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EthicsinAc*onintheFlintWaterCrisisDonnaSecorPennington,LMSW

TeriMetros,LMSWMASSWFallConference

November4,2016

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ACrisisofEpicPropor*ons

• Man-made• Massivescale• Timeframe:Notdays,butmonths,andnowyears• ExtensiveMediaCoverage• Poli*calDemonstra*ons

Theearlyresponsewascompletelychao1c&disgracefullyinadequate

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SocialWorkValues&FlintWaterCrisis

NASWCodeofEthicsValue:Service

•  Primarygoalistohelppeopleinneedandaddresssocialproblems.Encouragedtovolunteersomepor*onoftheirprofessionalskills.

Value:SocialJus9ce•  Challengesocialinjus*ce,par*cularlyonbehalfofvulnerable&oppressedpeople.

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MASSWMissionStatement/SSWRole

• Schoolsocialworkersassistchildrenandfamiliesbyexaminingthosefactorsinthehome,schooland/orcommunitythatareimpac*ngastudent’seduca*onalsuccessandthenassistinreducingthosebarrierstolearning.• Championthecausesofmembersandclients,andworktoimpactlegisla1onthatwillimprovethedeliveryofschoolsocialworkservicesandenhancetheeduca*onofallchildren.• Communicateinforma*onabouthowfactorssuchasfamily,culture,socioeconomicstatus,physicalandmentalhealthmayaffectstudents’performance

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ThePrologueInApril2014,thepos*ndustrialcityofFlint,withapopula*onof100,000people,understate-appointedemergencymanagement,changeditswatersupplyfromDetroit-suppliedLakeHuronwatertotheFlintRiverasacost-savingmeasure,awai*nganewpipelinetoLakeHuronin2016.ShortlyaYertheswitchtotheFlintRiverwaterresidentsvoicedconcernsregardingwatercolor,tasteandodor,andvarioushealthcomplaints,includingskinrashes.

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“HardtoSwallow”h\p://www.aclumich.org/ar*cle/hard-swallow-toxic-water-toxic-system-

flint

ACLUofMichiganMini-Documentary

KateLevy&CurtGuye\eJune25,2015

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Race&EnvironmentalInjus*ce:UnitedChurchofChrist&ABA

FlintresidentswhoaremajorityblackandamongthemostimpoverishedofanymetropolitanareaintheUnitedStates,didnotenjoythesameprotec*onfrom

environmentalandhealthhazardsprovidedtoothercommuni*es. GovernorSnyder’sFlintWaterAdvisoryTaskForceReport(March23,2016)

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TheToxicFlintDrinkingWater• FecalColiform&BoilAdvisories(3)Sept.2014• GMstopsusingFlintWater(corrodingparts)Oct.2014• Disinfectantbyproducts–TTHMJan.2015–Sept.2015)• HighLeadLevelsdetectedandEPAcontacted(April2015)

LeeAnnWalters13200ppb(toxicwaste)• VirginiaTechWaterStudy:Dr.MarcEdwards(Sept.2015)

FlintRiverwater19*mesmorecorrosivethantheDetroitwater

12deathsfromLegionnaire’sDisease(June2015-Nov.2015)

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VirginiaTechStudyWaterLeadLevelsinFlint

• WLLStandards:<15ppbac*onable• WLLtestsreflectonlythelevelsonthedayofthetest• 300samplekitsweredistributedandresultsanalyzedbyV.T.• Samplesfoundanaverageof158ppb,20%ofhousehold>15ppb• Forchildrenages1-5years,every1ppbincreaseinwaterlead,bloodleadincreasesby35%.

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HumanitarianStandardsTheSphereProject:Interna*onalorganiza*onofhumanitarianagencies,includingRedCross&SavetheChildren.• Averagewaterfordrinking,cookingandpersonalhygieneinanyhouseholdisatleast15litresor495ouncesperpersonperday.Flinthouseholdsreceived1caseor384ouncesperhouseholdperday.

•  Themaximumdistancefromanyhouseholdtothenearestwaterpointis500metresor.31miles.Flinthadfivewatersta*onsforacityof100,000withdistancesof2-3miles.

