Season 2 Episode 1: Social Work Justice In Action: UMSSW's New Vision

Speaker: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Social Work Is Everywhere podcast, where we uncover the powerful, diverse, and far reaching impact of social work across the globe. Each episode, we spotlight the practice, research, and experience of students and social workers from a wide range of industries and professions, from clinical care to policy change, from leadership to grassroots advocacy and community engagement. 

Social work is truly everywhere. Through the voices of the University of Maryland School of Social Work community, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and global partners, we'll explore unique perspectives and innovative initiatives shaping the future of the field. 

  

Michelle: Hello everyone. My name is Michelle Reyazuddin. I am a second year foundation student at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work. I am in the clinical concentration. I am also the first Gen [00:01:00] lead scholar for the first generation student program. Um, I have the honor today to chat with Dean Judy Postmus about the new vision for the school of social work and how it applies to the student journey and experience. 

Judy Postmus: Thank you, Michelle. I appreciate it. 

Michelle: So a little bit of background. The University of Maryland School of Social Work recently shared a new vision statement after months of discussions, focus groups and surveys with UMSSW stakeholders, including faculty and staff. the vision statement solidifies and anchors the school's efforts, uh, in alignment with strategic goals and plans. 

So this new vision statement is: At the University of Maryland School of Social Work, we envision a future where social work, research, practice, and policy come together [00:02:00] to drive social justice and equity, strengthen communities and improve lives locally, nationally, and globally. So as I'm here having this conversation with Dean Postmus, uh, I wanted to get us started off with just what is the importance of a vision statement.  

Judy Postmus: Well, thanks Michelle for that question and I'm really excited to have this vision statement. So the difference for me of having a vision statement and a mission statement, a mission statement is the work you're gonna do. The vision statement is, where do you wanna go? And a lot of times you don't reach the vision because it's, and if you look at it or heard our vision statement, it, it would always be there. Um, but it's something that we strive to do and it gives us a north star, so to speak, of, of people understanding and knowing both within and outside, um, where we're headed as a school. 

Michelle: That's a great distinction between the vision and the mission and how both are important, but have their own individual roles. Um, why was it [00:03:00] important for the school to have a new vision statement? 

Judy Postmus: had the same mission statement for a while, um, but we haven't really had much attention to a vision statement, and when I started in July of 2020 as Dean. I was asked by several faculty and staff of, well, what's my vision? What's my vision? What's my vision? And I always said, well, it's our vision. 

It's not my vision. Um, and so it, I said, it's gonna take some time. And it did, some time to get this vision statement out. Um, mainly because we just wanted to make sure that everyone had a voice in it and could, um, contribute what they thought we, we should be doing and aiming for as a school. So that's why I think it's, it was important for us to have this new statement in in place. 

Michelle: So it sounds like it's been years in the making and very collaborative. Um, can you talk a little more about what the process was to develop the, the vision statement? 

Judy Postmus: conversations with senior leaders, other leaders. It was [00:04:00] conversations with faculty and staff. It was surveys. was an all staff meeting where we were talking about it and brainstorming at different tables. It was collecting ideas. Um, at one point, um, there were four different vision statements that were somewhat similar, but one was really long, one was, this one is short. Um, and so at the end we said, okay, we're gonna put it out to the, to the community. Vote which one you want, the one. Whoever gets the most votes, whichever statement gets the most votes, is gonna be the statement. And this is the statement that got the most votes. So I'm, I'm thrilled because usually vision statements are short. Um, and kind of, and this one gets right to the point of exactly who we are and what we, what we're trying to do here as a school. 

Michelle: It's definitely very clear where our priorities are and how collaborative the process hopes to be first starting off in administration and then going into the community, hopefully including [00:05:00] students in there as well. Um, you know, asking as a student and just, you know, hearing about this new vision statement, I'm wondering about your thoughts on what ways can we as students incorporate this new vision into, you know, our classwork, our research, our practicum experience, or even just in community while we're in the school of social work. 

