Social Work Student Association
Issue 9:March 27, 2013
A student led organization focused on developing an environment that fosters positive relationships between students, faculty, and staff of the College of Social Work at USC within the broader South Carolina community.
Happy Social Work Month! March is Social Work Month! The theme for this month is “Weaving Threads of Resilience and Advocacy: The Power of Social Work.” Even though the month is almost over there is still time for you to celebrate! Here are some ideas from the NASW Website. You can click HERE to check out suggestions on how to celebrate Social Workers the whole year!
Congratulations Nola Burnette Laura Schader Jordan Todaro & Daniel Widner on passing the licensure! Passed the licensure? Email schrenka@email.sc.edu
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Attend a NASW Chapter Lobby Day event. Start a petition about an issue. Volunteer for an election campaign. Run for public office at the local, state or national level. Present social work issues to the state legislature. Invite elected officials to speak to a social work group. Send a letter to national lawmakers through SocialWorkers.org. Advocate for the passage of the Social Work Reinvestment Act. Write a policy issue brief from the social work perspective. Join a nonprofit, corporate or public board of directors.
Friday, April 5 MSW Volunteer VA Nursing Home o
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Saturday, April 6 MSW Volunteer Welcome House o
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12:00 – 1:00pm in Sumwalt 338
Friday, April 12 Child Abuse Prevention Month Event o
4:30 at 1731: Planting Pinwheel Garden
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5:00 Social with child welfare professionals
Columbia International Festival o
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Email matthewjay.wilkie@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 9 & Wednesday, April 10 Amanda Martin Guest Speaker o
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Email matthewjay.wilkie@gmail.com
April 13 & 14 at Columbia Fairgrounds
Friday, May 10 Hooding Ceremony o
10:00am at Columbia Metro. Convention Center
Issue 9: March 27, 2013
Faculty Facts: Dr. Ronald Pitner Where are you from? Cleveland, TN Area of interest? My research interests are broadly defined in terms of culture and social cognition, youth violence, community violence, youth and community civic engagement, and multicultural and social justicerelated issues. Much of my earlier research has been focused on school violence, and on how contextual variables influence children think about various forms of violence. My current research examines the effects that community-based civic engagement has on residents’ perceptions of community ownership and community safety. Current Research Projects I am currently the Co-Principal Investigator on a 3 year project funded by the Kresge Foundation. This research project is in its final phase and is being conducted in the Gonzales Gardens public housing community and the Lyon Street neighborhood. The goal of this project is to help residents feel safer in their communities through their involvement in community-generated, community-level, and community-engaged interventions. In the Kresge project, I am able to examine the role that psychological ownership plays in perceptions of safety, collective efficacy, and collective engagement.
Megan Wilson
1st Year MSW Student From Charleston, SC SWSA First Year Rep.
One piece of advice to students? Social Work is a profession that can be conceptualized in broad, multi-faceted ways. I would encourage students not to limit their vision of social work as they study it – and as they practice it. Favorite thing to do in Columbia? I like sitting in a coffee shop, sipping a nice drink and reading something satisfying! If you could rule the world for a day, what would you change? In the spirit of social justice, I would demand an end to oppressions such as racism, sexism, etc.
Another project that I am currently working on is funded by the Social Science Grant, which is sponsored by the Office of the Provost. This project extends the Kresge research project by allowing for an examination of the role that economic ownership plays in this process.
Favorite job? How did you get it? I really like my current job. What did I do to get it? Hard work, hard work, and more hard work! Greatest thing about being a COSW Professor? Foremost, I like challenging students to learn new things – to think about concepts in different ways. I also like the challenge of learning new things from students. This helps me be a more effective instructor, and a more effective researcher.
In the Field: Megan Wilson Field Placement: Midway Elementary School in Kershaw County Major Tasks: I am currently facilitating groups, which has been a completely new experience for me. This has been the largest task due to the planning and coordination involved, but it has also been the most rewarding. I run a grief group, a social skills group, a behavioral group, a positive self-esteem group, and a new student group. I also work one-on-one with students and parents in crisis situations, and I have had the opportunity to serve as a board member on the Intervention Assistance Team. Experiences Gained: Interning as a school social worker at Midway Elementary School has given me hands on experience working with individual clients’ needs. Coming into the MSW program, I had very little social work experience. In only a year, I have had experience planning and implementing groups, counseling individual students and parents, and teaching classes. I have also had the opportunity to help plan events such as Parents' Nights and the Angel Tree Christmas toy drive. Have Questions? Feel free to email Megan at wilso797@email.sc.edu.
