HIGHLIGHTS · In the last 10 years I have held multiple leadership positions with ... Workshop...

VOL 29•1 | AUGUST 2019

National Association of Social Workers NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

HIGHLIGHTS6 | National Wellness Month

8 | Refer a Member Campaign

12 | Social Work Spotlight: National Water Quality Month

13 | Social Work Spotlight: National Women’s Equality Day

19 | Partner Spotlight: Clear Conscience Counseling

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

President’s Message | 3

Executive Director’s Message | 4

National Wellness Month | 6

Member Referral Program | 8

Call for Proposals:

2020 Annual Conference | 10

Meet Our Staff | 11

Social Work Spotlight:

National Water Quality Month | 12

Social Work Spotlight:

National Women’s Equality Day | 13

Advocacy in Action | 14

Student Center | 16

Partner Spotlight:

Clear Conscience Counseling | 19

NASW Swag | 20

Classifieds | 21

Fall Professional

Development Workshops | 22

NASW Legal Defense FundSince 1972, NASW’s Legal Defense Fund (LDF) has provided financial assistance and support for legal cases and issues of concern to NASW members and the social work profession. LDF supports educational projects and programs to improve the legal status and knowledge of the social work profession.

For more information, visit www.socialworkers.org/about/legal/legaldefensefund.

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August is National Wellness Month.

Our cover image features social workers embracing self-care at the Chapter’s first Paint n’ Sip event.

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Nkechi Okoli, LSW

Dear Members:It is with great honor and privilege that I begin my term as President of NASW-NJ. I am humbled that I was chosen to lead the third largest chapter of NASW in the nation.

As the youngest person to hold the position of President, I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the position. In the last 10 years I have held multiple leadership positions with the Chapter and had the opportunity to learn from seasoned social work leaders. This allowed me to gain multiple perspectives as to who we are as an organization and a profession.

You have entrusted me to help guide this organization, a responsibility I do not take lightly. In my role as President, I will work in collaboration with the Board, the staff, and you—our members—to continue to strengthen our Association.

First, I intend to work to increase resources and programming available for both micro and macro social workers, ensuring that the offerings of NASW-NJ are inclusive of the needs of all our members. My goal is for all social workers in New Jersey to see NASW-NJ as a place to connect with one another and receive the resources needed to grow as professionals.

Second, I intend to focus on improving transparency between NASW-NJ and its members. NASW-NJ is doing a lot of great work throughout New Jersey and nationally. I would like to increase awareness of the strides we make as an organization, as well as expand knowledge of how members can become more involved.

Most importantly, I intend to ensure our members feel valued and have a quality experience with the Association. It is important to me that all social workers, no matter the stage of their career, see NASW-NJ as a place they can call their “professional home.”

As we move forward, I extend to you an invitation to engage with the Chapter by volunteering with us to help our organization grow and strengthen the work we do. Together, we can ensure all voices are represented in the decision making of the organization.

I welcome your thoughts and ideas on challenges facing us as a profession and initiatives you’d like to see from your professional organization. You can reach out to me directly at [email protected].

I look forward to the great things we will accomplish together for our Chapter and our overall Association.

Sincerely,

Nkechi Okoli

President’sMESSAGE

Jennifer Thompson, MSW

DESK OF NASW- NJ’s Executive Director

Friends & Colleagues: Like many of you, I have found the last several months incredibly challenging. Daily, it seems, we turn on the news or go online and learn of policies, actions, and statements that are contradictory to our professional values—and many of our personal beliefs. I share your frustration, anger, sadness and confliction about how to solve some of the most pressing challenges our society faces.

It is during these challenging times that I am most proud of my profession and to be surrounded daily by colleagues who share my commitment to social justice, equality, and self-determination for the clients and communities we serve. Having spent significant portions of my career being the only social worker in the room, I have often spent hours debating issues and explaining to colleagues why the status quo needed to be changed—a charge I found exhausting at times.

You have shared with me, time and again, that you believe it is NASW-NJ’s role to engage in social justice and advocacy. You’ve challenged us to do more, to lean-in to difficult conversations, and to lead national dialogues. We couldn’t agree more. With nearly 7,000 NASW members and over 20,000 licensed social workers in New Jersey, our collective voice is strong. We have the power to affect real change. In the coming months, you’ll hear more about our commitment to social change. Here are just a few of the things we are working on:

• Filing Amicus Briefs in critical court cases, including one against President Trump’s administration to protect women’s access to contraception;

• Meeting with all our New Jersey legislators, ensuring they understand the depth and breath of the work you do in our community, daily;

• Spending days in Washington DC, advocating with our Federal representatives in partnership with our national colleagues;

• Visiting the detention centers in Texas, leading a national conversation and providing respite to refugees.

