The President's Column
June 2022
By Dawn Shelton-Williams, MSW, LCSW
From the Desk of The President
Summer in Wisconsin is a time for sunshine and warmer weather, trips to the lake, attending many diverse festivals, taking vacations, and spending time with family and friends. Summer brings on a time of change. In thinking about change, I think about our profession of social work and our work as social workers. Change, defined as a transitive verb in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means to make different in some particular way: a: ALTER; b: to make radically different : TRANSFORM; and c: to give a different position, course, or direction to. As NASW-WI Board President for the past 2 years, I observed how NASW and NASW-WI altered and transformed our nation on issues that impacted marginalized and oppressed people and people, who are often viewed as having no voice. NASW-WI has taken a stance and advocated for change on issues pertaining to systemic racism; conversion therapy; gun violence; licensure issues (delay issues from DSPS); and telehealth issues. The COVID 19 pandemic touched and changed all of our lives. Many people were impacted physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. At the onset of COVID 19 and during the pandemic, social workers showed the world how essential we are! COVID 19 contributed to a change in how we communicate with each other and work. This new change contributed to social workers learning new skills in technology and new ways to reach and help people impacted by COVID 19, along with other social issues. We learned new ways to communicate with each other via Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings. Our work as social workers didn’t stop! NASW-WI held its first virtual conference in 2020, followed by a hybrid conference in 2021. Both conferences were well attended. One of my most exciting experiences as Board President for NASW-WI. was to participate in the development of a Leadership and Mentorship program for Graduate Students of Color in Social Work! The program welcomed a second cohort in January 2022.
As I reflect on change and the change that our world has experienced during the past 2 years, I think about gratitude. I am grateful for so many things in my life. I am grateful for my family, friends, colleagues and clients. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as your Board President over the past 2 years. Serving as Board President during the COVID-19 pandemic was an interesting experience! I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the decision making process as Board President, to help better the lives of social workers, people we serve, and the community. I am grateful for Marc Herstand, NASW-WI Executive Director, the NASW-WI Board members, the NASW-WI staff and interns, and the NASW-WI committee members for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the mission and vision of NASW and to the social work profession. I am grateful for NASW-WI members, who, are out there working hard daily to help people and communities. Thank you for all that you do!
I want to thank you for your support, kind words, and encouragement that I received as your NASW-WI Board President over the past 2 years. I learned a lot serving in this role, and I am thankful for the opportunity! It will be bittersweet to facilitate my last board meeting this month. Although bittersweet, it is a pleasure and honor to turn over the seat to NASW-WI’s next Board President, Dafna Berman! She brings a love and passion for the profession, great leadership and advocacy skills, and a wealth of knowledge and experience. She will lead us as we continue to encounter change in the profession. I would like to end my last newsletter with a quote from Maya Angelou. Ms. Angelou stated, “ I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think this quote is befitting for the work that we do as social workers. We are catalysts for change.
Continue to shine and promote our wonderful profession, social work! I wish you well and enjoy the summer!
