[humanser] introducing myself

Fri Jul 12 01:07:39 UTC 2013

----- Original Message -----
From: Merry Schoch <merrys at verizon.net>
To: 'Human Services Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sat, 6 Jul 2013 05:14:39 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Re: [humanser] Human Services Division Updates

Let's look at the agenda, see where we would like it, and request a change!

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2013 7:47 PM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Human Services Division Updates

Would it not be a good thing if our Division meetings did not happen at the
exact same time?  I wonder if that might be negotable?

JD
-----Original Message-----
From: Carlos Montas
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2013 9:09 AM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Human Services Division Updates

Good morning to all, i just wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate 
the newly elected board members.  Although I am working in the   rehab 
field,  i am a social worker first.  I believe you all are going to do a
great job.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 5, 2013, at 8:07 AM, "Merry Schoch" <merrys at verizon.net> wrote:

> Greetings!
>
>
>
> Below you will find a list of the newly elected Board Members of the 
> Human Services Division, as well as, an amendment that was made to our 
> constitution.  I would like to thank all those who have served on the 
> Board in the past.  I would also like to thank our current Board 
> Members for their
> willingness to serve.   We will be having a convention debriefing via
> teleconference for all attendees very soon.  We need your input and ideas!
>
>
>
> Board Members of the Human Services Division:
>
> Merry Schoch, President
>
> David Stayer, First Vice President
>
> Amalia Veliz, Second Vice President
>
> Nicole Yarmolkevich, Secretary
>
> John Townsend (JD), Treasurer
>
> Tyrone Bratcher, Board Member
>
> Denise Shaible, Board Member
>
>
>
> Amendment:
>
>
>
> Proposed Amendment to the Human Services Division Constitution 
> concerning Dues
>
> This amendment removes the amount of the dues from the constitution 
> allowing the membership to set the dues by a majority vote, rather 
> than by a 2.3 majority to amend the constitution.
>
> Currently reads:
>
> ARTICLE VII
>
> Dues
>
>
>
> The dues of the Division shall be $10.00 per year for those 
> professionals employed in the field and $5.00 per year for students 
> and professionals who are currently not working.
>
>
>
> Amended to Read:
>
>
>
> ARTICLE VII
>
> Dues
>
>
>
>            Dues of the Division will be an amount determined by the 
> membership as needed.  Dues are payable at the time of the annual meeting.
> If an individual desires to become a member of the Division at a time 
> before the annual meeting, the dues shall be the same.  Exception: 
> Should the initial request for membership be made less than three 
> months before the annual meeting, the dues will be applied to the 
> following year.
>
>
>
> After acceptance of the amendment a motion was made and accepted that 
> dues shall be $5.00.
>
>
>
>
>
> Merry C. Schoch, MSW ISW#6961
>
> Professional Social Worker/Counselor
>
> (813) 626 - 2789
>
> Merrys at verizon.net
>
>
>
>
>
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JD Townsend LCSW
Helping the light dependent to see.
Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System 

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Hello Human Services Division Members:

I have been a member of this division for many years, but failed to introduce myself on the list. After this past convention and division meeting, I realized that I would greatly benefit from networking with others on this list, while also helping others with what I have learned.
I also agreed to connect with Sarah Meyer and Ronit. I want to make my contact information available to all. Here is my email:
dkirby at mchsi.com. 
My human services background:

I graduated in 2008 with a Master's Degree in Social Work. I was blessed to have acquired a full-time position two months before I graduated with my MSW. This either makes me a good resource for interviewing and finding a job or a really bad resource, only applying for two jobs after my MSW and getting both.
My first job was in substance abuse counseling at a non-profit agency. This included individual, family, and group counseling. I found myself working from a CBT perspective with strong influences from Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy, and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. In this position, This agency had no experience working with a blind counselor. It was my responsibility for making the job accessible. The employer was willing to work with me, but I was the expert. If people have questions about the alternative techniques of counseling, documentation, billing, and utilizing blindness as a strength, I am open to all questions. I am still struggling with the documentation program, Epic, but I do vow to never let a software program keep me from doing a job that I love.  

After two years at this position, an opportunity opened up at the state hospital in my home city. I got the job and have worked as a social worker/psychotherapist in a substance abuse/partial hospitalization setting for the past 3.5 years. I work in a building that has 63 miles of hallway. I was scared to start working at such a large hospital, especially with meetings all over the hospital, but I now find the building to be easy to navigate. I say this because I know that it was almost a reason for me to not go after the job. I found myself motivated, yet again, by the stories at convention. It is a reminder to not let fear prevent me from taking some risks - 63 miles and all. 

I am still learning much about social work and counseling and the helping profession. 
In my state, most social workers become licensed after graduation with an MSW. We are then called LMSW's in the state of Iowa. 
After two years of supervision - including 110 hours of direct supervision, we can take an exam to become Licensed Independent Social Workers or LISW's. The credential allows us to bill all insurance companies in the state of Iowa. I will be sitting for my LISW in August of this year. My current job does not require that I licensed at the independent level, but it is a marketable licensure and would allow me to open a private practice in the future. I am requesting off-list information about the LISW exam if anyone has advice or support to offer.

Lastly, I love what I do for a living. I am passionate about the helping profession. I have become a leader at my agency. My co-workers and my clients view my blindness as a strength. Sitting in my office is a bright yellow baseball cap with the word victor written in bright purple. Underneath the word "victor" is the word "victor" in Braille. This was a gift from a group of patients in our partial hospitalization program that discussed how they benefited from learning about taking off the "victim" hat and putting on the "victor" hat. The impact this has on one's life, as it changes how we think, and ultimately how we feel and act. It is a concept taken directly from the National Federation for the Blind.

I realize that I may be tooting my own horn, but I have become a leader in my community for issues related to substance abuse and mental illness. I find myself presenting to some group or agency or school at least once per month. The significance of this is two-fold. Blindness has not prevented me from becoming a leader in the field of dual diagnosis and the treatment of people facing substance abuse and/or mental illness. But also, I change public attitude about blindness every time I am asked to speak to a public audience as an expert in a challenging field. JoAnn Wilson told me a few years back that I am doing NFB work every day that I strive toward professional development in this field. She told me this when I was concerned about not being active enough in the NFB . I realize now that we do our best to develop a career, while continuing activity in this great organization.

Like most things in my life, when I decide to do something, I go all out. Hence, my first post to this list serve is a long one :-)

Thanks for listening if you made it this far and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Darrel Kirby