These are just a few of the ways our Chapter will continue to advance social justice issues—but we believe we can do more. I invite each of you to connect with our Chapter. Share your experience and expertise—find your local unit or a committee and engage. Help us identify ways in which we can expand our work, strengthen our Chapter, and continue to lead these critical conversations.

Now, more than ever, I’m proud to be part of our social work community. And now more than ever, the world needs us.

In Solidarity,

Jennifer Thompson, MSW

Executive Director

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CELEBRATION

join us in

honoring social work excellencethroughout New Jersey

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Please join us as we

CELEBRATEthe achievements of our colleagues and installment of our 2019-20 Board of Directors!

September 17, 2019 | 6:30 – 9:00 pmThe Estate at Farrington Lake16 Patrick Street, East Brunswick, NJ 08816

TICKETS$55 per person for Members/Guests$35 Students$750 Table SponsorshipTable Sponsorship includes table for 10 with priority reserved seating, recognition during the event, and a 1/2 page ad in the Celebration program.

To purchase online: www.naswnj.org or via phone: 732-296-8070


Self-Care as an Essential Way of Life Self care is an attitude, a practice, a balancing act. For many of us, it is as essential to our sanity, productivity, and contentment as our breath is to life. Self-care is remembering we are mind, body, and spirit all wrapped up into this beautiful human experience. And there are as many different ways of practicing self-care as there are people on this planet. So how exactly can this attitude and practice of self-care express itself through us? In a mindful breath, silently repeating to ourselves, “I am inhaling, I am exhaling.” In a walk to the post office between clients instead of driving there after work. In packing water and snacks when our schedule is bursting at the seams. It’s in taking the day off, or that vacation, or going to that workshop or conference. It’s exploring what feeds your soul and then doing just that. It’s in spending a few minutes in nature, listening to music, or meditating. It’s taking a yoga class and getting enough sleep. It’s journaling, painting, or

Crystal Zelman, LCSW, CCLS, RPT has been a practicing play therapist, social worker and child life specialist for over 10 years. She is also an Usui Reiki Master, a KRI certified Kundalini yoga instructor, and a Part-time Lecturer at Rutgers University. Learn more at www.morriscountyplaytherapy.com.

treating yourself to that manicure or massage you’ve been wanting.

Just like I tell the parents of the kiddos I work with, if our cups are empty, then we have a limited amount of ourselves and our mindful presence to offer others. When our cups are full or overflowing, it becomes more easeful to hold sacred space for another’s perspective or their big feelings. It becomes more attainable to “leave work at work” and be present at home with our families. It becomes a way of life to treat ourselves with compassion, even when things don’t go the way we’d hoped.

I remember when I was at my first job as a social worker, how hard it was to leave work at work, how much I relied on my supervisor and coworkers, and how blessed I was to work in an environment that encouraged us to take lunch breaks, do staff yoga, go to the meditation class, and take walks outside. I know that kind of culture isn’t found in every workplace, but can we make space for it for ourselves and create mini moments of self-care when the opportunities present themselves? Twelve years later, I

find myself in private practice doing just that, not only for myself, but bringing these mindful and practical practices to the children, parents, and students I work with. I invite you to look for those opportunities to bring self-care to your own workspace, because at its very core, self-care is self-love, and everyone deserves self-love.

August is NATIONAL WELLNESS MONTH


Members MakeCHANGE POSSIBLEREFER A NEW MEMBER TODAY!

Thank you for being a loyal member of NASW. Our Association has thrived for many years because of your active participation. We have relied on and appreciated your support in the past. Now we are asking for a different kind of help from you—to increase our strength by inviting a colleague to join us as a new or returning NASW member. Imagine what we could achieve with more members like you.

For more than six decades, NASW has fought tirelessly to advance the social work profession, to promote and protect social workers, and to advocate for policies and resources that improve the lives of the people we serve. As you know, that fight has never been more important than right now. As we prepare to enter a new decade, our nation needs to hear more from the profession on critical social issues.

That’s why from now through October, NASW is running a member referral campaign. We’re asking you to think of one social worker—perhaps someone who may be near the peak of their social work career—who you know is not a member. Help us connect with that one person by sending them an invitation to join.

We’ve provided resources, including sample text for your invitation, on our campaign website: www.SocialWorkers.org/MemberReferral. Eligible social workers who join or reinstate their membership during the campaign will receive a free Specialty Practice Section membership if they join before October 2019, as well as all the other perks of NASW membership.

And to thank YOU for helping us bring someone into the NASW community, when you successfully recruit an eligible regular member to the Association, you’ll receive your reward of a free Specialty Practice Section membership, a CE course discount, an NASW Press publication, or social work merchandise. New Jersey members who recruit another New Jersey member will also receive free access to NASW-NJ’s 1 CEU prescription opioid webinar, to help you meet New Jersey’s new prescription opioid training requirement.

