Social Work Student Association
Issue 2:October 8, 2012
Be informed on your local and presidential candidates and issues! Check out: www.votesmart.org and www.govtrack.us
Faculty Facts: Michael Ottone Hometown?
Gaithersburg, Maryland
with your degree, to grow and develop as a person and as a professional are your responsibility. Yet, this is an experience you should enjoy and remember. Make friends, have fun, learn, and develop your passion!
Micro and macro?
Education? Associate’s Degree in Mental Health, Montgomery County Community College, BSW, University of Maryland Baltimore County, MSW USC – Columbia
What classes have you taught? SOWK 723:Advanced Social Work Practice in Groups SOWK 724: Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
This is not an easy question to answer. Realistically, as your career progresses you will encounter tasks and opportunities which are micro, macro, and mezzo. But you may never again have the time and opportunity to focus so in depth on one or the other. Where do you want to be in 3-5 years, after graduation? What is your expectation for your career path? What populations do you want to work with? What type of service provision? Focus on your short-term goals and identify what will best help you attain those goals. You will always be learning, through training and continuing education, so what you do not focus on now you may be able to pick up in the future.
Favorite thing to do in Columbia?
SOWK 726:Supervision and Case Consultation SOWK 718: Systems Analysis of Social Work Practice
Advice for graduate students? It seems like a cliché to say this, but it is very true. The benefits, strengths, and rewards you gain from this program are driven by what you put into it. Your effort and desire to gain information, to learn what you can do and what you want to do
I am a huge Gamecocks fan and my family and I attend the football games, as well as many other events throughout the year. I am a passionate baseball fan and I have coached for a long time. I believe in being involved in my community. I am a member of my local school improvement council, my local recreation center park improvement committee, and I am the current President of the South Carolina chapter of NASW.
True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice
cool kids say… Want to stay up-to-date on current events? There are FREE copies of the New York Times in the Russell House everyday! If you’re looking for something cool to do on a lazy weekend the Columbia Museum of Art is FREE on Sundays. Best part: you can still sleep in…they are open from 12 – 5 pm. Networking 101: Include food! Part of networking is being able to build relationships with people. What better way to get to know someone than over a meal? Check out the Out-To-Lunch program where you can get a voucher to take your professor to any dining facility on campus! And guess what?! It’s FREE! Look like a cool kid and impress your prof. by checking out where you can pick up an Out-toLunch voucher! The website even gives suggestions for topics to talk about. You will be a networking pro in no time!http://www.housing.sc.edu/ace/otl.html
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Want to work in Mental Health or with Veterans?! Meet second year MSW Will Phifer Columbia Native Army Veteran B.A. Psychology, The Citadel
For anyone considering or currently going Micro, Will would be an excellent resource. Having spent his first year with Forensic Services at the South Carolina Department of Mental Health facilitating psychosocial rehabilitation group therapy to patients who were diagnosed with chronic mental illness and judicially committed to inpatient psychiatric treatment, and currently spending his second year with Primary Care Behavioral Health (BH) at the Wm. J. B. Dorn VA Hospital. At the VA, Will conducts individual BH initial intakes, follow-up BH individual therapy, healthcare management, suicide screenings and risk
assessments, cognitive functioning screenings,leads a 10-session Anger Management Group and in the coming weeks will start co-leading a new primary care PTSD outpatient treatment group. Will loves his field placement because he learns something new from every interaction. His supervisors have been outstanding and the other staff and medical professionals are more helpful than he could ever have imagined. After graduation, you may see Will either working for the VA or Department of Defense in an inpatient or outpatient setting with dual diagnosis patients suffering from substance abuse disorders and combat trauma. He would love to continue his travels around the country, or even the world--like he did in the Army. Want to know
more? Ask Will: phiferw@email.sc.edu
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Get out in the community! …and build your resume….
Issue | Date
Students Speak!
