Valpo Social Work Students LEAD The Way Toward A Brighter Tomorrow
Social work is the profession of boots-on-the-ground advocacy toward a brighter tomorrow for all. At Valpo, students choose social work to radiate compassion to society’s most vulnerable and lend their light to people in need. To meet this call, our program places students where they’re needed most: schools, community hubs, healthcare facilities, and even the State Capital, where legislation shapes the futures of entire communities for generations to come.
Each year, students and faculty travel to the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis for the department’s overnight Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) trip. This annual pilgrimage is the culmination of the program’s 1-credit, seven-week course (SOCW 291 LEAD) with Program Director and Assistant Professor Caroline Ban, MSW, DSW, wherein students create or research a bill, contact Indiana state representatives, and prepare to lobby for legislative change. The LEAD trip serves as a living testament to the dedication our students have toward uplifting the lives of others and their deep knowledge of how to put those sentiments into action.
Read on to discover what bills a few of our Beacons researched or drafted themselves at this year’s LEAD trip:
Abby Manak ’25, Bachelor of Social Work
Senate Bill 36: School Counselors
“Senate Bill 36 is a bill requiring school counselors to have 60% of their school day to have direct services with students. Instead of being pulled from direct services to proctor exams, be president in the lunchroom, or watch the bus line, [this bill] allows school counselors to have more direct service time to support students.”
Grace Roberts ’25, Bachelor of Social Work
House Bill 1441: Department of Child Service Youth Bank Accounts
“I advocated for House Bill 1441, which will allow foster youth to open their own bank accounts with the Department of Child Services as a cosigner. A bank account means that foster youth are more likely to get a job, that they are learning financial literacy, and that they are saving money for after they exit the system. As a current intern with the Department of Child Services, I have seen firsthand how much of a positive impact this bill would have, and I am thankful that the legislators I spoke with during the LEAD trip were in agreement!”
Julie Vick ’25, Bachelor of Social Work
House Bill 1394: Authority to Deny Enrollment to Unlawful Immigrants
authorizing school corporations to deny enrollment to children who are here unlawfully. It would also require the attorney general to defend school corporations in any lawsuits brought forth for such denial. Finally, it would require that school corporations report annually the number of unlawful immigrant students enrolled in their district. I was inspired to kill this bill as a result of the wave of increased discrimination and false rhetoric against immigrants after the recent election results. I was able to share my fact sheet and discuss my position with two legislators on the Education Committee, Representative Vernon Smith and Representative Tonya Pfaff. They agreed with my position on the bill and assured me that it would not get a reading in committee.”
Johanna Steele ’25, Bachelor of Social Work
Senate Bill 171: Abortion Matters
“I worked [to fight] Senate Bill 171, which is titled “Abortion Matters.” This bill would require women to write an affidavit attesting to their [sexual assault] in order to receive reproductive care, and my goal was to kill this bill. I was inspired to advocate to kill this bill because it would retraumatize women who have been [sexually assaulted] by depriving personal autonomy and forcing them to share their story. This bill is also associated with many health risks, as the abortion-inducing medication [in question] is also used to stop hemorrhaging after a woman has given birth. … I shared my pitch with Senator Ed Charbonneau, who is the chair of the Health and Provider Services Committee. He shared that he was not going to introduce Senate Bill 171, meaning the bill was no longer moving forward and would die in committee!”
Lily Ortiz-Perez ’25, Bachelor of Social Work, Minor in Psychology
House Bill 1352: Mental Health Care for First Responders
“My bill – HB1352 Mental Health Care for First Responders written by Representative Carolyn Jackson – aimed to provide a mental health treatment plan that would improve first response mental health and well-being. This bill notices first responder mental health and well-being. This bill notices that first responders interact with high level trauma on a daily basis and that first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of fire due to stigmatism and lack of access or knowledge of resources.”
If you’re called to advocate for positive change in the world and in your community, you’re in the right place. Learn more about Valpo’s social work program and apply today to begin your journey as a Beacon.
