January 16, 2009
Illinois Department of Central Management Services
Mr. James P. Sledge, Director
500 Stratton Office Building
401 South Spring Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
CERTIFIED MAIL
CMS Social Worker Status
Mr. Sledge:
On January 5, 2009 I appealed a failed grade of Social Worker II. On January 15, 2009 I received a letter from Ms. Crystal Filson stating that I failed to meet the minimum requirements for Social Worker II, which she reports is a Master degree in Social Work. Ms. Filson reports “if a participant does not possess a Master degree in Social Work they are rejected….” Sir, there are comparable Master degrees for Social Work. The fundamental nature of a Social Work degree is the required classroom work and courses.
According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human wellbeing and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual wellbeing in a social context and the wellbeing of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.
Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals’ needs and social problems. (NASW, 2008)
Sir, Ms. Filson reports in her review of my application, I have a Master degree in Community Counseling. Ms. Filson fails to consider my Master degree comes from the prestigious Roosevelt University in Chicago, an accredited and recognized university. Ms. Filson fails to consider my Master degree program major was Mental Health Counseling. Ms. Filson fails to consider I have similar classroom work and courses meeting the standards of a Master degree in Social Work, such as Foundations of Counseling (3 hrs-grade B), Topics & Issues in Human Development (3 hrs-B), Human Appraisal (3 hrs-grade C), Theories/Dynamic Group Counseling (3 hrs-grade A), Social & Cultural Foundations (3 hrs-grade A), Community Mental Health Counseling (3 hrs-grade B), Diagnosis & Treatment Planning (3 hrs-grade A), Topics in Substance Abuse (3 hrs-grade A), Statistics & Research Methods (3 hrs-grade A), Marriage and Family Counseling (3 hrs-grade A), Career and Lifestyle Planning (3 hrs-grade A), along with practicum (6 hrs-grade B) and internships (6 hrs-grade A). (Transcript attached)
Ms. Filson fails to consider my PhD course work in Human Services, focusing on Social Policy Analysis and Planning. Ms. Filson fails to consider my PhD will come from Walden University, an accredited and recognized university. Ms. Filson fails to consider I have similar, if not higher, class work and courses meeting the standards of a Master degree in Social Work, such as Theories of Societal Development (5 hrs), Research in Societal Development (5 hrs), Professional Practice & Societal Development (4 hrs); Theories of Human Development (5 hrs), Research in Human Development (5 hrs), Professional Practice & Human Development (4 hrs); Theories of Organization/Social Systems (5 hrs), Research in Organization/Social Systems (5 hrs), Professional Practice & Organization/Social Systems (4 hrs); Data Analysis in Human Service Research (5 hrs), Theory & Model for Professional Practice (5 hrs), Evaluation of Theory & Model (5 hrs), Integrating Theory & Practice (4 hrs); Theories of Intervention (5 hrs), Delivery Systems & Ethic Consideration (5 hrs), Strategy & Ethical Practice (4 hrs); Case Study Research & Applied Change (5 hrs), Case Study to Applied Change (5 hrs), Case Study of Applied Change (4 hrs); Research Forum (30 hrs) (Dissertation in progress). I have a total of 122 hours in my PhD program. I expect my PhD in Human Services with a focus on Social Policy Analysis and Planning in February of 2009. (Transcripts attached)
Sir, Ms. Filson reports the minimum qualifications for Social Worker II is a Master degree in Social Work from a recognized college or university supplemented by one year of professional social work experience in the evaluation and treatment/habilitation of mental illness, developmental disabled or other disabled persons. I have 13 years of social work experience.
Sir, why am I being held to a higher standard than similarly situated individuals? There are individuals working for the State of Illinois, in the capacity of a Social Worker, with comparable skills and degrees. This decision by Ms. Filson is indifferent and disparate treatment. It appears that whatever employment opportunity I pursue with the State of Illinois I am treated with biases and prejudices.
Sir, I am posting this letter on my blogs suggesting I meet the criteria further as outlined in NASW’s Preamble of their Code of Ethics, such as being an advocate for social justice and injustices among the many other parts of the criteria as my blogs will demonstrate.
Please re-consider my application for Social Worker II, giving me a passing grade because I meet the basic criteria of a social worker as described by the National Association of Social Workers. Ms. Filson’s letter is attached.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
Ms. Crystal Filson
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
http://click.townhall.com/
http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/
http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/