September 2020 NASW-NJ FOCUS Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2020 •Vol 30.1

100 YEARS OF (WHITE) WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE. CONTINUING THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY THE ROAD TO NOVEMBER STARTS HERE

NEW DESIGN! AND EVEN BE T TER CONTENT!

A R E AS O F S O C I A L W O R K : M E M B E R M I SS I V E S

F I E L D E D U C AT I O N C O L L A B O R AT I O N

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P R O F E SS I O N A L D E V E LO PM E N T 1 | NJFOCUS • p.37 September 2020

BOARD OF DIRECTORS P R E S I D E N T, Nkechi Okoli 1 S T V I C E P R E S I D E N T, Judyann McCarthy S E C R E TA RY, Ralph Cuseglio N O R T H E A S T R E G I O N A L R E P, Sierra Spriggs S O U T H E R N R E G I O N A L R E P, Miriam Stern

P R E S I D E N T- E L E C T, Widian Nicola 2 N D V I C E P R E S I D E N T, Dawn Konrady C E N T R A L R E G I O N A L R E P, Caelin McCallum G R A D UAT E S T U D E N T R E P, Jennifer Sorensen U N D E RG R A D UAT E S T U D E N T R E P, Jamie Terrone

UNIT LEADERS

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

ATLANTIC/CAPE MAY/CUMBERLAND CHAIR, Janelle Fleming

HUDSON CHAIR, Jillian Holguin

BERGEN/PASSAIC

MERCER/BURLINGTON CHAIR, Miguel Williams

CHAIR, Melissa Donahue

MORRIS CHAIR, Cheryl Cohen CO-CHAIR, Veronica Grysko-Sporer SOMERSET/HUNTERDON CHAIR, Margaret Ryan

CAMDEN/GLOUCESTER/SALEM CHAIR, Danielle Cranmer

MIDDLESEX

SUSSEX/WARREN

CHAIR, Joshua Collins

CHAIR, Dina Morley

ESSEX

MONMOUTH/OCEAN

CHAIR, Felicia Fdyfil-Horne CO-CHAIR, Ravjit Sekhon

CHAIR, Jeanne Koller CO-CHAIR, Denise Gaetano

CO-CHAIR, Afifa Ansari UNION CHAIR , Hannah Korn-Heilner

CHAPTER OFFICE E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R

D I R E C TO R O F M E M B E R S E RV I C E S

Jennifer Thompson, MSW

Christina Mina, MSW

jthompson.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 111

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 hfrench.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 122

M E M B E R S H I P & E D U C AT I O N C O O R D I N ATO R Annie Siegel, MSW asiegel.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 128

cmina.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 117

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

A R T D I R E C TO R Katherine Girgenti kgirgenti.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 129

O F F I C E M A N AG E R Willis Williams wwilliams.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 110

N A S W– N J C H A P T E R O F F I C E 30 Silverline Drive, Suite 3, North Brunswick, NJ 08902, Ph:732.296.8070, www.naswnj.org

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

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HIDDEN HISTORIES: UNCOVERING THE DIVERSE ROOTS OF SOCIAL WORK

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AREAS OF SOCIAL WORK: THE LATEST FROM THE FIELD

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STUDENT CENTER

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ROAD TO NOVEMBER

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MEMBER CONNECT

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MEMBERS ONLY: FREE CEU WEBINAR

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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7 TIPS TO WORK BETTER FROM HOME

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NASW-NJ SWAG

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

TABLE OF

04

on the cover This year marks the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment, enshrining a woman's right to vote. While this was a huge achievement in the U.S., many women, particularly Black women, continued to be disenfranchised by arcane rules and policies, voter intimidation tactics, poll taxes, literacy tests, and threats of violence and death. Today, in 2020, we still have far to go to enact Universal Suffrage.

As noted in an article in National Geographic: "Today the 19th Amendment continues to prohibit states from denying the vote based upon sex, just as the 15th Amendment forbids states from using race when determining voting rights. Yet many American women do not have the unqualified right to vote. As was true in 1920, a woman’s access to the polls is determined by where she lives—and that, because of the United States’ long history of housing segregation, often correlates with her race. A resurgence of voter ID laws, the shuttering of certain polling places, and the purge of voter rolls in some states following a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that rolled back provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have deprived both men and women of color of the right to vote."1 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ history/2020/08/black-women-continuedfighting-for-vote-after-19th-amendment/#close 1

PRESIDENT' S M E S SAG E N A S W- N J : Yo u r To u c h s t o n e in Troubling Times

ADVOCATE FOR THE PROFE SSION CONTINUE TO CONNECT

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4 | NJFOCUS • September 2020

his month I take the opportunity to highlight not only our members and volunteer leadership but the many new things our NASW-NJ Chapter has to offer in line with the changing needs of our profession.

First, I’d like to welcome our new Board of Directors. Congratulations on being chosen by our members to serve and lead the governance of our Chapter. As President, I am honored to serve alongside such a dedicated group of individuals who truly value the profession and the work of the Chapter. I also take this time to acknowledge the contributions of our volunteers who chair our Committees, Units, and Shared Interest Groups (SIGs). Your choice to give your time and talents is appreciated and valued.

For all our new members, as well as the long-term members of our NASW-NJ family, we welcome you and value your choice to join our community. Our members are our heartbeat and we strive to continue to meet your needs and that of the profession. Whether it be through advocacy, professional development resources, or building community, we are here for you. To make the most of your membership, we encourage you to find what interests you and get involved.

As a member, we invite you to engage and participate in our Community Conversations on Race, Responsibility and Reconciliation, in our virtual Unit meetings, and in our brand new certificate programs: the TeleMental Health Certificate and the Advance Care Planning Certificate, as well as our popular Clinical Supervision Certificate program, all now available online.

We have also been able to develop new Shared Interest Groups (SIG) based on your request as a way to create additional space to build community, share ideas, and exchange information. In addition to our long-standing Private Practice SIGs and Healthcare SIG, our new SIGs provide spaces for Macro Social Workers, School Social Workers, Black Social Workers, and Social Workers interested in Criminal Justice and Corrections to come together. We’ll continue to grow our roster of SIGs as interest in additional areas surfaces.

The year 2020 has taken a course different than what any of us may have envisioned. However I am excited and energized to see how we as a Chapter can continue to do our part to provide timely resources, advocate for the profession and the communities we serve, provide professional development, and most of all, build a community. We are driven to provide you with everything you need to call NASW-NJ your true professional home. We invite you to continue to connect with us and share your professional needs as we move forward together.

As always, we look forward to you staying engaged, getting involved, and remaining a part of our collective voice.

Sincerely,

Nkechi

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S M E S SAG E H o w A r e We R e p p i n g Y o u ?

STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY STRONGEST TOGETHER

Friends and Colleagues, Over the past several weeks I have heard from many of you-via email, calls and texts, on our zoom calls and on our social media accounts, with feedback on how we as an Association are doing in representing you, our profession. You have shared your thoughts on our position regarding police reform, social workers in policing, our racial justice work and advocacy efforts. Your feedback has been both supportive—but also challenging—calling on us to do more, dig deeper and look at issues through different lenses.

You have used Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. There have been open letters to editors, joint letters issued through major media outlets and groups organizing around the nation. This is advocacy, in its truest form.

We have read every single post and story.

We have joined calls and listened in. While sometimes the messages have been hard to hear, I am always humbled and inspired that my colleagues care deeply and engage as agents of change—that you do not shrink, that you do not hide. You rise and organize.

With more than 22,000 social workers in New Jersey, there will undoubtedly be differing opinions. Much, if not all of our work is nuanced, and we will not always reach consensus on challenging issues as a profession. That’s ok. But as your Chapter, we will always listen-that is our commitment to you, as our colleagues.

In September 2020, I will begin hosting monthly Lunch with the Executive Director calls—a series of listening sessions for all social workers. This is an opportunity for you to continue to offer feedback in a productive and open way. It is an opportunity for us to listen more intentionally and talk about things that impact social workers in New Jersey.

These lunches require pre-registration, but are free—and have no agenda. I invite you

to join me for these collaborative conversations with the goal of strengthening our community.

