During the academic year, 25 students (undergraduate and graduate) were initiated into Phi Alpha Honor Society at the annual spring banquet.

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1 Chapter Scholarship* Honors Scholarship I. Students Initiated During the academic year, 25 students (undergraduate and graduate) were initiated into Phi Alpha Honor Society at the annual spring banquet. II. Activities to Recognize Students for Academic Achievements The primary activity that promoted the recognition of Phi Alpha members for their academic achievements was the annual spring banquet held at the University s Faculty Club for the initiation of new Phi Alpha members, the recognition of outstanding service by members, the recognition of outgoing officers, and the installation of newly elected officers. The annual spring banquet also served as a celebration of the upcoming graduation of student members. In addition, the banquet provided a venue for reviewing the year s accomplishments by students through a Youtube video presentation of the year s activities (also presented at the last faculty meeting of the year and at the Annual Field Instructor s Appreciation Breakfast). This year s banquet was held on Saturday, April 11 th, and was open to all social work students, their families and friends, faculty, and staff. This past spring there were over 60 persons in attendance. In addition to this annual banquet, graduating Phi Alpha members are recognized at the University s Council of Student Organization s banquet at the end of the fall and spring semesters. This event honors the accomplishments of members of all of the University s honor societies. At the University s graduations in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, the graduation program recognized all honor societies and listed the names of the graduating members of each honor society in the program. Graduating Phi Alpha members in good standing (grade point average and service points) were also eligible to order the Phi Alpha Honors Stole and the Phi Alpha medallion to wear at graduation. III. Activities to Further Academic Achievement of Social Work Students There are two student organizations in the School of Social Work at Florida International University (FIU): the Student Social Work Association (SSWA) and Phi Alpha Honor Society. Each organization has its own elected officers and executive board and each is responsible for the lead sponsorship of different events. However, the two organizations work closely together to promote the social work profession, its values and ideals as well as contribute to the personal and professional growth of social work students. SSWA is open to all social work students and does not have any academic or service requirements for membership. Phi Alpha membership requires the minimum grade point average prescribed by the National Office in addition to a service requirement of a minimum of seven (7) earned service points for each semester (with a minimum requirement of two active semesters for membership). These distinctions between the two organizations are important because students in Phi Alpha are also required to maintain membership in SSWA. This results in preventing a two-tiered student organization system with one organization being perceived as more elite than the other and it also serves to encourage students in SSWA to strive for academic excellence in order to join Phi Alpha. In addition to serving as mentors and role models for the programs (BSSW and MSW) students, to further the academic achievement of social work students, the Phi Alpha chapter at FIU sponsors workshops and speakers throughout the year. Prior to service events, presentations are made at the Phi Alpha meetings to prepare students for the populations they will be serving at their upcoming events. For example, prior to participating at the People First Dance event for disabled adults, meetings were held for the students to prepare them for the events. These presentations/meetings were open to all

2 University students, as were the events. For past three years, a professional development panel workshop has been sponsored by Phi Alpha members and all social work students were invited to attend. The workshop provided an opportunity for students to hear about the accomplishments of alumni and other social workers in the community as well as the requirements to excel in their chosen fields. In March, a workshop was held to prepare students for the upcoming Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) trip to Tallahassee. IV. Activities to Help Florida International University All of the Chapter s events, both on campus and in the community, assisted the University, most especially in serving as positive representatives of FIU and of the School of Social Work in service activities. In addition, Phi Alpha members have participated in several oncampus events to assist the University. Officers and members participated at both of the School s orientations for new students, the Council of Student Organization s Club Fair, and the fall orientation for all new entering freshmen. Members roles in these events varied from making presentations to new students to preparing decorations for the organization s table that would result in a $200 award for best representation of FIU spirit. Phi Alpha officers also serve on the Dean s Student Advisory Committee for the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work. Their role on that committee provides a link between the Office of the Dean and the social work student body. Phi Alpha members have also volunteered and served as student members of the School s Student Review Committee. This ad-hoc committee meets when a student issue has risen and the committee is composed of faculty and student representatives. They also assisted the Office of Field Education during the two-day training of new field instructors held this past January. Phi Alpha members assisted at the registration and check-in tables and participated on student panels discussing their experience in the field and with supervision. The 40 new field instructors attending this year s training were very positive in their comments about our students contribution to the overall 16-hour training. Profession* Phi Alpha Mission, Goals and Objectives and the Social Work Profession I. Activities to Promote Core Values of Social Work Profession All of the Chapter s activities promote social work and its core values. Through the many community service activities, the Chapter promoted the value of service as well as that of the importance of human relationships and the dignity and worth of the person. These community service activities included such events as: sponsoring a team in the Relay for Life and organizing and sponsoring a Dance-a-thon prom for physically and developmentally disabled adults through a partnership with People First Organization. The Relay for Life Team raised $1,260 for their event. Students worked together to hold fundraisers and obtain donated items to sell at the event. At the People First dance, People First members (disabled adults) were treated to an evening of dancing and refreshments as well free photo sessions. Phi Alpha members once again raised more than $900 for the event. In addition, Phi Alpha members continued their chapter of Becca s Closet and participated throughout the year in sponsoring and coordinating a drive to collect dresses and accessories for the local spring high school proms. To increase the number of donations for Becca s Closet this past year, Phi Alpha members asked other clubs on campus to partner with them in collecting donations. The Phi Alpha chapter members collected dozens of dresses, as well as countless numbers of accessories.

