My Journey with the NASW in My Mission to Require Antiracism Training for Social Workers

Authors

  • Donna M Harris-Richards NEAFAST, AASECT

Abstract

I have been asked to write about my experience and impressions in working with the NASW MA Chapter regarding my mission to support therapists in learning how to do the work of antiracism in the therapy room. My goal is to require social workers be trained in an immersive, year-long model of 18 CEs in anti-racism education over a two-year period of licensure requirements, followed by 6 CEs in subsequent two-year licensing cycles. My effort, thus far in the spirit of collaboration with my own member organization of the NASW MA Chapter, has been met with lukewarm interest, at best. Perhaps it’s my approach? Perhaps not. To answer this question, it’s important to address events in a historical context.

Author Biography

Donna M Harris-Richards, NEAFAST, AASECT

Donna Harris-Richards, LICSW, CST is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Couples and Relationship Therapist in private practice on the Massachusetts South Coast in the historic and charming seaport city of New Bedford. She works with clients to develop and maintain sexual health, relational health, mental health, well-being, passion, and  improved quality of life. Her professional counseling style includes narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness and evidenced-based practices, earning the reputation of being a highly effective professional, setting clients at ease. With over eighteen years of experience she has helped clients with relationships, sexuality, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma, parenting, substance use, illnesses, disabilities and more.

Donna provides treatment utilizing Telehealth full-time from her office in New Bedford, MA. Her professional, real-world experience in the arts and business for more than forty years has given her a broad, unique range of experience useful in helping others meet their goals. Her podcasts have garnered a worldwide listenership. You can hear them and read her blogs on her website: www.sexandcouplestherapy.com.

 

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Published

2022-02-27

How to Cite

Harris-Richards, D. M. (2022). My Journey with the NASW in My Mission to Require Antiracism Training for Social Workers. New England Journal of Relational and Systemic Practice, 2(1). Retrieved from https://www.nejournalrsp.com/index.php/mejrsp/article/view/31

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2022): The New England Journal for Relational and Systemic Practice: Navigating the Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Families

Section

Navigating Antiracism

License

Copyright (c) 2022 New England Journal of Relational and Systemic Practice

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

 © 2021 New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons license (CC 4.0)