Judy Postmus: I technically can throw that question back to you of how are you doing it? But I'll, I'll answer. I mean, the big thing about social work and different from psychology makes us different from marriage and family therapy, um, and other types of counseling type programs. Is that we combine research, practice, and policy. and that's part, that's the big part of our, um, mission statement where we're trying to have them come together. And so for students who are, especially those who wanna go into practice, those who are, um, the clinical concentration, it's not just, not just doing therapy or you're not just doing one-on-one counseling or [00:06:00] group counseling. You really what's going on in the outside world, what's going on in policy is impacting what's happening in your work. And that is clearly something that's happening pretty regularly now. Um, what's happening, understanding research and what's new with research? Have there been any tested interventions and things that we should be paying attention to and shifting how we do things? 

So I think it's keep in mind of those three things. So if you're in a policy class, how does that apply to my practice? What research is out there that can help me if you're in a research class, same thing. How does this apply to my practice? Um, um, along with policy. And so it's really taking those three concepts, um, and keeping them at the forefront of what you do as a student. 

Michelle: Thank you. Yeah. I am looking forward to, you know, envisioning this, this vision statement, um, and, you know, in classwork, in practice, and then into future careers as a social work student and future social worker. Um, I, [00:07:00] I'm wondering how. How do you see the school of social work incorporating this new vision, um, into the work that the school does outside of the school? 

So within the city, the state and beyond. 

Judy Postmus: for students who are focusing on research policy and practice, I think the other piece for the external community that's important, but also is to look at the social justice and equity. Um, and, and the, the vision of strengthening our communities. From, from Baltimore to the state of Maryland, to the country, to globally. Um, so I think that that is an important aspect of who we are as a school, that we do believe in social justice and equity, and that that is part of our DNA, and what we wanna do as a school and, and who we wanna partner with in the community. Um, you know, whether businesses for-profit, non-profit. Government. You know, there's many different types of organizations, so I think for them to understand the [00:08:00] vision, it's important that we talk about it. It's important that we it on our tagline for emails. It's important that we all understand this vision and can actually see it come to life in everything that we do. 

Michelle: And really keeping it at the center of our work. Um, I really appreciate me personally that it includes our dedication to improving lives nationally and globally understanding, you know, the current context of where we are. Um, I'm interested more in understanding how this new vision will come to life within the school of social work as well. 

Right. We talk about our community partnerships, um, you know, given the various issues that social work students are facing right now, um, you know, with the undervaluing of our social work profession as a whole, um, you know, upcoming tuition increases that might be coming to the school. I'm wondering. How can administration [00:09:00] and students both incorporate the new vision, um, as a way to strengthen the school social work community? 

Judy Postmus: I think that it is, especially some of the values around justice and equity and strengthening, um, communities both here and abroad. Um, these are things that I have had as one of my core values ever since I started. The university has equity and justice as one of their core values. It isn't a, a unique thing, and I think for, for an administrator, I pay attention to when I'm making decisions, 

I think about the values, I think about my social work values. I think about how making a decision, how is it gonna impact people, um, how is it gonna, you know, the decision is, whether it's, you know, that's gonna impact students or faculty or staff, or the community or the university at large. Um, you know, I, I talk to others. 

I get feedback. I look at data, I, but I also look at the values and ensure that it is still in [00:10:00] line with social work values. Um, and part of that might be that difficult decisions are just communicated, um, and in a way that. Might not wanna hear the answer, but it's important to say, I understand, I understand what's going on, and, and giving an explanation of the why. Um, some decisions are made. Sometimes that happens or not, but I think that as far as getting it implemented, you know, my hope is that faculty and staff and the leadership of the school and students kind of, this is part of, they keep this in the back of their mind. So when they're teaching a class or they're doing research or. You know, they're in committee work or they're, you know, doing, collecting data, whatever it is, that they keep this in the back of their mind and see how exactly does this apply to my work? Because it does it applies to everything that we do here at the school. Um, and, you know, and if it, and if you can't see it, then have conversations with your teammates or others you're working with and go, now how do I get this? 

How does, what does this mean for [00:11:00] me? Doing work in X agency, uh, doing this kind of clinical practice, how do I, how do I make this real for me? 'cause I think that's the important part. In order for us to really embrace a vision and to say, this is where we're going. Um, you have to really adopt it. It's not just something we put on the website. 

