2012 Annual SSWAA Conference Newsletter

School Social Work
Association of America
Conference and Board News
April/May
2012 2010
April / May
The School Social Work Association
of America National Conference
Boston, Massachusetts
The School Social Work Association of America recently held
its 15th National School Social Work Conference in Boston,
Massachusetts from March 27-April 1, 2012.
The Conference was attended by over 430 school social workers
and colleagues from 45 states, US territories and 5 foreign
countries. Over 64 general workshops and poster sessions were
presented as well as 6 pre-conference workshops. In addition,
the SSWAA Board of Directors held its annual membership
meeting and the 3rd Delegate Assembly. There were many
opportunities for specialty group meetings such as university
educators and geographic regions. The next SSWAA National
Conference is scheduled for March 20-23, 2013 at the Sheraton
San Diego Hotel and Marina in San Diego, California.
Keynote Speakers:
The Conference Venue: The Boston Park Plaza Hotel
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The conference keynote speaker was Dr. George Sugai,
who is the Co-Director, OSEP Center on Positive
Behavioral Interventions and Supports. His presentation
was titled “Muti-tiered Prevention Frameworks and
School Social Work.” Our luncheon speaker on Friday
was Myrna Mandlawitz who is SSWAA’s Governmental
Relations Director. Myrna’s presentation was “Watching
Washington Work: Will They or Won’t They!” Myrna
reported on the latest budget and election news from
Washington, D.C. and the possible affects on public
education and school social workers. The closing
luncheon session and keynote address was given by Dr.
James Herbert Williams, Dean of the Graduate School of
Social Work at the University of Denver. His remarks
were titled “Addressing the Challenges Impacting
African American’s Academic Achievement.”
SSWAA National School Social
Work Conference
In addition to the many workshops, presentations,
specialty meetings, general sessions, silent auction and
annual SSWAA membership meeting there were many
opportunities for participants to connect and share
experiences with colleagues from within and between
states. Thursday evening attendees enjoyed a special film
screening of the documentary film “Who Cares About
Kelsey” which was presented by the film maker, Dan
Habib and colleague Dr. JoAnne Malloy of the University
of New Hampshire Institute on Disability. During the day,
the attendees were able to explore the exhibit hall which
included over 26 exhibitors from around the United States
including the University of New England, Oxford
University Press, Lyceum Books and Hazelden to name
just a few.
SSWAA Conference Vendors
SSW’S From Puerto Rico
Dr. Sugai Presentation
Myrna Mandlawitz “Our Voice in DC”
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Opening Session
SSWAA Conference Workshops
Many interesting and topical workshops and poster sessions
were presented. Of interest to many school social workers
were: “School Social Work in Chile: New Opportunities for
Growth Due to Changes in Social and Educational Policies,”
“School Accessibility for Homeless Children,” “Developing
a National School Social Work Model: Forging a National
School Social Work Presence,” “Responding to Crisis: How
SSW’s Utilize Best Practices in District Crisis Teams,”
“Collegial Collaborations: An Inter-Disciplinary Model for
Mental Health Support in the Schools,” and “The Evolution
of ADHD: What Do We REALLY Know?”
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2012 SSWAA Awards
Gary Lee Shaffer Award for Academic
Contributions to the Field of School Social
Work was presented to Dr. Natasha K. Bowen,
Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill by Mrs. Denise Shaffer and
Dr. Michelle Alvarez on behalf of SSWAA. The SSWAA
Board would like to thank all of the other nominees for
their contributions to the field of school social work practice
in the schools!
Mrs. Denise Shaffer, Dr. Natasha Bowen and SSWAA President, Dr. Michelle Alvarez
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2012 School Social Worker
of thE YeAR
Heather Alden Pope
was selected by a national committee
to be the first recipient of the
SSWAA School Social Worker of the
Year award. Heather is a proud
member of SSWAA, the Midwest
School Social Work Council and the
Minnesota School Social Workers
Association (MSSWA).
