NASW-NJ FOCUS Fall 2023

FALL 2023 • Vol 33.1

AUGUST

Is Civic Health Month

VOTE MEET OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CHAPTER ELECTION RESULTS

p. 05

p. 06

HARRIET BLOOMFIELD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

p. 26 NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS I N T E R I M P R E S I D E N T, Carrie Conger

2 N D V I C E P R E S I D E N T, Jennifer Sorensen

1 S T V I C E P R E S I D E N T, Kim Finnie

G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T R E P, Jana Sasser

S E C R E TA RY, Tiffany Mayers

U N D E RG R A D UAT E S T U D E N T R E P, Paola Benitez

R E G I O N A L R E P S , Courtney Wise, Ruslana Church, Franya Rodriguez, Renee Frazier

UNIT LEADERS

NASW-NJ has 4 units across the state of New Jersey.

NORTHWEST

NORTHEAST

UNIT LEADERSHIP

UNIT LEADERSHIP

Dina Morley

Melissa Donahue

Afifa Ansari

CENTRAL UNIT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH

Vimmi Surti

UNIT LEADERSHIP

Miguel Williams

OPEN POSITIONS

CHAPTER OFFICE E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R Debra O'Neal, LMSW, ACSW doneal.naswnj@socialworkers.org

D I R E C TO R O F A DVO C AC Y & C OM MU N I C AT I O N S Jeff Feldman, MSW, LSW jfeldman.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 114

D I R E C TO R O F D E V E LO PM E N T & E D U C AT I O N Helen French

E N GAG E M E N T C O O R D I N ATO R Resia-Maria Cooper, MSW

hfrench.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 122

rcooper.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext: 154

M E M B E R S H I P A N D E D U C AT I O N S P E C I A L I S T Willis Williams wwilliams.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 110

M E M B E R S H I P & C OM MU N I C AT I O N S C O O R D I N ATO R Johanna Munoz, MSW jmunoz.naswnj@socialworkers.org

GR APHIC DESIGNER Katherine Girgenti kgirgenti.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 129

N A S W– N J C H A P T E R O F F I C E 100 Somerset Corporate Blvd 2nd Floor, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, Ph: 732.296.8070, www.naswnj.org

05

M E E T O U R N E W E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R

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ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT

07

H I S PA N I C H E R I TAG E M O N T H AS A S O C I A L W O R K E R

09

L E G I S L AT I V E AC T I O N

10

FROM THE FIELD

22

ST U D E N T C E N T E R

26

H A R R I E T B LO O M F I E L D AWA R D E E S

30

MEMBER CONNECT

32

F R E E C E U S F O R YO U

CONTENTS

FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT

TABLE OF

04

Thank you to our partner Rutgers School of Social Work for their support of NJ FOCUS

33

P R O F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO PM E N T

FROM THE INTERIM PRESIDENT Dear NASW NJ & DE Community, As Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” In the Summer 2023 issue of FOCUS, we recognized and said goodbye to our former Executive Director. Since that time, a committee of Delaware and New Jersey members, along with the NASW National staff, have worked hard to identify our Chapter’s next Executive Director, Debra O'Neal, LMSW, ACSW. Ms. O'Neal will officially start as Executive Director on August 14, 2023. We have been fortunate these past couple of months to have Kimberly Harper, LCSW, ACSW leading us as Interim Executive Director while we conduct our leadership search. I want to express how grateful we are for all that Kimberly has done for us during the transition.

Now, I’m writing to inform you that after much consideration, the Chapter’s President Elect, Lisa Lawson, MBA, LCSW, CCS has made the decision to step down as President of our Board of Directors. We thank Lisa for her prior service.

As the outgoing First Vice President, I will be stepping into the role of Interim Chapter President. Each July, the leadership of our Chapter changes and newly elected Board members assume their respective roles. As many of you noticed, this year’s elections were delayed, and as a result, new Board members were just elected last month. You can see results of the Chapter election on page 6 of this issue. We are now in the process of orientating our newly elected Board members, as well as revisiting the vision for the New Jersey Chapter. This is a very exciting time for the Chapter—one of change, growth, and renewal.

Social workers create change in many ways—from systems-level change at the macro level to individual change in micro level practice. In this time of change, I look forward to continuing to build on the strong foundation of the Chapter with our new Board of Directors and Ms. O'Neal. I am always available to the membership and welcome your feedback and involvement as we continue to navigate the changes. I look forward to being of service to you.

With Appreciation,

Carrie Conger, MSW, LSW Interim Chapter President

Meet Our New EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Debra O’Neal is a Professional Social Worker. She earned her BSW from Rutgers University and her MSSW from Columbia University. Debra was a Social Worker serving adults with developmental disabilities in New Jersey. In 1990, she moved to Delaware and continued her work within the developmental disabilities community and later provided mental health services in adult corrections facilities. Since 1994, she has worked in various positions within the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF). Debra was a case manager for youth on probation, a Regional Manager for four probation units in New Castle County, and the Training/Education Administrator II for the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services. Subsequently, Debra became the Department-wide Training/Education Administrator II for DSCYF Center for Professional Developmental (CPD). In that role, she served on various works groups and special projects for the division and department. Twenty-five years later, Debra moved to the Delaware Department for Human Resources (DHR) Training/Education Administrator II. Debra completes her State service as the Training Administrator II for the DHSS Division of Health Care Quality.

Debra has been a very active professional and served in many NASW Delaware positions: New Castle Regional Representative, Secretary, served two terms as President, was a Delegate twice, and was the Eastern Coalition Cochair for NASW Delegate Assembly. Debra served on two NASW national committees: Woman’s Issues and The Black Caucus.

Debra O’Neal is a member of the Alliance of Black Social Workers (Philadelphia Chapter of NABSW) and has served on the membership committee. Debra created a digital membership form and revised the process to manage chapter membership. Debra was one of the facilitators of the chapter’s new member orientation and member appreciation events. Debra serves as webmaster for the ABSW website updating the home page, chapter leadership page, events, and conference pages and facilitates online event registration, payment, and marketing. Debra served as Chair of the Bylaws and Constitution committee and worked with veteran members to update and revise the document.

Debra O’Neal is a Loyal Sons and Daughters of Rutgers Inductee (April 2015) and received the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Delaware Chapter Outstanding Leadership Award (March 2012) Debra is one of the founders and graphic designer for the publication Let The Truth Be Told. The publication provides a vehicle for Black people and the Black community to have a voice.

Debra serves on several volunteer boards and is engaged in volunteer activities. Debra is the immediate past Chair of the Rutgers University Alumni Association, she is a board member of the Livingston Alumni Association, and she is a member of the HB198 Community Input Group (working to ensure that the Black history is part of the k-12 curriculum as outlined by the law).

DEBRA A. O’NEAL, LMSW, ACSW,

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 5

NASW-NJ ELECTIONS

THE RESULTS ARE IN! 1ST VICE PRESIDENT

COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS & LEADERSHIP (CCNLI)

KIM FINNIE

DOUG BEHAN

NICOLE NOLAN

CSSW, LCSW

DSW, LCSW

MPP, LCSW

BSW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

MSW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

PAOLA BENITEZ

JANA SASSER

DELEGATE ASSEMBLY

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

JESS SPOONER

CHRISTINA WRIGHT

RENEE FRAZIER

FRANYA RODRIGUEZ

JD, MSW, LSW

LCSW

LCSW

MSW, LSW

6 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

CONGRATULATIONS!

SOCIAL WORKER described shedding quiet tears on his first day of work in the factory as he ate arroz con habichuelas 2 out of a thermos during his 15-minute lunch break.

