maximizing social work’s policy impact in a

MAX IM IZ ING SOC IA L WORK ’ S

POL I CY IMPAC T IN A

CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

R E P O R T F R OM T H E A P R I L 2 6 - 2 7

2 0 1 7 P O L I C Y P R A C T I C E S UMM I T

SPONSORED BY:Coalition for Policy Education and Practice in Social Work

HOSTED BY: NASW Social Work Policy Institute

MAX IM IZ ING SOC IA L WORK ’ SPOL I CY IMPAC T IN A CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Accessing the Summit Report The summit report, graphic recording and video are available at www.SocialWorkPolicy.org and from a link on theCoalition website - www.cswe.org/Centers-Initiatives/Initiatives/The-Coalition-for-Policy-Education-and-Practice-in.

Citation – Social Work Policy Institute. (2017). Maximizing Social Work’s Policy Impact in a Changing Political Landscape.

Additional copies of the report can be downloaded at SocialWorkPolicy.org.

A C KNOW L E DG EM EN T SNASW and the NASW Foundation thank the following:

POLICY PRACTICE SUMMIT SPONSOR

The Coalition for Policy Education and Practice A Project of the Fund for Social Policy Education and Practice —Supported by the Lois and Samuel Silberman Grant Fund of the New York Community Trust

Policy Practice Summit Co-Sponsors > Council on Social Work Education> Network for Social Work Management > Bryn Mawr College> University of Houston> University of Washington

Policy Practice Summit Graphic Recording> Jim Nuttle of Crowley & Co.

Policy Practice Summit Planning Committee> Patricia White (Fund for Social Policy Education and Practice)> Jessica Holmes & Adrienne Walters (CSWE)> JaNeen Cross (Social Work HEALS Policy Fellow)> Sunny Harris Rome (Influencing Social Policy &

George Mason University)> Joan Levy Zlotnik (NASW, Summit Facilitator)

©2017 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction ................................................................................................................................1

Call to Action by Ellen Buchman ..................................................................................................3

National Organizations Perspectives on Influencing Policy in a Changing Policy Environment ........4

Families USA ................................................................................................................4Center for Law & Social Policy (CLASP) ............................................................................4Economic Policy Institute ................................................................................................5

Policy Practice Innovations in Social Work Education ....................................................................6

Context for Policy Practice in Social Work Education ..........................................................7Creating Strong Interest & Involvement in Policy Practice ....................................................7How an NASW Chapter can Promote Policy Practice & be an

Effective Field Placement Site........................................................................................7A Student Perspective on Policy Practice ..........................................................................8

Engaging in Policy Practice: How to be Prepared and Prepare Others ..........................................8

Putting the Code of Ethics to Work in Policy Practice ..........................................................8Tactical Issues for Engaging Practitioners in Policy ............................................................10

Pursuing a Social Justice Agenda ..............................................................................................10

Criminal Justice............................................................................................................10Immigration ................................................................................................................11Racial Equity ..............................................................................................................11Economic Security ........................................................................................................12Healthcare ..................................................................................................................12

Developing an Agenda for Action to Strengthen Policy Connections & Advocacy..........................12

What Can Organizations Do?....................................................................................................13

What Can Social Work Education Programs Do? ........................................................................14

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................15

Appendix ................................................................................................................................16

A. Policy Practice Summit Partcipants..............................................................................17B. Policy Practice Participant Biographies........................................................................19C. Policy Practice Summit Agenda..................................................................................26D. Policy Practice Summit Resources & Links ....................................................................28

TA B L E O F C ON T E N T S

1

The shaping of sound social policieshas long been an important purview

for the social work profession. Policy isan integral part of the social workcurriculum at the BSW and MSW levelsand in a few social work doctoralprograms. Leading social workers haveplayed prominent roles in shapingnational policies from the creation ofthe Children’s Bureau in 1912, throughthe involvement of Harry Hopkins andFrancis Perkins in shaping the pillars ofthe new deal, to Wilbur Cohen in thecreation of Medicare and Medicaid, toWendy Sherman as the chief negotiatorfor the Iran Nuclear Deal. People withsocial work backgrounds can frequentlybe found as staff in governmentagencies, nonprofit organizations, thinktanks, and advocacy groups. They bringtheir person-in-environment perspectiveand ethical code to their work,addressing inequality and inequities.

Despite this policy imperative, it is clearthat there could be overall improvement

in the extent to which social workersactively work to influence policy and toaddress the policy implications of theirwork. In 2015, the Fund for SocialPolicy Education and Practice (the Fund)was created to work in partnership withkey social work and allied organizations“to assess and act on opportunities forchanges in undergraduate and graduatecurriculum, field practice, research andcareer path development so that socialworkers are more cognizant of, andresponsive to, the policy context andclimate of their work.” Supported bythe Lois and Samuel Silberman GrantFund of the New York Community Trust,since its inception, the Fund has seedednumerous initiatives across the socialwork profession, with the goal toimpact BSW and MSW students,doctoral students, researchers,practitioners and social work leaders.

One of the Fund’s key initiatives wasthe creation of the Coalition for PolicyEducation and Practice in Social Work

(CPEP), which brought together severalsocial work education, research, policyand practice organizations to buildexcitement and interest in policy practicein the profession; prepare all socialworkers to engage in policy practiceregardless of field of practice; andcoordinate and connect existing effortsunderway. Coalition members includethe Association of Baccalaureate SocialWork Program Directors; CongressionalResearch Institute on Social Work andPolicy; the Grand Challenges ExecutiveCommittee of the American Academyof Social Work and Social Welfare;Influencing Social Policy (ISP); theNational Association of Deans andDirectors of Schools of Social Work(NADD); the National Association ofSocial Workers; the Network for SocialWork Management (NSWM); theSpecial Commission to Advance MacroPractice in Social Work of theAssociation for Community Organizationand Social Administration (ACOSA);the Race, Ethnicity and Poverty Network

INTRODUCTION

(REAP Centers); the Society for SocialWork and Research (SSWR); theCouncil on Social Work Education(CSWE) and the Fund for Social PolicyEducation and Practice.

The Coalition advisory group suggestedthat a policy practice summit mightserve as a culminating event. It coulddocument what has been learned by thevarious Fund and Coalition activities, tohighlight opportunities for partnershipsbetween advocacy organizations andsocial work education programs, tostrengthen attention to the role of socialworkers as policy practitioners, and toidentify action steps for sustaininggreater attention to policy and policypractice into the future. The need forsuch a summit was further reinforced bythe results of the 2016 national electionand concerns that there would be evengreater vulnerability for populationsserved by social workers, includingimmigrants, persons in need of accessto high quality health and behavioralhealth care, and persons experiencingeconomic insecurity.

On April 26 and 27, 2017, the SocialWork Policy Institute (SWPI) of theNational Association of Social Workers(NASW) Foundation (NASWF) hostedMaximizing Social Work’s PolicyImpact in a Changing Political Landscapeat NASW headquarters in Washington,DC. This summit was sponsored by theCoalition and also received supportfrom the University of Houston,University of Washington, Bryn MawrCollege, the Council on Social WorkEducation (CSWE) and the Network forSocial Work Management (NSWM).

The goals of the summit were:> To strengthen partnerships among

social work education programs and policy coalitions and policyorganizations and individual policy

practitioners, in order to work onissues of importance to the socialwork profession, especially thosethat address poverty and growinginequality.

> To highlight successful examples ofpolicy-focused partnerships betweensocial work education and policyentities at the local, state andnational levels.

> To strengthen leadership by deans/directors/chairs and other keystakeholders in order to promotemore attention in social workeducation programs to policyadvocacy; preparing students toinfluence policy; infusing curriculawith relevant examples of currentpolicy issues; addressing persistentinequity and inequality through policyefforts; and, empowering voting.

The 60 summit participants (AppendixA) included representatives from theCoalition’s 12 organizations as well asdeans and directors, field directors,faculty, students, individual socialworkers engaged in policy practice atthe national, state and local levels, stafffrom NASW chapters, social workleaders, and representatives of nationaladvocacy organizations, think tanksand coalitions (Appendix B forparticipant biographies). The summitagenda (Appendix C) includedpresentations and large and smallgroup discussions. A graphic recorderworked throughout the summit tocapture the content, and the April 27th

presentations and discussions were alsovideotaped in order to make theproceedings available to multipleaudiences after the summit.

Following a “Call to Action” by EllenBuchman of the Leadership Council forCivil and Human Rights (LCCHR), a

panel of representatives from nationaladvocacy organizations and think tanksdiscussed ways in which theirorganizations have modified theirstrategies since the 2016 elections andidentified ways that social workers,including schools of social work, mightwork together with them. The panelistswere Patrick Willard of Families USA;Stephanie Schmit of the Center for Lawand Social Policy (CLASP); and DianneStewart of the Economic Policy Institute(EPI). The panel was moderated bySunny Harris Rome, from GeorgeMason University, who also is presidentof Influencing Social Policy (ISP).

A second panel focused on social workeducation and its attention orinattention to policy, provided guidanceon ways to strengthen the focus onpolicy for all students and faculty. Thepanelists included Rebecca Brigham,University of North Carolina at ChapelHill and chair of the CSWE Council onField Education; Jill Manit, University ofNevada-Reno; Jenay Smith, Bryn MawrCollege and Elisa Kawam, from theNASW New Mexico chapter. JessicaHolmes, director of Research andEducational Innovations at CSWE,moderated the panel.

The third panel addressed tactical issuesto support effective policy actions. DawnHobdy, director of NASW’s Office ofEthics and Professional Review addressedthe ethical imperatives for socialworkers to be involved in advocacy,and Susan Hoechstetter, senior advisorto the Bolder Advocacy initiative of theAlliance for Justice discussed waysthat non-profits can engage inadvocacy, assess their readinessfor advocacy and evaluate theiradvocacy effectiveness.

2> MAXIMIZING SOCIAL WORK’S POLICY IMPACT IN A CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

3

Social workers are on the front lines,working as agents of social change,and the work that social workers do iscritically important today, asserted EllenBuchman in her call to action. Many ofthe current policy concerns did not justappear with the election of the 45thpresident, but are ones that our societyhas struggled with for some time,including institutional racism. No matter where we sit, there are actionsthat we can take, and ways we canwork together to create a better society.While many social workers are engagedin communities, working in settingsdirectly with clients, many of thechanges that are needed are systemic,and our efforts as change agents needto include influencing policy.

Buchman highlighted two recentspeeches that provide importantmessages. One was the first speechsince he left office, given by PresidentObama at the University of Chicago(https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2017/04/24/obama-focuses-inspiring-next-generation-leaders-return-uchicago)

https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2017/04/24/obama-focuses-inspiring-next-generation-leaders-return-uchicago),where he called on students to engagein civic action every day – not justwhen they vote every two or four years.The second message comes from PopeFrancis, who, in a recent Ted Talk, statedthat there is a need for a “revolution oftenderness” (www.ted.com/talks/pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript?language=en).

