Social Justice
Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
“Each person, regardless of position in society, has basic human rights, such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers recognize the global interconnections of oppression and are knowledgeable about theories of justice and strategies to promote human and civil rights. Social work incorporates social justice practices in organizations, institutions, and society to ensure that these basic human rights are distributed equitably and without prejudice.”
– CSWE (2008)
My attorney, Michael Richardson, and I leaving the Joel W. Solomon Federal Court Building in Chattanooga after fighting a landmark case against the unjust treatment of war veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Practice Behaviors
a. Provide leadership in advocating for global human rights and social and economic justice.
Learning evidenced by:
- Assisting in changing the State of Tennessee law dealing with police officers who deal with PTSD. Current law bars police officers from employment as a police officer if diagnosed with this condition and further discriminates against others gaining employment opportunities in these positions even though they are qualified. Documentation of this battle can be seen in this letter between the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training and the City of Chattanooga as well as the extensive findings of the federal United States District Court in the case Hoback v. City of Chattanooga. Additional information and news articles on my advocacy in this area as well as several other relevant articles can be seen below:
- Helping advocate for much needed resources for the ongoing operation of the forensic social work program in east Tennessee.
- Advocating against Tennessee Senate Bill 3222 (SB3222), discussed in more depth below.
b. Design and implement social action strategies.
Learning evidenced by:
- Presenting a policy brief to my state senator advocating against Tennessee Senate Bill 3222 (SB3222), which, as introduced, authorizes creation of veterans’ courts to address particular concerns of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and other conditions arising from military service. These courts violate the Constitutional Due Process Rights of Veterans. In order to participate in these court hearings and receive the diversion for which these courts are created the defendant must first plead guilty to the crime they are charged with (Castellano, 2011). By implementing these special courts and using the veterans’ medical situation as a means of helping the veteran causes serious problems to privacy of medical records. If used in court these medical records become open records and are fair game for all to view further hindering veterans’ quest for stable employment (Erspamer, 2008). Separate courts further stigmatize veterans by creating a different court system based on their status and group them along with other special courts such as drug courts which have a negative stereotype among citizens and law enforcement. The logic behind veterans-only courts further assumes only veterans experience trauma that impacts behavior.
- Analyzing Tennessee Statutes 41-1-116, 37-5-117, 8-8-102, and 38-8-106, which violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. These policies are followed in order to be certified as a police officer in the state of Tennessee. I discuss the problems with these policies and potential alternatives in the following Policy Brief and Policy Paper. I have continued to advocate for individuals with mental disabilities by writing to local and state elected officials and petitioning to have state laws changed as it pertains to individuals with mental disabilities so that they are afforded the same opportunities as others and are not discriminated against based on their diagnoses.
- Helping design and implement a financial educational program for a low-income Hispanic population. A brief overview can be seen here.