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Hello Members of the Extended Humboldt State Social Work Community, This semester's newsletter features innovative and respectful examples of the work students, staff, faculty, and alumni are engaged in. While many members of our department have been involved in practice before joining HSU and continue to do so after leaving HSU, I'd like to call out one person who has been a cornerstone of our department. Sheri Johnson will be retiring from Humboldt State this summer. Sheri has been responsible for the successful placement of close to 1,000 students in social work field sites during her time at HSU. She led the development of graduate-level social work internships and has supported the transformation of professional social services on the North Coast and throughout the state. Sheri embraces what the world brings to her. She harnesses the energies of organizational stress and lets them pass through her with integrity and grace. She brings flowers in the morning and she transforms light into color, metaphorically and literally. On behalf of the entire department, to her I say, "xiexie". Warmly, Ronnie Swartz Chair, Department of Social Work
Welcomes and Retirements
Welcome Sasheen Raymond - Administrative Support, Grants & Contracts!
Welcome Pamela Bowers, PhD, MSW - Assistant Professor!
Welcome Mailee Yang – Hmong Community Outreach Coordinator!
Congratulations on your retirement, Sheri Johnson - Director of Field Education!
Distributed Learning Campus Intensive Highlights January 14th, 15th & 16th Among the events at this January's Distributed Learning Campus Intensive were presentations from Chisa Oros and Larissa Krause.
The Role of Fort Humboldt During the California Gold Rush: a focus on local Indigenous women's struggle, resistance and resilience with Chisa Oros Chisa Oros, Zuni Pueblo/Yoeme), pictured above/left, shared her current research is titled "The Role of Fort Humboldt During the California Gold Rush: a focus on local Indigenous women's struggle, resistance and resilience." She is a MA candidate at Humboldt State University's Environment and Community graduate program in Social Science. Her work focuses on the militarization of the Humboldt Bay region during the California Gold Rush, the symbiotic relationship of environmental destruction and violence and exploitation of Indigenous women, and the long term implications of such. This research is done through archival and historical document and policy analysis, semi-structured interviews, oral history examination, and analysis of California standardized curricula.
Discovering Wellness with Larissa Krause, MSW "Discovering Wellness" was an interactive and innovative approach to understanding and implementing self-care practices for caring professionals including:
Identifying Occupational Stressors of caring professionals The physiological impacts of accumulated stress The psychology of approaching wellness in our culture (practices and perceptions) Professional and Personal Practices that buffer and mitigate the negative impacts of occupational stress • Conversation on ways in which to operationalize self-care practice • • • •
Larissa explains: I've been researching the fundamental approach to how we sustain wellness in caring professions for about 4 years now. While I emphasize social work practice (which is truly my passion) the presentation is meant for a number of caring professionals who are impacted by occupational stressors (burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and vicarious trauma). Truly, I am hoping to support caring professionals operationalize self-care practices. One really important factor about my research and work are ways to increase compassion satisfaction (the pleasure we derive from the work that we do). While I do talk about occupational stressors, I'm finding my focus to be on what we are doing that is really making a positive difference for sustainable wellness. Larissa will offer a community presentation of "Discovering Wellness" on May 12th at the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE). For more information contact mwalkley@humboldt.k12.ca.us.
