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Professional Grant Development Workshop

The Grant Training Center

Professional Grant Development Workshop

Master the techniques of writing superior and winning proposals

Proposal Writing I: November 10th – 12th, 2008

To be held at: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sponsored by: The Grant Training Center

Register online at granttrainingcenter.com
or by phone at: 866.704.7268

This intensive three-day grant proposal workshop is geared for: 1) those who wish to strengthen their grant writing skills and 2) beginners who wish to acquire and master the techniques of preparing, writing and winning proposals from various funding agencies. The center of attention will be on how to effectively tell the story that leads to funding, be it for the researcher in the sciences and social sciences, educator and non-profit professional.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Comprehend the diversity of the grant funding community
  • Research and identify potential funding sources
  • Create the right fit with the funding agency
  • Address the guidelines of proposals
  • Identify and effectively write the key elements of a proposal
  • Integrate each component of the grant into the final product
  • Develop focused and realistic budgets
  • Package professional grants submissions

Workshop fee: $595.00, including tuition, materials, certificate of completion, and continental breakfast. Rebate of $50.00 per person is given for two or more registrants from the same organization.

Source: Mark Devine (mdevine@grantsolutionsgroup.com)

Legislative News

The President Signs the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 into Law!

On October 7, the President signed into law the “Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893)” which Congress passed on September 17, 2008. This legislation targets specific deficiencies in the child welfare system and addresses some of the most important needs affecting foster children in America today, including extending federal foster care payments up to 21 years old, providing federal support for relatives caring for foster children, increasing access to foster care and adoption services to Native American tribes, and improving the oversight of the health and education needs of children in foster care. Major provisions of the bill include:

  1. Helping Relatives Care For Foster Children – Continues federal assistance (at state option) to relatives assuming legal guardianship of eligible children for whom they have cared for as foster parents. Authorizes Family Connection Grants to increase involvement of relatives as caregivers and help them navigate public programs. Requires notification of close relatives when children are placed in foster care.
    2. Extending Assistance to Foster Youth Up to the Age of 21 – Extends federal foster care payments up to the age of 19, 20 or 21 (at state option) for children living in supervised settings. Require youth receiving such assistance to be in school, work, or related activity. Extends adoption assistance and guardianship payments up to age 19, 20, or 21 (at state option) for children adopted or entering guardianship after attaining the age of 16.
  2. Expanding Training Funds – Expands coverage of federal funds for the training of child welfare workers to include private agencies approved by the state.
  3. Improving Oversight of Health Care – Includes overseeing plans for the health care needs of foster children, accounting for the assessment and treatment of health conditions and ensuring the continuity of care, medical records, and prescription drugs.
  4. Promoting Educational Stability – Requires plan for ensuring the educational stability of children in foster care and mandate assurance of school attendance.
  5. Increasing Aid for Tribal Foster Care – Provides direct federal foster care and adoption funding to tribal governments for children in their care.
  6. Encouraging Sibling Placement – Requires reasonable efforts to place siblings together when removed from their homes.
  7. Extending and Improving Adoption Incentives – Improves the Adoption Incentives Program for children adopted out of foster care, including increased bonuses for special needs and older child adoptions.
Source: Nancy McFall Jean, MSW, NASW Lobbyist

House Bills 1693 & 1177 are now laws

From the NASW-PA: House Bill 1177 was signed by Governor on October 9th and is effective in 120 days (2/1/09). NASW-PA is pleased to announce our second legislative victory in the 2007-08 legislative cycle. We should all take a moment to celebrate the fact that House Bills 1693 (Social Worker Title Protection) and 1177 (Mental Health Services Reimbursement Act) are now laws. With only about 6% of introduced bills passing in a session cycle, NASW-PA did well this year. Thank you to all of our members for both supporting these efforts through your dues and for calling legislators when asked. We made this happen as a united profession. NASW-PA will start again in January with new legislative goals. As a united profession there is much we can do!

Source: Jenna Mehnert, MSW, Executive Director, NASW-PA

Job Posting – Bilingual Social Worker

Harrisburg School District is seeking a bi-lingual social worker. Please see attachment for all the details (Job Bilingual).

Source: Lynn Notestine, MSW (lynn.notestine@temple.edu)

LSW/LCSW Exam License Prep

For those who plan to register to take either the LSW or LCSW license exam, we invite you to enroll in our new Social Work License Exam Preparation Course. For your convenience, it will be offered on two separate dates -- November 22, 2008 and February 28, 2009.

