PRESIDENT ELECT
Cheryl Blankenship Kupras, MSW, LCSW
2017 will mark my 25th year of membership in the NASW. I joined as a second-year graduate student at SJSU in 1992 and took my first leadership position as co-chair of the San Jose Unit in 1995.
I have served as the Region B Financial Chair, Assistant Director and Director, CNLI, Delegate Assembly, California Chapter Treasurer, and currently serve as Secretary. I have worked for Santa Clara County for 22 years, first as a medical social worker, then in addiction medicine with people with opioid use disorders and currently as a quality improvement coordinator working in the administration of a county substance use treatment system. I have been licensed since 1998.
I would be honored to serve as the next president of the chapter and would bring passion, experience and knowledge of the history of the chapter to the position in order to help NASW-CA move forward as we face our biggest challenges of the next few years — the current political environment, recruitment and retention of members, and development of new leadership. I come to the position ready to support the vision of the 12 Grand Challenges, serving our chapter with hope and vision!
My name is Sylvester Bowie, and I am a professor of social work and currently the Undergraduate Director Division of Social Work, Sacramento State, where I have served as Vice Chair, as well as Chair of the Faculty Senate (2015–2016).
As a member of NASW California, I have served on various committees, as well as First Vice President (2012–2015). I am interested in being President-elect of NASW-CA because NASW needs bold and progressive leadership that is willing to fight for its core values.
With the new administration in Washington, we are heading into turbulent times and organizations such as NASW must stand up and lead the fight for those who will be disenfranchised and marginalized by anti-progressive policies and practices. NASW has been going through its own internal conflicts and struggles, but it must also be focused on the lives of millions who will be severely affected by regressive government policies. My commitment, background, experience, interest and leadership abilities are a good fit for the time of turbulence ahead. NASW must be responsive to the needs, will, concerns and desire of its members, and if elected President I intend to ensure that I respond and represent the voice of the membership.
MEMBER AT LARGE (VICE PRESIDENT) LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ACTION
In my short time as an MSW student at UCLA, I have been proud to serve on NASW-CA’s Board of Directors as Student Director South, representing the concerns of social work students across Southern California. I am also a recipient of the David Bohnett Leadership Fellowship for 2016–17, learning about politics and the legislative process in the Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Having worked as a journalist and editor for 10 years prior to my social work education, I am an experienced and capable manager of people and priorities, able to communicate efficiently and to advocate for causes that concern and affect social workers and our clients. As we begin to acclimate to a new Presidential administration, social workers — now more than ever — need to recognize their civic responsibilities in engaging with local and state initiatives that affect the communities we serve. I want to lead and to empower social workers to get ever more involved in our inherent civic responsibilities, and to help the leaders of NASW-CA achieve these goals.
I believe that now — more than at any other time in my 30-year career—social workers must stand up to fight injustice. As the NASW-CA Vice President of Legislative Affairs, I will work with association leaders to move forward on justice reforms, to fight racial and gender inequality, to provide access to health care for all and to help all Americans achieve economic success.
I am an Adjunct Associate Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work where I teach courses in social policy and leadership. My private consulting practice is focused on building the leadership capacity of human services professionals through coaching and training programs.
I previously served as the founding Executive Director of The Kennedy Commission, an affordable home advocacy and policy development organization and held leadership positions with three of California’s largest community development organizations.
I volunteer extensively in my community, with a primary focus on advocacy in support of low-income families. I currently serve as the Chair of the Desert Cities Unit of NASW-CA Region F and serve as a board member for three non-profit affordable home organizations. I earned my master’s degree from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and Community Planning.
MEMBER AT LARGE (VICE PRESIDENT) OF MEMBERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES
NASW membership at the local, state and national levels serves as a vital and important voice for NASW National leadership to advocate for social change and justice, policy implementation, and impact laws that govern in Washington, D.C. This membership and organizational services position demands a strong candidate who possesses knowledge and passion for membership functions and operations to operate smoothly and efficiently. My involvement and membership with NASW began in 1998 and has included attending local regional monthly meetings, being a NASW board member, Vice President of Professional Development, Delegate Assembly, Region F Empire Unit Chair, Region I Unit Treasurer, Professional Development Committee (Chair), Finance Committee, Communications Committee, and NASW California Chapter Annual Conference Volunteer.