Our goal as a Chapter is for every social worker in New Jersey to be a member - because we believe that every voice is valuable, that your thought leadership is critical, and that our differences of both perspective and approach serve only to make us stronger. I invite you to reach out to me to volunteer to serve on Chapter committees and join us in conversation.

And If you’d like to become a member, you can do so here socialworkers.org/ nasw/join.

Regardless of membership, we will continue to meet you where you are at, listen respectfully and demonstrate our value as an Association. We will continue to welcome challenges and dissent from the field and join in partnership with you to create change.

Thank you for demonstrating, time and again, that social workers are fearless and tireless. Thank you for being willing to lean-in, to rumble with discomfort and help us all grow. Thank you for showing us new platforms and spaces to connect and for creating the good trouble in the world.

We are strongest together.

In Solidarity,

Jennifer

5 | NJFOCUS • September 2020

Hidden Histories: UNCOVERING THE DIVERSE ROOTS OF SOCIAL WORK

EUGENE KINCKLE JONES

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ecent discourse among the social work profession has focused on the “white washing” of social work history and education. Social work courses that discuss the history of social work often focus on the formative writings and work of individuals such as Jane Addams, Mary Richmond, Frances Perkins and other white social work luminaries. The website bestmswprograms.com features a list of “50 Notable Social Workers in U.S. History,” 42 of whom are white.1 The Wikipedia page for “social work” mentions only two American social workers by name: Jane Addams and Mary Richmond.2 A 2014 blog posted on the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work website cites the “9 Most Influential Women in the History of Social Work,” all of whom are white.3 And a 2018 blog available on the Rutgers University School of Social Work website offers a list of “Influential Women in the History of Social Work.”4 of the 10 women listed, all but one, Dorothy Height, are white.4 Over the next years’ worth of FOCUS issues, we’ll be digging deeper into the historical archives (thank you internet!), beyond the usually cited names, to bring to light the stories of lesser known individuals, primarily persons of color, who have helped move the profession of social work forward, as well as society as a whole. This series of articles does not intend to deny the contributions of commonly cited, white individuals to the profession of social work, but rather is intended to raise awareness and create discussion about how we think of social work history and the development of the profession in the U.S.

6 |6NJFOCUS | NJFOCUS •• September September 2020 2020

This month, we turn the spotlight on Eugene Kinkle Jones, former member of the executive board of the National Conference of Social Work (NCSW), and the Executive Director of the National Urban League (formerly known as the League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes) during its early formative years.

can social workers until leaving the board in 1935. During his tenure, he addressed and interpreted the social and economic concerns of the African American community to an integrated national audience.13

Hidden Histories:

Eugene Kinckle Jones ( July 30, 1885 – January 11, 1954) was a leader of the National Urban League and one the seven founders (commonly referred to as Seven Jewels) of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity—the first inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for Black college students—at Cornell University in 1906.5,6

Jones’ father, Joseph Edom Jones, was born to enslaved parents in Lynchburg, VA. He received a private education and eventually rose in the ranks of academia. His mother, Rosa Daniel Kinckle, also of Lynchburg was a graduate of Howard University, was a trained musician, and taught in public schools.7 Jones himself grew up in Richmond, VA in an integrated community. He received a degree in sociology from Virginia Union College and subsequently enrolled at Cornell University, where he earned a master’s degree in Social Sciences with a minor in U NCOVERING THE DIVERS Economics in 1908.8,9

Jones was also a member of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Black Kitchen Cabinet,” a group of a dozen high ranking government officials who served as informal advisors to the President about matters of importance to Black Americans.14

On the tribute website, Alpha for Life, Jones is quoted as saying: “The white race and the Negro race in America are each possessed of heritages and have had racial experience so vastly different. They are given an unusual opportunity to prove the possibilities of a true democracy where different races of mankind may live in peace and harmony, each one giving of his best to the welfare of all and to the glory of God and man.”15 These words still ring true in today’s America. We must strive to honor the histories, narratives, and accomplishments of Americans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds for the better welfare of all.

E ROOTS OF SOCIAL WORK

According to a post by the National Association of Black Social Workers: Jones became an energetic advocate for African Americans and began his lifelong commitment to legitimize the African American social worker’s professional authority. […] With the rapid migration of African Americans to the north, Jones realized the need for more professional social workers to serve the growing population. He, along with other African American social workers, tried to convince white social workers of the need to address the race question. Jones believed the best solution to address racial disharmony was to develop working relationships between the races.10 In 1911, Jones was hired as the first field secretary for the newly formed League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes (renamed the National Urban League (NUL) in 1920). He arranged the first meeting of Black leaders with the American Federation of Labor. He was appointed to the role of Executive Secretary of NUL in 1917 and led the organization until his retirement in 1941. Under Jones’ leadership, the NUL launched a campaign to eliminate barriers to Black employment, including boycotts of companies that refused to employ Black workers.

Jones also focused on expanding career opportunities for young Blacks and worked to raise the profile of Black members of previously segregated labor unions. During Jones’ tenure, the NUL found employment for over 200,000 Black workers. 11, 12 Jones was elected to serve on the executive board of the National Conference of Social Work (NCSW) in 1926, where he continually addressed the accomplishments of African Ameri-

1 https://www.bestmswprograms.com/great-american-socialworkers/ 2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_work 3 https://msw.usc.edu/mswusc-blog/9-most-influentialwomen-in-the-history-of-social-work/ 4 https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/news-events/news/influentialwomen-history-social-work 5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Kinckle_Jones 6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Alpha_Phi_Alpha_ brothers 7 https://www.alphaeast.com/history-of-alpha-phi-alpha/jeweleugene-kinckle-jones/ 8 ibid 9 https://www.nabsw.org/page/SocialWork 10 ibid 11 https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/joneseugene-kinkle-1885-1954/ 12 https://www.alphaeast.com/history-of-alpha-phi-alpha/ jewel-eugene-kinckle-jones/ 13 https://www.nabsw.org/page/SocialWork 14 https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/joneseugene-kinkle-1885-1954/ 15 http://www.alphaforlife.org/Moment__18.html

7 | NJFOCUS • September 2020

Academia

A+

SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION T H E L AT E ST I N A L L T H I N G S AC A D E M I A

THE LATEST IN ALL THINGS ACADEMIA

The Latest i n All Th in gs Aca d e m ia W h a t to Wa tch W h a t We D i g

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Academia

Ericka Deglau, PhD and Dorothy Gioia, PhD

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riting has always been an integral part of social work practice but COVID-19 has altered the writing experiences of social work students and professionals. As social work programs have moved to remote instruction and field internships have been reconfigured, students are likely doing more writing to satisfy academic requirements. For many students isolated at home, the increased demands for written work may heighten existing feelings of anxiety regarding their writing skills. Similarly, social work practitioners working remotely, at least in part, may face new and different demands in the written components of their work and writing in isolation may raise comparable unease. Even social workers comfortable with their writing skills may feel unique stresses during this health crisis that may interfere with their writing process.

Writing can be an important tool for self-care and reflection about what is going on around us. Putting our thoughts on paper (or screen) can help us process our emotions and cope with the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and the social justice issues that have arisen in its wake. Writing collaboratively can mitigate the sense of personal isolation many of us feel, provide an avenue to deeper critical thinking, and inspire us to action.

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HEAR YOUR VOICE

Academia

Developing self-awareness of your voice, that is, how you communicate both verbally and in writing, is the place to start. You probably speak and write in multiple contexts, with family, friends, at work, and on social media. Recognizing changes in tone through the words and phrases you use, the sentences you construct, and how you navigate between these different contexts is a strength in itself. These are skills in codeswitching. They demonstrate the value of your communicative experience and counteract any negative perceptions you may have about your writing ability, whether rooted in past educational experience, a preference for verbal over textual communication, or a disconnect with mainstream linguistic expectations. Exploring and developing an appreciation of your cultural and linguistic background and the strengths of your voice can help you reformulate your writing to express ideas effectively in the social work discipline.

MATCH LANGUAGE TO CONTEXT The challenge for writers is to learn how to articulate and support ideas in a way that is accessible to the intended audience. The best way to match language to context is to be alert to the purposes, components, and expected style and audience for each writing task. In social work, stylistic differences vary for reflective writing, case studies, policy analysis, and research papers, as well as case documentation, psycho-social assessments, grant and report writing, and various types of administrative writing. Familiarize yourself with good examples of each type of writing to see how writers use vocabulary, sentence structure and overall organization to remain focused on purpose and audience.