Board Member, Howard Blonsky Presents the
SSW of the Year Award to Heather Alden Pope
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Heather’s Acceptance Speech
“What a tremendous honor to be here in this room today! I look around and see my wonderful husband and
partner, Jeff and many of my colleagues from Minnesota and the Midwest. It is such an honor to be recognized by
SSWAA and my colleagues for the hard work we all do everyday. This is a tremendous award because it represents
the many people with whom I have been honored to share in their life’s journey. I am motivated by the great work of
others and the possibility and potential in the faces we see everyday at our schools. I find that for me personally, I keep
trying new things because the kids can’t afford me not to. They need all of us to push through the barriers that pop
up in their lives so that they can access the possibilities that await them. I think that this is what keeps me showing up
everyday. My mom often says that the world is run by those of us who show up. I don’t espouse to run the world,
but I do know that I show up, albeit a bit tired and maybe finishing my breakfast in the car on the way there, but I do
show up.
When I think of what it means to do the work of a school social worker, I see faces in my minds eye. I
remember the day at Cornelius Elementary in inner city Houston, Texas when a young woman was crying before school
and it took some time to get her ready to be in the classroom for the day. I remember meeting with the local priest in
the Barrio on Woodbridge Avenue in Houston, who turned my classroom around by including the importance of doing
homework and listening to their teachers at school in his weekly sermons. I remember a parent in St Paul who moved
out of homelessness into stable housing and started reading with her son at night. I remember a seventh grader just the
other day checking in to let me know how things were going for him at the middle school and that he was getting an A
in advanced Algebra that I had “made him take.” I see a mom who rarely has access to a working phone or viable
transportation, answer the door when I knock so that I can introduce her to the school social worker at her older son’s
school to try and create a bridge to build their relationship. Many of you have these faces in your days as well.
When I think about the work we do, I am awestruck at the tremendous responsibility we have to hold in high
esteem the most vulnerable clients as well as tow the line with some of our most resistant ones. We need to get in
there and do the work.
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We may do our work in a classroom, at a table, under a table, outside of a home on the front porch or through a screened
door. We may do our work with puppets and clay or graffiti and spoken word, before school or during
lunch....nonetheless, we do the work. The work definitely stretches us to be outside of the box thinkers – face it, most of
our clients live outside of the box so honestly we should probably just ditch the box all together.
The students on our caseload need us to stay present with them. Believe me, it is not always an easy task. If you
remember the very cool box of Crayola crayons; the one with 64 colors and the sharpener in the back? Well honestly,
there were probably more colors in there than anyone needed, but oh the possibilities that were spread before you with
all of those variations on blue, green, red, yellow, orange and purple. I found a box and it reminded me of my caseload.
There are some crayons that are well used, the tips are flattened, the paper is torn away and some are broken…. these
remind me of my clients that sit in my green chair daily or test limits everyday to see if they still exist, great colors and
well worn. There are some crayons that need attention, but with some guidance can be finessed into most of the pictures
I draw, aren’t those the kids that fit well into our groups and classrooms? There are some colors that go neglected,
cornflower blue or burnt sienna, very good colors but those tips don’t seem to be worn down with equal muster which
than challenges me to make sure that I see them and their potential. It is my responsibility to include them in the canvas
I create and challenge others to see their possibilities as well. Which brings me to the possibility with the sharpener in
back, the opportunity to regroup and get back on track with my colors, not to throw them away or into the broken
crayon box, but to sharpen them back up and get them back into working order. I think the box of crayons is what
school social work is really all about – it is about seeing the array of students, it is seeing the students who are not
wanting to be seen, it is seeing and directing the students who are well worn and tested, it is believing in the possibility
of including other colors and ideas into a canvas, even when others may think the canvas is complete. It is seeing that
there is more possibility when another avenue is approached, like sharpening the worn out colors so that they are fresh
again, albeit shorter, but ready to get back in the cue.
So at the end of it all, we will not be remembered for the hours we have billed, the eloquent way we wrote a 28page evaluation report, the efficiency of our truancy reports or the timeliness of our meetings. We will not be
remembered for the hours spent in our homes completing paperwork after our own kids are in bed and the dishes done
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that didn’t get done at school or the miles driven on our cars to connect with clients wherever they may be.
No, that will not be any of our legacy. But the way we made someone smile, or the reassuring nod or glance given a
parent as we sat with a classmate who is struggling to go and meet with the school social worker because it helps. It
will be when the parent with whom you have talked through the screen door or window for two years, invites you in to
sit at their kitchen table. Or better yet, a parent refers you to another parent for the work you have done. That is when
you know, it matters that you show up.