It was a very different experience than back home in DR where he had a 2-hour break to have a full sit-down meal and occasionally have time for a short nap before returning to the students he taught. Coming to this new land was a huge culture shock for him and my mother. They experienced a loss of community which caused feelings of loneliness and isolation. They went from teaching students to not being able to help their own children with homework since they did not speak the English language. They encountered many

By Tamir Reyes, LCSW

difficulties navigating systems and adapting to a new environment.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th - October 15th is a time where we

Growing up, I witnessed the themes of dislocation,

are invited to pause and reflect on the lives of

difficulties assimilating, challenges navigating

members in the Latinx community, our culture,

unknown systems, marginalization,

our history, our successes, and our contributions.

discrimination, changes in roles, and

As I take a moment to contemplate on the Latinx

disappointment experienced by my family

community, all that we are and have contributed

transition into themes of strength, resilience,

to society, I can’t help but think about my own

community, stability, and faith. As my parents

story and what connects me to mi gente.

1

acclimated to this new life, they received support, love, and care from family members who were

I am a first-generation, Dominican-American,

already living in the U.S. They made connections

daughter of immigrants. My parents immigrated

in their faith community and work settings. They

to the United States from the Dominican Republic

found a sense of belonging and have been serving

(DR) in the 1970s. Like many others, in hopes of a

their community as pastors for the last 20+ years.

better future, they left their home, family, friends,

Through them and my extended family, I learned

and careers and moved to an unknown land—a

and observed the various values I connect to

land where they did not know the language or

personally and that have informed my decision to

what the future held. Both of my parents were

serve others through social work.

teachers in the Dominican Republic, and shortly after arriving in the U.S., they found themselves

When I think of some of the core values of social

working long hours in clothing and shoe factories.

work—service, social justice, dignity and worth of

In sharing details of his story, my father

the person, importance of human relationships,

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 7

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month as a

Hispanic Heritage Month

could reach out to assist with this. As such, it is

as a first-generation Latina and how my Latinx

now important for me to provide that space I did

identity connects me to the social work field. My

not have with the Latinx social workers I

heritage has shown me the importance of service

supervise.

3

to others. Every day, my mom, tias, and abuela

4

would cook food with extended family and

The Latinx community continues to grow and

neighbors in mind. Their ability to create

expand. We are a rising majority that continues to

abundance from a small amount was, and still is,

have a deep influence and impact in society. This

inspiring. Being Latina has shown me the value of

Hispanic Heritage Month, I invite you to reflect on

community and taught me that we are not meant

all members of the Hispanic/Latinx community.

to go through life alone. From Sunday family

To carry our roots and heritage with a sense of

gatherings, to weekday visits, to daily phone calls

orgullo5 for all that we have accomplished, and to

to family back home in DR, I learned that

continue to work towards a better tomorrow. We

relationships are essential. My heritage has taught

stand on the shoulders of the many who have

me to advocate and work together towards justice.

come before us and have laid the groundwork and

Being Latina has taught me that everyone matters

a foundation for us to build on.

and is worthy.

I carried these lessons with me as I started in the

Spanish to English Glossary

field as a child and family therapist. My passion

1. Mi gente - my people

has always been to be of service to mi gente, and

2. Arroz con habichuelas - rice and beans

through my role as a social worker, I have been

3. Tias – aunts

able to do just that. As a child and family therapist,

4. Abuela – Grandmother

I had the opportunity to work with many Latinx

5. Orgullo - pride

children and families. I often felt much satisfaction knowing that I was of service to members of my community. Clients would often express their appreciation in feeling heard and understood by a social worker who both spoke their language and looked like them. One of the

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

themes that often came up in my work was the

Tamir Reyes, LCSW is a dynamic and creative Clinical

strained relationships of immigrant parents with

Director with 12+ years’ experience in community-based

their adolescent children. The challenge to raise

care, implementing evidence-based treatments to uplift

their children in a country with different values

children, adolescents, and guardians. She currently

than their own was a very common theme among

serves as Clinical Director at Savia Community

the Latinx families I worked with. I understood

Counseling Services, a mental health agency providing

this from a very personal level. Having a personal

in-home therapeutic services to children, adolescents,

connection to this type of experience was helpful

and families. Tamir is a proud Afro-Latina and

in connecting with the whole family, parents, and

passionate advocate for women's and social justice issues

youths with whom I worked. As a clinical

in her personal and professional life. She earned a

supervisor, it is one of my joys to supervise

Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University

upcoming Latinx social workers. I remember

School of Social Work with a certification in Violence

often struggling with not knowing how to express

Against Women and Children and holds a Bachelor of

certain terms in Spanish to clients in a way they

Science in Psychology and Urban Studies from Saint

would understand. I did not have a supervisor I

Peter's College.

8 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

Hispanic Heritage Month

and integrity—I reflect on my experiences in life

NASW-NJ took the following actions in Trenton over the past two months.

BILL NUMBER

SUPPORTED/ OPPOSED

TITLE/DESCRIPTION

BILL STATUS AS OF 7/31/2023

Health Care A4223

Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care and mental health services according to Medicare payment rates for same services.

Supported 6/5/2023; 6/22/2023

A4829

Requires DOH to create website with information on reproductive rights.

Supported 6/5/2023; 6/22/2023

A6/30/2023 - Substituted by S3275 (2R)

A5225/ S3729

Provides for coverage of communitybased palliative care benefits under Medicaid

Supported 6/22/2023

6/30/2023 - Passed by the Assembly (78-0-0); Passed Senate (36-0)

6/22/2023 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading

Professional Issues S3957

Expands exemptions from criminal drug paraphernalia laws to additionally exempt certain harm reduction supplies.

Supported 6/15/2023

6/15/2023 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

Chapter/National issued the following statements or joined the following sign-on letters/statements Date

Topic

Target

NASW Signon Level

6/27/2023

New Jersey Representatives and Senators urging them to support the Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination (PAID) Act, H.R. 3880

Federal

State

Consumer Federation of America

7/14/2023

Letter Urging the President to Act Quickly on Student Debt Relief

Federal

State

Student Borrower Protection Center

7/18/2023

Strongly oppose S3929/A5182 doubling hold time for Involuntary Commitment and urging Governor to veto this bill

State

State

ACLU

Lead Entity

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 9

MEMBER MISSIVES

THE LATEST FROM THE FIELD

10 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

By Julie Ferdas, LCSW and Kim Finnie, CSSW, LCSW “Clients often feel safe when using Sandtray therapy because it can provide distance from traumatic experiences or conflicts, and there is no right or wrong way to arrange figurines in the sand tray."

W

hen people hear the word “therapy,” they probably imagine going to a therapist ’s office, sitting on the couch, and sharing their feelings while the therapist helps them to process. While this is the most common form of therapy, there are alternative methods. One such method is sandtray therapy, which allows people to articulate their emotions through the use of objects, rather than using traditional talk therapy methods.

What is Sandtray therapy?

Originally developed for use with children, Sandtray therapy is a creative-expressive modality that can be used with both children and adults. In using this approach, the client is asked to make a scene or create a world in a tray of sand, using three-dimensional figures. When this process is carried out in the presence of a trained therapist, creating scenes in the sand can have therapeutic benefits.

Sandtray therapy uses a rectangular tray, often with blue interior walls. The tray is filled with sand and miniature figures that a client has selected to create scenes or worlds. Since the client leads sandtray therapy sessions, they can create whatever scene they like. Some may choose not to create a scene and instead just experience movement in the sand by using their hands or other tools. Sandtray therapists often have rooms filled with large collections of play figures, which can include humans, animals, buildings, vehicles, spiritual symbols, and natural objects like trees or stones.

There are multiple approaches to Sandtray therapy, which can be adapted to a client ’s specific needs. Some Sandtray therapists use a directive approach, guiding clients to create specific scenes. Alternatively, some therapists may select an entirely hands-off, nondirective approach to Sandtray therapy. Finally, the modality can be entirely non-verbal, or a therapist may ask the client questions to explore and process the metaphorical world.

