NASW-NJ FOCUS Summer 2023

SUMMER 2023 • Vol 32.4

2023 CONFERENCE: A REVIEW IN PICTURES

ACT NOW: STOP HARSHER FENTANYL PENALTIES

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

ST

P R E S I D E N T- E L E C T, Lisa Lawson

V I C E 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

S E C R E TA RY, Tiffany Mayers

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 I N T E R I M E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R Kimberly Harper, LCSW, ACSW kharper.nasw@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

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2023 N ASW - N J C O N F E R E N C E : A REVIEW IN PICTURES

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A DV O C AC Y 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

27

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: R U TG E R S

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MEMBER CONNECT

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

CONTENTS

FROM THE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT ELECT

TABLE OF

04

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

44

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

FROM THE PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT ELECT Dear NASW NJ & DE Community, As we bid farewell to our esteemed Executive Director, Jennifer Thompson, it is with appreciation and admiration that we acknowledge the incredible journey we have shared under her exemplary leadership.

With unwavering dedication, Jennifer has guided the NASW New Jersey and Delaware Chapters through tumultuous times, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and fortitude.

Lisa Lawson, MBA, LCSW, CCS

PRESIDENT ELECT

Jennifer's steadfast leadership during the global pandemic, two U.S presidencies, a humanitarian crisis at the border, and the support for the Black Lives Matter movement has been nothing short of remarkable. In the face of unprecedented challenges, alongside our members, Jennifer championed the rights and wellbeing of our community, bringing forth an unwavering commitment to social justice and racial equity.

Throughout her tenure, Jennifer has been a beacon of light, actively shining a spotlight on the injustices faced by the BIPOC community. Her tireless efforts to hold law enforcement accountable for actions against the community have been a testament to her unwavering dedication and unyielding commitment to creating a more equitable society.

Under Jennifer's guidance, the NASW-NJ Chapter has been at the forefront of advocating for positive change. Her visionary approach fostered an environment where difficult conversations were encouraged, and marginalized voices were amplified. She challenged us to lean in, examine our biases, educating and inspiring us to become more effective allies in the fight against systemic discrimination.

Widian Nicola, DSW, LCSW

CHAPTER PRESIDENT

Through Jennifer's leadership, we have witnessed the NASW-NJ and DE Chapters rise to the occasion, spearheading initiatives that have made a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. Her unwavering support and advocacy have empowered us to address the pressing needs of our community, even amidst adversity.

While we bid farewell to Jennifer, we do so knowing her impact will be long-lasting. Her legacy will continue to guide us as we strive to build a more inclusive and equitable future. Jennifer's commitment to social work, her passion for justice, and her unwavering dedication to our community, will forever remain ingrained in the fabric of our Chapters.

On behalf of the NASW-NJ and DE community, we extend our deepest gratitude to Jennifer Thompson for her exceptional leadership and tireless efforts. We are profoundly grateful for the immense impact she has had on our organization, the broader community, and the countless lives she has touched.

As Jennifer embarks on new endeavors, we wish her continued success and fulfillment. Please join us in expressing our sincere appreciation to Jennifer for her work on behalf of our profession.

A national search is ongoing to hire a new Executive Director to lead the NJ and DE Chapters into their next phase of growth and development. In the interim, the work of our Chapters will be overseen

by Kimberly Harper, LCSW, ACSW. Kimberly is the former Executive Director of the NASW Wyoming Chapter and a Rutgers MSW graduate. She has also served as Interim Executive Director for both NASW Montana and NASW Wyoming Chapters. Please join us in welcoming her to our New Jersey community.

Lisa Lawson, MBA, LCSW, CCS President-Elect, NASW-NJ Chapter

Widian Nicola, DSW, LCSW Chapter President, NASW-NJ

PHOTOS BY ANDREW A. SMITH & FRED SAMSON

20 23

NASW-NJ ANNUAL CONFERENCE

A REVIEW IN PICTURES For more photos, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/198351117@N06/albums

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 5

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Thanks to Our

YEAR-ROUND PARTNERS difference maker

shaker mover ambassador champion

Reach Your Audience with a Year-Round Partnership.

Email hfrench.naswnj@socialworkers.org for more information.

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 9

Thanks to Our

2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPONSORS Hotel Room Key Sponsor

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Reception Sponsor

Student Summit Sponsor

Gold Exhibit Booth Sponsors Case Western Reserve University - Mandel School Cooperative Counseling Services GenPsych Hampton Behavioral Health Center Hidden River Eating Disorder Treatment Center Zoobook Systems LLC

Silver Exhibit Booth Sponsors Aging Life Care Association Bergen's Promise Ellie Mental Health Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic Kutztown University of Pennsylvania/Department of Social Work Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Montclair State University New Hope Integrated Behavioral Health Care Seabrook Senior Care Therapy

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IN

ADVOCACY

ACTION

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Click the links to see NASW-NJ in the headlines.

BILL NUMBER

SUPPORTED/ OPPOSED

TITLE/DESCRIPTION

BILL STATUS AS OF 5/31

Democracy and Civic Action AJR196/ SJR100

Designates the month of August as "Civic Health Month" in New Jersey.

Supported 2/2/2023

5/25/23 - Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (72-0-0)

Health Care A5225/ S3729

Provides for coverage of communitybased palliative care benefits under Medicaid

Supported 5/11/2023; 5/18/2023

A5225: 5/18/2023 - Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee S3729: 5/11/2023 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

Professional Issues A4755/ S3261

Permits behavioral and mental health care providers to operate within homeless shelters.

Supported 1/19/2023

5/15/23 - Approved P.L.2023, c.62.

A5349

Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact

Worked with bill sponsor to introduce

3/23/23 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee

A5283

Requires calculation of national average Supported time needed to approve applications for 3/23/2023 initial credential in profession or occupation and use of average time as standard in New Jersey.

3/23/2023 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading

Public Safety A5326

S3093

Establishes Community Crisis Response Supported Advisory Council and community crisis 5/18/2023 response teams pilot program; appropriates $20 million.

Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances.

Opposed 5/18/2023

5/18/23 - Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

5/18/23 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 13

Advocacy in Action

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

CHAPTER/NATIONAL ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS OR JOINED THE FOLLOWING SIGN-ON LETTERS/STATEMENTS DATE

TARGET

NASW SIGNON LEVEL

Federal

State

Federal

State

Federal

State

GLSEN

Federal

State

Student Borrower Protection Center

Federal

State

The Forum for Youth Investment

Federal

State

Coalition on Human Needs

Federal

State

Student Borrower Protection Center

Request for a DOJ investigation of the Paterson Police Department

Federal

State

NJ Institute for Social Justice

Public Health, Recovery, & Racial Justice Orgs Oppose New Harsh Fentanyl Penalties (S-3325)

Federal

State

NJ Harm Reduction Coalition

TOPIC

3/10

President Biden - Preserve Telehealth Access

3/17

Adequate share of funding for Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations in FY 2024

3/28

Support the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Resolution

3/31

4/7

4/19

4/20

4/24

5/11

Urging Congress to reject efforts to overturn President Biden's Student Debt Relief actions Reconnecting Youth Campaign FY24 Appropriations Sign-On Letter: For Organizations and Individuals Urging members of Congress to support investments in our people and a responsible approach to the federal budget, including a clean increase in or suspension of the debt ceiling Use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the student loan payment pause and enact President Biden’s student loan debt relief plan

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LEAD ENTITY The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) The Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce, Coalition for Health Funding, Coalition on Human Needs and Committee for Education Funding

MEMBER MISSIVES

THE LATEST FROM THE FIELD

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 15

Addictions

New Jersey Legislators Are Well Intentioned, but Misguided: We Cannot Incarcerate Our Way Out of the Fentanyl Crisis

By Sandy Gibson, Ph.D., LCSW, LCADC “The evidence is clear: Harsher penalties like those proposed in S-3096 and S-3325 increase overdose deaths and decrease people’s opportunities to find support, harm reduction, and recovery that works for them.”

