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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Newsletter
April 2023

Welcome to the April 2023 issue of the DEI newsletter from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI). This newsletter provides a space for connection, and reflection, as well as for sharing DEI information and resources.

In This Edition
National Stress Awareness Month:Tips for Burnout
DEI Spotlight with Jatnna Gomez, LBSW
DEI Initiatives
The L.E.A.D. Institute
Upcoming DEI Trainings and Events
Past DEI Trainings and Events
Food for Thought
Resources

National Stress Awareness Month:
Tips for Burnout


Spring is a busy time at the School of Social Work. As we race to the end of a busy semester, it is easy to feel like we all have too much on our plates. Between class finals and graduation, our SSW community is certainly feeling the pressure. There is a name for this overwhelming feeling: Burnout!

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress
. It occurs when we feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands, which is something Social Workers can all relate to. In fact, the social work profession is at above-average risk for burnout, which is why it is imperative for us to practice self-care.

Since April is Stress Awareness Month and we are wrapping up the Spring semester, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) recommends that everyone take some time this month to pause, breathe, and focus on their mental health.  

Resources:


DEI Spotlight Interview:
Jatnna Gomez, LBSW

With April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) interviewed Jatnna Gomez, LBSW (She/Her). Jatnna is the Director of Equity and Community Engagement at the University of Maryland's SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, and we discussed the importance of the month and how we can get involved.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a proud alumnus of UMBC. I have worked in the field of social work for over a decade serving vulnerable populations and communities. I have had the honor of serving BIPOC communities, especially those who are survivors of gender-based violence, in multiple capacities. Some of these include working with survivors of gang violence, domestic violence, and youth at risk of engaging or being victims of violence. I am currently the Director of Equity and Community Partnerships at the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Survivors of Human Trafficking. I love the work I do because it allows me to blend two of my passions, community work, and equity.

As the Director of Equity and Community Engagement at the SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, what are your daily responsibilities in this role?
This position is my favorite thus far. I have had the honor of helping shape and create the work I do, and that is a humbling experience. Most of my work is focused on my community of Prince George’s County, where I serve as the chair of the County’s Human Trafficking Task Force’s Victim Services Committee. On an average day, I can meet with members of a stakeholder group to discuss an initiative they’d like to partner on or can be creating a community event for a population we are looking to reach. I also have the honor of working on issues of equity within the agency and within our antitrafficking work. This looks like policies that address racial, gender and other forms of bias. Speaking engagements for survivors to share their experiences and raise awareness of their struggles. My daily responsibilities vary, and it is my favorite part of what I do.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM); what are ways that social workers can get involved this month and beyond?
As a profession, social workers are placed in a unique position to touch almost every aspect of society where sexual assault can take place. We can become involved by conducting and participating in education and awareness campaigns. We can advocate for equity in reporting and treatment of victims when they report. We can take leadership roles and help elevate the voices of survivors who are often marginalized and ignored. We can advocate for a diverse profession where we represent the population we serve. The possibilities are as broad as our imagination allows.  

The theme of SAAM this year is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” What does this theme mean to you and your line of work?
Working in Community Partnerships, this theme means bridging gaps that create unnecessary barriers. It means drawing on those connections to adopt prevention models that go beyond education to touch on the root challenges that create unequal vulnerabilities for many. It means working and recognizing that problems need to be labeled in order to be addressed, and inequity needs to be named for what it is in order for the real work to start.

How do you define community?
My definition of community comes from my social work experience and the current work I do. I see a community as a group of people who are interdependent and share certain characteristics. To be a community, one does not have to speak the same language or share an ethnicity if we share a common interest. We belong to multiple communities as we navigate our lives, and each has a different impact on our identities.

Click here to register for ODEI's Reporting Sexual Assault and Supporting Survivors Panel on Friday, April 14th. Also, stay informed about the SAFE Center; you can visit their website here and follow them on social media @umdsafe.

DEI Initiatives

Save the Date for Upcoming Events

Our school has some exciting events coming up that we want you to shake sure to Save the Date for these upcoming events:

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Panel & Training: Supporting Survivors for Equitable Outcomes
(April 14th: 12:15 pm - 1:30 pm)
Please join the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) for a training and panel discussion on reporting sexual assault at UMB, Title IX, and diversity, equity, and inclusion for survivors. Our panelists will be Stephanie Suerth, UMB’s Title IX Coordinator and Director, and Jatnna Gomez, Directors of Equity and Community Engagement at the SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors.

Register for the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Panel Here!


