February 26th, 2009
March is Social Work Month and that is a special time for the National Association of Social Workers. We would love to know how social workers and social work students are celebrating Social Work Month 2009 at schools, in the workplace, or in their communities?
Let us know your plans or about events you know of by leaving a comment.
February 20th, 2009
News Source: Google News
Employee hangs self in suburban high school
Chicago Sun-Times
The social work team is available to students and staff at a north suburban high school Thursday after a school employee killed himself in the school …
USF social work interns will try some Capitol lobbying
Tampabay.com - St. Petersburg, FL
“It’ll help them as they start their careers,” said the nonprofit organization’s director, Renee Walker. The conference is Monday through Wednesday, …
Budget cuts force Child & Family Resources to lay off social workers
Tucson Citizen - Tucson, AZ
… care will feel the impact of state budget cuts after Child & Family Resources was forced to lay off social workers that help keep families together. …
Hospice has social workers to help families talk out practical …
Winston-Salem Journal - Winston-Salem, NC
“It can get very sticky,” said Lisa Meadows, hospice’s vice president of human services, who supervises the social workers and chaplains. …
Schools to get social workers
The Daily Advertiser - Lafayette, LA
Moss currently has one social worker, while Faulk has none. Board member Hunter Beasley criticized the staff for putting the board under the gun again to …
February 12th, 2009
Congratulations to the NAACP on their 100th Anniversary!
Click here to see NASW’s congratulations (pdf)
February 11th, 2009
SD Legislature committee refers social work bill
USD Volante Online - Vermillion, SD
As the Senate version of HB 1091, which would appropriate funds toward a master of social work degree program in higher education, Senate bill 72 will be …
Hard times steer some toward social work
The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com - Syracuse, NY
Employment of social workers is expected to grow 22 percent by 2016, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. …
Get a grip: They love him not
The Newark Advocate - Newark, OH
A desired outcome must be something over which you have control,” explains Loren Gelberg-Goff, LCSW, a private-practice marriage counselor in River Edge, …
Social work program provides jobs
MU The Parthenon - Huntington,WV
A Bachelor of Social Work or a Master of Social Work degree provides students in the social work field with an opportunity to choose from a variety of jobs …
If you think foreclosure has nothing to do with you, think again
Baltimore Examiner - Baltimore, MD
Nationally known motivational speaker and expert Reeta Wolfsohn is the founder of the financial social work discipline…
February 5th, 2009
NASW Social Work Pioneer® John B. Turner, Ph.D., whose career in social work spanned more than 40 years and whose efforts and leadership helped earn national recognition for the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, died on Friday, Jan. 30. He was 86. - More Information…
International Council on Social Welfare Tribute to John B. Turner
NASW Tribute from Dr. James Kelly and Dr. Elizabeth J. Clark
February 4th, 2009
For Immediate Release
February 3, 2009
Contact:
Gail Woods Waller
202.336.8236
gwaller@naswdc.org
Elizabeth Franklin
202.408.8600 x537
efranklin@naswdc.org
Washington, DC - Congress has reintroduced legislation to strengthen the social work workforce.The workforce, currently at 600,000 professionally trained members, is facing significant challenges including an impending shortage.Today, U.S. Representative Edolphus “Ed” Towns reintroduced the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act to address challenges facing a profession that helps millions reach their full potential.
H.R. 795 calls for a Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide recommendations and strategies associated with the recruitment, retention, and research in the profession of social work. Specifically, the Commission will analyze how issues such as fair market compensation, educational debt, labor trends, social work research, workplace safety, and state-level licensure contribute to the lack of a sufficient social work workforce.
In addition, the House bill’s proposed demonstration programs would fund competitive grants in the areas of workplace improvements; research, education and training; and community-based programs of excellence to guide effective solutions in the recruitment and retention of social workers. A companion Senate bill is expected in the coming weeks. When the 110th Congress ended last year, the Social Work Reinvestment Act had 84 House co-sponsors and 14 Senate co-sponsors, including former Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
“A healthy society is one filled with people who can participate fully in family and community life,” says Rep. Towns. “Social workers make it possible for millions of Americans struggling with mental illness, unemployment, disabilities, addictions, violence and abuse, and chronic health conditions to transcend these challenges.This Act ensures that these dedicated professionals will have what they need to continue strengthening our communities.”
“Social workers are society’s safety net, and in our current economy, the need for a safety net has grown to include and protect a diverse group of people from all walks of life, says Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers. “However, serious safety concerns, significant educational debt, and comparatively insufficient salaries are threatening the ability of our nation’s social workers to provide essential social services. Social workers need better support to provide quality care to those most in need.”
February 2nd, 2009
Betsy Clark
Executive Director
National Association of Social Workers
January 29, 2009
On the evening of January 28, I was completing some work at my office in DC when I received a phone call from the White House inquiring if I would like to join President Obama the next morning as he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. The request was unexpected but welcome, as NASW had been an advocate for the important legislation educating members and asking them to support it at all possible opportunities. The bill was named after a woman who did not learn about the discrepancy in pay between her and her male co-workers until the end of her 19-year career at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Lilly Ledbetter was denied redress by a 2007 Supreme Court decision. The court said that a person must file a discrimination claim within 180 days of a company’s initial decision to pay a worker less than another person doing the same job. Under this new law, which amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act, each new discriminatory paycheck would extent the statute of limitations for an additional 180 days.
The next morning I woke up hours early to get ready for my third trip to the White House over the past three administrations. However, this was the first trip that I’ve taken to witness a bill being signed into law. I arrived a bit after 8:30am for my instructed 9:00am entrance. I was joined by many of my colleagues in the women’s rights community including Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization for Women and Ellie Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority. I also spoke with prominent members of the civil rights community including Hilary Shelton who directs the Washington Bureau of the NAACP and Dr. Dorothy I. Height, President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women. After a cold hour of waiting, we were granted entrance, cleared by the Secret Service, and filed into the White House. Surprisingly, we were given some freedom to stroll about. I enjoyed seeing the First Ladies room with beautiful portraits of the historic women of past administrations. Finally, we were led into the room where the President would be signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law.
I was lucky enough to find a front row seat in front of the small desk where the President would sign the bill. As I sat waiting for President Obama, I twittered the experience took a few pictures with my blackberry, spoke with a few members of Congress who were filtering in, and observed the new power players including Secretary of State Clinton, Vice-President Biden, and First Lady Michelle Obama. I was also pleased to speak with Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile, and was surprised to see that I was in the company of several members of Congress who were very eager to speak with her and even took a picture or two.
I was also very fortunate to speak with civil rights legend and famous social worker, Dr. Dorothy I. Height, President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women. NASW is honored to name the Social Work Reinvestment Act after Dr. Height and fellow civil rights legend Whitney Young. Dr. Height looked stunning, as usual, in her beautiful purple suit and matching hat, and we discussed the reintroduction of the Social Work Reinvestment Act in the next few days and the historic experience of President Obama signing this bill. Having worked for over 50 years on these issues, this event had to have been a milestone in her life. (more…)