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ISP Update / January, 2008
GREETINGS
- Greetings, Influencing State Policy (ISP) Board Members, Liaisons, Friends and Advisory Council Members:
Many best wishes to you for the coming new year, 2008. It is an election year at the federal level and I can guess that many of you (us) are watching the debates, attending the caucuses, voting in primaries, wearing your buttons (off campus, of course), and tryin to figure out who the final candidates for President will be. One has to admire the stamina of the current group, no? They are truly giving it all they have........and for good reason: there is a lot at stake!
ISP is also involved in many noteworthy activities and I am sure that many of you are "working" your state legislatures with your own agendas or with your students. Let me remind you of a few things to keep in mind as the year begins:
Please encourage your students to become involved in the ISP Annual Contest 2008 in trying to influence some state policy. Go to the website for the rules at:http://www.statepolicy.org/contest/official-rules.html. It often takes a faculty member to nudge students to participate. But when you urge and students respond, the outcome is often "awesome." See some of the winning examples on the website at: http://www.statepolicy.org/contest/contest-winners.html#2007. Remember that the deadline for entries via email is May 7, 2008.
Plan to have your students visit your state capitol and tell me the numbers! Last year, 6,899 social work students visited their state capitol. We did not hear from every state....so I assume more visits were made.....our goal this year is 8,000 student visits. Let me know as soon as you can via email.
The results of the annual PhD Dissertation Award competition will be announced next week. We had 9 entries this year, our highest total yet. Future faculty who understand the importance of state policy.....wouldn't you like to hire them?
Our website continues to receive about 5,000 hits a month.....the current total is: 133,425 cumulative. Urge your students and colleagues to use it as a portal. We ask for any links that you find important and vital. We will add them to ISP's page.
A note of sadness: Dr. Wendy Crook, an active ISP member and LIaison since its early days, died last fall. Wendy was a member of the Florida State University social work faculty and an ISP Board member. ISP made a contribution to a fund in her memory.
The new video, "Coalition Building" is near completion. I know I said it before, but delays occurred: one of the producers got married and our animator changed jobs. But, I have reviewed the latest draft and we only have a few more changes to make. It will be sent to you as soon as we can complete it.
Please send in your 2008 ISP dues. Down load the form at: http://www.statepolicy.org/about_us/index.html (Cross off the 2007 date and write 2008). We need your support every year and $25 is still the best dues bargain in social work!
ISP member Ruth White has initiated a new call-in radio show: POLICY BRIEF on her college station, http://www.ksubseattle.org.
You are invited to listen in on Wednesdays from 9-10 AM and to email her topics that you think would be of interest. You may also offer your expertise as a panelist. Email Ruth at: ruthw@seattleu.edu/ ISP congratulates Ruth on an adventurous project and one that may reach many about the importance of policy practice.
ISP member Michael Pattison at Augsburg College has developed a game called the Policy Parade. It is a board game and takes players through many steps in the passage of legislation and policy forumulation. Call him at 952.250.1188 or at pattison@augsburg.edu/
The BPD 2008 Policy Fellow Award's deadline is February 18, 2008. This award provides 10 weeks in Washington, DC, gaining experience in political advoacy, lobbying, and participating in change at the national level. The stipend is $5,000. Contact: susan.vallen@wartburg.edu for more details. It is a great experience!
The popular The Policy Conference, sponsored in the past by the U of South Carolina and VCU, is still searching for a new sponsor or set of sponsors. No new date has been set for this conference.
Emily Douglas of Bridgewater State College has a call for abstracts for The First National Research Conference on Child & Family Programs & Policy will be held at Bridgewater State College on July 10-11, 2008. The call for abstracts will begin on January 7, 2008 and will be due on February 20, 2008.
http://www.bridgew.edu/ExternalAffairs/CCFPP%20Welcome%20Page.cfm
We invite research abstracts that focus on promising child and family programs, interventions, preventions, rules/regulations, and policies. Research that has strong implications for child and family programs / policies is also invited. Conference topics are open.
Try this new link: http://www.progressivestates.org.
Attention: CSWE' policy statement and process: A second draft of the proposed EPAS is now available at the CSWE Web site. Please send your feedback on this draft by February 4, 2008 to EPASrevision@cswe.org. Your continued involvement in the feedback process is needed. Please see the revised schedule for the EPAS review and comments.
That is it for now......I wish you all well in the beginning of 2008. Keep up the hard work of influencing policy makers. All the best....Bob
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