To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career.

Sylvester “Jim” Bowie, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor, Division of Social Work
California State University
Sacramento, California  

Dr. Bowie

Q. Dr. Bowie, where did you earn your social wor degree, where are you employed, and what are your areas of expertise?

I earned my MSW social work degree at California State University, Sacramento. I am currently an Associate Professor in the social work program at CSU, Sacramento. I teach undergraduate practice, graduate and undergraduate policy as well as child welfare services.

My practice experience includes case management in a foster family agency and stints with Child Protective Services as a reunification, emergency response and adoptions social worker. My doctoral dissertation was focused on the reasons for the overrepresentation of African Americans children in the foster care system as identified by social workers in both private and public agencies.     

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I choose social work because it was a natural fit for me based on my personality and temperament. Growing up, I was a challenging child and was defiant of all authorities, hated school  because of the extent of how boring I found it. Yet, I had parents and teachers who never gave up on me. Further, I was always hyperactive and would have been medicated if I were living in the USA. Therefore, I am very aware of the need to continue to support, challenge and believe in people even if it appears as if they are going off track sometimes. Social work with it grounding in the idea of the dignity and worth of the individual as well as the idea of self determination provides the opportunity for people like me to feel fulfill when we work with challenging clients (or students for those in the academy).

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?  

If I were able to make a lasting impact on the world, it would be to provide Internet access to people in every location that is inhabited. This is the information age and one of the most assured way to have access to information is through the internet. Those without access to information are being left behind. My strategy for achieving internet access for all people would be to encourage a surcharge on large corporation to fund hot spots in places like libraries, schools, places of worship, and any place where people meet for fellowship (even restaurants, bars and sports arenas).

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career. 

Rita A. Walters, MSW
Adjunct Instructor
Michigan State University School of Social Work
East Lansing, Michigan

Q. Ms. Walters, where did you earn your social work degree, where do you work and what are your areas of expertise?

I earned my MSW from Michigan State University and work as Adjunct Instructor at Michigan State University School of Social Work.  My areas of expertise are working with children with disabilities and at-risk youth, and cultural competency issues.

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I grew up in rural southern state that had a lot of poverty and few social service resources.  I wanted to improve the living conditions of others in poor rural communities, particularly those with disabilities.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?  

I would establish an all-inclusive service plan for children with severe disabilities (nonverbal, nonambulatory).  They would become automatically eligible for medical, educational, and childcare services regardless of family income. 

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career. 

Ellen E. Grant, PhD, LCSW-R, ACSW
President
First Advantage Consulting
Grand Island, New York

Dr. Grant

Q. Dr. Grant, where did you earn your social work degree and where are you employed?

I earned the Masters in Social Work from the State University of New York at Buffalo. My current work is as President, First Advantage Consulting, a health, behavioral health, human services and health benefits company. 

 Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I chose social work as a profession as I wanted to have an area of interest whereby I could impact families and communities.   I like to believe I’ve accomplished that through my years working with families at a state hospital. Commissioner of Mental Health, CEO of an inner city hospital and Vice President at a large insurance company.

 Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?  

The lasting impression I’d like to continue to make is impacting families in crisis.  I’ve completed my work of assisting children in crisis in my career as a Commissioner.  I believe even more impactful will be working with women in the Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence field. 

Women face so many inequities in our world and yet they are expected to and do impact their families, communities. So many are the head of households and the numbers of women who are killed and injured by this violence affect our national economy in the billions. It’s felt that as large a number as 50 percent of this violence is unreported. Lost days of work, hospital and healthcare costs, depression, alcohol and substance abuse all are a result of these negative actions. Also as a result of this impact, children who witness or are themselves victims can damage children for long periods of time. 

Finally, I’d like to work to ensure that legislation is enacted that eliminates discrimination against these women by employers, housing and other systems.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career.

Curlisha A. Creighton, BSW, MSW, LGSW
Continuum of Care Specialist
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY)
Homewood, Alabama

Ms. Creighton

Q.  Ms. Creighton, where did you earn your social work degrees, what is your area of expertise and where are you employed?

I earned my Bachelor’s of Social Work from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI in 2006. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from The University of Alabama’s Advanced Standing Program in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

My area of expertise and interest are Children and Adolescent’s Mental Health, Eating Disorders, and Substance Abuse. I have worked as a therapist providing services to children, adolescents, and their families since 2007. I currently work as a Continuum of Care Therapist at SAFY of Alabama.

