Elaine M. Walsh, DSW, ACSW
In her last column our former President, Barbara Silverstone, posed a troubling challenge: Can we as a profession become a more effective catalyst for change, leading rather than following the larger society? I wish I could answer with a resounding "yes," but frankly I don't know. I suspect most of us entered social work with exactly that aim in mind. And if every social worker exhibited the type of leadership and commitment demonstrated by Barbara, then of course we could make a difference. But unfortunately, during the past decade, increasing numbers of social workers have begun to accommodate silently to the pressures toward reduction in the range and quality of service available to those most in need.
A fortunate few are able to and willingly use their agency positions to fight strenuously against the funding cutbacks and policy shifts that threaten social service provisions. And an important number choose to give their time after hours in NASW committees and other groups to work toward desired policy and administrative changes. But these efforts are not enough. If NASW is going to serve as a real catalyst, we need the active involvement of all of you.
It is not difficult to understand the discouragement that social workers, especially those at the front line, often feel at the end of the day. There is no other group that works so consistently with society's most oppressed and disenfranchised and receives so little support from government officials or the public at large. It was troubling this summer, for example, to note that the Board of Education was able to argue for increased salaries and free parking to recruit experienced professional teachers to schools in high crime areas, whereas no one is proposing similar incentives for the many social workers who risk their lives daily in settings such as child protective services. It is also not difficult to understand social workers' ambivalence about NASW. Ever since my election over a year ago, I have received frequent comments to the effect that condolences might be as appropriate as congratulations. And I have certainly struggled with some of these feelings myself!
However, several recent positive developments both within and outside the profession suggest that there may be an opportunity for NASW to become more proactive now. Thanks to Barbara Silverstone's leadership the internal organization of the chapter is now much stronger than it has been in many years. The reorganization that she spearheaded permits us to focus all of our energies on the public policies and regulations that impact on the well-being of our clients and shape the nature and quality of the services we are able to provide.
The graduate schools of social work across the country, spearheaded by faculty and administrators of Columbia University, are organizing a teach-in the week of October 19th to focus on the erosion of social programs and policies for families and children. In conjunction with this teach in, on October 22nd NASW will host a rally/forum (see the front page for details) to culminate the week's events and to mobilize social workers to again take the lead in turning things around.
The results of the presidential election polls this summer indicate that many citizens are ready for a new Administration. If so, we may see at least some modest changes in the federal policies that have had such a devastating effect on the City during the past 12 years. The election on November 3rd will give us all an opportunity to make a change in the White House, especially if we help with efforts to encourage voter registration and to get out the vote among our client populations.
Finally, the City budget was balanced with a surplus. This means that now is the time to let the Mayor and City Council know what is needed to improve social welfare provisions and how limited service dollars can best be utilized. It goes without saying that similar actions must occur on the state and federal levels.
I look forward to working with all of you during the next two years and am eager to hear, either informally or through letters to Currents, any suggestions you may have about ways the chapter could become a more effective catalyst for change in New York City and how we could involve more members in this effort.