SJSU School of Social Work Newsletter MARCH 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Social Media
2. Contact Information
3. Happy Ramadan!
4. The School of Social Work
5. Student Spotlight: Sophia Zarate & Desirae Pica
6. SWGSA
7. Newsletter & Social Media Submissions

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We thrive to build a connection with our social work community by sharing resources, community events, and by sharing a spotlight on our school, students, alumni, and faculty!

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Office Telephone: 408-924-5800

Official Website: www.sjsu.edu/socialwork/

Newsletter Archive: www.sjsu.edu/socialwork/media/newsletter.php

General Email Address: socialwork@sjsu.edu

Office Address: One Washington Square (WSQ Rm. 215) San Jose, CA 95192-0124

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

School of Social Work Evaluation, Suggestion, and Feedback Form (Anonymous): forms.gle/hBXzASpfNYHomWEt6

Ramadan Mubarak! (Happy Ramadan!)

Ramadan is the most blessed month celebrated by more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. It is known as one of the 5 pillars of faith in Islam and signifies the month of the revelation of the Quran (Holy Book). As part of a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity, it is important to understand and acknowledge Ramadan to support observing students, faculty, and staff. Ramadan follows the Islamic Lunar Calendar, marking the start of the month on March 11th and ends on April 10th or 11th depending on moon sighting. The end of the month is celebrated with its religious holiday called Eid-al-Fitr.

4 Things To Know about Ramadan

1. Fasting - For 30 days, Muslims who observe Ramadan fast each day from sunrise to sunset. They typically wake up an hour and a half before sunrise to eat an early breakfast which is referred to as Suhoor in Arabic. During their fast, Muslims will refrain from food, water, and other behavior such as gossip, bad language, anger, etc. Muslims break their fast at sunset with a meal referred to as Iftar, which is shared together with family, friends, and community. Fasting cultivates self-control, gratitude, compassion, and a deeper understanding of what it is like for those facing hardships and food insecurity. Those unable to fast such as pregnant or nursing women, individuals in menses, individuals with an illness or disability, elderly people, and children are exempt from fasting.

2. Prayer - While Muslims pray their daily 5 prayers on a regular schedule as part of their pillars of faith, during Ramadan there is an increased dedication to prayer and self-reflection. Following the evening meal, many Muslims engage in the longer nightly prayers with their community and recite the Quran more frequently.

3. Charity - Charity is one of the other 5 pillars of faith, in which Muslims have a year long dedication to charitable giving. During Ramadan, Muslims increase their charitable giving and acts of community service such as distributing food to the needy, tending to the sick, and donating to global and local organizations that provide aid, water, food, and shelter to refugees, orphans, and individuals impacted by war.

4. Community - Ramadan is a time that brings many Muslims from all over the world together, bounded by their faith and commitment to this special month. With extra time spent at the mosque, with family and friends, this month encourages us to appreciate our blessings even more. Muslims have entered Ramadan this year with grief and a heavy heart compared to the usual excitement. The ongoing oppression in Gaza, in which the people are also conducting Ramadan, lays heavy on our minds and hearts as we fast with them. While many Muslims can look forward to an evening meal to break their fast, Palestinians in Gaza are being deprived of food, water, and aid, all while their homes are being destroyed to rubble. As we embrace the joy and spirit of Ramadan, please remember those who are facing hardships and injustice. May this time allow us to open our hearts with empathy, compassion, and support for those suffering around the world.

- Hiba Ahmed, School of Social Work Admin.

The School of Social Work

Dr. Sen continues to host office hours! She will offer office hours once a month on Wednesdays, for on-campus students. There is ONE more left for this academic school year, make sure to take advantage!

Join us IN WELCOMING our newest employee!

Title IV-E ICWA SYMPOSIUM

On March 18th, 2024 the Title IV-E program hosted a ICWA Symposium. Thank you to all the students, faculty, staff and community partners who were present. Thank you to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, whose land SJSU and the greater Bay Area resides on, for opening us up with a beautiful land acknowledgement.

Thank you to our amazing panelists & presenters, including:

• Joey Torres, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe
• Julie Dominguez, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe
• Ann Gilmour, Judicial Council of California
• Vida Castaneda, Judicial Council of California
• Jessica Mateu-Newsome, San Francisco Human Services Agency
• Justo Valenzuela, Santa Clara County Dept. of Children & Family Services
• Marisol Agustinez, Santa Clara County Dept. of Children & Family Services
• Marshal Galvan, Solano County Health and Social Services
• Brittany Walker Pettigrew, Alameda County Social Services

The School of Social Work Invites you to the Class of 2024 Convocation Ceremony!

If you are a BASW or MSW student planning on participating in this year's convocation, make sure to register no later than 5/10/24.

