Professional Opportunities
PhD Fellowship
Emerging Poverty Scholars Fellowship - University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
Summer Internships
Policy Intern - ACLU of New Jersey (hybrid: Newark, NJ)
Jobs
Communication Associate (Temporary Part Time) - New Jersey Citizen Action (hybrid: Highland Park, Cherry Hill, or Newark, NJ)
Communications Manager(English/Spanish bilingual) - Women's Equality Center (Remote)
Organizing Director - Women’s Community Revitalization Project (Philadelphia, PA)
Program Manager(Metro Team) - Corporation for Supportive Housing (Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Federal Legislative Manager - Working Families Party (Washington, DC)
Associate I, Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative - Pew Charitable Trusts (hybrid: Philadelphia, PA)
Racial Justice and Equity Coordinator - League of Conservation Voters (remote)
Election Cycle Program & Data Manager - America Votes (Philadelphia, PA)
Intake and Family Coordinator - Nido De Esperanza (Nido) (New York, NY)
Community Social Worker - Nido De Esperanza (Nido) (New York, NY)
Program Manager - NJ Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) (Newark or Trenton, NJ)
National Housing Initiative Engagement Coordinator - Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) (hybrid: New York, NY)
Mental Health Program Specialist 2 - NYS Office of Mental Health (hybrid: New York, NY)
Program Associate, Progressive Talent Pipeline - Demand Progress Education Fund (remote)
Fee for Service Social Work Clinician - Nido De Esperanza (Nido) (New York, NY)
NJ Primary Voter Registration Countdown!
Click here to register to vote!
2024 NASW National Conference
"Social Work Leading Social Change"
Wednesday, June 19 - Saturday, June 22, 2024
Omni Shoreham Washington Hotel, Washington, DC
"Join more than 2,000 social workers, like-minded professionals, and social work thought leaders at NASW’s 2024 National Conference. Take advantage of unparalleled opportunities in professional development, continuing education, and networking. Engage in thought-provoking conversations tackling the most pressing issues facing the social work profession across the world.
- Experience the latest education and insights from leaders in the social work field
- Earn CE Credit toward licensure
- Engage with peers in the profession
- Explore cutting-edge products, programs, and services in the Exhibit Hall
Review the Conference program and registration costs here!
Upcoming Events
Surveillance Of Mothers Living In Poverty: Effects On Children, Families, And Communities
Presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
2:00 - 3:00pm
**Virtual**
"Government agencies like Child Protective Services (CPS) are tasked with protecting vulnerable children. These agencies can assist children and families in need, but based on their research, our presenters say that the work of these systems also centrally involves surveillance of families, particularly poor families of color. How do mothers and their children—often navigating conditions of poverty and racism—experience this surveillance? And why are poor moms of color much more likely to be CPS involved?
In this webinar, Dr. Darcey Merritt and Dr. Kelley Fong will draw on their extensive work with mothers whose parenting has been monitored by CPS and other agencies that often threaten the families they are supposed to help."
Click here to register!
Budget & Brews
Presented by NJ Policy Perspective
Thursday, May 16, 2024
4:00 - 6:00pm
Cooper's Riverview
50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611
"This budget season could go down in history as the year we save NJ Transit and solve the agency’s long-standing fiscal woes. The Corporate Transit Fee proposed by Governor Murphy would provide NJ Transit with its first-ever source of dedicated state funding, requiring the most profitable corporations in the world to help pay for the public infrastructure that fuels their success.
But this isn’t a done deal — yet. The business lobby is out in full force trying to preserve their big tax cut. Some lawmakers would rather divert the funds to their own pet projects. And then there’s the elephant in the room: Even with this new fee, the state still needs more revenue to balance the budget and prevent cuts to other essential services.
NJPP’s Alex Ambrose will moderate an insightful conversation at the intersection of public transit, corporate accountability, and the state budget. Special guest speaker Assemblywoman Shama Haider will be joined by transit expert Zoe Baldwin, Vice President of State Programs and New Jersey Director at Regional Plan Association, and Brandon McKoy, President of The Fund for New Jersey and leading voice on public policy and advocacy here in the Garden State."
