State Budget Cuts Impact Child Welfare Programs
At a time when demand for child welfare services is growing and more investments are needed, the faltering economy is driving record state budget deficits and reductions in child welfare funding.
NPR aired a 2-part story on this issue. In part 1, Michael Petit, a social worker, NASW member, and President and Founder of Every Child Matters, was quoted regarding the state budget cuts. Part 2 addressed the long term consequences of these cuts.
Recently, many of you wrote to Congress in support of the “We Can Do Better” campaign, part of a multi-organizational strategy to garner federal government support for child welfare. In addition, NASW has launched a “Child Welfare Initiative,” to strengthen the system. A key component of this initiative is to advocate for public policies that improve social workers’ ability to protect our nation’s vulnerable children and families.
NASW’s legislative agenda for the remainder of the Session of Congress includes increasing sponsorship of the Child Welfare Workforce Improvement Act (S. 2837), the Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act (H.R. 1490), and the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).
Please urge your members of Congress to take action on these bills to make child well-being a national priority.
Congress Takes on TANF
On March 11, 2010, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support heard testimony about the role of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in providing assistance to families with little or no income. In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) expressed concern that “only 22% of poor children receive assistance from TANF,” and called for an extension of the TANF emergency fund as an essential first step in providing a helping hand for those who need it most. The chairman also called for a broader discussion about how the TANF law might be changed to assist more needy families.
Witnesses included Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI); Carmen Nazario, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Children and Families; Kay Brown of the U.S. Government Accountability Office; Russell Sykes, on behalf of the National Association of State TANF Administrators; Georgetown University Law Center Professor Peter Edelman; and Robert Rector, on behalf of the Heritage Foundation.
To view video of Congressmen McDermott’s opening statement or to read the witness’ testimony, go to http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetails.aspx?NewsID=11036.
NASW is advocating for TANF to be reauthorized this year. Our recommendations include that Congress increase supports for working families, eliminate education barriers, address employment barriers, provide a child poverty reduction bonus, restore immigrant eligibility, and enhance the capacity of the welfare system infrastructure. You can view a report on TANF at https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/EconomicSecurityBook-web.pdf
Happy Social Work Month
Every now and then, something very significant takes place during my work day. Yesterday was one of those days. I had the opportunity to meet and spend some time with Congressman John Lewis from Georgia. I imagine almost all of you recognize his name. He is often called “one of the most courageous persons in the Civil Rights Movement” and he has dedicated his life to protecting human rights and securing civil liberties. Just this past weekend, Congressman Lewis attended the 45th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, AL, the march that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. .
His office contains the numerous honors that have been bestowed upon him during the last half century. While it felt almost like a museum,. Mr. Lewis is living testament to a lifetime of work on behalf of others..
Mr. Lewis is dynamic, passionate and engaged. He understands and appreciates what social workers do and what our goals are. Two of his staff, including, his chief of staff, are social workers.
If you have not read Congressman Lewis’ book, Walking with the Wind:: A Memoir of the Movement, I hope you will take the time to do so. Congressman Lewis reminds us of what one person can do to change the world.
As another Social Work Month begins , we want to acknowledge social workers everywhere for the outstanding work that you do. Together, we are making a difference.
Happy Social Work Month.
Elizabeth J Clark, PhD, ACSW
Executive Director, NASW
Fattah’s reception
On March 10, 2010 NASW attended a fundraiser for the Honorable Chaka Fattah (D-PA) seeking his support for the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R.795). Representative Fattah is a Member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and without fail, embraces the mission of social work especially social service administration to underserved populations. During the event, Representative Fattah spoke with conviction about the importance of social work to his congressional district (2nd) and the measureable outcomes due to intervention that have dramatically improved the lives of many. The Congressman also discussed his commitment to NASW’S education agenda.
Senate Hearing on Childhood Obesity
Consistent with First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to confront the issue of childhood obesity, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions heard testimony on March 4, 2010, about the prevalence of obesity among America’s youth. Panelists included Dr. Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General; Dr. Joseph Thompson, Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity; Dr. Sandra Hassink, Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Obesity Leadership Workgroup; and Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Rashard Mendenhall.
NASW recognizes childhood obesity as an major public health concern, with significant implications for future U.S. health care costs. Obese children are being diagnosed with health problems previously considered to be “adult” illnesses, such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and fatty liver disease. Overweight and obese children are at risk for a host of serious future illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. Obesity and related complications disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority children and children living in poverty.
NASW applauds Congress’ acknowledgment of this multi-dimensional issue and its efforts to address it. To view the hearing’s video and for more information, go to http://help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=059b63ce-5056-9502-5d89-33fed050a9f3.
Senate Restores Medicare Psychotherapy Rates until December
Last week Congress halted the so-called Medicare “physician fee cut” that set Part B payment rates for clinical social workers and all independent Medicare outpatient providers with passage of an extension of Medicare physician payments at last year’s level through March 31. On Wednesday, March 10, the Senate passed a critical extension of these provisions (H.R. 4213). Eight Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat a GOP filibuster of this measure. Similar legislation passed the House in December and a conference to reconcile their differences is now required to enact this legislation.
H.R. 4213 extends the SGR component of the physician fee only through September 30. More importantly for CSWs, the bill retroactively restores a separate five-percent cut that hit Medicare psychotherapy rates on the first of this year. The proposed restoration of Medicare psychotherapy rates would apply to services delivered from January 1, through December 31. Since many private insurance plans pay social workers based on Medicare psychotherapy rates, this will benefit many clinical social workers in private practice.
The new Senate bill also includes a host of provisions unrelated to Medicare, including tax cut extenders and unemployment measures. Federal fiscal relief to help states with their escalating Medicaid expenditures is also included. This provision, called Medicaid FMAP extension, provides $25 billion in emergency Medicaid funds sought by President Obama and supported by NASW.
NASW expects to begin work on new legislation making a long-term correction of Medicare psychotherapy rates as soon as H.R. 4213 is signed into law.
For background on the complex issues involving clinical social fees, see NASW’s advocacy blog posts here.
NASW Cosponsors Public Health Briefing
On March 2, over 80 congressional staff and interested organizations participated in the 6th annual Public Health Briefing 101 entitled, Building Capacity to Meet America’s Mounting Health Needs hosted by the Coalition for Health Funding. The briefing provided information about the public health continuum and its needs. NASW was a cosponsor of the briefing. To view the presentation of the briefing speakers, go to: http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/healthfunding/congressionalbriefing.htm
HHS Secretary to Testify about Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to testify before the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 10 at 2 p.m. in Room 124 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing can be viewed live via webcast from the Senate Appropriations page. Additional information is available at: http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=16c07802-c2f8-4485-9315-640f25ea7a81
Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month and NASW’S longstanding advocacy as well as success on women’s issues prompted an invitation from the Women in Politics Institute to attend a panel discussion and reception acknowledging the contributions of women in government, including those within the Obama Administration. The event will occur on March 23, 2010 at the Katzen Arts Center on the campus of American University located in Washington, D.C. Invited guests include the following luminaries: The Honorable Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, Tina Tchen, Director, White House Office of Public Engagement and Anita McBride, Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush.
Medicare Rate Update
2009 Rates extended until March 31