Issue 9: March 27, 2013
Notable…Spreading the Message Crystal Jones 3rd Year MSW Student
from Augusta, GA
Third year MSW student, Crystal Jones brings a lot of experience to the classroom in more ways than one. Crystal has 16 years of experience in social and human services in Augusta, Georgia. In the MSW program, Crystal has focused on macro social work and has interned with the Center for Adolescence Research in Schools and the Central Midlands Council of Government. Crystal is passionate about providing unique opportunities for at-risk youth such as the chance to attend art, sports, and music camps. Crystal decided to participate in the American Spirit Pageant as a way to raise money and promote the American Spirit Charities, which provide such opportunities. In addition to raising money to support youth, the pageant promotes the 5 C's: courage; conviction; compassion; character and charity in its participants. Crystal holds the title of Ms. South Carolina Spirit 2012 and was first runner up at Nationals in June 2012. This title has allowed her to share her testimony as a domestic violence survivor through dance. She hopes to reach out and encourage others going through similar experiences as well as shed light on an important social justice issue. Competing has encouraged Crystal to cultivate her discipline and self-care. This effort has helped her become a better social worker and also to shake off the image that some people may feel is a stereotypical social worker. “We can be glamorous, too.” Crystal competes on April 13 in the Caring Angel Pageant that will raise funds for the United Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Center. Good luck, Crystal!
MSW Students Unite! SWSA has promoted a lot of volunteer events around campus and hopefully a lot of you have volunteered. But now SWSA is sponsoring 2 volunteer events. Show your support for COSW and join your classmates in giving back to the community before the end of the school year! Let’s show Columbia that social workers are involved! Visit with Veterans Friday, April 5 from 2 – 4pm VA Nursing Home Get to know individuals in our community that have served our country. The facility also has a piano, karaoke machine and other games to enjoy. ONLY 10 micro and 10 macro student spots available! Email: matthewjay.wilkie@gmail.com ASAP and reserve your spot for this unique opportunity Spring Clean Welcome House for Refugees Saturday, April 6 from 1 – 6pm Shifts: 1:00 – 3:00pm 3:00 – 5:00pm 5:00 – 6:00pm Welcome House at St. Andrews Lutheran Church on Broad River Rd. Help conduct “spring” cleaning for the first housing many refugees have in Columbia. Show them you care. Email: matthewjay.wilkie@gmail.com to reserve your spot
Issue 9: March 27, 2013
Get out in the community!
Guest Speaker:
…and build your resume….
Burmese Refugee Camps
Confidence Building Workshop for Boys & Girls • Thursday, March 28 • Alcorn Middle School 4 – 6pm • MSW students come volunteer to do hair, nails, take pictures, individual counseling, etc. for middle school boys and girls • The contact is Alycia Smith, a first year MSW student whose placement is at Alcorn Middle School. This school is located in Richland County School District One and over 90% of the children come from low-income families. • Contact Alycia – smith445@email.sc.edu
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National LGBT Health Awareness Week March 25 - 29 Healthcare Equality Event Thursday, March 28 at 6:00pm USC Public Health Research Center Auditorium The Director of the Health and Aging Program for Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Shane Snowdon, will be leading the discussion. For more information click HERE
Famously Hot Career Expo Thursday, April 11 10:00am to 4:00pm Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center For more information click HERE
Columbia International Festival April 13 & 14 10:00am to 4:00pm Columbia Fairgrounds This year’s theme is Southeast Asia. Over 60 countries will be represented! For more information click HERE
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Amanda Martin Tuesday, April 9 & Wednesday, April 10 During lunch SUMWALT 338 Bring a brown bag lunch
Amanda Martin, alumna of USC (MSW, MPH 2003) and USC alumna of the year (2010), is currently working as the Public Health Institute Curriculum Coordinator for the Global Health Access Program. She lives in Mae Sot, Thailand. Her job includes spending four days a week in Umpiem Mai refugee camp, training the next generation public health practitioners in Karen State, Burma. Amanda teaches Burmese refugee students who have chosen public health as their profession. Community health care workers are desperately needed in ethnic communities in Eastern Burma, which has the worst health indicators in South East Asia. Amanda is also setting up a fellowship program with international NGOs and community-based organizations along the Thai-Burma border for the students to apply their knowledge in the field. Amanda is an alumna of the Rotary Peace Center Program in Bangkok, Thailand (2011). Her previous work in Human Rights in Guatemala, Colombia, and Bolivia has helped her to understand the current situation for people living in Eastern Burma and those who live in refugee camps along the border. The Umpiem Mai camp formed in 1999 and has a population of 16,000 people (only 11,000 of whom are officially recognized by the UN High Commission on Refugees). Umpiem Mai is located in the mountains 10km from the Burma border, and 84 km south of Mae Sot, Thailand.