NASW-NJ FOCUS Magazine - July 2022

JULY 2022 • Vol 32.1

58 YEARS SINCE ITS PASSAGE: HAVE WE MET THE PROMISE OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT?

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BACK IN ACTION

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR 2022 LICENSE RENEWAL NJFOCUS p.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS P R E S I D E N T, Widian Nicola 1

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V I C E P R E S I D E N T, Carrie Conger S E C R E TA RY, Tiffany Mayers

P R E S I D E N T- E L E C T, Lisa Lawson 2 N D V I C E P R E S I D E N T, Jennifer Sorensen G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T R E P, Matt Sato

U N D E RG R A D UAT E S T U D E N T R E P, Lorna Jones R E G I O N A L R E P S , Courtney Wise, Ruslana Church, Oninye Nnenji, Veronica Grysko-Sporer

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

Hannah Korn-Heilner Sarah Delicio

CENTRAL UNIT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH

Tina Maschi

UNIT LEADERSHIP

Vimmi Surti

OPEN POSITIONS

Jeanne Koller Miguel Williams

CHAPTER OFFICE E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R Jennifer Thompson, MSW jthompson.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 111

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 hfrench.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 122

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

D I R E C TO R O F M E M B E R S E RV I C E S Christina Mina, MSW cmina.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 117

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

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

E N GAG E M E N T C O O R D I N ATO R Resia-Maria Cooper, MSW rcooper.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext: 154

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

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58 Y E A R S S I N C E I TS PASSAG E : H AV E W E M E T T H E P R O M I S E O F T H E 196 4 C I V I L R I G H TS AC T ?

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H I D D E N H I STO R I E S : W H I T N E Y M . YO U N G , J R .

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A DV O C AC Y I N AC T I O N

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B AC K I N AC T I O N

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T H E L AT E ST F R O M T H E F I E L D

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

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PA R T N E R S P OT L I G H T: M O N M O U T H U N I V E R S I T Y

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MEMBER CONNECT

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W H AT YO U N E E D TO K N O W A B O U T YO U R 2 02 2 L I C E N S E R E N E WA L

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FREE CEUS FOR MEMBERS

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

CONTENTS

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T A N D E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R

TABLE OF

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

FROM THE PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Friends and Colleagues, We hope this message finds you well, enjoying the summer months so many look forward to in New Jersey—where the pace slows down a bit and we make our way to the variety of outdoor activities located in our state. From our hiking scenery to the shores, New Jersey offers great opportunities for us as social workers to unwind and practice self-care.

It is our hope you are honing this critical practice and spending time doing things that serve your highest good.

July is an exciting month for our association as it kicks off our “new year.” While our activities as an association can seem to take a slower pace in external events, the leadership team and staff have not missed a beat—continuing to plan for the launch of fall events and responding to the ever-changing political landscape.

Widian Nicola, DSW, LCSW

PRESIDENT

Our profession is diverse—ever changing and nuanced. There is no place or space where social workers are not present, which can make the question of what we focus on challenging. Each year, we spend time discussing the primary focuses we have for the upcoming year, the areas where you can expect to see concentrated and coordinated effort in advocacy, programing, and community engagement. We are excited to share with you that our priority areas include: • Licensure, Practice & Workforce Development: focusing on areas such as licensing delays, student loan forgiveness, insurance and the interstate licensing compact.

• Reproductive Freedom & Health: continuing to ensure New Jersey is a safe space and supporting our social workers throughout the nation.

• Public Safety & Social Work: exploring together what the social work role is, creating best practices and protecting our communities.

• Racial & Social Justice: engaging with partner organizations in the call for reparations, police reform and continuing our work in becoming an anti-racist profession.

• Mental Health: uplifting the stories of our communities, advocating for funding, insurance reimbursement rates and improving licensing systems.

Jennifer Thompson, MSW

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

• LGBTQIA+: continuing to protect the rights of all individuals in New Jersey, partnering with providers and leaders in our state to create programming and supporting our colleagues across the nation.

• Voting Rights & Access: protecting the rights of voters in our State and beyond, voter registration and mobilization and encouraging/training social workers to run for office.

These are some of the most pressing and challenging issues our communities and profession face and issues that are directly related to our Code of Ethics, values as a profession, and our call to action as a profession. We also believe that as a chapter, these are areas that we can have measurable and meaningful impact in. We hope you agree.

In the coming months, you’ll again be invited into conversations through Shared Interest Groups, volunteering, Unit events and more—giving you an opportunity to engage, uplift these issues and showcase your expertise and leadership—while moving the mission forward. We hope you will be inspired to join us in these efforts.

New Jersey is the second largest chapter of NASW in the entire nation—we’re strong and vibrant because members like you are engaged—and lean in. We’re grateful for this and invite you to continue to do so.

We’re stronger together.

In solidarity, Widian & Jennifer

58 YEARS

Have We Met the Promise of the 1964 Civil Rights Act?

By Ameerah McCoy, MSW, LSW

“Instead of being more inclusive, elected off icials on all levels have found loopholes to perpetrate discriminatory practices by limiting abortion rights, enforcing “Don’t Say Gay” policies, resisting efforts to improve voter accessibility, and creating barriers to affordable housing and healthcare.

T

he Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of the most important and controversial pieces of legislation of the 20th century; one that has influenced the social work profession immeasurably. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy called on legislators to uphold the American Dream for all citizens by prohibiting racial discrimination and calling for integration in all public sectors. Although President Kennedy would not live to see the Civil Rights Act come to fruition, his successor President Lydon B. Johnson signed the Act into law on July 2, 1964 (Civil Rights Act (1964), 2021) 1. Still, the need for civil rights reform seems as paramount today as it did in 1964. Fast forward 50 years: Americans are facing limited abortion access and disparities in healthcare,

police brutality, anti-LGBTQ bias, and restricted voter rights. As a society, and particularly for those in the helping professions, it is crucial that we revisit the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on its 58th anniversary to see where we started, how far we have come, and what we still need to do to ensure everyone has access to equitable services.

Ensuring all Americans had equal voting rights, and fair opportunities to employment and education was an effort that had been underway in our country since the post-Civil War southern Reconstruction era.

Efforts floundered or were demolished by Jim Crow laws and practices. However, once finally introduced in the Senate decades later, the Civil Rights Act sat

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 5

Civil Rights

SINCE ITS PASSAGE...

Civil Rights

in debate for 60 days, infamously known as the longest filibuster in history. Republican Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL) and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-MT) opposed the bill in its initial draft (Rauh et al., 2014) 2. Yet, it would take actions by these two leaders, as well as the help of Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, Assistant Attorney General Burke Marshall, and Senator Humbert Humphrey (D-MN) to pass this bill through the Senate (Rauh et al., 2014) 2. The filibuster was settled with a Senate vote of fortyfour Democrats and twenty-seven republicans on June 10, 1964, and nine days later the House of Representatives voted to pass the Senate version of the bill, as well (United States Senate, n.d.) 3.

Before gaining support from key legislators, the bill had to go through several revisions and almost did not survive, due to requested amendments that threatened to weaken its effectiveness—a plan that backfired on conservative legislators (Rauh et al., 2014). Essential lobbyists that contributed to this discussion included civil rights activists Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Clarence M. Mitchell Jr., the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Joseph L. Raul, Jr. (Rauh et al., 2014) 2. Although, initially focused on dismantling racial discrimination, the 1964 Civil Rights Act encompassed eleven civil liberties that were once guaranteed for only White American males. The language of the Civil Rights Acts of 1984 identifies unlawful practices and federal responsibilities under the Act (Back, 2020) 4: Title I- Addresses bias voting tactics, widely

used to prohibit African Americans voters who would otherwise be considered eligible. Such title bans illegal and discriminatory practices from being implemented by states.

