Author: SSWAAZ

SSWAA National Conference Update

SSWAAZ Members,

Early in April, the School Social Work Association of America hosted its annual school social work conference in Orlando, Florida. Attendees had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions targeting specific interventions and tools for school social workers. Attendees also heard from excellent keynote speakers, including Myrna Mandlawitz (SSWAA Government Relations Director) and a panel of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was an inspirational conference, and we encourage our members to attend future national and state conferences.

Because of the increased research on ACEs and long-term effects of childhood trauma, we have seen a new pattern emerging in the field of child mental health focusing on neuroscience. An increasing amount of research has shown the benefits of mental health professionals using neuroscience based models in their work with youth. We encourage our SSWAAZ members to continue learning about neuroscience and childhood brain development, as well as use it in your work with students and staff.

In discussing national and state trends and issues with SSWAA board members and state board members from across America, we are all very enthusiastic about the potential school social workers have across the nation. We are at a pivotal point where school safety is on the forefront of many American’s minds. We know that school social workers are critical in creating a positive school climate, as well as providing mental health supports. Much of our nation wants to see more mental health professionals in schools, and we at SSWAAZ want to be a part of this movement!

However, to advocate for our communities, we must recognize there is strength in numbers. SSWAAZ is calling on all members to reach out to colleagues and encourage them to register to become a member of SSWAAZ and SSWAA. We have big dreams to achieve, and we need more members to be successful.

The American School Counselor Association is very actively working with legislation to increase the number of school counselors, and has a large enough membership to fund three lobbyists to support them. Currently, legislation and school safety laws being considered across the nation do not include school social workers.

On behalf of all of us at SSWAAZ, your work is valuable and vital. Let’s work together to become more visible.

Sincerely,

Capella Hauer

SSWAAZ Vice-President

A Message from School Social Work Association of America

“Lucky Enough to be a School Social Worker”:
School Social Workers Enjoy their Vital & Valuable Role in Schools

The week of March 3-9, 2019, marks the celebration of School Social Work Week. With the theme of “Lucky Enough,” school social workers across the country will highlight their vital role in helping students meet the academic, social, and emotional challenges on the road to becoming successful and productive young adults. Under the leadership of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA), the only national organization exclusively dedicated to the profession of school social work, this celebration will emphasize School Social Work contributions of focusing on the “whole-child”, linking families to community resources, a valuable voice as part of the school’s multi-disciplinary team, and advocating for the profession of School Social Work.
“School social workers are Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, working with students and their families, so that children feel supported at home and at school,” said Myrna Mandlawitz, Government Relations Director of the School Social Work Association of America.
Michelle Alvarez, EdD, MSW, President of the SSWAA Board highlights the valuable contribution of the field to school safety stating, “School social workers work collaboratively with school psychologists and school counselors to coordinate and not duplicate services provided to support students and their families. They provide services at school, in the community or through a home visit to best meet the needs of families. Often considered the front-line of mental health services, school social workers can make great contributions to improving school culture and climate, thereby increasing school safety through trusting relationships built with students and their families.”
Christy McCoy, MSW, LICSW, SSWAA Board Member and Legislative Chair commented, “School Social Workers advocate at the school level, community level, state level, and national level for needed change to address the needs of all students.”
“School Social Workers are humble professionals,” said Rebecca Oliver, LMSW, SSWAA Executive Director, “who often are the voice for students and families but do not always voice the value they add to the school community. These same professionals also take great joy in the services and support they are able to offer. They do count themselves as ‘lucky’ to do the work they do.” We join with the students, families, and school staff across the nation in saluting their School Social Workers on the celebration of School Social Work Week 2019!”

Update on HB2562

Important things are happening in Arizona.  Recently, Governor Ducey presented a state budget that includes projected funding for more school-based mental health care.  The language within the budget specifically names both School Social Workers and School Counselors as the best prepared to meet the ever-increasing social and emotional needs of Arizona students.  Additionally, there is a team of folks across the state advocating for better school safety and climate that is prevention-focused and looking to see that funding increase even higher.  Our SSWAAZ President, Emily Phares, will be meeting with this ad hoc committee in April to ensure that the voices of School Social Workers are heard loud and clear.

We recently learned of a new bill introduced by Rep. Pawlik of District 17.  HB 2562 seeks to increase funding for school-based mental health services for Arizona students.  However, the scope of the current draft is specific and limited to certified School Counselors.  SSWAAZ is currently in conversation with Rep. Pawlik asking her to addend the bill to include certified School Social Workers.  We  highly encourage all of you as Social Workers and voters to reach out to her, other co-authors of the bill, or your local Representative and advocate for this change as well.  School Social Workers have significant training and skills to meet the needs of today’s at-risk youth and all students would benefit from an increased presence of both School Social Workers and Counselors working in tandem to provide both prevention and intervention services as this proposed bill outlines.

