Social workers, nurses and other health care personnel manage significant “ethical stress” when caring for ill persons and discharging patients from the nation’s complex health system.

On April 15 at 2:00 p.m., please join Professionals for the Public Interest (PftPI) for an in-depth discussion on professional responses to financial and political pressures within the healthcare system.

XM Satellite radio show host Bob Edwards will moderate an insightful public discussion with ethics experts from the National Association of Social Workers, the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing in New York, and the Prince George’s Hospital Center in Maryland.

The PftPI is an alliance of 20 professional organizations and unions. It kicks off its new public forum series on Thursday, April 15, from 2-4 p.m. at the Washington Court Hotel; Springwood Conference Room; 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington DC.

For more information on the panelists, online registration for the free public forum and profiles of the organizations in the alliance: www.pftpi.org.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), Representative Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY) submitted acknowledgment of the Academy into the Congressional Record on February 26, 2010. Honoring the work and impact ACSW holders have had in society over the past fifty years, below we have provided a link for you to download the Congressional Record and the congratulatory letter from Rep. Towns recognizing members of the Academy.

Both the Congressional Record and congratulatory letter reflect the achievements of all ACSW holders. ACSW holders, educate others on the value of the Academy and the social work profession by displaying these documents in your office and presenting a copy to your employer.

https://www.socialworkers.org/credentials/acsw50/default.asp

Celebrate Social Work Month – March 2010

The 2010 Social Work Month theme is “Social Workers Inspire Community Action”

Since its inception, the social work profession has worked to improve life for millions every day. Social workers operate from values that recognize each person as relevant to society and believe that, when needed, society should help each person achieve his or her fullest potential.

No Limitations. People choose careers in the social work profession because they believe they can make a significant impact in the lives of others through individual and group assistance.  But they also recognize that effective social work practice with individuals, families and communities is affected by institutions, customs and laws that may limit the success of many.

Our Legacy. A commitment to fairness, and an intense interest in seeing others succeed by removing personal and public barriers, distinguishes social workers from other like-minded helping professionals.  These values—coupled with tangible social science skills—have led social workers in history to create essential safety net programs such as unemployment insurance, health insurance, income assistance and child protection services, and to fight for a range of human and civil rights in the United States.

Our Impact. Social workers are close to the critical events that shape the quality of American life. We are on the frontlines, developing, advocating and delivering social programs that are responsive to such human needs as homelessness, poverty, family break-up, mental illness, disability, alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence and many other issues.  Social workers help people live more rewarding lives.

This year’s Social Work Month celebration showcases the expertise and dedication of professional social workers in helping to improve community life.  We will promote the chosen theme “Social Workers Inspire Community Action” through three core strategies of the ongoing National Social Work Public Education Campaign:

• Consumer Education
• Entertainment Outreach
• Student Recruitment

While social workers are integral parts of all communities, the general public’s understanding of these contributions and services is still limited.  Using this toolkit and related campaign materials you can help ensure that more people are exposed to positive and actionable information about the social work profession.  Every social worker has a role to play, so we hope this online toolkit helps you identify and implement promotional activities that best suit your skills and interests.

SWM 2010 Toolkit Materials:

SWM 2010 Overview

• Key Messages for SWM 2010
• Community Action Hero Nomination Form

Consumer Education Overview

• 10 Things You Can Do to Educate Consumers
• Visitor’s Guide to the HelpStartsHere.org Web Site

Entertainment Outreach Overview

• 10 Things You Can Do to Change Social Work Media Portrayals
• Visitor’s Guide to the SocialWorkersSpeak.org Web Site

Student Recruitment Overview

• 10 Things You Can Do to Introduce Students to Social Work
• Visitor’s Guide to BeASocialWorker.org Web Site

Resources

• History of Social Work Month
• Who Are Social Workers? Handout

If you have any questions about Social Work Month 2010, please contact NASW Communications at 202-336-8212.

