Students Attend Social Work Advocacy Day in Jackson, Mississippi

Social Work Advocacy Day was organized by the National Association of Social Workers—Mississippi Chapter with help from the University of Southern Mississippi Social Work Department. The event took place in the state capital of Jackson. Students from Tupelo, DeSoto, and Oxford campuses attended the event, learning about the legislative process, how to access their elected representatives, and were able to meet with legislators and ask them questions.

They also sat in the Senate Gallery to observe Senate proceedings and see the passing of Senate Bill 2481. The bill creates a Mental Health Task Force to review the state’s public mental health system. Finally, the students witnessed a press conference by Dr. Tamara Hurst of the University of Southern Mississippi and Ashlee Lucas of the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security regarding the need for efforts to be made to prevent human trafficking in our state.