3 This year, Phi Alpha members also held an academic year long drive collecting toiletries, make-up, gently used women s clothes and shoes for the Camillus House women s shower and clothing exchange program. Camillus House serves the homeless population in Miami-Dade County. In November 2014, Phi Alpha members were present and assisted with the registration table and handled check-in at Camillus House for their Empowering Camillus Women Together. This event was open to all community members as well as students and faculty. Their purpose was to teach about the programs that are available to help empower homeless women achieve their goals one day at a time. Through their attendance and participation in Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD), Phi Alpha members supported the values of social justice, integrity, and competence. Phi Alpha members rallied on the steps of the Florida Capitol for child and social welfare, aging and disability healthcare, as well as for mental health issues and for the social work profession. Members also set up appointments with legislators to encourage them to support the NASW sponsored bills as well as attended committee meetings where bills were discussed, amended, and voted on. This allowed members to see first-hand how the legislative process affects our mission directly. II. Activities Carried Out to Partner With or Establish a Bridge with the Professional Community This year two members of Phi Alpha represented their fellow students on the advisory board of the local NASW Miami-Dade Unit. Their participation on the board included making decisions on local unit activities, assisting with the Unit s continuing education workshops (i.e., securing venues for events, assisting with registration), and assisting with the annual March Social Work Month celebration. For the annual event held by the local NASW unit in March, in celebration of Social Work Month, Phi Alpha members volunteered to sell tickets for the event, engage sponsors, and help decorate and handle the registration tables. The officers of Phi Alpha, along with their faculty adviser, faculty members, and other members of Phi Alpha, were in attendance at this annual event in order to support and promote the achievements of the social workers being honored by NASW. III. Activities to Recognize Accomplishments of Professional Social Workers in the Area The students serving on the NASW Miami-Dade Unit Advisory Board were also involved on the selection committee for the Unit s Social Worker of the Year, Student Social Worker of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Public Servant of the Year. This year s Student Social Worker of the Year for the NASW Miami-Dade Unit was Phi Alpha member, Rocio de la Grana. Phi Alpha members also planned and held a Professional Development Panel for all FIU students. This activity recognized the professional social workers in the community from different fields (i.e., mental health, child welfare, medical social work, and the LGBTQ community). Panel members were recognized for their accomplishments in their field and in addition to their presentations, engaged in discussions with the students. In addition, members participated in selecting outstanding field instructors to be recognized at the Annual Field Instructors Recognition Breakfast. IV. Activities to Help Students Learn About Professional Social Work Practice The Chapter participated in several activities that promoted the social work profession to other students. Members participated in new student orientations each semester and