I

n the midst of a public health crisis related to opioid and fentanyl use, our elected officials in New Jersey are choosing to perpetuate years of failed drug era policies that do very little to address a record number of drug overdoses. Last year there were almost 110,000 deaths from Fentanyl overdose around the country, yet lawmakers in our state are advancing a pair of dangerous bills (S-3096 and S-3325) that would toughen sentences for fentanyl possession and dealing.

This is dangerous folks, really dangerous. We already have harsh drug penalties in place, and although I suspect these new bills come from a good place of wanting to address our Fentanyl crisis, they are written by people who know nothing of drug using culture nor the global drug supply. They represent a wish really, a wish that a simple piece of legislation further criminalizing a behavior will solve our crisis, despite decades of data that show us criminalizing legislation actually exacerbates drug use, rather than inhibit it. It is the cause of our overdose crisis, not a solution to it.

To put it simply, we are not going to incarcerate our way out of this crisis.

It is this very criminal justice approach to drug use in our country that has poisoned our drug supply to begin with (not to mention the intergenerational trauma created by mass incarceration and disempowering communities of color). Targeting the

16 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

drug supply and people who use drugs has not resulted in a reduction of drug use, but rather a pivot to a more toxic supply as both production and transport are much easier, as recently highlighted by the Cato Institute. “ That potency is useful for drug smugglers but dangerous to [people who use]. Fentanyl’s potency means hundreds of doses can be smuggled in the tiniest crevices of envelopes, packages, and shipping containers, and neither sufficient manpower nor adequate technology exists to stop it ” asserts the Cato Institute. 1 This is why the NASW, American Public Health Association, 2 the World Health Organization, 3 and even our own National Institute of Health 4 support a public health approach to drug use rather than one driven by the criminal justice system. Most first world countries have already made this evidence-based shift and therefore do not struggle with our Fentanyl crisis.

This overdose crisis is of our own making, and this pending legislation will make it worse. Politicians claim it is an attempt to protect people who use drugs, but they are wrong. Dead wrong. This will greatly exacerbate overdose deaths, further incarcerate people who use drugs—thus separating families and increasing the many harms that our drug war continues to this day to push onto primarily communities of color. Further criminalizing Fentanyl will cause more people to die.

There is Fentanyl in the illicit drug supply. It is everywhere, and it is in everything. It is not uncommon for people who use drugs to not know there is Fentanyl in the drug they are buying, which is why we encourage people to drug check using Fentanyl test strips. Also, people are encouraged to not use drugs alone—this is a safety issue so that other people are available to administer Narcan if needed. As such, it is also common for one person to purchase drugs for a group to use, resulting in possession of larger quantities of the drug secretly laced with Fentanyl.

These bills would incarcerate a person for a decade because they unknowingly were in possession of Fentanyl (a drug put there as a result of our criminal justice approach to drug use. It is literally our laws criminalizing people who use drugs that ultimately resulted in Fentanyl appearing in people’s drug supply).

This law will target most people who use drugs, not the “kingpins” (legislators’ words) trafficking in illegal Fentanyl that they claim to be targeting with this legislation. Let ’s remember a few facts:

FACT: Increased Fentanyl penalties will worsen the

overdose crisis and criminalize the same people who policymakers say deserve care and compassion.

FACT: Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are in

the drug supply because of prohibition policies like the proposed legislation, and these bills

will only make the drug supply more dangerous.

FACT: Increased Fentanyl penalties will fuel racial injustice.

FACT: Drug penalties are already highly enforced in New Jersey, without any gains for residents.

The evidence is clear: harsher penalties like those proposed in S-3096 and S-3325 will increase overdose deaths and decrease people’s opportunities to find support, harm reduction, and recovery that works for them. The opportunity is also clear: New Jersey’s policymakers must set aside failed War on Drugs policies and redouble their efforts to expand a public health approach to drug use. As social workers, we must now use our voices to tell legislators they are getting this one very, very wrong. These bills show a clear lack of understanding of the culture of drug use as well as the poisoned nature of our drug supply.

Together we can let legislators know what a big mistake this bill is. Our partners at the ACLU have created an action alert you can use to tell NJ's legislative leaders that you oppose this bill and asking them to do so, as well. Access the Action Alert here.

References: 1

https://www.cato.org/commentary/how-drug-prohibition-created-fentanyl-crisis

2

https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-

database/2014/07/08/08/04/defining-and-implementing-a-public-health-response-to-druguse-and-misuse 3

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-MVP-EMP-2019.02

4

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424861/

5

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687637.2020.1840515

6

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/what-is-harm-reduction

About the Author: Dr. Sandy Gibson, Ph.D., LCSW, LCADC is Professor and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Counselor Education at The College of New Jersey ( TCNJ). Prior to her time with TCNJ she was a community-based addiction counselor in the Washington, DC area for f ive years, followed by seven years writing addiction-related grants and directing research studies for Temple University, and four years directing her own social research company. She joined the TCNJ Counselor Education faculty in 2011. Dr. Gibson co-directs the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, serving Mercer County community members who are convicted of a DUI. Her current scholarly activities focus on harm reduction strategies to reduce overdose deaths, with a specif ic focus on safe injection rooms, fentanyl testing strip and needle exchange use.

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 17

Addictions

People who use drugs are marginalized and stigmatized in our society, and this creates barriers to their accessing care. In fact, 90% of people who use drugs, do not access medical care. 5 Thankfully, last year New Jersey approved several key pieces of legislation that increase access to harm reduction services, and evidence-based practice that WILL save lives. Naloxone 365, and the syringe decriminalization and access laws are evidence-based and will decrease barriers to access care for people who use drugs.

Research also shows that 80% of people who engage in harm reduction services ultimately use those services to connect to treatment. The pending Fentanyl bills will further stigmatize people who use drugs and cause them to disconnect from life-saving services, including health care and likely even harm reduction services.

The Fentanyl bills will make it more dangerous for people who use drugs. As so poignantly stated by Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor of bioethics, Travis Rieder, “Making an activity more dangerous doesn’t stop people who are committed to engaging in that activity; it just hurts and kills more of them.” 6

Clinical Social Work

Mental Health is Health: Beginning the Discussion with Ourselves and Our Clients

By Jennifer Vazquez, LCSW

“It may be most productive to first acknowledge that mental health is health. Mental illness, on the other hand, is an upset or imbalance of mental health.”

M

ental Health has been a long-standing topic of concern. In fact, we can date the concept of mental health and the human psyche well before Freud, the founding father of psychotherapy, to the times of Renee Descartes and his famous contribution to consciousness, “I think therefore I am.” The search for making sense of our thoughts and emotions, how to manage them and what this means for our place in life is a core part of mental and emotional wellbeing. Fast-forward to modern times and the digital age, post-COVID world, and mental health and mental illness have become quite a trendy topic. However, it often remains misunderstood—the “red headed stepchild” of medicine—leaving for a smudgy and confusing dialogue about mental health and mental illness that is only reinforcing further stigmatization.

Which begs the question: how do we discuss mental health amongst ourselves and our clients?

It may be most productive to first acknowledge that mental health is health. Mental illness, on the other hand, is an upset or imbalance of mental health.

Like our physical health and wellness, mental health is something we manage and strive for. There will be times in which there is a hiccup in our mental health either due to factors out of our control or neglect of the self. For instance, all of us have experienced colds, infections, and the like. Typically,

18 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

we go to a doctor, get the appropriate treatment and our physical health goes back to balance. If we neglect our physical well-being it can result in long term medical illness or chronic disease. For some, long term or chronic medical conditions are due to genetics/family history or just for no good reason at all. Our mental health functions in the same way.