Title II- Enforces public institutions to serve citizens regardless of race, color, and religion.

Title III- Allows the federal government to penalize public entities that segregate patrons due to race and color.

Title IV- Ensures public schools and institutions of higher education provide equal protection and opportunity to all students regardless of race, color (amended to include sex in 1972). The Office of the Attorney General is allowed to investigate discrimination complaints and the Department of Education to provide supports to coordinate integration.

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Title VI- Prohibits federally funded programs from discriminating based on race and color. Victims of such treatment are allowed to sue organizations and program may be subject to disqualification of federal funds.

Title VII- Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, and sexual orientation amongst federal and private employers. Establishes that victims can seek litigation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was created to oversee title VII. Title VIII- Establishes federal registration and collection of socio-demographics of voters.

Title IX- Allows federal intervention such as reviews and appeals, in cases claiming discrimination based on race and color.

Title X- Formed the Community Relations Service (CRS) to assist communities in dealing with disputes regarding discrimination by race, color, gender, or sexual orientation.

Title XI: Ensures that any criminal case under “Title II, III, IV, V, VI, or VII” are allowed to a trial. (Rauh et al., 2014; Back, 2020) 2,4

With all these provisions and protections enshrined in law, it’s sad that we are still fighting, advocating, and marching for these same liberties decades later.

Instead of being more inclusive, elected officials on all levels have found loopholes to perpetrate discriminatory practices by limiting abortion rights, enforcing “Don’t Say Gay” policies, resisting efforts to improve voter accessibility, and creating barriers to affordable housing and healthcare. As social workers, we know real change will happen only through relentless advocacy and the breaking down of systems that oppress people. We shouldn’t need a proliferation of new laws telling us how to treat our fellow Americans—the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did just that. It serves as our blueprint to what an ideal society can and will look like. And yet we still struggle for equality, access, and advancement.

As I see it, the only logical next step is to fill our government with social workers! If our elected leadership continues to fail us or fall short of

promises, social workers must claim a seat at the table and lead by example—applying our ethical values and belief in the empowerment of disadvantaged populations to create practices and policies that work best for communities of color, strategically invest in federal funding, and build community trust between police and residents and between government and residents.

Until then, on July 2 nd, the anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, I urge my peers and colleagues to contact their legislators and advocate on behalf of the voiceless, oppressed, and marginalized and to volunteer for political campaigns with our interests at heart. Let legislators know that we have had enough. Enough oppression. Enough gerrymandering. Enough housing discrimination.

Enough de facto segregation. Enough of being treated as second-class citizens. It is up to social workers to continue the fight for the civil rights of all people, until we are liberated from our everyday oppressive systems.

References 1

Civil Rights Act (1964). (2021, October 5). National Archives. https://

www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act#:~:text=This%20 act%2C%20signed%20into%20law 2

Rauh, J., Wilkins, R., Mitchell, C., Douglas, W. O., Aronson, A., Bureau,

N. W., Brodie, H., Horn, J., Millenson, R., Crocket, G., Mauldin, B.,

White, L., & Rapp, O. J. (2014, October 10). The Civil Rights Act of

1964 - The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom |

Exhibitions - Library of Congress. www.loc.gov. https://www.loc.gov/ exhibits/civil-rights-act/civil-rights-act-of-1964.html#obj267 3

United States Senate. (n.d.). U.S. Senate: Landmark Legislation: The

Civil Rights Act of 1964. www.senate.gov. https://www.senate.gov/ artandhistory/history/common/generic/CivilRightsAct1964.htm 4

Back, C. (2020, December 14). The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Eleven

Titles at a Glance [Review of The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Eleven Titles

at a Glance]. Congressional Research Services. https://crsreports.congress. gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11705

About the Author: Ameerah McCoy is a licensed social worker and Director of Constituent Services for Assemblyman Gary Schaer, Legislative District 36. She holds a Masters degree in social work from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Her current interest is macro social work with a focus on social justice and public policy.

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Civil Rights

Title V- Expands the Civil Rights Commission duties to include investigating complaints of discrimination involving “voting, education, housing, employment, public accommodations, transportation, and the administration of justice” (Rauh et al., 2014) 2.

Civil Rights

Hidden Histories: UNCOVERING THE DIVERSE ROOTS OF SOCIAL WORK

Whitney M. Young, Jr. (1921 – 1971)

W

hitney M. Young, Jr., widely recognized as coauthor of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, was an American civil rights pioneer and social worker who spent much of his life working to end employment discrimination and transforming the National Urban League into a leader in the civil rights movement. 1 Young was born on July 31, 1921, in Lincoln Ridge, Kentucky, a middle child with two sisters. His mother was a teacher and his father the principal of the Lincoln Institute, an all-Black preparator y school. Young received a Bachelor of Science from Kentucky State Industrial College before working as a teacher himself. He then ser ved overseas in World War II, where he acted as a bridge between Black and white ser vicemen in France, a role that inspired him to pursue a career in social work when he was discharged. 2, 3, 4 After his discharge from the militar y, Young went on to earn his MSW from the University of Minnesota in 1947. 5,6 He worked for a few years with the Urban League of St. Paul, Minnesota, then became executive

8 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

In 1954, Young was named Dean of the School of Social Work at Atlanta University, ser ving from 1954 to 1961. D uring his tenure as dean, Young supported alumni in their boycott of the Georgia Conference of Social Welfare, which had a poor record of placing African Americans in good jobs. At the same time, he joined the NAACP and rose to become its state president. Young also played a lead role in getting the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to adopt an accreditation standard on non-discrimination. 8 Young was appointed executive director of the National Urban League in 1961. He was instrumental in saving the league from financial ruin, as well as handling major overhauls of the organization's structure, greatly increasing its budget and staff size. 9 Although the National Urban League was not involved in direct action protests, Young often collaborated with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 10 D uring Young’s ten-year tenure as Executive Director of the National Urban League (1961-1971), he transformed the organization into a leader in the civil rights movement. 11 The National Urban League—with Young at the helm—was instrumental to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, registering voters and planning and participating in the March on Washington in 1963. 12 Throughout his life, Young remained professionally and personally committed to the struggle for equality for African Americans. 13 In 1962, Dr. King invited Young to speak at the annual convention of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

Young’s speech was such a success that SCLC reproduced it for all of the conference participants. 14 In 1963 King, Young, and representatives from five other civil rights groups began to meet regularly to discuss the possibility of collaborating in the civil rights movement. The group later became known as the Council for United Civil Rights Leadership, or the Unity Council. Although the Urban League was more committed to social ser vice than direct action, Young made the controversial decision to cosponsor the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom with other Unity Council members. 15 Young also ser ved as an advisor on race relations to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon and ser ved on seven presidential commissions, including those for youth employment and equal opportunity. For his

ser vice to the nation, President Johnson honored Young in 1968 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 16 Young ser ved as president of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW ) from 1969-1971. He took office at a challenging time in America with the nation’s uncertainty towards a commitment to President Johnson’s War on Poverty and to ending the war in V ietnam. 17 A prominent lecturer and author of several books, Young completed his first full-length book, “ To Be Equal,” in 1964. A second, “Beyond Racism,” was published in 1969. 18 Young’s sudden death by drowning in 1971 in Lagos, Nigeria, shocked the nation. President Richard Nixon sent a special Air Force jet to retrieve Young’s body, and his funeral was attended by over 6,000 people, including Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King. 19 Young was honored in 1981 by the United States Postal Ser vice on a postage stamp issued as part of its ongoing Black Heritage series. 20 In 2000, Clark Atlanta University renamed its school of social work after Young in honor of his years of ser vice to the university and to the social work profession. 21 1

https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.

