Announcements

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), both social workers, introduced a Social Work Month Resolution (Senate Res. 115 and House Res. 236) on March 16, 2021 to promote the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social Work Day.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is inviting support from the academic community to join a sign-on letter from over 300 academics urging President Biden to use his executive authority to cancel student debt. 

The letter from 52 initial signers and the sign-on form are available at https://forms.gle/nZxJsMYSyQkoA8yC7.  The effort was led by Fred Wherry, Professor of Sociology at Princeton University, Laura Hamilton, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, and Charlie Eaton, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California. 

The letter corrects some misperceptions that student debt cancellation would not be progressive: it details recent research and new data showing that cancellation would disproportionately help Black and low-income former students.  The letter also notes that tax reform is a better tool than financial aid policy to claw back benefits from debt cancellation that may incidentally flow to some wealthier borrowers. 

The letter was drafted in consultation with policy advocates who organized an important recent letter in support of debt cancellation from 329 civic organizations (including NASW and CSWE).  Additionally, Sarah Christa Butts, Director of Public Policy at NASW is quoted in the associated press release.

Today, NASW released its 2021 Blueprint of Federal Social Policy Priorities. The Blueprint is a roadmap for social progress and reflects social work’s best thinking on the pathway to a more just and equitable society. NASW will work with the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress to take action on the 21 social justice and workforce issue areas.

Join NASW President Mit Joyner Friday, Jan. 29 at 2 pm ET for an interactive NASW Facebook Live discussion on child welfare reform with Jessica Pryce, director of the Florida Institute for Child Welfare, and acclaimed author, speaker, philanthropist and former foster child Steve Pemberton.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the public health emergency for another 90 days. The extension is effective January 21 and expires on April 21, 2021 unless again extended. The telehealth flexibilities that HHS implemented in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue through April 21, 2021. For more information, go to https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/covid19-07Jan2021.aspx.

NASW’s Task Force for Private Practice Guidelines is seeking public comments for the document, Clinical Social Workers in Private Practice:  A Reference Manual. This manual provides a useful set of guidelines for clinical social workers starting a private practice and for seasoned clinical social workers seeking specific information related to the practice and business side of a private practice. Your comments are important to us and will determine how the task force moves forward. The public comment period begins December 4, 2020, and ends January 4, 2021.  The manual is available for review at  https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Clinical-Social-Work/Clinical-Social-Workers-in-Private-Practice-Comment  

Join NASW’s Facebook Live Town Hall Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET for this critical conversation on ethics and racial equity. All NASW members are encouraged to comment, ask questions, and share their experiences.

Moderator:

-Dawn M. Hobdy, LICSW, NASW Vice President, Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion 

Panelists:

-Frederic Reamer, PhD, Professor, School of Social Work, Rhode Island College
-Anthony Estreet, PhD, LCSW-C, LCADC, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Morgan State University
-Billye Jones, LCSW, Director of Programs for Day One, Former Chair, NASW National Ethics Committee
-Jennifer Anderson, LCSW, Chair, Social Economic and Peace Committee, NASW National Ethics Committee

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) congratulates Joe Biden on his election to become the 46th president of the United States. NASW was proud to endorse and support Vice President Biden’s campaign.

In electing Biden, the American people have cast their vote for an inclusive economy, urgently needed social investments, and long overdue civil rights protections. Together with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biden is poised to shepherd our polarized, pandemic-weary nation into a promising new future that prioritizes well-being and justice for all.

Hopefully, you have received the invitation sent to you for the NASW and NASW Foundation awards celebration, A Virtual Night at the Awards.  We hope you will join us in celebrating social work excellence tonight, Oct. 29 at 6:00 pm ET.  The event is open to members and nonmembers at no cost.  Registration is required.

Help to advance social work education and research, and you might win a $50 gift card! Faculty members of the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work invite social workers of all practice levels, specialties, and settings to participate in a nationwide survey addressing advocacy work among social workers. NASW is partnering with these researchers to disseminate both the survey instrument and survey findings. As a token of the researchers’ appreciation, all survey respondents are invited to enter a drawing for one of twenty $50 gift cards.

Please participate in the survey and share the link with your colleagues: https://luc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bplkeGhWTSRzWbr

NASW is in the process of developing a task force for the revision of the NASW Standards for School Social Work Services which were last revised in 2012.

School social workers continue to be an essential link between school, home, and community.  Amidst diverse changes in society that impact student’s academic achievement, social, emotional, and behavioral competence, school social workers use unique perspectives to ensure equitable opportunity for success for every student.  

We are seeking experienced social workers who have worked in a school setting for at least five years.  The process requires a commitment of at least 12 months and meetings will be held virtually.