In our lifetimes, each one of us is entitled to episodes of mental health upset, depending upon life experience. Like an unforeseen sinus infection, life happens: divorce, job loss, marriage, child birth, death, bullying…a pandemic. All of these and more can naturally upset our emotional well-being in a way that can create anxiousness, sadness, depression, trauma, or another expected emotional difficulty.

When we cannot manage such emotional difficulty on our own, seeing a therapist for the appropriate treatment may bring us back to homeostasis. Much like seeing the doctor for treatment of an infection, these are acute, expected, and resolvable upsets to mental health. This is not mental illness. If we neglect our needs, these episodes can become pervasive, chronic and like our physical health result in chronic mental health concerns. This is mental illness. Sometimes, mental illness is a matter of biology. Diagnoses like bipolar disorder, OCD, schizophrenia and others are all found to have a genetic component. Finally, just as some cancers or

The best way to manage and maintain good mental health is to start with the basics: how we eat, sleep, and move make a world of difference. Maintaining a routine, engaging in hobbies, and seeing a therapist when “life happens” is a great framework to start with. For episodes of mental illness and chronic mental health issues the aforementioned holds true, but we may want to add the importance of adding a psychiatrist and/or therapist with a specialty in a particular area in order to manage long term or biologically based mental illness. Much like chronic health issues such as diabetes or heart disease require specialty doctors (endocrinologists and cardiologists), mental illness requires the same.

The above discussion presents a much more tempered and relatable way to speak about mental health and mental illness with clients and amongst our peers than the heightened and often extreme discussion we witness online, in the media, and in general popular discourse. Mental health is health

and can be likened to how we manage our physical health. We are all affected by health. This makes for a familiar, relatable place to begin a conversation that remains so unfamiliar to many.

About the Author: Jennifer Vazquez, LCSW has been in practice for 19 years, 15 of which have been in private practice. Her practice is a generalist one, with a specialty area in chronic/terminal disease and grief and bereavement. Jennifer’s goal is to one day have a larger impact on society at large regarding the understanding of mental health and treatment needs of mental health upset and mental illness.

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Clinical Social Work

other medical problems can be a fluke thing that happens without reason, so can mental illness.

Disabilities

Students with Disabilities Must Have Access to Education at all Levels

By Christine Hines, MSW, MS

“Growing up, my family and doctors did not know how much I could achieve; however, through resources and supports, I was able to dash everyone’s concerns and prove my capabilities.”

M

ay 7 was National Barrier Awareness Day, a day dedicated to removing barriers to education for people with disabilities.

As a person born with disabilities, this cause is very close to my heart. It is crucial that children with disabilities are able to access services available to them, so they are able to learn, excel, and thrive. Social workers are crucial in this process as advocates for parents and children to receive the resources they need. I have achieved much in my life, despite the systemic barriers my family and I faced, and others with disabilities deserve this chance, as well.

I was born with a condition called Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which occurs when a pregnant woman contracts German Measles. While the illness is mild for the mother, the baby can potentially be born with a range of disabilities and medical conditions, such as cataracts, hearing loss, heart defects and, in some cases, intellectual disabilities. While some babies have severe effects, my effects were comparatively mild. I am visually impaired (due to not receiving lens implants post cataract removal) and hard of hearing. Additionally, I live with sensory processing issues, mild learning disabilities, and anxiety.

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From an early age, I have faced challenges and barriers in school. Not wanting me to stay home, my parents fought to find an appropriate placement for me when I was little. I was originally placed in a deaf-blind program; when that didn’t work out, they found a school for the “communications handicapped,” which I attended during nursery school and kindergarten. I also attended a summer camp run by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind. It was in these early years that issues beyond my sensory impairments came to light. For example, I engaged in self-stimulation behaviors, such as rocking and moving my hands in front of my eyes as I looked at a light source and threw a tantrum if told to stop. I also often discouraged interaction from others, preferring to be alone.

Starting in first grade, I was placed in the regular public school system with my time split between regular and special education classrooms. My psychoeducational testing (as part of Individualized Education Plan [IEP] development) showed that my academic skills were excellent, sometimes above grade level. However, my social and behavioral issues continued to make the classroom very uncomfortable for me. Many of my classmates took advantage of my extreme distractibility and taunted me by making tapping and clicking noises to which

In one of my proudest moments, one of my professors told me that a paper I’d written on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was publishable.

In October 2006, my paper was incorporated into a Rutgers faculty ’s poster presentation about improving quality of life for people with TBI. When I graduated in 2007, I was selected as one of only six MSW ’s (out of 305) to represent the School of Social Work in the university-wide commencement.

When I reached junior and senior high school, I was mainstreamed with Resource Room support once a day for assistance with schoolwork and to decompress. The higher academic and social demands took some adjustment, which was reflected in my grades, especially in junior high school. As I gained confidence, my grades improved.

Several years after receiving my MSW, I developed an interest in supporting students with disabilities in higher education, largely inspired by my own experiences with disability services. I earned an Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies in 2016 and a Master of Science in Disability Services in Higher Education in 2022.

During my senior year of high school, I was accepted into Georgian Court College (now University), which my family and I selected for its specialized program for students with learning disabilities. The program included meeting with a learning specialist at least once a week for academic advising and assistance with adjusting to the academic and social demands of college. I was also provided with accommodations, such as peer notetakers and the opportunity to take tests and exams at the disability office. With this additional support, I felt more comfortable and confident in the classroom, which allowed me to focus on my studies and to excel. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1995 with a B. A. in Psychology and received several awards for my extracurricular activities.

Growing up, my family and doctors did not know how much I could achieve; they doubted I would be able to handle college or even complete high school. However, through resources and supports, I was able to dash everyone’s concerns and prove my capabilities. Students with disabilities must have access to education at all levels. This means they should be provided with effective tools and support so that they can reach their full potential. I believe that some of the issues I had in K-12 might ’ve been minimized had my vision and hearing impairments been appropriately accommodated. With the right technologies and therapies, I might ’ve been better able to handle the classroom and, thus, able to show my capabilities. Also, K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions need to stay abreast of evolving technologies as well as understand the impacts of ableism and work to eliminate it. This will allow students with disabilities to have the opportunity to pursue their chosen field of study which, in turn, can lead to fulfilling and successful careers.

After graduation, I worked in various volunteer and paid positions doing clerical work. However, my lived experiences inspired a passion for working in the disability field. After taking a couple of graduate-level courses on a non-credit basis, I formally applied to and was accepted into Rutgers University’s Master of Social Work (MSW ) program in 2003. I enjoyed many of my classes and found them intellectually stimulating. My high grades and high regard for my work from professors gave me the confidence that I could indeed handle advanced study. I credit the support I had from the Office of Students with Disabilities and from my professors for implementing the accommodations I needed, such as materials in large print and permission to record class lectures.

About the Author: Christine Hines, MSW, MS, currently works as an instructor for the New Jersey Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Joseph Kohn Training Center. She recently earned a second Masters, an MS in Disability Services in Higher Education f rom the City University of New York. She is particularly passionate about inclusion for students with sensory disabilities.

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I reacted with anger, often causing significant classroom disruptions. This was during a time when special education was relatively new and there wasn’t much guidance on how to design appropriate IEPs for children with social-emotional disabilities.

A few years ago, I came across my mom’s journal entries from that period and I recall how much my heart hurt reading about what my parents went through because of my behavior.

Immigrants & Refugees

Social Work Ethics: Without Water and Land, There Is No Life!

By Sharon White, D. Min, MA, LCSW, LMFT “Social workers have a unique role to help change the public narrative from “blaming the victims” (immigrants) to acknowledging how U.S. policies toward other countries have helped create the very conditions of spiraling poverty and violence from which people are fleeing for their lives.”