Regardless of the specific approach to Sandtray therapy, what is most important to the healing process is the relationship that the client has with the therapist. By creating a safe, trusting environment, the therapist provides an ideal setting for the client to use the Sandtray model to foster their healing process.

How Sandtray Therapy Works The relationship between a therapist and a client is essential in Sandtray therapy, as it is in any therapeutic process. Beyond this relationship, the Sandtray model itself can confer therapeutic benefits.

The underlying theory behind Sandtray therapy is that the process of creating scenes using small figurines can help clients to access material from their subconscious mind. Clients often feel safe when using Sandtray therapy because it can provide distance from traumatic experiences or conflicts, and there is no right or wrong way to arrange figurines in the sand tray.

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 11

Clinical Social Work

The Many Ways Sandtray Therapy Can Foster Healing

Clinical Social Work

Once the scene is created in the sand, the client can process and understand some of their emotions related to the scene. In some cases, creating these scenes can allow a client to better express information from their conscious mind when they have been unable to express it verbally. Additionally, throughout the therapeutic process, clients can learn to change their ways of thinking, and alter their emotional responses, as the structure of their sand tray pictures changes over time. This process in and of itself is healing.

Additional healing can occur through the handson nature of Sandtray therapy. Playing in the sand and rearranging figurines with the hands is, for many people, a pleasant sensory experience, which can create a sense of safety during the therapeutic process. This means that those who may not feel comfortable opening up and speaking to a therapist in traditional “talk therapy” settings might prefer the Sandtray modality.

Finally, the expressive nature of Sandtray therapy can help clients to regulate their emotions. With repeated Sandtray therapy, improved emotional regulation can allow clients not only to resolve internal conflicts but also to reframe their inner emotional world to bring about healing.

Uses of Sandtray Therapy The Sandtray method has been found to be effective in bringing about positive changes in both children and adults. Some common uses for children include: • • • • • • •

Treating aggressive behavior Treatment of ADHD Helping children to cope with trauma Addressing emotional and attachment issues arising from family problems like divorce or parental addiction Helping children and teens to identify and express difficult emotions Improving self-esteem Managing symptoms of autism and other disabilities

Furthermore, Sandtray therapy can be beneficial for treating adults with the following conditions: • •

Relational conflict Depression

12 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

• • •

Anxiety P TSD Stress and trauma associated with being an immigrant or refugee

Based upon what is known about Sandtray therapy from research and professional practice, this modality can be helpful for children and adults coping with a variety of different mental, emotional, and relationship problems.

References: 1

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-14608-022

2

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-14608-020

3

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019745561730254X?casa_

token=Q-9nMxHZbI4AAAAA:_62AD61mkP5TONVhtm5Tc3OawQPSAQ4iH_ HcZPtaHZrtOHhjy2tDRUtJ7efDHMy-yYhFViYbjWM

About the Authors: Julie Ferdas, LCSW is a New Jersey Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology f rom Rutgers University in 1997. Julie completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. She has been providing therapeutic services to children and adolescents, individuals, couples, and families in a variety of settings for the last f ifteen years. Julie joined Bridge to Balance in 2014 and is now a co-owner, sharing in the vision and bringing energy to its continued growth.

Learn more at https://bridge2balance.com Kim Finnie, CSSW, LCSW earned her BA degree in 1999 f rom Wheaton College in Sociology and Theology. After graduating, Kim worked full-time in the social work f ield for Catholic Charities Chicago while attending graduate school to earn her Master of Social Work degree at Loyola University-Chicago. Kim graduated in 2003 with her MSW and moved back to her home state of NJ to work for Robins’ Nest and Gloucester County Special Services School District as a licensed social worker (LSW ). Kim earned her LCSW in 2009 and entered private practice. She opened the doors of Bridge to Balance Inc. in 2010 with a vision of providing individuals and families with services that focused on helping them cultivate a sense of balance and wellness in their lives. Learn more at https:// bridge2balance.com

By Stephanie Siciliano, LCSW, RYT

“In a culture that intellectualizes and even capitalizes on the idea of wellness, we must ask, who gets to feel well, whole, and peaceful?”

I

n March of 2023 I had the great honor of facilitating a trauma sensitive yoga session at the NASW-NJ Annual Conference. The conference was being held in-person for the first time since 2019. Conference leaders were adamant about incorporating self-care and making wellness a priority for the event. My yoga group gathered across the hall from the Self Care Lounge, a room reserved for attendees and facilitators to take time for themselves, a safe space for reflection and regulation. I was inspired by the integration of mindfulness and healing into the professional conference. For some time, I had been exploring the need to integrate wellness into all facets of our lives, at home, work, school, and in the community. As I stood in the conference room, yoga mats lined wall to wall, I felt confident that social workers would lead this much needed self-care movement.

We are all living in a traumatized nation, afflicted by a human rights crisis, environmental crisis, mental health crisis, and healthcare crisis to name a few. This continuous stress affects the mind, body, and human spirit. In response to this stress, we are breathing short and shallow breaths. Our nervous systems are dysregulated, and we are experiencing

increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and helplessness. Although we are experiencing the effects of trauma at a micro and macro level it is still common practice to place the responsibility to “self care” on the individual, however clear it may be that we are in need of a national movement toward healing and compassion. Some nations such as Sweden and the Netherlands are taking action to incorporate the ancient healing practices of meditation into daily life. Project EUROPE: Ensuring Unity and Respect as Outcomes for People of Europe, aims to unify diverse groups and lessen the negative effects of poverty, racism, and violence through daily meditation.

In a culture that intellectualizes and even capitalizes on the idea of wellness we must ask, who gets to feel well, whole, and peaceful? Who is granted access to the resources needed to feel joy?

There is a price tag associated with wellness and often guilt related to self-care, leaving individuals with the added responsibility to check the self-care box on their ever growing “to do” list. We must shift our perspective of what it means to be and feel well and understand that all people not only have access, but have the innate human ability, to regulate

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 13

Clinical Social Work

The Gift of Regulation

Clinical Social Work

their own nervous system. The gift of regulation is not something granted or achieved, but rather something we are born with and able to access on our own.

The ability to regulate one’s nervous system is a primal practice. It is programmed into the inner workings of every human being through the autonomic nervous system. Regulation happens automatically as our neuroception is constantly scanning our bodies, people’s behavior, and our environment, assessing for safety or danger. When we are living with the effects of trauma or when we are unable to fully move through a traumatic event our ability to regulate our nervous system is compromised. We no longer function in the parasympathetic nervous system where we can access rest, calm, and focus. We may become hypervigilant and function primarily in the sympathetic nervous system, the fight or flight response. Further, we may develop the propensity to shut down, functioning in the freeze state. When we struggle to regulate, we struggle to manage our emotions. Self-efficacy is reintroduced when we sit in conscious awareness of the breath and connect with the body.

The first step in using the breath as a healing tool is awareness. Consciously feeling the breath allows us the ability to slow down our breathing, which sends messages to the brain that we are safe. These messages travel along the vagus nerve, the same nerve that is involved in scanning for safety during neuroception. The vagus nerve connects the brain, heart, and belly and is engaged during conscious breathing, thus allowing for greater ability to regulate our emotions.

The gift of regulation comes in many different packages. Let us unpack breath, the great communicator. Conscious breathing is a fast, effective way to regulate the nervous system and can shift us from a heightened state to a relaxed state.

An example of a breath work practice to regulate the nervous system:

14 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

While in a state of awareness we can deepen the breath. Practicing diaphragmatic breathing or “belly breathing” is the practice of taking deeper inhalations and longer, fuller exhales which helps the body obtain a calmer and more relaxed state.

Incorporating a yogic breath practice enhances one's ability to regulate their nervous system.