Buchman highlighted how takingcollective action has so far forestalledsome of President Trump’s proposedpolicies from taking effect. She notedthat the Muslim ban has not beenimplemented and has been overturnedin two federal courts; also stressing theimportance of advocacy related tojudicial nominations. The secondsuccess was that all federal funds havenot been cut off from sanctuary cities(or sanctuary states). The third successrelated to the absence of money to fund the building of a border wall in

the budget proposed bythe 45th president. Thefourth issue related to lackof success, thus far, inoverturning the PatientProtection and AffordableCare Act of 2010 (ACA).

Stressing the importanceof working to create abigger, better coalition,Buchman declared thatindividual’s egos andorganizations’ egos needto be checked at thedoor, in order to worktogether collaboratively.Using social work

language, she also stressed that weneed to meet each other where we are,and not where we think others should be.It is also important to understand thatsome groups might be more negativelyimpacted than others because theirconstituents are under duress. Inconsidering power differentials, race isoften an issue, and we need to recognizewhite privilege. It is important to considerwho is in the room and who speaks, andnot to be afraid to raise race as an issue.Training in implicit bias can be animportant tool.

Buchman also reminded the participantsthat finding common ground is differentthan consensus – and sometimes commonground is all that can be achieved whenbringing people together around ashared agenda. It is also important toremember that nothing happens easilyor overnight and that these arechallenging times. She provided a quotefrom Senator Elizabeth Warren, whowhen talking about the results of the2016 election said “these results haveopportunity written all over them.”

ELLEN BUCHMAN’S CALL TO ACTION

NASW works with many nationalorganizations, think tanks andcoalitions as part of its work to promoteprofessional social work and advocatefor sound social policies that addresssocial justice, inequities and inequalities.Three organizations were selected tomake panel presentations. The panelistswere asked to highlight how theirorganization’s work may have changedas a result of the election of 2016, and to also address ways that theirorganizations can partner more fullywith the social work community.

> FAMILIES USA Gains have been made in expandingthe number of individuals with healthcare coverage, ensuring access tocoverage for persons with pre-existingconditions, support for mental healthparity, increased attention to preventativecare, and integration of behavioralhealth and physical health care, due tothe implementation of the ACA, alsoknown as Obamacare. Patrick Willard,Director of Campaigns, Outreach andEngagement at Families USA, a “leadingnational voice for health care consumersdedicated to the achievement ofhigh-quality, affordable health care andimproved health for all,” highlightednumerous efforts underway to ensurethe maintenance of the mandates ofObamacare and prevent its repeal.

The Protect Our Care Coalition bringstogether leading health care and socialand economic justice groups, includingNASW, to fight the effort to repeal the

ACA and show how affordable andmeaningful healthcare coverage andconsumer protections could beexpanded. Families USA has alsodeveloped an extensive story bank(http://familiesusa.org/share-your-story)so that they can combine data with realstories of people whose lives have beeneffected by health care access andaffordability. The story bank helps inadvocacy efforts by being able to bringstories to policy makers from their ownconstituents. Willard also stressed theimportance in the Senate of reachingboth Republicans and Democrats. Henoted that Senators Lisa Murkowski ofAlaska, Susan Collins of Maine, DeanHeller of Nevada and Shelley Capito ofWest Virginia, who are seen as moderateRepublicans, will have important rolesto play in how the Senate movesforward in relation to the House passed American Health Care Act, or a Senate alternative.

Willard also noted that working at thelocal level is extremely important. It isessential to organize in communities toinsure that all voices are heard on theimpact of the ACA and to highlight realpeople whose lives are impacted byimproved healthcare coverage.Families USA (www.familiesusa.org)has extensive resources available on itswebsite including a toolkit to help enrollpeople in the ACA (Appendix D).

>CENTER FOR LAW &SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP)CLASP is a think tank focused on“advancing large-scale policyopportunities and system reforms thataddress the needs of children andparents together as a family. This“two-generation” approach topublic policy helps children thriveand parents succeed at school,work, and caregiving—supporting economic

> MAXIMIZING SOCIAL WORK’S POLICY IMPACT IN A CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE 4

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PERSPECTIVESON INFLUENCING POLICY IN A CHANGING

POLICY ENVIRONMENT

5

opportunity for both generations.”Stephanie Schmitt, legislativecoordinator and senior analyst, is oneof several social workers at CLASP.Since the 2016 election, shehighlighted how CLASP has developeda “fighting back strategy.” Concernedabout threats to the safety net, it hasstrengthened its presence at LCCHR and in the Protect Our Care Coalition.CLASP is cognizant that health careand civil rights issues impact poorfamilies, and that collaborating withother organizations strengthens itswork, especially in areas where it might not have in-house expertise.

CLASP focuses on both state andnational policies, and is concerned notonly about the threats to the ACA, butalso to potential block granting offederal programs like the SupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)and early childhood education. It hasalso expanded its in-house expertiserelated to immigration, recognizing thatthe safety and economic well being ofimmigrants intersects with its focus onlow-income families. Greater attentionis also being paid to building state-leveladvocacy efforts. This is a time of greatchallenge and it is important that thesocial work community be part of thefight. CLASP (www.clasp.org)

disseminates many reports that canserve as resources to social workeducators. Schmitt also noted that CLASPlikes to hire social workers, although itdoes not specifically seek applicantsthat have social work degrees.

> ECONOMIC POLICYINSTITUTEThe third organization represented onthe panel on “Perspectives On PolicyPractice In A Changed PolicyEnvironment” was the Economic PolicyInstitute (EPI), a non-profit, non-partisanthink tank that works to ensure that theneeds of low- and middle-incomeworkers are part of economic policydiscussions. EPI has the largest collectionof economists focused on workingfamilies – anywhere, according to DianneStewart, a social worker who directsEPI’s Economic Analysis and ResearchNetwork (EARN). Stewart has a longhistory of public policy work in Texas,and recently came to EPI to strengthenthe state level efforts of the 62 thinktanks that make up the EARN network.

After the 2016 election, EPI launchedthe Perkins Project (www.epi.org/research/perkins-project/). Named for social worker Frances Perkins,Secretary of Labor under FranklinRoosevelt and an architect of the NewDeal, this initiative closely tracks andresponds to policies emerging from theWhite House, Congress and the courtsrelated to workers’ rights, wages andworking conditions. Since the 2016election, EPI has also expanded its focuson non-urban and rural communities andtheir economic conditions and EARN isalso addressing more issues related toworkers’ conditions in the South.

SOCIAL WORKERS AREWELL-POSITIONED TOIMPACT POLICYWhile the immediate reaction to the 2016election for many was to feel despondent,in fact, it has provided an opportunity forsocial workers to refocus on impacting policy.

The values and ethics and systemsperspectives of social workers can makethem well-positioned to connect real worldstories with data and advocacy. Socialworkers also understand that racism andinequities are systemic and that only systemicapproaches will address these issues.

While people with public policy degrees areoften hired in advocacy organizations andthink tanks, the value base that a socialworker brings, their understanding of systemsand their person-in-environment perspectivecan be extremely beneficial to policy work.

STRENGTHS OF SOCIALWORKERS FOR PURSUINGPOLICY CAREERSThe following were identified at a CriticalConversation on positioning social workgraduates for policy careers as social workstrengths: > Understand the context of social

problems. > Adherence to professional values

& ethics. > Use of communication, assessment,

analytical, and critical thinking skills.> Use of persuasion & use of power.> Exposure to direct practice experiences

enhances understanding of issuesneeding policy improvement.

> Learn about policy and advocacy aspart of the social work curriculum

> Hand-on policy experiences can beacquired through field placements.www.socialworkpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/InfluencingSocialPolicyBrief.pdf

In recent years there has been increasedattention to macro practice in socialwork, with the release of the RothmanReport and the subsequent creation ofthe Special Commission to AdvanceMacro Practice in Social Work(www.acosa.org/joomla/about-the-special-commission). One of the pillars of

the work of the Special Commissionrelates to policy and the promotion ofpolicy practice. New collaborationshave been formed between theAssociation for Community Organizingand Social Action (ACOSA), theNetwork for Social Work Management(NSWM) and Influencing Social Policy

(ISP). In addition, CSWE receivedfunding from the Fund for Social PolicyEducation and Practice, with additionalsupport from Casey Family Programs,to select and fund projects to developor enhance field placement experiencesin policy practice; or, to createpolicy-related community engagementexperiences for students outside of field(www.cswe.org/Centers-Initiatives/Initiatives/Policy-Practice-in-Field-Education-Initiative). Two cycles of suchprojects were funded and a number ofthe social work education programsthat received funding were representedat this summit. The panel on “PolicyPractice Innovations in Social WorkEducation” included two fielddirectors, one MSW candidateand an executive director of anNASW chapter.

EXPANDING ENGAGEMENTOF SOCIAL WORKERS WITHNATIONAL THINK TANKS> Launching interdisciplinary research

efforts and interactions betweendisciplines in universities (i.e., socialworkers and economists) can help to encourage interdisciplinarypartnerships and collaborations that transfer into work settings.

> Initiatives like the Scholar StrategyNetwork (www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org) that seeks to “improvepublic policy and strengthendemocracy by organizing scholarsworking in America’s colleges anduniversities, and connecting scholarsand their research to policymakers,citizens associations, and the media”

could benefit from greater engagementby social work researchers.

> As implementation activities related toaddressing the 12 Grand Challengesfor Social Work (http://aaswsw.org/grand-challenges-initiative/progress)are underway, it will be important toconnect these efforts to the nationalthink tanks and advocacy coalitionsthat are leading national policy effortsrelated to the Grand Challenges’topics. One step to address this was the Grand Challenge Policy Conferencethat took place at WashingtonUniversity in September 2016(https://csd.wustl.edu/events/ConferencesAndSymposia/Pages/Grand-Challenges- Policy-Briefs.aspx).

LEGACIES OF SOCIALWORK POLICY ADVOCACYIt is not unusual to find that social workpractitioners were inspired to pursue socialwork careers by their parents and evenperhaps their grandparents, and that in fact their parents may have also had socialwork degrees. Drawing on the legacy ofsocial work leadership and policy practice,two of the summit attendees were childrenof past NASW Presidents and Social WorkPioneers®. Dianne Stewart’s father wasRobert Stewart, who served as NASWPresident from 1983 to 1985; and Katherine Byers father was NormanGustafson who served as NASW Presidentfrom 1964 to 1966.


POLICY PRACTICE INNOVATIONS IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION

7

Each panelist addressed some commonthemes and also highlighted strategiesfor innovation. One of the key themes isthat with over a century of professionalsocial work behind us, there continues tobe bifurcation in social work betweenmicro and macro practice. Some of thecommon concerns that are heard bystudents, macro faculty and fieldinstructors are: > Students are discouraged from

policy placements because they are not perceived to fit with thegeneralist curriculum.

> Schools may not offer policyplacements, nor do they actively do outreach to identify them.

> Students are discouraged frompursuing policy placements, withsome clinical and direct practicesocial workers expressing disrespectfor macro practice, or promoting aclinical license as the “golden ticket’to a successful social work career.

> Students are concerned aboutbecoming licensed, discouragingthem from pursuing macroplacements that might not preparethem for licensing.

> Students are told that they will havedifficulty getting policy jobs and willbe paid less in such jobs, eventhough these might be more myththan reality.

> Schools might be unwilling to placea student in a policy setting if it doesnot have an MSW to supervise thestudent(s), rather than developing analternative supervision arrangement.