At the end of the day, it is the HOPE that keeps me going. It is the POSSIBILITY of what tomorrow brings
and it is the BELIEF that each one of my students, their families and my colleagues have a SPARK within them that
drives their passions and desires that can make the difference in their lives.
I find the words of Maya Angelou often echoing in my head, “People may forget what you said or what you did, but
not how you made them feel.”
Thank you for this honor and most importantly your wisdom, your guidance and your support – we are all in this
profession together and together we are so much stronger. There is little better than doing the work we do everyday and
the support of our colleagues to “keep on keepin’ on”!
Have a great day and a safe trip home.
SSWAA Board Members
After many years of outstanding contributions
and dedication to the profession of school social
work and to SSWAA at the local, state and
national levels, several outgoing SSWAA Board
Members were recognized for their recent
service on the SSWAA Board. Those receiving
recognition were Doug Spohn (Florida), Board
member at Large for the Southern Region, Cindy
Swiegart (South Carolina), Secretary and VicePresident, Donna Secor-Pennington (Michigan).
Past President Rochelle Leiber-Miller presents plaque to outgoing Vice President Donna Secor-Pennington
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SSWAA Lifetime Achievement Award
Randy Fisher
The First annual SSWAA “Randy
Fisher Lifetime Achievement
Award” was presented to Randy
Fisher, the former Executive Director
of SSWAA. University Board
member, Brenda Lindsey presented
the award.
“This is the first year that SSWAA
has given such an award and this
year’s honoree made a significant
contribution to the field of school
social work as well as to SSWAA.
He was a founding member of
SSWAA and served as our first
President from 1996-2000. Randy
was selected as the first Executive
Director of SSWAA and served from
2001-2006. He led our organization during its fledgling years and witnessed a tremendous growth in
membership. During his final year as Executive Director, SSWAA had over 3300 members – quite an
accomplishment for an organization that only began in 1994.
Randy has been chosen to present at numerous prestigious national and international conferences, has
been editor of the School Social Work Journal and served on the editorial boards of the Iowa Journal of
School Social Work and Children in Schools. He has also received countless awards including 1988
Illinois School Social Worker of the Year and the 1998 IASSW Lifetime Achievement Award. He is
currently a faculty member at Aurora University where he coordinates the School Social Work Program.
In short, he has an impressive list of accomplishments and contributions and I have only highlighted a
few.
Randy is one of the finest people that I know and I am honored to present him with this award. I cannot
think of a more deserving person to receive the first SSWAA Lifetime Achievement Award. The award
will be given in his honor at subsequent conferences and I know that his spirit and passion for school
social work will live on for many years to come.”
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The SSWAA National Book Award was
given to Oxford University Press for the
book entitled “Response to Intervention:
A Guide for School Social Workers”
authored by James Clark and Michelle
Alavarez.
Nicolas Liu, Editor, Oxford University
Press and Michelle Alvarez accepted the
award. Michelle noted “that one of the
best things about the book aside from her
co-editor James Clark, was the fact that a
school social work practitioner is one of
the author’s of each chapter in the book.”
SSWAA Support to
State Organizations
SSWAA Board members and
other state association
leadership met with Louisiana
School Social Workers who
are interested in establishing
their own state school social
work association. The SSWAA
Board has established a
“Support to States
Committee” to promote the
development of school social
work practice and the
establishment of state
associations in all 50 states
and US territories.
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SSWAA 3rd DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
The 2012 Delegate Assembly
A New Era for SSWAA
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
SSWAA currently has 25 State Af>iliates:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. On March 31, 2012, SSWAA President Michelle Alvarez welcomed delegates from 19 of the 24 state associations who were present for the 3rd SSWAA Delegate Assembly meeting, continuing a new era of increased participation of the membership and state associations in the governance of our national organization for the mutual beneGit of all. The DA discussed the following topics: SSWAA Website, Conference Report, Government Relations, Strategic Plan, SSWAA Awards, Timeline Document, Standards and Practice Topics, “Highly QualiDied” School Social Workers Statement, Title of School Social Worker, “National Model” of School Social Work, National Research Agenda, Monthly Webinars on Research topics, DA Organizational Issues, SSWAA Nominations and Election process, Legislative Board position, Support to States committee, Summer Legislative/Leadership Institute and the SSWAA Budget. Finally, the DA listened to each delegate give a report on their state School Social Work Association and the professional and educational concerns within their state.