Yogic breath has many names including the Sanskrit, Ujjayi, ocean’s breath, or even Darth Vader breathing. It is an audible inhale and exhale; imagine the sensation of fogging up a mirror.

This slight constriction of the throat, creating an audible sound serves as a way to further engage and strengthen the vagus nerve.

References:

•

1

Awareness. Observe your breath by f inding a quiet place or simply turn your focus inward.

2

•

•

•

Inhale for the count of 4. Breathe in through the nose (or if need be through pursed lips), creating an audible sound similar to the waves in the ocean.

Exhale for the count of 8. Breathe out through the nose or mouth, maintaining an audible sound similar to the waves in the ocean.

Repeat for 10 consecutive breaths.

Breath is a natural and powerful tool, and yet is not accessible for everyone. Those experiencing chronic stress or those functioning in a constant state of fight or flight often have difficulty accessing the breath as a healing tool. This is a common human experience and should be respected as the journey to wellness is not a one size fits all approach. Trauma sensitive yoga is another effective regulating tool. It does not involve fancy poses, yet emphasizes one’s ability to feel their body by practicing conscious awareness and encourages choice. Participants choose how and when it feels best to move their bodies. This awareness and choice encourage selfefficacy over one’s ability to regulate their emotions and thus how they choose to live their lives.

The impact breath and bodywork has on one’s spirit is undeniable. These are ancient and empirically researched practices, and yet we may not be ready for the shifts they elicit. We must remember social work’s ethical responsibility to meet the client where they are, as well as the first limb of yoga, Ahimsa, which translates to, “do no harm.” Nervous system regulation should always be a choice and client led. The walls of defense we put in place to protect ourselves are powerful. Only we decide when we feel safe enough for them to come down. With deep compassion and respect, we can use breath and body work to heal ourselves and those we serve.

Haridasani Gupta, Alisha. “Just Breathe”. New York Magazine, 23 March 2023. https://www.

nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/03/well/mind/breathing-exercises.html

Europe: Ensuring Unity and Respect as Outcomes for People of Europe. “Schools in Portugal,

Sweden and the Netherlands practice Quiet Time/ Transcendental Meditation”. 4 May 2018. https://europe-project.org/portugal-sweden-netherlands-quiet-time/

3

Polyvagal Institute. “ What Is Polyvagal Theory?”. 2023. https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/

whatispolyvagaltheory

4

Ibid.

5

Gessel, Nityda. “Trauma-Informed Yoga: When the Breath Acts as a Trigger”. Elephant

Journal, 28 June 2018. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/06/trauma-informed-yogawhen-the-breath-acts-as-a-trigger/

6

Emerson, David. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy. Bringing The Body into Treatment.

Norton & Company, 2015. 42-72.

7

Gessel, Nityda. “Trauma-Informed Yoga: When the Breath Acts as a Trigger”. Elephant

Journal, 28 June 2018. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/06/trauma-informed-yogawhen-the-breath-acts-as-a-trigger/

8

Polyvagal Institute. “ What Is Polyvagal Theory?”. 2023. https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/

whatispolyvagaltheory

9

Haridasani Gupta, Alisha. “Just Breathe”. New York Magazine, 23 March 2023. https://www.

nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/03/well/mind/breathing-exercises.html

10

Gessel, Nityda. “Trauma-Informed Yoga: When the Breath Acts as a Trigger”. Elephant

Journal, 28 June 2018. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2018/06/trauma-informed-yogawhen-the-breath-acts-as-a-trigger/

11

Emerson, David. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy. Bringing The Body into Treatment.

Norton & Company, 2015. 42-72.

12

Satchidananda, Sri Swami. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Integral Yoga Publications. 2012.

30-35.

About the Author: Stephanie Siciliano, LCSW, RYT is passionate about providing effective trauma informed care.

She incorporates trauma sensitive yoga and breathwork practices into the clinical space. This work is client centered and is rooted in respect and self-determination of the individual.

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Clinical Social Work

F inding Calm with the 4 x 8 Breath Exercise.

Criminal Justice

Debts Unpaid: The Never-Ending Consequences of Criminal Justice Involvement and Its Impact on People in Recovery

By Anthony Gallo, LCSW, LCADC “Research shows once an individual with a prior conviction remains crime-free for four to seven years, their risk of recidivism is no greater than the risk of arrest among the general population, yet in some capacity they are forever punished for their prior transgressions.

I

t took a moment to sink in. And then the floodgates burst. I can’t tell you what happened the rest of that day because nothing else mattered.

I can tell you that at that moment it felt like the tears streaming down my face were taking the weight of the world away with them. To the other guests, the invitation was likely just an exciting opportunity to dine at the home of the President of Rutgers. For me, after everything I had been through, it seemed like a new lease on life.

You see, I was a Scarlet Knight with a scarlet letter received for a felony I committed when I was 19 years old. At the time, I was less than a month sober and my friends and I hadn’t fully accepted that being sober meant more than not drinking or using drugs. We chased our next dopamine rush with little thought of the potential consequences of our actions. The worst decision we made was “having some fun” by making homemade explosives out of sparklers and matches and blowing them up in the woods of Pennsylvania.

When I was charged, I learned that crossing state lines from New Jersey to Pennsylvania affected interstate commerce and our “fun” came with a severe consequence: a federal offense of transportation of explosive materials. I pled guilty, served 5 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and came home having paid my debt to society.

Or so I thought.

What I actually experienced was a punishing, judgmental world where my debt was never considered paid. A world where the local police followed and intimidated me to the point that my parents rented

16 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

me cars so I could travel in peace. A world where my application to one social work school was met with emails threatening to call the police if I ever contacted them again. A world where an inpatient rehab hiring manager told me, “I wish if my kid were in your position someone would give them a chance, but it ’s policy and I can’t give one to you.” A world where no one let me tell my side of the story. A world where I thought the consequences of getting high again might just be worth the temporary escape from thinking about my seemingly hopeless future.

It seemed that everywhere I went, the system was designed to stop me from rebuilding my life. So, when almost exactly 2 years after my release from prison I was invited to a literal seat at a table in the home of the head of the largest educational system in NJ, I felt an unbelievable sense of hope for the future. I thought that being accepted by someone who represented the system meant that I was finally forgiven by the system, and maybe there would be smoother sailing ahead.

Unfortunately, while things have gotten easier in the ensuing years, I’ve learned that I may never be done paying for my mistakes. Seven years post-conviction, despite having two more college degrees, two terminal professional licenses, a career job, my own private practice, and 10 years of sobriety, I continue to face obstacles at almost every milestone of my life.

Apartment rentals were denied to me because of my record. “Shoo-in” job offers were rescinded upon the disclosure of my record. Colleagues reported me to Human Resources when they learned of my record.

These experiences have left me with a gnawing insecurity—feeling like a second-class citizen with a dirty secret.

I don’t need your pity. I need your attention.

I need you to understand that I am just one of roughly 100 million adults with criminal records in this country that are battling with collateral consequences.

That higher than one third of criminal justice involved individuals have substance use disorders making them significantly more prone to continued use and relapse while struggling with the fallout from their charges.

That research shows once an individual with a prior conviction remains crime-free for four to seven years, their risk of recidivism is no greater than the risk of arrest among the general population, yet in some capacity they are forever punished for their prior transgressions.

I need you to change how you think of people with criminal records, because if you work with individuals with substance use disorders, it ’s an almost statistical inevitability that you will work with people who have criminal records. In the same way that that we’ve transitioned away from labeling people as homeless, being convicted of a crime only makes someone a person who committed a crime, not a criminal. Know that this population is often scared of your judgement and scarred by a society that never forgets or forgives.

It is crucial to practice the principle of unconditional positive regard when working with people with criminal records.

I need you to remember that social workers serve disenfranchised communities that often face barriers to care and to full participation in society.