PERFECT THE MESSAGE A common misconception is that good writing begins with good grammar. This practice unfortunately may reinforce a sense of error and deficiency, thus fostering anxiety and procrastination. When we fixate on writing the perfect, grammatically correct sentence, we may lose sight of whether or not the sentence advances our argument. The point is to focus on grammar last.

Begin by thinking about the purpose of a sentence or paragraph, its connection to the overall argument you wish to make, and the message you wish to convey. Check the overall structure of the text and the logical order of sentences within paragraphs. Having an organizational strategy helps bring clarity and meaning to your writing. Whatever problems remain in sentence structure are likely actual grammatical errors that can be more easily addressed.

Perfecting the message also means varying how your sentences are formed and adding precision to your vocabulary. Good writers are often good readers so try to read every day, not only for content but for ways to expand vocabulary, develop your style, and enhance your ideas. Exchange drafts with others to provide and receive feedback. Keep a journal. Take notes. Rewrite and rewrite.

The more you write and challenge yourself to adapt to new or different contexts, the more fluency in writing you will acquire and the clearer your messaging will become. Words are powerful tools. Finding greater clarity in our emotions, our ideas, and our collective plans can transform us into better practitioners and advocates.

About the Authors:

Ericka Deglau, PhD developed and has directed Rutgers School of Social Work’s Intensive Weekend program, an MSW program

designed for students employed full time in the human services, since its inception in 2006. Contact edeglau@ssw.rutgers.edu for

more information on this article.

Dorothy Gioia, PhD has worked with the program since 2009, as the principal instructor and designer for Writing for Social Workers,

conceived to facilitate students’ transition from the workforce to graduate social work education. She also served as the Associate Director of Rutgers Writing Program.

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Clinical Social Work

Telehealth: The Changing Face of Clinical Practice Due to COVID-19

By Yuko T. Inzana, MSW, LCSW

"In this unprecedented 'social experiment' of the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists will continue to experience both new challenges and great possibilities. "

M

ost people say COVID-19 has changed their lives in unexpected ways. LCSWs in private practice are no exception. Private practitioners had to make sudden and drastic changes to our daily routines and the communication platforms we use to connect with clients in response to the virus. When the pandemic erupted in NJ, I made the decision to move to 100% online practice. I admit, the decision made me anxious. I wondered if I would be able to provide the same or similar level of service to my clients and if my clients would continue to work with me via online therapy.

I initially experienced some technical problems with my new online platform, but surprisingly, the transition was not as bad as I expected. Most of my clients wanted and needed to continue to see me while they were isolated at home. In many cases, the pandemic increased their need to meet with me.

In most online sessions I conducted, I was able to feel connected to my clients through the computer screen nearly as much as with in-person treatment at my office.

As I continued to learn more about telehealth, I discovered some interesting facts.

For instance, computer-based psychotherapy, what we now call telemedicine, has existed for decades. The first “online” therapy session was introduced in 1972 at the International Conference on Computers. And in hospital emergency departments, telemedicine sessions with a psychiatrist have been used for years.

Research consistently indicates telehealth treatment is as effective as in-person treatment.1 However, the majority of therapists I know, did not consider telehealth a primary treatment option prior to COVID-19. Perhaps this was because there was no need for an online option when in-person sessions were working well. Another major obstacle to

conducting online therapy were the reimbursement restrictions and regulations put in place by Medicare and major insurance companies. COVID-19 forced insurers to reconsider these restrictions. As we now know, these regulations have been temporarily eased by the government and insurers. Most insurance companies, including Medicare, now reimburse for telehealth treatment. As more and more therapists and clients adapt to telehealth as their primary or preferred mode of treatment, steps will need to be taken to ensure government regulations and insurance company rules continue to allow telehealth as a fully recognized method of treatment.

Many clinical social workers I have spoken with share my belief in the benefits of using telehealth. The ability to see a client virtually in their home can be an additional assessment tool. Some practitioners have told me they feel the client is able to express themselves more comfortably when in their own space.

For family therapy, therapists might be able to see the family’s typical interactions at home more accurately. Although private practitioners with school age children at home might be overwhelmed, in general I have found telehealth to allow more flexibility for family and leisure activities. Therapists I speak with also agree there has been a significant decrease of no-shows and last-minute cancellations. Even when the client forgets their appointment, they can hop into the online platform right away to join a session. Some of my colleagues are considering switching their business to 100% online permanently.

While we have seen various benefits, telehealth is not always a perfect option. If you are a therapist, you understand how frustrating it is to experience a bad internet connection during a session. Also, the client can get easily distracted by their surroundings since therapists do not have control over their environment. In addition, we have to trust clients understand the need to maintain their privacy

even during therapy from their own homes.

Some clients report having a more difficult time connecting with therapists through the barrier of the computer screen. Others might feel increasingly isolated at home and would prefer to see their therapist in person. And it might not be suitable to provide telehealth for a client experiencing or at risk of domestic violence in their home. These are all things we must take into consideration as we continue to adapt to telehealth.

Experts have expressed a possible long-term negative impact on people’s physical and mental health.2,3 In this unprecedented “social experiment” of the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists will continue to experience both new challenges and great possibilities. There are still many unknowns, including whether or not telehealth will become a more standard and recognized method of treatment if and when the virus recedes. As practitioners we must be prepared to adapt our practices, not only to telehealth, but to a potential array of new platforms and treatment modalities that may come our way as we continue to navigate the pandemic.

1 https://www.apaservices.org/practice/ce/expert/ telehealth-practice-psychology

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/ long-haulers-covid-19-recognition-support-groupssymptoms/615382/

2

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/well/ family/young-adults-mental-health-pandemic. html?searchResultPosition=1

3

About the Author: Yuko Inzana, MSW, LCSW is the owner of Across the Bridge, LLC in Princeton, NJ. She is the facilitator for NASW-NJ’s Mercer/ Burlington Private Practice Shared Interest Group (PPSIG).

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Race & Justice

The State of Our Children in the Time of COVID-19

By Nicole Epps "Pandemics can be the mirror that illuminates the inequities in our society."

I

n light of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Toyin Salau and the unnamed, undocumented killings of many other black lives, the discussion of race in America is at an inflection point. The role race has played in the systemic and institutional bias present in our country is also reflected in the field of social work.

For too long, social work has prescribed to progressive ideals that often led to the further marginalization of minorities and communities of color. I would argue the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racism have led to the increased vulnerability of children of color.

The renewed focus in social work on diversity, inclusion and anti-racism training is often at the expense of the reality facing our children of color. There is also a need for training specific to the trauma faced by children of color and their learned experience. Currently, children of color disproportionately make up our child welfare system. The victim of child sexual exploitation, for instance, is much more likely to be a minority girl who may also be a survivor of child sexual and physical abuse. This same child may be born into a multi-generational family of abuse with housing and income instability. The rates of child abuse and neglect are five times higher for children in families with lower socio-economic status.1 And now, COVID-19.

Pandemics can be the mirror that illuminates the inequities in our society. COVID-19 has revealed the true inequities prevalent in access to health care, government response, job insecurity and mental health challenges caused by the internal and external stressors of the day. The move to remote learning has made our children even more vulnerable to their abusers in both real life and the digital space.

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COVID-19 has enabled abusers to continue to abuse unfettered without the safety net that can be provided by schools, coaches, responsible adults, and mandatory reporters.

RAINN (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) reported that since the pandemic began, 4 out of 10 callers who accessed their hotlines were minors. Of these minors, 46% were disclosing their abuse for the first time. 2 Additionally, our children can be further victimized due to increased time in the online space. Tech companies have reported more than 70 million online photos and videos of children being sexually abused compared to 45 million the previous year. The proliferation of child sexual abuse materials has exploded since the pandemic began in March 2020. In April alone, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children registered four million images and videos of child sexual abuse material online compared to 1.2 million images in April of 2019.3 Children are spending more time online for school, entertainment, and gaming and so too are the predators who now have a plethora of potential victims.