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The complete Delegate Assembly minutes can be found on the DA page on the SSWAA website www.sswaa.org . The next meeting of the Delegate Assembly is tenatively scheduled for August 5-­‐7 in Chicago. SSWAA BOARD REPORT: May 2012
The School Social Work Association of America Board of Directors met before, during and after
the national school social work conference in Boston, Massachusetts. We would like to keep you
informed of what issues and decisions the Board has reviewed, discussed and implemented. First, the
Board accepted a report from the executive director regarding: budget, membership, insurance programs,
state partnerships and other SSWAA activities at the state, national and international level. A report was
delivered by the Conference Director (Dot Kontak) regarding the current conference in Boston and the
2013 National School Social Work Conference which will be at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and
Marina from March 20-23, 2013 in San Diego, California.
Our finances, membership and partnership efforts with state associations continues to improve. We
now have 24 State Associations that have become State Affiliates. As a new benefit of membership,
SSWAA now offers professional liability insurance. Term life insurance is available for an additional cost
from the same company. The Board established several new national awards: “School Social Worker of
the Year,” “Randy Fisher School Social Work Career Achievement Award” and a “Professional Book
Award.” The Board continues to work on several important projects including a National Model of
School Social Work, Position papers on several current topics relevant to school social workers such as a
Highly Qualified Statement for School Social Workers and a School Social Work Research agenda.
SSWAA is involved in many coalitions and partner organizations in Washington DC: National
Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO); Committee for Education Funding (CEF);
National Consortium for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; Forum on Educational
Accountability and the IDEA Partnership and many others. SSWAA also has several research related
university and professional partners: Council for Social Work Education, Fordham University,
Gallaudet University, Minnesota State University, Society for Social Work Research, Southern
Connecticut University and the University of Illinois, Chicago.
The next SSWAA Legislative/Leadership Institute will be held in Washington, DC at the
Hampton Inn from June 24-27 2012. Myrna Mandlawitz, our governmental relations staff would hope
that every state association sends at least 1 participant to this important event that brings together the
leadership/membership of our state associations to Washington DC to meet and advocate with
Congressional and Senate representatives and their staff, about the role and importance of our profession
in order to STRENGTHEN our national and local voices in support of school social work. Participants
will have the opportunity to further discuss, develop and refine our national/state partnerships with other
national educational organizations in order to improve our national and local advocacy of school social
work. The Summer Legislative and Leadership Institute registration and hotel information is posted
on our website: www.sswaa.org.
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SSWAA MEMBER BENEFITS
SSWAA offers a variety of pamphlets, books and
CEU opportunities. Please review some of the
products for sale on our website, especially the
school social work documentary DVD: “A Day in
the Life of a School Social Worker” which
depicts two Los Angeles Unified School District
school social workers in their daily routines and
responsibilities at an LAUSD elementary and high
school campus. We also offer pamphlets, books
and CEU opportunities.
SSWAA MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Professional Liability Insurance included as part of your membership
Publication Discounts: 20% Oxford Press and 33% School Social Work Journal
Reduced National Conference and Legislative/Leadership Institute (Washington, DC)
Bi-Weekly Electronic Newsletters and Reports: E-Bell (Monday) and E-Blast
National Lobbyist in Washington, DC advocating for School Social Work
School Social Work Pamphlets and DVD
School Social Work Website: www.sswaa.org which includes a members only section
On-Line Workshop Series and CEU’s
Membership Information
SSWAA IS YOUR NATIONAL ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
PRACTICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
ASSOCIATIONS
Membership application forms and information can be found on
our website:
https://www.sswaa.org
This newsletter is published by the School Social Work Association of America:
The editor is Daniel McCarthy LCSW (mccarthynm@comcast.net) who is the
Western States Representative on the SSWAA Board of Directors. The editor
welcomes all comments and suggestions.
May 2012