The criminally-convicted community is burdened with barriers placed before them in the name of community safety—barriers that research does not support. Criminal justice policy is often based on moralistic judgement and structural racism, rather than on practices that research shows produce the best outcomes for individuals and communities. One way social workers can help challenge these practices and improve outcomes for those with criminal records is by voting for candidates at the local, state, and federal level who believe in supporting recovery services and

second chances for people with criminal convictions.

Without the protective factors that offset the challenges I faced following my conviction, my odds of relapse would have been significantly higher. My recovery makes me one of the lucky ones. I think this is tragically unfair. I am begging you—help us stack the deck in favor of people’s recovery rather than perpetuating their punishment. Challenge the system by supporting legislation that creates bail reform, establishes re-entry services, and creates conditions that allow individuals with criminal convictions to re-establish themselves within our broader society. Consider your own personal perceptions and pre-conceived notions and challenge them, as well. In this way, we can create a more just, better society for all, and bring about the type of world that we want to live in.

References: 1

Interactive. (2022, November 2). Report to the United Nations on racial disparities in the U.S.

criminal justice system. The Sentencing Project. https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/reportto-the-united-nations-on-racial-disparities-in-the-u-s-criminal-justice-system/

2

The Sentencing Project. (n.d.). Americans with Criminal Records: Poverty and Opportunity

Profile. https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2022/08/Americans-with-CriminalRecords-Poverty-and-Opportunity-Profile.pdf

3

Saloner, B., Bandara, S. N., McGinty, E. E., & Barry, C. L. (2016, June). Justice-involved adults

with substance use disorders ... - health affairs. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/ doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0005

4

Vallas, R., Dietrich, S., & Avery, B. (2023, March 28). A criminal record shouldn’t be a life sentence

to poverty. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/criminalrecord-shouldnt-life-sentence-poverty-2/

5

Rucker, J. M., & Richeson, J. A. (2021, October 15). Toward an understanding of structural racism

... - yale university. Yale. https://spcl.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/science_abj7779.pdf

6

Benforado, A. (2017). Can science save justice?. Judicature. https://judicature.duke.edu/articles/

can-science-save-justice/

About the Author: Anthony Gallo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW ) and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). He is the Owner of Anthony Gallo Consulting, a private practice focused on working with adults dealing with mental health, substance use, and criminal justice related issues. He currently serves as Treasurer of the NASW-NJ PACE Committee.

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Criminal Justice

However, I want to be clear, this article is not a sob story about my life. I was guilty. Plus, I had the advantage of just about every possible protective factor this rigged system affords to keep me from an even worse outcome. I’m a white, cis-gender male from a loving family who could afford competent legal representation in a system that unjustly produces better outcomes for Caucasians. I never had to rely on the social supports (e.g., HUD housing, TANF, GA, etc.) that many need but are barred from—or have barriers to accessing—due to criminal convictions. I had near unlimited access to treatment that helped keep me sober when I was giving up hope.

Healthcare

Rethinking Health Care: The Importance of Bridging Micro and Macro Social Work Practice

By Vara Edara, MSW, LSW

“Social Work + Politics = Change”

A

s a relative newcomer to the field of social work, I have learned a lot—but realize there is much more to learn about this field of work and how to create change. I began my job as a medical social worker in a geriatric in-patient psych unit for a county hospital after receiving my Master in Social Work (MSW ) in May 2021. The challenge of beginning a new career amid a global pandemic was daunting, but I felt prepared. It was an exciting time. I walked into work and immediately faced 23 positive covid patient occurrences which rose by day, mostly among seniors. I knew in my gut this is where I was meant to be. I was here to serve the most fragile and vulnerable members of the community who had been hit the hardest by the pandemic. It was nerve-racking to deal with family who were not able to see their loved ones in person, and only through the protection of a mask, and the ramifications of this lack of contact, including a hindrance in establishing rapport and trust with patients. Challenged with facing death and life issues, the fear, uncertainty, and the sheer gravity of carrying the expectation of a new social worker were daunting. My experiences during the pandemic changed me. They gave me new lessons in perseverance, developing social work skills, processing grief, and understanding attachment, as well as the importance of taking time to self-reflect.

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As a social worker in a medical setting, I know this is not the end of my work—it is the beginning of a new era. I began to wonder, “How can I make a difference and change the present broken health care system across micro, mezzo, and macro spaces?” Previously, I had never been interested in politics and always shied away from that type of engagement. In the micro space, time is of the essence and as a social worker in an acute setting, I needed to discharge patients in less than two weeks and link them to resources which were limited or non-existent. In mezzo spaces, families whose loved ones are struggling with mental illness in the community, struggle to get all the support required to thrive, due to family economics and dynamics or insurance coverage criteria. In the macro space, due to the lack of the appropriate resources and limited insurance participation, the responsibility of caring for loved ones—and the cost of this care—often falls on family, friends, and tax-payer resources, and causes relapse and recidivism. The responsibility of ensuring continuity of care falls directly on the patient, frequently without professional support post-discharge, who may not be knowledgeable about all the public and private resources out there.

As a medical social worker, my hands are tied to do more than I am already doing; I feel helpless due to red tape and jurisdiction litigations.

In my work, I have come across adults in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s who experienced developmental delays in their childhood. However, they were not diagnosed early on and did not get the mental health care needed. Instead, parents often kept these youth and their problems hidden, so as not to face societal stigmas. Now as their parents are passing away, their ability to survive is jeopardized. This situation could have been avoided if each medical office was equipped with a social worker to do an intake assessment and identify treatments needed.

Managed long-term support services (MLTSS), the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and the Medicaid application process are nerveracking, daunting, and difficult for seniors and their families to navigate. We need to upgrade our Boards of Social Services statewide and streamline the enrollment/application process to help our seniors navigate these tasks more easily.

One area I am very interested in addressing is the betterment of social workers in the healthcare industry through linking micro, mezzo, macro, and policy work. Our social work profession often goes unnoticed, underappreciated, and underpaid. Social workers are key in interdisciplinary decision-making involving patient care from the time of admission to discharge to avoid recidivism. As such, social work salaries must be increased so they are on par with nurses and other professional health care staff.

Some people have told me, "your intentions are pure, though you cannot save the world…let it go.”

But what if I tell you I don’t want to give up? I want to fight for my patients and get them all the services they need. Am I wrong? I don’t think so.

We need people who are willing to stand up and fight for what is important. I have high aspirations for change and improvement in our health care practices, aspirations that I hope are achievable. I will strive to address issues facing our clients and our society at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. I hope you’ll join me in this endeavor. Together, we can make change possible.

In my opinion, early diagnosis and yearly checkins are imperative to an individual’s health and well-being. People often avoid necessary health and mental health care because such care does not fit in their budget and seems unaffordable. This could be avoided if insurance carriers and other health care payors shifted their focus from a curative strategy to a prevention-focused strategy that encouraged people to receive care. Furthermore, to address the mental health crisis in the U.S., especially among the youth and geriatric populations, we need to alter our healthcare system so social workers are available to conduct needs assessments in all pediatrician and primary care offices in our country. This will help identify patients’ psychosocial needs and redirect treatment as necessary if a patient ’s root problems are more than physical. Early intervention and diagnosis can help families access state resources early on and ensure healthy development.

About the Author: Vara Edara, MS, MSW, LSW, is a medical social worker at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.

She earned her MSW f rom Ramapo College of Social Work. She is a member of the Alternatives of Domestic Violence (ADV ) crisis response team in Bergen County and serves as a victim advocate. She aspires to create a transparent health care model that has a streamlined approach across disciplines to serve the community at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

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Healthcare

Recently, at the NASW-NJ Annual Conference this past May, I was blown away by the keynote speaker, Senator Sarah McBride of Delaware, when she said "social work + politics = change.” This struck a chord in me. I remembered something my first clinical supervisor, Rev. Jim Knol at Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital, used to say to me: “ Vara, I love your passion for your patients…and you remind me of Dorothy Day at the steps of the Capital Hall.”