On a personal level, as a woman of color and a mother, there has never been a scarier time to parent. I struggle daily with balancing my daughter’s and my well-being in the face of a pandemic that has transformed daily life. I am additionally burdened with maintaining my daughter’s innocence while preparing her for a life in a country, the United States, that was not created to value her body and her life. For many black parents, we have had to navigate and lead difficult discussions with our children about race that closely echo the lessons taught by our parents. We know that in this country there may be no safe space for our children from those who, whether

they are in positions of authority or not, may end our children’s lives as quickly as Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin's. The experience of Megan Thee Stallion, who was fearful of disclosing her assault for fear that the police would kill her and her friends because there was a gun in the car, reflect the reality for far too many of us. My daughter will have to learn to navigate where and how she is able to remain safe while inhabiting her beautiful black body.

As social workers we adhere to ethical principles to respect the integrity of human lives and center our practice on the needs of our clients. During and post-COVID-19, we have a responsibility to ensure that our most vulnerable children have access to resources and tools that can keep them safe online and in real life. We also have a particular obligation to address the mental health challenges unique to communities of color and to make space for our voices to be heard, our concerns to be addressed and to implement programs that serve our specific needs. We owe this to our children.

US Department of Health & Human Services, Admin istration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2020)

1

2

World Childhood Foundation Grant

3

https://broadbandcommission.org/Documents/work ing-groups/ChildOnlineSafety_Report.pdf

About the Author: Nicole G. Epps is the Managing Director of Programs and Policy at the World Childhood Foundation USA. She is pursuing her MSW Class of 2021 at Rutgers University School of Social Work.

By Mayor Teresa Kelly, LCSW

"Assessment. Engagement. Intervention… that sounds a lot like social work to me."

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e live in a democracy. And for this form of government to work well, it requires the participation of all citizens. Civic engagement is part of our social contract with each other. It is our responsibility not only as citizens, but as social workers. We can participate in government in many ways, including by participating in elections, becoming elected leaders ourselves, attending or being appointed to public committees, and attending government meetings. In the social work profession, a large amount of attention is directed towards engaging social workers in state and federal level politics. However, it is at the local level (municipal and county) where social workers can have the greatest public impact.

Many politicians in our country, particularly at the highest levels of government, have made careers of public service. However, at the local level of government, most elected officials hold full-time jobs in addition to their positions as public servants.

I currently serve as the Mayor of Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County. I also have my LCSW and work full-time for the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission.

My involvement with local government began over 30 years ago, while I was a college student. I observed a lack of recreational facilities in the area where I lived. So, I contacted our local Township Committeeman to inquire how additional facilities could be brought to my part of town. He suggested I conduct a survey to learn how other residents felt about the idea and the types of facilities they would enjoy. I took the opportunity to incorporate the survey into a class project and ultimately presented the plan and its recommendations to the Township Committee during one of their monthly meetings.

This turned out to be the beginning of a long process and education in civics. Some of the issues my project faced included a lack of available Township land to put the recreational equipment on, as well as budget and funding issues. Government

Macro Social Work

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS SOCIAL WORK

does not work fast; it required a lot of patience and follow through to nurture my project. It took about one year to purchase the land and several years to add a basketball court and eventually a tennis court and hockey court. We obtained green acres loans and grants to help pay for the project over a 20-year period.

During this process, I was appointed to the Township Recreational Committee, which I served on for a few years. This was my true introduction to local politics and the start of my long commitment to local governance. As a result of my experience with the Recreational Committee, I was eventually contacted by a local political party to run for a Township government seat. The previous year, the person who ran lost by 13 votes. If you’ve ever doubted that every vote counts, I assure you at the local level, each vote is crucial.

I was initially reluctant to run for office. I was working fulltime and taking courses for my MSW program at night. However, with the support and encouragement of a friend, I took the plunge. He filed all the campaign paperwork for me. We went door-to-door campaigning on weekends with the help of our local Democrat group. They also helped with fundraising we needed to purchase lawn signs and advertising. The door to door canvassing was helpful—I got to meet many residents of my town and learn about the problems and issues they were facing. We registered unregistered voters so their voices could be heard. And I told them how I could help and asked for their support so together we could create the change they desired. It was like “Community Organizing 101.”

We won that election and I began serving a three-year term on the Township Committee in 1992. I was, as it turns out, the first woman elected in the Township. During my first five years in office, I took courses in “Power and Duties of Municipal

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Macro Social Work

Government” to help me understand how local government works. My friend and I brought some ideas from the class back to the Township Committee. They were not met with enthusiasm, to say the least. The entrenched establishment would say, “well, this is how we’ve always done things.” Our response: “yes, but this is the way things should be done.”

We continued to push for change. Thirty years later, I’m still engaged in local politics. As Mayor, I strive to be the best public servant I can to all the constituents of my town, regardless of political affiliation, and to conduct Township affairs in an open and transparent manner. I firmly believe this is the right thing to do.

Former U.S. Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, is known for saying “all politics is local.” He was correct. For social workers to have the strongest impact, we need to be involved at the local level. This doesn’t have to mean running for local office; that’s just the path my civic engagement took.

However, it began with the identification of a need in my community and a desire to do something to meet that need.

Assessment. Engagement. Intervention… that sounds a lot like social work to me. I encourage you to consider, how as a social worker, you can be more civically engaged. We have the skills. We have the passion. Our voices are needed now more than ever.

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Areas of expertise: • Close relationships, marriage and resilience family interactions • Development across the lifespan/life-course • Diversity, inclusion • Prevention, science and translational science • Social justice

About the Author: Teresa Kelly, LCSW is an Eligibility Analyst at the New Jersey Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission. She is also the recently elected Mayor of Buena Vista Township, NJ.

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Healthcare Social Work

Racial Disparities in End of Life Care

By Lori Feldstein

N

ew Jersey is the worst state to die in. In their most recent published report, the Dartmouth Atlas Project revealed that end-of-life (EOL) care in NJ is both quantitatively and qualitatively different than that provided to patients in other states. In NJ, patients near the end of life receive more aggressive medical care than those in any other state, at a cost 20% above the national average and often, that high-intensity care is unwanted and burdensome to patients and their families.

While there has been some improvement in the last few years, EOL care today is being reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and our country’s awakening around racial and economic injustice.

Most Americans nearing death don’t have access to palliative services and good EOL care, but for those underserved populations hardest hit by the coronavirus, including African-Americans and Latinos, the gap is even wider. EOL care decisions are difficult for most families for a variety of reasons, including poor advance planning, complex family communications and low health literacy. For African-Americans and Latinos, there are additional challenges such as limited access to information and language barriers. Accessibility, health literacy, language issues and cultural differences negatively impact the care that minority patients receive at the end of life. These barriers coupled with the realities of a global pandemic that disproportionately affects Blacks and Latinos results in too many of New Jersey’s minority patients unnecessarily suffering.

It is well documented that Black and Latino patients nearing the end of life are more likely to be hospitalized and receive intensive, aggressive, life-prolonging treatment rather than palliative or hospice

care. Compared to whites, minorities are less knowledgeable about advance directives and less likely to complete them. In addition, minority populations may not be made aware of palliative or hospice care options and therefore, too few are benefitting from these services. As of 2014, Medicare hospice use was highest among white decedents (49.7%), followed by Hispanic (41.3%), African American (37.5%), and Asian American decedents (33.7%).

...social workers are uniquely positioned to play a key role in ensuring that patients receive the care that they need...

The reasons for this are complicated. Clinicians may, unintentionally, bring implicit biases to EOL care conversations which create barriers and obstacles to providing advance care planning (ACP) services and access to end-of-life care services. In addition, clinicians are not always aware of or sensitive to the different communication preferences of patients from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and there’s a scarcity of culturally sensitive educational material.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and our country’s awakening around racial injustice, particularly with regard to the significant disparities in healthcare among racial and ethnic minorities, social workers are uniquely positioned to play a key role in ensuring that patients receive the care that they need and no less, and the care they want and no more.

Generally, social workers work with seriously ill patients and their families in three major aspects. They are called upon to: address psychosocial and spiritual concerns, facilitate the ACP process or formulate advance directives (ADs), and provide grief counseling

for pre-bereaved or bereaved family members.

Social workers are typically well-trained in the areas of cultural competence, psycho-socio-spiritual intervention, and grief counseling, even if they are not involved in EOL care practice. Education on ACP procedures and associated issues are not as prevalent in social work curriculum and remain an area of uncertainty for many social workers.

