Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources

The United States and the global community are experiencing unpredictable and challenging times to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Also known as novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. It is contagious and has affected people around the world. The most common symptoms include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath.  Other symptoms may include pain or pressure in the chest, lost of taste or smell, inability to wake or stay awake, and bluish lips or face. Senior citizens and people with pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure) are most at risk of becoming severely ill from the virus. As of March 31, 2020, there is no known cure (vaccine) for the COVID-19 virus.

Doctors, health experts and elected officials have warned the public to stay indoors, wash their hands frequently with soap and water, and avoid contact with infected people. Additionally, workplaces have shifted to remote work environments. On the other hand, thousands of workers have either been furloughed or laid off from their jobs. Several governors have instituted stay-at-home orders to slow down the spread of the disease among the population. In general, these are unprecedented circumstances that require focus, support, and relief, particularly for those in need. 

The federal government is helping workers, families, and employers prepare for the COVID-19 virus. On March 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into the law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. This stimulus package is meant to address the economic failout of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, here are a list of recommended sources for Americans to stay up-to-date on the evolving outbreak:

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Checklist to Get Ready for COVID-19
• Johns Hopkins University & Medicine: Coronavrius Resource Center
• NASPA - Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education: COVID-19 Resources
• National Association of Social Workers: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• National Council of Nonprofits: Nonprofits and Coronavirus, COVID-19
• National Governors Association: What You Need to Know about the Coronavirus
• National Institute of Health's National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases: Coronaviruses
• Society for Human Resource Management: Coronavirus Resources
• U.S. Department of Education: COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel
• U.S. Department of Labor: Coronavirus Resources
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Finally, follow your state's guidelines on essential services, social distancing, and travel. Be safe and stay well!

Social Work Month 2019 Theme: Elevate Social Work

The 2019 theme for Social Work Month is Elevate Social Work. From NASW website:

Every day, the nation's 680,000 social workers work to empower and elevate millions of people, including some of the most vulnerable in our society.

National Professional Social Work Month in March 2019 is an opportunity for social workers around the nation and world and their supporters to educate the public about the invaluable contributions of the profession.

And we will also use the month to begin a conversation on how to boost the pay of social workers, which continues to lag behind that of other helping professions.

March also has World Social Work Day. The 2019 theme is "Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships." From IFSW website:

The 2019 world social work day highlights ‘Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships’.

World Social Work Day is on the 19th March 2019. It is the key day in the year that social workers worldwide stand together to celebrate the achievements of the profession and take the theme message into their communities, workplaces and to their governments to raise awareness of the social work contributions and need for further action.

This year’s theme focuses on the social relationships between people’s essential relationships with each other, their environments and their futures.

Press Release: Launch of Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP)

This press release had been circulating across the Internet. I am happy that such an organization has been launched because I believe social workers need a greater presence (macro-practice social workers already exist in this domain but are virtually unknown to the public) in social policy analysis and development. Please share with colleagues and allies!

April 1, 2013

Towns Announces Launch of the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy

Former Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns announced today the launch of the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP) will take place at a reception on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Monocle Restaurant, 107 D Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.  The institute was created to complement the mission and work of the Congressional Social Work Caucus which then Rep. Towns founded in 2010.

“The Social Work Caucus was created to provide a platform in Congress for the more than 650,000 social workers around the country so that our issues and concerns can be addressed at the federal level,” Towns stated.  “I am committed to seeing that the caucus remains viable and strong and will work through this institute to promote its mission within the guidelines of the House of Representatives.”

Four individuals will be recognized during the reception for their contributions to social work and social policy.  Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, will be honored for her leadership of issues critical to the social work profession and the individuals and families they serve.  Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7) will be recognized for his practice of hosting social work interns in his Washington DC office and for his leadership in passing the Second Chance Act.
Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Clark, the outgoing CEO of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) will be honored for her leadership and advocacy for the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Social Work Reinvestment Act and for her support of the Congressional Social Work Caucus.  Former Howard University School of Social Work Dean Douglas Glasgow will be honored for his contributions to social welfare policy.