At the time, I did not take this comment seriously, but now I get it. Senator McBride’s presentation resonated with me and I believe, like Dorothy Day, that I can make a change by being involved in politics and helping the people I serve. I am now considering running for elected office to be a voice for all those individuals who feel unheard, unvalidated, and unsupported. I am ready to embark upon this route to make the necessary changes in the macro space for the community's betterment.

Social Justice

Lactation as Social Justice: Why Social Workers Should Care About Breastfeeding

By Kristin Cole Cavuto, MSW, LCSW, IBCLC “Disparities in breastfeeding initiation and duration due to racism and other forms of oppression mean that the children who need human milk feeding the most are the least likely to receive it.”

T

he first week in August is World Breastfeeding Week, an international campaign by the NGO World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, in partnership with the WHO/UNICEF. It aims to educate, support, and promote human milk feeding as a critical component of sustainable development worldwide. Social work, as a profession, is engaged in health promotion on all levels, and is especially interested in uplifting marginalized and vulnerable populations. Social workers have a great deal of influence on local, regional, national, and international healthcare, both on a micro and macro level. World Breastfeeding Week is an opportunity to introduce social workers to lactation as a lever of social justice and educate us on how we can support both our lactating clients and breastfeeding policy.

As an LCSW who is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, this intersection is my home base. On an individual and family level, I am in private practice as both a psychotherapist and a lactation consultant, helping new families to navigate the physical, emotional, and social aspects of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting. On a policy level, I work as an advocate for consumer safety in lactation care, equal access for LGBTQ+ lactating families, and anti-racist breastfeeding education. I am in a unique position to help the social work profession to understand why we should know more than we do about lactation, and how we can help.

Human milk feeding is crucial to infant and maternal

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health, development, and prevention of disease throughout the lifespan. Breastfed infants have reduced risk for ear, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections and might be less likely to develop asthma and diabetes. 1 For mothers, breastfeeding is associated with a reduction in risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. On a population level, the impact of these associations is substantial. Cost analysis found that, compared with optimal rates of breastfeeding— defined as 90% of mothers exclusively breast feeding each child for 6 months and continuing through 12 months— suboptimal rates were associated with an excess of 2,619 premature maternal deaths and 721 child deaths, as well as $3 billion in medical costs and $1.2 billion in nonmedical costs. 2 In the US, Black babies have twice the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic white babies. In New Jersey, it is even worse, with Black infants 3.8 times more likely than white infants to die before their first birthday. 3 The CDC states that increased breastfeeding rates in Black birthing parents would cut this number in half. Unfortunately, disparities in breastfeeding initiation and duration due to racism and other forms of oppression mean that the children who need human milk feeding the most are the least likely to receive it. Black infants in America have a significantly lower rate of receiving human milk than white infants (58% vs 73%). This puts Black mothers and their babies at higher risk for poor postnatal outcomes

When discussing health outcomes among marginalized groups, it is important to remember that disparities come from the experience of oppression, not from any inherent factor in the group itself. The weathering concept tells us that Black women in particular experience both physical and mental health complications due to the toxic stress of everyday racism and sexism. 5 The provision of human milk/breastfeeding is an evidence-based intervention that holds potential to mitigate the effects of toxic stress from the moment of birth. 6 As a profession, social work has recognized human milk feeding as a social justice issue. “Because breastfeeding is a critical component of maternal and child health, persistent racial and socioeconomic breastfeeding inequality is a social justice issue in need of social work commitment.” 7 So, how can social workers in New Jersey help to protect and promote this crucial factor is social justice? How can we support our breastfeeding clients on both macro and micro levels?

On a macro level, we must advocate for policies and laws that support human milk feeding. These include paid parental leave, expansion of Medicaid, subsidized daycare, licensure of lactation consultants, Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives, and all laws that decrease everyday experiences of oppression for marginalized groups.

On a micro level, many of us have work to do on our own biases about breastfeeding before we can effectively help clients. We may feel defensive or angry about our own experiences of being failed by our medical providers and support systems when we had our children. Until we resolve that personal trauma and accept the facts about the importance of human milk feeding, we will contribute to our client ’s health disparities rather than abate them.

We can support clients in meeting their breastfeeding goals by providing evidenced based treatment for perinatal mental illness. Lactation provides protection from postpartum depression and increases self-efficacy.

It increases the amount of sleep new parents get. It diminishes cortisol levels and reduces stress. 8 Many social workers advise clients to wean their babies in order to receive antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. This is absolutely unnecessary and causes harm. Women who discontinue antidepressants during or after pregnancy are three times more likely to develop another episode of depression when compared with women who continued to use antidepressants throughout the perinatal period. 9

By supporting our clients in meeting their breastfeeding goals, we are providing evidence based care. When we support our marginalized clients to meet these goals, we are helping to reduce health disparities.

I encourage all social workers in New Jersey to learn more about maternal and infant health disparities and how human milk is a key to eliminating them. As social workers, it is our duty to advocate for social justice issues on all levels. Promoting, protecting, and advocating for human milk feeding does that. I hope that this year’s World Breastfeeding Week will inspire you to join in this crucial social justice movement.

References: 1. Beauregard, J. L. (2019, August 30). Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Among... CDC. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ volumes/68/wr/mm6834a3.htm

2. Louis-Jacques, Racial and ethnic disparities in US breastfeeding and implications for maternal and child health outcomes. Seminars in Perinatology, 41(5), 2017

3. New Jersey Breastfeeding Landscape Study. (n.d.). The Burke Foundation. Retrieved July, 2023, from https://burkefoundation.org/burke-portfolio/research/new-jersey-breastfeedinglandscape-study/

4. Enhancing Breastfeeding Rates Among African American Women: A Systematic Review of Current Psychosocial Interventions. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4307211/

5. Keough, D. (2023, March 2). Experiencing racism increases black women’s heart disease risk.

Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/981483

6. Hallowell, S. (n.d.). Human Milk and breastfeeding:An Intervention to mitigate toxic stress.

Nursing Outlook, 65(1), 58-67.

7. Hurst, C. (2018). Committing to Breastfeeding in Social Work. Social Work, 63(3), 252-260.

8. O'Malley, C. (2022, September 15). Mental Health Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Literature Review. NCBI. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC9572809/

9. Antidepressant Use While Breastfeeding: What should I know? (n.d.). InfantRisk Center.

Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.infantrisk.com/content/antidepressant-use-whilebreastfeeding-what-should-i-know

About the Author: Kristin Cavuto, MSW, LCSW, IBCLC is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and International Board Certif ied Lactation Consultant in private practice in central NJ. Her practice specialties are low supply, parental and infant mental health, ethical non monogamy, and LGBTQ+ issues. She has spoken on various lactation, mental health, and equity topics for many regional, national, and international conferences and organizations. She serves as a legal advocate and expert witness for cases involving lactation and child welfare. Learn more at www.kristincavutoconsulting.com

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 21

Social Justice

and may be a substantial contributor to the origins of health disparities among African Americans across the lifetime. 4

22 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

By Charles Giraldo, Rutgers University School of Social Work, MSW Class of 2024

I

would not have thought I would become a social worker when initially entering higher education, especially later in life. Initially, my direction was business; social work was nowhere on my compass. Yet, I now hold a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work with a minor in Sociology from Rutgers University–Newark, achieving summa cum laude honors and ranking 1 out of 1,615 in my graduating class in 2022. It was a challenging yet worthwhile experience, one I never imagined reaching when entering college.