If you or a colleague are passionate about this or other legislative issues impacting our schools, consider becoming the SSWAAZ Legislative Committee Chair.  For more information, please reach out to any current Board Member. We are excited to see School Social Workers more readily included in conversations around the state with decision-makers and stakeholders.  Let’s keep the trend of finding a seat at the table when it comes to matters of education and mental health!

 

To easily contact your local representative, feel free to use our letter format below (copy and paste):

Ms. Pawlik (Or other representative),

My name is ________.  I am a voting resident of _____and an employee of __________.  I am writing about HB 2562, which you have brought forward for legislative consideration.  I am full in support of increasing the presence of school-based mental health services and supports for Arizona students.  However, I am concerned at the extraordinarily narrow scope of this particular bill. I am writing to request that HB 2562 be expanded to include certified School Social Workers.  School Social Workers have significant training in providing mental health supports to the students they support and are equally if not more equipped to address the shortcomings that this bill is designed to target.

I would welcome the opportunity to have a dialogue with you and your fellow authors regarding this bill and School Social Work in general.  Please feel free to contact me by email_______ or call me at __________.  I very much look forward to hearing back from you.  Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

_________

School Social Work Association of Arizona Affirms the Election of Social Workers Kyrsten Sinema and Katie Hobbs into Office

School Social Workers around Arizona were among many who closely monitored the most recent elections, including the race for the U.S. Senate seat vacated following the retirement of longtime public servant Jeff Flake.  Kyrsten Sinema is an Arizona native and former Social Worker.  Additionally, she taught classes at the Arizona State University School of Social Worker at both the undergraduate and graduate level over the course of 16 years.  She earned her own Master of Social Work degree from the institution in 1999.  It was her commitment to social justice and social policy that drew her into political action and advocacy.  She was first elected to Arizona’s 15th congressional district in 2008 and then the 9th congressional district in 2012 before making her bid for the U.S. Senate in 2018, when she vied against Martha McSally.  Sinema now brings her rich background in Social Work to the heart of Washington D.C. and fellow Social Workers are hopeful that this training and history will help positively influence change on behalf of Arizona and the nation as a whole.

She is joined in public service by fellow Social Worker Katie Hobbs, who was recently elected to the office of Secretary of State for Arizona.  Hobbs earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Northern Arizona University and completed her Master of Social Work degree at Arizona State University.  Prior to serving at Secretary of State, she held the office of both House Representative and State Senator for Arizona beginning in 2011.  Ms. Hobbs was also gracious enough to speak at School Social Work Association of Arizona conference on the importance of Social Work and its connection to action for change and social justice across the state.

The School Social Work Association of Arizona is grateful to both of these women for their commitment to public service and for bringing the value of Social Work to the forefront both here in Arizona and at our nation’s capital.  We are hopeful that the work these two women accomplish will set the precedent for other Social Workers to become actively involved in matters of public service locally and nationally.

New Website

Welcome to our new website! We invite you to take a look around and take advantage of these new abilities:

  • Apply for membership online at https://sswaaz.org/join/register/
  • If you attended our conference, use your discount when paying via PayPal
  • Check back for newsletters posted to our website

 

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome Back! We hope that you all have enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with the things that make you happy and that your 2018- 2019 school year is off to a great start. Here at SSWAAZ, we are excited about what the new year holds! Please note, our e-mail has changed. You may now reach us at sswaazboard@gmail.com

Our website is also being updated. It will be ready to accept registration renewals in the next week, and we will be sure to notify you when it is ready to go. Just a friendly reminder…. your current membership will expire in the end of September 2018 and we hope each of you will stay with us for the 2018- 2019 school year. This past year, especially with the #RedforEd movement, we saw the strength that comes from numbers when professionals remain united to make gains.

We invite each of you to join us for our Annual Open Meeting on Friday August 24, 2018 from 1:00 – 2:00pm The meeting will take place at Central Arizona College in Casa Grande (540 N Camino Mercado). This meeting is open to all SSWAAZ members (and potential members) who would like to attend, hear and/or share input about SSWAAZ’s plans for the upcoming school year, meet other members, enjoy some refreshments, or consider becoming involved on the SSWAAZ board. Our annual elections will be held at the close of the open meeting at 2:00pm. Our 2018 – 2019 board- with both newly elected and existing members will meet from 2:00 – 3:00pm. There are several board positions open. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or for more information.

We look forward to seeing you on the 24th!