Message from NASW-DE Executive Director John Shuford

License renewal is fast approaching (5 months), so I will be passing along all the CEU opportunities I can. If you come across an article, paper, book or any other resource other social workers might be interested in, please send it on to me. 

The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence workshop on August 12th on Trauma was excellent and well attended. There are several other DCADV events this fall of which there are two I would like to highlight. One is the DV 101 training September 21 and 22 on the basics of servicing and working with victims and survivors of domestic violence [11 CEUs]; another is the September 29, “A Call to Men” roundtable led by Tony Porter, where participants will learn about the national movement and network with Delaware men who have taken the initiative to address this core human rights issue.

The ethics training at Dover Behavior Health on October 8 [3.25 CEUs] has changed presenters. The original presenter, Joseph C. Zingaro, PhD, is unable to attend and Gwendolyn Scott Jones, PsyD, MSW, the Chair of Psychology at DSU will not be the speaker. The material covered will be the same. Contact Tamika Brown, MSW at 302-747-1126 for more information.

The Mental Health Association in Delaware is holding its Suicide Prevention Conference September 14-15 at Dover Downs. Day one is 4.25 CEUs and day two (the morning session is repeated in the afternoon) is 2.75 CEUs.  Day one is multiple sessions and day two is suicide awareness training.

Pacem In Terris is organizing transportation to the October 2 “Peace, Jobs and Justice Now!” march in Washington, DC. Contact Sally Milbury-Steen at 302-656-2721.

The Delaware State Housing Authority announced trainings on Foreclosure Prevention and the Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity’s annual Habitat Family Selection Workshops.

NASW Press has released the new edition of Interactional Supervision for clinical social work supervision.

As we are making progress on our chapter web site, we come across resources we’d like to share with you now, rather than wait until the web site is up and running. One of these is the Rhode Island chapter’s resources links. It has resources in Rhode Island which will be removed when we put it on our web site. It was so good, I wanted to get to social workers now.  Check it out here.

The Delaware Workforce Diversity Group’s Annual Conference will be held September 15th at Dover Air Force Base Museum. The special guest is General Harris, the first African American woman to achieve the rank of general. See the attached flier.

PLEASE NOTE: I encourage you to use the “Classified” service of newSWire – it only costs $50 and reaches more than 600 professionals in Delaware. It is one of the ways we fund the chapter and newSWire. Thanks!
                                                                                                     John

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Homelessness Resource Exchange

We've found an excellent resource site at: http://www.hudhre.info. This site provides resources and options for people working with the homeless population or those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Still striving for MLK's dream in the 21st century

By Martin Luther King III
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
(This article was originally published in the August 25, 2010 edition of the Washington Post) 

Forty-seven years ago this weekend, on a sweltering August day often remembered simply as the March on Washington, my father delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. A memorial to him is being erected at the Tidal Basin, not far from where he shared his vision of a nation united in justice, equality and brotherhood.

This weekend Glenn Beck is to host a "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial. While it is commendable that this rally will honor the brave men and women of our armed forces, who serve our country with phenomenal dedication, it is clear from the timing and location that the rally's organizers present this event as also honoring the ideals and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr.

I would like to be clear about what those ideals are.

Vast numbers of Americans know of my father's leadership in opposing segregation. Yet too many believe that his dream was limited to achieving racial equality. Certainly he sought that objective, but his vision was about more than expanding rights for a single race. He hoped that even in the direst circumstances, we could overcome our differences and replace bitter conflicts with greater understanding, reconciliation and cooperation.

My father championed free speech. He would be the first to say that those participating in Beck's rally have the right to express their views. But his dream rejected hateful rhetoric and all forms of bigotry or discrimination, whether directed at race, faith, nationality, sexual orientation or political beliefs. He envisioned a world where all people would recognize one another as sisters and brothers in the human family. Throughout his life he advocated compassion for the poor, nonviolence, respect for the dignity of all people and peace for humanity... 

To continue reading this article please refer to the Washington Post web site.

Martin Luther King III is president and chief executive of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Call Me Crazy: Diary of a Mad Social Worker

New Jersey poet, actress,  and drug and HIV/AIDS counselor Helena D. Lewis performed in her one-woman play,”Call Me Crazy: Diary of a Mad Social Worker,” in Washington, D.C. on August 8. After rehearsals at the D.C. Black Theater Festival at the Atlas Theater, Lewis visited the National Association of Social Workers headquarters and performed a scene from the play.

You can watch Lewis here at SocialWorkersSpeak.org!