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StandardsinFlintWaterCrisisResidentspickupwaterdailyincars,onfoot,bikesorbuses.Nosystema*cdistribu*onofwatertovulnerablepopula*ons

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ImpactofHighBloodLeadLevels(BLLs)

Leadinwaterisnotwhatmedicine/publichealthis“usedto.”Mostoftheresearchhasbeenaboutpaintchips/leadinpaintLeadinwaterdispropor*onatelyimpactsdevelopmentallyvulnerableformula-fedinfantsSignificantrisktounbornChildrenalreadydisadvantagedbecamemoredisadvantaged

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ElevatedBloodLeadLevels• BLLsof5ug/dlareconcerning• BLLsincreasedfrom2.4to4.9,insomeneighborhoodsto6.6inothers(Hanna-Aosha,et.al.)“Likethechildrenweredrinkingthroughalead-paintedstraw”• Widespreadtes*nginschoolsandclinics:BLLshadlikelypeakedwellbeforetheyweremeasured(30daywindow)THESERESULTSALLSIGNIFICANTLYUNDERESTIMATEEXPOSURE

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ElevatedBloodLeadLevelsIncreasedlikelihoodof:• ADHDBehaviors

• Restless,Ina\en*ve,Impulsive• Behavioral,LearningandMemoryDifficul*es• SpeechImpairmentandHearingLoss• Delinquentbehaviorsandarrests(kidsinstreet?)• Otherpossiblehealtheffects:Hematologic,cardiovascular,immunologic,etc.

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ElevatedBloodLeadLevels

ImpactonCogni*on• Vastevidencesupportslikelihoodof:

• Anincreasein1to4ug/gldropsmeanIQ3-7pts.• Notaverysignificantchangeforanyindividualchild• Biggerimplica*onsforthelargercommunity• AsmallchangeinmeanIQ,shiYsen*repopula*onIQdistribu*on

• Reduceshighachievers(>130)andincreaseskidswithlowIQ’s(<70)

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MichiganAssocia*onofBlackSocialWorkersStatement

The situation in Flint visibly brushes against the physical and mental elements of the crime of genocide through its potential to destroy, in whole or in part, an ethnic or racial group…. The premeditated actions of government officials effectively orchestrated the poisoning of Flint, home to a population of predominantly (57%) African ancestry, permitting unsafe levels of lead and other toxins to flow unabated into Flint’s water supply. State officials and local citizens who tried to report this were rebuffed or ignored. The discounting of those concerns has led to irreversible brain damage in Flint’s children, in addition to the future potential for significant bodily harm to all of Flint’s citizens. C-5/D-5

TheImpactintheSchools

• InatleastthreeFlintCommunitySchools,childrendranklead-contaminatedwaterforupto16months.• ThreeFlintCommunityElementarySchoolshadwaterwithleadlevelsmorethan15partsperbillion• Atoneschool,FreemanElementary,watertestsfoundleadlevelsof101ppb.• AddthistomonthsofdatashowingelevatedleadlevelsinhomesacrossFlint.

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TheImpactintheSchools:September28,2015•  FlintCommunitySchoolssendsale\ertoparentsaskingthemtobringwaterfortheirkidstodrinkduringtheday.

•  SuperintendentBilalTawwabsaidheknewhecouldn'tletthekidsdrinkfromthefountainsonceheheardtheadvisory.

“Myfirstreac1onwas,whatarewegoingtodo?I'm

responsibleforover5,000kidshereinFlint.”

•  Districtasksparentstosupplybo\ledwater,butacknowledgesnoteveryparentcansupplythisandasksforwaterbo\ledona*ons.

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AsoKenseemstobethecaseintheearlystagesofacrisis,schoolsareleKtotheirowndevices.

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ImpactintheSchools• Inacrisis,schoolsbecomeprotec*veofstudentssuchasmedia–difficulttogetaccess/informa*on• TeacherspickedupwaterfromtheMEAofficefortheirhomesandstudents.Waterfromthefaucetsisonlyusedforhandwashing.Childrendrankbo\ledwateronly.• Theonlyiden*fied“support”providedwastrainingforFlintCommunitySchoolsteachersinPsychologicalFirstAid.• ByMay,2016,nineschoolnurseswerefinallytrainedandplacedintheFlintCommunitySchools.• FundingwasincreasedforHeadStartandEarlyOn.

• Pre-exis*ngpar*cipa*oninthoseprogramswas20-25%

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AmessagefromFlintIamsorryforthedelayinmyresponse.Intruth,sinceIamaFlintresidentandworkinginFlintSchools,IthinkIhavebeenabitbefuddledmyselfaboutthesitua*on.OnethingIthinkcouldbehelpfulistohavetrainingre:theeffectsoflead,whattolookforinbehavior.Someideasaboutbestprac*cesindealingwiththeseissues,possiblysomeresourcestousewithparentsinhelpingtoeducate.Wealsocouldusesomeadvocacyre:needforsocialworkservicesintheschools.Theyareprovidingaddi*onalnursingservicesbutnothinghasbeensaidaboutaddi*onalsocialwork,andlearningsupportservices.

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WhoandWhereareLead-ExposedStudents?• BasedonMDEdata,students&staffin90differentbuildings/programswereexposedtoleadintheirdrinkingwaterathomeand/oratschool.• Thenumberoflead-exposedstudentsises*matedtobe15,000.• Atherton,Bendle,Beecher,Bentley,CarmenAinsworth,GrandBlanc,Kearsley,Mt.Morris,GeneseeISD,18charterschoolacademies,14parochialschoolsandtheMichiganSchoolfortheDeafFosterchildren,childrenvisi*ngrela*ves• Noneofthe12-13crisisresponseworkinggroupsaddressedneedsintheschools.