aspx?fileticket=8MP84GYP8i8%3D&portalid=0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

https://www.biography.com/activist/whitney-young-jr

https://www.cau.edu/school-of-social-work/W hitney-M-Young-Jr.html https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/young-whitney-moore

https://www.cau.edu/school-of-social-work/W hitney-M-Young-Jr.html https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/young-whitney-moore https://www.biography.com/activist/whitney-young-jr ibid

https://www.biography.com/activist/whitney-young-jr

10 11 12

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/young-whitney-moore

https://www.cau.edu/school-of-social-work/W hitney-M-Young-Jr.html https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.

aspx?fileticket=8MP84GYP8i8%3D&portalid=0 13 14 15 16

ibid

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/young-whitney-moore ibid

https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.

aspx?fileticket=8MP84GYP8i8%3D&portalid=0 17 18 19 20 21

ibid

https://www.cau.edu/school-of-social-work/W hitney-M-Young-Jr.html https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/young-whitney-moore

https://www.cau.edu/school-of-social-work/W hitney-M-Young-Jr.html ibid

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Civil Rights

secretar y of the League's Omaha, Nebraska branch in 1950, placing him at the forefront of racial integration in the region. 7

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ADVOCACY

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Advocacy in Action

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

BILL NUMBER

REGISTERED IN SUPPORT

TITLE/DESCRIPTION

TESTIMONY

Behavioral Health S311/A2036

Establishes Core Behavioral Health Crisis Services System

6/6/2022; 6/14/2022

Economic Justice S2480/A4176

Extends child care subsidies to families earning up to 300 percent of federal poverty level

6/6/2022

Health Care S329/A1747

5/24/2022

Establishes Prescription Drug Affordability Board

Professional/Licensing Issues S1730/A3290

Requires professional licensing boards to issue licenses for certain individuals with good standing licenses or certification in other jurisdictions under certain circumstances

5/19/2022

Read our testimony

Read our testimony

Public Safety S2072/A1720

Requires cultural diversity and implicit bias training be included in police basic training curriculum

5/19/2022

S2742/A4194

Concerns licensing of law enforcement officers; appropriates $6 million.

6/13/2022; 6/14/2022

Over the past two months, NASW/NASW-NJ signed-on to the following joint statements.

DATE

TOPIC

TARGET

NASW SIGN-ON

LEAD ENTITY

5/18/2022

Infant Formula Shortage Congressional Action

Federal

NJ Chapter

National WIC Association/ Mom's Rising

5/26/2022

Demand Executive Action on Student Debt

Federal

State

Student Borrower Protection Center

6/6/2022

Dissent to Task Force Recommendation on Juvenile Justice Commission Youth Prisons

State

State

NJ Institute for Social Justice

Federal

State

Student Borrower Protection Center

Student Loan Debt Pause Extension Letter 6/30/2022 12 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

Advocacy in Action

n o ti c A n i k c a B

While the pandemic meant we had to shift to virtual events, NASW-NJ has finally been able to get back to in-person events and meeting with our amazing members. Here are some of the recent events we've been to.

MAY 26 SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION RALLY IN TRENTON

MAY 16 RUTGERS GRADUATION JUNE 11 MARCH FOR O UR LI

BY TH VES E LES NIAK INSTI A peac TUTE eful r ally f change or gun across Americ a.

7 JUNE 1 ALLY ENTH R E T E N U J

JUNE 18 POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN The Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March in Washington, D.C.

JUNE 24 PRO ROE RALLY AT SCOTUS NASW-NJ Director of Communications and Advocacy, Jeff Feldman, along with Chapter members from ME, NH, AL, and FL are attending the rally while in DC for the 2022 NASW National Conference.

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MEMBER MISSIVES

THE LATEST FROM THE FIELD

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By Dameon Stackhouse, MSW, LSW

“When George Floyd was murdered, as a social worker and social justice advocate, I felt I was obligated to do something."

D

ear reader: I’m here to share about my work for the Bridgewater Community Police Alliance and the work we are engaging in to make my hometown of Bridgewater safer for all.

But to truly understand the full impact of my work, I need to start by first sharing a little bit about myself and my upbringing.

From a social worker’s perspective my person-inenvironment experience was similar to that of a community “in the South.” I was born and raised in a section of Bridgewater, NJ called Hobbstown.

Hobbstown is a two-street, black community that was founded in 1920. Our families moved there from the deep south of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina. They had determined that moving to the North would give them a better opportunity to survive the lynching and extreme racism Black people were facing during that time in the south.

I was raised in this community as if I were in the southern U.S., with the village raising the children.

My mother, Katheleen Stackhouse, became pregnant with me at 15 years of age. I was raised in the household with my grandmother, grandfather, my mother and one of my aunts—a true extended family. My father, Christopher Bell, was never

around much (he was in and out of jail) and never provided for me, which left me always searching for a piece or part of me that was missing. I knew that he was an athlete, and I became one of the best football players in the area. But my father was also an active drug user. During the late 1980s he contracted HIV, which would later take his life in 1994—just three days before my 18th birthday.

I also began to use drugs and alcohol at a young age.

I believe there was a series of traumas I experienced that led me to use and abuse drugs and alcohol throughout my high school career. I continued to use every type of drug and alcohol I could find, including heroin, rationalizing that if I did not shoot it, I would not be like my father. Eventually, after dropping out of college and becoming an alcoholic and drug addict, my addiction led me to the Department of Corrections of New Jersey. The night of June 13th, 2004, I committed two second degree robberies and a second-degree eluding. I was given 14-year sentences with the no early release act applied. My judge ran these two sentences consecutively, amounting to 14 years with an 85% chance of no early release (I served 11 years, 11 months, and 10 days).

Even though I used drugs and alcohol, I was a

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Criminal Justice

The Bridgewater Community Police Alliance: Bridging the Gap between the Community and Law Enforcement

Criminal Justice

productive citizen. I ran before- and after-school programs for Catholic Charities. I was a counselor for the Martin Luther King youth center during the summers. I was a Local 455 carpenter. I was also a certified lifeguard and pop Warner coach. So, during my incarceration when I noticed individuals who weren’t afforded the same opportunity for quality education I received, I began to tutor both young and older men in math and basic grammar. I had found a calling to be better and to do better.

In 2013, while in Rahway State Prison, I returned to college level education. I was one of the first 125 individuals in an adult facility that was given the opportunity to obtain a college degree while incarcerated. This was possibly one of the greatest times of my life: to watch a correctional facility transform into a learning environment where individuals cared about each other and protected something that was truly valuable, a program called The New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP). This is about the point where I realized I would become a helping professional—although at the time I was considering psychology, rather than social work. My goal was to help people; to give back to my community when I returned, bringing an opportunity to change the trajectory of our youth.

When I was released in 2016 with an additional three years of parole, my goal was to complete my bachelor’s at Rutgers in psychology. But during my work study assignment, I ran into a social worker that explained the similarities and differences between psychology and social work and who helped me assess the goals I wanted to accomplish and how they related to these two professions. She

16 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

connected me with Dr. DuWayne Battle, Director of the Baccalaureate Social Work program at Rutgers University, who guided me not only through the process of obtaining my bachelor’s degree, but in getting into a program for my MSW. He further explained how I needed to go about becoming licensed through the state board.

