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We’d like to start with a land and labor acknowledgement with these words from the Native Governance Center: “Land acknowledgment alone is not enough. It’s merely a starting point. Ask yourself: how do I plan to take action to support Indigenous communities? Some examples of ways to take action:

Support Indigenous organizations by donating your time and/or money.
Support Indigenous-led grassroots change movements and campaigns. Encourage others to do so.
Commit to returning land. Local, state, and federal governments around the world are currently returning land to Indigenous people. Individuals are returning their land, too. Learn more about your options to return your land.

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Today’s Learning Objectives:

Understand what it takes to create a social movement

Participate in information gathering to promote an equity centered association

Explore successful models of igniting change

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Use the chat to share the # you identify the most with!

�

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Clic k to add text

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School Social Work in the Northwest~ Where we have been.

1925 School Social Work services started in Portland

1947 School Social Work services began in Tacoma

1948 School Social Work services began in Seattle

1952 Child Welcome League meeting in Seattle – at a breakfast meeting, school social workers decide to have ongoing gatherings to support each other.

1953 1st formal workshop held. Group meetings in Chehalis.

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1961 Two-day workshop with Dr. Horace Lundberg (1st DHEW school social worker) WASSW established, Oregon SSWs decided to work on their own state organization

1962 Affiliated with WEA and attended first annual meeting.

Annual gatherings, speakers, sharing of common issues and ideas.

The Past and Ongoing Legacy of WASSW:

~To reduce isolation

~To share our experiences and common concerns

~To learn together to best serve our students

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Legislative Advocacy began, involvement with statewide policy groups.

2017 - passing of HB1377 Defining the role of SSWer "Improving Student Mental Health by Enhancing Nonacademic Professional Services"

Spring, 2021 – Partnering with Oregon School Social Work Association for a joint conference. FULL CIRCLE!

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The Why For Today:

Advocacy for School Social Work
Information Sharing
Support through relationships
It starts with us

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We are education professionals who are deeply invested in social justice. We are committed to building learning and community spaces that embrace equity work. We provide customized support and wrap around services allowing leaders to cultivate equity practices that honor diverse ways of knowing- students, families, staff and community.

View Consulting

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(VIEW Consulting

Presentation Happens Here)

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WASSW BOARD MEMBERS

SERVING YOU

President: Liz Nelson

Vice President: Carrie Syvertsen

Secretary: Kristina Miller

Treasurer: Shannon Harris

Membership Chair: Tina Cook

Conference Co-Chairs: Michelle Sorensen & Leanne Steffke

Member at Large West: Christiane Paget

Member at Large East: Lupe Wolfe

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MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Board Positions To Vote on Today:

President: Carrie Syvertsen ______________

Vice President/President Elect: Michelle Sorensen ______________

Secretary: Kristina Miller ______________

Conference Co-Chairs: ________________ ______________

Member at Large West: _________________ _______________

Member at Large East: Lupe Wolfe ______________

Continuing Positions:

Past President: Liz Nelson

Treasurer: Shannon Harris _______________

Membership Chair: Tina Cook

Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting

Approval of Treasurer’s Report

President’s Report and Legislative Action Committee Report

Elections

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BEST WISHES TO OUR�DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS

Thank you, Leanne Steffke, for your years of service to WASSW!

Keep up the good work!

We appreciate you!

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BEST WISHES TO OUR�DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS

Thank you, Christiane Paget, for your years of service to WASSW!

You are so essential!

We appreciate you!

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MEMBERSHIP BUSINESS

Review of

Minutes of last meeting

(2020)

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MEMBERSHIP BUSINESS

Review of

2021

Treasurer’s

Report

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President’s Report

We had a successful Partnership with Oregon School Social Workers Association: May PNW SSW Conference Centered on Equity.
There was significant hiring this fall of school social worker sin Washington
The Washington Professional Education Standards Board adopted the National School Social Work Standards as Washington’s standards.
Our organization developed and compiled more tools for advocacy of our profession.
Washington passed a school counseling bill, HB 5030. WASSW was successful in ensuring that all ESAs can implement school counseling programs, and we continue to work with OSPI so that the bill implementation includes school social workers.
WASSW’s Legislative Action Committee has been meeting regularly, set goals, provided advocacy tools for members, and is meeting with legislators.

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School Social Workers by the Numbers in WA State

2016-2017 = 314

2017-2018 = 341

2020-2021 = 372

2021 hiring in droves with ESSER funds, increased need with the pandemic and WASSW presence and advocacy of the value of our profession.

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PARTICIPATION IN KEY WORKGROUPS AND COMMITTEES

WEA ESA Committee
Washington Behavioral Health Coalition
Professional Education Standards Board
OSPI School Health Centers Workgroup
OSPI Family Engagement Standards Committee
OSPI SEL Committee
CYBHWG Workgroup
NASW Legislative Action Committee
SSWAA Legislative Action Committee

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ADVOCACY RESOURCES

~Who are School Social Workers (SSWAA 2021) Link

~School Social Work Services in Washington: A Guide for Educators (WASSW) Link

~A School Social Worker: The Answer to the Latest Mental Health Crisis in Schools Link

~Overlapping & Unique Roles of Specialized PSP (Wisconsin) Link

~School Social Workers’ Role in Addressing Students’ Mental Health Needs and Increasing Student Achievement (SSWAA) Link

~Clinical School Social Work: Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Students (SSWAA) Link

~School Mental Health Providers (SSWAA) Link

~An Overview of School-Based Mental Health Services (SSWAA, NASP & ASCA) Link

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE

Joining NASW Legislative Committee and lobbyist

Participation with SSWAA Legislative Committee

Call to Action Initiative and One Pager Document

Testifying on bills that impact our profession

Meeting with OSPI Social Workers

Meetings with Rep. Rule, Tomiko Santos, Dolan, Stonier

Upcoming Advocacy for OSPI Program Manager

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE

Important Policy Documents:

Children and Youth Behavioral Health Workgroup recommendations to 2022 Legislature Link and Companion Prioritization Document Link

Dept. of Education: Supporting Child & Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, & Mental Health Needs (2021) Link

The Case for School Mental Health (UW Smart Center) Link

OSPI Staffing Enrichment Workgroup Recommendations (p.20) Link

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VOTING

Board Positions To Vote on Today: One-Year Terms

President: Carrie Syvertsen __________________

Vice President/

President Elect: Michelle Sorensen __________________

Secretary: Kristina Miller

Conference Co-Chairs: ________________ ________________

Member at Large West: ________________ _________________

Member at Large East: Lupe Wolfe __________________

Continuing Positions:

Past President: Liz Nelson

Treasurer: Shannon Harris

Membership Chair: Tina Cook

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Thank you all for your presence today!

Keep in Touch!

WASSW Website: www.wassw.org contactus@wassw.org

Join us! Become a member of WASSW!

Link

We have two FB Pages!

Washington Association of School Social Workers

and

Washington Association of School Social

Workers -- Members Only