of gay and lesbian couples. Many of these couples have longstanding, committed relationships that will not end if Proposition 8 goes through, as many anti same-sex marriage supporters seem to believe.

The hurtful anti-same sex marriage campaign is a step backwards for California residents, especially coming on the heels of the Connecticut Supreme Court’s October 10 decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Connecticut's action is the direction we need to go as a nation, and we should persuade New Jersey to take a page from Connecticut - and Massachusetts - and join the East Coast progression of positive change for gay and lesbian couples.

Your thoughts?

ACORN and Getting Out the Vote

2008-10-18T14:24:00.000-04:00

The latest news frenzy centers on Senator McCain’s allegations that ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) committed voter registration fraud. ACORN encourages low- and middle-income families – the families many of us serve – to vote and get involved in the political process.

We’d like to know what you think about obstacles to voting. What are some of the other obstacles your clients face? Have any strategies worked for you in helping your clients overcome these obstacles?

Also, while the ACORN controversy highlights the issue of how we get people registered to vote, registration is just one important step in the voting process. Another step is the Absentee Ballot. By going to the following website: http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/absentee_doe.html, any registered voter can fill out an absentee ballot application, mail it in to their county clerk before October 28th, and vote from home!

Coping with the holidays...

2008-10-10T17:28:00.000-04:00

The end of the year can be a special time, bringing holidays spent with family and friends, and making us feel upbeat and giving.

But holidays can be difficult too. As social workers, we know holidays can mean covering co-workers’ shifts over the holidays, attending to donation calls, reporting on grants, managing our valued volunteers, and recognizing that holidays may not be happy times for our clients. Whether it's the onset of cold weather, reduced agency budgets at year's end, or the current U.S. economic crisis, the holidays - for some of us - may not be all fun and good cheer.

With the stress of the approaching holidays, we owe it to ourselves and our clients to practice self-care. What suggestions and insights can you offer your fellow social workers about how to decrease stress during the holidays?

NOTE: We will feature some responses in our December FOCUS newsletter, so let us know if that's ok. Just say "yes" or "no" at the end of your posting.

Getting Involved in Election 2008

2008-10-03T14:13:00.001-04:00

We encourage you to get involved in electing “social work-friendly” candidates at both the state and national level. Our PACE endorsed candidates include Barack Obama for President, and NJ Senator John Adler and NJ Assemblywoman Linda Stender for Congress.

This is a VERY IMPORTANT election, one that will set the course for our nation's future. As social workers, we can help frame a new direction for America. We work with some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens; provide services in schools, hospitals, and clinics; help those coping with HIV, homelessness, mental illness; and work with people struggling to make ends meet, hoping that tomorrow will be a better day.

We welcome your thoughts on the upcoming election and how we as social workers can get involved on the local, state, and national level. What will you be doing this fall to ensure that our next generation of leaders will be sensitive to the needs of those we serve?

Apology for Slavery: What's Next?

2008-08-28T16:54:00.000-04:00

On July 29, 2008, the House of Representatives passed a resolution apologizing for slavery and ‘Jim Crow’ laws. While many states have apologized for slavery, this is the first time a branch of the federal government has done so. The only problem with this resolution is that it did not happen decades ago.

While the House resolution is the first time the federal government has apologized for slavery that occurred more than 400 years ago, it has apologized to Japanese-Americans for their interment during World War II and to native Hawaiians for the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893.

In passing the resolution, the House acknowledged the “injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow.” The resolution apologized to African Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow. Furthermore, the resolution expressed its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow, and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.

We hope the Senate will quickly pass a parallel resolution and that President Bush will publicly endorse it.

Yet we must ask: Is an apology enough?

Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendents of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery. In 1988, when Congress passed and President Reagan signed an act apologizing to the 120,000 Japanese-Americans who were held in detention camps during World War II, the 60,000 detainees who were alive at the time each received $20,000 from the government. Yet Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes offering reparations to the descendants of slaves, putting him at odds with some black groups and leaders. He believes that government should instead combat the legacy of slavery by improving schools, health care, and the economy for all.

Social workers know the first step in recovery is admitting there is a problem. The US has now admitted that there are lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow. What should happen next?