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I became a social worker because I wanted a career that would allow me to feel as if I was making a difference in the world. As a young person I was involved in organizations that allowed me to help others, such as the Daisy Girl Scouts. As I matured, I continued to volunteer and work within changing organizations such as the NAACP during my undergraduate education.

I have a particular interest in encouraging and uplifting children and adolescents. As a child, I considered my world very “confusing and misunderstood”. I am originally from a city that is plagued with poverty and the additional factors resulting from poverty.  The kinds of people I witnessed in my confusing world are those that I sought to help as I grew older.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?

If I were able to make one lasting impact on the world, I would like to develop more prevention programs for school-aged girls who live in low-income urban and rural locations. These programs would address issues such as self-esteem, self-image, dating violence, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy. My strategy for achieving it would be to collaborate with local organizations in a grassroots effort to identify the issues in the community. The programs would be specifically tailored to each area to address main issues of concern, and prevent deplorable generational cycles.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

Introduction
What is Heroin?
Other Related Health Concerns
Addiction to Heroin
Symptoms of Withdrawal
What Parents Can Do
Treatment Is Available
Getting Help
On Long Island, COPY Is a Bilingual Professional Resource

Introduction

The recent and unexpected deaths of several Long Island teenagers as a result of heroin overdose have been met with deep grief as well as shock and disbelief by many.  Heroin, always thought of as an “inner city” problem affecting low income communities is now being seen in affluent suburban communities, on Long Island.  This frightening reality poses new challenges and needs for parents who now are just beginning to learn how to protect their adolescent children from this danger.

This new influx is believed to be connected to the availability of higher “purity” heroin (which is more suitable to inhale) and to decreases in prices, making it more obtainable by youth.   The thing that many teenagers don’t understand is that all routes of administration (inhaling, smoking, and sniffing/snorting) are all highly addictive.  Also, purchasing substances on the streets is highly dangerous as there is no assurance of its’ purity nor its’ potency.  Overdoses and/or poisoning can occur because young people have no idea of what and how much they are administering to themselves.

What is Heroin?

Heroin is extracted from the seed pod of certain poppy plants.  It is a processed form of morphine and is sold as a white powder, a brown powder, or a black sticky substance often called “black tar”.  One of the many dangers of “street heroin” (heroin sold on the street) is that it is often “cut” (mixed) with other substances.   Heroin confiscated by authorities has been found to contain starch, sugar, powdered milk, and quinine.  Sometimes, confiscated heroin has also contained strychnine and other poisons.  Educating teenagers to the seriousness of these dangers is enormously important and necessary.

Other Related Health Concerns

Heroin abuse, like other substance abuse, is a progressive disease process.  In teenagers it often begins as “recreational” use, increases slowly, and eventually leads to daily use and loss of control.  Loss of control signals that both a psychological as well as a physical disease process is active.  Loss of control also signals that the disease has moved from one of substance abuse to addiction.

Addiction to heroin puts teenagers at much higher risk for infection to HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), and Hepatitis B.  It also interferes with judgment, particularly when they are under the influence of the drug.  This can lead to unprotected sex and the greater likelihood that the substance abusing partner is HIV positive or HCV positive.  It can also result in unplanned pregnancy and/or an increased risk of sexual assault. 

Other possible consequences from pro-longed use include bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses, infections of soft tissue, liver or kidney disease, scarred/collapsed veins, and pneumonia and/or tuberculosis.  Once again, educating teenagers to these consequences and dangers is most important.

Addiction to Heroin

Adolescence is a time of exploration and experimentation.  This makes many adolescents particularly susceptible to experimentation with heroin if available in their social circles.  Unlike adults who begin their addictions by  ingesting substances to avoid and/or cope with problems, adolescents frequently begin theirs with innocent experimentation thereby making education all the more important.  Because heroin is so highly addictive its’ use can easily “derail” teenagers from a healthy life course and interrupt their emotional and psychological growth and progress and their academic success.   One of the most detrimental consequences is the addiction itself.

Addiction to heroin leads to drug seeking which is compulsive, molecular as well as neurochemical changes in the brain, physical dependence as evidenced by increased tolerance to the drug.  Behavior changes become obvious to parents but also confusing.  Often, parents never suspect that the changes might be a result of a growing dependence on this lethal drug.  As the teenagers’ body steadily adjusts to the presence of the drug, withdrawal symptoms begin to occur if use is reduced. 