My life experiences have really shaped the way I see the things that need to be done to improve the lives of underprivileged people and communities, and how I fit into that picture. I began to structure a program called N.U.D.A.Y. for youth that have substance use disorders and are also justice involved (meaning on probation or on parole). I was able to relate to what these kids were going through, and by sharing my story with them, they were able to identify with me and would listen to what I had to share. There was no judgment made on my part— just sound advice. I would simply say, “I have been where you are, and I don’t want you to go where I’ve been.” Things are vastly different when you come from a space of actual life experience and not just “book knowledge.” This realization is what has driven my social work career.

When George Floyd was murdered, as a social worker and social justice advocate, I felt I was obligated to do something. I organized and led a march in honor of his life, but I didn’t want it to be just another march. I wanted to build a relationship with our local law enforcement to hopefully prevent a similar tragedy from happening in my surrounding area.

I wanted to show others that we need to work together—civilians and law enforcement—for things to change. I reached out to the Chief of the Bridgewater Police Department and began to foster

Which brings me back to where I started— educating all of you about the work we do through the Bridgewater Community Police Alliance (CPA).

The mission of the community police alliance is to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement, respond to mental health crisis calls alongside the Bridgewater Police Department, and receive and analyze referrals the department or the community send to me. The CPA allows me to be a social worker in the Police Department, supporting them, while at the same time following-up with and providing resources for our residents.

I’d like to tell a story about one of the first referrals I received. A Lieutenant came to me because he encountered a mother who had lost her child in a pond in Bridgewater. The mom had been drinking and the Lieutenant could tell she was depressed. He asked her if he could connect the two of us to see if there was any help I could provide. I reached out to her every week for approximately 2 months, just asking if she needed any assistance. One morning I made my call and I asked “how are you today?” The mom responded, “I am not good. I need help.” At that moment, everything I had prepared for was put into play. A couple of my colleagues and I called around for referrals and we got her into a treatment program within three hours. It felt so good when I was able to tell the Lieutenant this update. Then, the Lieutenant looked back at me, and with glassy eyes said, “Dameon, I must be honest with you. I did not believe in this program when it first started.

But after I gave you that referral, you came to me every week and provided me an update. And

I needed that. Now that you are telling me she's getting the help she needs, I will be your number one advocate. You’ve convinced me this program is needed, and that it works.” The Community Police Alliance is holistic—it is for the mutual benefit and support of both our law enforcement personnel and the members of the community.

Being the Community Police Alliance coordinator allows me to be in the community on a day-today basis. I work with families that need food and other resources. I have built relationships with the food bank to provide them quality meals. I’m able to get clothes to help our homeless population.

When individuals are struggling with substance use disorders, I’m able to just talk to them and share my experience. I am close to 18 years sober.

When I share my road and my journey to maintain my sobriety, it is inspirational to the people of my community. It is in honor to be able to give back to people that are a reflection of myself.

When I think about the potential of this Community Police Alliance, I see a social worker and mental health counselor in every municipality of the state of New Jersey. I truly wish to see this come to pass.

About the Author: Dameon Stackhouse, MSW, LSW is an NJSTEP and MVC Alum of Rutgers New Brunswick where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work. Dameon has always been a listener and seeks provide the counseling and guidance the community relies on. Dameon is an Activist for SOCIAL JUSTICE and a Youth Advocate.

He believes that when we change the trajectory of our kids’ lives, it changes the trajectory of the community’s life.

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 17

Criminal Justice

a relationship. In return the Chief introduced me to the captains, and we all began to have dialogue.

We had tough conversations. We made each other uncomfortable. We went to a training together and learned from each other. We did this for over a year before the Community Police Alliance (CPA) position became available in Somerset County.

When the application for the job went live, the Chief and the captains sent the link for me to apply because they felt I would be the best candidate for the job. As I read over the application and the qualifications, I didn’t think this would even be possible I am a formerly incarcerated individual, and my crimes were committed in Somerset County.

I did not think that the former prosecutor who had fought against my appeal would be the same person to interview me and say, “you would be perfect for this job, you have my approval.” But he did!

School Social Work

Wrap Around Community Schools Will Improve Education Outcomes for the Next Generation of New Jersey’s Children

By Brittany Macaluso, MSW “Wrap around community schools will effectively remediate many underlying issues exacerbated by systemic racism that plague our communities today..."

A

ccording to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW ) Code of Ethics (5.02), “social workers should monitor and evaluate policies, the implementation of programs, and practice interventions.” 1 In my new role as Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership I am doing just that.

in our state and their families, particularly those in low-income households and communities, continue to strive towards their education while some of their basic needs remain unmet. However, the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be met if we follow the lead of 40 other states nationwide that have implemented a system of wrap-around services in their schools.

The right to an education is a fundamental human right set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—which was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world— proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10 th , 1948. Article 26 of the Declaration states, “everyone has the right to education. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” 2

What are Wrap Around Community Schools?

Due to the structure of our educational system, this human right to education is not fully realized in our state. The Declaration notes people cannot have a “full development of the human personality ” through education until all their surrounding environmental needs have been met. 3 Many students

18 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

Legislation establishing wrap around community schools in New Jersey (S2771/A1168) aims to improve equity in our communities and lift up success rates in low performing schools. The pending legislation would create partnerships among public schools, nonprofit organizations, and local governments to, “provide an integrated focus on academics, health, and social services, youth and community development, expanded learning time and opportunities, actively engage families, and foster collaborative practices based on an individual community ’s identified need.” 4 In addition to providing supports for the students at the schools, wrap around community schools support infant and maternal well-being of families served by offering primary medical and pediatric

Former state senator Raymond Lesniak, founder and president of The Lesniak Institute, believes, “social workers would be the perfect candidates for the site coordinator position in these schools because they are experts in knowing how environmental factors impact children's ability to efficiently learn.”

Why Advocate?

I ask that social workers across New Jersey join with the Lesniak Institute and other advocates in advocating for S2771/A1168. The NASW Code of Ethics (6.04) calls for us to, “be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and [...] advocate

for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice” 6 Wrap around community schools will effectively remediate many underlying issues exacerbated by systemic racism that plague our communities today, specifically deficits in educational performance and maternal and infant mortality rates. According to a 2020 article on NJ.com, New Jersey boasts having some of the best performing schools in America, but it also has some of the worst performing schools, specifically in minority neighborhoods. 7 The Child & Family Research Partnership at the University of Texas at Austin asserts prenatal to age three is the most critical period for a child’s developing brain and body, building the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health. 8 Having a strong start and the presence of strong caregiver-child relationships during this time are key to healthy development. Government assistance is needed to close the gap by placing wrap around community schools in minority school districts to give ALL babies and families the best chance of survival and educational success.

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 19

School Social Work

care, prenatal care referrals, transportation and childcare services, and linkages to housing assistance and recovery management services, as well as community education on nutrition and general childcare. Under our state’s proposed legislation, each school would have a site coordinator who will assist in the establishment and operations of the community school under a fiveyear pilot program for 50 community schools in New Jersey. 5

School Social Work

Comparison of State Outcomes The implementation of wrap around community schools has been instituted in 40 states. One state that can serve as a model for NJ’s wrap around community schools is Ohio. Governor DeWine (R), as part of his Governor's Children Initiative, started Ohio's equivalent of wrap around community schools, called, "Student Wellness and Success," which provides every single school district in Ohio—982 schools—with funding to provide their students with access to needed physical and behavioral health services. 9 At the same time, young people today are facing unprecedented challenges at home and in their communities that they bring into their classrooms. This funding will help students receive the wrap around support they need to be healthy and successful, while also allowing educators and administrators to focus on academics.

During the 2020-2021 school year, 982 Ohio schools and districts were eligible to receive a total of nearly $400 million of which $289 million was expended.

