From Where I Sit 2

The President’s Letter 3

Bourdieu’s Theory vs The Bus 4

Globalize 13 5

Ethics Consulting Hours 7

Lifelines 9

NASW Links 10

B U S I N E S S N A M E

Chapter Update Nov-Dec-January 2015 Newsletter Date

Chapter Update Nov-Dec-January 2015

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Plans are well underway for our 2015 Spring Sympo-

sium, to be held March 23-25 at the Marriott Hotel in

downtown Columbia. The theme this year is: Social

Work Paves the Way for Change.

We are pleased to have some dynamic speakers al-

ready booked. Dr. Roberta Greene, our opening ple-

nary speaker, was professor and the Louis and Ann

Wolens Centennial Chair in Gerontology and Social

Welfare at the School of

Social Work University of

Texas-Austin. She previ-

ously was professor and

dean at the Indiana Uni-

versity School of Social

Work and has worked at

the Council on Social

Work Education and the

National Association of

Social Workers. Dr.

Greene has numerous publications including Resili-

ency Theory: An Integrated Framework for Practice,

Research, and Policy; Social Work with the Aged and

Their Families, and Human Behavior Theory and So-

cial Work Practice. She served on the Commission on

Educational Policy and Innovation.

In addition, Darrel Wheeler, PhD, MPH, President of

the National Association of Social Workers will

present. Since 2011, he has been the dean of Loyola

University’s School of Social Work; prior to his post

at Loyola, Wheeler was associate dean for research

and community partnerships at the Silberman School

of Social Work at Hunter

College (CUNY).

Wheeler is an educator and

researcher who is one of

the leading social work ex-

perts on HIV prevention

and intervention, particu-

larly in the African-

American gay, bisexual,

and transgender communi-

ties. He has authored and

co-authored many articles, book chapters and mono-

graphs on AIDS.

Teresa Arnold, State Director of AARP SC will be

our closing speaker. Forty-eight additional work-

shops will be offered.

Registration is scheduled to open by January 1.

Please check our website: www.scnasw.org for up-to

-date information.

Chapter Update Editorial Committee

Sandra Grimble, Chair

Carla Damron, staff

Juliana Palyok, staff

Tawanda Rouse, MSW Intern Contributor

Alek Dolge, MSW Intern Contributor

Sally Hayes, proof reader

Spring Symposium

From Where I Sit

Carla Damron, LISW-CP, Executive Director

Page 2 Chapter Update Nov-Dec-January 2015

It was a typical Friday morning; I was down in my

home office writing and drinking (worshipping) my

coffee. Around ten, as I climbed the steps for a refill, I

glanced out our dining room window. A young man

ran down our porch steps and across the lawn. A de-

livery guy, I decided, so I opened the front door ex-

pecting a package. Nothing was there.

I watched the young man bolt across the street to a

house which is being renovated. He climbed the front

steps and tugged on the door knob. He then ran to a

side door and attempted to open it. Unsuccessful, he

moved behind the house.

I grabbed my cell and dialed 9-1-1. “I think

someone’s trying to break into a house,” I said. The

kid reappeared and approached the brick ranch next

door to the home he’d just tried to enter, again trying

to open a side door.

“Can you describe the suspect?” the 911 operator

asked me.

“I’m looking right at him.” I watched him scurry

around to the front and pull on the knob to that door.

“White kid, dark sweatshirt and dark pants, thin, has

short black hair. And now he’s crossing the street

again and going to my next-door neighbor’s.”

This kid was not a subtle crook. I wondered if he was

very desperate (drug seeking?), or simply not very

smart.

“Police are on their way,” the operator said.

Ten minutes later, a police officer arrived and asked

me to again describe what I saw. I repeated what I’d

told the operator.

“We already have him. He was running up the road.

He says he came to rake yards.”

“I didn’t see a rake,” I said.

The officer shrugged. “Neither did we.”

“Let me call my neighbor.” I should have done that

immediately. I dialed Gloria’s cell phone and told her

what happened.