10/28 – The Buddy Walk
The Buddy Walk is a fun event for all! It celebrates individuals with Down Syndrome and is sponsored by Family Connection of South Carolina. There will be games, food, live music, zumba, & much more! Sunday, 10/28: 1 – 5 PM at Saluda Shoals Park
11/3 – Steps for PASOS Fundraiser
PASOS is currently looking for volunteers for their first fundraiser. There will be salsa lessons, dancing, awesome food and drinks. Fun for all!
Contact Carrie Draper at drapercl@gmail.com Saturday, 11/3: 7 – 11 PM at Capital Senior Center Ballroom
11/16 – Hammer It Home Gala & Auction
The Columbia Habitat Young Professionals invite you to an evening of southern hospitality and charm! Come enjoy great food, cocktails, and a one of kind auction as we continue our efforts to eliminate poverty housing across the Midlands. Tickets cost: $75 per individual; $100 per couple. Attire: Cocktail. If you volunteer/work the event you can receive compensated tickets. Friday, 11/16: 7PM at 701 Whaley St. Cola, SC 29201
A Student’s Prospective on Cultural Competence by: Kiesha Webb
“A little boy wearing pink is just fruity, weird, and gay,” a fellow student in my Human Behavior class said. “I mean boys don’t normally like pink so it’s kind of strange.” The impact of the statement was immediate, but the shock took a few moments to set in. The classroom grew silent and uncomfortable as I waited for the professor or another student to challenge this judgmental comment. I spent a few moments trying to collect my thoughts so that I could respond without it coming off as angry or condescending. After a few moments, I worked up the courage to say something. Nobody else held a hand up, so I raised mine, only to discover that the moment had passed, the subject had changed and we were discussing a new topic. I sat in my seat frustrated yet again. Why didn’t anybody say anything? Why couldn’t I respond faster? These conversations are inherently difficult for all of us…to continue reading visit http://embracelifefully.tumblr.com/ or see below…
Paper Product Drive for Christ Central
Donate now until 11/9 The Christ Central provides meals and shelters for the homeless population living in Columbia. They are now having a paper product drive to help support meals that help to ensure that everyone in Columbia has the opportunity to enjoy a warm, nutritious meal. Contact Christina Cobb at cobbca2@email.sc.edu
11/12-11/16 – Student Veterans Week
Green Zone Trainings: The purpose of the Green Zone Program is to train faculty, staff, and students on the potential issues Student Veterans and Active Service Members (ASMs) might face on college campuses and who then in turn identify themselves as a Green Zone Ally by displaying a Green Zone sticker. o Monday, 11/12: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM in Russell House room 315 o Wednesday, 11/14: 2:00 – 4:30 PM in Russell House room 315 o Thursday, 11/15: 5:00 – 7:00 PM in the Thomas Cooper Library room 204 Soldier Girl Screening followed by discussion
Tuesday, 11/13: 5:30 – 8 PM in Sumwalt 213 Yellow Ribbon Pins & Sign The Remember Wall
Monday, 11/12: 11AM – 1PM on Greene Street
Dolor Sit Amet
October is LGBTQ History Month USC will host an array of activities throughout the month – to find out what’s going visit http://www.sa.sc.edu/omsa/files/2012/09/LGBTQ-HistoryMonth.pdf or see below to connect to site
SWSA Peer Mentoring Program Want to meet some new people in the MSW program? Join the peer-mentoring program to be matched up with a first or second year student. Contact Lauren Williams will3559@email.sc.edu
Important Dates 10/8- SWSA Meeting 4:30pm @ SUM 339 5:30pm @ SUM 339 10/9-Register for Human Trafficking Conference
4:30pm @ SUM 339 10/25-Suicide Prevention Prevention Training Visit Student Health services services site or see below
Visit NASW Site or see below
10/29-NASW Government
10/15-BSWSA Meeting 4:15pm @ SUM 330
Government Affairs Meeting
10/22-Diversity Dialogue
Contact We hope you enjoy the matthewjay.wilkie@gmail.com newsletter! Please feel free to submit YOUR thoughts, for the next issue! -Stephanie Clone, Dan Krantz, Kiesha Webb, Teresa Chimienti & Amber Schrenkel 2