I

n December 2022, I engaged a two-week delegation to El Salvador and Honduras, sponsored by the SHARE Foundation and the Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR). I often find myself encouraging political representatives, leaders of religious institutions, social workers, coworkers, and support networks to be advocates for human rights. As a social worker, I am engrained with the ethics of advocating for a just world. I recognize this can only be realized if I am willing to do my part to present the information that I personally witnessed.

Many people in Latin America are struggling with issues that are familiar to people in the United States and throughout the world: the right to preserve human rights, water, and land. While our delegation had a broad scope of experiences as we accompanied many individuals and groups, I continue to be haunted by the devastation I witnessed in the Bajo Aguan region in Honduras. We met with many people living in fear of losing all, as they nonviolently try to defend their water, land, and lives.

If the U.S. government wishes to limit the crisis at our border by helping the people to remain in their homeland, we need to take a serious look at how explicit and complicit we are in causing the immigration crisis. Building walls physically or through bills like H.R. 2 is certainly going to complicate an already broken system. H.R. 2 bans asylum as we know it by increasing restrictions on non-governmental organizations’ efforts to support

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people seeking safety in the U.S., eliminating federal funds for legal representation, and more.

Part of our delegation rode in two pickup trucks over four tributaries of the San Pedro and Guapinol Rivers. Then we climbed to the top of the mountain where there is a beautifully clean waterfall. It should provide enough water for drinking and agriculture.

However, mining companies are preventing the flow of pure water and contaminating it. We listened to the courageous efforts of environmental defenders, members of communities who live along the polluted rivers who resist migrating.

Unjustly jailed for two years, the water defenders continue to try to halt Lenir Pérez’s Inversiones Los Pinares Mining Company from creating an iron oxide mine in the Carlos Escaleras National Park. The mine is an environmental disaster, contaminating the rivers that provide their water, which also drain into the Caribbean Sea. Of course, desperate people who cannot maintain healthy living conditions are certainly going to seek alternative places to live.

We repeatedly heard from people whose lives were threatened. Since we returned to the U.S. in midDecember, we received reports about the murders of nine environmental and land defenders in the Bajo Aguan region. We spent time with their communities and families. One was only 15 years old. Two defenders were murdered simply traveling

The Dinant Corporation continues to violate human rights by displacing families and communities from their land, so that the corporation can profit from palm oil. While trying to negotiate land titles legally acquired in the 1970s, the peasants live with constant intimidation, evictions, and loss of life.

More than 150 laborers have been massacred since 2009. The mining companies’ security guards, the military, the police, and public officials have been actively involved in grave human rights violations.

Harassment, evictions, and assassinations are common in the communities we visited.

U.S. military aid to Honduras is not the answer.

It is a known fact that the U.S. has been training, funding, and arming the Honduran military and police for decades and the human rights situation has not improved. In fact, it has gotten worse. The U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA) in Georgia – later renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation ( WHINSEC) to persuade protesters that SOA was closed – is one of the largest training organizations of military personnel from other nations. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon sponsored a bill calling for the U.S. to stop aid if human rights are being violated.

A human rights defender, Berta Caceres, was murdered because she got an international hydroelectric corporation to back out of a contract that would destroy the land and poison the river.

Among her killers were government officials and a graduate of SOA/WHINSEC. I found it impossible to return to the United States after the delegation and simply live life with blinders, realizing that when we went to El Salvador, the State of Exception (suspension of Habeas Corpus) was in place. More than 60,000 people have already been arrested without access to due process, lawyers, or family. The day we arrived in Honduras, the same State of Exception went into effect. This process leads advocates to fear reprisal, minimizing freedom to advocate for basic human rights.

As Social Workers we commit to living six ethical principles based on the core values of our social work profession: •

Serve people in need and work to address social problems.

•

Challenge social injustice and work for social change on behalf of oppressed people.

•

Be respectful of every person and mindful of cultural and ethnic diversity.

•

Recognize and value the importance of human relationships, and work to strengthen these relationships to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities.

•

Serve with integrity, be trustworthy and uphold the profession's mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards.

•

Practice within areas of competence, continuously develop professional knowledge and expertise, and contribute to the knowledge of the profession.

Given how much immigration (and the US-Mexico border) is in the news, social workers have a unique role to help change the public narrative from “blaming the victims” (immigrants) to acknowledging how U.S. policies toward other countries have helped create the very conditions of spiraling poverty and violence from which people are fleeing for their lives. In addition to funding militaries that repressed social movements in Central America, U.S. policy continues to prioritize business interests, including corporations engaged in extractives production and labor rights violations. Let us keep learning more about the root causes driving forced migration, become more effective advocates, and lend solidarity to inspiring communities working to defend their environment. Consider joining the “Struggle, Solidarity and Hope Delegation” to Honduras from September 10-18, 2023. Details on SHARE’S website.

About the Author: Sharon White D. Min, MA, LCSW, LMFT is passionate about addressing human rights violations.

Her relationships and experiences in Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and working at the border has heightened Sharon’s passion for advocating for the marginalized. She opens doors for others to join in solidarity with the oppressed at home and in Latin America, especially with those who struggle to preserve land and water.

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to their homes after a meeting. Blatant propaganda stated the two men were robbed and killed. Yet their cell phones, wallets, and money were left with the bodies. Murderers broke into a home and killed one defender and his father-in-law. Mauricio Esquivel, a member of the Tranvio Farm Cooperative and father of nine, was murdered. His life was dedicated to saving the land in the Aguán Valley, Honduras, so the community could farm their land.

Social Work Education

Creating Unique Learning Opportunities for Social Work Students

By Resia Cooper, MSW

“Conferences and programs that keep students in mind as they prepare and plan their events bring a new level of inclusivity to the profession and bridge the gap between social work education and the professional journey.”

T

The student summit was one of the highlights of my college experience!

It was empowering and informative and made me eager to attend future events! I appreciated networking, professional advice, and the learning experience.

I was able to sign up at just the last second thanks to the help of staff, and I'm so glad I was able to join.

”

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his year, I had the pleasure of organizing the third annual NASW-NJ Student Summit as part of our chapter’s Annual Conference. Although this was our third annual student summit, it was the first ever in-person experience, due to the COVID pandemic. The Student Summit allowed us to showcase the campus-tocareer initiative that is so important to our chapter and our association. At the New Jersey Chapter, we have found so much value in curating a space for social work students to experience the valuable additional learning and networking needed to prepare them to become the future leaders of our profession.

The Student Summit was a time for students to hear from dynamic speakers in the social work profession and learn about the importance of their professional brand and the career pathways available in the

social work profession. It was the perfect time to bring both licensed and unlicensed social workers from various areas of practice to discuss their journeys to success with students. I owe a debt of gratitude to our Student Summit Sponsor, Ramapo College of New Jersey, for helping us to provide this space for our students.

Social work is a profession that requires continuous learning, growth, and engagement, particularly during the current evolutions we are seeing in the field. From clinical social work to the many non-traditional roles within the profession, we owe it to our students to hold space for conversations that paint a picture of flexibility, adaptability, and an often nonlinear professional experience.

Conferences and programs that keep students in mind as they prepare and plan their events bring a new level of inclusivity to the profession and bridge the gap between social work

”

This opportunity offered invaluable experience, networking possibilities, and exposure to current issues and innovations within our profession. I share this article to highlight the commitment NASW-NJ has to our student members and urge other chapters, agencies, and social work conferences to not merely offer a student rate for programs and conferences, but to create a track that speaks to social work students right where they are.

If we expect social workers to commit to continual learning, we should expose students to the same culture of knowledge expansion. Conferences serve as a hub where students can gain access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Whether on their BSW, MSW, or DSW journey, our student summit had something for everyone. From the programs to our exclusive private leadership breakfast, social work students were left empowered, connected, and ready to continue their journey into the social work profession.

