NACSW Starts New Student Listserv

NACSW is delighted to announce that in response to feedback it has received from its student members, in early February, it initiated a student listserv designed to:

· provide a forum for discussion about issues and concerns of particular interest to student members of NACSW.

· provide a vehicle for sharing opinions, resources, and an occasional encouraging word among student members of NACSW.

Back in January, NACSW student member Garen Blanchard sent in an email to the NACSW office which read: “As a social work student it would be nice to have regular contact with other students in social work. I may have missed the student listserv, but if I didn't and NACSW doesn’t have one, may I be so bold as to suggest the creation of one?”

I wrote back to Garen asking if he would work with me to create a quick survey that would could post to NACSW’s website, and invite NACSW student members to respond to. Basically, this survey asked whether NACSW student members would find a student listserv useful. We sent out emails to 400 student members inviting them to take the survey, out of which 70 responded within a week’s time. Out of those who responded, over 65% indicated that they were very or extremely interested in having NACSW start a student member listserv. We had one up and running by mid-February.

Some of the “other comments” respondents offered on the survey included:

· this might be a nice way to address some of the isolation felt by Christian students

· I would like to be able to talk to other students about the issues we as Christians face while pursuing a career is social work

· I think this listserv is a great idea for students to discuss important things regarding their beginning experiences in the field and have spiritual encouragement and support as well

· great way to share thoughts on topics for assignments and papers

· I am constantly discouraged in my Social Work classes by being one of the few Christians. I would be so very excited to talk and pray with other social work students!!!

· Many social work programs are devoid of the Christian perspective, or scoff at the notion of Christianity. I believe that a network of students, communicating together, would allow for fellowship and strength when our values are pushed

If you are interested in subscribing to NACSW’s student listserv, go to: http://mail.cedarville.edu/mailman/listinfo/nacsw-students, or call the NACSW office for additional information. We look forward to seeing where the use of NACSW’s newest listserv leads!

Rick Chamiec-Case

Executive Director