NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF
FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK
Executive Council
President:
Viola Vaughan-Eden
[email protected]
Vice President:
Susan McCarter
[email protected]
Open Court
V O L U M E
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N U M B E R
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M A R C H
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Farewell to our Friend and Colleague
Secretary:
Valarie Mitchell
valarie.mitchell@
kingcounty.gov
Treasurer:
Steven Hartsock
[email protected]
Councilors:
Rob Butters
rob.butters@
socwk.utah.edu
Stacey Hardy
[email protected]
Tina Maschi
[email protected]
David McLeod
[email protected]
Associate Directors:
Jim Campbell
[email protected]
Jane Campbell
[email protected]
INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE:
Farewell to
Paul Brady
1
Welcome
our new
Associate
Directors
2
NOFSW’s
32nd Annual
conference
3
Social Work
on the Hill
5
The nice part about retiring from
doing what you do so well is there
is no more rushing around to meet
deadlines and complete tasks.
You'll have lots of time to make all
your dreams come true.
The bad part is how much we will
miss the pleasurable experience of
working with you. We wish you
the all the best and thank you for
your years of dedication, enthusiasm and team spirit.
Paul Brady begin his work as the
Executive Director of NOFSW in
2004. Since that time, Paul has
been an invaluable member of the
Executive Board and the driver of
our organization. NOFSW has thrived under his leadership and continues to flourish in
the field of Forensics.
A former Captain in the United States Air Force and graduate of the University of
Southern California, Paul has worked as an advocate and Executive Director for more
than seven different organizations since 1972; bringing his professionalism and leadership into focus time and time again.
Many of you know Paul as the face of NOFSW, as he was likely one of your first contacts with the organization. Paul was responsible for fielding questions, processing
membership applications and generally overseeing the daily functions of NOFSW.
Paul enjoys traveling, both abroad and throughout the United States. One of his more
recent trips took him to Valletta, Malta, where he took in historical sites and feasted on
local cuisine, another of Paul’s interests. He also enjoys spending time with his family,
including his children and nieces.
Paul is a friend and colleague to many within NOFSW and his dedication to our
organization will be missed. Please join us in wishing Paul all the best on his continued
adventures!
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Please Welcome Our New Associate Directors
Please join us in welcoming Jim and Jane Campbell as the new Associate Executive Directors of NOFSW. Dr. Campbell has a faculty appointment in the
Division of Continuing Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has an MSW
and PhD in Social Work from Arizona State University. As a Professor, he has taught
courses on ethics and boundaries for social workers, evaluating client outcomes, grant
writing, child welfare services, empirical clinical practice, interviewing and counseling techniques as well as computer applications for social work practice. Dr. Campbell also has extensive experience in program evaluation.
Jane Campbell is a soon retired sixth grade language arts teacher. Mrs. Campbell
has a Master’s in Education from Viterbo University. She has extensive experience in
writing and editing various publications. Jane has also been recognized for the development of PBIS (positive behavior intervention and supports) videos as teaching and
educational tools. Jim and Jane bring a wealth of knowledge having
worked as a consultants to various non-profit organizations on training
and conference programming. They also have a strong commitment to
social justice issues particularly forensic social work in the child welfare arena. They have planned numerous conferences on best practices
for professionals serving children who have been abused or neglected.
Campbell Consulting, LLC also includes their son, Andrew, who provides graphic design services.
We are very fortunate to have the Campbell Consulting team helping us transition NOFSW into the
21st Century.
NOFSW JOINING THE FIGHT TO DISMANTLE RACISM
The National Organization of Forensic Social Work joins in solidarity
with other professional practice organizations in standing together
with widespread communities working to address and dismantle racism. And we grieve the recent events in Ferguson, Cleveland, New
York, Phoenix, Saratoga Springs, Sanford, and elsewhere. Because of
our unique work with legal systems, we wrestle with their (and thus,
our) perpetuation of structural oppression, disempowerment, and violence. We also recognize that legal systems can help protect the vulnerable, care for the maltreated, and advocate for the voiceless. So, it
is in this vein that we stand with those working towards promoting
just, anti-racist, and empowering change.
To that end, we continue in our commitment to prepare social workers and allied professionals to:
 Dismantle racism and challenge institutionalized prejudice and oppression while supporting
those most affected by these practices
 Engage in critical personal and institutional reflection and examination and foster collaborative
dialogue to address racism across the various systems of power and privilege, oppression, and
discrimination
 Work toward system, policy, and practice reform to insure “justice for all”
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SAVE THE DATE for NOFSW’s 32nd annual conference
August 21-23, 2015 - Washington, D.C.
Call for papers: Due April 15, 2015
Visit www.nofsw.org for more info
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A letter from our President:
On Christmas Day, I had the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther
King, Jr Monument in Washington, DC. It prompted me to review
many of his teachings and reflect on the true meaning of a peaceful
society. Dr. King said, “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
As the NOFSW 2015 Conference theme states a major element of
forensic practice is promoting justice for all. Racial and ethnic discrimination and violence remain a serious problem in the United
States. We are reminded of our social justice roots every time we
watch or read the news. The numerous conscience shocking events
of late emphasize we must forge ahead as well as prepare the next
generation if our hope of social equity is to ever become a reality.