Thank you for making NASW a strong organization and for considering participation in this important member referral campaign. For more information on eligibility and how to participate, please visit www.SocialWorkers.org/MemberReferral.


What our members are saying:

“I have truly valued the sense of community NASW gives me.”

“My leadership roles in my chapter enhanced my resume and positioned me for management roles in the workplace.”

“Once I joined NASW, I realized what a big mistake it was not to join NASW.”


JOIN NASW-NJ NOW AND SAVE!

Enjoy the benefits of Membership throughout the year:

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER • Reduced rate for all in-person and online CE programs • Reduced rate for LSW and LCSW Test Prep Courses • Reduced rates for Annual Conference • Free CEUs during Social Work Month • Clinical Supervisor Directory (Find a Supervisor/Promote your Practice) • JobLink (Members-only online Career Center) • Access to NASW Scholarships (for students) • newSWire™ e-newsletter (weekly) and FOCUS magazine (bi-monthly) • Social Work Advocates (National bi-monthly magazine) • Free annual subscription to Social Work journal • Practice updates • Specialty Practice Sections • Unlimited access to NASW Research Library (including 25 international research databases) • NASW Press – 10% discount

PROTECT & GROW YOUR PRACTICE • Free Ethics Consultations • New Jersey licensing updates • Tools & resources created just for you • Legal resources

• HIPAA Resources • Discounted liability (malpractice) insurance • Reduced rate for NJ Private Practice Manual • Help Starts Here (free listing on Social Work directory) • EAPrefer (referral of EAP clients)

BE AN ADVOCATE

• Social Justice Priorities and Briefs • Advocacy and Legislative Alerts • Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE)

CONNECT WITH PEERS • Unit events (regionally based): activities, networking, & CE programs • Private Practice Shared Interest Groups (regionally based) • Social Work Meet & Greet Networking Events • Take on a volunteer leadership role • Join the MyNASW Online Community

NEW JERSEY SERVICES • Personalized Licensing Consultations • Brief Legal Consultations • Exclusive personal and professional discounts for members • Competitive advertising across NJ platforms

TO JOIN NASW NOW, GO TO: WWW.SOCIALWORKERS.ORG


CALL FOR PROPOSALS NASW-NJ Chapter 2020 Annual Conference

The New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers is soliciting proposals for presentation at our next statewide continuing education conference, to be held in late April 26-28, 2020 in Atlantic City. We encourage you to share your knowledge and experience with your colleagues through a two- or four-hour workshop. You will not only receive maximum exposure by presenting at the statewide conference, but you will have the opportunity to engage and enlighten other social workers. The conference will serve as an “audition” for paid workshops through our continuing education program. NASW-NJ’s continuing education program provides workshops throughout the year and utilizes presenters from the statewide conference.

Workshop proposals are assigned for continuing education credits as clinical, general, ethics, and/or social and cultural competence. While proposals should include elements of the determined topic areas, NASW is committed to ensuring that all workshops actively infuse a cultural competence and social justice framework into their content as outlined in the NASW Call to Action.

Criteria for Presenters: • Five years of experience in the particular area of instruction; or a graduate degree in the particular area (an MSW is sufficient); and

• Certification or licensure as a social worker, psychologist, Board certified psychiatrist, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor or Medical Doctor.

• Social Workers who are submitting proposals must be members of NASW.

• Willingness to present to a large audience of up to 100 or more.

Additional information and workshop proposal submission is available at naswnj.org.


Helen arrived at NASW-NJ as a contract employee in mid-March, stepping in as the manager of the 2019 Annual Conference just 6 weeks before the event. She joined NASW-NJ full-time in May as Director of Development & Education. Helen has over 23-years’ experience in the non-profit world and has held positions in local, regional, and national organizations in NJ, NYC, and Washington, DC. Her passion is for creating quality, cutting-edge programs and giving top-notch client service.

Helen’s department of two is responsible for creating Continuing Education programs, professional development opportunities, running our Annual Conference, and for forming relationships with potential partners in our work.

Helen is originally from the UK but has lived in the States for many years. Even so, her accent, as she describes it, is “thick as a cup of strong tea.” Helen’s humor, outgoing nature, and penchant for spouting British witticisms bring joy to our office daily.

If you have questions about continuing education offerings, would like to be a presenter at the 2020 Annual Conference, or are interested in becoming a partner with NASW-NJ, Helen is here to help. You can reach her at 732-296-8070 or [email protected].

Willis is the friendly voice on the other end of the line when you call the NASW-NJ office. She began as a temporary receptionist in December 2017 and became our full-time Office Manager in January of this year. Previously she worked in the banking and recruiting industries.