Register here: https://forms.gle/6SDY2uVaACakh6jh9

Are you a continuing BASW or MSW student? Looking for a part-time job?

Submit an interest form here: forms.gle/DgHBHgkWTkK96bdJ9

Sophia ZARATE

This month, we highlight full-time, on-campus MSW student Sophia Zarate. Sophia Zarate will be obtaining her MSW with the Class of 2024, congrats Sophia!

Sophia is currently interning with the County of Santa Clara Public Defenders Office in a Forensic Social Work capacity. In April 2023, she attended Lobby Days in Sacramento and where she learned about the 23Strong Council. After researching what their mission is and how it aligns with her goals, she shared interest in becoming a representative for SJSU's MSW Program. Being a part of the 23Strong Council Board she got out of her comfort zone and enhanced her leadership skills by networking with others in the field of social work. Most importantly, her involvement with 23Strong Council developed a stronger experience in the macro side of social work whilst learning more about policy and advocacy work.

23Strong is a Council with the National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter (NASW-CA). The purpose of the 23Strong Council is for student leaders from the 23 accredited California social work programs to collaborate through organized efforts and calls to action to combat social injustices and change public policy that oppresses and marginalizes at-risk and vulnerable populations. They do this by addressing social issues through lobbying for policies that align with the NASW and council mission statement through the use of forums, written statements, and community organizing.

Sophia's role as the board President consists of being responsible for administrative duties related to the day-to-day leadership of the 23Strong Council with guidance and assistance from the 23Strong advisor, vice-president, and in collaboration with NASW-CA institutional regulations and polices. She assists with the recruiting, planning and the onboarding for incoming board members. Furthermore, she assists the treasurer in the facilitation of financial forecasts and forms, leads all monthly board and general meetings, and also facilitates the planning and implementation of 3 to 5 academic/informative/educational events throughout the academic school year. Most importantly, as President she serves as a spokesperson for the student body at large, since representing the students of the 23 CSU campuses is the primary goal of the entire student council.

Some of the events that the 23Strong Council have organized are virtual career panels, workshops, Lobby days support, and Lobby Days Social Mixer. This year an initiative they have been supporting is stopping the tuition increases in the CSU system, as well as backing initiatives that support advancing issues related to Black women lacking proper medical care.

Having grown up in one of the lowest socioeconomic areas of San Jose, Sophia witnessed many of the injustices and inequities that people experienced. The older she became the more aware she was of how little representation these communities receive. Social justice issues are very important to Sophia on various levels, from the people who need social work services to those who provide them and the issues affecting them as a whole. The 23Strong Council affords her opportunities to support social work students and also to advocate and support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those less represented in vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed communities. After earning her MSW, Sophia hopes to continue her path in social work at a macro level where she can help support, advocate, and initiate changes that support all shareholders within the social work field.

Thank you Sophia for all your contributions! Your hard work does not go unnoticed & we can't wait to see all your success post-graduation!

Desirae Pica

This month, we highlight online/hybrid MSW student, Desirae Pica. Desirae Pica will be obtaining her MSW with the Class of 2024, congrats Desirae!

Desirae currently interns at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where she's gained experience in different departments such as pediatrics, the burn unit, ICU, and the emergency department (one of her favorite departments). One of the programs she's been able to support during her internship as a medical social worker is called Trauma to Triumph (T2T). T2T is a hospital-based violence prevention program that supports victims ages 13-30 of assault or gang-related violence. If a patient is admitted to the hospital for a traumatic assault, they offer support and connect them to peer intervention case management services. Desirae enjoyed working on this program because there is a lot of community collaboration and primary and secondary school support. Eventually Desirae would like to work in school social work so this was a great way to see how medical social work and school social work can cross paths to support youth and families.

Another exciting thing Desirae has been able to do this year is present to the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program about social work in healthcare settings. Often times medical social workers will collaborate with OT in health care settings to ensure a safe discharge home. Desirae was able to share what social work can look like in a hospital setting, ambulatory clinics, and how social workers asses for any psychosocial barriers that would hinder discharge planning. It's great to share what social work looks like in health care settings because what we do can often get confusing to those who are not familiar with social work. She also enjoyed presenting for the OT students because it shows that while we may have different goals of our profession, we can lean on each other for support and teach others about the field of social work.

Congrats Desirae & we know you will continue to be an amazing social worker!

SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Are you a non-graduating BASW or MSW student? Want to earn 4 free convocation tickets for your convocation ceremony? Volunteer at the CLass of 2024 ceremony!

Interested? Register here: https://forms.gle/6EMFmoiDaUcQPocW6

SWGSA Board of Directors Applications are now OPEN!

Newsletter & Social Media Submissions

Would you like to be featured on our next newsletter or social media posting? Fill out this interest form: https://forms.gle/cGy5zmZiGkHAWmQQA