The unofficial start of Social Work Month begins annually with Social Work Advocacy Day. And last week the unofficial started off with a bang! A record number of 722 participants took part in the day'
s activities, which started with a panel of experts that included, Stephanie Altman, Program and Policy Director, Health and Disability Advocates, Marge Berglind, LCSW, President and CEO, Child Care Association of Illinois, Kimberly Drew, Policy Associate, Policy and Advocacy, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, Philip C. Koehl, LCSW, President, Illinois Association of School Social Workers, Ralph Martire, Executive Director, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, and Phil Milsk, JD, Legislative Affairs Consultant. In the afternoon, participants, donning their 'This Social Worker votes,' buttons went over to the Capitol to advocate for important issues facing the profession. A full list of participants, along with a pictorial of the day can be found on the Chapter website at http://www.naswil.org/lobby.htm.
If Advocacy Day appears to be the unofficial start of Social Work Month, then my annual visit to the Chapter's Southern District kicks off the 'official' start. Since I have been at the Chapter, the first Monday in March coincides with NASW IL Social Work Day in the Southern District in cooperation with the social work program at SIU-Carbondale. When I visit different areas of the state, I also try and visit agencies to see the incredible work our members are doing. This trip was no different. Edd Little, adjunct faculty member at SIU-Carbondale, once again generously served as my tour guide. Driving in Edd's red pick -up truck, we traveled to West Frankfort to visit a brand new agency, The Night Shield's children's shelter, www.nightsshield.org
. The Night's Shield is a southern Illinois grass roots effort to provide a safe haven and shelter to children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. The agency is awaiting it's first clients any day. 
Following the Awards luncheon at the University, Edd took Chapter President Elect Dennis and I through Choate Mental Health Center, which was established in 1875. While do so he provided a fascinating history of the facility pre-de-institutionalization. In the late afternoon, newly appointed Southern District Chair, Dr. Wayne Paris hosted a District reception at his 
historic 'arts and crafts' home built in 1924 in Anna, Illinois. Wayne will be a real asset to the District. In the short time he has been at SIU-C, he has had a major impact on student involvement with NASW IL and their interest in policy and advocacy. For you Lincoln buffs (see last week's blog), the third Lincoln-Douglas debate took place in nearby Jonesboro in 1858.
