Join the Human Services Community Online

HandsNet Invites SEIU 535 Members to Participate in On Line Discussions On Welfare Reform and Child Welfare Issues.

The World Wide Web is rapidly becoming a community for the social services community. "We provide a place for members of the human services community to connect up with each other, using the Internet," states Alicia Newton, a former SEIU 535 member and union steward who is now Project Coordinator and Forum Moderator for HandsNet. "It is like the old days of community organizing, only we utilize online conferences on the Internet and e-mail in addition to outreach by telephone."

HandsNet, a national nonprofit organization is one of the oldest human services resources on the World Wide Web, offering discussion groups, human services news and a "clipping" service, where members can get articles on selected topics e-mailed to them. As a former social worker, Newton is excited about getting her former union colleagues involved. "We want the people on the front lines taking part in the discussions," she states. To make that happen, Newton is inviting Local 535 members to participate in the on going Working Families Online Roundtables, which she moderates along with Kim Allen. The Roundtables, funded by the Ford Foundation, are part of an effort to assist human service professionals to aide working poor families as they transition off of welfare.

The current roundtable is entitled: "Effective Organizing & Advocacy" (now through 12/15/00), where you can read about how different groups are using the Internet for advocacy work on social services issues.

Future roundtables include: "Employment Training: Links to the Community" and "Teen Parenting" both beginning in January 2001. These topics should be of particular interest to employment case managers, and children's protective services workers. HandsNet is a national nonprofit organization providing interactive online information services and Internet training to help human services professionals strengthen programs and policy work on behalf of children, families, and people in need.

The two major components of the organization are HandsNet's WebClipper service, an on-line clipping service, and HandsNet's National Training Program. The Dragon encourages local 535 members to check out HandsNet by visiting them at http://www.handsnet.org. Members interested in participating in the roundtables can contact Alicia Newton at anewton@handsnet.org or phone at (408) 291-5111 ext. 27. Mention that you are a SEIU 535 member.