My selfless, dedicated experience and knowledge within NASW will serve extremely well in the capacity of Vice President of Membership and Organizational Services.
Christina “Tina” Paddock, MSW, LCSW
NASW is a vibrant organization and I want to see its growth and development continue to flourish in California! I have been a member of NASW-CA for over 20 years, and have held a variety of leadership positions. Currently, I am the chair of the Image Council and was previously the Region I Director and a member of the Communications Committee.
My goal for running for the Vice President of Membership is to support and increase the membership of the NASW-CA Chapter by working with the regions, the local units, and the councils throughout the state. My strengths include the ability to coordinate, network, and develop innovative ways to meet this goal. As chair of the Image Council, I coordinated creative ways to educate the public about the roles of professional social workers, through the development of educational videos and connecting with the media. Currently, I am a Clinical Assistant Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work in the Department of Children, Youth and Families, and I am invested in and enjoy educating future social workers about our profession.
SECRETARY
I am a HUD-VASH case manager at People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) in Los Angeles. I was also the NASW-CA San Fernando Valley Unit Secretary from 2015-2016, and the 2016-2017 Co-Chair. My other experience includes the following: Boy Scout Troop Assistant Scoutmaster from 2012 to currently; Treasurer in 2016; Research—Co-Principal Researcher in 2012; and Clinical Safety Coordinator of Medical Office from 2007-2008.
My name is Tech Tran and I am a social worker! I lead with love, empathy and compassion. Vote for me as your NASW California Chapter Secretary. I understand this very critical role in fostering communication and diligence through proper management and utilization of important records, such as meeting minutes and the association’s bylaws.
My wide-ranging responsibilities will require much more than simply being present at all board meetings. I will be an active conduit for communication by giving proper notice of any meetings and timely distribution of materials, such as agendas and meeting minutes. Additionally, I will be knowledgeable of the association’s records and related materials, providing advice and resources to the board on topics such as governance issues, amendments to the NASW laws and the like that will assist in fulfilling their fiduciary duties. As the custodian of the association’s records, you can trust that my responsibility for maintaining accurate documentation and meeting any legal requirements will be upheld. As your secretary I aim to be most useful as I will cater to meet the unique structure and needs of our beloved NASW organization, rather than filling a “one-fits-all” job description. Go social work!
COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS & LEADERSHIP: IDENTIFICATION CHAIR
Tarrisyna Deon’za Bartley, LCSW
I am currently the social work manager at two hospitals managing a staff of 11, and serving as a field instructor to three MSW interns from CSUSB. I spent 25 years of my career at Kaiser Permanente and held the following leadership roles: Union Steward, E-Board Delegate, Union Statewide Secretary and Treasurer, UBT Member and Liaison, Vice President and President for Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Association.
I currently serve as chair of the Inland Empire (IE) unit, managing a listserv of 437. In 2015, we honored the oldest living LCSW in California. In 2017, we featured a panel of experts who addressed three of the most devastating issues in the IE: homelessness, immigration and human trafficking. I am a strong advocate for the profession and for title protection and will focus on identifying potential leaders for the CNLI who will be committed to the mission and goals of NASW.
As a 40-plus year member of the NASW-CA chapter, I have been inspired by the strength and caliber of the leadership of our professional organization. It is the quality leadership that oversees and facilitates the Chapter’s mission and purpose, both statewide and regionally.
Being the Chair of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership would give me the opportunity to identify, encourage and invite the best and brightest social workers to run for leadership positions. I would work collaboratively with the Committee to assure that the candidates identified are strong and dedicated. I have been a previous chair and co-chair of the Jane Addams Council of NASW-CA, participated in regional activities in various capacities and have served on the Affirmative Action Committee.
I recently retired after working for 22 years as a CalSWEC Field Education Consultant and Lecturer at California State University, Long Beach, School of Social Work. I worked for 17 years as a social worker, manager, and Director of Community Services at Children’s Bureau of Southern California. I received my MSW from USC School of Social Work and my BA in Social Work and Psychology from Whittier College. I am proud to call myself a social worker and would be grateful to continue my service to the profession by being elected as the Chair of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership.
COMMITTEE ON NOMINATION & LEADERSHIP IDENTIFICATION: REGIONS A & C
I am honored to be seeking a position as a member of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership in Region A and Region C. I am proud to be an Oakland native and have been involved in local community organizations for as long as I can remember.