“I’m not at home,” she said.

“Did you hire anyone to rake your yard?”

“Yes. A teenager who lives up the street. Bobby John-

son (Not his real name). He’s emotionally disturbed.

Autism, I think.”

I described the “suspect” and Gloria said that sounded

like Bobby. “Maybe he came to the house and when I

wasn’t there he tried the other houses,” Gloria said.

So now I felt terrible. This kid with autism had come

to rake and I’d called the police on him. I ran up the

road to explain the situation and found six police of-

ficers surrounding the pale, very scared looking teen.

He looked at me and said, “Hey, Miss Gloria.” Clear-

ly, he was confused. I felt relieved when I saw they

hadn’t handcuffed him.

I pulled an officer and his captain aside and explained

what I’d learned. The captain told the other officers,

“Special needs, guys,” and the tone immediately

changed. An aggressive, “What were you doing at

those houses?” turned into “You can’t try to open peo-

ple’s doors. It can get you in trouble. It isn’t even safe

to do that.”

Bobby’s mom was called. No charges were filed.

That afternoon, his mother called me. We had never

met. I worried she’d be angry about what happened,

but instead, she wanted information. We ended up

having a forty-five minute conversation in my front

yard. She explained how Bobby was only recently di-

agnosed. He’s a highly intelligent, yet very disabled

young man, who functions socially between the ages

of five and eight. He attends a special school program

Continued, Page 7

Page 3

Chapter Update Nov-Dec-January 2015

The President’s Letter

Jeanne Cook, MEd, MSW, PhD, LISW-CP Chapter President

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

I saw Senator Al Franken (D-MN) on television last

week. He is one of my favorite U.S. senators because

he is smart, progressive, and caring. Franken is also

one of my favorite satirists and was a regular on Sat-

urday Night Live. One of his characters on SNL was

Stuart Smalley, a self-help guru and member of nu-

merous twelve-step programs. Stuart had many quot-

able quotes, including reminding viewers that they

should have “an attitude of gratitude.” It seems to me

that social workers need to take stock of this from

time to time. So during this holiday season and in

honor of Senator Franken, here goes my list.

Some of the things I am grateful for:

NASW SC Executive Director Carla Damron and

Office Manager Juliana Paylok who keep the

Chapter humming along. Their talent, energy,

and knowledge are amazing.

The NASWSC Board of Directors. The Board

does a fine job of guiding the Chapter oversee-

ing our initiatives and activities.

The local units of NASWSC for their great com-

munity work, including chapter meetings

where one can learn about a topic relevant to

our profession and get CEUS at a minimal

cost.

The SC Supreme Court ruling on Abbeville Coun-

ty v State of SC. As a result of the Court’s

decision in favor of the school districts, the SC

General Assembly will finally be forced to

provide equitable funding to the rural school

districts located along I 95 (the subject of the

documentary The Corridor of Shame).

Governor Haley’s declaration of December as

Random Acts of Kindness month. I wish she

would do a few RAKs of support on issues

social workers care about.

Governor Haley again for appointing a task force

to study criminal domestic violence. Since SC

is ranked 2nd in the nations for deaths resulting

from CDV, it is appropriate that our governor

for the next 4 years do something to address

this issue.

Attorney General Alan Wilson and State Senator

Larry Martin for advocating for a stronger

criminal domestic violence law in SC. Senator

Martin introduced the bill and AG Wilson

spoke before the Senate subcommittee in sup-

port of revisions in current state law to put em-

phasis on the severity of a CDV act rather than

the number of incidents when determining

criminal penalties.

US District Judge Richard Gergel for his Novem-

ber ruling that declared SC’s ban on same sex

marriage as unconstitutional and to the US Su-

preme Court for refusing to hear the state’s

appeal of this decision. As a result, marriage

equality in SC is legal.