>CONTEXT FOR POLICYPRACTICE IN SOCIALWORK EDUCATIONRebecca Brigham, field director at theSchool of Social Work at the Universityof North Carolina at Chapel Hill andchair of the CSWE Council on FieldEducation not only highlighted thesecommon myths about policy practice,but she also noted that she found apaltry literature related to policypractice field placements (seeAppendix D, Selected Articles).

Three areas of policy practice that shehighlighted focused on civic engagement,including volunteering in advocacyefforts and memberships in advocacyorganizations; engagement in electoralactivities, including gaining a politicalvoice and involvement with Get Out theVote (GOTV) efforts; and civic literacythat can be closely aligned withcommunity organizing efforts, working toinitiate change in communities. Brighamalso drew from a recent article, “Usingthe Social Work Advocacy PracticeModel to Find Our Voices in Service ofAdvocacy” (Bliss, 2015), noting fivekey constructs of social work advocacy– cause, outcome, target audience,benefits of support and evaluation.

>CREATING STRONGINTEREST & INVOLVEMENTIN POLICY PRACTICEJill Manit, field director at the Universityof Nevada-Reno (UN-R), which offers aBSW degree and an advancedgeneralist MSW degree describedefforts in Nevada that were supported

by the Policy Practice in Field EducationInitiative. When Manit became fielddirector perhaps one student out of 80expressed interest in policy placements,and over the years as the programgrew, probably 10 students out of 150were interested in policy. With a FieldEducation Initiative planning grant,UN-R held a summit, exploring whatwould a policy intern do; identifyingwhat knowledge and skills would beneeded; and identifying strategies forproviding field instruction. During theimplementation phase, a social workfaculty person provided groupsupervision to the students. The facultymember, highly knowledgeable aboutthe curriculum, was able to respond tostudent questions about where and howthey were getting different types ofcontent and able to help them identifyand use their “generalist” skills.

To create greater visibility for policypractice, an entity entitled the NevadaPolicy Practice Association (NPPA) wascreated, and this became importantbecause the name gave policy practicevisibility and prominence. Recently,when NPPA was mentioned during thepre-placement orientation, 50% of theclass expressed interest in learningmore about NPPA.

>HOW AN NASWCHAPTER CAN PROMOTEPOLICY PRACTICE & BEAN EFFECTIVE FIELDPLACEMENT SITEElisa Kawam, executive director of theNASW New Mexico Chapter, stressedthe importance of social workersdeveloping competence in micro,mezzo and macro practice due to thecombination of New Mexico’ssocio-political climate, diversity of thepopulation and the rural landscape.

The final panel focused on tactical issuesthat social workers should considerwhen engaging in policy practice.

> PUTTING THE CODEOF ETHICS TO WORK IN POLICY PRACTICE Dawn Hobdy, director of the NASWOffice of Ethics and Professional Reviewfocused on how the Code of Ethics canbe used in today’s political climate. Shenoted that since the 2016 election thetypes of consultation questions that theOffice receives have changed. Over thepast 15 years common questions related

to privacy, confidentiality, conflicts ofinterest, and access to records standards.

Recently, however, ethicsconsultation callers have

She also noted the low salaries forMSWs in New Mexico, with ruralsocial workers earning about$18,000/year. Social work students atthe chapter took on numerous rolesrelated to legislative training andadvocacy including the StudentLegislative Advocacy Day (SLAD);writing and analysis of legislation;development of legislative briefs andtestimony; and working with theexternal lobbyist. In addition, they were involved in connecting with thecommunity through a winter and springsummit, using technology andwebcasting, working on the annualchapter conference, using socialmedia, and serving as studentrepresentative on the NASW Board.The students were also involved incommunity organizing through aninterdisciplinary effort to work withother organizations to repeal the deathpenalty in New Mexico.

Supervision of the student internsincluded trauma-informed supervisionand a focus on self-care. In addition,the students learned about how biases,ethics and values impact social workpolicy practice and how NASW’spolicies articulated in Social WorkSpeaks, and the Code of Ethics serveas guides to social workers.

Kawam also suggested that schools ofsocial work might develop advancedpolicy institutes and also engage inefforts to encourage social workers tosuccessfully pursue elected office.Furthermore, she advanced the ideathat persons with social work doctoratesare not only needed in academia, butalso are needed to pursue policy careers.

> A STUDENT PERSPECTIVEON POLICY PRACTICEJenay Smith, an MSW Candidate atBryn Mawr College who also serves aspresident of the Macro Club at Bryn

Mawr, and research assistant for theSpecial Commission, was also amember of the panel. Smith reiteratedthat policy practice is something thatsocial workers do and it should bebetter integrated into social workeducation and practice. She noted thatas social workers we might beadvocating for our client on one day,but on the next day we might beadvocating for our own jobs.

The Macro Club at Bryn Mawr hasheralded the statement that “macropractice matters” and has worked withstudents who are interested incommunity practice, administration andadvocacy. Activities have includedMacro Network Night and a macropolicy trip to Washington, DC.

Networking and developing relationshipswith social workers employed in policypositions is important in helping socialwork students interested in policy to seea potential career path for themselves.


ENGAGING IN POLICY PRACTICE: HOW TO BE PREPARED AND PREPARE OTHERS

9

identified ethical dilemmas focused onthe standards related to social andpolitical action; discrimination;misrepresentation and respect. Socialworkers are feeling a strong ethicalobligation to get involved, to respondto concerns with the current climate,and to do so ethically.

The NASW Code of Ethics includes aset of values, principles and standards,and while it provides guidance it doesnot answer every ethical question ordilemma. Furthermore, in some sectionsthe Code is prescriptive and in others itis aspirational.

Perhaps the most important ethicalprinciple at this time is the one relatedto Social Justice, indicating that socialworkers challenge social injustice andpursue social change. “Social workerssocial change efforts should be focusedprimarily on issues of poverty,unemployment, discrimination, andother forms of social injustice. Theseactivities seek to promote sensitivity toand knowledge about oppression andcultural and ethnic diversity.”

One of the important standards in theCode that addresses the current politicalclimate is 6.04 Social and Political Action:“Social workers should engage in social andpolitical action that seeks to ensure that allpeople have equal access to the resources,

employment, services, and opportunitiesthey require to meet their basic humanneeds and to develop fully. Social workersshould be aware of the impact of thepolitical arena on practice and shouldadvocate for changes in policy andlegislation to improve social conditions inorder to meet basic human needs andpromote social justice. Social workers shouldact to expand choice and opportunity for allpeople, with special regard for vulnerable,disadvantaged, oppressed, and exploitedpeople and groups. Social workers shouldpromote conditions that encourage respectfor cultural and social diversity within theUnited States and globally. Social workersshould promote policies and practices thatdemonstrate respect for difference, supportthe expansion of cultural knowledge andresources, advocate for programs andinstitutions that demonstrate culturalcompetence, and promote policies thatsafeguard the rights of and confirm equityand social justice for all people(socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp).

Other important language is covered in the standard 4.02 Discriminationthat requires that “social workersshould not practice, condone, facilitate,or collaborate with any form ofdiscrimination on the basis of race,ethnicity, national origin, color, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, age, marital status, politicalbelief, religion, immigration status, ormental or physical disability.”

Social workers have expressed concernthat by supporting the currentAdministration’s policies one could becondoning and collaborating withforms of discrimination and thereforeviolating the Code. Hobdy suggestedthat the obligation is to strive to enddiscrimination, oppression, poverty,and other forms of social injustice. Activities may be in the form of directpractice, community organizing,supervision, consultation administration,

advocacy, policy development andimplementation, social and politicalaction. In terms of political and socialaction, the obligation is to engage inpolitical action and advocate for changesin policy and legislation to improvesocial conditions in order to meet basichuman needs and promote social justice.Advocacy may take different formsincluding, marching, rallying, writingletters, and even pursuing elected officeat all levels of government.

The Code can be put into action in thecurrent political climate by consideringhow opposing views are expressed andhow colleagues with opposing viewsare treated. Although there is noviolation against voting for a particularcandidate, there are considerationsregarding how we go about expressingthat support. Standards 4.03 PrivateConduct and 4.06 Misrepresentationare important because they provideguidance on how social workerspresent personal views vs. the views ofthe profession, and/or the professionalassociation. Specifically, social workersare required to not permit their privateconduct to interfere with their ability tofulfill their professional responsibilitiesand to make clear distinctions betweenstatements made and actions engagedin as a private individual and as arepresentative of the social workprofession, a professional social workorganization, or the social worker’semploying agency. Those social workerswho speak on behalf of professionalsocial work organizations shouldaccurately represent the official andauthorized positions of the organizations.

As social workers work with colleagueswho think differently and expressdifferent views, the Code requires thatwe address those differences respectfully.According to the Code, social workersshould treat colleagues with respectand should represent accurately and

fairly the views, and obligations ofcolleagues, avoiding unwarrantednegative criticism of colleagues includingcriticism of their political beliefs.

In trying to practice ethically, socialworkers face challenges. Some of those challenges include:> Employment restrictions regarding

political activity> Discouragement> Ethical dilemmas> How social workers political activities

may affect their relationship with clients> Increased visibility due to media

coverage> Transference and countertransference

issues> Collegial relationships

The current climate also providesopportunities for the profession:> Putting the professions unique

perspective in terms of starting wherethe client is, the person-environmentperspective and the importance ofsystems, into action.

> Elevating social and economicjustice advocacy efforts, includingusing advocacy skills.

> Raising the profile of the professionthat is dedicated to social justice.

> Being proactive.> Expanding our collaborative and

networking efforts.

Hobdy asserted that at a time whenclients may feel depressed, betrayed andafraid, when there is such deep divisionin the country, when areas impactedinclude health care, immigration, theenvironment, tax cuts, budget cuts, taxlaws, voter suppression and even socialwork jobs -- social workers have theopportunity to recommit to ethical values,principles and standards, challengeourselves to engage in respectfuldialogue and most importantly advocatein a way that that we can be powerful,creative and passionate, and in a waythat’s respectful and considerate ofclients, employers and colleagues.

> TACTICAL ISSUES FOR ENGAGINGPRACTITIONERS IN POLICYSeeking to encourage policy practiceand to engage all social workers inadvocacy requires that social workersunderstand the extent to which they can

engage in policy practice and advocacybased on their work setting. SusanHoechstetter, Senior Advisor, FoundationAdvocacy and Evaluation for the BolderAdvocacy Initiative of the Alliance forJustice provided a perspective forSummit attendees and also encouragedattendees to take advantage of many ofthe resources available from BolderAdvocacy (see Appendix D or go tobolderadvocacy.org). Not only areresources available, but, BolderAdvocacy also offers free consultationby attorneys.

Thousands of non-profit, 501c(3) entitiesacross the nation have used the toolsavailable to assess their organizationscapacity to engage in advocacy anduse the “Power Check” tool to assesseffectiveness in community organizing.In addition, tools are available toevaluate the organization’s advocacyeffectiveness. Resources also helpnon-profit organizations to understandthe differences between advocacy andlobbying. Bolder Advocacy also providesguidance about how organizations canengage in executive branch advocacyby influencing rules, regulations andexecutive orders.

