ESU Students Attend Social Work Legislative Advocacy Day in Harrisburg

Posted by: admin on April 17, 2015, No Comments

Nearly 40 students and several faculty members from the department of sociology, social work, and criminal justice from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania joined over 850 practicing social workers, social work students and social work faculty from around the state on April 14 to participate in Social Work Legislative Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg.

This year’s event, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), provided the opportunity for participants to advocate for practice protection level licensure for social workers in Pennsylvania. The day included discussions on advocacy strategies and opportunities for students to participate in legislative visits and attend committee meetings. The day culminated with a rally on the steps of the Capitol rotunda with speeches from several members of the General Assembly and social work leaders from around the Commonwealth.

“Participating in Advocacy Day afforded opportunities for students to observe legislative processes firsthand, to network with other social workers from across Pennsylvania, and to work on developing the advocacy skills necessary for effective social work practice,” said John Kraybill-Greggo, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of sociology, social work, and criminal justice.

Students also highlighted the impact from the day. “Meeting face to face with our state legislators was a unique opportunity to both advocate directly for advances in social work practice protection policy legislation and to see the inner workings of the state legislative process in action,” said Christopher Karlic, a senior majoring in social work from Tannersville, Pa.

“Being able to discuss the importance of a practice protection act for consumers as well as for social workers was a fascinating experience,” Melody Rodriguez, a senior majoring in social work from East Stroudsburg, Pa., said.

Katherine J. Moore, a junior majoring in social work from East Stroudsburg, Pa., believes that meeting with legislators enabled her voice to be heard.

Dr. Kraybill-Greggo said that ESU social work students will participate in this event annually.