Symptoms of withdrawal that parents can notice are restlessness, complaints of muscle and joint pain, insomnia, bouts of stomach upset that include vomiting and diarrhea, goose bumps on the skin and complaining of feeling cold, and involuntary leg movements. 

What Parents Can Do

• Read and share this article with your teenager.
• Be alert to the above mentioned symptoms of withdrawal.
• If your child appears impaired do not assume s/he has consumed alcohol alone.
• Notice changes in your child’s patterns of behavior.
• Notice if s/he is associating with a different crowd.
• Secretiveness is often present.
• Refusing to bring new friends home to meet you is common.
• Notice unexplained periods away from home without legitimate explanation regarding their where-abouts.
• Drop is school performance.
• Cutting school.
• School or other officials reporting to you that your child has publicly misbehaved.
• Arrest or official reprimand for unruly behavior and/or public intoxication. 

Treatment Is Available

If your child is experimenting with heroin or other substances, it is vital that you know as soon and as early as possible and that you actively seek professional help for your child and for your entire family.  Family education and family involvement are pivotal for successful treatment. 

Remember, all addictions exist in a context.  A professional can quickly guide parents in re-evaluating and changing family dynamics thus making the presence of substance abuse harder for the teenager to maintain.  Treatment can be provided both out-patient and/or inpatient depending on the needs of your teenager and family and on the level of care that is necessary.  Therapy, detoxification, and psycho-tropic medications are available to effectively assist in a full recovery from heroin or other substance abuse.

Getting Help

The New York State, Office of  Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) is a wonderful resource to obtain licensed professional treatment facilities in your community and surrounding areas.

On Long Island, COPAY is a Bilingual Professional Resource

COPAY has successfully provided substance abuse treatment and education to adolescents, adults, and families for more than 30 years.  If you suspect drug abuse in your teenager, call COPAY today at 516-466-2509.  Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced professionals and discuss your concerns.  COPAY also offers a Parent/Child Screening Service whereby you can contract for two sessions with a professional to explore your concerns with your child.  In addition to the two sessions a urine toxicology evaluation will be completed that will provide clear answers and reassurance regarding substance use.  It will clearly inform you if treatment/intervention is needed. 

COPAY also provides a 12 week Educational Series for Families and Teenagers.  Here, you and your child will learn about substance abuse and why it’s best to avoid it.  You will also learn about addiction in the context of the family and who families can change their structures thus making it difficult for the addiction to contine.

In addition to these services, COPAY offers intensive, medically managed,  out-patient treatment for addiction to drugs and alcohol as well as treatment for co-existing mental health problems.   All calls to COPAY are strictly confidential.

Call COPAY today at 516-466-2509. We are here to assist you. 

COPAY is proud to be supported by the Great Neck UCF, Greentree Foundation, United Way of LI, Hispanic Federation, LI Fund for Women and Girls, March of Dimes, GNMCCCP, Levitt Foundation, The Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund at LICF, Act for Youth, Manhasset Community Fund, and the National Tennis Association.

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• Healthy Parenting Tip Sheets
• Resources on Healthy Parenting
• Healthy Parenting Real Life Stories

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career. 

Darryl R. Webster, MSW, LICSW
Psychotherapist, Public Speaker,
Consultant and Author
Washington, DC 

Mr. Webster

Q. Mr. Webster, where did you earn your social work degree, where do you work, and what is your area of expertise? 

After receiving the prestigious Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship, I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. I am employed with the District of Columbia Government, DC Public Schools System as a clinical school social worker.  For the past 17 years I have provided many clinical and concrete services for disenfranchised individuals and families primarily African American in the city’s poorest wards.   

I am also the founder of the Youth Entrepreneurial Services, Inc. (YES), a charitable and educational non-profit organization created to provide “at-risk” youth educational, cultural enrichment, mentoring, and counseling services to prevent juvenile delinquency. In addition I conduct seminars, workshops, and other trainings on the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and stress management. 

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I come from a caring family with a long and rich history of commitment of making a difference in the Washington, DC community.  The death of Martin Luther King Jr. led to rioting in my neighborhood and countless businesses and other properties were destroyed.  Children were left with nothing to do or place to go to have fun and learn. In the late 1960’s after the riots, my grandfather the late James Webster helped to start a boys and girls club in my neighborhood to provide recreational and social activities to poor children.  My grandfather was my role model. He raised me and showed me how to care for others. He wanted to go to heaven and he believed that doing good for the downtrodden and the least amongst us made God smile. I did not choose social work, social work chose me. God paved this road for me in the profession of social work. In my life God put all the right people in place along the way to enable me to make the world a better place as a social worker.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?