The FTC has announced that enforcement of the new Red Flags Identity Theft Rule, scheduled to become effective August 1, 2009, has been delayed until November 1, 2009 to give the agency additional time to develop guidance for small businesses.  Health care practitioners are subject to the new requirements.  For more information see http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/redflag.shtm and https://www.socialworkers.org/ldf/legal_issue/2009/200906.asp

Press Release
July 7, 2009

Washington DC – The NASW Press has released Child Custody Evaluations by Social Workers: Understanding the Five Stages of Custody, a first-of-its-kind book offering advice to professional social workers on how to conduct custody evaluations. Ken Lewis, PhD, wrote this guide defining the parameters of the five stages of child custody for social workers and the families they represent.

Child Custody Evaluations by Social Workers highlights the value professional social workers bring to custody evaluations.  Family court judges are increasingly turning to mental health professionals to assist them when making custody determinations in the child’s best interest.  This book is a valuable resource for social workers who want to enhance their ability to advocate on behalf of children and families.

“Generally, psychologists are considered to be the most appropriate mental health professional for child custody evaluations, but they only assess the child’s psychological fitness with one or both parents,” says Dr. Lewis. “Social workers understand that the child is an integral part of an extended family and should be assessed in this broader social environment.”

In his book, Dr. Lewis describes the five stages of custody from the perspective of both the social worker and the family lawyer. The five stages – Marital Discord, Initial Custody, Visitation Denial, Custody Modification, and Child Removal – each require special consideration. Lewis explains each stage and demonstrates which social work skills should be applied to ensure the best outcome for the child. The book can also be a resource for professionals and parents who wish to better understand how child custody evaluations can affect a custody dispute.

Dr. Ken Lewis has worked as the director of the Child Custody Evaluation Services of Philadelphia for 25 years. He has been court appointed as either guardian ad litem or child custody evaluator in more than two dozen states and his specialties include interstate custody and high-conflict cases. Dr. Lewis was also a social work professor at several universities for nearly a decade. He offers workshops on custody evaluations to social workers nationwide.

For more information about Child Custody Evaluations by Social Workers: Understanding the Five Stages of Custody or other books published by the NASW Press, please visit www.naswpress.org.

Contact: Amber Moore
202-336-8277
amoore@naswdc.org

About the NASW Press

The NASW Press, a division of the National Association of Social Workers, has been publishing materials in social work since 1956. NASW Press is a leading scholarly press in the social sciences, serving faculty, practitioners, agencies, libraries, clinicians, and researchers throughout the United States and abroad. Known for attracting expert authors, the NASW Press delivers professional information to hundreds of thousands of readers through its scholarly journals, books, and reference works.

About the National Association of Social Workers

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers, with nearly 150,000 members in 56 chapters throughout the United States and its territories.  It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers.  NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.

National Association of Social Workers Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH recorded this important message about the future of our profession and I hope you will take a moment to view this video.

Social Work Reinvestment Act

• Send a Letter to Your Representative in Support
• Send a Letter to Your Senator in Support

Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW) and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (ACHP-SW)
The premier credentials for social workers in hospice and palliative care

Developed jointly by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Designed by social work leaders in hospice and palliative care for social workers who meet national standards of excellence.

Basic Requirements:

• A degree in social work from an accredited university
• At least two years of supervised social work experience in hospice and palliative care
• A license to practice as a professional social worker *
• Twenty (20) or more CEU’s related specifically to the specialty practice
• A commitment to compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics and NASW Standards for End Of Life Care
• Professional affiliations with both the National Association of Social Workers and the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals, a division of  the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NCHPP application can be found on the right)

  BSW’s - CHP-SW Application
  MSW’s - ACHP-SW Credential Application

* BSW’s who practice in states that do not license social workers at that level have additional experience (4 years) and CEU (40 contact hours) requirements

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.

Click here for the Social Work Month 2009 Toolkit

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…

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

111th Congress Urged to Support Social Work Reinvestment

New York Congressman Ed Towns Champions “Safety Net” Profession

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.”