Women’s Council Workshop a Big Success

Evaluations of the Women’s Council January 29, 2016 Law & Ethics Workshop “Is Legal Always Ethical? Crime and Punishment and the Healing Professions” on January 29, 2016 were enthusiastically positive. Overall, the comments heard were “a terrific program! I learned a lot!”

Participants found social worker Amanda Reiman’s (Drug Policy Alliance Manager, Marijuana Law and Policy) keynote address “Criminal Convictions: Prevalence and Consequences” inspirational and informative. The keynote provided a conceptual foundational for the program, which examined barriers faced by potential social workers with criminal convictions.

Social work educator panelists Saana Polk (CSULB), Susan Salas (CSULB) and Sharon Chun Wetterau (CSUDH) addressed the Academic Dilemma of Criminal Convictions. Those in attendance commented on their willingness to engage, to learn from student and to take an advocacy role.

Mayra Guerrero and Renee Wyatt shared their experiences maneuvering through the collateral consequences of dealing with criminal convictions with an appreciative audience which commented on the openness, honesty and bravery of the presenters.

Marianne Diaz, Executive Director, CleanSlate, spoke of the Enduring Consequences of Exclusion. As one audience member commented, “She makes what this topic is all about very real.”

The day’s program ended with suggestions for Translating Ethics into Action. All of Us or None organizer Tiffany Johnson described the process for reducing certain felonies to misdemeanors (Proposition 47) and for petitioning the courts for dismissal of misdemeanors (expungement) at free legal clinics in the Los Angeles area.

Members of the Women’s Council suggested actions that could be taken by individuals, departments of social work, coalitions and social work organizations. The Women’s Council has developed two resolutions to be considered by the CA NASW Board of Directors. One resolution is to urge the BBS to streamline the evaluation process for people with criminal histories; the other is for the NASW Chapter to advocate for full inclusion into the profession for social workers with convictions histories. (The California NASW Board adopted both resolutions at its January 30, 2016 meeting and established a task force to implement the resolutions.)

Photos above (left to right): Marianne Diaz, Marilyn Montenegro, Brenda Wiewel

The Women’s Council discusses a variety of ethical, practice and advocacy issues at its bi-monthly meetings held in the greater LA area. The next meeting of the Women’s Council is Saturday February 27, 2016 at 10:00am in Los Alamitos. For information about the Women’s Council, contact womenscouncil@sbcglobal.net or mujerista@All2Easy.net.