Circuit Court Judge Carmen Mullin for vacating

the conviction of George Stinney, Jr. In Alco-

lu, SC in1944, Stinney an African American

youth was only 14 years old when he was con-

victed for killing 2 young white girls)by an all

white male jury based on speculative testimo-

ny by prosecution accompanied by no presen-

tation by the defense attorney. Stinney was

continued, page 9

Page 4

Chapter Update Nov-Dec-January 2015

Bourdieu’s Theory -vs- The Bus

By Tawanda Rouse, SW Intern

I learned of the French sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu’s

Theory of Practice this past summer in my Human

Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) class.

The first half of fall semester, that theory became

alive for me. In a diluted version, Bourdieu’s theory

of practice highlights that our society is hierarchical

and resources are distributed unequally. Groups of

people live in several social classes with varying

quantities of resources- economic capital, cultural

capital, linguistic capital, symbolic capital, and social

capital. Based off the shared life experiences of those

individuals and their capital, those in the same strata

tend to bond and rarely seek out opportunities to

bridge the social strata. Now, I don’t know if the

Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority

(CMRTRA, Columbia’s bus system) considers itself

to be a vehicle (excuse the pun) used to allow people

to have access to resources that is necessary for so-

cial mobility, but even if by unintended consequence,

it is such an instrument.

Bridging

As a new resident of Columbia, South Carolina in

2011, I learned of the threat to discontinue full week

scheduled bus rides provided by CMRTA, currently

operating as The Comet. Coming from a smaller city

and rural county like Florence, with limited bus

transit routes, I understood the need for a comprehen-

sive public transportation line for a city and county as

large as Columbia-Richland. As a concerned citizen

and residential stakeholder, I understood the need to

provide a service to a community at the best level

possible and to advocate for the community to fund

the need. When the time came to vote for the Trans-

portation Tax, I made sure that my vote was in favor

of what I had advocated for. Over the next 22 years

or until it reaches the 1.07 billion dollar mark, the 1%

sales tax will be in effect for all of Richland City and

County residents who buy groceries. Twenty-nine

percent ($300,991,000) of those funds will be allocat-

ed to the transit system provided by Central Midlands

Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA).

Bonding

Let’s fast forward to July, 2014, when I had to de-

pend on The Comet for reliable transportation to

work, school, meetings, and appointments. I am

grieved to report that the service seemed to deterio-

rate during those hot, rainy, hill-walking, 75 days!

From bus routes running 5 to 45 minutes past sched-

uled route times; to bus drivers disregarding the defi-

nition of “connecting bus route” to me with a right

shoulder injury (sling and all); to chasing down a bus

(being so close that I touched it) that obviously the

driver had to see me; to twisting my foot after being

dropped off at a undesignated bus stop; to CMRTA

administrative staff being elusive and unresponsive.

Unfortunately, I could continue this list of woes and

more than frustrating mishaps. Thinking of Bourdieu,

I began to think about my plight and realized that I

had become “a people like them”. Before “the bus”,

as I like to call it, I was an educated woman, fairly

independent, financially responsible, culturally sensi-

tive, and associated with people of clout. I had vari-

ous amounts of capital! On the bus though, you be-

come a person that no one sees, understands, or cares

to know your struggles, except those that are riding

the bus with you.

Still, I am optimistic that the transportation system

was and still may be going through a transitional

phase. I’m hoping that “the bus” will get it together

to be a part of Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice. Instead

of stalling out, CMRTA will be an effective and effi-

cient resource to drive people forward on their way to

social mobility.

Page 5

Chapter Update Nov-December-January 2015

Globalize 13

By Alek Dolge, SW Intern

Frederick Douglass once said, “It is easier to build

strong children than to repair broken men”. This

statement could not have been truer than on the 17th

of November 2014. The students at Westwood High

School in Blythewood, SC hosted the Frederick

Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), City Council,

Appleseed Legal Justice, and NASW-SC to cele-

brate their movement to educate and bring awareness

to modern-day-slavery also known as human traf-

ficking.

The keynote speaker, Kenneth Morris, Jr., gave a

speech centered on the notion that in order to move

forward we need to understand our past. The stu-

dents did just that. What first began as a class pro-

ject last year studying the 13th Amendment and nar-

rative of Frederick Douglass’ life, turned into a high

school awareness project. Students from all subjects

and class ranks began to uncover the truth about

slavery then and now.