Growing up in Oakland, I was exposed to the many ethnic, gender, religious, differently-abled and sexual orientation differences that make the Bay Area such a wonderful place. I am seeking a position on the Committee on Nominations and Leadership to make sure that we are able to see the various groups that make up the Bay Area represented within the NASW.
While earning my MSW at California State University, East Bay, I was also involved with various local organizations in the Bay Area. During graduate school, I organized students to start the Oakland MSW Alliance (which was the governing body for MSW students at the part-time program at the Oakland campus) where I served as President until graduation. I became one of the chartering board members of a local political organization that focused on civic engagement within the African-American under-35 community where I served as the Vice President of Administration, and held our first endorsement. I have also volunteered as a fundraising committee member at Brothers on the Rise. During my time as a medical social worker at Highland Hospital, where I focused on the trauma victims in the community, I had the opportunity to recruit and coordinate placements for MSW students within the medical social work department. As a social worker who has had supportive social work mentors, I have always been encouraged to support those who come after you.
As a member of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership, I would continue the tradition of mentoring new social workers and encouraging them to seek leadership positions so that the NASW-CA always has diverse representation and is aware of the current issues affecting our members and the communities we serve.
I have had the honor of serving as your Region C Director in the previous 2014 term, and am thrilled to be considered as your CNLI representative this upcoming term. Particularly in this current sociopolitical climate, I am committed to continuing this needed work with NASW-CA and nationally in other efforts.
In this new role I hope to work to identify and inspire new generations of leaders, lift up those at the margins and those who ought to be recognized for the work they contribute daily. By engaging promising leaders and fostering their growth, I will work to strengthen NASW-CA’s capacity to further advocate for the profession of social work and the communities we serve.
In my professional capacity, I am a Project Coordinator at the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, providing culturally-specific technical assistance and training in the Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Initiative to implementation sites nationwide. I also coordinate California-wide initiatives to inspire leadership, community and meaningful access to services for members of racially and ethnically diverse communities. In 2014, I led advocacy services for the Contra Costa County Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Initiative, acting as the primary trainer for the local domestic violence service provider, developing programs and accelerated service provision for high-risk victims. In 2013, I managed medical-legal partnerships at the local county health care system, leading a team of more than 100 interns in addressing social determinants of health, advocating for the power of trauma-informed practices and treating root psychological and social etiologies of health disparities.
I received my master’s degree in social work from the California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. During my graduate tenure, I was the founder and chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Social Work Association and recipient of the Lighting the Candle Award, Diana Ming Chan Scholarship Award, the Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association Scholarship, and CSUEB’s Graduate Equity Fellowship. I am currently a graduate professor in Social Work at Cal State East Bay and Board member of the Korean American Coalition to End Domestic Abuse. In previous work, I acted as the Region C Director for NASW-CA and the Co-Chair for NASW-CA’s Asian Pacific Islander Social Work Council. It is with honor and great fervor that I ask for your support in my candidacy as your local CNLI representative.
COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS & LEADERSHIP: REGIONS G, H & I
I completed my MSW from CSUF in 2010. I had the opportunity to intern with Children and Family Services along with school social work. Prior to my MSW, I completed internships with the refugee and geriatric population, along with in a domestic violence shelter. After my MSW, I have worked in a hospital, with foster care and adoptions and am currently working with homeless veterans. I have my LCSW in the state of Texas and here in California.
I am an active member of National Association of Perinatal Social Workers (NAPSW), was on the Board of Directors from 2014-2016 and manage the social media accounts. I have been a member of NASW since grad school and am currently on the California NASW Image Council. I am excited at the opportunity to be more involved with NASW.
I am running for the committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification for Regions G, H & I. In this position, I look forward to the opportunity to meet social workers throughout the identified regions to ensure that the best candidates are selected to run. I look forward to working with NASW to help promote and advocate for our profession and the clients we serve.
It would be an honor to have the opportunity to work via the CNLI committee to assist in choosing future NASW-CA leadership candidates. I have been a proud member of NASW since 2009.
