Student Leader Perspectives
Insights for Building the Profession
Amanda Guarino, NYC-NASW intern,
Columbia University, MSW ‘04
On January 26, 2004 the NYC-NASW chapter hosted a reception for student leaders
from the six New York City schools of social work. Twenty-seven students from
Adelphi, Columbia, Fordham, Hunter, NYU, and Wurzweiler came together to learn
more about the NYC-NASW chapter, and what it is doing to support social work
students and young professionals.
The Executive Director, Dr. Robert Schachter, shared information about the Chapter’s
lobbying initiative for student loan forgiveness. He also introduced the students
to the newly formed Center for Social Work Policy and Practice, as well as unveiled
future projects dedicated to salary standards for social workers and advocacy
efforts for system change. Dr. Schachter spoke about the Chapter’s role
in the new licensing laws, and the ways in which the association will stay abreast
of all mandates in order to effectively inform its membership of the new regulations.
We then turned to the students for their impression of NASW in general, as well
as the student recruitment efforts being put forth. They were also queried as
to what students believed should be the top issues addressed by their professional
association. Additionally, the students were asked to critique NASW recruitment
materials. Some ideas that surfaced included establishing NASW as an ongoing
presence at each school of social work (like having campus “divisions”
of NASW). Students also rallied around the idea of a mentoring program among
members with similar areas of interest. There was also a great deal of support
for the Chapter to offer networking, job search, and resume building events.
Some of these activities already existed, but students were unaware of them.
NASW has already begun taking steps to institutionalize some of the wonderful
ideas shared by students. We have integrated their suggestions into the next
round of recruitment material and have started a “list-serve” connecting
all those who attended the event. The students present showed remarkable leadership
and commitment to the profession of social work as well as a tremendous energy
and enthusiasm in helping NASW meet the changing needs of its student membership.
Students also volunteered to join the Chapter during the days when Chapter staff
and interns conduct membership recruitment outreach at each school site.r