To address these knowledge gaps, NASW-NJ and Goals of Care Coalition of NJ (GOCCNJ) have created an Advance Care Planning Certificate Program. This multi-modal program offers 10 CEU credits and involves foundational pre-work assignments, four hours of web-based on-demand training and access to four live webinars with an esteemed interdisciplinary faculty.

As social workers are committed to respecting, valuing, and empowering patients, they are well positioned to lead conversations about EOL care options, and help patients to articulate their personal goals of care and document their decisions. The current COVID-19 and racial injustice crises are driving the work we need to do now. Social workers who successfully complete this certification program will be uniquely qualified to address the significant disparities in EOL care among racial and ethnic minorities by facilitating person-centered, value-based conversations about ACP with members of culturally diverse communities. For more information about our ACP Certification Program, please visit https://events.eventzilla. net/e/10-ceus-advanced-care-planning-certificate-2138797167

About the Author:

Lori Feldstein is CEO and Executive Director of the nonprofit Goals of Care Coalition of NJ (GOCCNJ).

Learn more about their work at www.goalsofcare.org.

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School Social Work

C R I S I S T E A M S H AV E C H A N G E D FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS

By Vicki Scheetz, MSW, ACSW, Ph.D. and Elisabeth Corona, LCSW

W

e are social workers. And social workers are not new to school crisis teams, having designed and implemented various professionally staffed teams for years. Yet, what has changed is our new life as school social workers designing these crisis teams in a COVID-19 world. The switch to full virtual instruction in March 2020 was unprecedented. In a school environment where we cannot be physically present, or at least fully physically present, we must design and implement virtual crisis teams that are effective, equitable, and confidential.

Virtual crisis teams must be carefully crafted.

Knowing that all things old are new again, build your crisis team’s foundation on confidentiality, caring, empathy and respect. Staff that once willingly comprised your crisis teams may not have an interest in another virtual committee.

As such, it may help to begin your virtual crisis team planning by allowing staff who may have been included in the past, the opportunity to pass at this time. Also, recognize that other staff members who were not previously included may find a virtual crisis team a new and valuable opportunity.

Effective crisis teams include representation from various professionals. The given choices of guidance counselors, student assistance coordinators, etc. are the cornerstones of all teams. But knowing the needs and resources of your own specific district allows you to craft a crisis team that is unique to your district and to the students and staff it serves. Think creatively and courageously and use your clinical training to assess potential members and their talents.

Equitable treatment of students, staff and families helps us contribute to a powerful and fair community. Social justice concerns are prevalent in our world and must remain at the forefront of crisis team planning. Designing crisis teams with an eye towards equitable distribution of students, staff, and administration from varied and repre-

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sentative racial and ethnic backgrounds allows us to plan and deliver solutions that are fair and reasonable for all involved.

A key component of a crisis team is the ability to function as a cohesive unit, with everyone involved working as seamlessly as possible. Communication can be challenging when working virtually, but it is important that team members remain informed of crises and incidents, and how these were managed. Technology including videoconference, teleconference, and secure email is vital in ensuring all members remain connected to the team, and each other, during stressful times.

Having access to the proper professional tools, such as mental health assessments or scales and interventions are important in meeting the needs of the school community during mental health crises. Creating an online hub for these items, such as a Google Classroom, ensures that all members have access to these interventions at any time. Self-care techniques, skills, and activities are also important tools to students, families and teachers and can be beneficial in helping to quell anxious feelings. Self-care among crisis team members is also vital, as the work of the crisis team can be difficult, challenging, and ongoing.

Confidentiality is also a primary concern for all crisis teams, whether virtual or in person.

Confidentiality among crisis team members and confidential delivery of services to students and families earns trust and respect from students, families, staff, and administration. Confidentiality among crisis team members should be addressed in each virtual crisis team meeting.

It is not a topic that can be disregarded with an assumption that the consequences of breach of confidentiality are understood. Maintaining appropriate, professional boundaries should be considered and addressed in each team meeting so all members are continually reminded that, while we are dependent on the use of technol-

ogy and other means of communication in a virtual world, we should be self-aware of when and how lines could be blurred throughout the course of our work. Consider, for instance, the rise of social media over the past decade and its influences on the way we deliver clinical care grounded in ethical practice.

School settings are a multi-layered and multi-leveled system. As school social workers, our primary concern is for our students.

We work to integrate a successful school environment for all our students that includes administration, staff, and community outreach.

COVID-19 has challenged us to stretch our clinical training and knowledge of practice in a traditional setting to accommodate unexpected and rapidly changing education environments.

We now must work differently, creating and implementing new processes and procedures, while maintaining the core ethics, principles, and goals of school social work. But a virtual setting will not limit us. We are not just change agents. We adapt to unforeseen change and use its edge to sharpen and enhance our practice. Whether in schools or virtually, we are social workers, and we will find a way to help our clients thrive.

About the Authors: Vicki Scheetz, PhD, ACSW is a school social worker in the Ocean City, NJ Public Schools.

For nearly 30 years, she has worked with special education students at every level of development.

Elisabeth Corona is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a NJ Certified School Social Worker. She currently is the District Crisis Coordinator for Millville Public Schools.

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Student Center

STUDENT RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF PANDEMIC

By Jennifer N. Sorensen, MA, CPS, CPRS, DRCC, MSW Class of 2021 and Jamie Terrone, BSW Class of 2021

I

f the COVID-19 pandemic has required anything of society, it is resilience. One reason we, the authors, are proud to be social work students is the constant resilience exhibited by those in our profession. The landscape of social services and resources is always going to be in flux. Regardless of our specialization and scope of practice, we are obligated to adapt and stay informed. Social workers are no strangers to challenges and obstacles, whether we are decades into this work or still in school. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shrouded this already challenging field with the overwhelming specter of instability, discomfort, and anxiety. For social work students our academic years are supposed to serve as the foundation upon which we will build our social work careers.

COVID-19 has stolen that opportunity from us and many other students. Rather than focusing on academic learning and growth, students have been forced into an ever-changing landscape of school openings and closings, of virtual learning and truncated field placements, and of trying to balance our own personal fears and worries during this pandemic atop

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the online coursework and our other responsibilities including jobs, internships, and families.

One of our professors once said therapists need to be “solid, unmovable objects for our clients.” That is, we must be consistent and stable throughout their journey to recovery, like boulders on the shore withstanding waves and storms.

If we are unshakable, clients can be too.

Prior to COVID-19, this was a role we both fulfilled with honor; withstanding storms with clients has been incredibly rewarding. But as we start to prepare for our next field placements, our own immovability is challenged. We do not know how to remain unmovable when the raging storm hasn’t stopped in months, the end of the storm can’t be seen on the horizon, and we could be pulled from the water at any time if rates of infection go up again. It is hard to be constant when we are all at the mercy of a global pandemic.

We imagine our fellow students are sharing the same concerns, so we’ve come up with a list of affirmations to help you

navigate the new school year. We may be new in the field, but a lifetime of adversity and recovery has taught us some things to stick to if (and when) times get tough.

1. IT’S TEMPORARY. This is especially true for students – our field placements, our classes, and our complete lack of free time are temporary.

This was true before COVID-19, but it’s especially true now. In March, many universities ended field placements – at first temporarily, then for the rest of the semester. Many of us probably got into the routine of letting clients know that we were interns who would be with them until late April, only to suddenly leave them immediately. We do not say “it’s temporary” only to remind you the pandemic is (hopefully) short-lived, but also to remind you that the present circumstances may mean we can be removed from placement and in-person classes early again. Be transparent and realistic in your practice because things change quickly.

GUESSED IT –

UNPRECEDENTED. Yes, we long for a time in which we never have to hear or read that word again, but perhaps we should reframe this buzzword to remind ourselves that we are doing the best we can in an unprecedented time. Our profession truly hasn’t faced anything like this in the modern era. Nobody knows where this is headed or what the ideal course of action is because it’s never been done before.

So, all we can do – and one of the only things that is within our control as social work students – is to do our best. We’re all in this together, we’re all figuring it out at the same time, which means we’ll all rebuild at the same time as well. It is also important to understand that while students are unsure, the rest of the world - including our field instructors, professors, and mentors - also do not know what is going to happen. We’re all in this together. It is okay to feel your emotions but also remember to be patient and kind to yourself and others during this time.