Social workers have always taken up the cause of justice and now
we can use the media to assist us in our advocacy efforts. See the
NOFSW Anti-Racism Statement on our website and reprinted in this
newsletter.
Dr. King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience,
but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” I often tell my students, “Social work is not for the
faint-hearted”.
In celebration of Social Work Month, Former Congressman Ed Towns invited
NOFSW, along with other national social work organizations to participate in
planning for Social Work Day on the Hill. I had the opportunity to speak with
Congressman Towns and several of our national colleagues in planning this
event. I will be in Washington on March 17 with a number of my doctoral students from Norfolk State University to join in solidarity in Engaging Congress in
the Pursuit of Social Justice. See the Press Release and join me on Capitol Hill.
Last but far from least, the Board of Directors want to thank Paul Brady for his
years of service. Paul has been the lifeline of NOFSW. Although we are sad to
see him go, we wish him an enjoyable retirement. We are very fortunate to
have Jim and Jane Campbell takeover as associate directors. Paul, Jim, and Jane
have worked closely over the last few months to make the transition a smooth
process. Please come to the conference so you can celebrate Paul’s retirement,
as well as welcome Jane and Jim.
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NOFSW Invited to Capitol Hill
Social Work Members of Congress Launch Social Work Day on the Hill
WASHINGTON, DC—Spearheaded by former Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns and joined by former Congressman Ronald V.
Dellums and current Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA13), Tuesday March 17, 2015 has been declared Social Work Day on the
Hill. A reception will be held in Room B-340 of the Rayburn House Office Building from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to highlight the day dedicated to celebrating contributions social workers make to Congress and the federal government. The event’s theme is Engaging
Congress in the Pursuit of Social Justice.
More than two dozen social work organizations and schools are collaborating to create the event in conjunction with the Congressional Social Work Caucus, founded by Mr. Towns in 2010 during the 111 th Congress. Congresswoman Lee chairs the Social
Work Caucus. A focal point of the day will be stepping up efforts to pass the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social
Work Reinvestment Act.
“Having a day for social workers on the Hill has been a dream of mine for a long time,” the former lawmaker acknowledged.
“This will be a day held each year when social workers from all walks of life can gather on the Hill to celebrate the many accomplishments we have made in Congress and salute the many social workers working with the federal government to create a more
just and equitable society for all people. March is Social Work Month so this is the perfect time to do this.”
Towns, who served 30 years in the House representing central Brooklyn, NY before retiring in 2013, earned his M.S.W. degree at
Adelphi University’s School of Social Work. He first introduced the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act in 2008 during the 110th Congress and it has been re-introduced in succeeding Congresses, most recently in the
113th Congress by Rep. Lee as H.R. 1466. A companion bill, S. 997, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Barbara Mikulski of
Maryland. Both Lee and Mikulski are social workers. Congresswoman Lee earned her M.S.W. degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Work. Sen. Mikulski is a graduate of University of Maryland School of Social Work.
“As a former psychiatric social worker, I know first-hand the impact that social workers have on our communities. Professional
social workers continue to work on the frontlines, helping individuals overcome adversity, connecting families to critical care services, and making communities thrive,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “As the proud Chair of the Congressional Social Work
Caucus, I am looking forward to attending yet another successful social work day on the Hill during Social Work Month in March.”
Former Congressman Ronald Dellums, who served in the House from 1971 to 1988 representing the 9 th District in Northern California, will be the keynote speaker for the reception. He later became mayor of Oakland, CA and is currently the Visiting Fellow
at Howard University’s Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center. He was the first African American to serve as
chair of the Armed Services Committee.
“I am pleased to help bring social workers to the Hill,” Mr. Dellums said. “There is a sense of urgency today that did not exist fifty
years ago when I first arrived on the Hill. When Congressman Towns and I first came to Congress it seemed like we had plenty of
time to address the challenges we faced. The world is moving at a faster clip today and too many people are being left behind.
Social work must find the big idea that will define the profession over the next decade which is why it is so important that we all
come together.”
There are currently seven professional social workers in Congress—five in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate.
In addition to Congresswoman Lee, other social workers in the House are Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA53), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL4),
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ9) and Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA3). Sen. Mikulski and Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan are professional social workers. Congresswoman Lee is the chair of the Democratic Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity and
founder and co-chair of the Out-of Poverty. In 2013, she was selected by President Barack Obama as the congressional representative to the United Nations.
For additional information visit the website of the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy at
www.crispinc.org or contact Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Jr., at [email protected]. CRISP is a 501(c4) nonprofit organization Towns
helped create to complement the work of the Social Work Caucus.
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Open Court Editor:
Valarie Mitchell
[email protected]
To submit to Open Court, email
your articles to the editors by
the deadline (one month prior
to publication).
All submissions
become property of NOFSW.
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Mission: NOFSW endeavors
to advance social justice
through the inter-professional
collaboration of human service and legal systems.
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