Masters Projects Community Presentations Monday, March 7th, the Department of Social Work hosted a community event to explain and celebrate the work of Social Work Masters students. All MSW students will complete a Masters Project as their culminating experience. The Masters Project documents the student’s achievement of their learning outcomes at the graduate level. Projects must be evaluated by at least two faculty members and a community partner, these members make up the Project Committee. Projects must also meet the requirements of Graduate Studies. A project must evidence originality and independent thinking, appropriate form and organization, and a rationale. It is described and summarized in a written abstract that includes the project's significance, objectives, methodology and a conclusion or recommendation. Some of the topics included: • Expanding Community Space for Peer-Led LGBTQI+ Support Groups in Rural Northern California • Psycho-Social Intervention Manual for Patients in Cancer Treatment: A Collaboration Between Social Workers and Physicians
• Respite Care Workers Effectively Serving Foster Parents and Foster Children: A Needs Assessment • Building Collaboration Between Indigenous and Immigrant Hispanic Populations in Rural Northern California • Establishing Mindfulness as a Resource for Humboldt County's Homeless Individuals • Integrated Talking Circle in Western and Tribal Systems • Bullying: An Informative and Educational Approach to a Widespread Problem
"Bullying: An Informative and Educational Approach to a Widespread Problem" was presented by Stephanie Wright (BASW 2015, MSW Class of 2016). In an interview, Stephanie explains about her project. Q: What made you choose your topic? A. Through my work with the local Community Youth Center (CYC), I noticed a need for youth awareness about the devastating impacts that bullying can have on individuals, their peers, and their communities. The CYC is an organization that prides itself on creating a safe, fun, and educational environment for local youth of all ages. However, evidence and observation shows that bullying is such a widespread problem that no local institutions and/or organizations are immune to its effects. Therefore, with this project, I wanted to create a meaningful age developmentally appropriate anti-bullying curriculum for children attending the CYC. The overall goals of this project were to reduce the number of bullying incidents that occur at the CYC, to help youth have the tools they need to respond in a healthy and effective manner to situations involving bullying, and to teach youth how to articulate the effects of bullying and spread awareness by educating other members on ways to solve bullying issues at the CYC and within other local institutions/organizations. Q: How is this relevant to you personally, your education, and your career goals? A: Working with children has always been one of my greatest passions. Prior to entering grad school, I worked as a teacher in a Pre-K classroom for almost three years. During this time, most the children I worked with came from underprivileged and low-income families that faced many barriers. However, it was not within my job description to fully address the issue that families and their children were dealing with. Due to this, I discovered my desire to work with children and families on a more intimate level. Hence, I entered the Master of Social Work program at HSU. Social Work really allows me to get a deeper understanding of the factors in the lives of families and children that affect their daily choices and/or the direction of their life. Then through this understanding, it allows me to work in collaboration with them to identify strengths and create positive life changes. This relates back to my project because during my anti-bullying curriculum program sessions, I was addressing those life risk factors that the youth in attendance face and how they correlate with bullying and can cause life-long difficulties.
Q: How is this relevant to your work in connection to your community? A: Our future is in the hands of our youth. They are the one who will continue legacies, make new policy changes and enforce them, initiate structural changes, etc. Therefore, in my opinion, we owe it to them to make sure that they have the best developmental opportunities because their future choices will affect our community long after we're gone. One way that we can give them the chance to flourish in their development is by making sure that they understand how their actions and the actions of others can have positive or negative impacts. My work at the CYC recognizes children who are bullied, bully, or are bystanders and how they all have risk factors associated with their actions. It makes sure to address the overarching issues that surround the bullying problem in order to keep our youth healthy and safe so they can reach their full potential as community members. Follow THIS LINK to view Masters Projects from past years.
Annual Trip to Hoopa This years' trip to Hoopa included several stops including the Tribal Office, the Hoopa Valley Tribe Courthouse, Ta’K’imil-ding and the stick field, K'ima:w Medical Center, and the Warrior Institute. Injun Bill at Tribal Office - Billy ‘Injun Bill’ Carpenter currently serves as the Sergeantat-Arms for the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council and works with local Hupa language programs. The Hoopa Valley Tribal Council is comprised of 7 elected Council people and one elected Chairperson. Of the 7 council people, one is elected by the council to represent them as the
Vice-Chairperson. The 7 elected officials are representatives of the 7 fields or districts that correspond to Traditional Village Sites and make up the Hoopa Valley. Hoopa Valley Tribe Courthouse - Chief Judge, Hon. Richard Blake. The tribal court was first established in 1974. Originally the court heard only fishing cases. The court currently has jurisdiction to hear cases arising under the Hoopa Valley Tribal Constitution or statute. The tribe currently has over 67 statutes on a variety of subject matters. The court hears cases involving family law, child abuse and neglect, evictions, domestic violence restraining orders, juvenile delinquency, juvenile wellness court, traffic citations, and civil complaints for monetary damages. Ta’K’imil-ding and the stick field - Ta’K’imil-ding is the center of the Hupa world. Located at this traditional village site, also known as Hostler Field is a Brush Dance house, a sweat house, the “Big House”, and another living house. This is also the site of the sacred Jump Dance. Hoopa origin stories tell of a time when the Trinity River headed west as it left the valley, a time that geologist place at one hundred and fifty thousand years ago. The fire pit in the Big House at Takamil-ding has been carbon dated at 10 thousand years old. The Department of Social Work would like to say THANK YOU to Melodie George-Moore for facilitating and sharing her knowledge with our students. K'ima:w Medical Center with Boyd Ferris AOD Program Director and Mental Health Clinician Marilyn Fox, LMFT - K’ima:w Medical Center’s Behavioral Health staff offers a mix of mental health and substance abuse services. Substance abuse services include regular & intensive outpatient, and one-on-one counseling for men, women and teens. Mental health clinicians include two LMFTs and one ACSW who specialize in working with children, teens, families and adults. Current groups include “Lifeline” a trauma focused group held on Wednesdays and a grieving group is in the works. Critical incident stress debriefing is available for emergency services personnel. Referrals come from the community, medical staff and other programs. Warrior Institute (Grounds Gym) with Director Joe Marshall - In 2011 the Warrior Institute (WI) was established through a partnership with the the non-profit Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous people Inc. The Warrior Institute begun from a multifaceted concept of utilizing indigenous values and practices with best practices of today to transcend the physical, mental and spiritual obstacles faced in today’s modern societies. The Warrior Institute works to provide holistic innovative solutions to organize and build Indigenous leadership. WI accomplishes its mission through a variety of integrated community-based activities, practices that empower young Indigenous leaders to live for a balanced, sustainable, productive, clean, and healthy world. WI provides training, skills, and educational enrichment needed to forge leadership to positively influence the next seven generations and beyond. The Department of Social Work would also like to thank Deacon Ferris for preparing a delicious lunch for all!