3. WHEN IN DOUBT, SEEK SUPERVISION.

example, it’s ok to admit you don’t know off-hand the side-effects of medications, or if there were non-12 step meetings in a certain town, or which public assistance programs clients would likely be eligible for, because you know at the very least that you can figure it out. But the pandemic has switched our thought patterns from “I don’t know, but at least I can find out” to “I don’t know… and I don’t think anyone else does either!” And that is a lot to sit with!

But it’s still ok to not know. It’s also ok to not know where you want to go from here personally and professionally. Specifically, BSW students are navigating the very beginning of their careers, and they may not know for sure where they will end up or what the field will even look like when all of this is over. MSW students have to navigate licensing exam issues (which are changing by the minute) as well as securing field placements that are still willing to take interns. We are trying to map out the rest of our lives, but any semblance we once had of future goals and plans has been disrupted. This is really difficult – we’re not sugarcoating that. But it’s still ok to not know.

5. YOU WILL LEARN AND GROW AS A

what this new world entails and how to navigate it.

We are social workers, not superheroes. Just like every other human right now, we have no choice but to sit with the temporary, the unprecedented, the unknown. We’re going to have hard days. But we can still be resilient, adaptable, and empathetic in the face of COVID-19. The world has changed, but our core values have not. As social work students, we have the ability to not only overcome our own personal struggles with everything going on, but also the power to help others. We will come out of this as a strong, compassionate, and dedicated group of social workers because of our ability to adapt during these uncertain times.

Student Center

2. THIS IS ALL – YOU

Just do your best. That’s all we can do.

SOCIAL WORKER.

As social work students, there is no way we have all the answers. From first year undergraduate students to Master’s candidates, we are going to make mistakes. We are going to be uncomfortable, overwhelmed, and tested. This is why supervision exists. Professors, supervisors, mentors, and even peers are there to help. They may not have answers either, but they can help process all these new experiences and uncertainties. You earned a spot in whatever program or field placement you’re in – your questions are valid! So, don’t be afraid to ask.

About the Authors:

Regardless of whether your classes or internship are online or in-person, there is still much to learn from everything going on. COVID-19 has hit students hard, forcing every field to adapt in ways they never saw possible. Social work students, especially, have learned to balance school and internship from home. Regardless of what this semester throws at us, social work students are prepared to overcome the adversity because of our passion for the profession.

Jennifer Sorensen is the Graduate Student Representative to the NASWNJ Board of Directors and a student at Rutgers University.

4. IT’S OK TO NOT KNOW.

DOUBT YOURSELF AS A STUDENT.

We are told that it’s ok to tell clients we don’t have answers to their questions, but we would find out the answer and get back to them. It’s honest and it builds credibility and rapport. But the act of acknowledging what you don’t know can be stressful during the pandemic. For

Experienced social workers are also struggling to adapt during this time; please do not be afraid as students to offer your ideas and your insight in your placements and in your academics. COVID-19 has made students of us all—we’re all learning

Jamie Terrone is the Undergraduate Student Representative to the NASWNJ Board of Directors and is a student at Monmouth University.

6. ABOVE ALL, DO NOT

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My name is Amy Kennedy, and I’m running for Congress in New Jersey’s second district. I’m a fourth generation South Jerseyan, a mother of five, a former public school teacher and a mental health advocate.

As a little girl, I was inspired by my parents’ dedication to service and education. I was an educator for over a decade and saw first-hand the impacts of mental health on children and families in our community.

I never envisioned running for Congress, but when Jeff Van Drew switched parties, I knew that South Jersey was in need of a leader that would fight for the needs of our community.

Like many of you, I see how South Jersey has been overwhelmingly impacted by mental health issues, while at the same time struggling to provide the services our communities need. I’ve also seen the devastating impacts of a broken criminal justice system and the repeated attacks on access to affordable health care in our communities.

In Congress, I will be a strong partner to NASW working hand in hand with you to fight and protect the Affordable Care Act, improve mental health care, fight poverty, address our broken criminal justice system, expand treatment for substance use disorders and chronic illness and to give our children the tools they need to succeed throughout their lives.

I know NASW works tirelessly to serve the communities of New Jersey, and it is an honor to have your endorsement. Even amidst a global health crisis—one that makes your jobs much more difficult and much more important—you all have risen to the occasion to provide communities with services and support.

NASW PACE Endorsed Candidate

A M Y K E N N E DY

D

ear NASW Members,

I know firsthand how important social workers are for our health, well-being and strength as a community. In Congress, it will be my privilege to stand up for the social workers of South Jersey and honor your work by providing you with the support and resources you need in these challenging times.

-Amy Kennedy, Democratic Candidate for Congress -Amy Kennedy, Democratic Candidate for Congress

VOT E A M Y K E N N E DY F O R CONGRESS IN NJ-02

By Dr. Julia Hankerson, LCSW

I

have been a Social Worker for almost 35 years, and I have had a Clinical License for almost 25 years. Throughout the years I have seen our role in society evolve and become more significant. Primarily we have had two functions: 1) to help people and 2) to be change agents.

Early in my career, I recognized the importance of orchestrating change in our society to dismantle a system of racism and social injustices. As I studied the movements of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Congressman John Lewis, I soon recognized the power of the vote and the importance of electing folks who care about us—their constituents—more than their pursuit of power, prestige and money. This realization has led me to my choice for bringing much needed change to South Jersey.

The choice I have made today is to support the campaign of Amy Kennedy for Congress.

I met Amy at a forum with all the other candidates running in the NJ-02 Democratic primary. The other candidates were very polished with fancy credentials and frankly, I was impressed… until they began to speak. The two other candidates spoke about their credentials and their educational and career experience, and again I was impressed. But when Amy began to speak, she spoke

about real life issues and problems that common folks are actually experiencing. And then she had solutions to the problems that made sense. That’s when I recognized that she was a real candidate who cares about real folks and that’s when I recognized that I not only had to support her, but she had to win!

Mental health issues and trauma are at the very core of many of our societal woes and can exacerbate crime and racial tensions.

A clear understanding of the origin of these issues is required to properly develop viable solutions. Amy Kennedy has a background in elementary education which has allowed her to observe how many of these issues originate in childhood. And she knows if we have the proper resources in place, we will be able to address these issues.

Amy not only recognizes and supports mental health interventions in our schools, but also recognizes that interjecting mental health supports—as provided by qualified mental health professionals— into our criminal justice system will allow impacted individuals to focus on change and healing, rather than on disenfranchisement and punishment.

To have a person like Amy, who understands mental health issues in our society, and to have her creating and supporting legislation that supports better mental health for all will greatly benefit our efforts as social workers.

So, I hope we as the social workers of South Jersey can stand together to support Amy Kennedy for Congress!!!

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ANDY KIM

NASW PACE Endorsed Candidate

A NOTE FROM C O N G R E S S M A N A N DY KIM (NJ-03)

I

n a time as difficult as this, I am honored to be endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers. I am humbled by the trust your organization has placed in me to work every day for you and the communities you serve, and I am excited to work to earn the support of each and every one of you between now and election day.

I have seen the incredibly important work social workers do right here in my own community of Burlington and Ocean County. In the fight against COVID-19, social workers are in all of our most critical places: from our community education forums to our mental health providers, our schools and government to our veteran services centers. I have also watched as social workers stood on the front lines fighting for desperately needed social change. In the movement for better health care at more affordable prices, the fight for racial justice and equality, and the struggle for policies that ensure our seniors can age with dignity and confidence, social workers have led the way.

What I see in this kind of work is a dedication to service and a commitment to turning ideas into action. Social workers ask how they can help those who need it most, and then they work until their promise is delivered. That spirit, that promise to your community, is an ethic I hope you see in my work in Congress.

I share your fight for affordable and accessible health care, for access to high quality mental health care and substance abuse programs, and for policy that keeps our communities and our children safe from gun violence.

In Congress, I work every day to put partisan politics aside and show up to actually get things done. I ask how each and every vote I take will affect my community, and the answer to that question guides my ultimate decision. I don’t promise that I have all the answers, but what I promise is that I will do everything in my power to help the people I represent.

