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For Immediate Release
May 30, 2003
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Contact
NASW Communications
Lahne Mattas-Curry
202-336-8228
lcurry@naswdc.org
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The National Association of Social Workers
Foundation (NASWF) announces the Friends of Chernobyl
Centers U.S., Inc. (FOCCUS, INC) as the 2003 recipient of the International
Rhoda G. Sarnat Award.
For more information about the award,
please click
here.
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From
left: Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, President,
NASW Foundation, Executive Director, NASW; Kay Smith,
MSW; Richard Darling, DDS; Donna Ulteig, ACSW, DCSW;
Norma Berkowitz, President, Friends of Chernobyl Center,
U.S. Inc. (FOCCUS); Gary Bailey, MSW, President, NASW.
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Washington-- The National Association of
Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) is pleased to name FOCCUS,
INC as the winner of the
2003 International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award.
FOCCUS, INC - composed
of social workers, psychologists, and educators-was originally
founded to support community centers, set up by the United
Nations Chernobyl Program in Kiev, serving
populations and communities in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia
that were severely affected by the disaster. Through education
and outreach programs, FOCCUS, INC also works to raise public
awareness in the United States of the devastating human consequences
of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
The centers are responsible for providing psychosocial support
to individuals and groups comprised of local residents, evacuees,
and the people who cleaned the area after the accident. They
are also responsible for developing the capacity of communities
for problem solving and coping with crisis. FOCCUS, INC has
primarily influenced the training and education of the 130
social workers and other mental health providers who staff
the community centers. In 2002, these staff members provided
services to people who paid more than 164,000 visits to the
community centers.
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Norma Berkowitz, President, Friends
of Chernobyl Centers, U.S. Inc. (FOCCUS), accepting the
2003 International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award.
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Despite the fact that the accident happened 17 years ago,
it continues to have a negative impact on many people still
residing in the region, as well as those affected by the disaster. Feelings
of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair are common among
the millions affected. Training provided by FOCCUS, INC focuses
on the basic elements of social work practice-values, ethics,
process, roles, and outcomes-and explores social work interventions
with individuals, families, and groups, as well as approaches
to community work.
Recently, with diminished financial support from the United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), FOCCUS, INC activities began to identify and support
the centers'financial needs including Internet connections,
arts and crafts supplies for art therapy, and office equipment. The
support of FOCCUS, INC was instrumental in constructing a community
activity room connected to the 450 bed radiology clinic that
serves all the children in Belarus who are diagnosed and monitored
for thyroid cancer. This center was also able to develop training
sessions and educational materials, including a visual imaging
program for children about to undergo biopsies, and a parent-to-parent
support program that reaches out to parents when they are back
in their home communities.
FOCCUS, INC, also provided funding for the purchase of four
vans. Many of these centers are located in rural areas with
villages scattered throughout. The vans make it possible to
provide alcohol, drug, and sex education-including HIV awareness-to
these relatively isolated populations.
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From left: Gary Bailey; Eleanor
Kajeckas, FOCCUS Board Member; Mabs Mango, FOCCUS Board
Member; Donna Ulteig, FOCCUS Board Member; Norma Berkowitz.
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Here in the United States, FOCCUS, INC members frequently
serve as speakers and educators about the devastating effects
this accident had on the millions of people in Belarus, Ukraine,
and Russia.
Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations recently
said, ".Millions of people continue to be directly affected
by the consequences of this disaster. I remain deeply concerned
by their plight. It is particularly disturbing that few people
realize the vast multitude of problems that are still linked
to this event and its aftermath."
Each year, the Children of Chernobyl U.S. Alliance-made up
of more than 30 faith-based groups-which Norma J. Berkowitz,
President of FOCCUS, INC is a board member, brings children
from Chernobyl-affected areas to the United States for a six-week
summer program. Last year, approximately 1,200 children participated. FOCCUS,
INC also partially funded a three-day seminar on social democracy
in May 2002, which staff members from each of the thirteen
centers were able to attend.
In addition, Berkowitz acts as a consultant working with students
from the University of Wisconsin School of Social Work who
have an international interest.
In Wisconsin, FOCCUS, INC has developed relationships with
a local elementary school to support the centers and an education
project involving a summer course offered to high school science
and social science teachers through University of Wisconsin.
Because of the dedication of FOCCUS, INC members, organization
has had a remarkable impact on these communities. The services
made possible through educational training and support, and
, recently, through financial support from FOCCUS, INC are
essential to encourage those affected take control of their
lives and act as catalysts for development within their communities.
The International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award is given to an individual,
group, or organization that has significantly advanced the
public image of social work. This monetary award, administered
by the NASWF, is made possible by an endowment generously established
by distinguished social worker, Rhoda G. Sarnat, LCSW, and
her husband, Bernard Sarnat, MD.
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