On July 27, 2010 NASW attended a workshop on “Jobs for the Future” hosted by N.D.N. and chaired by the United States Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Karen Kornbluh.  Ambassador Kornbluh, previously served for then Senator Barack Obama as his policy director and as Deputy Chief of Staff at the United States Treasury Department.  The Ambassador discussed current research on youth unemployment and what the U.S. is doing at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to address the proliferation of youth unemployment triggered by America’s recession.

It was revealed that across the vast majority of industrialized nations, youth unemployment is greater than unemployment within the general population.  The O.E.C.D. reports that in 2009 youth unemployment dropped more than employment for low-skilled workers and, according to a Pew study released in February 2010, 37% of the American millennial generation, those 18-29 years old, are unemployed or out of the workforce.  The Pew report further notes that this rate of youth unemployment is “the highest share among this age group in more than three decades”.  NASW will continue to examine strategies that will engender prosperity for America and its most vulnerable populations.

Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH Executive Director

Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, opens 6th International Conference on Health and Mental Health. During her address she noted that social workers are the outreach to areas of vulnerability. She used an Irish saying to describe social work — “Two shortens the road.” For many people who are struggling, social workers are companions and navigators on life’s journey.

She spoke about the resilience of social workers and how important that resilency is for these difficult economic and social times. She noted that there is an increased need for problem solvers in society and encouraged participants to use the conference as an opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas and solutions.

Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH Executive Director

The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) released their Policy on Health, and Paul Bywaters, a consultant to IFSW presented “Worldwide Challenges for Practice and for Policy-Making” at the 6th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in Dublin.

The IFSW Policy on Health includes 7 key points:

1. Health is a key aspect of all social work practice, education, research, and ploicy making and in all settings.

2. Health is not merely the absence of disease, it emcompasses physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing.

3. Health is a central dimension of people’s lives.

4. Health is an issue of fundamental human rights.

5. Health status is primarily determined by social, economic, environmental, and political conditions and is an issue of social equality and justice.

6. Securing and sustaining health depends on local, national and global health and social policies and practices.

7. Securing and sustaining health depends on the concerted actions of intenational institutions, governments, civil society and peoples.

The IFSW policy is a starting point for discussion.  Can we create conditions for action?

The IFSW Policy on Health is available at www.ifsw.org/p38000081.html

At the recent 2010 Joint World Congress on Social Work and Social Development, one of NASW’s presentations focused on successful international collaborations to build social work capacity.  The Congress was held in Hong Kong.  A presentation and poster session were made available to attendees.  The example of the Best Practices in Psychosocial Oncology Exchange between Hungary and the United States of America was used to communicate important foundations and principles for such collaborations.  The Hungary project was undertaken as part of the NASW Foundation’s Social Workers Across Nations (SWAN) initiatives.

At the poster session, social workers from Croatia, Serbia and Thailand expressed interest in the project.  They noted the need for similar projects and resources regarding cancer, palliative and end-of-life care in their countries.  They were  interested in materials that could be made available for translation to help social workers in their communities.

NASW is participating in additional international social work capacity-building collaborations through SWAN, including projects on the continent of Africa.

For more information about NASW’s work in this area, visit http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/intl/default.asp

June 16, 2010

Gary Bailey gave his inaugeral address to the General Assembly of the International Federation of Social Workers this week in Hong Kong. IFSW represents social workers from 90 countries around the globe.

Gary began his remarks by noting that IFSW is a global community of friends who show mutual respect for each other and for the profession of social work around the world Gary emphasized that he stands on the shoulders of giants and outstanding social work leaders like Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr.

Gary said he felt quite humbled to be given such a leadership opportunity, and he quoted Civil Rights legend Whitney Young when he assumed his new role: “The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to someone else.. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self.”

A Past-President of NASW, Gary is the first African-American president of IFSW. He said he is used to “firsts” and described his heritage as a major factor in his achievements. He noted that as the great-grandson of slaves, and as the son of parents who worked under very difficult and harsh conditions in the south, Gary learned both the need and the obligation to help others. He ended his address with his favorite quote by Tagore: “I dreamt of joy. I acted and behold, service was my joy.”

Two previous NASW leaders held the office of IFSW President. Chauncey Alexander, an Executive Director of NASW, and Susan Dworak Peck, a former President of NASW, both played pivitol roles in the development and advancement of international social work. Sue Peck is the lifetime Ambassador to IFSW, and she was present at the meeting. Current NASW President Jim Kelly and NASW Executive Director Betsy Clark also attended the event.

NASW congratulates Gary on this wonderful achievement.

For more information about IFSW, please visit www.ifsw.org.

Elizabeth Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH
NASW Executive Director

The World Congress of Social Work, which was held in Hong Kong, has concluded. The three sponsoring organizations — the International Federation of Social Workers, (IFSW),  International Association of School Social Workers (IASSW) and International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) — are now meeting individually. NASW-USA is a member of the IFSW.

The World Congress started the collective process for setting a common global agenda to unite all those in social work and social development. The four major themes of the agenda will be:

• Social and economic inequalities
• Dignity and worth of the individual
• Environmental sustainability
• Importance of human relationships across the lifespan

There will be continuing discussion and strategy development. The next major action point will occur during World Social Work Day on Match 15, 2011.

For more information visit www.ifsw.org

NASW is a proud supporter of Give An Hour, an organization devoted to developing a national network of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Give An Hour focuses on U.S. troops and their loved ones who are currently being affect by the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Give an Hour asks mental health professionals, including social workers, to literally donate an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. For more information on Give An Hour, or to volunteer, please visit www.giveanhour.org.

NASW wants to spread the word about an important and EASY way for you to help Give an Hour this month. The organization has entered an online grant contest sponsored by Pepsi. In order to win the grant, they just need to be a top vote-getter in their category. Give An Hour is asking supporters to vote for their organization every day from now through the end of June.

Here is the link to Give an Hour’s idea: http://www.refresheverything.com/mentalhealthforvets.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Hoffler at ehoffler@naswdc.org.

Harold House - NASW Public Citizen of the Year

Dr. S. Megan Berthold - 2009 NASW Social Worker of the Year

State Representative Ruth Balser - NASW Public Elected Official of the Year

All interested LGBT social workers are invited to publish a personal profile on the National Association of Social Workers’ web site for the general public www.HelpStartsHere.org. NASW membership is not required.

Just e-mail your responses to the following questions along with an electronic photo to Theresa Spinner in the NASW Communications Department at tspinner@naswdc.org by Friday, May 28, 2010.  Ms. Spinner will send you a draft of your submission for your review and approval. Ms. Spinner will then upload your information to the site.  Let her know you found this appeal on the NASW Pressroom blog.

Q. Where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?

Q. If you could resolve just one ongoing challenge affecting the LGBT community what would that be and how would you go about it?

Last year’s Pride Month submissions were extremely well received by visitors to the site. We received many heart felt compliments from members of the community who appreciated seeing social workers like themselves represented. You can see the complete list of profiles by clicking here.

The Social Work Career Center and NASW Press is offering 15% off the publications below until June 30, 2010:

• An Author’s Guide to Social Work Journals, 5th edition
• The Results Are In: What Social Workers Say About Social Work
• Workforce Trends Affecting the Profession 2009
• What Social Workers Do, 2nd Edition
• Social Work Career Development, 2nd Edition
• Social Work Speaks, 8th Edition

Please use code WMCC10 for this promotion.