April 6, 2016 | 11am-2pm | Great Hall | Humboldt State Wednesday, April 6th, the Department of Social Work hosted its Spring Colloquium. This year the focus was on Social Work and Gender, Gender Identity, and Gender Expressions. Speakers included Calla Peltier-Olson with Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration (HCTAYC) and Dr. David Nyland Professor with Sacramento State University Division of Social Work. The Colloquium honored the life and work of the late Kathryn Corbett and recognized Social Work Alumni of the Year Rochelle Trochtenberg. Follow THIS LINK to view the Colloquium Program on our facebook page.
Social Work Student Association The Social Work Student Association has been busy this spring semester working on their sweatshirt fundraiser, which started in December, with a much bigger turnout than they ever anticipated - over 100 shirts and sweatshirts sold! Treasurer, Nicole Winters, worked especially hard in coordinating all of the orders, payments, and shipping information. Shirts and sweatshirts are still available for purchase and all proceeds go to fund SWSA events and programming. Email swsa@humboldt.edu if you would like to purchase one. During their last club meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd, they met with Department Chair Ronnie Swartz, BASW Director - Debbie Gonzalez, and Title IV-E Project Coordinator - Ken Smith to discuss how students can be more involved with the hiring and selection of new faculty and lecturers. Their hope is that the discussion and suggestions will be helpful in increasing the student voice in these decisions. They plan to continue to work with the department to look for ways to more effectively involve a greater number of students. The month of April will be especially busy for the SWSA. They've worked collaboratively with the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) program to provide a fun cultural activity for children at the 9th annual California Big Time and Social Gathering that took place April 2nd. Their largest event of the year, Lobby Days, is also quickly approaching. They head down to Sacramento on April 16th for two days of education on effective lobbying and current legislation affecting social workers and their clients, and will have the opportunity to meet with legislators and their staff. SWSA President - Whitney Polk says: Over the next few weeks the SWSA will visit Social Work classes to begin recruiting new members for next year’s SWSA, as many of our members are graduating in May. We look forward to meeting with students of all levels in the hopes of having an active and thriving SWSA next year! Check out the SWSA 2015-2015 Newsletter.
Congratulations to Humboldt State University Oh SNAP! who was just funded by Associated Students for $13,385 which will be used to purchase farm fresh produce for students! Did you know that EBT is now on campus? Humboldt State is among the country’s first universities to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Eligible students, faculty, and staff can now use Electronic Benefits Transfer cards to purchase food at the College Creek Marketplace.
HSU Social Work Professor Jen Maguire who has been researching food security issues explains: Food security issues, such as having access to adequate nutrition or even enough food, are very important to our students well-being. Research has continually shown that access to healthy and affordable foods can improve the quality of life for everyone. Emerging evidence points to direct links between our students’ ability to access nutritious foods and to successfully navigate stresses of studying, home life, and working to afford school. In 2015, HSU graduate student Heather King published “College Student Eligibility Barriers to CalFresh,” a thesis for her Masters of Social Work program. Through interviews and surveys, King found that up to 40 percent of students were cutting the size of meals or skipping them entirely because they didn’t have enough money for food. King’s research is part of HSU’s efforts to address student access to food, which includes bringing CalFresh benefits to campus. Since 2013, the student-driven Oh SNAP! program has helped refer students to the CalFresh benefits program and connected them to local food assistance efforts. Students can get free food through Oh SNAP’s Campus Food Pantry and seasonal farm stands. The group also offers cooking demonstration courses and shuttles students to nearby farmers markets. Learn more about HSU Oh SNAP! at hsuohsnap.org.