Thank you for everything you do, Congressman Andy Kim

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VOT E A N DY KIM FOR CONGRESS IN NJ-03

by Robin Bilazarian, LCSW

Why should you care about Congressman Andy Kim? This is not only about District 3, Burlington and Ocean Counties of NJ. This is about keeping a knowledgeable, progressive humanitarian voting in the house for legislation that is civilized, fair, compassionate, not divisive, and consistent with family, working and middle-class social work values.

He takes no corporate donations and all his supporters are individuals.

He is the epitome of hard work - hosting 22 town halls in his first term.

Is Andy Kim qualified?

Andy Kim, who is running for his second term congressional seat from District 3, the district where he attended K-12 public school, is a Rhodes Scholar. He functioned as a National Security Expert serving Generals David Petraeus and John Allen in Afghanistan. He previously operated as the Director for Iraq and the Counter-ISIS fight at the White House National Security Council and Pentagon under Bush and Obama.

What does he stand for?

Andy advocates for progressive stances to make America better. He marched in the Black Lives Matter protests, wants to help fight the racial divide and voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. He is a member of the House Progressive Caucus.

In his first term, Andy serves on the bipartisan Select Committee for Coronavirus Relief and Recovery, pushing for the availability of quick-results testing, money for PPE, benefits for small businesses, scientific decision making, and guarding against profiteering.

He is the cosponsor of the LGBTQ Equality Act, serves on the House Small Business Committee, opposes offline drilling to protect the beautiful NJ shore, fights for veterans and military families. He appreciates and fights for affordable healthcare and education, money for safe schools, and advocates for gun safety measures. He is involved in criminal justice and police reform. He held a town hall addressing the opioid and addiction problem.

Support Andy Kim for Congress We are trying to hold onto an empathetic, highly educated Congressman, with major government service background, who votes in Congress to advocate for all of us and to preserve social work and progressive values. Your vote if you live in District 3 or your campaign support for those who live elsewhere is greatly appreciated.

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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!

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MEMBER CONNECT

DID YOU KNOW YOU’RE PART OF A UNIT?

No? What’s a Unit? We’re glad you asked!

W

hen you join the Association, you are automatically assigned a smaller geographic group—based on the address you used when you joined. This group—or your “Unit” has a volunteer leadership team committed to providing local programs and events

and can answer so many of the questions you might have about the Association or getting more involved. Units plan monthly events ranging from yoga to educational programs and networking— fostering connections in your backyard. What’s better? While our members have always been invited to join Unit events from across the state—COVID has moved us all online—which means that its now even easier to check out and join other Unit events and expand your network. Not sure who your Unit leader is? You can connect with them here—and learn about the events happening in your slice of New Jersey, here.

Upcoming Virtual Unit Events: Morris Unit Event – Let's Talk About Us: Navigating New Territory September 9, 6:00 - 7:00pm Register Union Unit Event September 24, 5:30-6:30pm Save the Date Hudson Unit Event September 25, 4:00-5:00pm Save the Date Mercer Burlington Unit Event October 14, 5:00-6:00pm Save the Date

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MEMBER CONNECT

T

he beauty of our profession is that it is diverse. From academia to private practice, macro social work to healthcare, there is no area that social work does not touch in some way. While we often come together in larger groups—sharing our different perspectives and from different places—sometimes its good to find your smaller group of “people”—social workers with shared interests or areas of practice. These smaller places are a great place to discuss unique challenges and needs in the field, as well as brainstorm on programs and help shape specific learning events that the Chapter hosts.

Over the last several months our Chapter has expanded our Shared Interest Groups to meet your needs—giving you more opportunities to connect and collaborate. These dedicated spaces meet on various schedules (virtually for now) and are busy sharing best practices in school social work, healthcare, and more. We invite you to check out the Shared Interest Groups and join a conversation or program. You can sign up for Shared Interest Group information here.

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MEMBER CONNECT 31 | NJFOCUS • September 2020

MEMBER CONNECT

C O M M U N I T Y C O N V E R S AT I O N S

S

ocial workers play an integral role in our communities, connecting our friends, neighbors and families to critical information, resources, and tools they need to thrive. As an Association, our primary focus is always to support you—our community of professionals, giving you tools, resources to advance your work, and advocating on your behalf. We often ask what else we can do—what more do you need? You have often responded that you would like resources for the community—and also opportunities to give back.

featuring resources for your friends, families, and even organizations. The programs are one-hour virtual conversations with organizational leaders and social workers on a variety of topics including mental illness, resources for families, and understanding white fragility. To date, we have hosted over 5,000 individuals from across the world—engaging in meaningful conversation. The dialogues have been viewed thousands of times on our social media accounts and many social workers share them with their clients as well.

Now, more than ever, your expertise is needed. Whether it’s to help families work through the new world of COVID-19 or giving parents the tools they need to talk about race with young children, social workers are experts on the pressing issues in our community.

Community Conversations are also a way for you to become more involved, volunteering virtually to host and share your knowledge with the broader community. If you would be interested in leading a conversation or learning more, email us at info.naswnj@socialworkers.org

Earlier this year NASW-NJ launched our Community Conversation series. This program is geared toward the broader community,

COV I D - 19 S E R I E S During this COVID-19 pandemic, NASW-NJ has created a series of community-facing resources and webinars designed to connect the public with licensed social workers who can offer support and tools to those who are struggling. Check out these Community Conversations, available for on-demand viewing.

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As with our COVID-19 informational webinars we have also worked to create a variety of free Community Conversations on race, racism, and justice. These discussions are lead by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and cover a variety of topics pertaining to race. Archived recordings of each Community Conversation are available on YouTube and on the NASW-NJ website. These programs include:

MEMBER CONNECT

RACE, RESPONSIBILIT Y, & RECONCILIATION SERIES

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MEMBER CONNECT

THE VALUE OF NASW-NJ MEMBERSHIP

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hat does it mean to be a member of NASW-NJ in 2020? Amidst a global pandemic, a worldwide movement for social change, and an upcoming election, social workers are currently being called upon to provide expertise, step up and take action, and pave the way for a brighter, safer, and more inclusive future. Though this work is not new to our profession, there’s no better or important time to come together as a collective and amplify our voices and our values by being a part of the largest, most influential organization of social workers in the world.

W H AT C A N I T P R OV I D E ?

Advocacy: Social workers speak out and NASW-NJ takes action—whether that’s creating a Call to Action for telehealth expansion in the state of NJ, developing Virtual Advocacy Days to call for police reform, contacting the ASWB to make license exams available online, or meeting with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs to understand pandemic-related licensing delays and develop a plan for the future.

Professional Development: Your membership allows NASW-NJ to develop and provide the resources you need to support your clients, colleagues, and communities-at-large. Since March 2020 alone, NASW-NJ has provided over 60 programs to keep social workers informed, including our Community Conversations, Race, Responsibility & Reconciliation series, Road to November efforts, and continuing education programs.

Your Professional Home: In a time where the terms “social distancing” and “unprecedented times” are becoming the “new normal”, NASW-NJ makes it easy 34 | NJFOCUS • September 2020

for social workers to connect and collaborate virtually through our county-based Unit meetings, Shared Interest Group gatherings, virtual book club, and leadership opportunities within the Chapter.

Being a part of your professional association is much larger than free CEUs or licensing support (though those benefits are still included!), and we invite you to engage with us to learn more about what it means to be a member of NASW-NJ. As social work professionals, you influence the lives of many around you, and you encourage, support, advocate, and inspire your clients, colleagues, and the community to be better.

At NASW-NJ, we work to provide you with the tools, resources, and opportunities you need to keep doing just that.

Interested in learning more?

Call our Member Services at 800-742-4089 or join online at www.socialworkers.org/join

VOLUNTEER WITH

MEMBER CONNECT

G E T I N V O LV E D

US!

Are you ready to strengthen your connection to the profession of social work?

Are you eager to connect with other members and social workers throughout the state?

Do you want to develop your leadership experience while learning new skills?

Great! We’re looking for individuals who are passionate and share a desire to contribute to our Chapter in a meaningful way.

The NASW-NJ Chapter volunteer leadership is composed of social workers just like yourself, who are passionate about our field, our collective purpose, and have a desire to contribute to the dialogue and lend their talents and voices to the betterment of our Chapter.