Globalize 13 is FDFI school-based curriculum cen-

tered on abolishing modern day slavery. These mod-

ern-day abolitionists were enthusiastic to share with

assembly members what they learned through their

service-learning projects. The limit did not exist for

these students and their learning experience. After

they began their studies last year, they craved more

and asked for additional resources, including books

in the library. Following a syllabus is important;

however, the librarians, teachers, and principal all

worked together and supported their students to learn

outside of heir learning structure. For them, having

students excited about learning and soaking

knowledge in like a sponge, encouraged them and

they too wanted to learn more. Books and media

sources were provided to the student body.

Through song, videos, readings, and even interpreta-

tive dance, these kids communicated what they’d

learned about trafficking. Their passion shone

through each presentation.

The students noticed an injustice and worked to edu-

cate themselves, ask for help, and host an event to do

something, and do something they did. Children are

a vulnerable group, and for these children to stand

projecting one voice that human trafficking must

end, was quite remarkable. What does this mean for

our future or what does the next generation hold?

I’m unsure if anyone really knows the answer to

these questions but one thing is for sure, these chil-

dren are advocates! Whatever career path these chil-

dren take, it is encouraging to know that within them

are advocates who are willing to go against the odds

for justice.

Have You Taken our Survey?

It’s not too late to take our Social Worker

Perceptions of Safety in the Field Survey!

We need your input.

Go here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/naswsc

Thank you!

From Where I Sit, Continued

Monday-Thursday, and receives an hour of therapy

every day.

“But I now see I can’t leave him unsupervised on Fri-

days,” she said.

After his encounter with the police, Bobby had spent

the afternoon crying in bed. I tried to imagine how ter-

rifying his experience had been. My guilt about calling

the police quickly dissolved; he needed to learn that

his behavior was dangerous.

There are several ways this could have gone horribly

wrong. For example, I think Bobby is lucky that he is

white. Had he been an African American young man,

dressed in dark clothes, attempting to enter houses—

would the police response have been more hostile? I

want to say no. I want to think we are all treated the

same, but that isn’t always the case, is it?

Also, we live in a “stand your ground” state. Had Bob-

by tried to open the wrong door, I hate to think what

might have happened.

Lastly, Bobby has a mental illness. For years, people

with mental illnesses have ended up in jails and pris-

ons; it’s even said among mental health advocates that

Richland County’s Alvin S Glenn Detention Center is

the largest psychiatric institution in our state. But Bob-

by didn’t go to jail. Once the police learned of his au-

tism, they showed concern and sensitivity in how they

dealt with him. They backed away. They used a gen-

tler, more paternal tone. They wanted him to see that

what he did was wrong, and could get him hurt.

I feel for Bobby and his family as they come to terms

with his disorder. He does have a habit of “sneaking

into places,” his mom told me. I hope what happened

will discourage that behavior. It may, or may not;

Bobby processes information in a different way than

you and I. If he does have future interactions with law

enforcement, I pray they treat him like the officers did

that afternoon--as a confused kid who needs help.

Extended Ethics Consulting Hours from

NASW-OEPR

In an effort to improve the members’ ethics consul-

tation experience, the Office of Ethics and Profes-

sional Review (OEPR) is excited to announce the

extension of the ethics consultation days and

hours. Beginning Monday, January 5, 2015, ethics

consultations will be provided as follows:

Hours & Contact Info

(800) 638-8799

Mondays 1:00pm – 4:00pm (ET) ext. 223

Tuesdays 10:00am – 1:00pm (ET) ext. 231

Wednesdays 1:00pm – 4:00pm (ET) ext. 223

Thursdays 10:00am – 1:00pm (ET) ext. 231

There are lots of additional exciting plans for the

OEPR in 2015, including:

Ethics 8 Monthly Tips

Ethical Standard of the Month

Code of Ethics app

National Professional Review Process

…and much more! Please stay tuned!

http://www.socialworkblog.org/featured-articles/2014/12/

nasw-expanding-ethics-consultation-days-and-hours/

Page 7

Chapter Update Nov-December-January 2015

Chapter Update Nov-Dec-January 2015

President’s Letter, continued from page 3

for the crime. Judge Mullin’s called the verdict

shocking and extremely unfair.