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ImpactintheSchools

• Thousandsofstudentswerepoten*allyexposedtoleadintheirwater• ALLofthestudentsexperiencedemo*onal/psychologicaltrauma• Discussion:Li\ledirectknowledge/informa*on–whatdowethinkthetraumalookslike?Interferewithlearning–lookat2015-16testscores

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GeneseeISDasaLeader

• Hosted“Educa*on”workgroupoftheRedCross• Advocatedforappropriate,accurateparent“friendly”informa*on• Discouragedschoolorcommunitywidetes*ngofchildren’sBloodLeadLevels(BLL)• Someschoolshaving“Bloodtes*ngcarnivals• Urgeda“universalapproach”

• Assumeallchildrenmayhavebeenlead-exposed• Provideuniversalinterven*ons

Supplemental Fluoride Treatments

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Ethics:ExposingtheCrisisThepeopleofFlintwerebetrayedbyeverysinglegovernmentalagencythatwassupposedtoprotectthem.“Ibelievedthem.IgavethewatertomychildrentodrinkandIbathedtheminit.”WhenMPRreachedouttotheMDEQforcommentaYerini*alreportsofleadinthewater,theGovernor’sspokesperson,BradWurfelstated,"Letmestarthere—anyonewhoisconcernedaboutleadin

thedrinkingwaterinFlintcanjustrelax.“(7-13-16)

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ExposingtheCrisis:EthicalHeroesofFlint

Miguel Del Toral EPA Engineer

6-24-15

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha Pediatrician

Hurley Medical & MSU Faculty 9-24-15

Dr. Karen Weaver Psychologist Mayor of Flint

12-14-15

Dr. Marc Edwards Engineer

Virginia Tech Professor

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CodeofEthicsforEngineers(Na*onalSocietyofEngineers2007)

I.FundamentalCanons:Engineers,inthefulfillmentoftheirprofessionaldu*es,shall:1.Holdparamountthesafety,health,andwelfareofthepublic.3.Issuepublicstatementsonlyinanobjec*veandtruthfulmanner.4.Actforeachemployerorclientasfaithfulagentsortrustees. II a. Ifengineers’judgmentisoverruledundercircumstancesthatendangerlifeorproperty,theyshallno*fytheiremployerorclientandsuchotherauthorityasmaybeappropriate.c.Engineersshallnotrevealfacts,data,orinforma*onwithoutthepriorconsentoftheclientoremployerexceptasauthorizedorrequiredbylaworthisCode.

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“Hello.ThisisMiguelDelToralfromEPARegion5,andI’dliketospeakwithyouaboutproblemswiththedrinkingwaterinFlintMichigan.”

PhonecallfromDelToraltoLeeAnneWalters&Dr.MarcEdwardsOneengineerspokeout,othersonlysentinternalemails.EPAeffortstodiscreditDelToral:“…thereportwastheworkofarogueemployee”“….MayorWeaverismakingamistakebyci1ngaleXerfromoneindividualstaffpersonwhodoesnotspeakforU.S.EPA.”

EPAEngineer:MiguelDelToral

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Dr.MarcEdwards

“It was an extremely traumatic experience for me.”

Scien*stswhocaredlessaboutfactsandscien*fictruthsifitmeantprotec*ngtheirreputa*onoradvancingtheiragency’sagenda. C-5/D-5

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Dr, Marc Edwards

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CrossingtheImaginaryLineJournalofEnvironmentalScience&Technology(Oct.2016)• Editorialharshlycri*cizestheac*onsofDr.Edwards.

“Thecombina1onofmeaningfulresearch,mentorshipandafewhoursaweekofoutreachfulfillstheneedsoftheresearcherto

improvetheplanet.”• ‘Mature”idealiststurntooutreach(commi\ees,speeches).• Facinginjus*ce,anidealis*cresearcher(Dr.Edwards)mightstepover“theimaginaryline”thatseparatesthedispassionateresearcherfromtheenvironmentalac*vist.• Thisunderminesthestandingofacademicsasobjec*veseekersoftruth&jeopardizesfundingforresearch.