4 promoted the Chapter and its activities and in doing so they also shared with other students about the profession. Student members also sent representatives to the monthly Council of Student Organization meetings held at the University. This provided Phi Alpha members with opportunities to share their experiences with students from other majors. Through the information received by those representatives, student members were also notified and encouraged to attend university-sponsored events that were open to all university students. Bystander Intervention was an event that taught attendees about the bystander effect and how to effectively intervene in uncomfortable situations (Greek life hazing was the target problem). In addition, Social Justice 101 was an event that informed participants of oppression and discrimination in our recent culture that is commonly looked upon as the norm and what we, as social justice advocates, can do about it. Phi Alpha also planned and implemented a one-day Professional Development Panel Workshop in March. Students were surveyed as to their interests in social work fields and three professional social workers from the community were invited to participate on the panel. The workshop included social workers working in child welfare, LGBTQ and private practice, and mental health and addictions. Dinner was provided for all in attendance. This workshop provided social work students, students from other majors, and some who were considering enrolling in the social work school at FIU with an opportunity to hear about professional social work in a variety of settings and to learn from the presenters about the paths to their positions. Chapter Service* Honors Service by Promoting Humanitarian Goals and Ideals in the Community and University I. Activities to Help People Living in the Community Phi Alpha members were consistently involved in numerous service activities and events that promoted humanitarian goals and ideals both in the South Florida community and the University. One set of events involved members signing up and participating in University sponsored service projects. This past year these included walking in Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention and awareness and the Relay for Life walk for the American Cancer Society. Another set of service events involved members planning, organizing and implementing projects or events that assisted people living in the community. This year this included seeking donations and putting together Thanksgiving baskets that were distributed to needy individuals in the community through a local community agency and Self Care Saturday that was open to all social work students and faculty members to take care of themselves. In an on-going event, members collected prom dresses and accessories throughout the year. As a chapter of Becca s closet, Phi Alpha members assisted young women in the foster care system as well as other needy young women to fulfill their dreams of attending their high school proms in memorable dresses. Through the semester long collection of toiletries and gently used women s clothes, Phi Alpha helped provide the opportunity for women who are homeless or living at the local homeless shelter, Camillus House, to have essentials for daily comfort and hygiene. One of the most important events of this past academic year was the annual dance-a-thon sponsored for the members of an organization called People First (physically and developmentally disabled adults). This event involved Phi Alpha members decorating the University ballroom with this year s Out with the Old, In with the New theme in light of the New Year, preparing and serving refreshments, hiring a disc jockey, and selling tickets as a fundraiser for the People First Organization. At the event, student members served the food and drinks, danced with People First members, took pictures of the couples or groups,

5 organized dance contests and crowned the King and Queen of the dance. The event was very successful both in terms of raising funds for People First (raised over $900) and in creating an atmosphere where everyone was very comfortable in dancing and having fun regardless of their disability. So much so, that we even witnessed an engagement between two People s First members! As in previous years, faculty who attended the event were quite touched by the students involvement with the People First members. II. Activities to Help Social Service Agencies in the Community The Chapter assisted community social service agencies in several ways. The Chapter organized a team for the Relay for Life that was held on campus to assist in fund raising for the American Cancer Society. Members set up their booth, stayed on the relay course throughout the overnight event (18 hours), fund raised by soliciting donations and selling items. It was not a surprise that Phi Alpha members maintained their spirit and commitment to service throughout the event and demonstrated their strong bonds in addition to going beyond their set fundraising goals. For the third year in a row, Phi Alpha participated in the Family Resource Center Gala. This annual gala is the largest fundraiser held by the Family Resource Center to create awareness of the importance of children growing up in a healthy, safe environment. Members participated in preparation and set up of the event including checkin tables, guest lists, thank you letters to donors and organizing raffles. Due to the positive impact and reputation of Phi Alpha, several members were invited to attend the event as guests. Also, Phi Alpha members helped the Women s Breast Health Initiative organization with their neighborhood outreach program. They would go door-to-door in low-income neighborhoods and educate women of their potential breast cancer and health risks. The last Saturday of the month a breast cancer screening van would be in their neighborhood and do free screenings for the women contacted and signed up during the outreach. Many low-income women benefited from the free screenings due to the help of our members during outreach. III. Activities to Support and Help the State and/or Local NASW Chapters Phi Alpha was very involved in supporting Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) events. In March, the Phi Alpha members hosted a LEAD training for student members who were interested in attending. Chapter members contacted the legislators in the South Florida region in order to meet with them during LEAD and present the issues supported by NASW. After LEAD in March, the Chapter members stayed current by tracking the bills and supporting NASW s call for action in making follow-up calls to the legislators. This year 40 students and the School s advisor made the nine-hour drive to Tallahassee to participate in LEAD The two student representatives to the local unit s advisory board were active in attendance at meetings and events and also served as a liaison to the School and to the student organizations. They brought information on unit events to social work classes and encouraged students to attend NASW meetings and events. Phi Alpha members also supported the local chapter s March Gala by selling tickets, planning, and decorating for the event. IV. Activities to Help Local Decision Makers be More Aware of the Needs of Local Residents In October 2014, we hosted our first annual Ballot Blues. The purpose of this event was to invite all university students, focusing on our members and the social work students, to shed their ballot blues and attend to get informed on who and what was on the November

