Message from NASW-DE Executive Director John Shuford

It is my great pleasure to announce that the Delaware Chapter of NASW is honoring Leona Minor as the 2012 Social Worker of the Year.

Leona works for the Department of Correction as a Master Correctional Counselor with the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.

She currently operates a diverse caseload of 100 inmates in a multi-security housing unit where she implements and facilitates the Options Program, a motivational initiative that helps inmates rethink their behavior. More

It is also with great pleasure that I announce Christiana Care Department of Social Work as the 2012 Social Work Organization of the Year. The Christiana Care Department of Social Work is a division within Christiana Care Health Systems. It provides services to a wide variety of clients that range in age from birth to elderly and provides services to those with a variety of needs beyond their medical condition from lack of insurance/ under-insured to those who have no resources for basic needs like the homeless, and those with multiple psycho-social issues like substance abuse and psychiatric issues. More

It is with further pleasure that I announce the Outstanding Students of the Year: MSW Student of the Year, Kealey Johnson. She is a student at Delaware State University.

Also at Delaware State University is the Outstanding BSW Student of the Year – Lucian Cardona. Congratulations to both students.

All four awardees will be honored at our Annual Social Work Celebration and Awards Ceremony March 27 at 5:00 at the Duncan Center in Dover. For more information.

I had mentioned last month a great resource for anyone working with our incarcerated citizens or their children, whether in school or as part of your agency work, and this month they have sent another incredible resource list. To view the list.

Another resource is the Disaster Response Network for anyone interested in disaster response. Their latest newsletter with many excellent resources. A very good resource.

This DRN study sought to identify and compare variables associated with motivation to change alcohol, drug use, and HIV risk behaviors among a sample of homeless youths. More frequent alcohol use, older age, and childhood sexual abuse were associated with greater motivation to change alcohol use; higher reported negative consequences of substance use were associated with higher motivation to reduce illicit drug use. Shorter periods of current homelessness predicted higher motivation to change HIV risk behaviors. Findings suggest these areas might be fruitful targets for intervention efforts to enhance motivation to reduce alcohol and illicit drug use and HIV risk behaviors. Full Article

This study on parental substance abuse examines the reunification outcomes of 4 groups of children placed in foster care in Oklahoma: those referred due to parental alcohol-only abuse, those due to parental drug-only abuse, those with both alcohol and drug involvement, and those with neither alcohol nor drug involvement. Following bivariate analysis to examine group differences, survival analysis was utilized to predict reunification rates. Overall, differences in time to reunification among the 4 groups were significant. The neither alcohol nor other drug group was significantly different from the other 3 groups, but the alcohol only group was different from the groups that included any drug involvement. Full Article

NASW produces many valuable papers, the following is part of the new Leadership Ladder, "Retiring? Tips for Closing Your Private Practice."
Click here.

And last, but certainly not least, here's a photo of Marce Garbett & Wanda Wittington at the Kent County Social Work Mixer.
                                                                                                                       

We've Extended the Early Bird Deadline to Feb 22nd! Register Now for the NASW-NJ Annual Conference and Exhibition 

                                                   
2012 NASW-NJ
Annual Conference & Exhibition

A Meeting of the Profession
Social Work Leadership: Tools for Effective Change

Trump Taj Mahal
Atlantic City
May 6-8, 2012

Early Bird registration discount now ends February 22nd. Don't delay!

Try our NEW Online Registration - It's Quick, Easy, and Secure! Click here.

Our Exhibitor Prospectus will be available online soon!

Questions? Call our Conference Hotline at 732-296-8070 x18.

Can't Make the Drive? Take an Online Course at Home!

Earn CEs in 2012, and over the cold winter months, from home!
Click here to visit the Online CE Institute

New courses are being added, so check the site periodically. All courses listed are approved for certified, licensed and licensed clinical social workers; certified school social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and certified and licensed alcohol and drug counselors.

African American Social Workers: NASW Wants to Publish Your Profile

February is Black History Month. To celebrate it NASW National is inviting African American social workers to publish a personal profile on www.HelpStartsHere.org. 

All African American social workers are eligible to participate. NASW membership is not required. Anyone wishing to participate this year should send his or her response to Theresa Spinner at tspinner@naswdc.org. Ms. Spinner will send you a draft of your profile for your review and approval before posting it and upload it onto the site. 

Submissions should be sent to Ms. Spinner no later than  
Friday, February 10, 2012.

To view the profile questions and for more information click here.

Parenting Strategy Sessions Available

Children and Families First in Dover, DE is offering several sessions of their free “Strengthening Families Program” in all three counties for parents with children of different ages. More

NASW Monitoring DSM- 5 Process

The Humanistic Psychology Society, Division 32 of the American Psychological Association, has prepared a sign-on letter to the DSM-5 Task Force that seeks support from mental health professionals and organizations. The letter raises several concerns regarding controversial proposals related to the proposed DSM-5. These proposals include changes in the definition of mental disorder, lower diagnostic thresholds, and lack of empirical findings. It is available online at:  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dsm5.

NASW is monitoring the DSM-5 process and has not taken an official position regarding the concerns of the Humanistic Psychology Society. NASW continues to provide feedback to the DSM-5 Task Force and encourages its members to review the draft proposals and share their expertise with the DSM-5 Task Force during available DSM-5 comment periods. In spring 2012, the DSM-5 Task Force will open the site for a third and final round of comments. NASW also encourages its members to participate in the DSM-5 clinical trials. Information about the DSM-5 is available online at www.dsm5.org.

Halt the 27.4 % Medicare Fee
Cuts for SGR!