“CallErinBrokovitch”C-5/D-5

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AmericanPsychologicalAssocia*on(APA)EthicalPrinciples&CodeofConduct

PrincipleA:BeneficenceandNonmaleficencePsychologistsstrivetobenefitthosewithwhomtheyworkandtakecaretodonoharm.Intheirprofessionalac*ons,psychologistsseektosafeguardthewelfareandrightsofthosewithwhomtheyinteractprofessionallyandotheraffectedpersonsandthewelfareofanimalsubjectsofresearch.PrincipleD:Jus9cePsychologistsrecognizethatfairnessandjus*ceen*tleallpersonstoaccesstoandbenefitfromthecontribu*onsofpsychologyandtoequalqualityinthe….servicesbeingconductedbypsychologists.• Psychologists…respectdifferences,includingthosebasedonage,gender,genderiden*ty,race,ethnicity,culture,na*onalorigin,religion,sexualorienta*on,disability,languageandsocioeconomicstatus.Psychologiststrytoeliminatetheeffectontheirworkofbiasesbasedonthosefactors….

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Dr.KarenWeaver:FlintClinicalPsychologist

Dr.KarenWeaverservedonanumberofBoardsintheFlintcommunity,includingtheBoardofManagersoftheHurleyMedicalCenter.“IsatatthatBoardmee1ngandheardthattheBloodLeadLevelsofourinfantshaddoubled,tripledandevenquadrupled.Asaclinical

psychologist,Ijustcouldn’tsitback.”

“IdecidedthatIhadtoputsomeskininthegame”

Althougha“poli*calnovice”shebecamethefirstwomanmayorofFlintonNovember9,1915.

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AmericanAcademyofPediatricsCollegeofAmericanPhysicians:Values

"Healthandhumanrightsareinterrelated.Whenhumanrightsarepromoted,healthispromoted...Physicianshaveanimportantroletoplayinpromo*nghealthandhumanrights,andaddressingsocialinequi*es."EthicsManual,SixthEdi*on.

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HurleyPediatricianHoldsPressConference“Thisisthejobofthepediatrician-tobethevoiceofthevoiceless”

Dr. Hanna-Attisha knew she had a moral obligation to inform the public right away. She was met with fierce scrutiny. The state and their researchers denied the results and accused her of causing hysteria. A week after attacking her reputation, the state reversed course and admitted she was right. Only then did Governor Rick Snyder announce a plan to reconnect Flint to the Detroit water supply. C-5/D-5

Ins*tu*onalEthics:RoleoftheUniversi*es?

The University began testing its water supply in the fall of 2014 in response to the “boil water advisories.” They found elevated lead levels in Jan and Feb 2015 and removed sinks & water fountains and installed filters. This Fact Sheet was published 1/2016. The University protected its campus water supply. What did they do to protect/communicate with the community? C-5/D-5

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Ins*tu*onalEthics:RoleoftheUniversi*es?

Ke\eringbegantes*ngwater“becauseofgrowingconcerns”inearly2015andthecampuswaterwassafe.Firstcommunica*onwithparentsandcommunitywasapparently9.16.15.Whatdidtheydoregardingsafetyoftheiroff-campusstudents?C-5/D-5

NASWCodeofEthics6.SOCIALWORKERSETHICALRESPONSIBILITIESTOTHEBROADERSOCIETY

6.01SOCIALWELFARESocialworkersshouldpromotethegeneralwelfareofsociety,fromlocalto

globallevels.Socialworkersshouldadvocateforlivingcondi8onsconducivetothefulfillmentofbasichumanneedsandshouldpromotesocial,economic,poli*calandculturalvalues

6.02PUBLICEMERGENCIES:Socialworkersshouldprovideappropriateprofessionalservicesinpublicemergenciestothegreatestextentpossible.

6.03SOCIALANDPOLITICALACTION:(a)Socialworkersshouldengageinsocialandpoli*calac*onthatseekstoensurethatallpeoplehaveequalaccesstotheresources….andopportuni*estheyrequiretomeettheirbasichumanneeds…..Socialworkersshouldbeawareoftheimpactofthepoli*calarenaonprac*ceandshouldadvocateforchangesinpolicyandlegisla*ontoimprovesocialcondi*onsinordertomeetbasichumanneedsandpromotesocialjus*ce.

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NASWCodeofEthicsSOCIALWORKERS’ETHICALRESPONSIBILITIESASPROFESSIONALS4.06MISREPRESENTATION:

a)Socialworkersshouldmakecleardis*nc*onsbetweenstatementsmadeandac*onsengagedinasaprivateindividualandasarepresenta*veofthes.w.profession,aprofessionals.w.associa*onorthesocialworker’semployingagency.

b)Socialworkerswhospeakonbehalfofprofessionals.w.organiza*onsshouldaccuratelyreflecttheofficialandauthorizedposi*onsoftheorganiza*on1.0COMMITMENTTOCLIENTS:a)  Primaryresponsibilityistopromotethewell--beingofclients……However,social

workers’responsibilitytothelargersocietyorspecificlegalobliga*onsmayonlimitedoccasionssupersedetheloyaltyowedclients,andclientsshouldbesoadvised.