As the summit concluded, the participantsself-selected into workgroups focusedon critical social justice issues facingour nation. Small groups discussingracial equity, economic security,immigration, healthcare and criminaljustice engaged in focused discussionsfacilitated by NASW staff. Each topicalgroup was asked to consider:> What steps can social workers

(Students, academics, practitioners,organizations) take to influencepolicy in this area?

> What partners can be engaged with?> What tools are needed? > What will facilitate sustainability?

It should be noted that while each groupwas asked to discuss a discreet topic,there is a great deal of overlap betweenthe topics. As was noted by the earlierpanelists – organizations concernedabout economic well-being also focuson healthcare and immigration; andthose focused on human rights focus oneconomic stability and immigration.

>CRIMINAL JUSTICEWith about 2.3 million persons inprisons and jails and almost 5 millionpeople in the United State on paroleand probation, the criminal justicearena provides many exciting roles forsocial workers, and it is a growingfield. Critical issues include bestpractices related to re-entry, jobs,housing, mental health andaddiction programs,education resources andaccess to public housing.

> MAXIMIZING SOCIAL WORK’S POLICY IMPACT IN A CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

PURSUING A SOCIAL JUSTICE AGENDA

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For all of these issues it is important toengage with the community and also topromote accountability and research toevaluate outcomes. Much of criminaljustice advocacy focuses on the statelevel, where it is important to bringtogether multiple stakeholders incoalitions. To impact change it isimportant to quantify savings andinvestments in focusing on the pipelineto prison and programs that will keeppeople out of prisons. Of particularimport on the local level is developingalternatives to lower the high rates ofpersons with mental health andsubstance abuse needs who are in jailsand prisons. Another key area forsocial work advocacy relates to votingrights. This advocacy might focus onvoting from jails, and restoring votingrights for felons.

It is essential as we consider greatersocial work involvement in improvingthe criminal justice system that we alsodistinguish between jails and prisons. Itis also important to engage the businesscommunity in changing outcomes andaddressing the pipeline to prison.

> IMMIGRATIONWhile immigration is always an area toengage social workers, issues relatedto immigration and the well-being ofimmigrants are of particular concerndue to policies proposed by the 45thpresident. Critical issues includeimmigration status, sanctuary cities/states, confidentiality related toimmigration status, wait times and vettingfor those who are seeking to immigrateto the United States, and discriminationagainst immigrants. Social workers canpartner at the local and state levels withadvocacy organizations, and engagewith the legal community and thereligious community to develop effectiveprograms and coalitions.

It should be noted that social workstudents themselves might have unclearimmigration status and might feel veryvulnerable. Thus it might be importantin social work education programs toclarify that the university is a “safespace” to have conversations related toimmigration status and concerns for selfor for family members. Immigrationissues impact multiple social programsincluding healthcare, child welfare,housing and welfare.

In regard to social work students’involvement in immigrationorganizations, alternative supervisionstrategies might need to be employedsince the potential field agencies mightnot have social workers on staff. It isimportant, through class work andsupplemental learning that studentsunderstand issues related to immigrationand advocate for sanctuary. Immigrationshould not just be considered a “currentnews” issue but rather the curriculumshould include immigration as a topic,even when it is not a hot topic, as thereare many policy issues to be considered.Social workers can both engage withand support local grassroots efforts, aswell as engage in partnerships withnational organizations.

Social workers can also impact policyand public understanding by publicizingour work with immigrant and refugeecommunities and make public the manysteps involved in accessing services. Itis also important to highlight outcomesin order to bust the many myths aboutimmigrants and crime.

> RACIAL EQUITYIn order to more effectively addressracial equity social workers can facilitatestorytelling, engage in quantitativeresearch, contribute to the publicdiscourse and develop alliances.Partnerships need to take place at theindividual, family, group, community andorganizational/institutional levels. Usefultools might include the film, Cracking theCodes: The System of Racial Inequality,by Shakti Butler (https://crackingthecodes.org) and the report, Forwardthrough Ferguson (http://forwardthroughferguson.org). In addition, social workerscan engage in discussions on racialequity beyond our own circles and useexpert voices to facilitate discussions. Itis important to be forthright in statingquestions about racial inequity beforecoming up with answers of how toaddress it.

> ECONOMIC SECURITYAs social workers we can help toreframe issues of poverty and economicinsecurity and focus on what isconsidered a minimum for quality oflife. It is also important to considereconomic security from a globalperspective, as it is a driving force indeveloping social protection strategiesacross the world. In addressingeconomic well-being one can look athuman rights indicators, andconsiderations of the ‘whole self’approach in empowering individualsand communities.

In consideration of economic security itis important to look at tax reform as itserves as a potential economic driver of

social policy. Another considerationrelates to workforce developmentstrategies. For example, what are thecurrent administration’s proposals? andhow can social workers use theirresearch and data to support economicsecurity in the United States?

>HEALTHCARESocial workers are in a key position tounderstand issues related to access tohealthcare and understanding thesystemic issues in healthcare delivery.Social workers are not just essential tobe involved in healthcare advocacyefforts but are also essential as part ofthe healthcare team across all settings.Special concerns relate to the recentattacks on Medicaid, and also

participating in the public discourse tounderstand that Medicare servespopulations beyond older adults.

Social workers can help get voluntarystories from clients that can be used inadvocacy and also highlight howattention to the health of individualsand prevention of disease leads tocommunity well-being. Since there are somany healthcare issues related to access,affordability, prevention, integrated careand person-centered care, advocacyefforts need to have a long-term strategy.Furthermore, relationships with otherdisciplines and coalitions need toinclude long-term commitments.

1 2> MAXIMIZING SOCIAL WORK’S POLICY IMPACT IN A CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Throughout the summit, the participantsconsidered what actions the variousstakeholders --- deans and directors;field directors; faculty engaged inpolicy practice efforts; students interestedin policy practice; field instructors, socialworkers engaged in policy practice atthe national, state and local levels;national social work organizations; and,national think tanks and advocacyorganizations --- could take to strengthenattention to and action on policy in thesocial work profession. Needed actionsfocused on building and sustainingpartnerships; changing the negativeassumptions about social work policycareers asserted by many socialworkers; and strengthening social

workers’ understanding that policyimpacts all aspects of social workpractice. To create an action agenda,summit participants were assigned toseveral small groups focused onstrengthening policy advocacy. Thequestions considered by the smallgroups were:> What strategies can be used to

develop and/or expand partnershipsbetween social work educators andadvocacy organizations to enhancepolicy practice, policy content andpolicy experiences in social workeducation programs?

> How can social work educationprograms engage more fully withlocal and state non-profits and other

practice settings to promote policiesto alleviate poverty and inequality?

> How can policy content be expandedand infused across the social workcurricula (BSW, MSW, PhD/DSW,and continuing education?

> What roles and strategies candeans, directors and social workleaders take to engage more fully in influencing policy?

> How can non-macro students andsocial work practitioners betterunderstand the impact of policy on their practice and be called to action?

DEVELOPING AN AGENDA FOR ACTION TOSTRENGTHEN POLICY CONNECTIONS

& ADVOCACY

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Social Work Organizations> NASW and CSWE and other social

work organizations can makeimplicit the connection to policy in all of their communications.

> NASW and other professional socialwork organizations can offer policyrelated CEUS, and include policycontent in all professionaldevelopment offerings.

> NASW and other professionalorganizations can strengthen theunderstanding of how policy impactspractice (e.g., Medicarereimbursement rate for clinical socialworkers impacts reimbursement ratesprovided by insurance companies).

> Social work organizations can offerawards for social work policypractitioners and for policyorganization/social work exemplars.

> The National Association of Deansand Directors of Schools of SocialWork (NADD) can encourage socialwork education programs to engagewith policy entities and governmentagencies.

> National social work organizationscan highlight social workers effortsas “policy change agents.”

> Social work organizations can expand

ways that social work researchreaches policy makers.

> Social work organizations, workingwith social work educators, canidentify and disseminate informationon policy-related activities thatpractitioners, educators and studentscan become engaged with. Forexample, work with field agencies toidentify personal stories of the impactof Obamacare that can be sharedwith Families USA.

> Social work organizations and socialwork education leaders shouldencourage the Group for theAdvancement of Doctoral Education(GADE) to support a requirement forpolicy in doctoral education.

> Social work organizations, incollaboration with social workeducators and policy practitioners,should continue to address the prosand cons of social work licensing formacro social work practitioners, andensure the continued prominence ofpolicy practice as an importantelement of social work practice.

> Social work organizations, workingwith advocacy organizations andthink tanks and social work educationprograms can continue to educate

practitioners in order to be clearabout the differences betweenlobbying and advocacy.

Advocacy Organizations and Think Tanks> Can disseminate information to

social work education programsthrough engagement with nationalsocial work organizations, whichcan serve as intermediaries.

> Can encourage social work academicsand researchers to engage withcolleagues in other disciplines toaddress pressing social issues, todisseminate findings to the advocacyorganizations; and to reach out topolicy-makers in order to be invitedto briefings and hearings.

> Can promote the value of hiringsocial workers as staff, articulatingthe knowledge, skills and values thatthey bring to the table.

> Social workers employed in advocacyorganizations and think tanks canstay engaged with their school(s) ofsocial work, becoming active alumni;connect with social work educationprograms near their employment toserve as advisors, mentors, and fieldinstructors, and to engage incollaborations with social workeducation programs.

WHAT CAN ORGANIZATIONS DO?

Leaders> Connect with alumni who are policy

practitioners; invite them to the schooland to serve as mentors to students.

> Reach out to policy organizationsand identify ways to partner – serveon workgroups and boards; assistwith policy research; provide fieldplacements; serve as guest lecturers,serve on the schools advisory board.

> Help faculty and students implementethical imperatives for effectiveadvocacy.

> Increase expectations that a policyactivity be part of all field placements.

> Commit resources or leverage newresources to strengthening the policy/practice connection and expandingpolicy and advocacy opportunities.

> Support engagement of faculty incommunity-based organizations andpractice settings.

> Communicate expectations to studentsthat all social workers have theobligation to advance justice throughpolicy practice.

Field Directors> Learn from schools that are effective

in developing and sustainingpolicy-related field placements andadapt strategies across programs.

> Engage in innovative strategies todevelop placements in settings thatmay not have MSWs that can serveas field instructors.

> Strengthen attention to policy practicewithin the CSWE Council on FieldEducation.

> Develop a list of policy-relatedinitiatives that students can carry outin any field placement.

> Reach out to alumni to developpotential policy practice fieldplacements.

Faculty> Increase policy content in all courses.> Highlight policy examples to meet

competencies across the social workcurricula.

> In teaching in the foundation-requiredcurriculum, use examples that connectmicro and macro practice so thatstudents early on learn the connections.

> Take advantage of information andresources available from nationalthink tanks and advocacyorganizations and incorporate them into the curricula.

> Engage with local agencies,including serving on advisory boards.

> Engage with and developinterdisciplinary research, courseworkand projects.

> Combine personal narratives withdata and research; disseminate topolicy stakeholders to impact policy.

> Assign students to follow a piece oflegislation, to reach out to advocacyorganizations, to take on multipleroles in shaping policy.

Students> Advocate effectively for the

importance of macro practice andpolicy practice content as part of thesocial work curriculum.

