Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH Executive Director NASW was a proud co-sponsor of the celebration of Women Appointees of the Obama Administration. Sponsored by the Coalition for Women’s Appointments (of which NASW is a member), the event, held on September 29, was appropriately held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. Irene Natividad, Chair of the Coalition for Women’s Appointments... 

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. 5 Things to Do For Health Care Reform Attend a Town Hall Meeting in your area and discuss what you would like to see in health care reform. Contact your members of Congress about health care reform. Submit your health care stories to the White House. Keep informed of developments... 

Call your Representative NOW! This week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R.  3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, also referred to as the “Student Aid Bill”, which passed out of committee in late July by a vote of 30-17. Some experts contend that H.R. 3221 is historically the single largest investment in higher education that will significantly reduce loan debt... 

NASW Executive Director, Elizabeth J Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH I attended an event at the White House this morning, September 18, 2009, with First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls Tina Tchen. The focus of this meeting was to discuss the impact of health care reform on women and families. Many... 

Mirean Coleman, MSW, LICSW, CT September 2009 NASW would like to hear from clinical social workers and others who have encountered problems in providing mental health services to Medicare beneficiaries who are actively receiving home health care services under Medicare Part A. The association is also seeking information about the impact of situations in which Medicare beneficiaries receiving home care services were unable... 

Betsy Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH Executive Director Yesterday I had the nice opportunity to meet informally with Congressman Ed Towns (D-NY) and three of his staff members. Congressman Towns is the lead sponsor of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. He is also a staunch advocate for our profession, as he began his career as a social worker. I was joined by fellow social workers Jeane... 

Dear Colleagues, As an early career social worker, I’ve quickly realized that we have a lot of work to accomplish to ensure that our profession survives and thrives and that we can continue to care for the millions of clients who need our services every single day.  Many of my peers have found that low salaries, high educational debt, or safety concerns are a frustrating, but undeniable part of their social... 

Background According to many health economists, a public plan option in health reform would compete with private insurance plans and help make health care affordable for consumers and employers.  It would also function without the high administrative costs of for-profit insurers, and it would have the power to negotiate volume discounts and bargain with providers, forcing private insurers to deliver better, lower cost...