Dr. Michael Meacham to be Named Among NASW's 1,000 Experts

迈克尔·米查姆博士，社会学教授

瓦尔多斯塔——几十年来，迈克尔·米查姆博士一直在研究人群中的社会问题和社会正义。这位瓦尔多斯塔州立大学（Valdosta State University）社会学教授与街头帮派和邪教打交道的工作，让他进入监狱和移民营，与来自各行各业的客户打交道。The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has invited Meacham to be a part of its 1,000 Experts Campaign, which features some of the brightest and best leaders in the social work profession nationwide.

在全美社会工作者协会的1000名专家中，社会工作者代表了社会工作的几个领域，包括心理健康服务以及儿童和老年人工作。

"My areas of expertise include gangs and cults, the sociology of religion, and diversity," said Meacham. “我的许多客户确实需要帮助，但很多人都拒绝了他们，因为他们害怕与他们合作。I get special pleasure in working with these clients and helping them normalize their situations."

Meacham prides himself on working to fully understand each of his clients and their needs.

米查姆说：“这类工作需要安全和自卫方面的培训，因为必须准备好平息潜在的暴力局势。”"However, I always urge people not to generalize. 很多时候，帮派和邪教中的人都是非常绝望的人，他们在寻找归属感。Understanding their situations could change one's perspective of them."

作为堪萨斯州惩教局的一名治疗师，米查姆在最低到最高安全级别的监狱里工作了几年，并与囚犯一起捣毁了监狱里的帮派。

米查姆说：“我的一些客户在接受治疗后，从监狱系统获释，因为他们的罪行似乎是创伤后应激障碍的结果。”"With others, I found that getting them involved in other activities and hopeful situations helped them make better decisions."

米查姆在一个工人阶级社区长大，父亲是一名民权律师，他很早就对社会正义和社会问题产生了兴趣。

"My siblings and I learned about discrimination and bigotry as kids, so when we grew up we all got into fields that addressed those things," he said.

虽然他的大部分职业生涯都是在监狱里度过的，但他在过去的17年里一直在州立大学工作，在那里他教授有关有组织的宗教和帮派结构的课程。

Meacham is also a part of the American Red Cross Georgia Chapter disaster team and is preparing to teach courses to licensed members on disaster preparation. He has also worked with farmworkers for at least four years as part of the South Georgia Farmworker Project.  

米查姆说：“我最引以为傲的一件事就是尊重我所有的客户，不管他们的情况如何。“很多客户处理抑郁,物质滥用,家庭暴力或适应障碍。If you work with them the right way, they will show you respect and you can work together to reach many solutions."

Meacham是一名持牌社会工作者，拥有社会学文学硕士学位、社会学哲学硕士学位、社会工作硕士学位和社会学哲学博士学位。His background includes work with inmates, the chronically mentally ill, juveniles, the elderly, and the homeless. 他曾在美国国家社会学协会担任多个职位，并发表了超过25次。