In 2000, I began working as a medical social worker in Ventura County. In that role I have empowered individuals and their families affected by chronic and life threatening illnesses to more thoughtfully navigate the healthcare system. My ability to provide compassionate care and individualized assistance is what has allowed me to be successful in this role. In 2015, I was asked to co-lead the Disaster Mental Health Team of the Ventura County American Red Cross chapter.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR: REGION C
I have been a student member and a professional member. I have been licensed in the state of California since 2009, and have worked in Medical and Mental Health settings since earning my MSW in 2005. I am now working for a Medical Group, after nine years at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. I worked in outpatient substance abuse clinics, provided individual, group and couples psychotherapy, and I have a special interest in Clinical Supervision. I have supervised Psychiatry Residents during a group psychotherapy rotation and social work students in field placements.
I oversaw clinical admissions to the VA outpatient clinic, and served on the Professional Standards Board for Social Workers at the San Francisco VA. The Board was tasked with reviewing of experience, educational levels as it pertained to their income social work positions upon hire and/or promotion.
Courtland McPherson, MSW, LCSW
Sir Winston Churchill said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
Our current environment evokes mixed emotions and challenges, yet there is energy and hope. Social Work Month’s theme is “Stand Up,” a powerful message that is driving me to ask for your vote and stand up. I received my MSW in 2011 from Rhode Island College, School of Social Work, after which I devoted my business background and clinical skills to develop into a management role advancing care in a mental health clinic in Boston.
I hold a certificate of advanced clinical practice from Boston College School of Social Work and multiple supervisory designations. I am currently working on my PhD from the Institute for Clinical Social Work, and I practice independently in California. More than ever strong leadership is needed. This must include your voices. Not only will I stand up and speak, but I will listen to your ideas. We can drive our region to be a changing force demonstrating community partnership and excellence. I am committed to bringing our membership together where we will strategically set goals, plan events and harness our social media presence. I will be steadfast in serving you.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR: REGION E
I have been fortunate enough to have had fellow students encourage me to join NASW while earning my BA of social work at San Diego State University. I believe the experience of participating in NASW fundamentally enforced the lessons I have learned in the classroom and in the community. As a result, my experience as Assistant Director over the past year has led me to the next indicated step as Director.
Although I am still in the MSW program in direct practice, I have worked with co-occurring, homeless persons for the last five years for a San Diego non-profit organization. My current position as a program quality data analyst has inspired me to always be an advocate and be part of solutions in my community. I am on the board of two non-profit committees which work with Veterans and employment of persons with disAbilities. As a person with a disability, who is also a veteran, I have learned to walk side by side with my fellows. I have been spotlighted in the California Department of Rehabilitation 2015-2016 annual report recently. I am a strong advocate of protecting the social worker title.
My motto can be summed up in a quote by Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” I am ever willing to learn and thank you for your consideration and vote for Director.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR: REGION G
I have been an active NASW member since 2005 and a board member of the Santa Barbara unit since 2012. For the last two years, I have served as Community Action Chair, representing NASW at various events and hosting CEU events and the annual social work awards dinner.
I currently work for Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health as a behavioral health specialist, providing direct services and integrating behavioral health into primary care services. In my previous role at Casa Pacifica’s Youth Mobile crisis program, I was the program manager providing leadership and supervision for the crisis response team. During my time at Casa Pacifica, I supervised ASWs and provided field instruction for MSW students from CSUN and USC. I have demonstrated leadership in the field by offering presentations and training at national, state and local conferences, including providing expert testimony to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission in order to advocate for a continuum of crisis services for children.
As Region G Director I will bring years of clinical and leadership experience and a commitment to advocacy for the professional social work community and the people we serve.
As your current Regional Director for Region G, I ask for your vote for a final term to be able to continue my support for “our” work. During the past two-plus years, we have been able to accomplish several things that have strengthened our profession and Region. Some examples include sending students to Lobby Day, celebrating Social Work Month, providing CEU events, offering scholarships to MSW students, sponsoring several local and state conferences, and participating in social justice events. Some of my goals for the next three years include working on title protection, supporting the implementation of a unit in the Santa Clarita and/or Antelope Valley communities, continuing our current work and increasing membership.
Finally, I am the proud father of two children, Ally (20) and Andrew (18). I have lived and worked in Region G for the past 36 years. I have a Bachelor and Master’s degree in social work. I am currently working at Children’s Bureau and California State University, Northridge. It would be my honor and privilege to serve as your Region G Director.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR: REGION I
I am a clinical Associate Professor with the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Prior to joining the faculty, I worked for more than 20 years in public child welfare, school-based, private practice, health care and community based mental health settings as an LCSW.