We can proudly say our student summit attendees gained exposure to cuttingedge research, evidence-based interventions, and emerging trends in social work practice.

From our “what's in a license” discussion, to reproductive justice and psychedelic-assisted therapy panels, and even our Arts & Social Work event with screen write Nathan Jackson and Dr. Helena Lewis, this moment in history forever shaped how they imagine our profession and their future in it.

I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the peer connections that occur at conferences, leading to meaningful conversations, supportive chats, and making new friends to enrich the academic journey. Our Student Summit welcomed students from educational institutions across New Jersey, including: Ramapo College, Ocean County College, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Monmouth University, creating new networks and connections for students to explore as they grow their careers.

Social work is a diverse field with many specializations and practice areas. Our career development lab at the Student Summit allowed attendees to enhance their

professional skills and map out their career development plans.

This year we also had student poster presentations, allowing students a chance to present their research projects, demonstrating that even as students, they can make valuable contributions to our profession.

Conferences and programs tailored for social work students provide many benefits that contribute to their education and professional growth. By expanding their knowledge, fostering networking opportunities, developing skills, exposing them to specializations, and inspiring their passion, events like the NASW-NJ Student Summit and our monthly student programs are pivotal in preparing students to become competent and compassionate social workers.

The experiences gained by attending conferences and programs enhance students’ academic journeys and contribute to their ability to create positive changes in individuals, families, and communities they serve.

Creating these opportunities is a significant investment in the future of social work and the well-being of those in need.

About the Author: The student summit exceeded my expectations. This was my first time at a social work conference, and I am excited to attend others.

”

Resia Cooper, MSW, is the Engagement Coordinator for NASW-NJ and NASW-DE. She is a graduate of Fordham University and a former NASW-NJ intern. She is passionate about working with social work students and creating unique opportunities for them to grow and thrive in the early stages of their social work careers.

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Social Work Education

education and the professional journey. Our student summit was designed for social work students to play a crucial role in their educational journey and professional development by investing in their future.

”

NJIMHC New Jersey Integrated Mental Health Conference

Integrated Care for a Disintegrated World

Earn Up to 6 CEUs

June 22, 2023 Brookdale Community College 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

16 Speakers

2 Keynote Sessions

9 Workshops

NJIMHC is a one-day conference filled with thought-provoking speakers, engaging panel discussions, and immersive workshops designed to inspire critical conversations and take a deep-dive into exploring collaboration between psychiatry, psychotherapy, and mind-body modalities to effectively treat the mental wellbeing of patients.

For more info or to register visit njimhc.com

Conference Partners

26 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023 njimhc.com

NJIMHC

info@njimhc.com

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 27

Student Center

Representation Matters: Achieving the Immigrant Dream

By Ausirys Alviz, MSW, LCSW, Doctoral Candidate at Monmouth University

A

s a first-generation Native Afro-Colombian and a licensed clinical social worker, my journey towards a career in social work has been shaped by personal first-generation immigrant experiences. Growing up in Colombia and migrating to the Unites States with a brother and single mother, I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by impoverished communities and the impact that systemic inequality and injustice can have on individuals and families. As a result, my family ’s migration to the United States quickly helped me understand that I had to develop a sense of community, and resilience to determine my own future. I could never have imagined that a little migrant Colombian girl would one day own her own private practice and pursue a doctoral degree by age 28. However, what made this possible for me was the presence and aid of social workers in my schools, community, churches, and community organizations. Surrounded by social workers, I was able to develop a deep desire to give back and help those who are most in need and to use my education and skills to give back to communities.

This desire led me to pursue a career in social work, where I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. As a first-generation immigrant student, I faced many challenges along the way.

One of the biggest challenges was navigating a new language and acculturating to a different culture while trying to keep intact my native culture.

This duality was a beautiful yet complicated—and at times lonely—reality. I had to learn to adapt

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to new environments and continue to find spaces representative of me, so I felt more included and so that my successes felt welcomed. As a social worker, I developed awareness that my experiences in life as a first-generation brown Latina are needed in our field, so that the field has representative, culturally sensitive, and aware workers with unique and varied experiences and abilities to assist the many diverse populations we serve. My personal experiences have taught me the importance of being culturally assertive and approaching each client with empathy, respect, and understanding.

As a licensed social worker, I also grew to understand the multifaceted difficulties people like me face in our profession due to burn out, isolation, and lack of access for other Latinos and migrants—making bilingual social work even more challenging. While my passion to work in the nonprofit and public sector persists, I realize that there are many barriers that overwhelm bilingual workers, including low wages and poor systemic support, among other things. I realized I needed to create my own space where I could clinically practice but also become involved in macro social work.

I understood very quickly that when spaces are not created for people like me, I must be the one to create those spaces for people like me to succeed.

Therefore, I chose to start my own private practice where I specialize in culturally assertive, traumainformed, eco-therapeutic, and holistic approaches

Additionally, I joined a human rights doctoral program through Monmouth University because I realize the privatization of social services is not the sole solution to healing intergenerational trauma.

My hope in this doctoral program is twofold. First, I am making my immigrant dream a reality: to defy statistical misfortune for women like me and become a healing business owner who will hire equitably in the future, while also helping shape leadership positions with Latine representation within social work. The Monmouth University Human Rights doctoral program helps me develop practical skills for making a difference in the world and expand my knowledge of global human rights issues. Through this program, I have been able to delve deeper into the complexities of human rights violations and understand how social work can be a tool for creating more equitable and just societies.

For instance, at this time I have become an executive board member of A Better Life Guatemala, a non-profit organization focusing on human rights and social justice issues in Guatemala. Here I am able to advocate for marginalized communities and promote social change. Through my involvement, I have gained practical skills in advocacy and community engagement and continue to gain invaluable international social work skills.

In the future, I hope to continue making a positive impact in the world by advocating for marginalized communities, promoting social change, and becoming a leader in the social justice field. My goal is to be the representation we need in the world to bring about a more human and equitable society.

In conclusion, my journey towards a career in social work has been shaped by personal experiences, challenges, and unique opportunities.

As a first-generation immigrant and student, I am committed to using my education and skills to give back to communities and make a positive difference in the world. I hope to inspire others to pursue a career in social work and advocate for social change.

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towards healing. Here I continue to train myself in diverse ways to create safe spaces for healing for diverse populations, both insured or on a probono basis; I explore therapeutic modalities like ecotherapy and psychedelic assisted therapy for the promotion of access to all service to BIPOC populations. The mission is to promote the power of strengths-based, trauma-focused, and personcentered therapy.

Student Center

I Am a Social Worker and Change Agent.

Here’s Why.

By Latonya Johnson, BSW Student Rutgers University School of Social Work, Class of 2024

A

passion for helping others become the best version of themselves: this is what has inspired me to pursue a career in social work. I have a strong desire to raise awareness of and help people utilize pertinent resources that will allow them to grow and succeed; a desire to fight against social injustice and ensure that the dignity and worth of each person are upheld.

As a Black woman, I’ve faced challenges and have experienced discrimination, microaggressions, and limitations due to my historically marginalized and oppressed background. As a teen mother, I struggled with a lack of self-worth, adequate guidance, and alternative after-school programs. My mother was advised by the school administration that I should attend an alternative school, because I was viewed as a “bad example” to others. I endured disparaging comments from school staff, because of my teen parent status. I was a recipient of SNAP benefits and experienced first-hand the stigma and bias associated with enrolling in welfare.

Like many others, I also have family members who suffered from substance use disorders. Sadly, I lost my sister to the disease of addiction. People with addictive disorders have long-lasting struggles and experience many negative ramifications, such as

30 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

family problems, financial struggles, employment issues, and legal matters. Tragically, those experiencing substance use disorders are often treated with disregard and stigmatized for their struggles. After my sister died from a drug overdose, I recall overhearing the demeaning comments from staff as I viewed her lifeless body. They treated her as less than human.