Willis’s favorite thing about working at NASW-NJ is the sense of family and camaraderie among the staff. She also enjoys having an opportunity to speak with many different members, helping them find answers to their questions, and being the behind the scenes face of NASW-NJ.

Fun fact about Willis: she loves the “What’chu talkin’ about Willis” jokes! She can see the famous catchphrase brewing in people’s minds and always tells them with a huge grin, “Say it! I don’t mind.”

Willis lives in Edison with her husband, George; they have two grown children. Willis laughingly describes her marriage as “two empty nesters with too much time on our hands.” She fills that time with her passions: her first grandchild, Savannah (Savvy Girl); the NY Giants; reading; her church, Agape Family Worship Center; going to the movies; and finding bargains of all kinds.

Helen FrenchDirector, Development & Education

Willis Williams Office Manager

MEET OUR STAFF

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SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHTNational Water Quality Month

IN H2OT WATER: What is Social Work’s Responsibility in Addressing Water Issues? by Christine Morales, LCSW and Mariann Bischoff, LCSW

The World Health Organization anticipates half the world will

live in water-stressed areas by 2025 (WHO, 2019).

Water is life! The average American household consumes more than 300 gallons of water daily (EPA WaterSense, 2019). Daily rituals, comprised of essential needs such as hygiene, combined with non-essential items including swimming pools, lawn watering, and long showers, underscore our pervasive water use. Most drinking water comes from ground or surface water, which is purified through water treatment facilities, emphasizing the importance of minimizing and eliminating pollution. We rely on the Safe Drinking Water Act—established out of public concern in 1974, and which set a standard of water quality and respective level of contamination allowed—to protect us from water contaminants (EPA, 2014).

Human dependence on water does not, however, dictate its availability or potability. In New Jersey, we are facing water quality issues in cities such as Newark and toxic algae blooms in several lakes this summer. According to U.S. Census data, approximately 1.6 million Americans are living without one or more of the following: a toilet, tub/shower, or running water (Ingraham, 2014), and almost 1/5 of the U.S. population were exposed to potentially unsafe water more than once between 2007 and 2017 (Philip, et al, 2017). Such water

crises disproportionately affect minorities, women, children, the aging, and those who are economically disadvantaged (US Water Alliance, 2017).

Recognizing issues of environmental justice are interconnected with the social and economic justice issues championed by the social work profession, the Council on Social Work Education’s Committee on Environmental Justice recommended the integration of environmental justice issues into the social work curriculum (CSWE, 2019).

Social workers are uniquely positioned to address water and other environmental crises through mobilization of vulnerable populations to achieve social, economic, and environmental justice. Beyond educating society about the challenges before us and finding pathways to access for our clients, we can work with clients to organize and change the structural systems that birthed and continue to reproduce environmental inequality. We can work with the many nonprofits and governmental organizations charged with changing policies on pollution to decrease the impact on our water sources; educate society to the personal responsibility to reduce consumption, waste, and pollution; and lobby for political changes to regulate large business accountability. Engaging in such work helps people remember our inalienable connection with water, the earth, animals, plants and each other. The renewed awareness of our interconnection can be one of the galvanizing forces that drives the radical changes needed to keep our planet healthy and habitable.

Email [email protected] for full list of article references.


WOMEN’S POLITICAL EQUALITY: We Need You

Jean Sinzdak, MSW is the Associate Director of the Center for American Women and Politics and oversees their Ready to Run® Campaign Training for Women program.

In 1973, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation declaring August 26th Women’s Equality Day, in honor of the same date in 1920 when the US Secretary of State officially signed the proclamation granting American women the constitutional right to vote. As we celebrate the 99th anniversary of women’s suffrage, we acknowledge that change has been hard and the road has been long. Most strikingly, women of color faced political disenfranchisement, often enforced through campaigns of terror and violence, for many decades after the passage of the 19th amendment.

Despite the persistent challenges to participation, American women are making great strides in political leadership, notably in the past few years. In 2018, a record number of women ran for elected offices across the country. As a result, a record 127 women currently serve in the US Congress—including a record number of women of color—and women fill almost 30 percent of all state legislative seats. But political parity is still a distant dream in the Garden State. New Jersey has just two women in its 12-member Congressional delegation. Women still comprise less than a third of the state legislature, hold only a third of freeholder seats, and hold less than a sixth of all mayoral seats.

As social worker and former US Senator Barbara Mikulski once said: “Politics is social work with power.” Now more than ever, we need leaders who understand the complex social issues facing our communities. Social workers are on the front lines of the challenges many citizens face and have an experienced perspective on the problems and the potential solutions.