Following the implementation of wrap around schools in Louisiana, Timothy, a 9th grade student, exclaimed, "one of the reasons that I come to school more often now is because I know my site coordinator will be looking for me. I know she really cares about me." 10 In Florida, through compassionate, professional support, Healthy Start serves pregnant women and provides parental education and guidance until the baby turns 3. Expecting mothers learn to care for themselves and their babies during pregnancy, and receive one-on-one lactation support, as well as support to secure safe sleeping arrangements for the baby, developmental screenings and more so families can build safe, strong and healthy foundations. 11 In Alabama, one family member receiving wrap around community services claimed, "Family Guidance Center has been the life rope when I thought there was no hope left. [They] have given me the help I needed when I did not know where I was going to turn or what I was going to do." 12 NJ Bill History: This legislation was initially introduced in New Jersey during the 2018-19 legislative session. Last session (2020-21), the bill passed 57-18-1 in the

20 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

Assembly. It was passed by the Senate Education Committee on a 5-1 vote and was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, but unfortunately was not heard in this committee before the end of the legislative session. Bills S2771/A1168 have been introduced in the 2022-23 legislative session and referred to both the Senate and Assembly Education Committees where they await hearings.

If you are interested in supporting legislation to bring wrap around community schools to New Jersey, I urge you to contact your state legislators and ask them to support S2771/A1168 and to push for them to be heard in committee.

References: 1

https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-

of-Ethics-English 2

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-

rights 3 4 5 6

ibid

https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2022/S3000/2771_I1.PDF

ibid

https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-

of-Ethics-English 7

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2020/07/heres-one-way-to-fix-our-low-

performing-schools-opinion.html 8

https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/cfrp-prenatal-3-policy-

impact-center#:~:text=The%20science%20is%20clear%20that,are%20 key%20to%20healthy%20development 9

https://childrensinitiatives.ohio.gov/

10 11 12

https://cisgulfsouth.org/

https://chsfl.org/services/for-parents/healthy-start/

https://familyguidancecenter.org/about/testimonials/

About the Author: Brittany Macaluso, MSW is the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership and a recent Policy Practice and Contemporary Social Issues MSW graduate f rom Columbia University.

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 21

Student Center

Social Action is Social Work: An Intern’s Reflections

By Leah Russo

I

have always been a loud person. As a kid, I was vocal about my whole grade receiving a punishment of silent lunch because of a few bad actors in my class. I made petitions in elementary school about Tamagotchis and found myself actually having to take on the administration in high school because I wanted to wear pants instead of a dress to graduation. During my undergrad, I found myself leading protests around campus about sexual assault, union contracts, and so many other things. So, macro social work easily became a home for me to express how I felt about the state of the world.

I consider myself fortunate to have obtained an internship with the NASW-NJ while I pursue my MSW. Part of that means I have the privilege to go to the State House in Trenton to learn about advocating for legislation and attend rallies around the state to use my voice to speak out against injustice. This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in several rallies with the NASW-NJ team.

Our first rally was a same day voter registration rally in Trenton, which I attended with my field supervisor, Jeff. On the ride down, I was super excited to go to my first rally at our state’s capitol. Almost immediately upon our arrival in Trenton, we ran into another social worker. She had taken the day off from her work in

22 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

hospice to come to the rally. We spent the first part of the morning at the masonic temple talking to others who all wanted to use their voice to pass same day voter registration. I got to talking to someone from the NAACP about student loans – what can I say? Students will always bring up student loans and I am not sorry about that. As we chatted with other advocates (and drank some juice boxes) we learned about reasons people had chosen to turn out for the rally. Soon, we made our way down to the capitol annex and talked with the event organizers. They thanked us for coming and for the support of the NASW-NJ and we thanked them for putting on such a great event. We also ran into another social worker who works as a legislative staffer and I spent some time talking with a retired teacher about the importance of interprofessional collaboration between social workers and teachers.

As the rally progressed, we heard from legislators, religious leaders, community organizers and more. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday.

The following weekend, we participated in a March for Our Lives event put on by the Lesniak Institute. Again, I jumped in the car with Jeff and headed to Roselle.

We met with other members of the NASW-NJ staff, our Chapter board, and other social workers. We heard speeches from community organizers and advocates, including our own Jeff Feldman and Widian Nicola,

one by Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, that were equally as impactful. The crowd swelled, as more people joined to listen. It was a truly inspiring day.

I feel incredibly grateful that I have been able to go to all of these rallies as part of my internship. I understand that this is a privilege, and I do not take that lightly. Especially when rallies are on workdays, many people do not have the flexibility to take time off to participate. I feel honored to be able to raise my voice on their behalf. I have also been fortunate enough to attend some rallies outside of my intern hours—including Pride Month events and local rallies for abortion access.

In the spirit of social work and social action, I invite you to attend a rally or march for a cause you care about, if you are able.

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 23

Student Center

NASW-NJ’s Chapter President. Both of their speeches made me cry. After spilling enough tears to refill my water bottle, we began our march around the park.

With chants led by young people —including one passionate young man who may be destined for the presidency—we walked in the heat to make our voices heard about sensible gun legislation.

Most recently, we went to the Juneteenth rally in Newark, organized by the NJ Institute for Social Justice. We met up with some social work friends and found even more social workers in the crowd. It was another hot day for a march, but the temperature didn’t seem to matter when people are facing injustice. We heard speeches about the militarization of schools, the lack of funding for community programs, and the need for NJ to pass legislation that would establish a Reparations Task Force. We then marched to City Hall, chanting about reparations the entire walk. It was an amazing showing for such an important issue.

There were more speeches made at City Hall, including

Student Center

HERE ARE SOME OF MY TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE AND HAVING A GREAT TIME WHEN YOU RALLY: • First, bring water. If you are going to cheer and chant for social justice and progress on a hot day, you are going to need to stay hydrated.

• Second, bring a mask and a picture of your vaccination card (keep the original copy at home so you don’t lose it). These are always a good thing to have while going out, but if you are going to go inside a building (like the Capitol!) these are things you might need.

• Third, use sunscreen. Don’t get so sunburned that you can’t attend the next march.

• Fourth, wear sturdy shoes—you’ll be on your feet a long time.

• And lastly, bring an open mind and a good attitude. Excitement is infectious. Now get out this summer and help spread the excitement for social justice to all those around us.

24 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

PA R T N E R

SPOTLIGHT

MONMOUTH UNIVERSIT Y ADVANCES SOCIAL WORK THROUGH NASW-NJ SUPPORT

M

onmouth University ’s School of Social Work provides graduates with a strong academic foundation that includes opportunities to explore specialty areas of social work, real-world experience, and the knowledge, values, skills, and ethics for a successful and lasting career.

“Our relationship with the NASW-NJ presents networking opportunities to Monmouth University students through the organization’s events, memberships, and other activities, in addition to assisting students as they navigate current societal issues and supporting them as they continue to make an impactful change on the world,” Robin Mama, Ph.D., dean of the School of Social Work said.

The collaboration has even sparked conversations of intertwining social work and criminal justice, and played a role in the development of the University ’s dual bachelor’s degree program, the Bachelor in

Social Work (BSW) with Criminal Justice.

“People blossom professionally and personally through their work—and that extends from students to faculty—and our relationship with the NASW-NJ keeps us connected with what’s important to social work at any given time. It’s about the education and the opportunity, and they have their pulse on what’s happening. There’s an empowerment that comes with our relationship and I think that’s when students realize they have the ability to really make change,” Mama said.

Built around the ideals of advancing human rights and social justice, the School of Social Work curriculum features seminar-style classes and personalized field placement for students to gain hands-on experience.

Throughout their education, Monmouth students will work across a wide variety of studies including, school social work, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, gerontology, community organizing,

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 25

and grant and policy writing, in addition to working with individuals, communities, and, organizations.