I am now in the final year of pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree specializing in Management and Policy (MAP) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. My academic journey has fueled my interest in the legislative, policy, and political arenas, and I am actively seeking exciting opportunities in political social work, policymaking, and related fields. I am a seasoned professional with a diverse background in various sectors beyond academia. I have also worked as a general laborer, gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Additionally, I was in the military, where I honorably served in the United States Army as Military Police and deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to my workforce expertise, I have a deep passion for social appreciation, particularly within a professional organization. My focus lies in social work and its intersection with legislation, politics, and policies.

Before considering higher education, I was at a point in my life where no matter how dedicated, long, and hard I worked in my various careers, there were no advancement opportunities for me; many positions required a college degree, and at that juncture, I was experiencing the ‘glass ceiling’ effect. However, this gave me ambition and focus, making me determined to return to school.

Starting as a full-time, non-traditional college student was a challenge, as it had been some time since I graduated high school. To succeed, I needed to relearn many academic practices and habits that had not been part of my daily life in years.

Also, I was concerned with majoring in something that would be marketable at my age. While, I had extensive transferable professional skills, I wanted a job where I could use my degree straight out of college. As such, I enrolled in Montclair State University, pursued a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management of Information and Technology, and minored in Entrepreneurship. I excelled in these courses, but I was not finding a passion for them.

During my second year in college, I got asked by the student veteran School Certifying Official staff to run for the Student Veterans of America (SVA) local school chapter president. After getting elected, I initiated plans that provided valuable assistance to numerous student veterans in navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system and

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Student Center

Political Social Work: My Journey Full of Change to Help Others

Toward my undergraduate senior year, one of my most outstanding achievements was an internship at the National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter, where I was able to understand better how social workers help others in a macro setting. I knew I could apply what I learned in the macro social work setting to help veterans. The NASW internship gave me a robust understanding of what many communities need from legislation and policies to achieve a larger-scale change.

Although my initial goal was to work at the VA, and the MSW clinical track would be the way to gain employment there, my decision to pursue the MSW in MAP was a better fit for me. This decision was based on the changes I wanted to make at the macro level—a level involving legislation, policies, and politics. Moreover, I want to make a difference that affects communities in the masses.

Consequently, I am performing policy research, policy evaluation, policy development, and policy advocacy in my studies, as well as writing and promoting legislative bills from my advocacy, outreach, and interagency collaboration efforts.

I hope these actions will help legislators make better policy decisions to bring changes that help communities in need. And I cannot think of a better way to spend the latter part of my career than pursuing something I am passionate about while helping others.

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Student Center

Student Center

advocating for their entitled benefits. Moreover, I developed programs that fostered meaningful interactions between the student veteran population and other campus and community organizations, enabling them to extend their services beyond the military. It gave many student veterans, as well as me, a sense of purpose, being able to provide a service to others and empowering student veterans.

Toward the end of my SVA presidential term, I thoroughly considered changing my major to one that involved helping others, leading to my decision to switch my major to social work. However, Montclair State did not have an undergraduate degree in social work. So, after researching many schools, I transferred to Rutgers University and, since then, found that it was the best decision I had made. At that moment, I knew I wanted to become a social worker to help other veterans at the VA, and I also knew that I needed to get my MSW to achieve that dream.

Student PROGRAM NASW

CLASS IS BACK IN SESSION August 17

September 21

@ 6 - 7:30 PM EDT

October 19

MAXIMIZE YOUR STUDENT JOURNEY Academic Excellence Balancing Student & Social Life Connections- Campus & Beyond Developing a Plan For Success

REGISTER AT NASWNJ.ORG

Presented by:

RESIA M COOPER, MSW

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 25

Becoming part of a social work legacy...

The Harriet Bloomfield Scholarship Committee has awarded 4 student scholarships for the upcoming school year. MSW student recipients will each receive $1,500 towards their education; the BSW student recipients will each receive $1,000 towards their education.

The Harriet Bloomfield Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to the memory of New Jersey Social Worker, Harriet Bloomfield. Harriet was a charter member of NASW. She worked for the Elizabeth Board of Education before retiring in 1984. She served as director of social services at Bonnie Brae Farm for Boys, Millington from 1956 to 1960 and was with DYFS from 1944 to 1956.

She taught at Kean College and Rutgers University and organized the Center for Infant Development and teen-parent program in conjunction with the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work and the Elizabeth Board of Education.

2023 Awardees My name is Imani Cooke. I was born in NYC and worked several years in social services. In fall 2023, I will be an advanced standing MSW student at Rutgers University in the state of New Jersey.

IMANI

COOKE

My passion for helping youth grew during the COVID-19 pandemic. I witnessed children's mental health and medical health decline during the pandemic, and I became devoted to improving the quality of children's wellness.

After graduating with my masters degree in social work, I am planning to become a program manager and develop policies to address healthcare inequities of children in low income and marginalized communities.

Winning this scholarship is going to help me close the financial gap and take a smaller amount in student loans. By financing my MSW degree, it will allow me to more efficiently focus on my coursework.

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My name is Jesse Ash most people call me Ash. I grew up in a small close knitted village in the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. For most of my childhood, I was surrounded by elderly individuals who filled my life with words of wisdom and purpose. Caring for the elderly was and will always be paramount to me. This passion was only strengthened when I moved to the U.S. and learned about the neglect of many Army veterans. I was moved to advocate for the veterans in peer group settings and raise concerns about how we can help the elderly.

Pursuing my Master of Social Work degree at Seton Hall University opened doors where I discovered the magnificent work of Harriet Bloomfield. The scholarship has provided financial support to an aspiring social worker like myself, allowing me to focus on my studies and professional growth.

I aspire to pursue an advanced degree in social work, focusing on community organizing, advocacy, and geriatric care. My education has provided me with a solid foundation, and I look forward to continuously learning and growing in this field.

My name is Jessie Gage, and I am going into my senior year at Rutgers University as a social work and psychology double major. I want to be a social worker because I have seen firsthand the importance of good mental health, and want to be able to provide support and guidance to the next generation. I want to be a therapist when I graduate, and I want to focus on LGBTQIA+ youth. This scholarship means the world to me because it, to me, is a sign I am on a path to success as a social worker.

JESSIE GAGE

Thank you so much for this scholarship! It means the world to me.

GABRIELLE MCLEAN Currently I am enrolled in the MSW program at Rutgers University, for which I recently completed an internship at the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, and am set to graduate in 2024.

Following graduation, I hope to work in a capacity where I can use my passion for creativity to promote health and wellness. It is an honor to be selected as a recipient of the Harriet Bloomfield scholarship and I plan to one day pass this kindness forward.

CONGRATULATIONS!NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 27

Student Center

JESSE ASH

PA R T N E R S P O T L I G H T

NEW MSW: AN INTEGRATIVE AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION

W

elcoming its first fall cohort this September, Rowan University’s newly launched Master of Social Work has been a labor of love two years in the making. Spearheaded first by program director Dr. Mary Kay Tuohy, who holds a doctorate in clinical social work from the University of Pennsylvania, and director of social work field education Staci Fattore, who earned a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Rowan University anticipates welcoming up to 30 MSW candidates its first year.

After long careers in direct care, both Tuohy and Fattore pursued their new positions at Rowan University specifically to pivot professionally to program development, building a MSW program from the ground up.

28 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

“We first introduced ourselves to the social work world, if you will, at the National Association of Social Workers New Jersey conference this past April,” says Fattore. “So many people came up to me and said such positive things about Rowan,” she continues. “They welcomed our arrival.”

With its 100-year history of serving the educational needs of students primarily from the New Jersey area, Rowan University is uniquely positioned to add the MSW program to its educational offerings. “I have found that because Rowan is so immersed in the local community here,” Fattore says, “that the University itself already has relationships with human services organizations who we would like to collaborate with as community partners for field placements.”

These pre-existing relationships have blossomed into a robust catalog of social service organizations ready, and eager, to embrace Rowan MSW field placements.