Six Social Work students (Jenny Quigley, Navor Resurrecion, Cade Godsill, Analysia Limon, Za Lo, and Ellie Blake) along with with Professor Jen Maguire were invited to present at the Califonia Higher Education Food Summit took place January 22-24 at UC Irvine. Their presentation, "Ripping Off the Band-Aid", was an overview of research they have conducted on food sovereignty and food security. The Califonia Higher Education Food Summit was created to: • Engage in critical discussions about food insecurity as a social justice issue impacting students, families, and community members. • Raise awareness about the food access and security issues affecting college students across the four segments of higher education (Community College, California State University, University of California, Private Colleges).
• Discuss and identify short and long term strategies to increase student food access and security in higher education (e.g. Food pantries and CalFresh to financial aid formulas and capacity building). • Explore the intersections between food access, equity, and justice within the larger food movement. The students then offered "Ripping Off the Band-Aid" as a session at the HSU Social Justice Food Summit on Satursay, March 5th. Their workshop explored different models for addressing food insecurity and the programs in place right now to support students, discussed ways to push this support even further challenging the systems in place that contribute to rising food insecurity among students, and invited attendees to brainstorm on this process of building a community where food is a right and not a privilege. On February 27th, Maguire also attended the 2016 Food Summit, A Humboldt Food Policy Council Regional Event. Maguire was a panel speaker. Visit HSU's flickr page to view great images of the event!
Meet Joanne Robertson, MSW - Class of 2018 Q: How did you come to HSU's Social Work Distributed Learning Program? A: I was attracted to HSU's MSW program because of its emphasis on decolonization and rural/Indigenous psychology. I am Inupiaq and come from a rural community in the Northwest region of Alaska. It is important to me to bring our Inupiaq values to the forefront of social work in my region, so that we can work towards creating healthy, balanced and thriving communities. Q: Can you tell us about your educational background/work history/life experiences that informed your path to Social Work? A: I have a BA in history and was interested in researching Alaska Native history. Once I joined a graduate program in history, however, I realized that I was more passionate about working with people than working with historical documents and archives.
I have lived in Alaska, Illinois, Arizona, and France. I worked as an English teaching assistant for 8 months in France - an experience that taught me a lot about homesickness, friendship, and embracing new experiences and discomfort. I moved back to Kotzebue in January 2015 and love living at home. Q: Can you share some of your experiences as an intern? A: My internship is with the Office of Children's Services in my hometown of Kotzebue, Alaska. Others may know it as Child Protective Services but we call it "OCS." Our department of five serves 12 villages, with Kotzebue as the hub of the region. Our positions include two case managers, one SSA (Social Services Associate), and one supervisor. Kotzebue is only accessible by plane because there is no connecting road to other regions. The 12 villages are only accessible by airplane, snow machine, or boat. There are roughly 8000 residents in the region, about 75% of whom are Inupiat. Q: What work are you doing with your current organization? A: I have worked as a case manager since August 2015 and am still in training. This is the most challenging and rewarding job I've ever had. Our case loads are high, we have very few resources, and it feels like we are jumping from crisis to crisis most of the time. But working as a front line worker has been an amazing experience and I love getting to know the people of our region. This position allows me to interact with elders, parents and children from different villages. Through these interactions, I get a sense of how our communities function, what our strengths are, and where we need help. We travel mostly by plane and I absolutely love flying. But recently I got to go to a nearby village with a snow machine (people from the Lower 48 call this a "snow mobile," locals call them "snow gos") and that was a lot of fun! It takes 2 hours to go one-way. On the drive back, the snow machine tipped over on its side on a narrow part of the trail and my coworker and I had to hoist it right side up. Snow machines weigh hundreds of pounds but we managed it somehow. We also hit wet, slick, ice and I wiped out, landing face first in the water. My jacket and snow pants got wet but froze so quickly that my under clothes were completely dry by the time I got home. I was lucky! It was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again. During the coldest part of winter I've traveled in -24 degree weather, although the airlines do not fly once it drops down to -30 degrees. Q: What are your goals (both educational and professional)? A: I see myself developing my profession further 4-5 years down the road. I would like to become an LCSW at some point but who knows what the future will bring. I have always been pleasantly surprised by the detours I seem to take. I know that I would like to work on behalf of the good of our people.
Social Work BASW/MSW graduates and families are invited to join us for a graduation reception before commencement ...refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, and sweets! More Spring Events April 17-18 Legislative Lobby Days 22nd
April 29 Annual Spring Field Reception for Field Instructors (Supervisors & Mentors) and their BASW & MSW Interns May 14 Commencement