E-News: April, 2015
Michigan Association of School Social Workers
Region D News
The 'Sweet Pea's Mama' Region D theatrical event at the Detroit Repertory Theatre held on March 12, 2015 was a success. We are still counting tickets sold, but there were twenty (20) social workers who took advantage of the CE offering, not all of them as School Social Workers [SSWs]. These social workers represented various agencies, charter schools, public schools and SSW retirees we were glad to see again! Some of the evaluations were very positive, calling for a repeat event again in 2016. At least two (2) persons renewed their membership dues to take advantage of the CEs offered.
There were also a number of persons who just came to enjoy the play, some of them family members or friends of Region D members. A few hardy souls got together after the Repertory Theatre for a social after-session at the legendary Baker's Jazz Club in Detroit. Later, Region D member Stella Byrd created a nice scrapbook of the event, which was shared at the MASSW Board meeting in Lansing in March.
Photos available [including theatrical promo photos] on Region D Facebook page:
SSW Week Social Media Campaign was a Success!
(To view posts, just click here)
Region M Updates: April, 2015
On Friday, March 27th, in honor of School Social Work month, Region M honored Beth Gleason from Chippewa Valley School District as the 2015 School Social Worker of the Year! Beth’s contributions to the field of school social work for the past 22 years in Chippewa Valley include developing an anti-bulling program for 5th graders, teaching Love and Logic classes to parents in the evening, providing a Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of great students) program for fathers and father figures, “Coffee and Kleenex” program for parents after dropping off their kindergarteners, being involved in the Giving Tree and Red Ribbon program, a peer mediation program in the high school, and a former board member of Region M! No doubt Beth prioritizes building relationships with her students and their families-- a true leader in our field.
Beth graciously extended this honor by acknowledging her family and colleagues as well, saying that without their support, she wouldn’t be receiving this award. Congratulations to this well deserved award Beth!!
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Speaker: Dr. Harry Broomfield, Perspectives of Troy on “Compassion Fatigue”-March 27th.
Dr. Broomfield presented both an informative and entertaining presentation to the many school social workers who were able to steal away from work on a Friday afternoon. His power point presentation included several funny videos, in addition to providing facts and figures about the stresses involved in being in a helping profession and the need to take care of one’s self, too.
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2015-2016 Region M Board members:
Elections were held, given the vacancy of the President’s position with the sudden passing of former president, Anne Marie Timpf in November 2014. The following positions were named:
President: Annette Hobrecht (MISD)
Vice President: Mary Ellen Bross (Utica)
Secretary: Liz Andrzejewski (MISD)
Treasurer: Amy Chapman (Utica)
Member at Large: Nadine Korneffel (Chippewa Valley)
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“A Celebration of a Life Well-Lived” – March 27th- In honor and memory of Anne Marie Timpf
A special celebration was held on Friday, March 27th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Ernie’s King’s Mill in Clinton Township. Both family members and colleagues came together to share stories, pictures, and memories of our beloved, Anne Marie, who was a strong mentor and colleague for so many others. Not only was she Region M’s president for 5 ½ years, she was a tireless advocate on the state social work board for many years as well. Her quiet strength, humility, commitment, hard work, superior skills, and leadership are certainly missed by those who knew and worked with her.
No doubt that in the past 28 years at Chippewa Valley High School many students and colleagues were touched by Anne Marie’s kindness, authenticity, and wonderful skills as a school social worker. Region M was blessed to have a person so dedicated to the social work profession at the helm. Her work and memory will never be forgotten.
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National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Awareness Week
This information was provided by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)'s Legislative Advocacy Team. NOTE: School Social Workers are included in the tern Specialized Instructional Support Personnel.
For the first time ever, we even have a designated week to celebrate SISP. Another of our biggest champions, Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA), has introduced a Congressional Resolution honoring the work of SISP and recognizing April 13-17th as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Awareness Week. Please help us get the word out by signing up for ourThunderclap Twitter Storm!
You do not even have to be a Twitter person - a Facebook account works too! It only takes a minute to register and once you do, you are done. All the tweets and Facebook messages will go out at the same time and SISP will be trending on social media. How exciting is that? We have to reach 100 registered posts by April 13th to make this work, so please sign up now and then spread the word!
Our Twitter message:
Thank you #RepLoebsack for honoring the importance of specialized instructional support personnel #SISPinSchools www.nasisp.org
Just go to the Thunderclap link, read our story, and sign up to be part of our SISP advocacy Twitter storm.
SSWAA work regularly with our SISP colleagues at the national level through our NASISP coalition and encourage multidisciplinary teamwork and coordination among these professionals at the local level to meet the many needs of our most at-risk students.
We are grateful for the work of Representative Loebsack for recognizing the important work of school social workers and other SISP who work every day with the students who need additional supports and services. Mr. Loebsack is also ready to reintroduce his Reducing Barriers to Learning Act so stay tuned for more detail on how SSWAA members can promote this important legislation.
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Caseload Versus Workload
Around this time of year, we start receiving questions about the average SSW caseload numbers. The questions typically are due to discussions about next years’ staffing levels.
Steve Whitmore, Oakland Co SSW Consultant and MASSW Webmaster would like to encourage people to start changing the discussions from caseload to workload. The concept of workload targets your professional day to day duties in the areas of direct service, indirect service, support and compliance (see graphic). There is a movement across the nation from many Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) to participate in these types of discussion. (A 90 minute webinar is available by clicking here.)
Of course, these types of discussions require the systematic collection of data. Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) have already been doing this in various districts. Steve would like to see SSWs develop a similar framework and begin earnest data collection this next school year. If you would like to help him develop a tool, please let him know at: steve.whitmore@oakland.k12.mi.us.
Upcoming Events
Region F: Ethics and Pain Management
April 20, 2015
8:30am-3:30pm
Oakland Schools, Waterford
Pain Management in the School Setting
Presented By Sue Welcome
(8:30am-9:30am)
Ethical Decision Making: Prevention and Resolution of Ethical Dilemmas
Presented By Linda Cherrey Reeser, Ph.D., LMSW
(9:40am-3:30pm)
Region B: Mindfulness Matters
8:00am-3:00pm
Calhoun County Career Center
Presentation by Lisa Cobb and Stephanie Lathrop on "Mindfulness Matters”
Region A: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: New Kid on the Block
May 8, 2015 at 8:00
Learn about the DSM-5’s new diagnostic category; Disruptive Mood Dysrgulation Disorder (DMDD); a disorder considered to be a new distinction for understanding child and adolescent disorders. Approaches to understanding, assessing, differential diagnosis and the relationship between DMDD and Special Education. Cost $15 a member. (3 CEH)
Click here for more information.
Region M: De-Escalating Emotionally Elevated Students: Understanding Anxiety and Trauma
Maureen Victor, LMSW-Utica Community Schools Social Worker
May 8, 2015
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD)
For further information, contact maryellen.bross@uticak12.org or ahobrecht@misd.net
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Michigan Association of School Social Workers
Email: websupport@masswmi.org
Website: www.masswmi.org
Phone: (248) 298-9921
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Twitter: @masswmi