CSWE Full Circle - April 2017

A Note on the 2017 APM and Texas Senate Bill 6

Dear Colleagues,

As you probably know, the 2017 CSWE Annual Program Meeting (APM) is scheduled to be held October 19–22 in Dallas, Texas. Texas Senate Bill 6 (“Relating to regulations and policies for entering or using a bathroom or changing facility”) has been top of mind at CSWE. We are closely monitoring the progress of this proposed legislation that directly affects our members and those whom we serve. The tensions between the Texas House and Senate have been well-documented in the news, and the outcome is far from certain at this point.

As for APM, site selection is done at least 5 years in advance to accommodate the size and scope of our conference. As we became aware of the proposed legislation in Texas, our first action was to explore the possibility of moving the conference—and discovered that such a change would come at an exorbitant cost. To address similar potential conflicts in the future, the CSWE Board of Directors asked the Council on Conferences and Faculty Development, a council of the Commission on Membership and Professional Development, to make recommendations for the development of a Socially Responsible Conference Planning policy. We are grateful to the members of these two groups for their wise counsel on the issues, and particularly for the leadership of Dr. Maureen Rubin and Dr. Cheryl Parks. The CSWE Board received those recommendations on March 24, 2017, and they are currently under review.

As for the Dallas APM, we join you in advocating for inclusive and nondiscriminatory polices and will continue to monitor the situation. We have also created space at the conference to feature a panel of local agency representatives and advocates faced with conducting business in the context of a challenging political environment. The session is scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2017, 4:00 pm–5:00 pm. It will be held in a general session room and will be recorded, so that we can make it available after the conference to our members. We thank the members of the Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression  for partnering with us on this presentation. Stay tuned for more details.


                          
Darla Spence Coffey                                Barbara W. Shank
 

Incorporating SOAR Training Into Social Work Education

The National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services (NCEHS) is working in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance Center. Last fall, three NCEHS partner schools launched SOAR initiatives, which were featured in the August issue of this newsletter and on the National Center’s blog. Following are progress updates from each school.
 
The University of Texas at Austin launched its SOAR internship pilot in fall 2016, with three MSW students completing the SOAR Online Course. Since completing their certification, the students have worked on applications under the supervision of the local SOAR lead. Feedback from participating agencies has been positive, and the school is looking for ways to expand the pilot next year. In February Linda Plitt Donaldson (Catholic University of America) facilitated a strategic planning meeting for the Washington, DC, SOAR team. SOAR leaders may invite further involvement by the school to support pursuing the goals identified during this process. California State University at Long Beach had students complete the SOAR certification and gain experience using the tool as part of a newly developed advanced practice elective course on homelessness. Additionally, the school is collaborating with social work programs in Los Angeles and surrounding counties to develop a plan to provide SOAR training to all interns placed in homeless service agencies.
 
These three projects are excellent examples of integrating homelessness content and related skills into social work curricula. If you are interested in other ways to do this, check out the CSWE Learning Academy’s on-demand webinar series on homelessness in social work education. More about the projects described here and about SOAR can be found in this recent NCEHS blog post.
 

National Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Milestones & Resources

Sexual Assault Awareness Month increases public awareness about sexual violence and its impact on global public health, human rights, and social justice. To recognize this campaign and highlight the milestones it has achieved, CSWE has provided online resources (e.g., documentaries, college campus support networks, public policy) with information about increasing community engagement and volunteerism.

Sexual Assault Awareness Milestone Timeline

Resources

• Documentaries

  • Audrie & Daisy (2016), a documentary examining the impact on families, friends, and schools of young women who have been sexually assaulted

  • The Hunting Ground (2015), a documentary about rape and sexual assault on college campuses

  • It Happened Here (2014), a documentary detailing the experiences of cross-country athlete, student scholar, and campus rape victim Angie Epifano at Amherst College

  • The Invisible War (2012), an Academy Award Nominee Best Documentary Feature and investigative documentary about the rape of soldiers in the U.S. military

• Victim Resources & National Organizations

  • Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 or live chat

  • PAVE creates a safe space for survivors after trauma and provides prevention education

  • National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) represents state coalitions and local programs at the federal policy level

  • Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers is dedicated to research, informed public policy, education, and evidence-based practice, including the treatment of sexual abusers.

  • College Campuses

    • Center for Changing Our Campus Culture; online resource center supported by the Office on Violence Against Women

    • End Rape on Campus works to end campus sexual violence through direct support for survivors and their communities.

• Engagement & Volunteer Opportunities

  • See NSVRC resources for raising awareness and changing the culture to prevent sexual assault in your community.

  • Take the It’s On Us pledge to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault.

  • Volunteer to support survivors with RAINN.

  • Learn how take action against sexual assault on college campuses via End Rape on Campus.