> Understand the complementary usesof micro, mezzo and macro practicestrategies in becoming an effectivechange agent.

> Pursue mentorship opportunities withpractitioners and encouragenetworking with alumni to pursuepolicy practice interests.

> Promote the value of undertakingpolicy tasks as part of field practica.

> Participate in Get Out the Vote (GOTV)and other civic engagement efforts.

> Find out how their field agenciesengage in policy advocacy andpolicy change efforts.


WHAT CAN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATIONPROGRAMS DO?

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The outcomes of these actions will result in: > more strategic involvement of social

workers in policy advocacy;> increased understanding that policy

and practice are intertwined andboth clinical practice and policypractice are essential and importantsocial work roles;

> increased field placementopportunities and activities related to policy and policy advocacy;

> new and expanded partnerships and collaborations betweennon-profits and social workeducation programs and betweensocial work organizations and thinktanks and advocacy organizations;

> expanded social work engagementin promoting policies that addresssocial justice including poverty andinequality.

Now is the time for all stakeholders to take action to achieve this agendafor action.

CONCLUSION


APPENDIX

A > POLICY PRACTICE SUMMIT PARTCIPANTS

B > POLICY PRACTICE PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

C > POLICY PRACTICE SUMMIT AGENDA

D > POLICY PRACTICE SUMMIT RESOURCES & LINKS

1 > PARTICIPANT LISTMimi Abramovitz, DSWBertha Capen Reynolds Professor of

Social WorkSilberman School of Social Work, CUNY

Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP Associate Executive Director North Carolina ChapterNational Association of Social Workers

Robert Arnold, MPSDirectorNational Association of Social Workers

Foundation

Darlyne Bailey, PhD, LISWDeanMSS Program DirectorGraduate School of Social Work and

Social ResearchBryn Mawr College

Lindsey Bishop, MSW2015-2017 Network for Social Work

Management Senior Policy Fellow

Sharon Blacketor, BSWMSW Student Social WorkCollege of Health and Human ServicesGeorge Mason University

Rebecca Brigham, MSWClinical Associate Professor/Assistant Dean

for Field EducationTate Turner Kuralt School of Social Work The University of North Carolina at

Chapel Hill

Ellen BuchmanExecutive Vice President Field and

CommunicationsLeadership Conference on Civil and

Human Rights

Katharine Byers, PhDRetiredIndiana University School of Social Work

Treasurer, Influencing Social Policy

Darla Spence Coffey, PhD, MSW President and Chief Executive OfficerCouncil on Social Work Education

Amy Coombs, MSWExecutive DirectorPrestige Government Relations & Consulting

Group, LLCNetwork for Social Work Management

Policy Fellow

JaNeen Cross, DSW, MSW, MBA Social Work HEALS Policy Fellow National Association of Social Workers

Dawn Hobdy, MSWDirectorOffice of Ethics and Professional ReviewNational Association of Social Workers

Jessica Holmes, MSWDirectorEducational Initiatives and ResearchCouncil on Social Work Education

Stephen Karp, LMSW Executive Director Connecticut ChapterNational Association of Social Workers

Dina Kastner, MSS, MLSPSenior Field OrganizerNational Association of Social Workers

Elisa Kawam, PhD, MSWExecutive DirectorNew Mexico ChapterNational Association of Social Workers

Joan Davitt, PhD, MSS, MLSPAssociate Professor & Hartford Geriatric

SW Faculty ScholarSchool of Social Work University of Maryland

Angelique Day, PhD, MSWCongressional FellowUS House of RepresentativesHuman Resources Subcommittee, Ways

and Means Committee

Alan Detlaff, PhDDean and Maconda Brown O’Connor

Endowed Dean’s ChairGraduate College of Social WorkUniversity of Houston

Carrie Dorn, LMSW, MPASenior Practice AssociateNational Association of Social Workers

Emily Douglas, PhD Congressional Fellow, Office of Senator

Ron WydenAssociate Professor Bridgewater State University

Megan Finno-Velasquez, PhD, MSWAssistant Professor School of Social WorkNew Mexico State University NMSU

Albuquerque Center

Allison Gilbreath, MSWPolicy AnalystVoices for Virginia’s Children

Chris Herman, MSW, LICSWSenior Practice AssociateNational Association of Social Workers

Susan Hoechstetter, MSWSenior Advisor for Foundation Advocacy

and EvaluationAlliance for Justice

Juli Kempner, Esq, LMSWExecutive Director New York City ChapterNational Association of Social Workers

Jill Manit, MSWField Education Program CoordinatorUniversity of Nevada-Reno School of

Social Work

Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSWChief Executive OfficerNational Association of Social Workers

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Courtney McDermott, MSW, LCSW Assistant Director of Field Education

Assistant Teaching ProfessorSchool of Social Work University of

Missouri-St Louis

Heidi McIntosh, MSWDeputy Director, ProgramsNational Association Social Workers

Roxana Meruvia, MSW, PMPSenior Practice AssociateNational Association of Social Workers

Zhenia PetersonField OrganizerPlanned Parenthood Votes Northwest and

Hawaii

Suzanne Pritzker, PhDAssociate ProfessorUniversity of Houston Graduate College

of Social Work

Lisa Richardson, MSS, LICSWDirector of MSW Field Education &

Associate ProfessorSt. Catherine University-University of

St. Thomas

Sunny Harris Rome, MSW, JDProfessorDepartment of Social Work George Mason University

Stephanie Schmit, MSWLegislative CoordinatorCenter for Law and Social Policy

John SciamannaVice President Vice President Public PolicyChild Welfare League of America

Amanda Scott, BSW, MAExecutive Director Association of Baccalaureate SocialWork Program Directors

Jenay Smith, BAMSS Candidate 2017Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work

and Social Research

Tanya Rhodes Smith, MSWDirectorNancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political

Social WorkUniversity of Connecticut

Danielle Spears, BSBAFoundation AssociateNational Association of Social Workers

Foundation

Dianne Stewart, MSSWDirectorEARN and Network Engagement

Economic Policy Institute

John Tropman, PhDHenry J. Meyer Collegiate Professor School of Social WorkUniversity of Michigan

Dina Van der Zalm, MSW, MPHHealth Care Organizer Missouri

Adrienne Walters, MSWProgram AssistantCouncil on Social Work Education

Margaret White, MAMSW StudentNew Mexico State University

Rita Webb, MSSenior Practice AssociateNational Association of Social Work

Kathryn Wehrmann, PhD NASW President Elect Associate Professor Illinois State University

Chasity Wells-Armstrong, MSW, CADCMayor-Elect, City of Kankakee

Patricia White, MSWExecutive DirectorFund for Social Policy and Practice in

Social Work

Patrick WillardSenior Director of CampaignsOutreach and Engagement (CORE)Families USA

Melvin Wilson, MSW, LCSW, MBAManagerSocial Justice and Human Rights National Association of Social Work

Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSWSenior Consultant and Summit FacilitatorNational Association of Social Workers

Foundation

2 > PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Mimi Abramovitz, DSWMimi Abramovitz is Bertha Capen Reynolds Professor at theSilberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Shehas published widely on issues related to women, poverty,human rights and the U.S/ Welfare State. ProfessorAbramovitz is currently writing a book on the history oflow-income women’s activism in the U.S. Her previous booksinclude the award-winning Under Attack, Fighting Back:Women and Welfare in the U.S., Regulating the Lives ofWomen: Social Welfare Policy From Colonial Times to thePresent, The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy and TaxesAre A Woman’s Issue: Reframing the Debate. She has alsopublished more than 80 articles in scholarly and popularjournals. Among her honors and awards, Dr. Abramovitzhas been inducted into the Columbia University School ofSocial Work Hall of Fame.

Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPPValerie provides professional and career support to over5,000 social workers in North Carolina as she endeavors toadvocate for and promote the profession of social work. Sheled the effort to establish the North Carolina Social WorkPolicy Educators annual summit.

Robert Arnold, MPSAs Director of Development at the National Association ofSocial Workers and Director of the NASW Foundation since2001, Bob Arnold oversees charitable and educationalnon-dues revenue for this national professional associationwith 120,000 members and 55 chapters. He and his staffwork with NASW Chapters to plan, implement, and coordinatefundraising activities at the national and local levels andwork with corporations, foundations, individuals, federal andstate government agencies, and partner organizations. The

NASW Foundation raises about $2M annually to supportsocial work. Bob also oversees NASW’s internationalprograms and activities. In his 25 years of advancementexperience, Bob has also worked for MIT, Brown University,Prison Fellowship Ministries, the National Academies, andThe Sheridan Group (a fundraising consulting firm). Hereceived his BA in Communication from Houghton Collegeand his master’s in Communication from Cornell University.

Darlyne Bailey, PhD, LISWDarlyne Bailey is the Dean and Professor of the GraduateSchool of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn MawrCollege, leads the Social Justice Initiative and is the SpecialAssistant to the President for Community Partnerships. Shehas been a professor and academic administrator for closeto 25 years. Darlyne is on several professional editorialboards, organizational boards and advisory committeesand co-chairs the Special Commission on Macro Practice.

Lindsey Bishop, MSWLindsey Bishop is a Senior Policy Fellow with the Network forSocial Work Management. Graduating from the Universityof Maryland School of Social Work in 2014, Lindsey hasexperience in public service, community practice andinternational development, including in Peace Corps Ghana.

Sharon Blacketor, BSWSharon Blacketor is a graduate student at George MasonUniversity, currently earning her Masters of Social Workdegree with a concentration in social change. Sharon has heldpracticum positions at NAMI, Cornerstones, Inc., and NorthernVirginia Family Service. She specializes in outreach, capacitybuilding, and advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations.

Rebecca Brigham, MSWRebecca B. Brigham, MSW has served in the role ofAssociate Dean for Field Education in the School of SocialWork at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hillsince 2004. Ms. Brigham is chair of CSWE’s Council onField Education (COFE), past secretary of NANFED (NorthAmerican Network of Field Educators and Directors) and amember of the North Carolina Field Education Consortium.Likewise she serves on CSWE’s Commission on EducationalPolicy (COEP) and the Joint Research Task Force on EPAS.Her research areas include innovative approaches to fieldeducation and LGBTQI students’ experiences in the field.Additionally, she conducts research on students and fieldinstructor’s experiences of racism in field education settings.

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Ellen BuchmanEllen Buchman is Executive Vice President for Field andCommunications at The Leadership Conference on Civil andHuman Rights and The Leadership Conference EducationFund. She oversees field and communications staff whodevelop and carry out strategies for the coalition’s publiceducation, rapid response, communications, and fieldorganizing and outreach campaigns on priority issues,including voting rights, criminal justice reform, equity ineducation, economic security, affirmative action, federaljudicial nominations, and other critical issues in thecoalition; building coalitions and creating mobilizationcampaigns. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan,has formal training in leadership development and socialwork and has been a staff member since 2003.

Katharine V. Byers, PhDKatharine V. Byers, PhD, is retired from Indiana UniversitySchool of Social Work where she directed the BloomingtonBSW Program. She is treasurer of Influencing Social Policy,a national organization of educators helping students learnhow to influence policy. She taught social policy, co-authoreda policy practice textbook, and conducted research onwelfare reform and student activism. She co-founded, withJean Capler, Call to Action, a Facebook page that supportsthose advocating for progressive social policies, and workson voter registration and voter empowerment.

