Social Work Global Conference Report 2019

INVITED SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS Susan Mapp , Ph.D., MSSW, Program Director and Chair of the Social Work Department, Elizabethtown College. Global Threats to Child Welfare and Well-being Dr. Mapp discussed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and what it provides as protection. She also discussed three specific categories of threats: human trafficking, child maltreatment, and the climate crisis, as well as what can be done to counter them from a rights- based approach. Thomas P. Murt, Ed.D., MA, Pennsylvania State Representative from the 152nd Legislative District. From Iraq to Harrisburg: FGM Legislation to Protect & Empower Women in Pennsylvania Representative Murt provided insights on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), including his experiences in Iraq that inspired the legislation to end FGM. He also discussed the lengthy process that involved legislative efforts in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which ultimately incorporated a prohibition of FMG into state law by Governor Wolf. Jonathan Kremser , Ph.D., Chair and Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Kutztown University Risk and Protection: An Analysis of Pennsylvannia’s New Safe School Standard The initiatives to address school safety nationwide over the past two decades have greatly increased. School districts within Pennsylvania face new mandates under recent legislation that the governor signed into law, which make numerous changes to the Pennsylvania School Code. Dr. Kremser discussed the specific changes that have occurred as a result of the legislation and highlighted how these changes are being implemented in local districts throughout the Commonwealth. George M. Kovarie, MSW, LSW, Instructor, Department of Social Work, Kutztown University An Overview of Domestic Public Child Welfare System Professor Kovarie presented the current Federal, State and Local policies regarding the “safety net” or children who are maltreated within the United States. Professor Kovarie also provided the structure of the Child Protective Services (CPS) system and the responsible parties to this process, as well as the various agencies contributing to the remediation process. Amy E. Stein, LCSW, Instructor, Department of Social Work, Kutztown University Improving Educational Outcomes for Refugee Youth: Findings from a Qualitative Study of Refugee Services Providers Among refugee youth, educational outcomes are significantly compromised by histories of trauma and oppression, and the disempowerment, poverty, mistrust of authority, and fear of deportation that are associated with their experiences. In a qualitative study twelve refugee social service providers identified barriers related to the assimilation of refugee students in schools. Professor Stein discussed the findings of the study to highlight the importance of a community-based approach to ensure effective, culturally inclusive programs in educational systems that better serve refugee youth. Representative Thomas P. Murt, Professor George M. Kovarie, and Professor Amy E. Stein Panel Discussion with Q&A: Moderated by Dr. Edward Hanna Topics by the panelists included: (1) Mental Health and Addictions: A Legislative Response – How PA House Bill 1696 Helps “Call to Action to Insure Our Parity for the Future;” (2) Safety, Permanency & Well Being: Reflections on Implementation and Evaluation of Federal and State Child Protection Policy and Practice; and (3) Refugee Youth: Service Provisions and Educational Outcome; and the School to Prison Pipeline: Cause for Advocacy.