Social Work Organizations Respond to Post Election School Hate Incidents

Since the November 8^th presidential election there has been an uptick of hate related incidents around the United States. In Michigan, we have seen anti-black, anti-muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-semitic, and other forms of harassment in both K-12 schools and at colleges across the state. As social workers, we need to remember our important role as advocates, our role in social justice, and our ethics in how we respond to others in this emotional time.

Additionally, we believe all students have the right to attend a physically and emotionally safe school where they can maximize their potential. As we know, students can not learn in an environment where they do not feel safe. Likewise, teachers and faculty, especially those from underrepresented identities, cannot teach effectively in hostile environments. Social workers play a significant role in creating school environments where all students and staff are respected, nurtured, safe, and supported.

The undersigned organizations condemn the hate related actions and urge social workers to be active in their communities in combating and responding to oppressive actions and to work to ensure policies that will protect all students.

MASSW, NASW-Michigan, and OLASW will be compiling resources for social workers over the next few weeks. If you have suggestions or tools to share please contact Allan Wachendorfer at awachendorfer@nasw-michigan.org or at 517-487-1548.

• Michigan Association of Black Social Workers (MABSW)
  
• Michigan Association of School Social Workers (MASSW)
• National Association of Social Workers – Michigan Chapter (NASW-Michigan)
• Organization of Latino Social Workers - Michigan Chapter (OLASW)
  

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News Stories:

• October 31, 2016. Election Spurring Uneasy Feelings in Michigan Classrooms. Public News Service.
• November 10, 2016. Michigan Department of Civil Rights Issues Statement on Harassment in Michigan Schools. MDCR.
• November 11, 2016. Royal Oak students chant 'build the wall'. Detroit Free Press.
• November 13, 2016. School officials grapple with bullying, harassment after election. Lansing State Journal.
• November 13, 2016. Schlissel sends email to student body condemning hateful incidents. Michigan Daily.
• November 15, 2016. More Than 400 Incidents of Hateful Harassment and Intimidation Since the Election. Southern Poverty Law Center.

Image from the Council on American-Islamic (CAIR) Michigan

The Michigan Association of Black Social Workers (MABSW) is a chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers. The National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc., comprised of people of African ancestry, is committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services delivery, and research. National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc. will work to create a world in which people of African ancestry will live free from racial domination, economic exploitation, and cultural oppression. In collaboration with national, international, and other appropriate groups, NABSW will continue to leverage its collective expertise to strategically develop capacity of people of African ancestry to sustain and flourish.

The mission of the Michigan Association of School Social Workers is to advocate for the delivery of school social work services to meet the needs of all children. As an organization, we will actively promote the educational and professional growth of members to ensure that the highest standards of practice are upheld. We will champion the causes of members and clients, and work to impact legislation that will improve the delivery of school social work services and enhance the education of all children.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 132,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies. The Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers has nearly 6,000 members who live and work in the State of Michigan.

The primary mission of the Organization of Latino Social Workers is to define and advance the Latino agenda within the social work profession in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. OLASW is characterized by its commitment to improving the overall health and psychological well-being of the Latino population. Toward this end, OLASW seeks to promote access to educational and economic opportunities for all Latino social workers.