Michelle: Yeah, that is one of the things I appreciate about this vision statement. Um, it's very grounded in the social work values and in line with, um, our code of ethics and all the. All the goals that we have in the social work profession. Um, that was going to be my next question of, uh, how do you see administration, faculty, staff, students holding ourselves accountable and reminding ourselves of this vision in our work? 

Judy Postmus: That is the hardest part because 

Michelle: Right. Right. 

Judy Postmus: yourself and say, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do X, Y, and Z. I'm gonna, [00:12:00] you know, and we encourage people, um, individually to do that, but when you see others doing, not doing, um, it becomes a lot more difficult. Um, and I think that that's part of learning the conversation of how do you talk with someone? Not talk down to them, not accuse them not, trying to understand who they are and what they're thinking. And then, and then gently talking about, well, we have our vision, we have our mission. This is the code of ethics. And I, and we do that pretty regularly with students who are struggling, um, in classes and, and in practicum placements. Um, I think that it is, it is, that's gonna be hard. Um, uh, and, but I do think it's a matter of all of us being aware of the vision and then again, not ramming it down anybody's throat, not insisting, not, you know, all those things, but making it, just as part of a conversation and helping [00:13:00] somebody else. It might not be that they don't agree with the vision statement. It might be they just haven't thought about how to put it in their practice and they don't see it. Um, and so that would, that's the gentle part of, well, let's have a conversation about this before we into the, um, stronger category of accountability and holding somebody accountable. 

Michelle: Right. Yeah. Just calling people in. And having those open conversations instead of calling out and taking a more accusatory, um, route. Just having those conversations about how we can keep these social work values, which are very broad, but very essential to the work that we do as social workers and as individuals in society outside of our profession. 

Um, just holding all of those together. 

Judy Postmus: It isn't just the administration's responsibility to do that, right? This is an us, we as a school for the students who are here for the time that they're here. 'cause y'all don't stay long term. Um, for the staff, for the [00:14:00] faculty. For administration. 

Michelle: Maybe I come back, I don't know. 

Judy Postmus: You might come back as one of our instructors. Um, but I think keeping it, it's important that it's not just, oh, this person's not doing it, so I'm gonna run and tell the dean or somebody else. It should be, pull the person aside, have a conversation, talk about the vision, talk about how are they incorporating it. Um, you know, if you, if you get stuck and things don't go well, you know, then maybe you're bringing in somebody else. 

But you know, to really. I encourage folks to think we're all adults. all adults at this school. We don't teach children. Um, and I think it, it's important for us to be comfortable enough to have those kind of conversations with, um, those in our classrooms and those who work here. 

Michelle: Yeah, those one-on-one conversations to really open it up and keep it genuine. Yeah. I, you mentioned that, you know, students are only here for a limited [00:15:00] amount of time. Um. So while this new vision statement is wonderful to keep us grounded, I was wondering, do you have any advice for students developing their own vision in their future in social work? 

Judy Postmus: Yes, so I think. 

Michelle: I'm all ears. 

Judy Postmus: develop a vision statement? Um, I know that this pro, and I didn't even mention this earlier, but the process started with me coming up with a vision statement. My vision statement was very long, it was, it started with the, okay, five years from now, what does the school look like? 

What does it smell like? What are, what does the activity, what is the environment like? What's the, you know, how, how are, what, what is the school five years from now? And for an individual. Where are you gonna be five years from now? What is your goal in being a social worker? What do you, what do you envision that you wanna do? Um, and what does that look like? And that's not just professionally, it's also personally and [00:16:00] thinking of your own, you know, your own life and where you wanna be five years from now. so I just literally did like free form of handwriting. Uh, and then I turned to a particular AI program and had some, I asked for some advice, so to help shorten it, to help me think about it, to help me, um, really helped because it made me, it challenged me to think, and especially when I would throw in all these other, these, this is the code of ethics. 

How does this fit and how, I mean, so, and of course then having lots of other people, uh, jump in afterwards and adding their thoughts. Um, yeah, I think for an individual for you to, you know, just brainstorm. I had somebody the other day just said, all right, Judy, close your eyes and imagine five years from now, what happens, what does it look like? Um, and then going, and then just free forming and then using tools to help you come up with a vision statement. My hope is that a lot of the the comments and [00:17:00] the values listed in this vision statement will become part of your vision statement and other students, um, because it is so in line with social work and social work values. 

