Watch the video archive of the August 27th Webcast on what pregnant women and new mothers can do to prepare for the H1N1 flu. Email questions were answered by the expert panel during the broadcast. What Pregnant Women Should Know About H1N1 (swine) Flu  Read More →

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is deeply saddened by the death of United States Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), who after a year-long battle with brain cancer, died this week. Sen. Kennedy has been a champion for many social policies of significance to social workers and their clients throughout his tenure in the Senate of more than 40 years. Two of the cornerstones of the social work profession... 

August Recess We will be taking a break from the Health Care Reform Roundup while Congress is in recess (through September 7). We still encourage you to attend Town Hall Meetings throughout the month of August and write to your members of Congress about health care reform. We are sending announcements to Advocacy Listserv members when we hear of a Town Hall Meeting in your district or state. Personal stories are very... 

Congress at home for August Recess Members of Congress are in their home districts for the August recess through September 7. Sonia Sotomayor wins Senate Confirmation to the Supreme Court and is Sworn in On August 6, Sonia Sotomayor won Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court, making her the 111th Supreme Court Justice and the third woman Justice. She is the first Latina to serve on the Court. Sotomayor was confirmed... 

On Friday, August 14, NASW was invited to the White House for a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss health care/insurance reform and aging issues.  The roundtable discussion was facilitated by Nancy-Ann DeParle, Counselor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform; and Tina Tchen, Director of White House Office of Public Engagement. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Adviser to the President welcomed... 

On Friday, August 14, NASW participated in a conference call with the White House to discuss the current status of the health care reform/insurance debate, messaging and strategy.  The White House also announced its new webpage, www.whitehouse.gov/RealityCheck to help separate fact from fiction about health insurance reform.  The conference call speakers included Tina Tchen, Director of the White House Office of Public... 

On Wednesday, August 12, NASW was invited to attend a meeting in the Executive Office Building of the White House regarding Women for Health Insurance Reform – Stability and Security for All Americans.   The goal of the meeting was to emphasize how important women are in discussing the need for health care reform.  The speakers for the meeting were Valerie Jarrett, Senior Adviser to the President; Tina Tchen, Director... 

As a professional social worker, educator, Executive Director of the NASW New Hampshire Chapter, and long-time advocate for universal health care, I was privileged to attend the President’s town hall meeting in Portsmouth, NH on August 11. I wasn’t sure what to expect as the high school where the event was held was surrounded by supporters and opponents carrying signs and bullhorns. However, inside the crowd was... 

Legislation Medicare payment rates for clinical social worker services and payments for all physician services, delivered independently under Part B are scheduled for a 21% cut in 2010. Congress is addressing Medicare provider payment rates in health care reform legislation. In addition, NASW seeks inclusion of a Medicare provision expanding clinical social work services delivered to certain Medicare beneficiaries in... 

August 3, 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Chair Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Kennedy: On behalf of the 150,000 members of the National Association of Social Workers, I am writing in support of the confirmation of Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Founded in 1955, NASW is the largest...