The institute will be directed by Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Jr., who served as Towns’ deputy chief of staff and communications director.  Both Towns and Lewis are professional social workers.  Towns earned his M.S.W. degree at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY and Lewis earned his M.S.W. degree at Clark Atlanta University and his Ph.D. in social policy, planning and analysis at Columbia University School of Social Work.  Angela Henderson, a M.S.W. graduate of Howard University who will complete her Ph.D. there in May, will oversee the day to day operations.

“At a time when social welfare resources are being reduced dramatically, it is imperative that social work researchers and policy analysts make the case to the federal government that it is in the best interest of our country that we provide adequate resources for social services and social science research,” Dr. Lewis stated.  “CRISP will provide the linkage between valuable research being conducted by social work scholars and the federal government.”

CRISP states as its main goals:

• to expand the participation of social workers in federal legislative and policy processes and create intern opportunities for social work students;
• to link social work research to policy and legislative deliberations on the Hill; and
•  to employ strategies to raise social workers’ awareness about the federal legislative process

CRISP is the latest of several institutes that have been created to complement the work of Congressional Member Organizations such as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Institute, the Hispanic Caucus Institute, and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institutes.  CRISP is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)4 organization.

Contact: Charles E. Lewis, Jr.  917-570-3116  celewisjr@gmail.com

Accepted to Penn GSE!

I received an acceptance letter from Penn GSE! Woo-hoo! I also earned a merit scholarship award and graduate assistantship to cover a portion of my tuition and fees. I am so excited because this opportunity will give me a chance to expand my knowledge of higher education management at another university. I am still young (mid-20s) to move around and explore my options before I permanently settle down in the near future. Since the program is nine months, I won't incur a lot of student loan debt, and I can return to the workforce with new (and advanced) skills and experiences. Upon graduation, I hope to obtain a mid-level administrative position in the nonprofit and public sectors.

The next step is submitting my enrollment deposit and saving enough money for the move to Philadelphia. This summer, I will also make a trip to the City of Brotherly Love. I'll have more updates about Penn GSE later this year. Happy Black History Month!

Happy New Year -- Over 8,500 Hits!

Welcome to a new year (2012)! Michigan Girl's Cafe reached over 8,500 hits. This is fantastic news because my blog is becoming more popular. As I stated previously, this blog will cover topics in social work, higher education, and sociology. I also hope to return to graduate school in the fall. Stay tuned for more academic coverage and reviews soon.

Merry Christmas -- No New Posts Until 2012

This blog will take a short break to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. I will resume regular posts in January 2012. Merry Christmas and Have a Happy New Year!

In the meantime, you may listen to this lovely song by the late Karen Carpenter.



Remember: Please pray for those who are not as fortunate this Christmas weekend. Whether they need money or a home, let's hope their wishes are granted.

Applied to Penn GSE!

It's official -- I applied to the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn GSE). I believe this is the next step in my career development. Penn GSE offers many programs and research centers in different educational practice areas (school counseling, educational psychology, literacy studies, urban education, higher education management, and much more). The school also emphasizes diversity and community engagement, especially in the city of Philadelphia. In summary, I like how Penn GSE emphasizes people and community. In my social work program, I focused my assignments around diversity in higher education. Therefore, the field of education makes perfect sense for my personal and career goals. I also believe we as a society must reduce barriers to educational equity (such as poverty!) among low-income and minority communities. I should receive a decision letter hopefully by February 2012. Look forward to an update next year!

New Design

Happy post-Thanksgiving! Recently, I have redesigned the blog to reflect new changes in my life: I finished my master's degree in social work. As a result, this blog needed a fresh layout makeover. I hope this new design is easier for visitors to find and read information.

However, I am not completely done with my education. I will return to graduate school in the fall of 2012! I won't reveal the name of the school until next month, so for now it will remain a secret. Nevertheless, as a Michigan native, I will always represent the Wolverine state and discuss matters related to Metro Detroit. Stay tuned for more blog posts!

