NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK

Executive Council President: Kathleen Carty kcarty@cox.net President-Elect: Tina Maschi tmaschi@fordham.edu Vice President: Valarie Mitchell Valarie.mitchell@ defender.org Secretary: Susan McCarter smccarter@uncc.edu Treasurer: Steven Hartsock slhartsock@frostburg.edu Councilors: Elgie Dow elgiedow@charter.net Francis Murzello murzello@telus.net Viola Vaughan-Eden Violavaughaneden @cox.net Executive Director: Paul Brady pbrady@nofsw.org

Open Court
V O L U M E X I I , N U M B E R 1 J A N U A R Y 1 , 2 0 1 2

See you in Baltimore, April 15-18, 2012!

The NOFSW 2012 Baltimore/Washington Conference Committee and the Executive Council invite you to attend NOFSWs 29th Annual Conference to be held at the Tremont Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Baltimore, MD. This conference offers a professional program that reflects a broad range of practice, research, policy, and advocacy interests including those addressing criminal and civil/family legal domains including: family or community mediation, mitigation in capital cases, jail/correctional setting services, risk management for service providers, restorative justice, legal and ethics issues, child welfare issues, guardianship and dependency issues. It is the premier national conference for forensic social work and brings together practitioners, policymakers, lawyers, professors, students, community members, and other decision makers from inside and outside the U.S. The conference committee is actively soliciting financial sponsorships for specific conference materials and events, taxdeductible donations, and volunteers. Limited space is also available for promotional materials. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Paul Brady, Executive Director, before March 1, 2012. Pre-conference Workshops, Keynote and Plenary Addresses, Roundtables, Panels, Papers, Posters, Networking Opportunities, and Social Sessions will provide dynamic educational and professional opportunities along with networking components. And continuing Education credits will be available. Specific highlights for Building Bridges Interdisciplinary Collaboration include: A preconference workshop on expert witness testimony and ethical social work practice in the courts; a plenary which examines the psychological and legal impliTremont Plaza cations of huHotel man abuse/ 222 St. Paul Pl. animal abuse; $155+ taxes and a Presisingle/double dents Tea and $175+ taxes poster session. triple Represent- 800-873-6668 atives from Group code: Taylor & Francis NOFSW2012 as well as the journal co-editors will be available to discuss the Journal of Forensic Social Work. So, mark your calendars, book your travel, hotel, and conference registration now. You wont want to miss NOFSWs 29th annual conference in Baltimore!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Presidents Column

NOFSWs 29th Annual Conference:

3

An Ethics Discussion by M. Feer

Building BridgesInterdisciplinary Collaboration

Eltons 4 Corner & Sol Gothard Award NOFSW Classifieds

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Presidents Column
forensic social work. I have heard from some of you on how best to tackle the economic issues that threaten our ability to continue to provide services to our clients and to support our own wellbeing as individuals who often find ourselves overworked and understaffed. Your voices have been heard and I am looking forward to bringing the full force of this organization to support your ideas. Since our last newsletter in September 2011, we have been made aware of the need for more local chapters and are addressing that as an Executive Council so that we can develop a plan to be more accessible and identifiable in your neighborhood. We have also put together a team of general members, as well as, former and current Executive Council members, to tailor and market a plan to identify academic institutions which provide forensic social work education and realize the benefits of collaboration with best to NOFSW.

According to Irish sayings, Three best to have in plenty - sunshine, wisdom, and generosity and there is No need for lack of a friend. Members of the NOFSW know these to be true! As we closed 2011, we have experienced many changes in this country and in this organization. I am taking this opportunity to thank each of you who have contributed to the success of this organization, of your communities, and of your professions. The Executive Council and the committee members have worked diligently to enhance this organization by redesigning the website, which will make its debut this month.

We have also engaged several of you who signed up for committees in the process of developing protocols and strategies to increase and expand our membership, improving our bidirectional communication, identifying areas of need and implementing plans to meet those needs, and clarifying and Three adapting the NOFSW Code have of Ethics.

Building BridgesInterdisciplinary Collaboration is the epitome of the vision of linking the various aspects of criminal justice with recovery, treatment, and accessibility to services, information, and expert advice. We are appreciative of the numerous benefits we receive from NOFSW and strive to continue to improve the efficacy of this organization. My hope is that by broadening the forensic social work knowledge base and then by sharing it with you, yes, you, who may be the next NOFSW officer, the next forensic social work professional to make a significant contribution to the field, the next practitioner helping to change someones life; you will be confident with your professional decisions. As we close this year we are grateful to those who have worked for the past 30-40-50 years to create the foundation on which we stand. We also are grateful to our families, colleagues, universities, and each other.