Click here to register!
Demand Rutgers Social Work Students are Paid for their Labor!!
Sign the Petition!!
To learn more, follow the Rutgers Payment4Placements chapter and the Payment4Placements movement on Instagram: @rutgersp4p @p4pnational
National Updates
US poised to ease restrictions on marijuana in historic shift, but it’ll remain controlled substance
The Associated Press
“The proposal, which still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, would recognize the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. However, it would not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use.”
Bill Proposes Enabling Same-Day Access to Physical and Mental Health Care for Kids on Medicaid
Behavioral Health Business
“Lawmakers have introduced a new bill to Congress that would enable children with Medicaid to access physical and behavioral health care appointments on the same day. Dubbed the Improving CARE for Youth Act, the bill aims to improve access to behavioral health services for pediatric patients.”
Arizona just repealed its 1864 abortion ban. Democrats don’t want voter outrage to disappear with it.
POLITICO
“Arizona lawmakers on Wednesday voted to repeal the state’s Civil War-era abortion ban. The legislation, which is expected to be soon signed into law by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, will preserve access to the procedure for millions of women.”
How Shifting U.S. Policies Led to One of the Deadliest Incidents Involving Immigrants in Mexico’s History
ProPublica
“...citing the pandemic, [Trump] ordered border officials to quickly return immigrants to Mexico or to their home countries under a little-known section of the public health code — Title 42 — that allows the government to limit the numbers of people allowed into the country in an emergency.”
Local & Regional Updates
N.J. school district cuts 27 teachers and employees due to ‘economic issues’
NJ.com
“The state budget proposed last month would fully enact New Jersey’s new school aid formula for the first time, with a record $11.6 billion in direct aid earmarked for public school districts. The new formula, which the state first began rolling out about 15 years ago, includes a new way of calculating how much money each of the state’s nearly 600 school districts should get from the state budget.”
‘Crisis diversion homes’ — an alternative to ERs for residents with mental health issues
NJ Spotlight News
“Known as “crisis diversion homes,” these transitional units are expected to serve five adults who have a serious mental illness for up to 30 days, according to the state Department of Human Services. As many as 240 people are expected to be served each year at the three homes.”
A Mercer County group is helping make food pantries more accessible to people with disabilities
WHYY/NPR
“Trenton Health Team has launched an initiative to help individuals with disabilities in Mercer County access food pantries. Matthew Broad, director of programs at Trenton Health Team, said his organization is working closely with Mercer Street Friends and dozens of partner agencies to identify and clarify which food pantries are accessible to those with disabilities.”
Governor Murphy backs jury service for those with felony convictions
New Jersey Monitor
“Gov. Phil Murphy announced his support Wednesday for legislation that would restore jury service rights to New Jerseyans with felony convictions. The bill would allow New Jerseyans convicted of nearly all indictable offenses — what New Jersey calls felonies — to serve on juries, a change that would add more than half-million residents to the state’s jury pool…”
Topic of the Week: Social Work Licensure
As the Spring semester comes to a close, more students will be taking their social work licensure exams. In these past few years, there has been renewed discussion when it comes to the strength of a license, and if it is even an equitable venture due to flaws and discrepancies in licensure exam results amongst people who are less privileged than others. Based on the results and reports from the Association of Social Work Boards in 2022, it was people of color, nonnative English speakers and older adults who had failed the exam more than their counterparts. How can a profession rooted in equity set a foundation for professional social work on such inequitable ground? With social workers being in high demand, the case for having an exam in addition to education to be a licensed social worker seems to be losing steam as time goes on.
Additionally, Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Legislation is being introduced and passed in multiple states. As of today, 10 states have passed the compact legislation, but New Jersey is not one of them. But what does the legislation do? According to the NASW, "An interstate compact is a legal contract between two or more states/territories enabling practitioners (in this case, social workers) to practice in each other’s jurisdiction, once practitioners demonstrate they meet the compact requirements." The more states that pass interstate compact legislation, the easier it is for social workers to be legitimately licensed professionals across the country.
For more information on the recent challenges and updates to licensure, click the highlighted links and keep following us for updates!