By Dawn Shelton-Williams, MSW, LCSW
The President's Column
March 2022
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
“THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR SOCIAL WORK” is the perfect theme for Social Work month! Daily, people are faced with challenges and barriers to social determinants of health (SDOH). Social determinants of health are defined as “conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks” (Healthy People. Gov website). The social determinants of health are the economic and social conditions that influence individual and group differences in health status. Social determinants of health (Healthy People. Gov) include:
¨ Availability of resources to meet daily needs (e.g., safe housing and local food markets)
¨ Access to educational, economic, and job opportunities
¨ Access to health care services
¨ Quality of education and job training
¨ Availability of community-based resources in support of community living and opportunities for recreational and leisure-time activities
¨ Transportation options
¨ Public safety
¨ Social support
¨ Social norms and attitudes (e.g., discrimination, racism, and distrust of government)
¨ Exposure to crime, violence, and social disorder (e.g., presence of trash and lack of cooperation in a community)
¨ Socioeconomic conditions (e.g., concentrated poverty and the stressful conditions that accompany it)
¨ Residential segregation
¨ Language/Literacy
¨ Access to mass media and emerging technologies (e.g., cell phones, the Internet, and social media)
¨ Culture
Social Workers are pivotal and instrumental in helping people address the challenges and barriers to the SDOHs cited above. We have the education, expertise, and skills to work effectively with people in a wholistic and person-centered manner to address and resolve challenges and barriers in life. Currently, the United States is experiencing one of its worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. As a nation, we continue to deal with two pandemics, COVID-19 and Systemic Racism. COVID-19 and Systemic Racism impact the physical, mental, and spiritual health of a person. As a nation, we witnessed the traumatic impact of the pandemics on people, especially, people of color. There was a significant impact on the health of Black and Brown communities compared to other communities. There was also a significant impact on the mental health and wellness of people. People reported higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and adjustment. Social Workers were and are on the front lines helping people to overcome the trauma and crises associated with both pandemics! We are ESSENTIAL!
As you celebrate Social Work month, think about the contribution of our profession to our nation’s history and the contribution you are making to our nation. Social workers fought for civil and voting rights for people of color; protested American intervention in wars; achieved the minimum wage and safe workplaces for poor people; expanded reproductive and employment rights for American women; supported marriage and employment protections for LGBT people; advocated for immigrants seeking asylum; pushed for sensible gun laws and anti-violence initiatives; raised awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; and fought for client privacy and mental health services (NASW).
As you celebrate this month, think about the legacy of Social Work, your legacy as a social worker, and diverse ways to promote the profession! Take a few minutes to view the Social Work video for this month (https://youtu.be/R6NYI1Uvn08) and take the social work quiz on the national website. As social workers, we have a rich history and legacy in Social Work.
THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR SOCIAL WORK.
Happy Social Work Month!
The President's Column
December 2021
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
According to Wikipedia, Gratitude comes from the latin word gratus which means "pleasing, thankful". it is a feeling of appreciation felt by and/or similar positive response shown by the recipient of kindness gifts, help, favors, or other types of generosity, to the giver of said gifts. gratitude in the simplest form is the “state of thankfulness” or the “state of being grateful”. dopamine and serotonin are two important neurotransmitters in our brain that are responsible for our emotions. they make us feel good by enhancing our mood immediately, which makes us feel happy from the inside. practicing gratitude daily can help these neural pathways to strengthen and eventually create a permanent grateful and positive nature within us, which builds our inner strength. this is helpful in fighting stress (gratitude: a tool to reduce stress, north dakota behavioral health services). gratitude is scientifically proven to have benefits on a person’s physical and mental well-being. in psychology today, the article, 7 scientifically proven benefits of gratitude: you'll be grateful that you made the change (and you'll sleep better), written by amy morin, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and the author of the best- selling book “13 things mentally strong people don't do” identifies seven scientifically proven benefits of gratitude. (psychology today, april 3, 2015)
the benefits are:
1. gratitude opens the door to more relationships. according to a 2014 study published in emotion. the study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship.
2. gratitude improves physical health. grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people, according to a 2012 study published in personality and individual differences. not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. they exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.
3. gratitude improves psychological health. gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. robert emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. his research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
4. gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kindly, according to a 2012 study by the university of kentucky. study participants who ranked higher on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback. they experienced more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and a decreased desire to seek revenge.