Monmouth’s graduate program is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, while both the undergraduate and graduate programs are nationally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and have received honors from the CSWE and the NASW-NJ for their advancement of excellence in social work. Both programs have also been formally recognized by the State of New Jersey ’s General Assembly as an “Important and Praiseworthy Education Organization.”

The school’s BSW program prepares students for professional practice, continuing their studies at the graduate level, and offers the dual degree program, BSW in Social Work with Criminal Justice. The combination of degrees was developed for students wanting to become leaders in modern crime prevention, and by faculty guided by insight from the NASW-NJ. Monmouth’s Master of Social Work program provides students a choice of two specializations, Clinical Practice with Families and Children and Global Community Practice, and prepares graduate students to become Licensed Social Workers.

The Social Work program additionally offers a minor in Social Services, a Bachelor’s + Master’s five -year program, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Play and Expressive Therapies.

Due to the success of Monmouth’s social work programs, the University recently introduced a new Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Human Rights Leadership program, set to begin in Fall 2022.

Designed to help students become agents of change at the executive level, DSW students will learn how to design, evaluate, and implement effective human rights programs and policies that positively impact individuals and communities.

Monmouth’s practice -based curriculum is delivered online through faculty mentorship opportunities, while the cohort of approximately 15 students will benefit from an intensely

26 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

personalized and collaborative learning experience.

In addition to a hands-on curriculum and field placement, the school features many initiatives and progressive programs for students to maximize their time at Monmouth by getting involved. Some of the initiatives are located on campus, including The Virginia A. Cory Community Garden, while other projects include The Coming Home Project, The LGBT Older Adult Project, SRF Suicide Prevention Research and Training Project, and the Community Care Telehealth Clinic—which is also an internship opportunity for Monmouth MSW clinical students.

The School of Social Work is also involved with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Social Work at the United Nations Initiative.

Resources such as scholarships, work handbooks, the Gero-Ed Interactive Education Tool, and participation in the annual Social Work Day at the United Nations are also a part of the Monmouth experience.

In addition, Monmouth’s acclaimed faculty are extremely dedicated to helping students succeed as the next generation of passionate and committed social workers.

For more information on Monmouth University ’s School of Social Work, visit Monmouth.edu/schoolof-social-work.

Members Only Perks

W

ith over 6,500 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!

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 27

MMEEMMBBEERR CCOONNNNEECCT T

Welcome to the

NASW-NJ TEAM Hello, my name is Resia (pronounced Ray-Z-Uh), and I am the new engagement coordinator at the NASW-NJ. Many of you may remember my time as an intern with the chapter last semester, and I am excited to serve our social work community in this new capacity.

Resia M. Cooper, MSW

In 2013, my father was diagnosed with dementia, which led me to meet a social worker who inspired me to dig into my love for research to better understand dementia and how I could support my father. In 2019, I started my journey to become a social worker and in May 2022, I graduated from Fordham University with my Master's in Social Work. As I begin my macro career path, I am eager to engage and bring a fresh perspective to this profession.

I am passionate about students and the next generation. As a child of immigrants, my parents drilled into me the importance of education, and that seed is what drives me to create effective and safe spaces for students now.

In my spare time, you can find me traveling with my family and friends, recording for my YouTube channel, collecting perfume, or sitting on my couch with a good book.

As the engagement coordinator, I look forward to cultivating programs that will help you, our members, grow personally and professionally. I want to bring a holistic approach, find solutions for problems and work alongside this incredible NASW-NJ team to build engagement and develop student-focused programming and engagement opportunities.

If you have an idea or would love to collaborate with one of our Shared Interest Groups, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at rcooper.naswnj@socialworkers.org

Hey everyone! My name is Mark, and I am the newest intern here at NASW-NJ. I am currently taking classes pursuing my MSW through Walden University and am planning on completing the program in the Fall of 2023.

I first became interested in the social work profession after returning to the states following a rotation in Afghanistan as a Paratrooper in the U.S. Army. I witnessed and experienced the great work social workers were able to accomplish at all levels as they worked to reintegrate our unit. Reluctantly I did not jump right into social services or begin my education right away. Over the last 10 years since taking off the uniform, I have worked a wide variety of jobs. To name a few: I drove tractor-trailers, built townhomes, and worked as a welder/fabricator for several companies before deciding to begin my education to become a social worker.

With this internship, I am beyond excited for the opportunity to gain experience working and advocating at the macro level, for the opportunity to continue developing my professional self, and to begin gaining experience in policy practice. I am sure that the knowledge I gain from this internship will help me influence change and improve the lives of so many, including but not limited to the vulnerable, under-served, oppressed, and at-risk populations.

When I’m not working, you can find me either out exploring Mother Nature, in the gym training, or planning my next little adventure to a new city I have yet to experience. I look forward to meeting some of you over the course of my internship!

28 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

Mark Robbins, MSW Candidate

Welcome to Member News — A space dedicated to celebrating the professional achievements of our members from around New Jersey. We want to highlight your professional accomplishments to underscore the great work being done by social workers in our state.

Send submissions to jfeldman.naswnj@socialworkers.org.

ANNE DEEPAK, PHD... associate professor in the Monmouth University School of Social Work, co-authored a policy that was recently adopted by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) as part of the 2022 IFSW General Meeting. “The Role of Social Workers in Advancing a New EcoSocial World” was written by IFSW United Nation Commission members Deepak, Evelyn P. Tomaszewski, MSW, and Shenae Osborn, LMSW, representing the North American Region, and Sebastian Cordoba, Ph.D., representing the Asia Pacific Region. Read the policy here.

BRIT TANY MACALUSO, MSW… has joined The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership as their Policy and Advocacy Coordinator. She is excited to begin her first job as an MSW and looks forward to being a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform.

ANTHONY NICOTERA , JD, MSW, DSW... presented at the June 2022 NASW National Conference, The Time Is Right for Social Work, in Washington, D.C. His presentation was entitled, The Fierce Urgency of Now: Deepening Our Commitment to Social Justice Practice (click for link to view presentation slides - embedded videos are not viewable due to size, but embedded links work.) Dr. Nicotera’s workshop emphasized the powerful, pivotal, and prophetic role social workers can and must play at this critical moment in history, Dr. King’s fierce urgency of now.

LESLIE TSUKROFF, MSW, LCSW... helped lead NASW National’s volunteer task force to develop the new Private Practice Guidelines, a document that will set the standard of care for all private practitioners, not just Clinical Social Workers. The group was led by Mirean Coleman (NASW’s Clinical Manager), Leslie, and 5 NASW members who met regularly for three years (the longest NASW Task Force to date) to revise the 2003 document, “Clinical Social Workers in Private Practice: A Reference Guide.” The new Clinical Social Workers in Private Practice: A Reference Manual is available here.

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 29

MEMBER CONNECT

MEMBER NEWS

MEMBER CONNECT

What You Need to Know to Renew Your License in 2022 Social Work Licensure can be complicated. As part of your membership benefits, the team at NASW-NJ works to assemble information you need to navigate the licensing and renewal process.

We have built a strong relationship with the Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE/Licensing Board) by attending their monthly meetings and communicating with BSWE staff frequently. In this way we stay abreast of all deadlines and changes you may face—and we communicate this information to you through our weekly newsletters, FOCUS and oneon-one consultations with our staff.

As many of you know, all NJ Social Work License and Certifications are due for renewal this summer. Here’s what you should know about licensing renewal:

The Facts Your license/certificate must be renewed by August 31, 2022. There is a 1-month grace period (September) during which you can renew and pay a late fee.

