The National Health Service Corps (NHSC), through scholarship and loan repayment programs, helps Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the U.S. obtain a sufficient number of fully qualified medical, dental, and mental health providers essential to meet their populations’ critical need for safe and fundamental health care.

Purpose of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP)

The purpose of the NHSC LRP is to ensure that an adequate supply of health professionals are available to provide primary health services to populations located in select Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), identified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. HPSAs can be found in rural and urban communities across the nation. The NHSC LRP recruits fully trained health professionals who agree to provide primary health services in NHSC community sites. In return, the NHSC LRP assists clinicians in their repayment of qualifying educational loans that are still outstanding.

Now accepting applications for Loan Repayment Awards. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act designated $200 million to fund the NHSC LRP. Applications will be accepted continuously until funds are expended or September 30, 2010, whichever comes first.

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program provides $50,000 (or the outstanding balance of qualifying student loans, if less than $50,000), tax free, to medical, dental, and mental health clinicians in exchange for two years of service at approved sites in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Upon completion of the service commitment, clinicians may be eligible to apply for additional support for extended service. Most applications will be processed within eight weeks of the submission of a complete application (i.e., on-line application, supplemental paper forms, and required documentation).

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program provides many benefits. Be sure you stay in compliance with the requirements of your in-service contract. Click here for a list of the in-service obligations.

National Health Service Corps loan repayment participants will be working under one of three types of assignments while serving their obligations. For more information about the Practice Assignments, click here.

Below are links to more information about the program and application process: (more…)

The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors will hold its 2009 Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona from March 18th through the 22nd. The theme of this year’s conference is BPD: Generalist Practice: The Future is Now.

NASW is a strategic partner with BPD in promoting this year’s conference and will host a Special Plenary Session on the Whitney Young Film and Leadership Development Project in Room 417 of the Convention Center at 11:00am—12:15pm.

In the Exhibit Hall, NASW Press will be promoting our new and forthcoming titles at Booth 100, adjacent to NASW Assurance Services (Booth 102). Our forthcoming titles are Incorporating Intersectionality in Social Work Research, Practice, Policy and Education by Murphy, Hunt, Zajicek, Norris, and Hamilton and Social Work Ethics Casebook: Cases and Commentary, by Frederic Reamer, and Social Work Speaks: NASW Policy Statements, 2010-2013, 8th Edition. If you are attending the conference, please stop by and say “hello”.

If you would like to attend and there is a possibility that your registration will not be received in BPD’s office by January 31st, do not mail it. Instead, bring the form and payment to the conference with you. Registration is $345 for BPD members and $575 for non-members. Additional information about the conference is available at http://www.bpdonline.org

Focus this week is on research that promotes sustainability and rebuilds strengths

Washington DC—From January 16-18, the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) is hosting its 13th Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Over 500 symposia, workshops, roundtables, and paper and poster presentations will be offered to attending doctoral students, faculty, researchers and policy developers. Topics cover the full range of social work research and practice interventions, including child welfare, aging, mental health, depression, welfare reform, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Research opportunities and strategies will also be explored in some sessions.

NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, said “The social work profession made a commitment at the national Social Work Congress in 2005 to actively connect research and practice through partnerships among researchers, the field, and communities. The outstanding content presented at this year’s SSWR Conference shows how much is being done by the social work educator community to advance this essential goal.”

Key presentations will be provided by:

Rick Kittles

Jeff Jenson

Barbara Major

David Abramson

Mark Rank

Gail Steketee

For more information about SSWR conference presentations: http://www.sswr.org/conferences.php

President-elect Barack Obama wants to hear from you about your ideas for change. In addition to the website posts at www.change.gov, there is another format for participation. On December 13 and 14 people will be hosting “Change is Coming” house meetings to reflect on what has been accomplished and to plan the future of this change movement. Ideas and feedback will be collected and used to guide the administration in the months and years ahead.

As social workers, we have a deep knowledge of what is happening in the community and our voices would be important at these gatherings.