Now is the time for more women, particularly social workers, to consider running for office. If you know successful women who would make great candidates, encourage them to run for office. If you are a woman who has thought about running, consider this your invitation to do so! There are multiple programs that provide campaign education and training for prospective candidates, including the Ready to Run® program at the Center for American Women and Politics. Program attendees walk away with logistical information on becoming a candidate; the skills to manage, fund, and promote a campaign; and the inspiration to make the leap and run for office. You can learn more at www.cawp.rutgers.edu under the Education & Training section.

SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHTNational Women’s Equality Day is August 26


Advocacy inACTIONThe close of the most recent NASW-NJ fiscal year (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019) offers us a natural marking point to review the Chapter’s advocacy efforts.

Legislative AdvocacyDuring the fiscal year that just ended, NASW-NJ offered support for 47 different bills in the state legislature, opposed one bill, and offered expert testimony on six unique legislative efforts. Of the bills supported by the Chapter during this time period, 15 were signed into law. Among them were the following recent efforts:

• Place restrictions on the use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities (P.L.2019, c.160)

• Establish a State Health Insurance Exchange (P.L.2019, c.141)

• Extend the statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims (P.L.2019, c.120)

• Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill (P.L.2019, c.59)

• Enhance enforcement and oversight of mental health and substance use parity laws (P.L.2019, c.58)

Advocates successfully delayed legislative votes on the one bill actively opposed by the Chapter, the poorly named “Patient Protection Act,” which would have made it more difficult for consumers to receive care at hospitals and health care facilities located outside of New Jersey. We will continue to work with our advocacy partners to ensure this bill is not passed into law.

Social Work RegulationsChapter staff regularly attend meetings of the NJ Board of Social Work Examiners to stay up to date on their proceedings and regulatory decisions. We are currently working on our response to the Board’s proposed regulations for social workers practicing via telemedicine. The Chapter was also instrumental in getting amendments approved to proposed regulations from the Drug and Alcohol Committee that would have impacted social workers’ ability to provide clinical supervision to individuals pursuing their LCADC.

Other ActionsEarlier this summer, NASW took action to protect women’s access to birth control by filing an Amicus brief in the case “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey vs. Donald Trump.” This case challenges the final contraceptive rules issued by the Trump administration on November 7, 2018, which allow for broad-based religious and moral objections to the coverage of contraceptives under the preventive services requirement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The preliminary injunction against the Administration was upheld, finding that the States have legal standing to challenge the exemption rules.


CoalitionUPDATE:Anti-Poverty Networkof New JerseyNASW-NJ participates in nearly a dozen coalitions of like-minded organizations who have banded together to address some of our state’s most pressing social concerns. One such organization is the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey (APN), a membership organization dedicated to preventing, reducing, and ending poverty in New Jersey.

The dedicated work and advocacy of the APN staff, board, member organizations, and individual members has resulted in some significant gains in recent months. One such achievement is the inclusion of a TANF benefit increase in New Jersey’s budget for the new fiscal year. This 10% increase is just the second benefit increase to the program in the past 31 years. The budget also contained an increase in SNAP benefits for people who also receive LIHEAP assistance. This provision will increase monthly food assistance by $80-$90 for 160,000 people in our state, including the elderly and disabled.

Additionally, a new law was passed concerning Emergency Assistance. Under the new law, individuals and families who had previously exhausted

their lifetime assistance limit can become eligible for additional assistance if they become homeless or near homeless and it has been at least 7 years since they previously received assistance. Moreover, Governor Murphy has announced the creation of an Office of Homelessness Prevention. The administration is in the process of forming a task force to organize this new office.

July also brought the completion of the fourth cohort of Garden State Leaders, an advocacy and leadership program that is a partnership between the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness and APN. Garden State Leaders strives to increase public participation by individuals who have direct experience with poverty and homelessness, bringing their voices to the table in order to make a stronger case for anti-poverty efforts in our state. The program works to build leadership skills and instill the confidence participants need to increase their capacity to take on influential advocate roles and address the social issues pertinent to their lives. The next class of Garden State Leaders will start on September 6th at Seton Hall University. You can learn more at www.njceh.org/gsl.

Lastly, October will bring us APN’s 20th Anniversary Poverty Summit, which will

be held on October 24th at Middlesex County College. This year’s Summit will focus on the successes APN and its partners have achieved over the past 20 years, and the bold solutions that will bring us to a future without poverty. NASW-NJ staff will be present at the event and we hope to see many of you there. For more information about the Poverty Summit or about APN in general, visit www.antipovertynetwork.org.


StudentCENTERStudent Leader Spotlight: Meet our 2019-2020 Board of Directors Student Representatives

THOMAS CADMUSBSW Student Representative, NASW-NJ Board of Directors

Thomas Cadmus will begin his Senior year in Seton Hall University’s BSW program this September and anticipates graduating in May. He will begin a field placement with DCP&P this fall. He says he has chosen a career in social work because he wants a career that will allow him to know he has made a difference at the end of the day.