1.05CULTURALCOMPETENCEANDDIVERSITYThankstoJohnMoradian,Ph.D,LMSW,AssociateDirector,MSUSchoolofSocialWork

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TheCrisisResponseSocialWorkHeroesoftheFlintWaterCrisis

Michael Hood & Laurie Carpenter Crossing Water

Kenyetta Dotson Genesee Health Systems

WOW

Beverly Davidson Crossing Water Volunteer

Blogger

Allan Wachendorfer NASW

Crossing Water

Bryanna McGarry Policy Analyst at Michigan

Senate Democrats

Senator Debbie Stabenow Water Resources Development Act

Ella Greene-Moten MABSW

Elizabeth Burtch Genesee Health Systems C-5/D-5

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TheVerySignificantInvolvementofourProfessionExpectedandUnexpected

Aperhapssurprisingnumberofsocialworkerswereinvolvedintherolesoflegislator,legisla*vestaff,lobbyists,agencyadministratorsandstaffatthelocal,stateandna*onallevelsManysocialworkersfromaroundthestate,aswellasfromtheFlintcommunity,asemployeesorvolunteerswerepartofthedialogue,advocacyandreliefefforts.Grassrootsorganiza*onformedorjoinedbysocialworkersinresponsetothecrisisthecrisis(CrossingWater).Socialworkersdisplayedtheirexper*seinfacilita*ngdialogueandproblem-solvingwhenstakeholdersgathered.

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SocialWorkPar*cipa*on:Organiza*onal• NASW-MIAdHocTaskForce

• AllanWachendorferfacilitatesweeklyconferencecallsofsocialworkstakeholders

•  TaskForceStatementandRecommenda*ons

• MichiganAssocia*onofSchoolSocialWorkers•  Resolu*onStatement–widelydistributed,onFlintWaterStudywebsite•  Le\ersofSupport:MASSWandSSWAA,Tes*monyathearings•  Educa*onWorkgroup&FlintCoali*on

• Twolargecrisisresponsegroups: CommunityResilienceGroup:GeneseeHealthSystems(CMH)RedCrossCommunityPartnersCrossingWater:Grassrootssocialworkorganiza*on

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CodeofEthics:Social&Poli*calAc*on6.03(b)Socialworkersshouldacttoexpandchoiceandopportunityforallpeople,withspecialregardforvulnerable,disadvantaged,oppressed,andexploitedpeopleandgroups.(c)Socialworkersshouldpromotecondi*onsthatencouragerespectforculturalandsocialdiversity…..Socialworkersshouldpromotepoliciesandprac*cesthatdemonstraterespectfordifference,supporttheexpansionofculturalknowledgeandresources,advocateforprogramsandins*tu*onsthatdemonstrateculturalcompetence,andpromotepoliciesthatsafeguardtherightsofandconfirmequityandsocialjus8ceforallpeople.

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CodeofEthicsNa*onalAssocia*onofBlackSocialWorkers

As Black social workers we commit ourselves, collectively, to the interests of our Black brethren and as individuals subscribe to the following statements: ●  I regard as my primary obligation the welfare of the Black individual, Black

family, and Black community and will engage in action for improving social conditions.

●  I give precedence to this mission over my personal interest. ●  I adopt the concept of a Black extended family and embrace all Black

people as my brothers and sisters, making no distinction between their destiny and my own.

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CodeofEthics(NABSW)

●  I hold myself responsible for the quality and extent of service I perform and the quality and extent of service performed by the agency … as it relates to the Black community.

●  I accept the responsibility to protect the Black community against unethical and hypocritical practice by any individual or organizations engaged in social welfare activities.

●  I stand ready to supplement my paid or professional advocacy with voluntary service in the Black public interest.

●  I will consciously use my skills, and my whole being as an instrument for social change, with particular attention directed to the establishment of Black social institutions.

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ManyCulturalandSocioeconomicIssues

•  Pre-exis*nglackoftrust•  Divisionbetweentheplansofstate/localagenciesand

interestsofFlintci*zens,grassroots/communitygroups•  Bureaucracy&thehierarchyofdecisionmaking•  Concernwithalloca*onofresourcestopeopleofcolor•  Pre-exis*ngs*gmaregardingmentalhealthservices&

interven*ons,i.e.,aboutjustbeing“druggedup”•  Providingculturallysensi*veinforma*on,i.e.,foods&

nutri*on•  Lackofinternetaccess,transporta*on

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CommunityResilienceGroupMtg.2/26/2016Concernswiththe“partnership,”trust,culturalsensi*vity.

WhyisthereadoXedlineforusandnotanarrow?

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TrustJustdon’tletkidsdrinkthebathwater?Bathing:Whatabouttheskinrashes?

vs.

