The Social Work Policy Network sends weekly resources regarding national & local legislature, events, data, as well as media.
Thank you for your continued support of the Social Work Policy Network!
Professional Opportunities
Fellowships & Graduate Student Jobs
Governor's Hispanic Fellows Program - NJ Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development
New Jersey Reparations Council Research Fellowship - New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Exam Proctor - Rutgers New Brunswick Office of Disability Services
Jobs
Policy and Planning (temp)/Program Specialist Trainee - NJ Division of Aging Services (Mercerville, NJ)
Chapter Organizer - Lift Every Voice Philly (LEV) (Philadelphia, PA)
Director of Organizing - Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) (Philadelphia, PA)
Data Coordinator, Gender Based Violence, Government Representative 2 – NJ Department of Children and Families (Trenton, NJ)
Prevention Specialist - NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault (Mercer County, NJ)
Policy Analyst - Inclusiv (West New York, NJ)
Manager for Foundation and Government Grants - New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (New York, NY)
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Talent Acquisition Manager - Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Youth Wellness Program Coordinator - Nationalities Service Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Staten Island Community Organizer - Citizen Action of NY (New York, NY)
Upcoming Events
Rutgers Climate Symposium 2023: In Search of Solutions
Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 9:00am
Douglass Student Center
100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Fostering collaboration among researchers and students from institutions in the greater NJ, NY, and Philadelphia region who are interested in climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, or other approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across disciplines representing climate science, human dimensions, technology, the arts, communications, and humanities.
Featuring:
Orville Grey, International Institute for Sustainable Development
John P. Krasting, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Lisa Beth Robinson, East Carolina University
Benjamin Sovacool, Boston University
Kristen Thielking, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Learn more about the event and register.
Rutgers MAPATHON 2023
Wednesday, November 15th, 2023, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Alexander Library
169 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Mapathon on GIS Day during National Geography Awareness Week, allows volunteers to help create maps of high vulnerability areas where data is scarce, enabling disaster responders and aid organizations to reach those in need.
You will contribute geospatial data to OpenStreetMap, a free and editable map of the world that is used by communities, organizations and governments worldwide to address local development challenges and aid disaster response. Our project will be decided closer to the date. In past years, Rutgers students, staff, and faculty worked together on a mapping project to help NGO efforts with relief operations in Puerto Rico, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. No mapping experience or knowledge is necessary. Training will be provided. Join at any time during the scheduled event!
Register for this event.
Election Day is TUESDAY!!
Election Day is right around the corner!
This is the year that every NJ legislative seat is up for re-election!
What's on the Ballot?
Do you know where to vote?
If you are a resident of New Jersey, click the button below to locate your polling place so you know where to go on November 7th!
Find your Polling Place!
National Updates
Looming WIC Funding Shortfall Would Jeopardize Access to WIC’s Proven Benefits and Disproportionately Harm Black and Hispanic Families - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
“...WIC is facing a funding shortfall for the first time in decades due to higher-than-expected participation and food costs, jeopardizing access to this highly effective program and risking disproportionate harm for Black and Hispanic families. The stopgap funding bill currently in place through November 17 will prevent cuts to WIC participation and benefits for the next several weeks, but it did not provide the additional resources that are needed to close the funding gap facing WIC.”
Infant Deaths Have Risen for the First Time in 20 Years - The New York Times
“The number of American babies who died before their first birthdays rose last year, significantly increasing the nation’s infant mortality rate for the first time in two decades, according to provisional figures released Wednesday by the National Center for Health Statistics. The spike is a somber manifestation of the state of maternal and child health in the United States.”
Tennessee families, doctor ask Supreme Court to block state’s gender-affirming health care ban - The Hill
“Three Tennessee families with transgender children and a doctor on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to step in to prevent the state from enforcing a law that prevents transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming health care. The case, if accepted, would be the first gender-affirming health care case to go before the Supreme Court.”
Borrowers weigh personal, professional options as student loan payments resume - New Jersey Monitor
“Economists say that hundreds of dollars spent on monthly student loan payments is a loss to the economy and could hurt consumer spending, affect workers’ decisions to stay at their current job or look elsewhere, and delay new home purchases or renting a nicer apartment. According to a CNBC online poll in January 2022 of 5,162 adults, 81% of borrowers surveyed said they delayed major decisions because of their debt, with 33% deferring a home purchase, 35% setting aside travel plans, and 12% waiting to look for a new job.”
Local & Regional Updates
Offshore wind developer kills two New Jersey projects - New Jersey Monitor
“Ørsted, the Danish company behind two major offshore wind projects off the coast of New Jersey, announced Tuesday night it is killing both projects, citing supply chain challenges and rising interest rates. Ørsted’s decision is a major blow to what had been the centerpiece of Gov. Phil Murphy’s clean energy agenda. Murphy called the move “outrageous” and said his administration would “take all necessary steps” to ensure the company honors its obligations.”
As Bernie Sanders supports striking NJ nurses, RWJ Hospital decries 'taxpayer-funded press event' - Gothamist
“U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders came to New Brunswick on Friday to hear from some of the 1,700 nurses on strike at RWJ University Hospital — a show of support that delighted union leaders but that hospital management dismissed as a political stunt. Vermont’s senior senator was the lone representative of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions present for a field hearing to call attention to a national shortage of nursing.”
Major changes in NJ child protection were prompted by lawsuit - NJ Spotlight News
“On Monday, a final report was issued by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, the court-appointed monitor in a federal class-action lawsuit concerning two siblings that state child-protection workers allegedly failed to protect from abuse and allegedly failed to provide with services, including medical services. The report marks the successful conclusion of almost two decades of work to improve New Jersey’s child welfare system.”
Blind voters say they're still disenfranchised in NJ. But a new bill has given them hope - northjersey.com
“Despite years of activism, blind and partially sighted voters in New Jersey still can't exercise their right to cast ballots privately and independently, the community says. That may finally change thanks to a push in the state Legislature…For years, those with vision loss have had two options, both flawed: They can fill out a ballot at home — but only by printing and signing forms. Or they can head to the polls, where transportation, balky assistive devices and unprepared election workers all pose problems.”
Media of the Week: Podcast
Started in 2018, the Doin’ The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change podcast features interviews with social workers, educators, activists, and others working for social change.
All episodes have transcripts and are free to access. Use the search feature to look up a variety of topics ranging from community organizing to anti-oppressive mental health, and much more!
