In April of 2009, the Army launched a campaign to promote health, reduce risk, and prevent suicide among its members. Today, they released the results of this fifteen month study.  The study is primarily focused on diagnosing current problems, rather than on solutions.  Still, the report hints at reforms the Army expects to implement.

NASW applauds these efforts, and will continue to advocate for progress on health promotion, risk reduction, and suicide prevention for America’s servicemen and women.

NASW’s focus on veteran’s affairs has taken on heightened importance over the last few years.  The long and still ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to an increasing number of returning veterans who require care.

To this end, we have pushed for increased construction of VA hospitals.  For many years, resources were not provided for the maintenance and construction of VA medical facilities.  With more and more veterans returning from overseas, the need to alleviate this problem became more pressing.  This message has been heard loud and clear by Congress, which has provided funding for a new state of the art facility under construction in Southern Nevada.

It is important to note the separate Mental Health Building in this complex.  We have long sought to educate public officials about the importance of holistic care for veterans that meets their physical, emotional, and psychological needs.  With this new and advanced facility, Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs have taken a decisive step in the right direction.

Twin measures passed the full House and the Senate Armed Services Committee on repealing the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy this week.  While this does not mean the policy has been eliminated, these two votes represented the biggest hurdles that stood in the way of repeal.

Please note that a compromise was struck in order to secure sufficient votes: the President, the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are authorized to implement repeal only when they are satisfied that the military’s readiness, recruiting, retention and morale would not be adversely impacted.  As a result, NASW will continue lobbying on this issue until repeal has fully and completely occurred.

Thanks to those who responded to our action alerts on this issue.

You can find more information about LGBT issues on our web site at http://www.socialworkers.org/diversity/new/glbt.asp.

Not long after Barack Obama was elected President, he worked closely with Eric Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), on eliminating homelessness among people who are veterans.  The issue became so important that Sec. Shinseki publicly stated that he wanted to completely end veteran homelessness by 2015.

The VA is taking some immediate steps to aid homeless veterans.  Recently, a webpage was created  on the VA site.  If you know or work with a veteran who is homeless, please pass this information along to them.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), held a hearing on the status of the U.S. military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. The two witnesses invited to the hearing were Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense.

Sen. Levin opened the hearing by calling the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy “discriminatory”, then cited the popularity of repealing the DADT rule according to polling data. He noted that other countries have repealed similar rules without major problems, and expressed concern at the number of significant military figures, including linguists with skills in Middle Eastern languages, who have been lost due to the DADT policy.

Click here to watch the hearing in its entirety.

Adm. Mullen’s testimony was surprisingly personal. Rather than simply speak from the Joint Chiefs of Staff perspective, he expressed concern about the notion that people who wish to serve in the military have to lie about who they are in order to do so. Adm. Mullen also acknowledged that some disruption in the military’s overall lifestyle would be inevitable, but that thoughtful and thorough studies would be conducted to limit any problems.

After that, all Members of the Committee were permitted to ask questions, most of which broke down on party lines. Democrats universally expressed support for the idea of repealing DADT, with just a few asking Sec. Gates and Adm. Mullen about proper implementation of the potential new policy. The Republicans either opposed repeal of DADT outright, or expressed such strong concerns about the change that they effectively support retaining DADT, even if they did not explicitly say so.

As always, we will closely monitor any further hearings, bills, and other relevant updates on the DADT issue.

First Lady Michelle Obama has made military families a priority throughout her time in the White House. First, she thanked veterans and their families privately for their contributions. Then, she publicly stated her support alongside Dr. Jill Biden at the 2009 World Series.

Now, she has delivered the most meaningful contribution of all: a promise of funding. According to Mrs. Obama, a three percent increase in funding will be implemented to a wide range of military programs. Official information, including a video, can be found at the official White House website here.

This work comes on the heels of other White House announcements that not only benefit veterans, but social workers as well. For example, one year advanced funding for the Veterans Administration was authorized by President Obama in October. Multiyear budgets can help social workers understand their job security within the VA’s employment structure.

Additionally, The White House has announced the construction of 359 military facilities across the country, to provide our nation’s veterans with improved rehabilitation and support services. This was part of The Recovery Act, described in greater detail here.

All in all, the first year of the Obama Administration has witnessed important gains not just for military personnel and veterans, but for the social workers who serve them.

In October, Representative Barbara Lee (CA-9) introduced H.R. 3699, a bill to prohibit any funds being expended to increase the number of members of the United States armed forces serving in Afghanistan. The bill currently has 27 cosponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Forces. Rep. Lee, a social worker, was the only opponent to George W. Bush’s War Resolution in 2002 by introducing House Concurrent Resolution 473 into the 107th Congress, which urged the United States to re-engage the diplomatic process and stressed the government’s commitment to the United Nations’ inspections process. NASW applauds the efforts of Representative Lee to restore peace.

Video: Can We Live up to the Social Work Legacy?

Please take a moment to view a video NASW just recorded for you regarding the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R. 795/ S.686. This legislation is a first step to address serious workforce challenges such as low salaries, high educational debt, and safety concerns and will determine the best course of action to strengthen our profession. The bill is important to all social workers, and in this brief video we explain why leaders like Frances Perkins, Dorothy Height, and Whitney Young provide lessons for us to learn from and a legacy we must continue. NASW hopes we can count on our fellow social workers to stand up for our profession as we have always stood up for our clients.

NASW Attends Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference

On September 13-15 NASW attended the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Conference. On September 23-26, NASW attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). The Public Policy Conference and the ALC featured issue forums that focused on issues ranging from poverty and economic issues to housing, health and veterans.

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Senate Confirmation of Carmen Nazario as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the United States Senate unanimously confirmed social worker Carmen Nazario as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. In that role, she will oversee the Administration for Children and Families within HHS.

“Carmen Nazario has a distinguished record of more than 40 years working in human services at every level of government, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors,” said Secretary Sebelius.  “She has devoted her career to developing and implementing programs that promote the well-being of children and families, and she will build on that important work as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.” (more…)

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Read about this bill

Background
On Feb. 3, 2009 Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the Military Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Act (H.R.840). The bill seeks to reduce violence against military personnel and their families by enhancing programs of prevention and deterrence, improving victim services, and strengthening provisions for prosecution of assailants.

Women who courageously serve in our armed forces must deal with the possibility of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape during their service.  One study noted that sexual assault in the military is three to ten times more prevalent than in the general population. Nearly one-third of a nationwide sample of female veterans who sought health care through the VA said they experienced rape or attempted rape during their service.

This legislation is not specific to women, as men also risk sexual assault in the military.  Every service member deserves full rights and protections from abuse, and this legislation ensures that this occurs.

Specifically the legislation will:
-Establish an Office of Victims Advocate (OVA) within the Department of Defense, bring the Family Advocacy Program under OVA, and create a Director of OVA to oversee and coordinate efforts to prevent and respond to cases of family violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.-Codify rights, restitution policies, treatment and other services for victims within the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), including creating comprehensive confidentiality protocols to protect the rights of victims within military law

-Strengthen policies for reporting, prosecuting and treating perpetrators of violence

-Create counseling and treatment programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs

Action Requested
Contact your Representative today and ask them to become a cosponsor of H.R. 840 and to actively work for its passage. If your Representative is already a cosponsor, you can send them a thank you note.