ISP Update / October, 2005
GREETINGS
Greetings, ISP Board, Liaisons, Friends and all Members. I am calling this the October Update even though we are in November....I meant to get it out a few days ago and want to have October archived in any case. I am sending my best wishes to each of you. Knowing how occupied each of us is, I will try to get right to the point(s):
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POINTS
- SAVE THE DATE: February 18, 2006, Saturday night, in the great city of Chicago from 6-8:30 PM. ISP is celebrating its 10th annual meeting and we have a dinner and program being planned that is outstanding. We have a dining room overlooking Lake Michigan from the campus of Loyola U. of Chicago, 6 blocks from the Conference Hotel, the Hyatt Regency. ISP Awards for 2005, speakers, buffet, and more. A call for reservations will come in a future Update. Suggestions for program are still sought.
- SAVE THESE DATES TOO: JUNE 16-19, 2006 in Washington, DC. The Policy Conference, formerly in Charleston, SC, is going to be held at the Mayflower Hotel in DC. Sponsored by the VCU School of Social Work and ISP, the conference promises many benefits to participants. The theme is: Shifting the Tide: Challenges for Policy Practice. The call for papers will be made imminently and we hope that you will submit a proposal. Hotel and conference registration information will also be provided in November. CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE PERIODICALLY IN NOVEMBER. IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.: http://www.vcu.edu/slwweb/PolicyConf06.html At the end of this email is the official description of the conference. Entertainment `a la DC, high level speakers are being invited, ISP awards, high quality sessions, and opportunities to meet policy practitioners and educators will make it a memorable conference.
- The ISP website, www.statepolicy.org, had 1,434 visits in October. Please encourage your students/colleagues to use this site as their PORTAL for POLICY INFO. There are many resources on it and ISP activities are always promoted there. Send a note to the policy faculty or colleagues who are policy practitioners.
- In Chicago, we will be holding the ISP Silent Auction again....to raise money for dissertation awards, video production, and contest awards. Be thinking of what you can contribute and bring to Chicago in Feb to the APM of CSWE. Call me if you have questions or want more info. 804.828.0452. We want to net $5,000.
- During our annual planning luncheon during APM of CSWE in Chicago, we hope to examine what the next 10 years of ISP should look like. RSVP's for this luncheon will be requested in a future Update. You may make your suggestions anytime and send them to me.
- In November, ISP will send you a renewal form for 2006 dues payment. Please respond quickly with your $25 dues....still a bargain....
- Do not forget to tell your current students about the ISP 2006 Influencing State Policy Contest. They need your encouragement and nudging. Rules are on the website at: http://www.statepolicy.org/contest/official-rules.html
- I will also ask for reviewers for the proposals to The Policy Conference in DC in a future Update. You may wish to participate in this evaluation process.
- Planning re the ISP Task Groups is still underway. November will be our organizing month.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE POLICY CONFERENCE
"SHIFTING THE TIDE: CHALLENGES FOR POLICY PRACTICE"
JUNE 16-19, 2006
Mayflower Hotel
WASHINGTON, DC
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work (VCU) and Influencing State Policy (ISP) are hosting The Policy Conference 2006. This conference began in 1999 under the leadership of the College of Social Work of the University of South Carolina (USC). Participants in the conference come from across the United States and other countries. The conference provides opportunities to share research and evaluation findings and discuss their implications for policy development and advocacy; to examine contemporary social welfare policies and their impacts on diverse populations; to meet informally with experts in policy formulation and education; and to honor students and faculty who have successfully influenced "state policy."
This year's conference theme is "SHIFTING THE TIDE: CHALLENGES FOR POLICY PRACTICE." Since the 1980s, the United States has been experiencing a shift to policies where emphasis is more on ideology and less on dimensions of poverty, access to services, and equitable balance of resource allocations at the federal, state, and local levels. One of the key questions surrounding current policy making is disagreement on the "role of government." From the New Deal era to the Great Society to the New Federalism to the current administration, traditional social contracts such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid appear to be weakening. The current 2006 Federal Budget in Congress illustrates continuing cuts in many human services. What roles are social workers and other leaders in human/health services playing to counter these losses? What data do advocates need to influence the agenda of current decision makers? Are social and economic justice goals considered in policy debates today? The Policy Conference 2006 participants, i.e., social work educators, expert policy analysts, government officials, non-profit agency staffers, advocates, and students will address how to meet the challenges of current and future policies that are beneficial to all American citizens.
CONFERENCE FOCUS
Current social policies at federal, state and local levels
Research findings from studies of recent policies and programs
Identification of trends, major directions, or new shifts in policy decisions
Innovative teaching and education strategies
Implications of policy shifts for agencies and beneficiaries
Successful volunteer efforts
Practical applications of policy analyses to communities or agencies
The role of government in supporting human needs
Internships for students in community agencies
The role of students as participants in needs-based programs
CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE PERIODICALLY IN NOVEMBER FOR EXACT INFO: http://www.vcu.edu/slwweb/PolicyConf06.html CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR CALL FOR PAPER INFO, CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND HOTEL REGISTRATION INFO.
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CLOSING THOUGHTS
That's it for now......keep up the policy practice focus.....no matter where you find yourself. All the best...Bob
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