5. grateful people sleep better. writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in applied psychology: health and well-being. spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
6. gratitude improves self-esteem. a 2014 study published in the journal of applied sport psychology found that gratitude increased athletes’ self-esteem, an essential component to optimal performance. other studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. rather than becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs - a major factor in reduced self-esteem - grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
7. gratitude increases mental strength. for years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma. a 2006 study published in behavior research and therapy found that vietnam war veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder. a 2003 study published in the journal of personality and social psychology found that gratitude was a major contributor to resilience, following the terrorist attacks on september 11. recognizing all that you have to be thankful for - even during the worst times - fosters resilience.
as i reflect upon the last 20 months, i think about how blessed my life is. despite how covid -19 has impacted my life; the social injustices that occurred in our country; and other life changes, i am grateful and thankful for my health, my family, my cat, dixie, my church family, my sorority sisters, my friends, my home, my job, my clients, my colleagues, and professional networks. i am grateful and thankful to serve as nasw-wi’s board president and to have attended, in-person, nasw-wi’s 47th annual conference, the first hybrid conference for the organization. the conference was awesome! i am also thankful and grateful for the civic-minded boards, councils, and committees i serve on that advocate for the rights of those who are vulnerable or often seen as “voiceless”.
as we enter into the joyous holiday season, let us remember the importance of gratitude. i wish you and your family a joyous, happy and safe holiday season!
the president's column
september 2021
from the desk of the president
autumn(fall) is one of my favorite times of the year. the change of season from summer to fall is marked by changes in nature. the temperature begins to cool down and the leaves begin to change from green to bright beautiful colors of red, yellow, and orange! fall also makes me think about the concepts of change and transformation. change and transformation that are observed both in personal and environmental spaces of a person’s life. i read an article about the seven symbolic meanings of autumn by kirsten nunez (2016). the article focuses on how to embrace change that comes with the autumn season. in the article, she talks about what she learned about the seven symbolic meanings associated with the autumn equinox. she talks about autumn as a time for self -reflection, change, and reconnection. the seven symbolic meanings identified in the article are:
change
mystery
preservation
protection
comfort
balance
letting go
heraclitus, the greek philosopher, is referenced for the first symbolic meaning of autumn(fall) which is change. heraclitus stated that “the only constant is change”. fall reminds us that our minds, bodies, and surroundings are always changing. we experience this as we begin to observe the changes in nature in fall. the temperature begins to cool down and the leaves on the trees begin to change from green to bright colors of red, orange and yellow! since change is constant, it is a good reminder to us to embrace experiences as they happen. it is important to embrace them in the present. life is short and we do not know what it will bring to us from minute to minute. mystery is described as the outcome that comes from the day to day changes in life. change in life brings on new mysteries. i like to view the new mysteries as new opportunities in life. preservation is the third symbolic meaning in the article. fall represents the preservation of life and its basic necessities. the author discusses that during fall, animals begin to store food and find safe places for hibernation for winter. farmers begin to harvest crops for food for the winter. as the weather begins to change(falling temperatures), we tend to spend more time in the safety and comfort of our homes. this is a good time for us to reconnect with ourselves. as summer switches to fall, we focus on protection. protection is viewed from a physical lens. we begin to dress in warmer clothes to protect ourselves from the cooler temperatures and focus more on taking care of ourselves so that we do not get sick. the fifth symbolic meaning of autumn is comfort. as the temperature drops, we tend to look for ways to find comfort within our homes. this is a good time to reflect on what makes us happy and what makes us feel safe. balance is the next symbolic meaning of autumn in the article. day and night are the same length during the autumn equinox. ancient cultures associated the autumn equinox with the concept of balance in life. during autumn, the author describes us harmonizing with the earth and drawing from the balance within ourselves. the last symbolic meaning of autumn in the article is letting go. when we look within ourselves, what can we let go?
although the article focused on the 7 symbolic meanings of autumn (fall), i thought about how these meanings can be integrated within social work practice. as social workers, we deal with change and transformation on a daily basis. we are skilled in dealing with social issues on the micro and macro levels to help people who are often seen as “invisible” or “voiceless” in society.i challenge you to think about the concepts of change; mystery; preservation; protection; comfort; balance; and letting go, and how you integrate these concepts into your social work practice as you help others and how do you integrate them within your personal life as a social worker.
by dawn shelton-williams, msw, lcsw