Social Work Students Advocate for their Profession in Harrisburg
Representatives from Seton Hill’s Social Work program traveled to Harrisburg to participate in Legislative Education & Advocacy Day (LEAD) in March, an event hosted by the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Assistant Professor of Social Work Sarah Slates and four social work students – sophomore Andrew Gonzalez, seniors Renell Palm and Benjamin Sanner and junior Taryn Yutzy – met up with social work professionals, faculty and students from across the state to advocate for issues important to their profession at the Capitol.
During their trip, they were able to participate in two rallies for legislative priorities, meet with their elected representatives and connect with other colleges, universities and professionals.
For many of the students, this was their first time meeting with legislators. While meeting with elected officials can be intimidating, the students researched the bills they were advocating for, prepared materials and practiced a variety of scenarios before traveling to Harrisburg for the event.
“We had a wonderful and meaningful trip to Harrisburg for Legislative Education and Advocacy Day or LEAD,” Slates said. “After the event, students better understood that advocacy is not only an ethical responsibility for social workers, but it is also more accessible than they thought.”
The first rally of the day was in support of NASW sponsored bills, many of which touch on funding for social workers and mental health. They also attended a rally in support of equal pay legislation.
Additionally, the students had the opportunity to attend meetings with six legislators, including Senator Camera Bartolotta, Representative Bud Cook, and Representative Nathan Davidson.
“One of my favorite comments to hear is that legislators are just people!,” Slates said. “The senators and representatives we met with were especially welcoming and were thrilled to hear from our students.”
While they connected with their peers from West Chester University, Juniata College, and Shippensburg University throughout the day, they were also able to spend time with students and faculty from Saint Francis University the evening before to prepare for their meetings with legislators and review the bills they were advocating for in addition to making posters for the NASW rally.
“LEAD was an amazing opportunity to advocate for legislation that actively affects everyone. Meeting with the legislators that represent us and our needs was an amazing opportunity to get a better understanding of the work that they do,” said Benjamin. “It was an opportunity for the social work students to get out of their comfort zones and put their voices and education out there on important topics. We were also able to meet up with other social workers from all around Pennsylvania, which only further made the experience motivating and inspirational for our future work in the legislative world.”
Assistant Professor of Social Work Sarah Slates and four social work students – sophomore Andrew Gonzalez, seniors Renell Palm and Benjamin Sanner and junior Taryn Yutzy – met up with social work professionals, faculty and students from across the state to advocate for issues important to their profession at the Capitol.
During their trip, they were able to participate in two rallies for legislative priorities, meet with their elected representatives and connect with other colleges, universities and professionals.
For many of the students, this was their first time meeting with legislators. While meeting with elected officials can be intimidating, the students researched the bills they were advocating for, prepared materials and practiced a variety of scenarios before traveling to Harrisburg for the event.
“We had a wonderful and meaningful trip to Harrisburg for Legislative Education and Advocacy Day or LEAD,” Slates said. “After the event, students better understood that advocacy is not only an ethical responsibility for social workers, but it is also more accessible than they thought.”
The first rally of the day was in support of NASW sponsored bills, many of which touch on funding for social workers and mental health. They also attended a rally in support of equal pay legislation.
Additionally, the students had the opportunity to attend meetings with six legislators, including Senator Camera Bartolotta, Representative Bud Cook, and Representative Nathan Davidson.
“One of my favorite comments to hear is that legislators are just people!,” Slates said. “The senators and representatives we met with were especially welcoming and were thrilled to hear from our students.”
While they connected with their peers from West Chester University, Juniata College, and Shippensburg University throughout the day, they were also able to spend time with students and faculty from Saint Francis University the evening before to prepare for their meetings with legislators and review the bills they were advocating for in addition to making posters for the NASW rally.
“LEAD was an amazing opportunity to advocate for legislation that actively affects everyone. Meeting with the legislators that represent us and our needs was an amazing opportunity to get a better understanding of the work that they do,” said Benjamin. “It was an opportunity for the social work students to get out of their comfort zones and put their voices and education out there on important topics. We were also able to meet up with other social workers from all around Pennsylvania, which only further made the experience motivating and inspirational for our future work in the legislative world.”