I am privileged enough to currently serve as the Regional Director for Region I. It has been an extraordinary experience. If fortunate enough to be elected, I will continue in partnership with the Assistant Director for this region to vitalize membership, advocate for social justice, secure title protection and address the needs and interests of our members. It has been an honor to serve our membership and I thank you for considering me for the Regional Director for Region I.
My name is Courtney Frybarger and I have the privilege of running for Director of Region I. I previously served on the NASW California Chapter Board of Directors as Student Director South, which allowed me the honor to be the voice of student members and advocate for the perspective of emerging professionals with the goal of ushering the next generation of social workers into the field with full understanding of the amazing benefit of belonging to NASW.
Looking forward, I hope to take the same passion I held in that position into being Director of Region I, by finding avenues of inclusiveness to join seasoned and new professionals together to strengthen the impact of NASW — both now and into the future. If elected, I plan to lead from a strengths perspective in order to utilize and mobilize all available skills and talents represented amongst the members to create a community of social workers in Region I that are ready to rise up to the challenges in the days ahead. I look forward to once again serving NASW and Region I.
STUDENT DIRECTOR NORTH
I am an MSW student and the Chair of the Asian & Pacific Islander Social Work Association at CSUEB, as well as a Title IV-E recipient, currently interning for Silicon Valley Children’s Fund.
I earned my BA in social work from San Jose State University in 2015. From the beginning of my journey in social work, I have been actively involved with NASW events—Lobby Days has been just one. As I continue my journey, my passion for the field and for the different types of services we provide to the community has grown. Furthermore, my experience having from working at Seneca, counseling youths in a school setting with mental health diagnosis, has given me more motivation to become a better advocate for mental health services and in reducing the stigma around mental health.
I want to be the Student Director to create cohesion between the students in Northern California, as well as to build lasting bridges with the students in Southern California. My few years in this field has taught me the importance of networking. When there are enough people fighting for what is right, positive changes can happen and social workers have the loudest voices in making those changes happen and I want to be a leader for that.
Jacqueline Serrine-Jauregui, BSW
As a resident of the great state of California, I believe in the power of the people in our communities to help move us forward in these uncertain times. I am a current student in the Masters of Social Work Program at California State University, Monterey Bay, where I also serve as an officer of the Student Association and on the committee to create the recent on-campus Women’s March.
For the past 10 years, I have volunteered and worked for numerous organizations in my community, as well as raised money through “fun run” events in efforts to serve women, children, individuals with disabilities and the environment. As I continue my education, I intend on bolstering these efforts in a manner that can affect greater social change.
STUDENT DIRECTOR SOUTH
I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. I migrated here to the U.S. in 1984 and served in the United States Navy for 26 years and 26 days—17 years of which I served in a senior enlisted leadership position.
I have learned a lot on how to be guided by the core values of honor, courage and commitment. It is now my desire that whatever leadership competency skills I have developed in my military service, I would be able to contribute in my passionate endeavor of what I believe is a “higher calling” — becoming an effective and competent social worker. I am a junior BASW student in Cal State Los Angeles using my educational benefits from the Veterans Administration. I am currently a resident lay-preacher in the biggest Catholic charismatic organization in the Philippines — El Shaddai DWXI PPFI — with various chapters all over the world. I am also an active supporter/volunteer of the Outreach Ministry (homeless feeding program) of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Dolores Mission Parish in Boyle Heights.
I hope you would select me so I can contribute to the improvement of our NASW programs through my vast coordinating experience and leadership abilities.
I would like to be elected in the NASW-CA Board of Directors as BSW Student Director. I intend to provide input into NASW-CA governance structure as well as gain experience for my future career in social work. My education is as follows: I have an AA in sociology from Los Angeles Southwest College. I have also been a volunteer coordinator assistant for Comfort Care Hospice where my responsibilities included making sure volunteers were visiting their patients; mediating information between volunteers and their coordinator; and volunteering as a patient companion.
I have many strong skills that include the following: planning/organizing/leadership, exceptional listening skills, flexibility/adaptability; multicultural awareness, computer skills, and strong teamwork skills. I am also bilingual (fluent in Spanish, English and am learning to communicate in ASL.
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