DEI Pulse Survey Teach-In (April 17th: 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm)
Please join us for the DEI Pulse Survey Teach-In presentation. Those who join will have the opportunity to delve into the Pulse Survey responses and some of the current work the SSW is doing to build on our strengths and address our challenges.

Click Here to Attend the DEI Pusle Teach-In

Affinity Spaces

Spring 2023 Dates
Register for your group of interest below:

Jewish Affinity Group
Time: 12 PM – 1 PM
Dates: 4/18

Click Here to register for the Jewish Affinity Group

We will release our 2023-2024 Affinity Spaces schedule during the new school year!

If you have any questions, please contact DEI Coordinator Julia Scott at julia.scott@ssw.umaryland.edu
Affinity Group Facilitators Wanted

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is

looking for new Affinity Group Facilitators for Fall 2023.

For Fall 2023, we are looking for facilitators for
the following Affinity Groups:


  • Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
  • Disability Justice & Advocacy Group
  • Jewish Affinity Group
  • LGBTQ+
  • White Accountability Group

Compensation may be available for those who qualify!

Interested in facilitating? Please fill out the Affinity Group Facilitation Interest Form!

If you have any questions, please contact DEI Coordinator, Julia Scott at julia.scott@ssw.umaryland.edu

Support the DEIC

The DEIC (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee) is the School of Social Work's schoolwide committee charged with fostering an atmosphere of equity and inclusiveness.


The DEIC meets once a month on Mondays or Fridays from 12:15 - 1:15 pm. The DEIC meeting schedule for the Spring 2023 semester will be as follows:

            • Monday, April 17th
            • Monday, May 15th

If you are interested in joining a DEIC Subcommittee, you can email deic@ssw.umaryland.edu

If you are interested in attending a DEIC Meeting, you may join the meeting by Clicking Here!

The L.E.A.D. Institute

The L.E.A.D. Institute 2023 -2024

L.E.A.D., which stands for Leading for Equity, Anti-Racism, and Diversity, is a 4 part eConvening training and coaching series through the University of Maryland, School of Social Work. It is focused on cultivating an anti-racist mindset, promoting equity, and dismantling structural racism and oppression.

We will release our 2023-2024 L.E.A.D. Institute schedule during the new school year!

Have Questions? Please contact DEI Coordinator Julia Scott at julia.scott@ssw.umaryland.edu

Upcoming DEI Training Events



Past DEI Trainings and Events

Past DEI Trainings and Events

Lunch and Learn: Fatphobia & Social Work Practice

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), held a virtual event Friday, March 17, 2023, titled Lunch and Learn: Fatphobia and Social Work Practice.”

To watch the panel, Click Here!
2023 J.E.D.I. Awards

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC), hosted the 2023 J.E.D.I. Awards!

This year’s award ceremony was a hybrid event that was held on Monday, March 27, 2023, from 1 pm to 2:15 pm.

Congrats to all our Winners!

To watch the Full Awards Presentation, Click Here!
The L.E.A.D. Institute for MSW Students

This semester, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) launched
the MSW L.E.A.D. Institute Pilot. The hybrid training took place at the SSW's Baltimore campus and included a cohort of 33 MSW students and various trainers through the ODEI.

Food for Thought

SSW Associate Professor Published in
Journal of Sociology Social Welfare

The SSW's Associate Professor Darren Whitfield and Adjunct Professor Lee Westgate have a new paper in the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare. The paper "Anti-Transgender Policies and Practices in Social Work Education, Accreditation, and Licensing: A Call for Change" explores the role of the social work profession in supporting transgender and gender-expansive communities during the current transphobic climate.

To read the paper, Click Here!

UMB's OEDI Diversity Strategic Plan

UMB's Officeof Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) is developing UMB's first-ever Diversity Strategic Plan! The plan is being developed by a committee comprised of UMB staff, faculty, students, and administration. To increase belonging and inclusion at UMB, they are collecting community member feedback by hosting listening sessions and developing a platform for interactive feedback. To learn more about the plan and how to get involved, check out the links below:


Resources

SSW Climate/Culture Concerns Reporting Form

A form that allows all members of the SSW community to submit their concerns and feedback related to the SSW climate and culture is available. The form, which is overseen by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, was a collaborative effort between key SSW stakeholders. It creates a formal structure and system of collecting data and information that can be used to address school-wide challenges related to diversity, equity, climate and inclusion. This form is not meant to duplicate, but rather to strengthen and complement processes already in place. The form was also launched as a tool that allows for a more restorative approach in responding to issues and concerns related to climate and culture at SSW.
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