Reflecting on Social Work Advocacy In NYC and My Journey

My journey in finding my voice has been deeply influenced by my lived experiences, particularly within my own family. I have witnessed firsthand how critical quality social work intervention can be in the lives of those struggling with various challenges. This personal connection has fueled my passion for advocating for individuals who are unhoused, especially in New York City, where the complexities of homelessness are particularly pronounced. In New York, the landscape of homelessness is multifaceted, encompassing issues such as mental health, economic instability, and inadequate access to resources. I feel a sense of urgency to address these challenges, as I understand the profound impact that a supportive social work intervention can have.

(Social Workers for Justice Day of Action picutre with Assemblywoman Tapia)

Additionally, I have been a social worker for over five years, engaging with disadvantaged communities and individuals with serious mental illness. This semester, however I am diving into more policy and advocacy work, as I recently took action for change at the Capitol in Albany for Social Workers for Justice for the passing of the Social Work Workforce Act. This bill is aimed at eliminating the licensing exam. According to NASW-NYS2022 ASWB Exam Pass Rate Analysis showed that from 2018 to 2021 only 51.9% of Black social workers and 71.2% of Latino social workers eventually pass the exam compared to 90.8% of white social workers. This standardized exam has resulted in fewer bilingual social workers, older social workers, and social workers of color entering the workforce to meet the service needs of New Yorkers. The exam has also been blocking older social workers from becoming licensed as well with the analysis finding that only 61.6% of social workers who are above the age of 50 eventually pass the exam compared to 85.7% of social workers who are between the ages of 18 and 29 (NASW-NYS/NYC, 2023). As a social work student who identifies as Afro-Latina, it was easy for me to take action, knowing that the exam disproportionately affects my community.

(Social Workers for Justice Day of Action)

Social workers are crucial across New York’s communities and we need more NOW. Instead, people are losing jobs because they lack licensure. Passing the Social Workforce Act would remove the various barriers that prevent highly qualified professionals from entering the field, as reflected in the aforementioned statistics.

Advocacy to me is rallying with my peers and lawmakers and meeting with legislators to make demands. I used my voice by meeting an assemblywoman in the hallway, who seemed willing to listen, about the bill and she said I have her support. That was not a part of the agenda for the day, so it felt amazing to have done that independently. To me, advocacy can be as simple as recognizing when you need help and asking for it. For instance, during my master’s program, I discovered that I have ADD, which clarified why I had struggled so much in school after high school. I felt like I had to work twice as hard as my peers to earn A’s in class. To overcome this challenge, I decided to leverage my advocacy skills and approached my professor for guidance on how to engage with Fordham’s disability services. Because of this initiative, I was able to access the support I needed, making me a more effective social worker. Since then, I have felt more confident, knowing that these resources are available to me.

(Social Workers for Justice Day of Action picutre with Assemblywoman Rajkumar.)

Through my advocacy, I aim to raise awareness about the struggles faced by unhoused individuals and push for systemic changes that provide them with the support they need. This passion is not just about helping others; it's also a personal mission to honor theexperiences of my family member who could have thrived with better access to social services. I believe that by sharing my story and insights, I can contribute to meaningful conversations and initiatives that lead to real change for those in need.

About the Author

Nia Amoreé Wallace, MSW candidate, interning for the innovations and justice team at Goddard Riverside and expected to graduate from Fordham’s Graduate of Social Service program in May. Nia seeks to re enter the field professionally with a focus in advocacy and policy.

Works Cited

NASW-NYS/NYC. (2023, October 31). Social Workers for Justice New York applauded the NASW-NYS vote to support A5291/S5975, the Social Work Workforce Act - NASW-NY.

NASW-NY .https://naswnys.org/social-workers-for-justice-new-york-applauded-the-nasw-nys-vote-to-support-a5291-s5975-the-social-work-workforce-act/

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