Heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia create an environment of discrimination and bias, and can both create and sustain policies and practices that place lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons as less than equal with regard to legal rights, economic and educational opportunities, and social status across diverse societies.

In a speech recognizing International Human Rights Day, Secretary Rodham Clinton noted, “Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights”.

Social workers worldwide understand the importance of educating ourselves and others about heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia  – - and working for change and ensuring human rights for all persons.   Learn more about how to improve the health, safety, and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can become chronic, life-long infections which can lead to liver
cancer. Millions of Americans are living with chronic viral hepatitis, and many do not know they are infected.

HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis,  and other sexually transmitted infections have socially and culturally based stigmas, and as a result, barriers persist in preventive education.   Studies have documented disparities in access to care and treatment and diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and/or HCV in underserved and/or marginalized communities.

Learn more about the social work role in promoting awareness and treatment for this emerging
health issue of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis co-infection from the NASW HIV/AIDS Spectrum Project.

Find out if you should be tested by taking a 5 minute online Hepatitis Risk Assessment.

The National Workgroup to Address the Needs of Children and Youth Who Are LGBTQI2-S and Their Families, which is convened by the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch (CAFB), Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) .  The LGBTQI2-S Workgroup has numerous resources to help social workers support and enhance services for children and youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, or two-spirit (LGBTQI2-S). NASW staff is a member of the LGBTYQI2-S Workgroup.

Please see the recently released Top Health Issues for LGBT Populations Information and Resource Kit, also published by SAMHSA.  The document is designed to better equip providers and educators on current health issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. The document also includes an overview of terms related to gender identity and sexual expression.  More information can be found on the SAMHSA blog.

And earlier this week – U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius recognized LGBT Health Awareness Week by noting it “is an important time to highlight the progress our country is making to address the unique health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans, especially through implementation of the health care law, the Affordable Care Act”.

Click here for more information about NASW’s work on LGBT issues.

Social workers recognize that culturally competent HIV prevention, care and treatment
requires keeping current on substance use, medication adherence, mental health, and ethical practice.

The NASW HIV/AID Spectrum Project has been providing professional development
continuing education for more than a decade. Read about who attends the workshops and some of the ‘lessons learned’ in a brief update based on participant evaluations.
Learn more about NASW’s response to HIV/AIDS and provider education opportunities available through the NASW HIV/AIDS Spectrum Project.

Jane Bierdeman-Fike served on the NASW National Board of Directors. She also served on the NASW Missouri Chapter Executive Committee as Vice-President, elect in 1975, and as President, elected in 1977.  She is a recipient of the 1995 NASW Missouri Chapter Social Worker of the Year Award and 2004 NASW Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more.

Former President, Department of Mental Health and Retardation Area Board of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Director, Social Work Department, McLean Hospital.

Golda Edinburg will be missed by the entire social work community.  She will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to providing quality care and improving the quality of life for persons with mental illness and their families.  Read more.

Did you know?  The U.S. Dept. of Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is piloting a program to perform 150 audits of health care entities to assess compliance with HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and Breach Notification standards from November 2011 to December 2012. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/enforcement/audit/index.html www.socialworkers.org/hipaa

Tags: HIPAA; audit; HHS; privacy; private practice; clinical social work

In early 2011 NASW sponsored two professional research trips to Cuba to learn about social services in health care, child welfare, and aging. This report describes the activities of both social work delegations and information learned from the experience.

NASW Leads Delegations To Cuba

The country of Cuba, only 90 miles from Florida and a once-common destination for U.S. tourists, has been inaccessible to most Americans since the U.S. embargo of Cuba began in 1962.  With the Obama administration’s recent easing of travel restrictions to Cuba, more Americans have been able to experience the island through educational and cultural tours. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) sponsored two professional research trips to Cuba in early 2011. The first delegation focused on health and child welfare services (February) and the second on social services for older adults (March). Each delegation met special licensing requirements established by the U.S. Department of Commerce for travel to Cuba.

Click here for the full report.

The NASW Family wishes to extend its deepest sympathies to the family of Mark Battle as we are greatly saddened by the loss of this great social work pioneer. We want to acknowledge his loving wife, NASW Social Work Pioneer® Evelyn Kays-Battle, and extend our deepest sympathies to her and their family. We join a host of friends, colleagues, students, and fellow social workers in remembering and celebrating Mark Battle.

As Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, Mark Battle demonstrated a pioneering leadership which stimulated the organization and the social work profession to broader areas of social concerns. He was a social worker, educator, consultant, businessman and former government official. Throughout his career, he blended expertise in management and labor issues with social work skills and knowledge. Battle served as the Executive Director of NASW from June 1984 to June 1992.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Cosmos Club, 2121 Mass. Ave, NW, Washington, DC. If you plan to attend, please RSVP with the names of all attendees to Elizabeth Cox at ecox@naswdc.org.

• Mark Battle’s NASW Social Work Pioneer® Bio

• Obituary – Carol Cole Center

• Donations may be made to the NASW Foundation in memorial