Michigan social workers in Cuba, October 2013.

I am excited to again be leading this group and returning to Cuba for the fifth time! Each time I return to Cuba I am newly invigorated by the communitarian spirit and the commitments to health and education that give the Cuban people a remarkable quality of life despite living with the consequences of a US embargo for the past half century.                                               — Marjorie Ziefert, LMSW, ACSW

This program will provide a close look at vital issues facing Cuba today with a focus on (1) sustainable social and environmental policy and practice and the integration of the two in Cuba; (2) clinical practice  in terms of family, child and adolescent intervention and therapy; issues of gender, race and class in Cuba as they impact the practice of social work in the Social Welfare system.

Participants will have the opportunity to interact with official policy makers, directors of programs, and a variety of practitioners with a range of social work and other disciplinary training. The program will include engagement with urban and rural Cuban citizens in a variety of formal and informal settings as well as a variety of cultural activities.

Through site visits, presentations and discussions, participants will be presented with Cuba's perspective on the issues and encouraged to think critically about how these perspectives relate to the US – our work as social workers, and to society in general, as well as how Cuban and US social workers can learn from each other… and of course, how we, as US citizens, can help to bridge the gaps so that we can work together for the well-being of our clients, communities, countries, world and planet.

Social Welfare in Cuba Sample Program

Social Welfare in Cuba Orientation Packet

If you have any questions on the program and/or  logistics for the delegation, please email Pam Montanaro, Coordinator for Eco Cuba Network or call 510-318-4910.

Social Work Continuing Education Hours (CEs): This trip offers 40 CEs through the Michigan and New York State Chapters of NASW. Members of either NASW chapter can receive these CEs for no additional cost. Social Workers from either State wanting to receive CEs for the trip, who are not members of either chapter can do so by paying a $250 administrative fee to either chapter. Social Workers from other states will need to check with their state licensing authority to be sure that the CEs approved by either the New York or Michigan NASW will be accepted in your state. Most states do have reciprocity about CEs and for the most part this has not been an issue in the past. For further information about CEs please contact Marjorie Ziefert, LMSW, at mziefert@emich.edu

Spouses, partners, friends and colleagues of Social Workers who work in related fields are also welcome to participate.

For articles and videos on Social Welfare and Sustainability in Cuba, check out our Resources on Social Welfare in Cuba page.

For articles and videos on Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development in Cuba, check out our ECN Resources page.

Fees:

•   $2700   Program/in-Cuba logistics fee
  
•   $500     Flight package fee
  

Program/in-Cuba logistics fee includes:

• Double room accommodations in 4 star hotel and 2 meals per day*
• Full program
• Tour guide and translator for all scheduled events
• Transportation to all scheduled events
• Honoraria to all host speakers, organizations and communities
• Preparatory educational material
• Access to Eco Cuba Network coordinators before, during and after tour

* Single Supplement is $350

Program/in-Cuba logistics fee does not include:

• Bottled Water and other beverages
• Tips to hotel and wait staff
• End of tour gratuity to guide and driver
• Optional evening cultural activities and non-scheduled activities
  
• Personal expenses

Flight Package fee includes:

• Round trip airfare Miami to Havana 
• Required Cuban health insurance 
• Cuban visa 
• Fedex delivery 

How to Register:

Please print out and complete the Social Welfare December 2017 Registration Form and then scan/email it, along with a photocopy of your passport, to Pam Montanaro at pam@ecocubanetwork.net.  If you prefer, you may call in your credit card account number to Pam at 510-318-4910, but you must still complete and sign the Credit Card Authorization page on the form. A deposit of $500 is due upon registration.

This trip will be limited to 22 participants.  Application forms will be processed in the order in which they are received.  The completed forms and deposit are due by August 15, 2017. However participants are encouraged to submit their forms as soon as possible to ensure participation.

Cuba travel for Eco Cuba Network tours, including the flight, visa and required Cuban health insurance, is arranged by Marazul Charters, a licensed Cuba Travel Service Provider with a half century of experience arranging Cuba travel for professional, educational, cultural, and "people to people" delegations to research every aspect of Cuban life.

We must receive your application and a non-refundable deposit of $500 by two  months before departure, but preferably upon registration. Payments by Mastercard, Visa and Discover are welcome. Full payment is due 4 – 6 weeks before departure.

Participants should also allow at least $50 – 100 per day for personal expenses and non-covered items, the flight to Miami from your home city, and one overnight stay in Miami the night before departure for Cuba.

Eco Cuba Network is a project of the Green Cities Fund.