If you would like to be considered as a member of the Revision Task Force for the NASW Standards for School Social Work Services, please email your resume no later than September 28, 2020 to Cynthia Henderson, PhD, LICSW, LCSW-C, at chenderson.nasw@socialworkers.org.

Participate in NASW’s national town hall about the intersection of social work and racial justice. Share your experiences with colleagues and discuss the social work profession's role in ending racism.

Juneteenth
June 19, 2020 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET
Go to NASW’s Facebook page on June 19.

Discuss Key Issues:
-NASW's racial justice priorities
-Eliminating police brutality
-Reducing health care and economic disparities
-Increasing social work investments in communities
-Fighting racism within the social work profession

 

*No continuing education (CE) credits will be offered for this event and there are no presentations. It will be recorded.

Experience the meeting of the profession virtually June 15-17. Join like-minded social work professionals and social work thought leaders for three days of streamed unparalleled professional development, continuing education, and thought-provoking conversations tackling the most pressing issues facing the social work profession across the world. Earn up to 32 CEs (through live-streaming & on-demand).

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, school social workers are essential staff and continue to play a vital role in ensuring that students continue to receive much-needed mental health, education, and other services despite school disruptions from the pandemic.  This practice alert provides a list of helpful resources for school social workers.

NASW played a lead role in conceiving and funding The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Consensus Study Report, Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation’s Health. This landmark report recognizes that social workers are specialists in identifying and addressing social needs, and it includes numerous recommendations to ensure that the nation’s health care systems address the many factors that contribute to health.

Registration open for NASW webinar, offered in collaboration with the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care on
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 | 2:00–3:15 p.m. EDT:

Supporting and Advocating for Nursing Home Residents, Family Caregivers, and Social Workers During COVID-19

1 Aging & Long-Term Care credit hour, approved by NASW

FREE for NASW members; $20 for nonmembers. 

COVID-19 has exacerbated challenges faced by nursing home residents, social work staff, and family caregivers. Learn about those challenges and discover strategies and resources to enhance resilience, as well as information about national-level advocacy to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on nursing home residents, social work staff, and family caregivers.

Despite the fact that thousands of workers have contracted COVID-19 on the job, and hundreds of workers have died from this highly infectious disease, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has failed to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance to protect all workers from exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. 

Congress must take the important step of requiring OSHA to issue mandated protections that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. These protections are critical for social workers and the clients that we serve.

On April 16th each year, NASW celebrates National Healthcare Decisions Day to empower individuals to engage in advance care planning (ACP). As individuals, families, and communities face the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of conversations about health care treatment preferences comes into new focus. Social workers play a vital role in facilitating ACP. ACP is not only about end-of-life care. At any time in your life, if you are not able to make health care decisions for yourself, who will speak on your behalf?  Read a new Practice Alert from Carrie Dorn, MPA, LMSW, NASW Senior Practice Associate for Health

Clinical social workers can now receive Medicare reimbursement for psychotherapy services provided via audio-only devices (such as landlines) during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced these and other temporary rule changes and waivers on April 30 to increase access to healthcare and mental health services for the millions of older adults who due to the pandemic cannot safely receive services in-person. NASW has been advocating vigorously for further expansion of telehealth flexibility to include audio-only devices. Millions of Medicare beneficiaries, especially those in rural areas and those who have low incomes, do not have smart phones and/or reliable access to the internet. Some, due to their health or mental health conditions, are not able to use video chat apps.

See further details and codes under Telehealth Visits at NASW’s COVID-19 Medicare Telehealth page.

With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has temporarily expanded its telehealth policies on an emergency basis under the 1135 waiver authority and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. During the waiver period which began March 6, 2020, cost-sharing may be reduced or waived and clinical social workers (CSWs) may seek reimbursement for telehealth psychotherapy services furnished via telehealth to patients whether they are in their home or in an outpatient setting such as an office, assisted living facility, or nursing home. For telehealth services, CSWs will also be reimbursed at the same rate as an in-person service.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing $50 billion to Medicare-enrolled individual healthcare providers (including clinical social workers) and facilities that billed Medicare fee-for-services in 2019 to provide them compensation for healthcare-related expenses and lost revenues attributable to COVID-19. An initial $30 billion was automatically distributed (with no application requirement) in mid-April 2020, divided among all providers that received Medicare payments during 2019 in proportion to their relative Medicare reimbursements during that year.

NASW, CSWE and ASWB want to hear how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting you as a social work professional. We want to better understand the challenges you face, and how you have responded to these unprecedented times.  Please complete this brief survey (5 minutes) about your experience.

Thank you!