Liaison to Schools

     Upon learning about NCSCSW, students have often reacted by saying, “This organization is just what I’ve been looking for, but I didn’t even know it existed.”  The position of Liaison to the Schools was added to the Board to make it easier for students to learn about the Society.  In addition, the position was added to help the Board know the needs and point of view of students.  

     The Liaison is an appointed, non-voting member of the Board who is also a faculty member of the UNC-CH School of Social Work.  The Board now has representatives from all four of the MSW programs in the state; the programs are UNC at Chapel Hill, ECU, the jointly sponsored UNC at Greensboro/NC A & T program, and UNC at Charlotte.  

     Carlean Gilbert who was a full-time faculty member before taking a position at Loyola in Chicago held the position of Liaison for several years.  Upon her departure three years  ago, Jay Williams who is a part-time faculty member filled the position.

     The position involves attending Board meetings, being available at the School for student inquiries about the Society, and recruiting and working with Student Representatives to the Board.  In addition, the position involves helping to identify ways that the Society can become more visible in the Schools.

     This year, NCSCSW co-sponsored a series of luncheon programs with the NC Psychoanalytic Foundation for students at UNC at Chapel Hill. These included a panel discussion entitled "Becoming a Competent and Confident Clinical Social Worker," a case presentation by William Meyer, MSW, LCSW, BCD, and a discussion of a student presentation by Martha Chesshier, Ph.D.

     As the Society undertakes its campaign to increase our membership, reaching out to students will be a priority.  It is anticipated that the role of Liaison will expand as the Society finds more ways to demonstrate all that it has to offer.

--Jay Williams, LCSW, PhD