Here are a few ways you can volunteer with us: • Volunteer in the office. We’re a small, lean-mean team and we are always looking for volunteers who can help us look at data, do research, think through new marketing materials, and attend outreach events. Have a specialty you think we could benefit from? Let’s talk. We’d love to help you find a space to share your talents. We have a limited office presence during COVID-19, but we will have some projects that need work.

• Serve as a Unit Leader. NASW-NJ has 12 units across the state of New Jersey to provide members regionally based networking and educational opportunities. Each unit has a volunteer chair and co-chair to plan and coordinate events that bring value to our members. Units are a crucial way our Chapter engages and connects members! Application process for 2021-2022 Unit Leaders will be open early next year.

• Serve on a committee. These are one-year appointments and committees typically meet by phone or by video conference on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Committees are a great way to learn more about the internal workings of our professional organization and help shape programs and policies. You’ll be a leader in our organization. Sounds great, right? Connect with us to learn more about open committee appointments!

• Serve on the Board of Directors. Lead and serve our organization at the highest level! Board positions are elected by member vote and serve one to two-year appointments.

Our Board meets bi-monthly and is active in conversations, dialogue, and Chapter governance in-between meetings.

We know you have great ideas and passion—we want you to be prepared to share that with us throughout your term!

Application process for 2021-2022 Board Members will be open early next year. Learn more at: www.naswnj.org/ About/Board-of-Directors

Am I qualified to volunteer?

You should be a social worker (but if you’re an associate member and want to run, we can talk with you about those qualifications as well!) and can practice in ANY setting. We know that social workers are in every aspect of our community and we hope our leadership is as diverse as our membership. You do need to be a member of NASW-NJ (of course!) and we certainly encourage you to be active in the Chapter in some capacity.

Sound exciting? Ready to get started or continue your Chapter volunteer leadership journey?

Contact us today about becoming a volunteer! You can email Annie Siegel, Membership and Education Coordinator at asiegel. naswnj@socialworkers.org or complete the form online.

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naswnj.socialworkers.org/ membership/nj-member-freebies

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PROVIDING THE SKILLS TO GET AHEAD

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

UP COMING NASW-NJ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS September – December 2020

Social Work in a School: Leveraging Relationships September 15, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 1.5 Clinical CEUs Register Interactive Exercises to Promote Peaceful School Environments September 17, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 1.5 Clinical CEUs Register Private Practice Boot Camp: Building Your Successful Private Practice September 25, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM This program does not offer CEUs Register Social Workers and Child Welfare in New Jersey during COVID 19: Maintaining the Work and Opportunities for Collaboration September 29, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM 2 Ethics or General CEUs Register Advanced Care Planning Certificate Program September 30, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Note: pre-course work also required) 9 Clinical & 1 Social/Cultural CEUs Register The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) October 14, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 2 Clinical CEUs Save the Date – Registration Opens Soon

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A Child Centered Approach to Divorce and Trauma Coming in October! Date TBD 2 Clinical CEUs Clinical Supervision Course October 22 & 23, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM both days (Note: pre-course work also required) 20 CEUs Register Health Care Social Work Symposium Coming in November! Date TBD Culturally Sensitive Interventions for Asian Americans November 5, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM 2 Clinical or Social/Cultural CEUs Register Fostering Resilience in Latina/O/X Mental Health November 18, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM 2 Clinical or Social/Cultural CEUs Register Clinical Supervision Course December 4 & 5, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM both days (Note: pre-course work also required) 20 CEUs Register ADVANCED CLINICAL - Play-Based Engagement, Rapport Building, and Assessment Techniques for Children December 9, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM 2 Clinical CEUs Register

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Logos

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C

OVID-19 immediately threw many of us into a new world of working from home exclusively—employees, organizations and leadership were all suddenly thrust into a world of Zoom, Skype and the ever pressing question of how we both balance and separate working from our homes, all while many juggled kids, partners, and families in the background.

While New Jersey has made much progress as a state in reducing the spread of COVID-19, it does appear many will continue to work remotely for the foreseeable future. As we all settle into this new way of working, we took some time to ask our experts and friends for the best advice they have on working from home. Here’s a summary of what they had to say.

1.

C H O O S E A D E D I C AT E D W O R K S PA C E .

It’s important to have a space reserved for your work.

For many, this can be hard as space is limited and we are now competing with our partners and children for limited space. Your space can be the laptop on the kitchen table, a small desk in the basement, or even a foldable console table. The idea is that you have a place where you work and that this space is separate from where you spend your non-working time. That mental division is helpful.

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2. S T R U C T U R E YO U R DAY. When working from home, you are your own personal manager. Without things like in-person meetings to break up the day, one can quickly lose time or focus. Schedule specific blocks of time when you are available for Zoom meetings and group chats and when you’ll carve out time for projects, writing, and calls. Zoom can quickly eat up your day and there’s an over-scheduling of meetings people are now experiencing. Scale it back. For instance, take calls in the morning, but leave the afternoons for projects.

4.

6.

3.

Nobody sprints through their work from morning until evening. And with virtual schooling and more demands on your time, you will need to have open and honest conversations with your supervisors about what works best for you. Ask about flexible work schedules and capitalize on your most productive periods, saving your hardest tasks for when you’ll be in the right headspace to tackle them. “9 a.m. is the witching hour for virtual school in my home,” one respondent noted. “My husband is jumping on calls, my son’s teacher is trying to connect, and all the schoolwork for the day is posted. It is chaos in my house, and I do not have the bandwidth to think about critical conversations or projects during that time. Early mornings are great though, so I will jump online before people are awake and get a few projects done.”

TA K E C L E A R B R E A K S .

It can be so easy to get distracted at home that you avoid breaks all together. Don’t let the guilt of working from home prevent you from taking a few minutes of downtime. Rather than just checking social media during a mental break, make it a physical break to stretch and move your body. Get up, go for a walk, prep a meal, water the garden, anything that gets you moving.

WA L K A N D TA L K .

Skip the Zoom videocall and take it by dial-in audio instead. Just because Zoom is available does not mean we always need to be on video. Get outside and walk while on the call. The fresh air and movement are good for your mental and physical health.

W O R K W H E N YO U ’ R E MOST PRODUCTIVE.

5.

PI CK A DE FI N I T I V E FI N I S H I N G T I M E EAC H DAY. You might be under the impression that working from home establishes more work life balance. But be careful—it can also be like a casino. You can get so caught up in the activity that you lose track of time.

Try setting an alarm to remind you it’s the end of the workday. You don’t have to stop at exactly that time, but knowing the workday is ending can help you start the process of saving your work and calling it an evening.

7. L E AV E YO U R H O U S E F I R S T T H I N G I N T H E M O R N I N G Most of us are programmed to leave our homes and head to the office in the morning. The commute is our transition time and without that clear start, it can be difficult to move into the next mental space. A run, a quick walk, popping out to get a cup of coffee—those can be small but powerful signals to our brains that we’re moving on to the next part of our day. “I have a morning Starbucks ritual,” shared one individual. “Every morning, after attending to responsibilities at home, I drive to Starbucks for a cup of coffee. Then I sit in my car in the parking lot with my coffee for an hour while I read the news on my phone or listen to a podcast. It helps replace some of my pre-COVID-19 routine and allows me to spend some time every day someplace other than home.”

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Focus Ad/Image Rates:

FOCUS Classified Rates:

• New larger ads, same rates

• Over 6500 readers

• Over 6500 readers

• Digital delivery

• Digital delivery

• Frequency: 1 issue

• Frequency: 1 issue

• Text only

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• 50 words or less, $100

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Contact:

• 1/2 page: $700 • 1/3 page: $450 • Inside back cover: $2000 • Back cover—limited availability, call for details

wwilliams.naswnj@socialworkers.org, call 732-296-8070, or visit naswnj. socialworkers.org/About/Advertise for more information.

CLASSIFIEDS CLINICAL SUPERVISION CBT Supervision & Training. Congenial group meets every other Friday morning in Cranford. Clinical discussion and suggested readings explore the newest CBT approaches. For further information, contact: Lynn Mollick at LynnMollick@gmail.com or (908) 276-3888. Dr. Mollick is the Co-Founder and Co-Leader of the NJ Association of Cognitive Behavior Therapists.

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NASW Swag

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