Congress passed legislation in December 2011 that delayed a scheduled 27.4 percent Medicare fee pay cut for Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) until the end of February 2012. The short-term patches that Congress has passed since 2003 have created uncertainty for Medicare providers and patients who face continued concerns about access to providers. In addition, these temporary fixes fail to address the underlying formula, increasing the size of future cuts and the cost of future reform.  

Some NASW members are reporting that they plan to terminate their Medicare practices should the proposed cuts be implemented because they would be unable to continue to provide quality services to Medicare beneficiaries due to the proposed reduced rate of reimbursement. A national shortage of Medicare providers would definitely limit access to care for Medicare beneficiaries who seek psychotherapy services from clinical social workers. A total reimbursement reduction of 27.4 percent would be devastating for clinical social workers.  Click here to take action!

Pay Off Your Student Loans While Serving Communities in Need

The 2012 NHSC Loan Repayment Program (LRP) application cycle is now open. The program offers primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health providers the opportunity to have their student loans repaid for serving communities in need. Due to overwhelming interest in the program, the NHSC is extending the application review and processing timeline. 

For details, please visit the NHSC LRP site at: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/index.html.

Urge Congress to Protect Young People!

The Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 1381/S. 2020) would prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools and is the first national effort to address this problem and ensure the safety of all students and school staff. The Act is a bi-partisan approach to making classrooms safer and is vital to stopping the use of seclusion, restraint and other abusive interventions in schools that cause unnecessary trauma, injury and death to America’s children. This legislation establishes important minimum safety standards in schools, similar to the protections already in place in hospitals and non-medical community-based facilities.

Contact your legislators today and urge them to cosponsor this vital legislation. Click here.

NASW Alaska Executive Director Position Announcement

The National Association of Social Workers-Alaska Chapter, a 400 member professional association based in Anchorage, is seeking a part time (less than 20 hours per week) Executive Director. The successful candidate will be competent in non-profit leadership and organizational management, communication, financial management, conference planning, member services & volunteer management. The candidate will demonstrate an experience working with diverse populations and have a familiarity with our Alaska Native cultures. Additionally, experience in computer and social media, marketing, public policy and legislative process, and the understanding of social work values are essential.

This is a hands-on position that is responsible for all functions including assisting the board, supporting committee work, and managing day-to-day chapter activities. A college degree is required; social work degree preferred but not required. Salary is $26,000 to $30,000, depending on experience. NASW-Alaska is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of diversity are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants should e-mail a cover letter and resume by February 24, 2012 to presidentelect.naswak@gmail.com.

National Hub Started for State Child Welfare Reform

A group of nonprofits will work with the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation to establish a national hub for state child welfare reform assistance. The State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC) will be led by national advocacy group First Focus, and will focus on helping a handful of states make large strides that “could inspire policy change on a national scale,” according the Casey’s announcement of the project. More

Help Fight Inequality: Ask Your Representative to Co-sponsor ENDA

Click here to Take Action!

For today’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, intolerance still is evident in the 29 states that permit discrimination based on sexual orientation and the 38 states that have not yet prohibited discrimination based on gender identity. On April 6, 2011, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced H.R.1397, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to address this issue. Currently, there are 157 co-sponsors.

H.R.1397 would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  H.R.1397 is similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans employment discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin and color.  As social justice advocates, NASW strongly urges the Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Please contact your Representative to ask them to co-sponsor H.R.1397, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. 

Healthy Masculinity Summit - Save the Date!: October 17-19 in Washington DC

The Healthy Masculinity Summit is the beginning of a pioneering two-year initiative, the Healthy Masculinity Action Project (HMAP), designed to engage men and women from all walks of life in promoting how men can be strong without being violent. The Healthy Masculinity Summit will prepare participants to form community working groups that will organize and host town halls focused on healthy masculinity issues. Participants will also have access to a national online forum, conduct local workshops, and identify youth leaders in their communities to receive scholarships to attend the youth leadership retreat. More

News from DE and Beyond...

Click on the article               title or underlined link

Understanding the Role of Spiritual Care in Times of Disaster. The purpose of this document is to promote better understanding of spiritual care in times of disaster.

The February Bulletin of the “National Child Trauma Stress Network” has some good resources about trauma, stress, military and children.

Hospice Worker Offers Gift of Care and Comfort
As a part of our “Greatest Person” series, we highlight Peachtree Corners resident Jane Dausner who is a social worker for Hospice Atlanta; the only non-profit Hospice organization in the state of Georgia. Jane Dausner moved here to Peachtree Corners in 1995, the year the Braves won the World Series. Not only did the Braves win, but our community won by gaining a woman who exhibits great care and concern for others which she extends to many through her work as a hospice social worker.

Therapy Dog Helps Kids Build Reading Skills
Walfish is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a graduate degree in social work who worked with adolescents in foster care early in her career, and went on to spend more time as a school social worker and in private psychotherapy practice.

Discriminatory laws and policies harm children of LGBT parents, new study finds
The study is the latest in a series of reports co-authored by Movement Advancement Project (MAP), the Family Equality Council and the Center for American Progress, in partnership with the National Association of Social Workers.

'Food Stamp President' – What’s the Basis of Gingrich’s Claim
 “In combination with Mr. Gingrich’s remarks that African Americans should prefer jobs to food stamps, Mr. Gingrich’s refrain clearly contains a coded racial message and implies that SNAP benefits flow primarily to person of color in the U.S.,” Michael Reisch, the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice at the University of Maryland, said. For more information on this, please contact Theresa Spinner

Classified  

Clinical Case Manager, LCSW Aetna is currently seeking a Clinical Case Manager in Managed Long Term Care to join our team in Newark, DE. This position is field based and will service New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. Must be LCSW and have three years case management experience. Master’s preferred. Apply online at www.aetna.com/working
and search Req # 5090BR. EOE www.ecentralmetrics.com/respond.cfm?posting=134431