From the President

Summer Events and the Beginning of Fall

By Shirley Gentilini, MSW, LCSW

This September, I extend well wishes to those students returning to school and also to those who are just beginning on their academic journey. Those of us who are members of NASW will have the opportunity to interact with students and encourage them to join NASW.

The cost is minimal for students and offers many benefits such as the NASW Conference in Burbank on October 24-25, and Lobby Days at the State Capitol. Joni Diamond, vice president of membership. Jose Ramos, Region G director and I met the incoming students at the California State University, Northridge Student orientation. We discussed the advantages of becoming a member at the student level and gave them brochures to sign up. They can also sign up via email.

In speaking with the students, I discovered the various reasons why they want to become social workers. Again, helping them to recognize the value of becoming a member at the student level is important and also how as members they can contribute and benefit NASW as well.

Also at CSUN’s student orientation were second-year MSW students selling T-shirts for the upcoming Lobby Days in April. Their enthusiasm was inspiring and contagious as they shared with the incoming students how attending Lobby Days was a very positive experience for them.

In July I had the privilege of attending the NASW National Conference held in Washington, D.C. This was an excellent conference. In addition to those from California, I met other social workers from across the country and an international social worker from Hong Kong. He told me about his role as a medical social worker in a Hong Kong hospital and stressed his difficulties. He said that getting respect from the doctors was discouraging. He shared how much he learned from this conference and was looking forward to putting these new ideas into practice.

The speakers were experts in their field and their presentations were outstanding. They shared new ideas, best practices and leadership roles to promote social justice, health, economic, political and community challenges on behalf of the most vulnerable individuals, families and communities.

As Maya Angelou said, “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency.”

The concepts of courage, hope and leadership are integral to social work practice. Presenters shared ways with us on how to increase our ability to use these concepts within our own practices.

Dr. Rene Brown, a research professor at the Houston Graduate College of Social Work, spoke on different ways that social workers and other helping professionals can work on vulnerability, courage, shame and worthiness. Over the past 12 years Dr. Brown has studied vulnerability and courage. If you would like more information, her books are Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead (Gotham, 2012); and The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are (Hazelden, 2010).

Another dynamic speaker was Steve Pemberton, who is a business leader and child advocate. Steve is chief diversity officer and divisional vice president for Walgreens. He shared his story around being a child raised in the foster care system and his journey to overcome years of living in a less than ideal foster care home placement. He credited his social worker for helping him find a new placement during his late teens.

Steve wanted to attend college, but  his foster parents who were against this put up many roadblocks. His book, A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home, is an inspirational story about his journey through foster care and his determination to find his family. It is a model for all families to follow.

Frederick G. Reamer, PhD, spoke on the interface of ethics and technology and the new challenges facing social work professionals. This is definitely a new challenge for the profession. For example, how is information protected? What can be discussed over the Internet? How can we discover new and ethical ways of providing help to clients who may live too far away to visit a practitioner’s office?

Another dynamic and entertaining speaker was Robert Reich, PhD, JD. He is now the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley.

Dr. Reich, economic analyst, professor and commentator is the author of 14 books. His latest bestseller, Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future, examines where the economy is heading after the Great Recession and what we can expect over the next decade. I look forward to reading his book and hope others will too.

At this conference the workshops were first rate and the exhibits informative. The films were a nice addition. I watched Who Cares about Kelsey and had the privilege of meeting her and the photojournalist, Dan Habib. I recommend this documentary, which highlights Kelsey’s journey to remain in high school and graduate with the help of social workers in an innovative school social work program in New Hampshire.

At the conference former President Dr. Jeanne Anastas was honored for her outstanding contribution over the last few years. At the luncheon for NASW presidents, I met our new president, Dr. Darrel P. Wheeler, and our new executive director, Dr. Angelo McClain. Our professional organization is fortunate to have such experienced, knowledgeable, caring leaders.

Attending conferences provides the opportunity to meet other social workers, leaders and colleagues. In addition, the classes keep us up to date on new information related to social workers’ field of practice. I encourage you to sign up for California’s upcoming conference on October 24 and 25 in Burbank. You will hear experienced and knowledgeable opening speakers and attend many quality workshops. At the awards luncheon you can learn about the awardees’ contributions and also have the opportunity to meet them.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to socialize with new and former colleagues. I look forward to meeting you there.