Current research, evaluation, and plenty I have been practice is disworking with sunshine, seminated other organizathrough the Jourwisdom, and tions to facilinal of Forensic tate the develSocial Work, generosity opment of a NOFSW conferrecoveryences exceed the -An Irish oriented sysstandards that Saying tem of delivery many other orof services, ganizations only collaboration dream of, and we for common provide individugoals, and sustainability projects al care to our visitors and members. which would help not only our clients but the joint resources which Our 29th annual conference, April support our local organizations and 15-18th in Baltimore, Maryland,

in

May each of you have a safe, warm, wonderful winter! Celebrate the season and accept our wishes for a healthy, happy, and enriched New Year!

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During the lifecycles of individuals as well as organizations, the motivation and capacity to reflect on morality, ethics, and values evolves; we hope, from self-referent, me-based systems to more other-focused, contextual, we-based social ones. Since its inception, the National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW) has been deeply committed to this evolution and obtaining guidance in constructing the most appropriate and effective ethical system, a system that will encompass, support, and nourish all of the varied professionals within its membership. Recognizing the need and value of this effort, the Executive Council at the 28th annual conference in New Orleans (April 2011), sought the advice, service,e and input of any and all responsive members who wished to be part of the Ethics Committee. This Committee was tasked with revising/devising a Code of Ethics for NOFSW and implementing and disseminating this new Code. This Committee would not only appreciate the labor already put in, but would also respect the evolving, complex, and vital nature of such a Code. Members Kathleen Carty, Michael Feer, Sonya McClain, and Eliot Sykes volunteered for this effort - so initiating a year-long collaboration as the NOFSW Ethics Committee. During this period, the Committee members have met and will continue to meet via email and teleconference. The Committee researched prior ethics documents of the NOFSW. Codes of Ethics available from numerous scientific, social scientific, psychological, medical, psychiatric, and forensic associations were studied, in appreciation of the broad range of professions attracted to NOFSW. Standards, canons, prescriptions, proscriptions, aspirations, constraints, dilemmas, violations, sanctions, principles, and definitions were all studied and discussed. The product is, we feel, a living Code of Ethics, balancing the aspirational and prescriptive needs of a Code and one that is responsive to growth. The NOFSW Code of Ethics approved by the Executive Council will be made available at the next annual conference this April in Baltimore

An Ethics Discussion Ethics

Contributed by Michael Feer
and on the NOFSW website. The Ethics Committee has also agreed to contribute regular journal essays/ethics discussions for the newsletter on general and specific ethics-related issues, decisions, and dilemmas. The Committee members encourage thoughtful feedback from all members and all professions contributing to the vitality of ethics in service to the National Organization of Forensic Social Work. So, what is ethics? In perhaps its simplest persona, ethics is a system of beliefs held by individuals and groups concerning what acts are right, correct, and proper. Such a simple definition indeed. And indeed such simplicity has led and continues to lead us all to good lives, confusion, perdition, damnation, salvation and satisfaction. And yes, this Ethics Discussion section will strive to highlight the continuing evolution of ethical reflection, values, and morality. Future Ethics Discussions will air ethical dilemmas and the approaches to ethical decisionmaking. Those on the Ethics Committee ardently look forward to the participation of the NOFSW membership in offering counsel and feedback regarding those beliefs, principles and standards of ethics we can share.

IPV-Related Impacts

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reports that: Nearly 1 in 5 women have been raped in their lifetime whereas 1 in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime. And 1 in 6 women have been stalked in their lifetime whereas 1 in 19 men have experienced stalking in their lifetime About 35% of women who were raped as minors were also raped as adults compared to 14% of women without a rape history 28% of male victims were first raped when they were 10 yrs-old or younger Intimate partner violence affects more than 12 million in the US each year These findings emphasize that sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are important and widespread public health problems in the United States. Excerpted from: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/NISVS/index.html

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Eltons Corner
This is the first of what is hoped to be a long, lasting voice in the Open Court NOFSW Newsletter. It is dedicated to my good friend and colleague, Elton Louis. The purpose of this area of Open Court is twofold; to provide an opportunity to give you, the members and friends of NOFSW, a forum to express your concerns and interests regarding areas of forensic social work; the other is to provide a forum for you to bring attention to an individual who has epitomized the definition of forensic social work as an outstanding member in the field. I met Elton for the first time when he and his friend, Ryan Lister, Attorney at Law, presented at the 2004 NOFSW Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida. Elton and Ryan were famous for delivering interesting, relevant, and practical workshops at NOFSW conferences including: New Orleans, Chicago, Las Vegas, Hartford, and Atlanta. One particular presentation I recall vividly was about the collaboration between forensic social workers and attorneys to insure more just outcomes in the sentencing of accused persons. Elton was always vibrant and humorous he was an easy presenter to listen to. Elton was elected to the Executive Council of National Organization of Fo-