After October 1st you cannot work as a social worker in New Jersey unless you have renewed.

If you have changed your mailing address in the last two years, change it online through the eGov online licensing portal so the Board has the correct address to send your renewal information, https://newjersey.mylicense.com/eGov/Login.aspx.

Renewal Notice You should have received renewal information in the mail this summer for your Social Work License (LSW or LCSW) or Certification (CSW).

The notice will be sent from the Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs (not the Board of Social Work Examiners).

Renewal is online only. Your renewal notice will provide you with instructions on how to renew your license or certification.

Renewing Your License How many CE credits do I need to renew my license/certification?

Continuing Education (CE) Credits are required for each biennial (two year) licensing cycle. To renew your license (LSW or LCSW) or certification (CSW), you will need to have completed the required number of CE credits outlined below during the current biennial period, which is September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2022.

30 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

LCSW:

IF YOU ARE AN

LSW:

IF YOU ARE A

CSW:

An LCSW shall complete a minimum

An LSW shall complete a minimum of

A CSW shall complete a minimum of

of 40 credits of continuing

30 credits of continuing education, 5

20 credits of continuing education, 5

education, of which at least 20

of which must be related to ethics, 3

of which must be related to ethics, 3

credits shall be in courses or

credits must be related to social and

credits must be related to social and

programs directly related to clinical

cultural competency, and 1 hour

cultural competency, and 1 hour

practice, 5 credits must be related to

related to prescription opioid

related to prescription opioid

ethics, 3 credits must be related to

addiction. If the LSW earns more

addiction. If the CSW earns more

social and cultural competency, and

than 30 credits during a biennial

than 20 credits during a biennial

1 hour related to prescription opioid

period, the LSW may carry a

period, the CSW may carry a

addiction. If the LCSW earns more

maximum of six surplus credits into a

maximum of four surplus credits into

than 40 credits during a biennial

succeeding biennial period.

a succeeding biennial period.

period, the LCSW may carry a maximum of eight surplus credits into a succeeding biennial period.

If you initially obtained a license or certificate within the second year of a biennial license period (September 1, 2021 or later) one-half of the minimum required credits of continuing education, 3 credits 2 credits of which shall be related to social and cultural competency, and 1 hour related to prescription opioid addiction. An LCSW shall complete at least 10 of their 20 credits in programs which directly relate to

the applicant shall complete not fewer than of which shall be related to ethics,

clinical practice.

Is there a limit to the # of CE credits I can do online?

No! You can complete as many of your CE credits online as you would like, as long as they are courses that are valid according to the NJ BSWE regulations.

Wrap-Up What Do You Do With Your CE Certificates When It's Renewal Time?

You must keep your CE certificates for your own records. You do not send them to the BSWE when you renew your license.

The BSWE requires you to keep certificates of attendance for 5 years following the end of the biennial cycle for which the credits have been obtained. However, NASW-NJ encourages members to keep documentation permanently as this information may be useful to you in ways you cannot predict right now.

You will

NOT be sending your CE certificates to the BSWE when you renew your license. When you renew your license

online, you will be asked to confirm that you have completed or will complete your CE requirements by August 31st.

Completing your CE requirements is part of your responsibility in keeping up to date with techniques and resources for your practice. In addition, the BSWE does audit a percentage of social workers each cycle, so make sure that you have completed all your CEUs and have certificates ready to hand over if needed.

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 31

MEMBER CONNECT

IF YOU ARE AN

License Renewals and New Applications Fee Waiver Instituted At the July 13 meeting of the Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE), the Board voted to approve the fee waiver proposed by the Governor and included by the legislature in New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2023 Budget (New Jersey's fiscal year runs July 1 June 30). The fee waiver extends to social work licensure renewals and applications submitted during Fiscal Year 2023 (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023)

What does this mean for New Jersey social workers?

Here's the quick overview.

NEW LICENSURE APPLICATIONS Under the fee waiver, the application fee of $75 for new CSW, LSW, and LCSW certificates/licenses submitted during Fiscal Year 2023 (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023) will be waived. Only the application fee is being waived; the licensure fee for new licenses will still apply.

As of the date of this e-mail, the application fee for new licenses is still required on the BSWE website. We anticipate that the BSWE licensure application section will be updated within the next couple of weeks to reflect the application fee waiver. If you submit your application for licensure in the interim before the waiver is applied, you will receive a refund of the application fee. The Board has not provided a time frame for when these refunds will be issued.

TEMPORARY EMERGENCY LICENSES Additionally at today's meeting, the Board announced the extension of the Temporary Emergency Graduate License (TEGL) and Temporary Emergency Reciprocity License (TERL) programs that were instituted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

LICENSURE

RENEWALS

All New Jersey social work certificates/licenses (CSW, LSW, LCSW) are up for renewal this summer. Current certificates/licenses expire on August 31, 2022 and should be renewed prior to this date.

The license renewal fee is being waived for all CSWs, LSWs, and LCSWs who are renewing their licenses for the next 2-year cycle. The amount of the renewal fee depends on what level of certification/licensure you hold (CSW, LSW, LCSW). License renewal information was sent via U.S. Mail the last week of June/early July.

For those who have already renewed their licenses for the next licensing cycle, the Board has reported that refunds will be processed for these renewals; however, they could not confirm a time frame for when refunds will be processed.

For those who have not yet renewed their licenses, the BSWE website still asks you to submit payment for renewal as of the date of this email. We anticipate that the BSWE license renewal page will be updated within the next couple of weeks to reflect the renewal fee waiver. If you submit your renewal in the interim before the waiver is applied, you will receive a refund of the renewal fee.

Current TERL and TEGL licenses originally set to expire on June 30, 2022 have been extended and will remain valid "until further action by the Division of Consumer Affairs or the State of Emergency declared on March 9, 2020 is no longer in effect, whichever occurs sooner."

The Board has indicated emails will be sent to all current holders of TERL and TEGL licenses to inform them of this change.

NASW-NJ will continue to keep you up-to-date on any further changes to these programs.

To all current holders of TERL and TEGL licenses, we remind you that these licenses are intended as a temporary stop-gap to allow you to practice within your scope of practice while your regular (plenary) license is in process. All holders of TERL and TEGL licenses should concurrently seek to obtain their plenary license so you may continue to practice social work in New Jersey without interruption at such time that the TERL and TEGL programs are discontinued.

32 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

TO YOUR NETWORK FOR SOCIAL WORK BEST PRACTICES & COMMUNITY We've welcomed more than 160 new NASW members to our Chapter since May 2022. 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!!

NORTHWEST REGIONAL UNIT MORRIS Margo Benjamin Carmen Yosef Santiago Kailani Saman Natalie Jacklyn Alyssa Sabrina Kristina Corynn Sister Lois Rebecca

Assfalg Bratman Diaz Cuevas Hegazy munoz Murphy Nadeem Ondrik Paustian Proietto Pronko Richardson Robinson Swen Torsiello

SOMERSET/HUNTERDON Bill Meghan Aisha Stephanie Kathryn Julia Marianne Nicole

Anthes Cirillo Faulkner Folsom Harback Katz Myers Peal

SOMERSET/HUNTERDON (CONT.) Brian Amanda Emma

Taylor Villamar Zucker

SUSSEX/WARREN Emily

Dunlap

NORTHEAST REGIONAL UNIT BERGEN/PASSAIC Jonathan Patul Angela Rebecca Jennifer Gabriela Shanique Jana Adina Catherine Abigail Amanda Amanda Kiara Samantha Evdoxia

Acosta Alomari Baratta Blackinton Blackstone Castillo Christian Devaney Edwards Estes Fieldhouse Happel Hatton Jesus-Rosario Kennedy Kontolios

BERGEN/PASSAIC (CONT.) Shelley Stephen Aneshia Nicole Melissa Jodelly Meaghan Doreen Diane Roshani Sadia Constance Tanadjza Aleshia Justine Tyler Marisa Melissa Shari Elsa Jacqunea Tiffany

Kranz Lereah Lewis Longo Lopez Mena Morano Ner Park Rana Raza Ricciardi Robinson McCray Rotelli Ruiz Ryan Schumann Shubert Spates Velecela Wilder Zhu

ESSEX Vivian Arroyo Tatyana Bonds

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 33

MEMBER CONNECT

New Members...