Darla Spence Coffey, PhD, MSWDarla Spence Coffey is the President and CEO of the Councilon Social Work Education, the national association for socialwork education. Its members include over 760 accreditedbaccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs, aswell as individual social work educators, practitioners andagencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education.

Amy Coombs, MSWAmy Coombs is a registered lobbyist, executive director andowner of Prestige Government Relations and Consulting Group.Amy holds a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young Universityand a MSW from the University of Southern California. In2015, Amy was a featured speaker at the National RepublicanLiberty Caucus Conference addressing policies of “MinorityOutreach” and served as moderator for the panel entitled“Federal Reserve and US Debt.” She has authored local andnational publications on policy and advocacy topics andcurrently serves as the public member on the National Boardof Directors for the Council for Interior Design Qualification.On January 12, 2015, Amy received an Official Citation ofRecognition from the State of Maryland, “In recognition ofher tireless efforts within the legislative process on behalf of

consumers of mental health services”. Amy is currently afirst-year Network for Social Work Management Policy Fellow.

JaNeen Cross, DSW, MSW, MBAJaNeen Cross is a Social Work HEALS Policy Fellow at theNational Association of Social Workers (NASW). SocialWork HEALS is joint collaboration between NASW & theCouncil for Social Work Education (CSWE) with fundingfrom the New York Community Trust to strengthen thedelivery of health care services through education andtraining. Dr. Cross is the President of the NationalAssociation of Perinatal Social Workers (NAPSW) andserves on the board of directors for National PerinatalAssociation (NPA). She is an Assistant Clinical Professor atWidener University. Prior to entering into policy practiceand academia, Dr. Cross was clinical social worker for 15years at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania,Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Cross received her Masterof Social Work at the Temple University and Doctorate ofClinical Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania.

Joan Davitt, PhD, MSS, MLSPJoan Davitt is an Associate Professor & Hartford Geriatric SWFaculty Scholar at the University of Maryland, School of SocialWork and a GSA Fellow. She studies the intersection betweenpolicy and practice, and the effects on access to andoutcomes of community-based resources that enable olderadults to age-incommunity and serves as a mentor for theNetwork for Social Work Management’s Policy Fellowship.

Angelique Day, PhD, MSWAngelique Day is a 2016-2017 Congressional Fellowsponsored by the Society for Research in Child Developmentand the American Association for the Advancement ofScience and placed in the office of Congressman Danny K.Davis, Ranking Member, Human Resources Subcommittee,Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House ofRepresentatives. Dr. Day came to the Hill after serving sixyears as an assistant professor in the School of Social Workat Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In September2017 she will transition to the faculty in the school of socialwork at the University of Washington- Seattle.

Alan Detlaff, PhDAlan J. Dettlaff is Dean and the inaugural Maconda BrownO’Connor Endowed Dean’s Chair of the GraduateCollege of Social Work at the University of Houston.Dean Dettlaff’s research focuses on improvingoutcomes for children and youth in the child welfaresystem through examining and addressing thefactors contributing to racial disparities.


Carrie Dorn, LMSW, MPACarrie Dorn serves as the Senior Practice Associate inHealth at the National Association of Social Workers. Sheprovides information to NASW members and chapters onhealth care trends and health policy issues that impact socialworkers and the clients they serve. Carrie earned her MSWand MPA at Columbia University.

Emily Douglas, PhDEmily Douglas an associate professor of social work atBridgewater State University in Massachusetts. She is also a2016-2017 Congressional Fellow in the office of Senator RonWyden (OR) and the US Senate Finance Committee, duallysponsored by the Society for Research in Child Developmentand the American Association for the Advancement ofScience and Technology.

Megan Finno-Velasquez, PhD, MSWMegan Finno-Velasquez is an Assistant Professor in the Schoolof Social Work at New Mexico State University in Albuquerque,NM, and Director of the Center on Immigration and ChildWelfare. Her research focuses on the welfare of children ofimmigrants at risk of child welfare system involvement. Sheteaches MSW policy courses.

Allison Gilbreath, MSWAllison Gilbreath is Voices for Virginia’s Children PolicyAnalyst for Foster Care and Juvenile Justice. Allison came toVoices’ with several years of experience working on issuesrelated to children and families. She began her career atPrevent Child Abuse Virginia, then with the Department ofCriminal Justice Services (DCJS), and most recently with theLt. Governor’s office where she worked on the CommonwealthCouncil for Childhood Success. Allison earned her B.S. and Masters of Social Work degree from VirginiaCommonwealth University.

Chris Herman, MSW, LICSWChris Herman, MSW, LICSW, is a Senior Practice Associateat NASW. Chris develops resources to enhance practice,analyzes and develops policy, provides technical assistanceto NASW chapters and members, and represents theassociation in multiple national initiatives and partnershipsfocused on aging. She joined the NASW staff in 2007.

Susan Hoechstetter, MSWSusan Hoechstetter, Senior Advisor for Foundation Advocacyand Evaluation At Alliance for Justice’s Bolder AdvocacyInitiative, Sue helps organizations grow and assess theiradvocacy and community organizing skills. She led thedevelopment of evaluation/education tools including theAdvocacy Capacity Tool (ACT) International AdvocacyCapacity Tool, and PowerCheck for community organizing.Her work has been featured at meetings of Grantmakers forEffective Organizations, Aspen Institute, River Network, andothers. Before coming to AFJ, Sue directed the NationalAssociation of Social Workers’ government relationsdepartment. She holds a Masters of Social Work degreefrom the University of Pittsburgh.

Dawn Hobdy, MSWDawn Hobdy, LICSW is the Director of the Office of Ethicsand Professional Review at the National Association of SocialWorkers. She is responsible for the overall vision, mission andstructure of the nationwide NASW ethics and professionalreview program. Ms. Hobdy provides leadership andoversight for all aspects of the program from design andimplementation to evaluation. Ms. Hobdy has 21 years ofexperience developing and writing ethics courses andtrainings on various areas as they relate to ethical practice. Ms.Hobdy presents annually at numerous national conferences.Ms. Hobdy served on various task forces including theASWB International Technology Task Force, the NASW &ASWB Technology Standards Task Force, and the NASWCode of Ethics Revisions Task Force. She currently serves asCommissioner for the IFSW Ethics Committee. Ms. Hobdyreceived her MSW degree from Howard University and herBS degree in Communications from Syracuse University.

Jessica Holmes, MSWJessica Holmes is Director, Department of EducationalInitiatives and Research at the Council on Social WorkEducation (CSWE). Ms. Holmes has more than ten years of experience in curriculum development, research andevaluation, developing training and workshops, and grants management. She has worked on projects across anumber of social work specialties and topic areas, includingintegrated care, responsible conduct of research, preventionof substance use disorders, mental health services, policy

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practice, and military social work. Ms. Holmes received herMSW from the University of Georgia and BA in Sociologyfrom Covenant College.

Stephen Karp, LMSWStephen Karp has held NASW positions of chapterexecutive director, political director and division director.Steve received his BSW in 1977 from Southern CT StateUniversity and his MSW in 1983 from Fordham University,with a concentration in community organization. He hasextensive experience in successful legislative campaigns.

Dina Kastner, MSS, MLSPMs. Kastner has been the Senior Field Organizer at theNational Association of Social Workers since August 2003.She previously worked on Medicaid/SCHIP health careaccess issues in Illinois at the Campaign for Better HealthCare. She has a Master of Social Service and Master ofLaw and Social Policy.

Elisa Kawam, PhD, MSWElisa Kawam is originally from NY/NJ but calls the Southwesther home. A proud ASU sundevil she completed her MSWand PhD specializing in PTSD and the intersectionality betweenchild welfare, DV, substance use, and adult attachment. She iscurrently the Executive Director of NASW in Albuquerque, NM.

Juli Kempner, Esq, LMSWJuli Kempner Esq., LMSW is a social worker, attorney, andnonprofit administrator. Her work is motivated by a deepcommitment to social justice and the inclusion of communitieswhich have previously been underrepresented in leadership.She has served as a public interest lawyer in housing anddisability rights, a social worker in behavioral health and withjustice-involved individuals, and over ten years in nonprofitmanagement. She has worked in both Georgia and Florida,but the bulk of her career has been in New York where sheis currently NASW NYC Chapter Executive Director.

She holds a BA in Psychology from Cornell University, a JDfrom Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, and an MSW fromHunter College School of Social Work. In addition, she workswith the JustLeadershipUSA Close Rikers Campaign, and theAlliance of Families for Justice, an organization committedto working with the families of incarcerated individuals. Sheis passionate about criminal justice and the effect of massincarceration on impacted communities and our society as a whole.

Jill Manit, MSWJill Manit is currently the Field Education Program Coordinatorin the School of Social Work at the University of NevadaReno. In this role, she recruits and trains field training sitesfor undergraduate and graduate students and places over100 students in a structured practicum setting. Additionally,she teaches social work classes and works within a team toassess the program. Jill came to the school with a practicebackground that spans micro, mezzo, and macro settings.She has provided direct services in the fields of substanceabuse, family resource/case management services, and wasactively involved in community building and coalition effortsthroughout the state of Nevada. Most recently, she workedwith SAMHSA/CSAP’s Western CAPT at the Center forApplication of Substance Abuse Technologies to provideprogram evaluation training and technical assistance tosubstance abuse prevention providers and state substanceabuse offices in the western region including the PacificJurisdictions. Through these experiences, Jill worked to aligndemands from the Federal level related to accountabilityand outcome requirements with the realities faced by localproviders. This effort sparked a personal and researchinterest to explore the role and impact of culture andorganizational context in service delivery systems.

Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSWAngelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, is the CEO of the NationalAssociation of Social Workers (NASW) and President of theNASW Foundation. Dr. McClain previously served asCommissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Childrenand Families for six years, a position appointed byGovernor Deval Patrick. While there, he oversaw a budgetof $850 million and a workforce of 3,500 employees toaddress reports of abuse and neglect for the state’s mostvulnerable children, partnering with families to help thembetter nurture and protect their children. He holds a Masterof Science in Social Work from University of Texas atArlington, and a PhD in Social Work from Boston CollegeGraduate School of Social Work.

Courtney McDermott, MSW, LCSWCourtney McDermott is an assistant teaching professor andthe Assistant Director of Field Education for the School ofSocial Work at UM-St. Louis. She coordinates the fieldeducation program for the BSW students and teaches thecorresponding seminar courses and the BSW policycourse.


Heidi McIntosh, MSWHeidi McIntosh, MSW, is the Deputy Director of Programs atthe National Association of Social Workers. Ms. McIntoshpreviously served as Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services in theAdministration for Children, Youth and Families. Prior tojoining HHS, Heidi served as Deputy Commissioner for theConnecticut Department of Children and Families. Heidiearned a BS in Human Development and Family Relationsand her MSW from the University of Connecticut.

