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WC Contingent Advocates in Columbus on Social Work Issues

Students Meet with State Legislator's Staff A group of Wilmington College social work students traveled to Columbus to lobby state legislators on a pair of issues related to their academic field and the National Assn. of Social Workers. PICTURED: From the left are Shania Peters, Brianna Lambert, Brittany Chrisman and Hanna Anderson. The students engaged in day-long advocacy training while also delving into the issues before meeting with Ohio Rep. Shane Wilkin's staff about House Bill 454 and Senate Bill 183. Wilkins is a Republican in the Ohio House of Representatives who represents District 91 (Clinton, Highland and Ross counties). He is running for Ohio's 17th State Senate district. Wendy Grab, assistant professor of social work noted the College's core values are "reflected" in their advocacy work. "We had some good discussion with Shane Wilkin's staffers, who also shared insight into how bills get introduced and moved through the system," Grab said. The Ohio Senate bill would end the death penalty in Ohio. "The death penalty is a cruel, expensive, discriminatory and arbitrary practice that does not deter crime, create accountability or support victims in their healing," Grab said, noting the country needs to invest in restorative care for victims, their families and incarcerated persons. The Ohio House bill would ban gender-affirming health and mental health care to LGBTQ+ youth, something the students lobbied against. Grab said the bill "disregards medical best practice and research and would cause irreparable damage to our youth and increase incidents of depression, anxiety and suicide challenges." "Advocates and allies need to organize on campus and lobby against this bill.," she added.