As a pregnant teen, I also became aware of the racial disparities indicating that as a Black woman, I was three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. I recall preparing for my cesarean delivery and inquiring about this maternal health crisis among Black women. I was sadly advised by my doctor that the data reported in the news was, in fact, correct. This unfathomable revelation aroused my passion to pursue research and become a change agent to ensure everyone receives equal access to healthcare and other life -saving resources, and that everyone is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

These issues drive my passion, because what I have learned over time, is that my experiences were not unique to me. Lack of awareness of the resources available to improve one’s standing in life is quite common, particularly in marginalized communities. This prevents people from obtaining quality healthcare, education, housing, employment, economic resources, and more. It prevents people from thriving and becoming the best person they can be.

The sum of these life experiences I reflect upon— my teenage pregnancy, being a SNAP recipient, maternal health disparities, and having family members suffering from substance use disorders— primed my passion for social work. I made a pledge to myself, that in all situations, I will uphold the value and worth of a person and exhaust every possibility to assist them in becoming the best possible version of themselves, regardless of their class, race, education, and economic background.

One step in this process was obtaining my Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license, so I could assist those impacted by the negative intersecting variables of substance abuse. Through this work, I have been exposed to clients from underrepresented communities—young, middle -aged, seniors, abuse survivors, veterans, DCP&P clients, and drug court clients. Although these individuals come from different backgrounds, all disclosed they had

experienced significant trauma and felt the system had failed them to a degree. Being exposed as a professional to the long-lasting detrimental effects of substance abuse and gaining an understanding of the importance of helping “the whole person” further contributed to my passion to become a social worker.

As I continue my social work career and education, I plan to learn and practice case and cause advocacy, case management, and explore macro social work skills. Case advocacy is imperative as it relates to helping others and advancing a person’s well-being through obtaining resources. Cause advocacy, which pertains to assisting larger entities such as organizations and/or groups to advocate for change, is crucial as well. Meanwhile, case management is vital too, as it directs us to help the whole person, assess the client’s needs, plan steps to combat the problem, monitor the client, and then follow their progress.

Lastly, macro social work is critical to creating lasting, systemic change for under-resourced and under-privileged communities. As such, I would like to grow my knowledge of legislative advocacy and learn how policies and laws that impact people’s lives can be improved. It’s imperative to be aware of how state legislation is created and enforced, as the laws pertaining to education, health care, substance abuse, incarceration, child welfare, etc., authorize the release of resources people need to thrive and ultimately create the blueprint for how we can serve our clients and help them become the best version of themselves they can be.

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This lack of exposure to and access to available resources often stems from structural and institutional racism, limiting equal opportunities for minoritized groups and creating a detrimental domino effect across various aspects of their lives. In the Fall of 2022, I was fortunate to take an amazing class in my BSW program, entitled, “Confronting Anti-Black Racism,” which was the most insightful, thoughtprovoking class I have ever attended. I learned a great deal of information related to structural and institutional racism, the importance of liberatory consciousness, and how fighting against social injustice is the foundation of social work.

Student Center

Breaking Barriers to Successful Re-entry

By Rebecca Mohr, BSW Student, Monmouth University, Class of 2024

I

n January of 2023, I started my internship experience with New Jersey Together (NJT), a broad-based, non-partisan and nonprofit community organizing coalition that works on a variety of social issues in New Jersey, including but not limited to: education, housing, and criminal justice. My time at NJT has offered valuable opportunities to grow my professional skills and learn a great deal about the process of community organizing.

One of the projects I am most proud to be a part of at NJT is their work on fines, fees, and outstanding warrants within the criminal justice system. Due to NJT’s advocacy efforts, positive progress has been made towards eliminating these issues, but much more work is still warranted.

Individuals who experience incarceration are charged fines and/or fees for their stays at correctional facilities. Charges are based on costs for their confinement and care, monitoring devices and structures, jail processing fees, legal proceedings, probation and parole, child

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support obligations, and even the provisions that are constitutionally free services like public defenders and jury trials. NPR and NYU's Brennan Center for Justice and the National Center for State Courts’ 2014 nationwide survey found that many constitutionally required services are financially billed to defendants, and that with the exception of Alaska, the District of Columbia, and North Dakota, civil and/or criminal fees have increased since 2010 in the United States.1 Fines and fees get charged at every stage of the criminal justice system, from arrest and legal processing to incarceration and probation. To compound this, incarcerated people have difficulty paying outstanding tickets due to a variety of reasons: centsper-hour wages for work inside facilities, no outside source of money, inability to get a court date, or even because they simply were unaware of outstanding charges. These charges only grow with interest over long periods of time, most harshly impacting the poorest Americans ensnared in the

criminal legal system, who were already struggling to afford living costs, especially when jail is the consequence of outstanding and unpaid monetary charges.

In some cases, defendants are not made aware of charged fines, fees, and warrants, and serve unrelated correctional sentences without a court hearing on all of the defendant’s charges. Thus, upon release from a correctional facility, they are overwhelmed by old and unresolved penalties on top of new charges billed post-incarceration.

Legal resolutions to all charges and warrants prior to conviction, or at the least release from incarceration, would go a long way in preventing unnecessary burdens and barriers.

These fines and fees are often charged under prosecutorial discretion, and are almost always highly problematic and counterproductive to one’s successful re -entry to society.

Convicted felons are legally discriminated against in the job market, leaving only the lowest paying jobs left available to

Fines, fees, and outstanding warrants are just part of the many structural barriers to successful re -entry for Americans with criminal records. NJT’s work has advocated for the destruction of such barriers in a mission for a more just and equal society. At a public action on March 15 held

by NJT on this effort, the coalition secured commitment and support

from New Jersey ’s Hudson County government officials to reduce and eventually eliminate this issue. The event also featured testimonies from justice impacted individuals with direct experience on this issue. A variety of speakers and leaders from various organizations and projects from Hudson, Essex, and Morris County volunteered their experiences, support, and energy towards solutions.

It was determined by the group that one major facet of this campaign’s success is awareness and the availability of Request For Relief forms inside correctional facilities that will help people secure a court date so that a judge may hear and resolve cases of outstanding fines, fees, and warrants. Getting in front of a judge is pivotal to so many of these cases, many of which have been persistent burdens over justice involved people. Judges have the legal power to grant relief, vacate penalties, or establish alternative restitutions for the charge(s) and/

or warrant(s), likely in the form of incarceration or community service. Hudson County officials at the event made commitments to seeing these request forms made widely available throughout the county ’s facilities.

I am proud to announce NJT’s national leadership on this campaign is having more success than anywhere else in the nation.

But the work is far from done.

Legislation is still needed to eliminate mandatory minimum fines and fees, where judges’ power is limited by law. Removing the mandatory aspect will return discretion to the judge and the court systems who ensure justice and fairness is served. Momentum is building in Hudson County, New Jersey, but we must not stop here. Next, we look to break these barriers statewide!

References: 1

https://www.npr. org/2014/05/19/312455680/state -by-state court-fees

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them. Additionally, they are disenfranchised from social welfare programs including those providing relief and assistance in human rights fulfillment (e.g., shelter, nutrition, monetary loans). On top of this, these individuals are saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of debt, making a living wage near impossible to achieve. These structures define the system that encourages a soaring recidivism rate, where individuals who are convicted of crimes are left with no other real option than to return to crime just to survive and make ends meet for their families.

