The FTC has announced that enforcement of the new Red Flags Identity Theft Rule, scheduled to become effective August 1, 2009, has been delayed until November 1, 2009 to give the agency additional time to develop guidance for small businesses.  Health care practitioners are subject to the new requirements.  For more information see http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/redflag.shtm and https://www.socialworkers.org/ldf/legal_issue/2009/200906.asp  Read More →

The Chicage Tribune recently featured a social worker and cancer survivor in St. Charles who  offers oasis to those who need moments of peace, quiet. By Alexa Aguilar |Special to the Tribune | July 29, 2009 When Deborah Marqui of St. Charles planted the first flowers in her garden more than 30 years ago, she envisioned it as a place her family would enjoy in the years to come. But instead it flowered into a 2-acre “healing... 

The Final FY2010 Wage Index Rule was posted on the Federal Register public inspection desk just now.  NHPCO is thrilled to announce that the reimbursement cuts associated with the elimination of the Budget Neutrality Adjustment Factor have now been spread out over 7 years, instead of being harshly phased in over just 2 years. For nearly 18 months, the hospice community has been fighting a regulation originally proposed... 

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius US Signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Today, the United States joins 141other nations who have signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The signing of the UN Convention sends an important message that this country is committed to equal rights for people with disabilities, in... 

NASW participated in two White House conference calls this week on health care reform. Conference call with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sibelius and Mary Wakefield, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) regarding new funding for health care professions training.  See http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/07/20090728c.html for the press release.... 

The Corporation for National and Community Service hosts the most comprehensive collection of information on volunteering in the U.S. at its Web site: www.VolunteeringInAmerica.gov.  This site allows civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, and interested individuals to retrieve a wide range of information regarding trends and demographics in volunteering in their regions, states, and almost 200 cities. This document... 

The Washington Post’s recent article, “The Making of an Agent” featured social worker Krista Bradford as she trains as a secret service recruit. “Krista had just assessed a 4-year-old autistic girl. She told the girl’s mother to buy crayons and blocks, she later recalled. As a social worker, Krista was tired of rappelling into lives after they’d crumbled. She wanted to try something... 

In an effort to keep you informed of the work NASW is doing on health care reform, we will periodically send out a roundup of activities. Legislation Introduced On July 14, 2009, Rep. Dingell (MI-15) introduced the America’s Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009, H.R. 3200. This act is the result of work among three committees in the House to fulfill President Obama’s goals of reducing health care costs,... 

NASW has recently signed onto the CCD Letter to Chairman Kennedy “The following members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) are writing to express our deep appreciation for the effort that has gone into getting the Affordable Health Choices Act successfully passed by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.” For more information on NASW’s Health Care Reform efforts,... 

The White House Project has announced new training dates for the fall. The White House Project trains women to run for public office. Their award-winning Go Run leadership training will provide you with the inspiration, information, and necessary tools to lead a political life.  Whether you’re a political novice or embarking on a 2010 campaign, participants come away from the weekend training with the network...