“At this beginning stage of my career, my focus is on working with children, specifically child

welfare,” says Thomas. “Children and young people are our future. They deserve dedicated professionals who work to ensure they and their families are provided with the necessary resources and supports to succeed.” While he was already interested in child welfare, Thomas says it became a passion thanks to Professor Mary Landriau, “an amazing social worker, professor, and advisor” at Seton Hall.

In addition to his studies, field placement, and service on the NASW-NJ Board of Directors, Thomas is the incoming President of the Student Social Work Association at Seton Hall. He also volunteers at an assisted living facility twice a week.

Thomas says NASW has been immensely important to him as a social work student. He cites the resources on child welfare and other topics as important benefits, as well as Unit meetings, community forums, and discussion boards where students can interact with seasoned social workers who can offer support, guidance, and knowledge. “There are no drawbacks to student membership, and I think it’s a very worthwhile investment,” he says.

In addition to joining NASW, Thomas says he would advise new social work students to “read and study a lot, learn a lot, feel a lot, and start practicing self-care now.” He stresses the importance of forming professional relationships early on. “I have discovered your professors hold the keys to your future. I bother the heck out of my professors!” he laughs. “I ask them endless questions. And I know if I have an issue at my field placement or at work, I can turn to them for guidance. Plus, your professors know a wide circle of social workers – it makes for excellent networking when the time comes to find a job!”

The new Student Representative terms on the NASW-NJ Board began July 1 and will run through June 30, 2020.



MEGAN O’BRIENMSW Student Representative, NASW-NJ Board of Directors

“Figure out what makes your heart beat a little faster, your voice a bit stronger, and follow that calling!” This is the advice Megan O’Brien has for new and continuing social work students as they embark on the new school year.

Megan—an MSW Student at Seton Hall University who anticipates graduating in May 2020—says the things that make her heart beat faster include “social inequality, prison reform, and juvenile justice reform.” Prior to pursuing her degree in

Social Work, Megan worked for 10 years in the fashion industry in Manhattan. “After the 2016 election, my eyes were opened to some of the very serious social injustices that have been present in our country for centuries,” she says. “I found myself unfulfilled in my career and decided I needed to do more than share my feelings about these issues on social media and donate money to causes.”

Megan left her fashion industry job and began applying to graduate programs in social work, at the same time interning at social service agencies that would provide her the experience and ability to be the most effective in a new social work career. “I took a big risk, and I’ve never been happier or felt more challenged, excited, and hopeful,” she says.

Megan hopes to carve a new career for herself in juvenile justice reform. This fall she will begin an internship with the Center for Court Innovation in Newark, working in the youth court program. “Youth court is a successful program that was started in New York,” she explains. “Its goal is to help young people feel empowered as members of their community and recognize that they don’t have to be defined by one action or misstep.” She says juvenile incarceration and other juvenile justice issues are an epidemic in our country that she looks forward to helping address.

In addition to her responsibilities on the NASW-NJ Board of Directors, Megan is the graduate school representative for the Seton Hall University Graduate School Board. She is also a junior board member at the Pullum Arts Center in south central Los Angeles, volunteers at Covenant House in Newark, NJ and does work with Team Walker in Jersey City.


SAVE THE

DATEHealthcareSocial WorkSymposium

October 219am - 3pm

North Brunswick

Details available soon naswnj.org


1. SHOW UP AND SPEAK UPShowing up can be one of the most difficult things to do. Being engaged is crucial to making the most out of your field experience. Always remember that your placement is a “get what you give” scenario. At the end of the day, your field experience is an investment in your professional and personal development, so it’s up to you to make it the best it can be.

2. ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELFAs a future social worker, advocacy is a skill that will follow you wherever you go. Not only is it your job to advocate for your clients, but it is also important to advocate for yourself and your needs as a student. Don’t be afraid to take initiative. You are your biggest advocate, so it is up to you to make sure you are being best represented and appreciated.

3. CREATE AN AGENDA FOR SUPERVISIONSupervision is a crucial element to the learning process. Come to supervision with an agenda to guide the meeting to make sure you cover the areas you want to talk about. Include agenda items to discuss what you have learned, follow-up on assignments, areas you want to participate in and learn about in the future, and what your questions and expectations are.

4. SELF-CAREDon’t underestimate your workload. Create a self-care plan for yourself. Remember that self-care isn’t a “one size fits all” concept—it looks different for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you relax through exercise, journaling or meditation, it just matters that you take the time to do it. Your health and wellness is your top priority, take care of yourself before you take care of others.

5. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM Establishing a good relationship is essential to making the most out of your placement. By having strong connections with your supervisor, field liaison and other agency staff, you will always have clear channels of communication that will create the backbone to your placement.

6. STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONEField is the perfect setting to challenge yourself, inviting you to take advantage of opportunities that go beyond the limits of the classroom. By allowing yourself to venture outside of your comfort zone, you open yourself up to a wealth of new opportunities that could eventually lead you to find what you are truly passionate about.

7. BE PATIENT AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELPIt’s normal to be nervous. Learning the dynamics of your agency and workplace can take time. Field is meant to be a learning experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; no one expects you to know everything. Perfection is not expected. Try hard, do your best, and accept mistakes when they happen.

8. STAY ORGANIZEDBetween having to complete tasks at your field placement, at home, and in the classroom, the risk of getting lost and overwhelmed is far too close to home. Make a to-do-list for each week while being sure to spread out delegated tasks accordingly. Through the physical documentation of each task and its deadline, things become a bit more tangible and less daunting.

9. DON’T TAKE ON TOO MUCHGetting caught up in field is normal, but it’s important to constantly check in with yourself and see where your mind is at. Although it is easy to eagerly take on multiple tasks and assignments, remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Field, although it is supposed to challenge you, is not here to overwhelm you. If there ever comes a time where you feel overwhelmed or that you have taken on too much, check in with your supervisor.

10. HAVE FUNSchoolwork and having fun don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Field itself is a spectrum of experiences—presenting highs and lows all in a day’s time. Remember that enjoying yourself is just as important as completing your tasks as an intern. Find joy in the little moments you have because those are the things that will motivate you on your harder days.

10 TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FIELD EXPERIENCEBy Caroline Ross, MSW

2018-19 NASW-NJ MSW Intern


The profession of social work is rooted in partnerships and outreach; building relationships that strengthen our families and communities and propel us further as individuals. To strengthen our profession and further our mission, NASW-NJ is growing our state-wide partnership network through collaboration with organizations that share our mission and

a desire to support the social work profession. These organizations invest with us as year-round partners, committing to various levels of support from “Movers” to “Shakers” to “Difference Makers.”

This month we welcome Clear Conscience Counseling (CCC), our newest Mover and partner. Founded in 2016 by John Gore, MHS, LPC, LCADC, CAMS-II, CCS, Clear Conscience Counseling is a for-profit organization designed to offer intensive treatment for clients experiencing addictive and co-occurring disorders. CCC is focused on educating clients and their families through workshops, individual, and family counseling. They work closely with families and at-risk youth who rely on government funding and social service programs to supply and support their needs.

Mr. Gore has spent his 15-year career working with underserved children and families. He has held multiple positions of leadership within judicial and clinical settings. After witnessing time and again how the families he worked with in hospitals, correctional, and community settings and the systems surrounding them were intertwined with mental illness and addiction, he sought to establish an organization whose primary focus would be to meet the multi-layered needs of these individuals and their families. From that spark of inspiration grew CCC.

Mr. Gore said CCC offers a unique and integrated approach to substance use, mental health, and behavioral disorders for youth, as well as adults. “We understand every client is unique and has their own personal experiences that influence them when facing personal challenges and making the journey to recovery,” he continued. “We want to teach our clients the necessary skills to achieve self-actualization and to be successful in their unique journey called life.”

Many of CCC’s clients have or have had personal experience with social service, criminal justice, and other public systems. Through Mr. Gore’s research and action plan—he is currently working on a Doctoral dissertation focused on the risks, causes, and prevention of recidivism—CCC aims to provide education and treatment to help reduce families’ reliance on these systems.

In a short time, CCC has grown to become a multi-site organization employing nearly 80 people—60% of whom are social workers. Outpatient and intensive outpatient services are offered at their Middlesex County location; Intensive In-Community services are available in all counties between Sussex and Salem. Additional expansion in NJ is planned.

“People come to us believing they are broken and that is challenging,” said Mr. Gore. “But after we assist them in unlocking their potential the world becomes open to them. That is the best feeling.”

To learn more, visit the Clear Conscience Counseling website at www.clearconsciencenj.com

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:


NASW SwagAmplify your voice and show your support of the issues that matter most to you! Whether you're fighting for equal rights, furthering redistributive justice, or bringing change to the political arena, let people know what you stand for.

Buying merchandise not only makes you look super awesome, you are also supporting your professional organization. All proceeds go to help social workers in New Jersey access even more resources through our Chapter.

To purchase NASW-NJ apparel and merchandise, visit our online store at naswnj.org and access the store in the about us drop down.



Contact [email protected], call 732-296-8070, or visit naswnj.org for more information.