President Obama for using his executive action

power for immigration amnesty. Perhaps

now Congress will pass a bill on immigra-

tion reform.

President Obama again for getting a diplomatic

relationship with Cuba reestablished.

Mrs. Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat

in the “white” section of a Montgomery, AL

bus on December 1, 1955. And to Mrs. Sarah

Mae Flemming who did the same thing on a

Columbia, SC bus on June 22, 1954. These

brave women made a valuable contribution

to civil rights.

As we close out 2014, let’s remember all the big and

small ways that people contribute to successful ad-

vocacy efforts. They help make all our lives better.

So to each of you reading this: Merry Christmas.

Happy Holidays. Happy Hanukkah. May a Happy

Kwanzaa be followed by a happier new year. And

remember to develop your own ATTITUDE OF

GRATITUDE.

The University of Maryland Journalism Center

on Children and Families, with suppor t of

the NASW Foundation, commissioned pro-

fessional journalists to do the project, Lifelines:

Stories from the Human Safety Net.

These print, radio, video and even cartoon sto-

ries will educate the public and reporters about

the various ways social workers help people

across our nation overcome life's hurdles.

In this SocialWorkersSpeak.org article we also

gave social workers tips on how to use the

package during Social Work Month and beyond

to get reporters to cover more stories involving

social workers and issues important to the pro-

fession.

The stories come in a variety of formats – au-

dio, video, print and even a cartoon – and delve

into many of the kinds of work social workers

do.

During the Holidays and beyond, take time to

check it out Lifelines: Stories from the Human

Safety Net.

LifeLines: Stories from the Human

Safety Net

Greg Wright, NASW

From NASW-SC!

We love your stories!

CEUSchool’s goal is to provide you with quality on-line course content in a format that is convenient to use, afforda-ble, and relevant for today's social worker. Their site offers fully accredited NASW classes that meet all of your CEU needs. You will receive the same academic benefits that you would enjoy at an onsite facility,

along with the flexi-bility and self-paced learning that comes with an online edu-cation. Register with CEUSchool through NASW South Carolina and you will automatically receive 3 FREE credits !!

The PACE online fundraising tool has been official-

ly launched! It can be found at :

http://socialworkers.org/pace/default.asp

There’s also a link to it from www. socialworkers.

org. Please remember that all online contributions

will be shared with the chapters, just like contri-

butions we receive through membership renewals.

So it’s in our interest to promote the new online

fundraising capability.

NASW SC encourages everyone to contribute noteworthy information for Chapter Update. All material should be typed

and emailed to the Chapter Office. Chapter Update is published by the National Association of Social Workers South

Carolina Chapter.

For information about advertising in the newsletter or renting membership labels, contact the chapter office at (803) 256-

8406. NASW reserves the right to accept, reject or edit advertisements and notices of events based on publication sched-

ule, space limitations and appropriateness. The views expressed in Chapter Update do not necessarily represent positions

of NASW. Because of the commitment of NASW to nondiscriminatory personnel practices, advertisers in NASW publi-

cations, by action of the NASW Board of Directors, must affirm that they are equal opportunity employers. For viola-

tions of professional ethics or personnel practices, a person may file a complaint with the NASW SC Chapter Committee

on Inquiry. For information, write the Chapter Office at 2537 Gervais Street, Columbia SC 29204 or call 803-256-8406.

For information regarding: Social work licensure, call or write the Board of Social Work Examiners, PO Box 11329, Co-

lumbia, SC 29211-1329, 803-896-4665, www.llr.state.sc.us

http://nasw.interactyx.com/

http://joblink.socialworkers.org/jobs