Learn what you can do now to support President-elect Obama’s agenda for change and continue to make a difference in your community.

Take the first important step by hosting or attending a “Change is Coming” house meeting. Sign up right now:

http://my.barackobama.com/changeiscoming

To get our country back on track, it will take all of us working together. Make sure that you identify yourself as a social worker and member of the National Association of Social Workers when you attend or host a house meeting.

The Aging Boom: Is Your Clinical Practice Ready?
In Conjunction with the ASA/NCOA Aging in America Conference
March 15-16, 2009 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Visit http://www.socialworkers.org/agingConference/for more information

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - Early Registration extended to February 20, 2009

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sandra A. Lopez, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work
Key Challenges in the Aging Boom: Honoring Diversity in Older Adults

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CEUs
. Earn up to 14 social work CEUs
. CEUs qualify for your NASW professional credential in gerontology, health care, case management and others.

PROGRAM FEATURES
. 3-hour tools to use: Risk Management, Ethical
Decision Making, and Medicare Documentation
and Reimbursement.
. General sessions about workforce trends and
advancing your career with older adults.
. 16 breakout sessions for social workers

Social Workers are in Colorado this week for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Here are some photos (Click on the photo for a larger image).

Pepsi Center, Monday, August 25, opening night of the convention.

Senator John Kerry and Theresa Heinz Kerry arrive at the Pepsi Center on Monday night.

Betsy Clark, NASW Executive Director in the Democratic National Committee Women’s Caucus meeting.

Terry Wenner, NASW- Nebraska Chapter Executive Director and Delegate; Becky Fast, NASW Board member and staff member for Rep. Dennis Moore (KS) and Christi Granstaff, NASW PACE Trustee at get together for social workers who are delegates to the convention.

Asua Ofosu, NASW lobbyist; Betsy Clark, NASW Executive Director ; and Brian Dautch waiting to enter the Emily’s List Gala.

Rebecca Myers, Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY) and Christi Granstaff after the Emily’s list event. All 3 are proud to be social workers and to wear the “Social Workers for Obama” buttons.

Tuesday, June 24th at 9 PM est, Guess the Diagnosis!

Despite a social work concern with labeling generally, many of us are called upon to diagnose, especially for insurance purposes. Join your social work colleagues on Tuesday, June 24th at 9 PM est for a fun chat about diagnosing. We call it “Guess the Diagnosis” and we bring case illustrations for you to ponder with us. Through a discussion of the symptoms and struggles a client brings, we learn more about the diagnostic criteria. Bring cases you may be struggling with as well! (Remember, no identifying information about clients allowed). Mila Tecala will lead the discussion. Susan Mankita, MSW, LCSW is the forum moderator.

Here are some useful links for DSM diagnosing

http://www. dsmivtr. org/2-1faqs. cfm is the DSM’s official site and includes FAQS, coding issues, a summary of the practice relevant changes and some information about the upcoming DSM V.

Jonathon Singer’s social work podcast has a free mp3 lecture available on diagnosing…
http://socialworkpodcast. com/2007/01/dsm-diagnosis-for-social-workers. html

Finally, Psyweb has a review of the multiaxial system and general information about each dx. http://psyweb. com/Mdisord/DSM_IV/jsp/dsm_iv. jsp

Also coming up in the near future in our chat room
Sunday, June 29th - End of Life Choices with Guest Expert, Roger Barnes
Tuesday, July 1st - Shame and Anger with Guest Expert, Brock Hansen

SocialWorkChat. org is co-sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers and the New Social Worker Online

NASW is on Facebook and Myspace. Are you?

Are you a social worker and social work student on Myspace and Facebook?� Send NASW a friend request. Join the Official NASW Facebook group or Myspace group and network with other social work professionals, students, and friends.

NASW on Myspace www.myspace.com/socialworkers

NASW on Facebook

Fan Page - www.facebook.com/pages/National-Association-of-Social-Workers/16695101734

Official NASW Facebook Group - www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10886145903