Student Center

A Healer’s Journey

By Tatyana Ikhelson, Rutgers University Newark, BSW Class of 2023

I

f some local fortune teller were to tell me just three years ago that in May 2023 I would be graduating with honors from Rutgers University, I would roll my eyes into another dimension and demand my money back. Seriously, who in their right mind would start all over at the age of fortyfive? After all, I am a responsible, reasonable and, most importantly, realistic woman who dedicated her life to raising three kids while “entertaining” herself with a full-time job and domestic duties. My life was like a non-stop merry-go-round, but stable and predictable.

The COVID pandemic changed lives and priorities.

In June of 2020, after being laid-off due to downsizing, I took on the role of a single, jobless mother of three with an elderly parent and two cats. Something was telling me that no knight in shining armor would consider such company, thus it was up to me to polish my own armor and set about rescuing myself.

I had to figure out what and who this world needed the most, as well as what I most needed. Eventually, after considering its usefulness and dimensionality, I settled on social work as a new career path. After a few additional classes at county college, I was able to transfer my rusty and dusty credits from 2 decades ago to Rutgers University in Newark.

Right away, I was sucked into the forgotten world

34 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

of learning and studying. Slowly but surely, I started to appreciate the knowledge that was being provided to me and the sensation of becoming smarter with every day of schooling. From insecure and devastated middle -aged woman, I was transforming into an educated and confident individual with a visible and guaranteed future.

The life stories of professors who made their way from homeless shelters, welfare, and teenage pregnancies to PhDs and LCSWs inspired me on a new level. I saw their life struggles from a unique perspective, the perspective of an adult person with her own challenges and disappointments. Each of those stories gave me hope and encouragement to keep going, to fight for my future, to believe in myself. And I did my best to belong with them.

I was in the middle of my BSW education when my world fell apart again. On February 24, 2022, the Russian war in Ukraine knocked me off my feet and almost stopped my progress altogether.

The worry and fear for my family back home was so unbearable that I could not concentrate on anything except the horrific news that was pouring in from every direction. The subject of my education became extremely insignificant in comparison to the events my family was experiencing in Ukraine.

I felt hopeless and helpless by the inability to help my people in any way. Physically, I was present in classes, but mentally I was back home with my family hiding in bomb shelters.

My internship in a family service agency at this time was also a challenge. As a professional with numerous years of work experience, I immediately

Student Center

noticed every detail that required attention.

It was almost impossible to separate my own life from the clients’ due to my strong empathic response to their struggles as they related to my previous parenting experience. I saw people whose lives were affected by racism, underfunding, and systemic inequality. The words “If you see something, do something!” frequently repeated to us by my most favorite teacher, kept ringing in my head. I went through all the developmental stages of a social work intern, from honeymoon to disillusionment, secondary trauma, and frustration, to finally arrive at remembering my mission: to make this world a better place.

Ask my kids what their mom’s most favorite phrase is, and they would unanimously reply: “Everything happens for a reason.” I was blessed with the most wonderful field instructor who helped me realize there was a reason for me to end up at Rutgers and in this field. Truly, I can help my own people and those around me by learning how to ease their emotional and psychological pain. Field supervision aided me through the darkest days of my life and helped me comprehend that I was always destined to be a healer. It took me longer than most to get here, but I did find my way.

A few days ago, I received the Academic Excellence in Social Work award from Rutgers University Newark and now eagerly anticipate the start of the advanced standing MSW with certification in violence and trauma. I solemnly swear to make it through the finish line for those who can benefit from my healing skills and join hands with professionals who make a difference in the lives of others!

For my MSW internship I am hoping to work for an agency that helps Ukrainian refugees who were forced to flee their country. I believe my cultural background, as well as my knowledge of both the Russian and Ukrainian languages, will become an invaluable asset in support of my people in this foreign land. And once I become a fully trained professional, I will use my newly gained knowledge and skills to ease their emotional trauma and struggles and return back to normal life after the war.

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 35

It’s Quick and Easy for Patients to Get Started:

36 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

Typical Mental Health Issues We Treat

Anxiety Depression Trauma, racial trauma Substance use disorder Family/parenting issues Grief and loss Child psychiatry LGBTQIA+ Issues And more!

Most Major Insurances Accepted in New Jersey

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

R

utgers School of Social Work has proudly partnered with NASW-NJ for decades, providing valuable resources and unbeatable opportunities for students as they progress on their journey in school and beyond.

Each year, Rutgers School of Social Work sponsors NASW-NJ’s Legislative Education & Advocacy Day (LEAD), an event bringing together hundreds of social work students and professionals from across the state to the capital of Trenton. LEAD is designed to further social workers’ knowledge of the legislative process, grassroots advocacy, and major current statewide policy initiatives.

Students hear from an array of passionate speakers, including elected officials, community organizers, and advocates, about some of the most pressing problems facing society today.

Rutgers School of Social Work recognizes that now, more than ever, it’s important for social workers to have a seat at the table on discussions around policy and advocacy.

Social workers can do so much in addition to clinical practice. Having a grounding in macro social work in addition to clinical social work allows students to do important work like developing programs and policies that can help greater numbers of people. They can craft policies and manage programs on a broad scale and enhance the well-being of many vulnerable populations.

And understanding policy is essential to becoming leaders of organizations, managing the many challenges presented in the world of human services.

After students graduate from Rutgers School of Social Work, and with their knowledge of macro social work, they go on to serve in a variety of leadership levels in both the public and private sector in jobs that range from fighting homelessness to supporting environmental justice. They can also enhance their clinical efforts with and on behalf of their clients by engaging in electoral politics and public policy discussion. At Rutgers School of Social Work, alumni become professionals who create and manage agencies to deliver high-quality and easily accessible services effectively.

Rutgers School of Social Work is here to support students along their journey to a career in social work. As one of the largest, highest regarded, and most diverse schools of social work in the country, Rutgers can help advance you to where you want to be in your career. The Management and Policy specialization is available to most MSW students and is designed to build and enhance knowledge, skills, and competencies of current and future leaders of nonprofit and public service organizations.

Rutgers School of Social Work also offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with a social work major, MSW degree with a clinical specialization, DSW, Ph.D. and continuing education programs at each of Rutgers’ three campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden.

Learn more about Rutgers School of Social Work’s programs at socialwork.rutgers.edu.

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 37

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!

38 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

TO YOUR NETWORK FOR SOCIAL WORK BEST PRACTICES & COMMUNITY We've welcomed more than 190 new NASW members to our Chapter since February 2023. 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 Itati Fairouz Christen Alyssa Jasmine Janet Khirstie Jacqueline Parand Alexandra Lisbette Morgan Joann Ksenia Brittany Mary Allison Franny Barbara Cynthia Kiana Jordan

Aburto Alhalabi Arena Beni-Shore Buggs Collazo Diaz Diaz Ghobadi Gioffre Gonzales Jackson Joseph Krivor Levario Mandap Maury Perez-Reynoso Pujols Schmitzer Smith Vozeh

ESSEX Martine Angela Michael Joana Ariel Alia Naja Nichola Chelsea Quandra Jannette Marie-Ange Mary Alyssa Yuritza Melanie Heather Alissa Rosalyn Rita Renice

Acanfora Acevedo Andrews Bastos Batista Berry Houston Johnson McCluskey Milton Mitchell Montas Olagadeyo Orlando Pascal Rodrigues Roman Sanzone Soto Tamakloe Wiley-Holmes

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 39

MEMBER CONNECT

New Members...