Roxana Meruvia, MSW, PMPRoxana Meruvia is a Senior Practice Associate with NASW.Ms. Meruvia conducts research and develops writtenproducts on issues related to child welfare issues. Inaddition, she participates on national child welfarecoalitions and manages the development and revision ofNASW’s policy statement process. Ms. Meruvia holds anMSW from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is alsocertified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Zhenia PetersonZhenia Peterson hails from the great state of Alaska, alsoknown as the Last Frontier. She recently graduated fromUniversity of Alaska Anchorage where she studied SocialWork with an emphasis in community organizing and a Minorin Public Health. Her focuses lie in reproductive healthcareand rights, and electing pro-choice candidates to the state andfederal legislatures. She was the ISP 2016 BSW award winner.

Suzanne Pritzker, PhDSuzanne Pritzker is an associate professor at the Universityof Houston. She began her career as a policy advisor for theVirginia Secretary of Education and the Virginia Legislature.Her research focuses on understanding and increasingpolitical engagement. She teaches graduate-level policy andadvocacy courses and coordinates the Austin LegislativeInternship Program.

Lisa Richardson, MSS, LICSWLisa Richardson is treasurer and past president of the NorthAmerican Network of Field Educators and Directors(NANFED), and previously served on the CSWE’s Council onField Education. Prior to her work in social work education,Lisa practiced as a clinical social in community mentalhealth settings and supervised multidisciplinary staff as ateam leader, program director and clinical director worker

Sunny Harris Rome, MSW, JDSunny Harris Rome has been a leader in promoting socialwork engagement in policy practice for many years. Inaddition to her teaching and research, she currently servesas President of Influencing Social Policy (ISP), as acommissioner for the Special Commission to AdvanceMacro Practice in Social Work, and as chair of the SocialWelfare Policy & Policy Practice track for CSWE.

Stephanie Schmit, MSWStephanie Schmit is a senior policy analyst for the child careand early education team and legislative coordinator atCLASP. Her work is focused on quantitative and qualitativeanalysis of data, state technical assistance and federal andstate policy analysis. Ms. Schmit has expertise in homevisiting, data analysis, and state and federal child care andearly education policy. Prior to joining CLASP, Ms. Schmitworked at the National Center for Parents as Teachers in St.Louis focusing on policy and advocacy for young children.She has also previously worked in direct practice doinghome visits through an early childhood program inCincinnati, OH. Ms. Schmit has a bachelor’s degree inSocial Work from the University of Cincinnati and a master’sdegree in Social Work with a concentration in children,youth and families from Washington University in St. Louis.

John SciamannaJohn Sciamanna is the Vice President for Public Policy at theChild Welfare League of America (CWLA). In the past hehas served as Executive Director of the National ChildAbuse Coalition and led the National Foster Care Coalition.

Amanda Scott, BSW, MAAmanda D. Scott is the Executive Director for the Associationof Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, Inc. She isresponsible for the day-to-day management and governanceof the organization as well as its annual conference. BPD isa national not for profit organization serving social workeducators and allied professionals. Its mission is to promoteexcellence in undergraduate social work education.

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Jenay Smith, BAJenay is a second-year student at the Bryn Mawr CollegeGraduate School of Social Work and Social Research(GSSWSR) with a concentration in Community Practice,Policy, and Advocacy. Jenay is the president of the MacroSocial Work Student Network Bryn Mawr chapter. ThisJanuary, they hosted their panel on Race in Philadelphia’sJuvenile Justice System: Reentry into Society. For close to twoyears Jenay has staffed the Special Commission to AdvanceMacro Practice in Social Work. During her time as anundergraduate at Cabrini College Jenay has lobbied onbehalf of foreign and domestic aid. Jenay completedpost-graduate service with Cabrini Mission Corps.

Tanya Rhodes Smith, MSWTanya Rhodes Smith is the Director of the Nancy A. HumphreysInstitute for Political Social Work and faculty member at theUConn School of Social Work. Her experience in both theprivate and public sector includes policy practice, legislativeadvocacy, community organizing, nonprofit administration,leadership development, fundraising, research and evaluation.

Dianne Stewart, MSSWDianne Stewart is the Director of EARN and NetworkEngagement at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). EARN is anational network of more than 60 state-level policy researchand advocacy organizations. Working with EARN’s members,donors, and allies, Stewart facilitates joint initiatives andbroadens coalitions on issues affecting low- and middle-income workers. Prior to joining EPI in 2016 she createdseveral non-profits including Indivisible, Public Works andthe Texas-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. She hasserved on numerous boards, councils and coalitions and hasan MSSW from the University of Texas at Austin.

John Tropman, PhDJohn Tropman is representing the Network of Social WorkManagers, of which he is the Vice President. He graduatedfrom Oberlin College, The University of Chicago and theUniversity of Michigan. His specialties are in Macro practice- Management, Community Organization and Policy andEvaluation. Several of my books have been in the PolicyArena, including Strategic Perspectives on Social Policy1st and second editions, Policy Management in the Human Services and Does America Hate the Poor.

Dina Van der Zalm, MSW, MPHDina was a 2016 recipient of the Influencing Social Policystudent award for her reproductive rights advocacy inMissouri at the state and local level. She now works as ahealth care organizer, fighting for policy change to improveaccess to and the affordability of rural health care.

Adrienne Walters, MSWAdrienne Walters is a Program Assistant for the Council onSocial Work. She received her BSW and MSW with aconcentration in social change from George MasonUniversity. She has supported research and grants in healthcare policies affecting children and families, asset building,mental health recovery, substance use, human rights, andintegrated behavioral healthcare.

Rita Webb, MSRita Webb is currently Senior Policy Associate in the SocialJustice & Human Rights Department, Social Work Practice,Policy and Professional Development Division at the NationalAssociation of Social Workers (NASW). Rita is the assignedstaff to two of the equity committees mandated by NASW’sbylaws. The committees are: the National Committee onWomen’s Issues and the National Committee on Racial andEthnic Diversity. She also staffs related issues to thesepopulations, such as human trafficking, domestic violence,women’s health, health disparities, pay equity, immigration,cultural competency standards, etc.

Kathryn Wehrman, PhDKathryn Conley Wehrmann, PhD is the current President Electof NASW. She also serves as the BSW Program Director inthe Illinois State University School of Social Work. Dr.Wehrmann has been active in advocacy efforts on a stateand national level through her involvement with NASW.

Chasity Wells-Armstrong, MSW, CADCChasity has dedicated her career to advocacy and publicpolicy. She serves as the Deputy District Director for aMember of Congress. During 2015, she was elected to thecity council in her hometown. On February 28, 2017, shewas the first African American female to win a major party’sprimary mayoral nomination. She went on to defeat a 2term Republican incumbent mayor making history on April4th as the first African American mayor and female mayorfor the city of Kankakee.

Margaret White, MAEntering social work as an encore career, Margaret isa MSW student and graduate assistant for Dr.Megan Finno-Velasquez.


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Patricia White, MSWPat White has managed the grant program of The NewCommunity Trust in the areas of Social Services andWelfare, Girls and Young Women, and Homelessness andHunger. Her work expanded to include a focus on socialwork research, education and practice with grant making inand outside New York City. Independent of The Trust, shenow operates the Fund for Social Policy Education andPractice, an initiative created by the Foundation to helpmake the education and training of social workers morecognizant of and responsive to, the social policy contextand climate of their work. Pat has a MSW from MarywoodCollege (now Marywood University) and an AdvancedManagement Certificate in Business Administrationspecializing in nonprofit management from the UrbanBusiness Assistance Corporation at New York University.

Patrick WillardPatrick Willard is Senior Director, Campaigns, Outreachand Engagement (CORE) for Families USA overseeing theorganization’s work with partners in all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia. His team brings resources and criticalassistance to advance the Families USA health care agendain the states and the federal government. He also leads theorganization’s annual Health Action Conference drawingmore than 500 health care advocates to Washington eachyear to focus on expanding coverage and quality in health care.

Melvin Wilson, MSW, LCSW, MBAI am currently the manager for the NASW department ofSocial Justice and Human Rights. Over a 12 year period, Ihave been directly involved with policy, legislative andpractice aspects of economic justice, criminal/juvenilejustice, voting rights, immigration and other related socialjustice concerns. I have an extensive background in healthand mental health disparities; racial disparities in thecriminal and juvenile justice systems, and in working withnational social justice and civil rights coalitions.

Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSWJoan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSW, is currently the SeniorConsultant for NASW and Project Director, SupervisoryLeaders in Aging, NASW Foundation. Most recently Dr.Zlotnik held the position of Social Work Policy Institute(SWPI) Director. Prior to that she served as executivedirector of the Institute for the Advancement of Social WorkResearch. Previously, she served as staff director of NASW’sFamily Commission and as a Government RelationsAssociate at the NASW. She was also Director of SpecialProjects and Special Assistant to the Executive Director atthe Council on Social Work Education. Dr. Zlotnik was afellow of the Gerontological Society of America and anNASW Social Work Pioneer®. She holds a PhD in SocialWork from the University of Maryland, an MSSW from theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BA from the Universityof Rochester.


3 >AGENDA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

5:00 REGISTRATION

5:15 WELCOMEPatricia White, Executive Director, Fund for

Social Policy Education and Practice

Angelo McClain, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Social Workers

5:30 GOALS FOR THE SUMMIT

5:40 INTRODUCTIONS

6:15 RECEPTION & DINNER

7:00 KEYNOTE SPEAKER – CALL TO ACTION – MAXIMIZING SOCIAL WORK’S POLICY IMPACT IN A NEW POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTEllen Buchman, Executive Vice President,

Field and CommunicationsLeadership Conference on Civil and

Human Rights

7:30 DISCUSSION

8:15 ADJOURN

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

8:00 BREAKFAST NASW Conference Center

8:30 REVIEW CALL TO ACTION & SUMMIT GOALS; INTRODUCTION OF NEW PARTICIPANTS

8:45 PERSPECTIVES ON POLICY PRACTICE IN A CHANGED POLICY ENVIRONMENT – STRATEGIES, COALITIONS, RESOURCES Stephanie Schmit, Legislative Coordinator,

Center for Law and Social Policy

Dianne Stewart, Director of Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), Economic Policy Institute

Patrick Willard, Senior Director of Campaigns, Outreach and Engagement, Families USA

Moderator: Sunny Harris Rome, Professor, George Mason University Department of Social Work

10:00 BREAK

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10:15 POLICY PRACTICE INNOVATIONS IN SOCIALWORK EDUCATION: FIELD INITIATIVES, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & PARTNERSHIPS –INITIATIVES, OUTCOMES & NEXT STEPSRebecca Brigham, Field Director, University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work

Jill Manit, Field Director, University of Nevada-Reno School of Social Work

Elisa Kawam, Executive Director, NASW New Mexico Chapter

Jenay Smith, MSW Candidate, Bryn Mawr College, Graduate School of Social Workand Social Research

Moderator: Jessica Holmes, Director of Education Innovation and Research, Council Social Work Education

11:30 WORKGROUP SESSION 1 – LEADERSHIP, ENGAGEMENT, & PARTNERSHIPS

12:30 WORKING BUFFET LUNCH – WORKGROUPSREPORTS BACK

1:30 BREAK

1:45 ENGAGING IN POLICY ADVOCACY —- HOW TO BE PREPARED & PREPARE OTHERS PUTTING THE CODE OF ETHICS TO WORK IN A NEW POLITICAL CLIMATE Dawn Hobdy, Director, Office of Professional

Review and Ethics, NASWTactical Issues for Engaging Practitioners

in Policy

Susan Hoechstetter, Senior Advisor, Foundation Advocacy and Evaluation, Bolder Advocacy Initiative of the Alliance for Justice

2:15 WORKGROUP SESSION 2: CRITICAL ISSUE BREAKOUTS – HEALTHCARE, IMMIGRATION,RACIAL EQUITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE

3:15 STRATEGIC REPORT OUT FROM SMALL GROUPS

3:45 SUMMARY OF ACTION AGENDA & NEXT STEPS

4:00 ADJOURN

4 > SUGGESTED RESOURCES

COALITION FOR POLICY EDUCATION AND PRACTICE IN SOCIAL WORKwww.cswe.org/Centers-Initiatives/Initiatives/The-Coalition-for-Policy-Education-and-Practice-inCurriculum Work Group Identification and Assessment ofPolicy Curriculum Resources to be posted soon.

