New Jersey Television Program Highlights Many Facets of Social Work

For Immediate Release
February 16, 2010

Contact:
Greg Wright
202-336-8324
gwright@naswdc.org

New Jersey Television Program Highlights Many Facets of Social Work

Creator Valerie Persaud Hopes “Inside Social Work” Will Battle Stereotypes about Social Workers

WASHINGTON— Social worker Valerie Persaud says there is a misconception that social workers mostly work on child welfare cases. However, such cases represent a small percentage of what America’s 600,000 social workers actually do.

Persaud launched “Inside Social Work,” a public access cable television program that she uses to introduce the public to the many services social workers provide clients, including advice on health and relationships.

SocialWorkersSpeak.org sat down with Persaud to talk about her work. SocialWorkersSpeak.org is a National Association of Social Workers Web site that lets social workers influence how they and issues they care about are portrayed on television, in movies and in the news.

Here is thearticle:

When NASW member Valerie Persaud, MSW, tells people about her profession she often gets the same response.

“Every time I tell somebody I’m a social worker they assume I work in the Division of Youth and Family Services or that I’m a case worker,” said Persaud, who lives in Essex County, NJ.

Instead of getting upset Persaud, decided to do something to give the public a look at the wide range of things social workers actually do. She launched “Inside Social Work,” a public access television program that airs on Cablevision and Comcast in New Jersey and YouTube on the Internet.

Persaud also does a live, call-in radio program on Blogtalkradio.com/Deltatron every Sunday at 8 p.m.

Persaud, a senior pastor, conducts the programs in conjunction with J.R. Media Ministries, the media outreach arm of the Jehovah Rapha International Church and Ministries. She has already taped more than 15 half-hour television episodes, enough to air weekly into the summer.

“Inside Social Work” now airs in three New Jersey towns. Persaud hopes it will be shown in 15 to 20 New Jersey counties by the end of February.

The program covers many of the issues social workers help clients grapple with, including living with disabilities, moving from welfare to work, getting a job after leaving prison, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer awareness and spirituality and recovery.
Coming up with episode ideas, booking guests and taping programs is a lot of hard work, she admits. But Persaud says it is worth it.

“Well, I love what I do,” Persaud said. “I want people to know about it. It seems like (social workers) are in the closet.”

For more information on the array of services social workers provide visit the NASW’s “Help Starts Here” Web page: http://www.helpstartshere.org/.

About NASW
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 145,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.

About the NASW Foundation
The NASW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities through the enhancement of social work practice. One of the Foundations goals is to assist with rapid response to social crises.

http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/2010/021610b.asp

4/9/2013