6 ballot. All subject areas were researched by the Chapter s Legislative Chair, Lismerys Toledo, and presented on to attendees so they could make educated votes. Subject areas included local issues in Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Florida and positions for local and state government. Attending Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) in Tallahassee was the major activity for student advocacy on behalf of the community and the needs of its residents. The entire process of renting the bus, coordinating hotel rooms and meals in Tallahassee, as well as coordinating the appointments with the legislators and organizing committee meeting attendance, was coordinated by the officers of Phi Alpha. Additional funding for the bus was provided by the University s Council of Student Organization as a result of the high service activity of Phi Alpha Honor Society on campus and in the community. During LEAD, students attended additional training, rallied with all the social workers at the Capital, and divided themselves into groups of four or five students to visit the offices of legislators. Prior to attending the event, Phi Alpha members called the offices of the State Legislators and made appointments for LEAD. Whether meeting with the legislators or their aides, each group presented the bills being supported by NASW and the importance of each bill in meeting the needs of the citizens of South Florida. Phi Alpha contribution* Encourage Professional Development, Achievement, and Activities that Promote Interest in Social Work I. Activities to Strengthen the Phi Alpha Chapter Our Chapter s membership believes that to become a member of Phi Alpha requires more than just a high grade point average; that it also requires commitment to the organization and service. Therefore, all of the activities and events sponsored by Phi Alpha also served to strengthen the Chapter. The monthly meetings strengthen the Chapter by bringing the members together to plan and discuss upcoming events or to discuss needs they would like to see addressed. Monthly meetings averaged members in attendance. Social events served to promote networking and provided members with support systems in the program. Several times during each semester the Chapter members sponsored social events such as dinners or parties that brought social work students together in an informal atmosphere. They also participated in University events as a group. For example, Phi Alpha members set up a tent for a tailgate party at the University s Homecoming game. Members also attended on campus movies and participated in other University social, sports, and service events as a group. Service events provided opportunities for students to reach outside of their comfort zones and participate in activities and events that they normally would not do. For example, participating in a social event for physically and developmentally disables adults (members of People First Organization) was not comfortable for all of the students but once at the event, they were able to join in with the People First members in socializing and dancing. Going door to door in an unknown neighborhood by foot was also uncomfortable for some members at first, but once they realized what incredible experience they were getting, they loved the work they were doing for the Women s Breast Cancer Initiative. Speaking to state legislators and their aides and participating in advocating for social service issues was also outside of the comfort zone of many students but the experience provided them with greater enthusiasm for the profession and greater understanding for the

7 role of advocacy. All of these service activities strengthen the Chapter by providing opportunities for student members to bond and work together on events. Participating in all of these events as a group worked to strengthen the Chapter. Ii. Activities to Promote Students Going Into Phi Alpha Phi Alpha members serve as role models for other social work students. With faculty permission they take several minutes at the beginning of class to keep all students up-todate on upcoming events. Participation in service, social, and professional activities is primarily driven by Phi Alpha members; in a primarily commuter University, it is difficult to engage students outside of the classroom. However, student engagement can be contagious to others when the benefits are clearly visible. Phi Alpha members attend all new student orientations and make a lively presentation of their upcoming activities. This includes a PowerPoint photo presentation of the past year s activities as well as opportunities for incoming students to mingle with current members and discuss their interests in joining. Phi Alpha members also participate in the University s Student Affairs fall and spring honor society fairs where they have an opportunity to highlight their organization and encourage student membership. III. Activities to Improve the Image of the Social Work Profession in the University All of the activities undertaken by Phi Alpha members assist in the promotion of a positive image of the social work professional in the University. Through their participation in University social, service, and educational events, social work students are recognized by others. When attending these events, our members proudly display their profession on their shirts (FIU Social Work). The annual Professional Development Panel provides a special opportunity to highlight the profession to others in the University community. In addition, Phi Alpha members participate on campus committees that provide a recognition of their professionalism. IV. Activities to Include Alumni, Faculty, and Other Student Organizations Our Chapter s activities are open to alumni, faculty, and other student organizations. The annual Relay for Life event works closely with social work faculty and staff. Phi Alpha s booth is always enhanced by the participation of faculty and alumni who enjoy the opportunity to come together to raise money for this event. The annual dance for People s First always enjoys a large company of faculty, alumni, and students from other organizations who join together to raise money for People s First and to raise awareness of adults with disabilities as people first. The Professional Development Panel is primarily made up of social work alumni who are eager to return to the University and share their real world experiences with students. Alumni are invited to participate in the homecoming events including the tailgate party. Phi Alpha, Student Social Work Association, and the Students of Public Health Association sponsor the tailgate party.