Tarleton social work program attends conference at Texas capitol

By Shanna Spikes—

Misty Smith, Title IV-E project director, took a group of social work students at the beginning of March to Austin, Texas to attend a conference for schools with social work programs. Several schools from around the state attended.

Students were invited to the capitol for Student Day to attend training on how to conduct effective policy advocacy on behalf of clients. There was also a rally on the front steps of the capitol which the students attended and some participated in coming up with a new policy.

Tarleton students from all campuses gathered at the Texas capitol for Student Day.
(Courtesy photo by Misty Smith)

“Social work has so many different settings,” Smith said. These include schools, senior centers, military barracks, hospitals and many others.

Dean Kelli Styron says she is very proud of the way the social work program is growing. “Social work’s next phase is reaffirmation by council on social work education,” she said.

Tarleton also received an award during Social work month in Waco from the National Association of Social Work (NASW). Student Annette Riley received the Student of the Year award from the NASW.

The Social Work department will be working with the Child Welfare Class April 5 to hold a blue ribbon block party. This is to help with Child Obesity Awareness month. The event will be held at the intramural fields and they are taking donations of clothes, hygiene items and financial assistance to help these children who were taken from a poor situation and have nothing. There will also be food, games and more information about Child Obesity Awareness month.

Shanna Spikes is a sophomore agricultural communications major.