Additionally, Rowan houses two medical schools and a nursing college, which further broaden professional opportunities for MSW candidates. The University’s location, about 20 minutes from Philadelphia, makes this in-person/online-hybrid program a more accessible and easily drivable option for those working and living in the southwestern part of the state.

Field experiences and an individually tailored approach to academics and advising are central to the Rowan MSW program. Having meaningful relationships and one-on-one conversations with each member of the cohort are important to both Tuohy and Fattore. “About half of our students already have an understanding of what it is that they’d like to do,” says Fattore, “and half do not.” Through ongoing professional mentorship and support, Fattore and Tuohy are a united front in encouraging their students to explore a wide range of professional opportunities while earning their MSW. “Between Dr. Tuohy and myself, we have worked in direct care in almost every conceivable setting and with almost every type of population. I tell the students: field experiences aren’t just about finding what you want to do; it’s also about whittling down - trying something that isn’t for you is just as valuable an experience and will help your professional growth. You never know where life will take you, even if you think you do,” says Fattore.

With mental health, equity and well-being embedded into the foundation of all coursework, students also have the opportunity to customize their education to deepen focus through certificate coursework on wellness coaching, public policy, women’s studies, Holocaust and genocide education, and diversity and inclusion.

Tuohy adds, “Historically MSW programs have forced students to choose between direct service or macro policy/administration. Rowan’s approach to specialization is reflective of more recent trends towards integrative and transdisciplinary social work models that allows for a more collaborative approach and the co-creation of knowledge.”

She continues, “Our focus on mental health, equity and well-being is responsive to the demand for greater integration of macro practice with direct care, and aligns with current workforce trends to prepare graduates for work outside of traditional social service settings, such as healthcare, criminal justice, education, policy etc.”

The program will offer in person, one-credit courses that will be held over two weekend days, as one weekend elective classes so that students can explore topics new to them. The experiences do one of three things: expose students to new knowledge, help them possibly ignite a new passion, and partner with professionals that are doing that work or rule out a potential professional focus that is not for them.

An additional advantage of the small program is organic networking, says Fattore. “Each person will graduate having a built-in network of peers who they know deeply - people they can reach out to, ask advice from, and grow with,” she says. “I expect that I will stay involved with each member of the cohort as their careers unfold.”

The Master of Social Work is currently in PreCandidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Students who enter programs in Pre-Candidacy that attain Candidacy in the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWEaccredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation.

Graduates from accredited BSW programs can earn Advanced Standing waiving many of the first-year generalist courses.

With the inaugural class arriving soon, neither Tuohy nor Fattore plan to rest to enjoy their success. They hope at some time in the future to launch a Bachelor of Social Work at Rowan University.

For more information, visit: go.rowan.edu/MSW.

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 29

Members Only Perks

W

ith nearly 7,000 members in our New Jersey family, you are part of a larger family of social workers, a network of friends and colleagues who share your commitment to the profession and strengthening our community. While the chapter has many opportunities to connect on a broader level—from educational programs to advocacy events, there are also many great ways for you to connect with your colleagues locally or on a specific area of interest. Read on to learn some ways in which you as a member can build your connections, network and grow in smaller, more intimate spaces—and virtually!

30 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

TO YOUR NETWORK FOR SOCIAL WORK BEST PRACTICES & COMMUNITY 31

We've welcomed new NASW members to our Chapter since July. Thanks to all of you, NASW-NJ has grown to become the second largest NASW Chapter in the country! Welcome aboard to our newest members!!

NORTHEAST REGIONAL UNIT BERGEN/PASSAIC Vincent Rachel Julia Jacob Sarah Karina Miriam Wagner Weiss

Bisogno Frank Gordon Frank Perkins Rodriguez Wagner Dina Daniel

ESSEX

NORTHWEST REGIONAL UNIT MORRIS Gianna Justina

Costa Gun

SUSSEX/WARREN Monica Abigail Joseph

Lorenzo Rider Wade

Elizabeth

Donnell

CENTRAL REGIONAL UNIT

UNION

MONMOUTH/OCEAN

Buoscio Smelkinson

Kristen Donna

Indriso Gilchrist

SOUTH REGIONAL UNIT CAMDEN/GLOUCESTER/SALEM Da'Shayla Danielle Carol Gabrielle

Clement Ferrari Janer Self

SOMERSET/HUNTERDON

Johnson Quamir Shana Spier Sasha Tranquille

Carolyn Isabelle

MERCER/BURLINGTON

Kayla Elizabeth Kristen

Daly Hughes Kline

MIDDLESEX Robin

Goldstein

ATLANTIC/CAPE MAY/CUMBERLAND Liza

Griswold

Thanks for Being a Member!

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 31

MEMBER CONNECT

New Members...

MEMBER CONNECT

FR EE CEU S RE US

for

YOU

IN APPRECIATION OF OUR MEMBERS YOU CAN EARN FREE CEUS THIS FALL!

See My Color, Acknowledge My Trauma, Help Me Heal 2 CEUs Social/Cultural or Ethics WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Participants will evaluate the necessity of acknowledging the role that race plays in the experience of systemic oppression, marginalization, internalized oppression and feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.

Strategies to increase safety, break down barriers and practice humility will be presented as well as the use of racial socialization and youth leadership groups as a protective factor.

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Register at naswnj.org 32 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

PROVIDING THE SKILLS TO GET AHEAD

NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 33

(6 CEU Bundle) Ethics Institute with Frederic G. Reamer, Ph.D September 14, 19, & 28 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

(10 CEUs) NASW-NJ Aging and Older Adults Certificate Program Sep. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, & 27 · 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM EDT Register

OR register for the individual sessions below

OR register for the individual sessions below

(2 CEUs) Boundary Issues & Dual Relationships: Ethical & Risk Management Challenges Thursday, September 14, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

(2 CEUs) The Experience of Aging Friday, September 29, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM EDT Register

(2 CEUs) Complex Ethical Challenges in Social Work Protecting Clients & Ourselves Tuesday, September 19, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

(2 CEUs) Ethical Challenges in Documentation: Critical Issues in Risk Management Thursday, September 28, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

(2 CEUs) Clinical Implications and Effective Interventions with Older Adults Friday, October 6, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM EDT Register

FREE FOR MEMBERS (2 CEUs) NASW-NJ Members See My Color, Acknowledge My Trauma, Help Me Heal Wednesday, October 11, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

NEW JERSEY CONTINUING EDUCATION APPROVAL COLLABORATIVE Add CE credits to your professional development course.

Recognized by the NJ State Board of Social Work Examiners as an approving entity for social work CEUs in the State of NJ.

TO LEARN MORE & APPLY VISIT: naswnj.socialworkers.org/Professional-Development/CE-Course-Approval

34 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023

3 WEBINARS. 6 CEUS. 1 PRICE.

NASW-NJ Ethics Institute DR. FREDERIC REAMER WITH

Starts September 14 at 6PM EDT REGISTER AT NASWNJ.ORG

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Oct. 16-18 (SOLD OUT) Now Enrolling: Jan. 8-10, 2024 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM EDT

Register at naswnj.org NJFOCUS • Fall 2023 | 35

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CONTACT: wwilliams.naswnj@socialworkers.org, call 732-296-8070, or visit naswnj.socialworkers.org/About/Advertise for more information.

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10 CEU Live Webinar

NASW-NJ Aging & Older Adults Certificate Program

Five workshops, 2 hours each, 2 CEUs each

9:30AM-11:30AM

Workshop I: The Experience of Aging

Sep. 29

Workshop II: Clinical Implications and Effective Interventions

Oct. 6

Workshop III: Intersectionality and Older Adults

Oct. 13

Workshop IV: Individualized Areas of Need for Older Adults

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Register at naswnj.org 38 | NJFOCUS •Fall 2023