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SocialWorkSpeaksNoWordsbyBeverlyDavidson,LMSWJanuary31,2016

Thecitywaseerilyquiet,withamyriadofInandOutmarts,gassta*ons,bars,vacantlots,run-downhouses,andchurches.Iwonderedwhereallthewatertruckswere,wheretheNa*onalGuardwere,whereareallthegovernmentalleaders?Thiscityhasitsen*rewaterdistribu*ondestroyed,andallwecouldseewereprivatevolunteersatchurchesandbusinesseshandingoutcasesofbo\ledwatertopeoplethroughamake-shiYassemblyline.Wherearethetemporarywatersystemsthatourgovernmentcouldsetup?Wherearethemilitarypersonnelandtruckswhocoulddelivercasesofwaterandfilterstopeoplewhohavenoresourcesnortransporta*on?Folksaresupposedtogotoalocalfiresta*on,pickupafilter,atestkit,somewater,andthenreturnthetestkittothefiresta*onfortes*ng?That’stheplan?Seriously?In2016,that’stheplan?

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SocialWorkResponds:CrossingWaterConcernedsocialworkershaveaconversa*on:

•  Inreflec*ngonthehardshipsimposedonFlintresidents,theini*alconversa*onbetweensocialworkersledtobrainstorminginterven*onop*ons,discussingstrategiesandacombiningofresources.Technology,suchasemaillistsandSign-upGeniusfacilitatedasuccessfulefforttomakeadifference

• MichaelHood,socialworkerandMSWstudentwhohasbecomethe“face”ofCrossingWateralongwithAllenWachendorferoftheNASWcreatedamodelforcrisisresponsewhichhasevolvedinresponsetothecrisisaslessonswerelearned

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SocialWorkResponds:CrossingWaterAddressingGaps/Mee*ngBasicNeedsProvidingcri*calinforma*ononlargeandsmallscaleCombaongmisinforma*on/restoringtrustNeedsoftheundocumented,olderadults,thosewithdisabili*es,deafandblindcommuni*esandothervulnerablegroups.Communitycanvassing&residentrequestsusedtodeterminedistribu*onofresources

“We’renotfromthegovernment,we’reheretohelp”

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MySocialWorkVolunteerExperience

•  FirstvisitinFebruary/March• Widevarietyofvolunteersincludingmanysocialworkers,socialworkstudents(somefromoutofstate),educators,stateemployees,re*redfolks,churchaffiliatedfolks,individualsprimarilyfrommid-Michigan

•  Ini*alneedtodeliverwaterandspreadthewordaboutthewaterproblemswasthemainfocus

•  Thechallengeoftheneighborhoodsandfeelingsafe•  “Isthewatersafeforshowering?”• Asaschoolsocialworker,nottoosurprisedbywhatIsaw•  Thepush/pullofmakingmul*pletrips:anethicaldilemma

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StructureofCrossingWaterCrisisResponse(RRSTs)

RapidResponseServiceTeamsincludementalhealthteams:

•  2-3people,atleastoneofwhomhasmentalhealthexperience;4-6hourshiYs

•  Twohourorienta*onforallvolunteersbeforeanyhomevisits•  Safetyparamount:neveralone,callingintoheadquarterswhen

changingloca*on,trainingincludesassessingsafetyateachstop•  Teamsvisitonlyhomeswhohavebeendeterminedtoneed

assistance•  Datasheetoneachhomebeforedeployment•  Dataupdatedwitheachvisit,datasheetevolvestoreflectneeds•  DebriefingandfoodattheendofeachshiY

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Leavinghomebase,wewerepreparedto:•  Deliverwater•  Provideandinstallfaucetfilters,replaceexpiredfilters.iden*fy

homeswithfaucetsnotcompa*blewithwaterfilters•  Distributehandsani*zer,babywipes(waterlessbathing),lateradding

diapers,food,buspasses•  Informa*onsheetsasneededforresources,understandingand

survivingthewatersitua*on(legal,nutri*on,foodpantries,wateraccesssites,medical,watertes*ngetc.)

•  Askques*onsandassessmentalhealthstatus/vulnerabilityofresidents

•  Takenewreferralsfromresidentsweencountered•  Listen&try

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CrossingWater:Unan*cipatedLearning

• Peoplealreadyinmul*genera*onalpovertylosingmoregroundwiththelossoffreshwater

• Resultsoflongterm“under-educa*on”•  Socialisola*onthatexists“undertheradar”• Angerandconspiracytheoriesexpressedbyresidents:

•  “Theywanttogetridofus”•  FundingfornewpipelinefinancedbyFlintresidents?•  “Ifourneighborhoodswerewhiteandwealthy,wewouldn’thavetolivelikethis”

• Deepneedtobeheardandtonotbe“invisible”•  Thecomplexi*esoftheerosionoftrust

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CrossingWater

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CrossingWater:MemorableExperiences