Filmmaker Aims Lens at Social Work

Award-winning television director, producer and writer Ted Bogosian has worked on some of the most popular programs on television, including “Anatomy of a Homicide: Life on the Street,” an Emmy-nominated police drama that ran for seven seasons on NBC. He directed an episode of “Oz,” HBO’s gritty prison drama. And he has produced several major series for PBS, including “Running Mate” and “War in the Wind.”

But Bogosian's recent work on the 55-minute documentary “What Love Is: Pathfinders” has a special place in his heart. The documentary follows Pathfinders, an organization partly founded by social worker and National Association of Social Workers member Tina Staley that provides holistic, compassionate care to people grappling with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Click here to read more.

NASW 2009-2010 Annual Report

From the opening letter in the 2009-2010 NASW Annual Report:

"Each year brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Like most large national membership associations, NASW has been affected by the down economy. However, our outstanding members continue to be engaged and committed.

Every month, thousands of members participate in new continuing education programs at both the national and chapter levels. Innovative communities of practice are growing through online social networks. Hundreds of social workers attend their chapter-sponsored state advocacy days each year, and more than 50,000 professionals regularly contact their national elected officials to support issues that affect social workers and their clients..."

To read the entire NASW Annual Report, click here.

News from DE and Beyond...

Click on an article's heading for the link

NEW! Interactional Supervision (3rd Edition)
We are pleased to announce that NASW Press has published an updated 3rd edition of the top-selling title Interactional Supervision.  Dr. Lawrence Shulman, professor emeritus, prolific writer, and renowned expert in the field of clinical social work supervision, is the author of this latest edition of Interactional Supervision. Among his many other publications, he authored the Supervision section in the last three editions of the Encyclopedia of Social Work and contributed to The Social Work Dictionary.

Prescription Assistance Programs update:
Free and discounted prescription drugs, provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers, have become an essential component of America’s health care safety net for low income and uninsured individuals. Referred to as Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Assistance Programs or Prescription Assistance Programs (PAPs), use of these services has grown steadily over the last decade. While PAPs help millions of individuals access life saving medications for chronic and acute conditions, there are potential challenges and limitations to PAPs of which social workers should be aware. Click here for information.

Fair Housing Testers in Delaware:
The Community Legal Aid Society of Delaware received a grant from HUD to provide outreach, education and enforcement of the State and Federal fair housing acts for victims of housing discrimination in Delaware. They are looking for fair housing testers; individuals who inquire about the availability of rental units, mortgages, homeowners insurance and accessibility and then report their experience.

The findings are analyzed by the University of Delaware.  The fair housing testers are paid for their work.  If you are interested in participating in this program, contact Linda Jackson at 302-575-0660, ext 259 or ljackson@declasi.org to request an application. There are also application forms in the NASW office.

Take the Government Out of Marriage: Do It for the Children
Huffington Post (blog)
Some interesting comments from the linked article and articles associated with it. 

The authors (from the College of Social Work at Ohio State University and the Brookings Institution respectively) outline the advantages that state-recognized marriage would confer on these children.

Living Life by the Tweet
Demo Dirt (subscription)
Dr. James Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CAP, CFT, shares his valuable insights regarding recent study findings featured on demodirt.com stating the possible influence that reality makeover shows have on the self esteem and body image of teens and young adults.

Myth Of The Well-Adjusted Asian-American Challenged By Researchers
In their paper, “Barriers to Health Care Among Asian Americans,” University of Buffalo School of Social Work professors Wooksoo Kim and Robert H. Keefe write that Asian Americans cannot be carelessly lumped together with such easy stereotypes as “well adjusted” or “successful.”

One person's clutter is another's disorder
By Tenley Woodman
Childhood trauma is common among hoarders, according to Boston University School of Social Work's Compulsive Hoarding Research Project.

Thousands strain Fort Hood's mental health system
USA Today
Chaplains provide marriage counseling, but for soldiers who want to see a licensed marriage counselor, the base's social work department has two, each with a caseload of 60 couples, says Lt. Col. Nancy Ruffin, department director.

5 Ways to Get Kids' Butts Outta Bed
Momlogic.com
Momlogic friend and parent educator Jill Spivack, LCSW, tells us that the key to establishing bedtime again actually starts in the morning: Wake your kids earlier so they'll be tired earlier at night.

Detroit garden nurtures inmates near end of prison sentences
Detroit Free Press
In an odd coincidence, Davis and one of her recent residents, James (Bear) Fuller first met 34 years ago, when Davis was just beginning her career in prison social work and Fuller was beginning his sentence for murder.

School of Social Work Faculty Discuss Human Trafficking in Fox 7 Interview
UT-Austin
Slavery exists in Texas. People are trafficked into the United States for labor or sex, for forced service. That’s what two researchers from the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin told viewers during a Fox 7 News “Good Day Austin” interview July 27 with Keri Bellacosa.

Classified