ESSEX (CONT.) Keith Ivette Amanda Elizaveta Yahaira Chevelle Wiliam William Yvonne Genesis Nia Marina William Yonette Katasha Dawn Michael Denise Matthew Jarod Rafael

Bowens Castillo Cavanagh Chernysheva Colon Edwards Faghnan Faughnan Hernandez Hernandez Lee Lombardi Maslak McGarrell Miller Paglia Berman Rosenman Saniewski Sidler Soltmann Vargas

HUDSON Antoinette Yuqing Alieza Kaylan Alexia Rhonda

Bailey Liu Malik Michas Salirrosas Lopez Sumter

UNION Jalissa Zoe Lisa Avital Brianna Molly Dénajah Molly Lutonya Robyn Samaria Kelsey Yewande Amy Christopher

Allen Bongiovanni Clark DeVoe Doerflein Gulati Hoffman Humphreys Hunter Krugman Mosley Odoemene Olowe Reyes Tarashuk

34 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

CENTRAL REGIONAL UNIT MIDDLESEX Dulce Sydney Crystal Catarina Noel Jasmine Kimberly Don

Lina Mail Ortega Pereira Rapp Santalla Silverio- Diaz Wilson

ATLANTIC/CAPE MAY/ CUMBERLAND Shalini Juan Stephanie Melissa Judith Amy Marissa Tiffany Julianna

Basu Belmonte Bromhead Dreby Hauser Loder Rodriguez Summers Walsh

MONMOUTH/OCEAN Sandra Tuoi Alison Brooke Leora Rena Carly Sean Dolores Jossett Beatriz Kristen Anna Melissa

Burstyn Dao Driben Dudar Frost Gordonson Kasten Lee Lutzky Mckenzie Patino-Sherard Perkins Truglia Yacubovich

MERCER/BURLINGTON France Devon Kelly Tametrias Zaynah Paul Amy

Guerrier Leahy Mayancela-Lozado Miller Northan Radford Robertson

SOUTH REGIONAL UNIT CAMDEN/GLOUCESTER/SALEM Jennifer Emily Elise Jonah Sharde Tanya

Miller Potash Rutherford Taylor Taylor Wright

Thanks for Being a Member!

MEMBER CONNECT

NEW MEMBERS (CONT.)

G

reetings from the NASW National Board of Directors! My name is Jenny Conger and I represent the New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland Chapters on the NASW National Board of Directors. As I reflect back on my first year on the National Board, I realize what a privilege it has been to be a part of the larger NASW community. I am in awe of the leaders that surround me in this role and am so grateful to be able to represent all three Chapters on a national level. I have been involved with NASW-NJ in a variety of ways since 2010, serving on a handful of different Chapter committees and even serving on the NASW-NJ Board of Directors as 2 nd Vice President from 2018-2020.

It seemed a natural progression to transition from the Chapter to the National level and to use this as an opportunity to share New Jersey’s progress, vision, successes and to celebrate our regional accomplishments. Conversely, it has also been inspiring to get a glimpse of what other chapters are working on, how social workers around the country have united to support each other and their communities as our country continues to navigate some of the most difficult crises.

Most recently we witnessed the reversal of Roe V. Wade by the Supreme Court. This decision coincided with the Board of Directors meeting in Washington, DC, which concluded on the first day of the NASW National

Conference. Devastated by this decision, the National Board of Directors joined with our social work colleagues and NASW members from across the country to show support for the right to choose and bodily autonomy.

NASW National held a rally to decry the decision, sharing words, singing songs and expressing disappointment at the decision.

NASW National and local Chapters across the country attended rallies, are collaborating with agencies and organizing with individuals and groups to best serve those that need us in these times. It was a difficult day for us as a nation, but it was

also encouraging to see the way social workers across the country band together in activism and visibility in support of reproductive rights and access to healthcare.

I never expected to be in our nation’s capital during this time, an opportunity presented as a result of my service to NASW, the Board of Directors and the social workers we represent.

My time volunteering with NASW-NJ has allowed me to appreciate my local social work communities, helped me broaden my professional experiences, gain trusted colleagues and friends, and work toward lasting

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 35

MEMBER CONNECT

From the NASW National Board

MEMBER CONNECT

change in my community. Being on the National Board of Directors has taken those experiences and multiplied them. Broadening the perspective of how social work impacts so many aspects of life—in ways that parallel our local New Jersey communities like racism, LGBTQIA+ rights, COVID-19 relief as well as issues lesser seen in New Jersey such as the rights of indigenous peoples, food deserts and challenges at our borders. National involvement has helped in casting a wider net of consciousness and finding ways to support other Chapters, other Regions, other social workers, in achieving their goals as well. Deepest appreciation for those who voted, allowing me to have this amazing opportunity. I encourage you to consider doing the same. Social work is essential work, and as the NASW National Conference slogan said, The Time is Right for Social Work! While this year’s election has come to a close and positions have been filled, please consider running when the time comes. You never know how much you’re missing until you find it – this is an experience worth the journey.

36 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

T he Results

A RE IN!

2022 NASW-NJ Chapter Elections

President Elect

LISA

LAWSON LCSW

Secretary

TIFFANY

MAYERS

VP of Finance

JENNIFER

SORENSEN MSW, LSW

Regional Reps

COURTNEY

WISE

MSW

LANA

CHURCH LCSW, MSW

MSW Rep

BSW Rep

MATT

LORNA

SATO

JONES

MSW Candidate

CCNLI Reps

JOSH

COLLINS LCSW, MSW

HANNAH

KORNHEILER MSW

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 37

PROVIDING THE SKILLS TO GET AHEAD

38 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

FREE See My Color: Why Racial Colorblindness is Unethical July 28, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register Clinical Supervision Course August 12, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT (SOLD OUT, NEXT SESSION OCT. 11) Register for October 11

2 Social/Cultural or Ethics CEUs 20 CEUs

Emotional Resilience for You and Your Clients August 17, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT Register

2 Clinical CEUs

Trauma Certificate Program September 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM EDT Register

20 CEUs

FREE FOR MEMBERS: Bias, Stereotypes & Microaggressions September 14, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

2 Cultural/Social or Ethics CEUs

Advance Care Planning Certificate October 18, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT Register

10 CEUs

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

NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 39

ADVERTISING

FOCUS AD/IMAGE RATES: NEW LARGER ADS, SAME RATES Over 6500 readers

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Frequency: 1 issue

Full-color, camera-ready image sent to NASW-NJ via electronic upload

Full page (no bleed): $1000

Advertorial: (story ad w/ image or logo) $1500

1/2 page: $700

1/3 page: $450

1/6 page: $300

Inside back cover: $2000

Back cover—limited availability, call for details

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

40 40||NJFOCUS NJFOCUS•July • July2022 2022

NASW-NJ SWAG Rep your Social Work Pride

LIVE THE VALUES, LOUDLY.

SH OP HERE NJFOCUS • July 2022 | 41

Stories of Change

42 | NJFOCUS •July 2022

Visit naswnj.org to learn more