•  Familieswithmanychildren• Manlivingwithnoheatorwater•  Isolatedseniors,disabledindividuals/coupleswithnotransporta*on• Peoplewithskinrashesofunknownorigin• Dogswhodidnotwantusintheiryard,eventodeliverwater•  Fearsassociatedwithleongstrangersintheirhomes• Visitsthatledtoconcernsaboutthewelfareofchildrenorolderadults• Anxietypromptedbyfearofrunningoutofwater(“waterhoarding”)• Challengeswithnon-Englishspeakers•  Examplesofunexpectedsurvivalskillsinresponsetocrisis

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CrossingWater:LastThoughts

CrossingWaterhasbeensucceedingduetodedicatedindividuals,determina*onandsomeserendipity

• Consciousefforttoacknowledgevolunteers;socialmedia• ‘Careandfeeding’ofrepeatvolunteers• Thepowerofthegroupandofleadership:thepulltoreturnandhowyoufeelonthedrivehome

• TheStarfish

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MoreQues*onsthanAnswers-NextSteps:• Willtherebean‘end’ofthecrisisandwhatmightthatlooklike?• Whowilldeterminewhentostopintervening?•  Socialworkinterven*onwillevolvefromcrisisresponsetohelpingwithadjustmenttothe‘newnormal’.Whowilldefinethat?

• Willtheongoingsocial/emo*onalrecoverybestaffedandfundedinawaythatis‘ethical’?

• Whenwilltrustberestored?•  ManyFlintresidentsremainafraidtodrinktapwater,evenwitha

filter.•  FlintStateSenatorJimAnanichcommentson

trustissues.

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Flint:November,2016•  FilteredwaterisdeclaredbyMDE/EPAas“safetodrink”• DissentofGeneseeCountyMedicalSociety.

•  Pregnantandnursingmothersandchildrenundersixyearsshouldusebo\ledwater

• Reportscon*nuetoemergefromFlintresidentsre:leadlevelsspikeunpredictablyinFlinthomes

• RRSTteamscon*nuetofindhomeswhohavenotaccessedresourcesandresidentsdon’tunderstandthewaterproblems(isola*on)

• Residentscon*nuetostrugglewiththechallengesofusingwaterfilters

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FlintAreaSchools:November2016 • GrantfundingannouncedforFlintCommunitySchoolsfor

“counselors”inaddi*ontonurses•  Li\leapparentassistancefortheother10,000students.•  Schoolstaffexpectedtoincreaseeffortsdespitebeingimpactedbythecrisisintheirownlives

• Assumeincreaseddemandsonallstaffto“justworkharder”tomeetthelearningandemo*onal/behavioralneedsoflead-exposedstudents

•  Lackofclarityregardingthe*meframeforemergenceofsymptoms•  Specialeduca*onstudentsmayhavecompoundedeffectsofhighBLLsandexis*ngdifficul*eswithlearning.

• Needformentalhealthproviders,expandedMTSS•  Increasedneedsforassessmentandservices.• 

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“We will need funding for medical homes, school nurses, school social workers, teachers and programs to provide as many safe grown-ups as we can find to let these children know that “it’s ok to feel scared, it’s ok to feel sad, and it’s ok to be who you are because you did nothing wrong. And, I will take care of you.” These children will need helpers in every developmental stage of their life.”

Beverly Davidson, LMSW

“LooksfortheHelpers”

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Whatcanyoudo?

• Advocate/educateabouttheneedforincreasedsocialworkservicesinFlintandacrossMichigan

• Bemindfulofourethicalprinciplesandvalues• Volunteerifyoucanand/ordonateifyoucan:h\ps://www.crowdrise.com/crossingwaterworkingforflint

•  Supportlegisla*onaddressingtheWaterCrisis,i.e.S.B.979•  Payyourdues!YourMASSWdueshelppayforadvocacy

andlobbyingeffortsatthestatelevelforFlintandforallofMASSW’smissionandgoals.

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TheNeedCon*nues

CrossingWaterSocialWorkerMichaelHood

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MaintainingHope

Thiscouldbeseenasauniqueopportunitytobeproac1ve,tobuildamodelpublichealthprogramtobuffertheimpactofexposureOver1me,thecumula1veimpactofposi1veexperiencesandcopingskillscanshiKthefulcrum’sposi1on,makingiteasiertoachieveposi1veoutcomes.h\p://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-resilience-series/

