NATCHITOCHES – State Senator Louie Bernard was invited to speak to a social work class at Northwestern State University where he discussed issues and policies in Louisiana from a legislator’s perspective.
Students in Social Work 4350, a social welfare policy class, asked questions pertaining to gun control, marijuana legalization and juvenile corrections. As part of their coursework, students are required to identify and analyze issues in their community and develop a plan for action to address and advocate for change.
Bernard served as Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court for 24 years before he was elected to the state senate in 2018 to represent District 31, which encompasses all or parts of Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine and Winn parishes.
Assistant Professor of Social Work Kirby Peddy organized the lecture to concur with Social Work Month, observed in March.
Social Work Month brings awareness about the diverse occupations associated with social work with professionals working in hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, veterans’ centers, child welfare agencies, the criminal justice system, corporations and government agencies. Social workers help people on the individual level, addressing personal crises such as food insecurity, lack of affordable housing or limited access to good healthcare, as well as advocate on a system level to ensure laws and policies are adopted so that services can be accessed and utilized.
Information on NSU’s Department of Social Work is available at https://www.nsula.edu/socialwork/.