Michelle: Right. Yeah. We can't, we can't let go of those social work values. They're gonna follow us everywhere. Uh, it's one of our we're one of the professions that get to really become our profession in a lot of ways and carry those same values into every aspect of our lives. So. 

Judy Postmus: those values before we chose this degree, right? That we saw this degree, we saw the values, we looked at our own values and the values we were, you know, we formed as a child and into adulthood. Um, and if we had completely different values, work would not be the right place for you, right? 

So, 

Michelle: Right, just this is just one of the ways that we've quantified our values and made it, made it real and will continue to. Yeah, that is one thing. Social justice [00:18:00] and equity, specifically in the new vision statement has been something that I hold very close. Um, in the first generation, student success program, equity and access have been the center of the work that I hope to do. Um, and so when you were saying that you brainstorm, I was thinking about this upcoming event that we have of vision boards and how all of us are, we come together and we make vision boards at the beginning of the year to ground and to guide the work that we're hoping to do in, in the upcoming year. 

And so. We have, we're taking what you're saying right now and we're putting it right to work in the first gen program, 

Judy Postmus: that is 

Michelle: so. 

Judy Postmus: all about. You start with brainstorming and then you start whittling it away, whittling it down, figuring out what's, what's the core, what's the meat, um, to come up with a couple of sentences. 'cause you don't want huge vision statement. 'cause then it's hard to remember everything. 

You want something that you can say, no, this is where we're going, or this is where I am going. [00:19:00] Um, depending on how you're doing this. 

Michelle: For sure. My last question for you, where can we find the vision statement? 

Judy Postmus: Well, right now it's in the lobby of our building. Um, if you, when you come in and you swipe your card and you go past security, if you kept going down that first floor, there's a table there right next to this tree that's on the wall and the vision statement is there and we're asking people to sign on, uh, on a paper that's there to say, I agree with this and this is what I'm gonna do. I think from there, um, our director of Marketing and strategic communications is looking for, or, or will be implementing a contest, so to speak, of people of, you know, did you add it to your, to your signature line in your email? Did you, how did you incorporate it in your everyday practice? Did you talk about it with anybody? 

So all these various categories that would encourage the community to, to adopt the vision statement and make it [00:20:00] real for them, that it's not just something that the academics got together and created. Um, but that we really are, it is part of who we are as a school and as a profession. 

Michelle: I had passed by it. I have not seen it yet on the, on the first floor, but I'll definitely have to 

check it out. 

Judy Postmus: table, so it's flat and it's, 

Michelle: Right. I did see it. I wasn't sure what it was. 

Judy Postmus: yeah, the vision state was underneath there, and so signing off on it. So certainly encouraging, you know, everybody, anyone can sign. Um. It's just a matter of saying, yes, I, I get this vision and yes, I agree, and yes, signing on. 

Michelle: Well, that's all I had to ask you, Dean Postmus, thank you so much for your, your thoughtful answers and for bringing us together with this vision statement that's been very long in the making. Um. 

Judy Postmus: I appreciate the questions, Michelle. I appreciate your time. Um, I appreciate you [00:21:00] identifying yourself as a first gen scholar. I, too am one of those first gen scholars. Um, and you know, my, my mother who's still alive is very proud that I have this PhD because nobody ever visioned that. Um, because both of my parents are immigrants and it, it really, and social work has been a profession that has been very good to me. I've made a whole career out of it. in 1990 and been working in the field ever since, including academia. So thank you for the time to talk and, uh, I look forward to you around campus. 

Michelle: Yep, me too. Thank you. 

Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to The Social Work Is Everywhere Podcast. If you've been inspired by the stories and impact shared today, consider supporting the University of Maryland School of Social work. Your donation helps fund scholarships, research, innovative teaching, and [00:22:00] community partnerships that make a real difference. 

Every gift matters. Visit ssw dot u maryland.edu/give to donate today. To request more information about admission to the University of Maryland School of Social Work, visit ssw dot u maryland.edu/msw.