FOCUS Classified Rates: • Over 7000 members• Digital delivery and printed• Frequency: 1 issue• Text only• 50 words or less, $100

Focus Ad/Image Rates: • Over 7000 members• Digital delivery and printed• Frequency: 1 issue• Full-color, camera-ready image

sent to NASW-NJ via electronic upload

• Full page/bleed: $1000• Advertorial: (story ad w/ image

or logo) $1500• 1/2 page: $700• 1/3 page: $450• Inside back cover: $2000• Back cover—limited availability,

call for details

Your Ad Here


NEW JERSEYCONTINUINGEDUCATIONAPPROVAL

COLLABORATIVE

Do you offer professional development courses for social workers? Are you looking to reach more people and increase your revenue?

Adding CE credits for social workers is a geat way to do so!

The New Jersey Social Work Continuing Education Approval Collaborative (CE Approval Collaborative) is recognized by the New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners as an approving entity for social work CEUs in the State of New Jersey.

To learn more & apply visit: www.naswnj.org/CEApprovalwelcome

FALL 2019 NASW-NJ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS

LSW Test Prep – Masters LevelSeptember 10, 9:00am – 4:30pmNorth Brunswick, NJ

Social Work in an Era of School Shootings and Lockdown DrillsSeptember 12, 6:00 – 8:00pmLive Webinar (2 CEUs)

Facing Adulthood: Helicopter Parenting as a Function of Family ProjectionSeptember 19, 6:00 – 8:00pmLive Webinar (2 CEUs)

Clinical Supervision CourseSeptember 20-22, 9:00am – 4:30pm dailyNorth Brunswick, NJ (20 CEUs)

Private Practice Symposium: A Business BootcampSee pg. 7 for details.

When the Body Speaks: An Introduction to Somatic TherapyOctober 5, 10:00am – 12:00pmNorth Brunswick, NJ (2 CEUs)

LSW Test Prep – Masters LevelOctober 15, 9:00am – 4:30pmNorth Brunswick, NJ

LCSW Test Prep – Clinical LevelOctober 18, 9:00am – 4:30pmNorth Brunswick, NJ

Health Care Social Work SymposiumOctober 21, 9am - 3pmNorth Brunswick, NJ (details pending)

More information and registration at www.naswnj.org/events

DISCOUNTED RATES FOR

NASW MEMBERS!


CHAPTER OFFICE

NASW–NJ Chapter Office30 Silverline Drive, Suite 3 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Ph:732.296.8070 www.naswnj.org

Jennifer Thompson, MSW Executive Director [email protected]

Christina Mina, MSWDirector of Member [email protected] or ext. 117

Helen FrenchDirector of Development & [email protected] or ext. 122

Jeff Feldman, MSW, LSW Director of Advocacy & Communications [email protected] or ext. 114

Annie Siegel, MSWMembership & Education [email protected] or ext. 128

Willis Williams Office [email protected] or ext. 110

Rajashree TaruvaiFinance & Human Resources Coordinator [email protected]

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nkechi Okoli, President

Judyann McCarthy, 1st Vice President

Jenny Conger, 2nd Vice President

Pat Spencer, Secretary

Frank Greenagel, Central Regional Rep

Sierra Spriggs, Northeast Regional Rep

Krystal Gold, Northwest Regional Rep

Dawn Konrady, Southern Regional Rep

Megan O’Brien, Graduate Student Rep

Thomas Cadmus, Undergraduate Student Rep

UNIT LEADERS NASW-NJ has 12 units across the state of New Jersey.

Atlantic/Cape May/CumberlandMelissa Sandoval, Chair

Bergen/Passaic

Chair & Co-Chair, Open

Camden/Gloucester/Salem

Danica Rivello, Chair

Essex

Felicia Fdyfil-Horne, ChairRuby Sekhon, Co-Chair

HudsonNeha Gandhi, ChairLauren Snedeker, Co-Chair

Mercer/BurlingtonMary Beth Kohler, Chair

Middlesex

Joshua Collins, Chair

Monmouth/Ocean

Jeff Firsichbaum, Co-Chair

Morris

Mary Myers Pasquino, Chair

Cheryl Cohen, Co-Chair

Somerset/Hunterdon

Krystal Gold, Chair

Ron Zulli, Co-Chair

Sussex/Warren

Dina Morley, Chair

Union

Chair & Co-Chair, Open

To learn more about Unit Leadership opportunities, contact [email protected]


CELEBRATION

join us in

honoring social work excellencethroughout New Jersey

2019 NASW-NJ Celebration of Social Work ExcellenceSEPTEMBER 17, 2019Purchase tickets now at www.naswnj.orgSee pg. 5 for more details.

NASW-NJ30 Silverline Drive, Suite 3North Brunswick, NJ 08902

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