AMERICAN ACADEMY FOR SOCIAL WORK ANDSOCIAL WELFAREwww.aaswsw.orgThe Grand Challenges for Social Work is a groundbreakinginitiative of the AASWSW to champion social progresspowered by science. > Ensure healthy development for all youth> Close the health gap> Stop family violence> Advance long and productive lives> Eradicate social isolation> End homelessness> Create social responses to a changing environment> Harness technology for social good> Promote smart decarceration> Reduce extreme economic inequality> Build financial capability for all> Achieve equal opportunity and justice

Grand Challenges for Social Work Policy Briefshttps://csd.wustl.edu/events/ConferencesAndSymposia/Pages/Grand-Challenges-Policy-Briefs.aspxThe briefs were prepared for the Social Innovation forAmerica’s Renewal: Ideas, Evidence, Action conference inSeptember 2016https://csd.wustl.edu/events/ConferencesAndSymposia/Pages/Grand-Challenges-for-Social-Work-Policy-Conference.aspx

ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ANDSOCIAL ADMINISTRATIONwww.acosa.org

Special Commission to Advance Macro Practicewww.acosa.org/joomla/about-the-special-commission

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON SOCIALWORK AND POLICYwww.crispinc.org

CRISP Political Boot Camphttp://crispinc.org/register-now-for-the-july-9-12-2017-political-boot-camp/

Social Policy Coalition Newsletterhttps://indd.adobe.com/view/ed4fd80d-732f-4ec1-8dea-34833a86550a;https://indd.adobe.com/view/7caa46a8-ca34-44d8-837e-c1e6057ff633

COUNCIL ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION www.cswe.org

Policy Practice in Field Education InitiativeSupported by the Fund for to seed innovation and todevelop new models for an integrated approach to heightenthe policy skill set of all undergraduate and graduate levelsocial work students, regardless of specializationwww.cswe.org/Centers-Initiatives/Initiatives/Policy-Practice-in-Field-Education-Initiative/Grantees-List

Clearinghouse for Economic Well-beingwww.cswe.org/Centers-Initiatives/Initiatives/Clearinghouse-for-Economic-Well-Being

Public Policy Initiativewww.cswe.org/Advocacy-Policy

INFLUENCING SOCIAL POLICYhttp://influencingsocialpolicy.org

Policy Practice CertificateDeveloped by Influencing Social Policy and availablethrough the CSWE Learning Academyhttps://learningacademy.cswe.org/products/policy-practice-certificate-courseSee also webinars hosted by the Network for Social WorkManagement (below)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERSwww.socialworkers.org

Washington Updatewww.socialworkers.org/advocacy/Washington_Update.asp


Advocacy Resourceswww.socialworkers.org/advocacy/resources/default.asp> Calling Your Member of Congress> Lobbying “Do’s” and “Don’ts”> Writing a Letter to Your Member of Congress> Meeting with A Member of Congress> Legislative Glossary

Social Work Policy Institute www.socialworkpolicy.org

Influencing Social Policy: Preparing Social WorkGraduates for Policy Careerswww.socialworkpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/InfluencingSocialPolicyBrief.pdf

NATIONAL NETWORK FOR SOCIAL WORKMANAGEMENT

NSWM Policy Fellowshttps://socialworkmanager.org/programs/nswm-policy-fellows/NSWM Special Policy Webinar Series in May organized in partnership with Influencing Social Policyhttp://mailchi.mp/socialworkmanager/join-us-for-a-special-policy-webinar-series-register-today?e=58588b7048

BOLDER ADVOCACY PROJECT OF THE ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICEwww.bolderadvocacy.orgBolder Advocacy promotes active engagement indemocratic processes and institutions by giving nonprofitsand foundations the confidence to advocate effectively andby protecting their right to do so. Our goal is to demystifyand decode advocacy by equipping organizations withknowledge and tools.

Resources on the legal rules for engaging in advocacy,including lobbying an election related activity,www.bolderadvocacy.org

Free tools that help organizations understand what it takes tobe effective in their advocacy and community organizing work.www.bolderadvocacy.org/tools-for-effective-advocacy/evaluating-advocacy/act-quick

Advocacy & Organizing Evaluation ToolsAdvocacy Capacity Tool:www.bolderadvocacy.org/tools-for-effective-advocacy/evaluating-advocacy/advocacy-capacity-toolCapacity Tool

PowerCheck for Community Organizingwww.bolderadvocacy.org/tools-for-effective-advocacy/overview-of-evaluating-community-organizing/powercheck

International Advocacywww.bolderadvocacy.org/tools-for-effective-advocacy/evaluating-advocacy/international-advocacy-capacity-tool

CENTER ON LAW AND SOCIAL POLICYwww.clasp.orgCLASP works at all levels of government to advance large-scale policy opportunities and system reforms that addressthe needs of children and parents together as a family. This“two-generation” approach to public policy helps childrenthrive and parents succeed at school, work, and caregiving—supporting economic opportunity for both generations.

ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTEwww.epi.orgThe Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisanthink tank created to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions.

Perkins Project on Worker Rights and Wages. Named for long-time labor secretary and social worker FrancesPerkins, is a policy response team tracking the wage and employment policies coming out of the White House,Congress, and the courts.www.epi.org/research/perkins-project

Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN)is a deep-rooted national network that connects publicpolicy thinkers and activists to win progressive state andlocal economic policy change.www.epi.org/earn

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CENTER ON IMMIGRATION AND CHILD WELFAREhttp://cimmcw.orgThe mission of CICW is to improve programs and policiesrelated to immigrant children and families involved in thepublic child welfare system. CICW conducts anddisseminates research, develops policy and practicerecommendations, develops and disseminates resources,and works with federal, state, and local child welfareagencies to facilitate policy and practice improvements.

CHILDREN’S LEADERSHIP COUNCILwww.childrensleadershipcouncil.orgThe Children’s Leadership Council (CLC) is a coalition ofpre-eminent national organizations dedicated to improvingthe lives and opportunities of America’s infants, children andyouth in order to prepare them for school, work, andlife. Together, CLC members support investments in childrenand their families in the areas of: children’s safety; children’shealth and nutrition; early care and education; youthdevelopment; and economic security to ensure thatchildren’s basic needs are met.

CONFRONTING POVERTY https://confrontingpoverty.orgThis project provides a set of tools for learning more aboutpoverty and inequality in the United States including apoverty risk calculator.

EVERY CHILD MATTERS http://everychildmatters.orgEvery Child Matters is a non-partisan children’s advocacyorganization whose mission is to make children a nationalpriority.

FAMILIES USAwww.familiesusa.orgFamilies USA is a leading national voice for health careconsumers, and is dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care and improved health for all.

Families USA Public Policy Guide for Enrollment Assistershttp://familiesusa.org/initiatives/enrollment-assister-toolkit

Families USA Key Issues http://familiesusa.org/issues

INDIVISIBLE PROJECT www.indivisibleguide.comThe Indivisible Project is a registered 501c(4) nonprofitwhose mission is to fuel a progressive grassroots network todefeat the Trump Agenda. The Indivisible Guide provides aToolkit on Grass Roots Advocacy including connecting withyour members of Congress, organizing locally andadvocacy tactics.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTSwww.civilrights.orgThe Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is acoalition charged by its diverse membership of more than200 national organizations to promote and protect the civiland human rights of all persons in the United States. Throughadvocacy and outreach to targeted constituencies.

Take Action www.civilrights.org/action_center/

Issue Guide www.civilrights.org/issues/

NANCY A HUMPHREYS INSTITUTE FOR POLITICALSOCIAL WORKhttp://ssw.uconn.edu/our-community/centers-institutes-projects/nancy-a-humphreys-institute-for-political-social-work/The Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Workworks to increase the political participation and influence ofsocial workers, and the communities they serve, througheducation and training, research and agency-basednonpartisan voter engagement.


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SUGGESTED ARTICLES

The Coalition’s Identification and Assessment of PolicyCurriculum Resources (to be posted soon) includes aselected bibliography covering Teaching Strategies;Innovative Teaching Applications; Intersectionality ofRace, Ethnicity, Poverty; Social Work and Social Justice; Professional Policy Practice, and SubstantiveAreas of Policy.

Additional articles identified by Rebecca Brigham Beimers, D. (2015). NASW involvement in legislative

advocacy. Journal of Policy Practice, 14(3-4), 256-274.

Beimers, D. (2016). Legislative advocacy days: Buildingpolitical self-efficacy in social work students. Journal ofPolicy Practice, 15(4), 269-288.

Bliss, D.L. (2015). Using the Social Work Advocacy PracticeModel to Find Our Voices in Service of Advocacy.Human Service Organizations: Management,Leadership & Governance, 39(1), 57-68.

DeRigne, L., Rosenwald, M., & Naranjo, F.A. (2014).Legislative advocacy and social work education:Models and new strategies. Journal of Policy Practice,13(4), 316-327.

Hamilton, D., & Fauri, D. (2001). Social Workers PoliticalParticipation: Strengthening the Political Confidence ofSocial Work Students. Journal of Social WorkEducation, 37(2), 321-332.

Hoefer, R. (2010). Introduction: Contemporary research onsocial work advocacy and policy practice.

Hylton, M.E. (2015). Civic Engagement and Civic LiteracyAmong Social Work Students: Where Do We Stand?Journal of Policy Practice, 14(3-4), 292-307.

Zerden, L.D.S., Sheely, A., & Despard, M.R. (2016).Debunking macro myths: findings from recent graduatesabout jobs, salaries, and skills. Social Work Education,35(7), 752-766.

7 5 0 F I R S T S T R E E T N E , S U I T E 8 0 0WA S H I N G T O N , D C 2 0 0 0 1 - 4 2 4 1S O C I A LWO R K P O L I C Y . O R G

ABOUT THE SOCIAL WORK POLICY INSTITUTE

The Social Work Policy Institute was established in 2009 and is a division of the NASW Foundation. Its mission is:> To strengthen social work’s voice in public policy deliberations.> To inform policy-makers through the collection and dissemination

of information on social work effectiveness.> To create a forum to examine current and future issues in

health care and social service delivery.

Social Work Policy Institute > NASW Foundation750 First Street NE, Suite 800 > Washington, DC 20002-4241SocialWorkPolicy.org

maximizing social work’s policy impact in a

Documents