This comprehensive full-day preparatory course has been designed to increase student success, while decreasing test anxiety, on the master´s (LSW) and clinical (LCSW) social work license exam. Special attention is given to practice theory, social work terminology, therapeutic strategies, treatment, practice techniques, ethics, social work values, DSM-IV, psychopharmacology, as well as diversity sensitive practice. The course includes helpful practice test questions, a study manual, and discussion.

The one-day course meets 9:30am-4:30pm, and will take place here at the School. Participants provide their own lunch. The course is facilitated by David B. Wohlsifer, PhD, LCSW, who is in private practice with Bala Psychological Resources in Bala Cynwyd. He is an adjunct professor at Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Cost of the course is $120. The attached registration form may be mailed or faxed.

Source: Lynn Notestine, MSW (lynn.notestine@temple.edu) and Dr. Claudia Dewane (cdewane@temple.edu).

Humane Society of Harrisburg Needs Your Help

Blankets and towels (new or used) are needed for the crates/kennels of the animals at the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area. Your donation would be greatly appreciated. Blankets and towels may be dropped off any time at the Humane Society which is located at: 7790 Grayson Road, Harrisburg, PA (behind Walmart off of 322). There is a donation bin located outside to place donations when the shelter is closed. If you have a donation but are unable to get to the shelter, please contact Nikki Bricker at the eddress below.

(Alliance note: We contacted the Humane Society and spoke to Kerry, one of the receptionists. She also said that if anyone – like TUH in general perhaps?!? – has any shredded documents they can be used for the bottoms of cages for rabbits and other critters!)

Source: Nikki Bricker (Nikk1099@aol.com)

PA Youth Leadership Board Opening:

The Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN) would like to invite interested youth (age 16 to 28) to become members of our Governing Board. If anyone is passionate about making a difference in the lives of youth with disabilities, this is an amazing opportunity! And if you know someone whom you might think it may interest, please forward this email and pass it on.

The PYLN is a group of young adults with disabilities who want to make a difference in the lives of youth in Pennsylvania. The mission of the PYLN is to develop the self-determination, empowerment, and leadership of youth that promotes successful post school outcomes in the areas of education, employment, independent living, and health and wellness among youth and young adults throughout Pennsylvania.

Provide a youth voice at the table on important boards and committees that impact the lives of youth with disabilities. Develop and share transition, self-determination, self-advocacy, and empowerment resources geared toward youth with disabilities. Ensure unbiased policies, practices and attitudes that affect individuals with disabilities.

The PYLN Governing Board is now recruiting young adults to apply as candidates and asks these questions to see if you qualify:

Are you between the ages of 16 and 28?
Can you pass a security clearance to work with youth?
Have you shown leadership abilities at a local, state and/or national level?
Are you willing to passionately support the work of the PYLN?

If you can answer YES to all of these questions, you qualify to apply to the PYLN Governing Board. PYLN Governing Board Members participate on the governing body for the PYLN and are responsible for the Network operations, mentoring, conferences, etc. Specific Governing Board duties focus on mentoring and supporting local participants and carrying out Network activities. Governing Board members have a responsibility to:

  • Build relationships with local contacts.
  • Encourage new participants to join the Network.
    Where possible, make a connection with local youth organizations already established.
  • Participate in planning and carrying out conferences and other network activities.


If you´d like to apply please complete the attached application (see attachment: PYLNGoverning_Board_App). Any information you provide will only be shared with the current PYLN Governing Board Membership Committee. Please follow the directions for submission of your application packet on the Application form. After the applications are reviewed, you will receive notification of whether you have been selected to participate in Phase 2 of the screening process, where you will be interviewed over the telephone by the Governing Board. Please submit any questions to the Governing Board at pyln.gb@gmail.com

Source: Josie Badger (josiebadger@hotmail.com) via Rachel Imboden, SWSA Advocacy Coordinator, SWSA (rachel.imboden@temple.edu)

Encyclopedia of Social Work (20e) Now Available

The twentieth edition is now available at a discount for all NASW members:

Online eBook (annual subscription): $59.99 members/$39.99 student members
Hardbound (4 volumes, 2208 pages): $395.00 member price (list is $495)

For more information or to order, contact NASW via: naswpress.org
Source: NASW

The Alliance presents information, materials and/or events for your information and consideration. Unless otherwise specified, Alliance endorsement should not be assumed if an event is not a sponsored activity of Temple University. Listserv members are expected to contact the provider(s) themselves to investigate whether or not what is being provided is either beneficial or appropriate for the individual.

Contact Us

Social Work Student Alliance
Temple University Harrisburg
234 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17101
alliance@temple.edu