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References• AmericanBarAssocia*on(2016,April18).FlintWaterCrisis:ADropintheBucketoftheHistorybetweenFlintandtheEPA.EnvironmentalJus*ceCommi\eeTeleconference.• Burke,Ka*e,(2016May-June).Flintwatercrisisyieldshardlessonsinscienceandethics,AmericanScien1st.• Davidson,Beverly(2016).Nowords,LookforthehelpersandRacism+Destruc*onofDemocracy=Flint’sWaterCrisis,Blogposts,VoicesfromtheInfant,ToddlerandFamilyField,Retrievedfromh\ps://beverlymsw.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/racism-destruc*on-of-democracy-flint-water-crisis/• Edwards,M.,Pruden,Amy,Roy,S.Rhoads,W.(2016,October10).Engineersshallholdparamountthesafety,healthandwelfareofthepublic—butnotifitthreatensourresearchfunding?,FlintWaterStudy,Retrievedfromh\p://flintwaterstudy.org/2016/10/engineers-shall-hold-paramount-the-safety-health-and-welfare-of-the-public-but-not-if-it-threatens-our-research-funding/• Goodnough,A.&Atkinson,S.(2016,April30).ApotentsideeffecttotheFlintwatercrisis:Mentalhealthproblems,TheNewYorkTimes,Retrievedfromh\p://ny*.ms/1TloRxz• Hanna-Aosha,LaChance,Sadler&Schnepp(2016).ElevatedbloodleadlevelsinchildrenassociatedwiththeFlintdrinkingwatercrisis:Aspa*alanalysisofriskandpublichealthresponse,AJPHResearch,106(2).• Kuhlman,Mary(2016,April18).Socialworkerscon*nueboots-on-the-groundworkinFlint,PublicNewsService,Retrievedfrom:h\p://www.publicnewsservice.org/2016-04-18/social-jus*ce/social-workers-con*nue-boots-on-ground-work-in-flint/a51450-1• Mbacke,C.(2016April7).MichiganAssocia*onofBlackSocialWorkerssayscrisisinFlint,Michiganiscomparabletogenocide,BlackNews.com,Retrievedfromh\p://www.blacknews.com/news/michigan-associa*on-black-social-workers-mabsw-crisis-flint-michigan-genocide/#.V_cmfeArKhe• NEAHealthyFutures(2016May18).UnlikelyPartnershipProvidesBo\ledWatertoStudentsandTeachersinFlint,LearningFirstAlliance,Retrievedfrom:h\p://www.learningfirst.org/unlikely-partnership-provides-bo\led-water-students-and-teachers-flint

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References• O’Connell,L.(2016,May16).Protec*ngourKids:TheLongTermImpactsofLeadPoisoning,NASW-MI/HurleyChildren’sCenter/U-MFlintSeminar,Powerpointpresenta*on• SecorPennington,D(January2016)Mee*ngtheNeedsofStudentsinaPublicHealthEmergency,MichiganAssocia*onofSchoolSocialWorkers,Retrievedfrom:h\p://flintwaterstudy.org/2016/02/masswmi-resolu*on-statement-on-the-flint-water-crisis-mee*ng-the-needs-of-students-in-the-school-seong-in-an-ongoing-public-health-crisis/• Sedlek,David,(2016September2).Crossingtheimaginaryline,EnvironmentalScience&Technology,50(18),pp.9803-9804.• Steele,William(rev.2008).Trauma’simpactonlearningandbehavior:Acaseforinterven*onsinschool,TraumaandLoss:Research&Interven1ons,2(2).• MichiganAssocia*onofSchoolSocialWorkers,MissionStatement:www.masswmi.org• NASW(1996).CodeofEthics,Na*onalAssocia*onofSocialWorkers,Washington,D.C.• NASW-Michigan(2016)FlintWaterTaskForceStatement&Recommenda*onsontheFlintWaterDisaster.• AmericanAcademyofPediatricians:h\ps://www.aap.org• AmericanPsychologicalAssocia*on:h\p://www.apa.org• Na*onalSocietyofProfessionalEngineers:h\ps://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics• DetroitFreePressEditorialBoard(2015October8).Flintwatercrisis:Anobscenefailureofgovernmenth\p://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Water-worries-spill-over-into-Flint-Community-Schools-329846841.html• NAACP(2016March16).FlintWaterCrisis–NAACP20-PointCommunityPriori*esPlan.Retrievedfrom:h\p://www.naacp.org/latest/naacp-releases-20-point-list-priori*es-address-needs-flint-residents/• NASW-MI(2016).• CrossingWater:h\p://crossingwater.org/#home

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VideosACLU:HardtoSwallowh\p://www.aclumich.org/ar*cle/hard-swallow-toxic-water-toxic-system-flintWhatLifeisLikeinFlint:3YearsintotheWaterCrisish\ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL6nBcsHgVMVTProfessor’sOpeningStatementre:WaterCrisisinFlint,MIh\ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5B1YKM0ndEDr.MonaHanna-AoshaPressConferenceh\ps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Hurley+doctor+recommends+switching+back+to+Flint+riverCrossingWater:Deployments8.27.16h\ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-_5q0Wk� C-5/D-5