MEMBER CONNECT

NEW MEMBERS (CONT.) HUDSON Nesrean Tiffany Adrian Lisa Kyle Kimarie Grace Deborah Nora Perry Stephanie Trevor Suley Franya Gabriel Araceli

Abuhadba Brown Diaz Farkas Kalski Knowles Matta Max McCormick Minella Munoz Palmer Perez Rodriguez Tapia Trevino

UNION Diomaris Sean Deborah Julia Alexa Monique Marissa Amanda Ritai Erick Ifeoma Rose Stephanie

Guzman Hudson Jean Kelly Longano Mars-Caesar Mastrocola Maxwell Mirabell Morey Nwafor Pratt Quito

NORTHWEST REGIONAL UNIT

SOMERSET/HUNTERDON Sophia Serge Richard Stacie Paola Jennifer Laura Michael Lauren Elizabeth

Alexis Anderson Auletta Elfo Benitez- Marquez Gomez-Hernandez Peoples Rivera Skrabal Thompson

CENTRAL REGIONAL UNIT MIDDLESEX Shira Dana Selena Bassirou Olivette Nicole Isabella Leila Jillian Rachel Alexa Kiah Lionel Alexandra Jessica Dori Rosa Jeongone Hannah Erica Dana

Blain Criscuolo Dieterman Drame Forster-Rosario Freed Godish Gonzales Hanna John Kowalski Lattimer McPherson Mussman Rodriguez Sabik Sanchez Seo Sontag Taveras Zarrillo

MORRIS Chukwuebizie Jennifer Jessica Nicholas Leslie Brandon Jennifer Jessica Tina David Christine Juliane

Anuamadi Bronsnick Brunner Cilenti Colon Dill Hughes Kluge McCabe Pridmore Taglienti Thompson

40 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

MONMOUTH/OCEAN Tatiana Andrea Kurstin Abigael Amilia Rachel Lindsey Richard Donna

Adamczyk Barajas Collins Coughlin Cirillo Geller George Hager Hickman

Laura Brinley Arely Aileen Nicole Catherine Brandi Jessica Kieran Ashton Christina Kamary Shanti Madison

Imbriale Kaston Lazaro Lindenthal Lowry Margel Moran Nash Nagle Patterson Rivera Serrano Shah Thomas-Bransky

r

MERCER/BURLINGTON Emily Morgan June Lisa Melanie Conrad Jessie Chennell Julia Alissia Swati Michele Rayshawn Alyssa Denise Jaya Jamie Janet Leila Claudia Lezley

Bell Bestwick Boston Caroselli Costa Fountaine Gage Gardiner Henninger Holliman-Neal Iyengar Keyes Ledet Liptak Mozitis Russell Santopietro Smith-Cook Straffi Torrez Turnbull

SOUTH REGIONAL UNIT CAMDEN/GLOUCESTER/SALEM Melissa Beatrice Shakema Ginene

Baldwin Durham Gibson Hammer

CAMDEN/GLOUCESTER/SALEM Soveira Faith Tyrelle Andrea Sharon January Amy Elizabeth Demetrius Steven Vickie Toya Rebekah

Hernandez Johnson Knight Leach Mast Nale Patterson Pongia Robinson Rowe Wilde Williams Worth

ATLANTIC/CAPE MAY/ CUMBERLAND Joe Douglas Darline Arthur Calli Kelly Monica Shakira Stephanie Unika Virginia Michael Heather Kelsey Kassidy

Accardi Deane Desamours Levin Votta Schaffer Magner Bell Lee Thomas Lewis Anderson Bense Hammer Lechner

Thanks for Being a Member!

MONMOUTH/OCEAN

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 41

MEMBER CONNECT

NEW MEMBERS (CONT.)

MEMBER CONNECT

s u e C e e r F for

U O Y

NASW members can earn CEUs this summer while relaxing at the beach or park! Just print the articles we've selected and take them with you to read at your leisure!

This month we've selected two articles you can read for your free CEU opportunity. Combined, it should take you about 110-120 minutes to read the articles and complete the brief post-test.

Upon completion of both articles you will receive 2 Social/Cultural Competence Continuing Education Credits.

You must read both articles to earn credit, You will not receive credit for reading only one article.

To earn your 2 FREE Social/Cultural Competence CEUs, read the following two articles and then complete the post-test.

Berrett-Abebe, J., Reed, S.C., & Burrell Storms, S. Counternarratives: An Antiracist Approach in Social Work Education, Practice, and Research.

Social Work, Volume 68, Issue 2, April 2023, Pages 122-130.

Bochicchio, L., Carmichael, A.J., Veldhuis, C., & Stefancic, A. What We Lose When We “Don’t Say Gay”: Generational Shifts in Sexual Identity and Gender. Social Work, Volume 68, Issue 2, April 2023, Pages 159-165.

You can access the articles and post-test at: https://naswnj.socialworkers.org/Membership/ NJ-Member-Freebies. You will need your member ID and password to access this page.

So, print out those articles, unplug from your computer, settle down with your favorite cold beverage and spend some quiet time offline. Happy reading!!

42 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

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.

MELISSA DONAHUE, DSW, LCSW, CST, CST-S... received her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) degree from Rutgers University in May 2023.

Melissa’s area of focus has been vaginismus, focusing on the patients’ lived experiences and the doctors who treat them. Her research has been cultivated into a multi-media project, which you can view here www.vaginismushealth.com.

TERRY LYONS, JD, MSW... has been selected to the 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists. Lawyers recognized on the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists are nominated by other attorneys who practice law in the same state.

ANTHONY NICOTERA , JD, DSW, LCSW... will give the keynote address at this year’s Culture Connections Annual Conference on Thursday, June 7 at Montclair State University. The title of his address is “Revolutionary Love & Healing Resistance: From the Cycle of Socialization to Liberation and Justice.”

PHYLIS PE TERMAN, PH.D., LCSW... has been selected by the New Jersey Association of Black Social Workers as the recipient of their 2023 Educators Award.

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 43

MEMBER CONNECT

MEMBER NEWS

PROVIDING THE SKILLS TO GET AHEAD

44 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

(1 CEU) Live Webinar: Prescription Opioid Misuse and Dependence in New Jersey Wednesday, June 7, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT Register

(4 CEUs) Advanced Clinical Supervision Course Friday, June 9, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT Register

(2 CEUs) Introduction to Brain Injury: A Silent Epidemic Tuesday, June 13, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Register

(20 CEUs) Clinical Supervision Course (June SOLD OUT) June 16, 17 and 18 from 9:00 AM - 2:30PM EDT

(3 CE) Clinical Social Work with LGBTQ+ Clients Friday, June 23 · 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT Register

(10 CEUs) Advance Care Planning Certificate Thursday, June 29 · 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT Register

(20 CEUs) Advanced Trauma Training Certificate Program July 12, 19, 26, and August 16 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Register

(20 CEUs) Clinical Supervision Course (August) August 7, 8, and 9, 9:00 AM - 2:30 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

NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 45

4 CEU LIVE WEBINAR

Advanced Clinical Supervision Course Friday, June 9 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EDT

Register at naswnj.org 46 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

20 CEU PROGRAM

Advanced Trauma Training Certificate Program July 12, 19, 26 & August 16

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT There are 4 hours of offline work that will need to be completed for you to receive your certificate.

Price:

Regular Rate - $450 Member Rate- $300 (Members save over 33%!)

>> Register at naswnj.org NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 47

ADVERTISING

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

Digital delivery

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.

48 48||NJFOCUS NJFOCUS•Summer • Summer2023 2023

VIBES.

THAT SPEAK

LOUDLY

Shop NASW-NJ Merch.

Featuring new designs from our 2023 Annual Conference!

SHOP NOW AT NASWNJ.ORG NJFOCUS • Summer 2023 | 49

10 CEU PROGRAM

ADVANCED

CARE

PLANNING

Certificate Program

THURSDAY, JUNE 29 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM PLEASE COMPLETE THE READING AND ON-DEMAND PORTIONS BEFORE THIS DATE. The three-part program includes: 2 CEU hours of pre-foundational reading, 4 CEU hours On-Demand videos and 4 CEU hours of live instruction

Price: Regular Rate - $325 Member Rate - $225 (Members save over 30%!)

50 | NJFOCUS •Summer 2023

Presented with

REGISTER AT NASWNJ.ORG