I would love to make a lasting impact on the world by reducing or eradicating depression and other mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders without the use of psychotropic drugs coupled with moving humanity closer together spiritually.   My strategy would be to create inner peace and acceptance programs in every school, community center, and job site through the use of mindfulness practice and meditation coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy. By creating more inner harmony and acceptance within people, the calming effect would spread from individuals to groups to organizations and even governments decreasing conflicts between nations.  Than we as a global community can address the crucial social and environmental needs at hand such as AIDs, hunger, disease, homelessness, global warming, etc.

Mr. Webster’s Honors include:

• The Cafritz District of Columbia Distinguished Government Employee Award
• USA Today Hero Award
• Washingtonian of the Year 
• National All Star Dad of the Year

Media Appearances and Mentions:

• The CBS Early Show
• The Oprah Winfrey Show
• The Washington Post

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career.

Gemma Douglas Beckley, DSW
Chair
Social Work Department
Rust College
Holly Springs, Mississippi

Dr. Beckley

Q.  Dr. Beckley, where did you earn your social work degrees, where are you employed, and what is your area of expertise?

I earned my Masters In Social Work from Atlanta University (now known as Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta Georgia. My Doctorate was earned at Columbia University in New York (a DSW) in the area of Family and children Services and an advanced clinical practice certification. I have worked in social work education for the past 25 years. My practice experience previously and continually has been in Mental Health and most recently a focus on delivery of social services to rural and remote populations. This has included studies with a focus of women, family and children in the rural south (Mississippi and Alabama specifically and earlier in my career in Kentucky) and developing countries to include India, South Africa, China, and the middle east (Israel and Egypt ).

Q. Why did you choose social work as your career?

I choose Social Work because of my overwhelming desire to “help” myself and others. Both because of  my personal history and having grown up in Birmingham Alabama during the tumultuous 60’s, where the fight for justice for all people and particularly African Americans (or Negroes as was the term of the day) opened by naive eyes to the needs of human kind I believed in what the profession represented. While attending College (Dillard University) I was greatly  influenced by Dr. Lester Granger who had been the Executive Director of the National Urban League and the guiding support and  coaching of my Grandmother a devoted teacher of 44 years in the Birmingham public school system. With a view of serving those in need and  a recognition that I am bettered by addressing by fellow human I have grown and continued to love what my profession represents. through practice and social work education I believe that I have had an opportunity to fight for and with those who believe in the ideals of Social Work.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it? 

I would like to create meaningful dialogue among all and particularly those of racially, ethnically, religious, spiritually, diverse populations around the world. I believe that there are amazing solutions to human problems and that these solutions are found in the human experience. My strategy would be through dialogue that grew from the smallest level to the well organized summit. But the key would be in finding a way to have all groups represented at the table. I like others that I have read would like to remain humble but open to servility of conversation and sharing of experiences. I also believe that education is the greatest equalizer of differences and that somehow an exposure through education and sharing of  experiences could promote a global, national, regional and local understanding and tolerance that would provide for human solutions. I have so many things that I would like to impact but without a continual dream and faith there would be no hope and I still have great hope and believe that social work is one of the best professions to provide for human solutions.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career. 

Joyce A. James, MSW, LCSW, BCD
Domestic Violence Consultant
Jamaica, New York

Ms. James

Q. Ms. James, where did you earn your social work degree, where do you work, and what are your areas of expertise? 

I earned my Master of Science in Social Welfare from Columbia University. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Board Certified Diplomat, and a Trained Family Therapist.   My areas of expertise are domestic violence, motivational speaking, family therapy, and adult/youth group facilitation.  I am currently working as a consultant at a Domestic Violence transitional shelter providing clinical, individual and group services to residents. I also provide services to the family when they are discharged back to the community.

In July 2009, I spearheaded the opening of “Diakonia Group Services” with colleagues to provide counseling services to the families in the community.  In addition, I am a member of Queens Borough Presidents Task Force on Domestic Violence and former member of the Mayor’s Task Force to Combat Domestic Violence.

Q.  Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I have always been concerned about people faced with hardships in their life and shared their difficulties with interacting with the systems, while I struggled to overcome situations in my life that warranted my intervention with societal systems in my life.  I was fortunate and succeeded in making changes that improved my life.  I am committed to inspiring others of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds to help them to overcome the challenges they face in their life as well.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?

