What better way to start the year than by recommitting yourself to the advancement of social justice within the social work profession! The NASW-MO Chapter’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Committee is set to relaunch on January 5th, 2024 and will be organized by Jess Harman (she/her) - the current MSW Student Representative on the NASW-MO Board of Directors, Travanna Alexander-Toney, LCSW, LSCSW – the current Unit B Representative on the NASW-MO Board of Directors, and Elizabeth Fuchs, MSW (she/her) - a current NASW-MO DEIB Committee Member. With demonstrated commitments to DEIB work, these three are excited to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within Missouri’s social work profession specifically.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is the cornerstone of the social work profession. It is inherently aligned with the social work core values of integrity, competence, respect for human relationships, respect for the dignity and worth of all people, and a commitment to promoting social justice.
What do we mean by DEIB?
Diversity is understanding, respecting, celebrating, and finding value in people’s differences. Diversity may include age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, education, language, and physical and intellectual abilities.
Inclusion happens when people with different identities feeling and/or being valued, leveraged, and welcomed within a given setting (e.g. your team, workplace, industry, etc.). Inclusion is not a natural consequence of diversity.
Equity is an approach that ensures everyone access to the same opportunities which recognizes that advantages and barriers exist, and that as a result, we don’t all start from the same place. Equity is a process that begins by acknowledging that unequal starting place and continues to correct and address the imbalance.
Belonging is the feeling of being happy and having a strong connection with other individuals in a group or space because one is not only being invited to the table, not only feeling welcome at the table, but feeling like the table is just as much yours and it is everyone’s.
While we intend to fine tune the purpose of the committee with everyone’s input and perspective, we hope the purpose will include advancing the social work profession to not only represent and reflect the full breadth of diversity in Missouri, but also to appropriately, compassionately, and ethically serve all Missourians irrespective of their identities and experiences. We hope to form a community network of social work practitioners across the state who can collaborate and build with one another. A community who can hold one another compassionately accountable to our code of ethics in the pursuit of justice. A space for continuing education, ongoing learning, and support that creates and maintains a diverse and equitable social work profession. A network to call upon for comradery, support, and allyship.
Social workers are just as diverse as the individuals, families, and organizations we serve. When decisions are being made related to the social work profession whether it’s regarding best practices when working with or serving others, or decisions regarding Missouri social work regulations or legislative priorities, the voices of ALL social workers are critical. Therefore, it is essential to have a committee for developing processes that help social workers feel connected, and where their voices are heard, and considered in the decision making process.
We are the only state-wide collective of social workers dedicated to co-creating a more equitable and inclusive social work profession in Missouri. We hope you will join us in this work - for you and for the future of social work in Missouri!
In solidarity,
Jess, Travanna, and Elizabeth