Vote “NO” November 8th!
Right now, abortions are not currently being performed in Kentucky except for medical emergencies because the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade earlier this year. Pro Choice groups have filed lawsuits stating that the ban is unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court will not even hear the case until November 15th, which is after the election. The right to abort should be between the patient and the provider, not the governments and politicians decision. Some may not see it, but abortion is absolutely part of health care. Women's health should be for theirs to decide. No one should be allowed to make that decision for them and their health. In 2021, 34 girls, ages 15 and younger received abortions because of first degree rape. Why would someone force a child to raise a child? The thought is imaginable! The wording on the ballot will ask if you’re in favor of amending the state constitution. The question will be at the end of the ballot. This is how the question will appear: “Are you in favor of amending the Constitution of Kentucky by creating a new Section of the Constitution to be numbered Section 26A to State as follows: To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion” So, if you vote “no” it means you do not support the proposed changes. Vote for reproductive freedom, vote “NO” on 2!
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Currently, there are 2.3 million people incarcerated in our jails and prison systems. The United States incarceration rate is more than 7 times the average in European Union countries. The best available data suggest that about 84,000 individuals endure extreme conditions of isolation. Solitary confinement is extremely bad for a person's mental and physical health. Correctional officials often defend their frequent use of solitary confinement as an effective means of maintaining order and preventing violence and gang activity but, relying on solitary confinement ignores the large number of studies demonstrating the harmful and often long-lasting effects it wrecks on the human mind and body. Usually, when the incarcerated individual gets out of jail or prison, usually they are worse off mentally, than when they went in. Effects Of Solitary Confinement Researchers and formerly incarcerated people made it clear that any “positive” benefits correctional institutions gain by using solitary confinement are outweighed by the severe and often permanent damages caused by prolonged isolation. Even if someone does not enter solitary confinement with a mental health condition, it is possible for them to develop a specific psychiatric syndrome from the effects from the isolation. Solitary confinement also increases the risk of premature death after they get released. Deaths by suicide, homicide, or opioid overdose after being released from prison are more likely for those that spent any amount of time (even one day) in solitary than those who never did. Prisons, juvenile systems, and jails are already inherently harmful, and placing people in solitary confinement adds an extra burden of stress that has been shown to cause permanent changes to people’s brains and personalities. Also, people who experience solitary confinement are more likely to develop anxiety and depression along with physical damage such as vision loss, chronic pain, and fractures. Solitary confinement does not help anything or any situation, in fact it does the opposite. Solitary confinement increases violence, causes more behavior problems, and increases institutional and public safety. What Can We Do? Go to https://socialworkersasc.org (Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement Website) and join the task force, and participate in the monthly call to see how you can help! Go to https://solitarywatch.org/ ,which is the National Solitary Confinement Watchdog Group and review the information about legislative campaigns in your state. With help and support, we could end solitary confinement and help save lives and mental health. Lets advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves! Yes, you read that correctly. How is it possible that in 2022, there are still laws not only allowing but protecting the practice of conversion therapy? Aside from this being true, it is also preposterous and appalling beyond belief. According to Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky, a nonpartisan movement dedicated to protecting the youth from the tortures of conversion, more than 700,000 LGBTQ people have been affected by the terrors of conversion therapy. In addition, around 80,000 LGBTQ youth will undergo this unethical and improper therapy in the coming years.
Long Lasting Effects of Conversion Therapy The attempt at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity by shaming tactics, causing emotional trauma, or in many cases, causing actual physical pain in the individual, so that they associate those feelings with their LGTBQ identities leaves lasting effects. Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky cites that in 2009, the American Psychological Association found that risks of conversion practices include “depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, and suicidality,” amongst many other adverse effects. More shockingly, “42% of youth who experienced conversion therapy report suicide attempts” (Trevor Project National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 2019). What We Can Do Today to Help Aside from holding no empirical evidence of success, having no support from the nation’s leading professional mental health associations, and being downright unethical, some progress has been made in the battle to ban conversion therapy in Kentucky. The “Youth Mental Health Protection Act,” or Senate Bill 137 (SB 137), has made its way to the Health and Welfare Committee in the Senate. Governor Andy Beshear endorsed SB 137 and its companion bill in the House (HB 12). While good progress is being made in the Senate, according to QueerKentucky.com, there are three easy ways you can help in this effort: 1. Call 1-800-372-7181 to contact Senators on the Health and Welfare Committee saying you support Kentucky’s kids and SB 137. 2. Call 1-800-372-7181 to leave a message for House leadership asking for HB 12 to be assigned to a committee. 3. Follow BCTK (Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky) on social media to stay updated with all the new developments and learn more about the names of House and Senate members who have co-sponsored the legislation. Social Workers take care of people all day long. There are many ups and downs involved in this career. Social workers work with patients and clients in a variety of settings to help them handle, solve, and cope with both everyday problems and more serious problems that they encounter in their lives. While some clients may face joyous situations, such as adopting a child, many seek
the help of a social worker to assist them during times of hardship. Social Workers may feel burnt out over time because as they take care of everyone else's needs, they may neglect their own needs. If a Social Worker is burnt out or has compassion fatigue, then the client sufferers as well. A professional in social work stated that, “As social workers, we really do often put the needs of others before our own, thinking we will eat after everyone has gotten enough food. The problem is we continue to go undernourished until we fall ill or breakdown; then no one gets fed,”. Self care is important for Social Workers to implement into their daily lives. Here are some self care suggestions: ● Create a self care plan that is designed for you. ● Make sure to get plenty of rest, eat nutritionally, and go on occasional walks. ● Leaning on trusted others for support. ● Paying attention to when your body signals you to slow down and listening to it, and not pushing yourself to the point of breakdown. ● That simple word, “no” is both rare and powerful, an expert notes. “Self-care means saying yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no, and letting the chips fall where they may. It’s a matter of evolving out of being a people pleaser and learning to set healthy boundaries to be better able to serve the greater good”. ● Ask for help when needed and accept the help! Social workers help relieve people's suffering, fight for social justice, and improve lives and communities. Remember to take care of yourself, because after all, Social Workers are rockstars! “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”— Anne Lamott |
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