The challenges we face as social workers are enormous.  I believe the best approach in making an Impact upon the world is by being aware of your innate talent,  combining your innate talent with your skills acquired through education and  applying  them to what you are passionate about as a professional, as a strategy for making an  impact upon the world . . .

I am passionate about strengthening families, particularly families affected by domestic violence.  My expertise as a motivational speaker, individual and family therapist, and group facilitator and future author is used to help strengthen families.  Domestic violence affects families of all races, ethnic and economy groups and cultures in the world.  It is my belief that by strengthening families we can reduce violence in society. It is my way of making an impact upon the world. 

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career. 

John R. Edwards, MSW, LICSW, ACSW
Manager, Case Management Program
Hopelink
Bellevue, Washington

Mr. Edwards

Q.  Mr. Edwards, where did you earn your social work degree, where are you employed and what is your area of expertise?

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Social Work in 1989 from Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, MA.  I completed my MSW in 1990 with a concentration in Health and Mental Health from Walla Walla University, College Place, WA.  I am currently the manager for a case management program at Hopelink,a non profit in Bellevue, WA.  I have broad experiences in healthcare, public housing, child welfare, mental health and private practice.  One area that I have developed a particular expertise in and enjoy working with are difficult to treat populations such as families with children with behavior disorders or multi-problem families.

Q. Why did you chose social work as your profession?

I tried many majors in college and finally decided on social work.  I distinctly remember going to a job fair when I was a senior in college where I saw woman with a toddler approach one of the exhibit tables.  A few minutes later the toddler had spilled his entire bag of popcorn on the table.  I thought this woman’s needs a social worker to help develop a job search plan to include arranging for childcare.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?

I would like at minimum to begin a sustainable process of eliminating violence in poor and disadvantaged communities especially black communities and LGBT communities.  My strategy would be to begin a true refocusing on the family and it’s pivotal role in creating emotionally healthy persons. 

I would advocate for a movement away from an over reliance on external resources such as community centers or government programs and a return to familial relationships that nurture and support individuals which in turn build strong healthy families that lead to enduring and safe neighborhoods and in turn healthy communities.  I think social workers are in the best position to begin this process.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career. 

Elissarh Jackson, MSW
Behavior Specialist Consultant
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ms. Jackson

Q.  Ms. Jackson, where did you earn your social work degree and what is your area of expertise?

I graduated from Temple University in August 1997.  I have been employed as an independent contractor serving as a Behavior Specialist Consultant for the last twelve years.  I have a very active lifestyle which includes my being a wife and mother of three children ages 5, 11 and 15.  My consultant role allows me to function with a very flexible schedule surrounding my family’s needs.  Family is very important to me and it is the fundamental building block of society.   I continue working as a behavior consultant because it is a different adventure every day.   I work across all environments including schools, homes, community recreation centers and homeless shelters. 

 The population I work with ranges from the age 2 to 80.  My duties includes acting as an advocate for adults with developmental disabilities, supporting those who do not have a voice for themselves, parent education, assessment, psychotherapy sessions, behavior plan development and community resource liaison.  My profession has taken me to so many different environments; some of which I detest and others I never wanted to leave. 

Q.  Why did you choose social work as your profession?

I chose social work as a profession because people are often overlooked and there is not enough consideration for their unique circumstances.   Human beings need to feel a connection from others in order to thrive and feel powerful in their own lives.  I help them make that connection.  My personal life has been filled with people who have helped me which has in turn enriched my life.  It is important for others to share in that experience.  People need help because life is very hard!   I am very passionate about what I do on a daily basis and feel that the intrinsic value of my work far exceeds any type of monetary reimbursement.

Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?

If I were able to make one lasting impact on the world, I would increase the ability of all people to access education.  My experience has led me to believe that knowledge of systems and bureaucracies is very limited for many people.  This is partly why so many people do not fare well in life.  A person’s inability to access information that will help enrich their lives is crucial.  There are just too many people that just do not know!  People are suffering because of this lack of access.  It angers me that the government does not do enough to educate its own public.  It should not be a privilege to access information it should be a fundamental right.  This can be enacted by doing the following:

1)      Every neighborhood would be assigned a team of social workers.

2)      The social workers would do an assessment of family needs in the area.

3)      Families would be visited to educate them about their area and what resources are available.

4)       There would be a 24-hour hotline available for families to call if they need help. 

This is a service that would be made available not forced on the people.   All people in the area would receive a visit from a social worker.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.