talked a lot about his family. At the age of 74, Elton passed away as a result of an accident at home. However, his infectious and vibrant smile linger. This "Corner" is an outgrowth of the efforts of Elton Louis. I know he rensic Social Work in Las Vegas, Nevada, would have, as we all would, love to hear in 2006. I was in the room when he was your experiences as a member of nominated and I remember how he exNOFSW. Perhaps youd like to write pressed his interest in growing about someone you know who goes the NOFSW. His particular concern over the extra mile to provide justice and compaslack of membership representation in the sion and include it in Eltons Corner. Or, mid-west states and years later, in Hartwe are also interested in any historic deford, Connecticut, he volunteered to tails you may wish to share regarding serve as chair of the membership commit- NOFSW. You may submit articles to tee. I had no trouble following him onto Susan McCarter, co-editor of Open the committee! It was during this time Court, at smccarter@uncc.edu or historic that Elton and I become close friends. He data to Elgie Dow, NOFSW Historian, at became a strong mentor to me providing elgiedow@charter.net. support in my professional life as well as in my personal life. Elton served as chair for the membership committee until the spring of 2011 when he resigned from the Executive Council due to personal needs. Elton was a busy man in his home community of Wausau, Wisconsin. He was instrumental in forming the Treatment Instead of Prison (TIPS) program which saves community resources, both financially and through restored lives. Elton was also a member of the National Association of Social Workers where he presented often in various state chapter annual conferences. Elton was strong in his faith and was involved in Temple as well as Faith in Action and NAOM. Elton set up a fund to send his grandchildren to Israel. He loved and

Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement Award

NOFSW Seeks Nominations for Sol Gothard Award Lifetime Achievement Award. Deadline for submission is January 31, 2012
NOFSW is seeking nominations for the Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest award bestowed upon an individual by the NOFSW. It is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the forensic social work profession, public welfare, and humankind. The Honorable Sol Gothard has devoted his entire career to protecting the abused and to improving the legal system to which they are entrusted. For this and for his continued work with the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, he was honored at the 28th annual conference with the Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement Award from NOFSW and this award was made a permanent honor by NOFSW. More information about the award criteria and a nomination form are available at the NOFSW Annual Conference website http://nofsw.org/html/annual_conference.html. Nominations must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Paul Brady, NOFSW Executive Director, at (860) 613-0254 or pbrady@nofsw.org.

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Open Court Co-Editors: Susan McCarter smccarter@uncc.edu Cynthia Edwards ccedwards121@hotmail.com

Next Open Court will be published March 1, 2012 Get your copy in by February 1, 2012!
To submit to Open Court, email your articles to the co-editors by the deadline (one month prior to publication). All submissions become property of NOFSW.

Remember to renew your NOFSW membership! The following memberships

are available: Full, Associate, Allied Professional, Retired, and Student

Introducing: Open Court Classifieds*

*Please let us know what you think of this new feature.
Sunshine Treatment Institute 4821 E. McNichols Detroit, MI 48212 Contact: Andre Lee 586-868-3718 We are currently seeking a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker with Masters degree and/or with current license and 3years experience. Candidate will assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Compensation: $18 -$25/hr. Send resumes to: drelee_34@yahoo.com. Department of Budget and Management Baltimore, MD Social Worker II, Criminal Justice (11-2004 913) Contact iHire Social Services at 866-2380161 or visit iHireSocialServices.com A Social Worker II, Criminal Justice is the full performance level of professional social work providing clinical and therapeutic or forensic social work services in either a criminal justice or indigent defense environment. The employee working in an indigent defense environment provides forensic social work services, including mitigation to clients charged with crimes or delinquent offenses and creates a defense strategy with Assistant Public Defenders for the legal disposition of criminal or delinquent cases. Employees in this classification do not supervise. Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Social Work Supervisor, Criminal Justice or other designated administrator, or a District Public Defender, Division Chief or designee when assigned with the Office of the Public Defender. TC Administrative Office Port St. Lucie, FL 34986 Okeechobee County CBC, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Counselor III, Social Worker III (S) - Req. #CN3.32 (Part-Time) OBJECTIVE: To identify client & family needs & evaluate, coordinate & ensure necessary services & treatments are provided; assist & counsel individuals & families by using such activities as delineating alternatives, helping to articulate goals & providing needed information and treatment services. QUALIFICATIONS: All degrees must be from an accredited university. Required: Master's Degree in Human Services; for Social Worker III MSW is required. 2 years of postBachelor degree experience. Florida Driver's License within 30 days from hire. Preferred: Experience working with at risk children and families. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS MAY INCLUDE: Provide specialized services that may include: conducting forensic interviews, providing expert assistance to DCF & other state agencies, expert court testimony etc.; Provide case management services (information, plan referral & linkages); Maintain clinical records & program documentation according to contract & CHS standards (assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, termination summaries, etc.); Facilitate educational classes such as parenting skills, IL skills, anger management, behavior management, etc.; Supervise students; etc.