New Content Coming Soon!

Don't worry, I have not disappeared! My workplace has kept me extremely busy with new assignments and back-to-back meetings that I have little time to write new posts. I will have new content posted next month! Stay tuned.

U-M SSW's 90th Anniversary

Since March is National Social Work Month, I want to highlight the 90th anniversary of the University of Michigan School of Social Work. This is a special moment because the social work program has been ranked among the top three in the past thirty years. Founded in 1921, the School’s total endowment totals over $37 million. The school is also encouraging alumni and current students to participate in community service activities and submit alumni their memories, photos, and video diaries.

The 90th anniversary is an appropriate time to reflect and look ahead as well because it is only 10 years to the School’s 100th Anniversary. We are using this 90th celebration as a way to plan programs which imagine the futures of social work – future students, future faculty, future interventions foci, future methods, future problems.

I feel very excited to take part in this memorable event. In 10 years, the school will celebrate its 100th anniversary. I believe my social work education will make a difference in my ability to help others and promote social justice for all.

Remembering Dorothy Height

Last month, a renowned civil rights leader passed away. Dorothy Height (1912-2010) was an African-American educator, social worker, and social activist. She died at the age of 98.

On April 20, 2010, the nation lost one of the foremost leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and the social work profession—Dr. Dorothy I. Height. Dr. Height was a renowned civil rights leader and a vital force in the struggle for human rights and equality in the United States for more than half a century. Her tireless efforts on behalf of others exemplified the social work commitment to social justice and advocacy. In 2009, the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act—the most comprehensive piece of federal legislation addressing social work workforce challenges—was introduced into Congress. Dr. Height is the recipient of NASW’s 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award, and her legacy was celebrated in April by the social work profession during the 2010 Social Work Congress.

The NASW President also wrote a tribute that celebrates her achievements. You can learn more about her life by watching this video.

Update: What's New for 2010

Happy New Year! It is officially my second semester in graduate school. For those who are new to my blog, I am a current graduate student at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. I am studying social work and information science.

In social work, I cover macro practice topics in administration, policy, organizing, program planning, technology, and evaluation in communities and organizations. I do not address clinical or interpersonal practice issues. I am also not a traditional library science student, but I recognize the information theory and skills are very applicable to a variety of administrative careers. It is a very unique combination!

- Book Reviews: I plan to begin a book review series about careers and topics in macro social work and information science. I have officially completed a semester of graduate school, therefore I feel qualified to educate and share information about the field(s).

- Specializations: I have narrowed down my academic interests to library and information services and macro social work practice (non-profit management and community development). Both fields share similar skills and competencies: helping people with their information needs and providing important programs and services to communities.

- Travel: I hope to engage in more academic-related travel this year. Last semester, I had the opportunity to attend a social work conference in Indiana. It was a great learning experience. Other travel opportunities will include volunteer service.

- Internships: Since I have completed one semester, I am eligible for credit-based internship opportunities. I want to learn and apply my skills in nonprofit organizations.

In sum, I like researching information on macro-level social issues!

Overall, I hope everyone has a good and healthy start this year!

Welcome!

Hello visitors! Welcome to my new blog about graduate student life at the University of Michigan!

A brief biography about myself:
After receiving my bachelor's degree in education and social policy from Northwestern University, I took a break from school to explore other interests. My hobbies are listening to music, reading novels, traveling, volunteering, exercising, graphic design, and blogging! I have traveled extensively across the Upper Midwest and East Coast. I love playing tennis and volleyball. Overall, I am a funny, smart, and creative person who likes to explore the unknown.

The University of Michigan goes by many monikers:
U-M, U of M, Michigan. Its mascot is the Wolverines, and its school colors are maize and blue. It was founded in 1817, and is considered one of the original Public Ivys. More than 70% of the university's departments, programs, and institutes are ranked in the top ten in the nation. Located on the Huron River in the city of Ann Arbor, the flagship campus has one of the largest number of living alumni in the world.