A Message From Your President

I am extremely pleased to welcome the two newest staff members to NASW-NYS: Evelyn Williams as Policy Coordinator, and Craig Moncho as Policy Assistant.  Our new advocacy/lobbying team represents decades of successful social work practice and advocacy on both the macro and micro level.  They bring unparalleled understanding of both the professional challenges facing members and the needs of those we serve. I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of our Executive Director, Sam Fletcher, to create a team that represents us and our values so well, and look forward to hearing of many successes. Please see Evelyn’s and Craig’s bios below and join me in welcoming them to the Chapter office.

Marcia Schwartzman Levy, LCSW-R
President, NASW-NYS

Evelyn Williams, MSW
Policy Coordinator

Evelyn G. Williams has over 30 years of progressive experience in health care administration, consulting, legislative advocacy, and teaching at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Her primary professional direction was in community health care assisting in opening three community health centers (CHC) and providing technical assistance to CHC’s in the federal Region II locations. She also held several administrative positions in the NYS Department of Health. In 1999, after completing eleven years as the President/CEO of Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center, Evelyn chose to pursue her consulting career, working with community-based organizations in the areas of program development, strategic management, and leadership.

Her consultant endeavors include providing consultant services to state and federal agencies, community-based organizations, and social/cultural groups. She assisted organizations in opening health care programs, developing short and long-term strategic plans, writing grants, conducting organizational performance evaluations, designing fundraising projects, facilitating governing board retreats, and planning and implementing statewide and national conferences and professional meetings.

Concurrent with the progressive experience in health care, Ms. Williams has had varied teaching positions since 1979. Completing her tenure in FORUM and the Center of International Programs within Empire State College, she is currently a lecturer within the School of Social Welfare, University at Albany.

Ms. Williams’ leadership skills are represented through serving on several statewide and regional professional organizations’ governing boards, as well as her role as legislative chair and chairperson of the community health care statewide association.

Ms. Williams, in addition to the above, is a certified yoga & Shake Your Soul/Dancekinetics instructor and a proud grandmother.

Craig Moncho, LMSW
Policy Assistant

Craig Moncho has years of experience leading not-for-profit organizations that serve highly at-risk individuals, couples, and families living in extreme poverty. Among them were those living with severe mental illness, substance use and abuse disorders and the dually-diagnosed; individuals living on the street; victims of domestic violence; the formerly incarcerated and individuals with criminal justice system exposure and their families; disabled individuals; homeless families with children, sheltered adult couples and single adults; and, the aged.

These experiences have provided Craig with a deep understanding of the nature and depth of the struggles confronted by our neighbors, as well as the strengths and limitations of the systems that seek to help them regain health, stability, and happier lives. As a complement to years of direct service, Craig has worked as an Adjunct Instructor in the BSW program at Mercy College and MSW program at Fordham University.

Craig has been an active NASW-NYS Chapter member and served until his hiring on the Advocacy and Government Relations Committee. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to work on a team of dedicated advocates in crafting legislative remedies that will complement the day-in-and-day-out “boots on the ground” work being done by so many impassioned social workers in our state and the teams of caring people they work with on behalf of those in need.

Craig is “the dad” in a blended family of six and enjoys walking and sharing stories. He is currently working on an original play following the struggles of three families in shelter in New York City as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

 The National Association of Social Workers applauds a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers for introducing The Protecting Social Workers and Health Professionals from Workplace Violence Act of 2019 (H.R. 5138 /S.2880), legislation that is a crucial step forward in curbing an epidemic of violence against social workers and other helping professions. The original sponsors of the bill include Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), who is a social worker, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY).

The legislation will provide grants to states to help employers improve facility safety, provide safety training to staff and purchase safety equipment. It also allows for support services, counseling and additional resources for staff who have experienced violence in the workplace.

“As a social worker, I’ve seen firsthand the critical roles that nurses, social workers, and other caseworkers serve in Arizona’s communities. Strengthening workplace safety shows our appreciation for social workers and health professionals and will help recruit and retain qualified specialists to serve vulnerable Arizona families,” Sen. Sinema said.

“Unfortunately, violence in the workplace is on the rise in America, with social workers and healthcare professionals facing disproportionate and alarming levels. These men and women have dedicated their lives to helping others, sometimes in dangerous and high-risk situations. We must ensure they have access to the necessary tools, training, and technology to keep themselves and others safe, as well as appropriate services to support employees that experience a violent or traumatic event,” said Sen. Murkowski. “Recognizing the need to address the safety and risk factors associated with these careers, I’m proud to help lead bipartisan legislation that will help states, as well as Tribes, provide critical safety measures to social workers, health workers, and human services professionals.”

Social workers are on the front lines in providing mental health and other services in a host of settings, including in people’s homes. However, they are often victims of violence when they are on the job – and the problem is getting worse.

More than 75 percent of social workers report that they have experienced violence at work. In the health care and social assistance sectors, 13 percent of days away from work were the result of violence in 2013, and this rate has increased in recent years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

NASW-NYS is releasing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to invite social workers to develop and present a workshop for our continuing education program.

In order to meet the needs of our members we offer a variety of avenues for engagement – both for participants and for presenters, we offer online live learning, self study and live in person courses.

Find out how you can become a Continuing Education Presenter!

The Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative (VMHTI) is a multi-year comprehensive training project developed by the National Association of Social Workers – New York State Chapter (NASW-NYS), aimed at increasing the number of community health and mental health professionals clinically trained in the assessment and treatment of mental health issues specific to veterans and their families. VMHTI is supported by a grant from the New York State Legislature as part of its efforts to address the unmet mental health needs of returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and their families.

Each VMHTI training cycle consists of two regional conferences, which are free to attend and approved for continuing education credits for New York State physicians, licensed social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists. In addition to the regional conferences, VMHTI sponsors local programming to further increase the knowledge base of professionals working with military service members and their families across the state.

For the 2020 VMHTI program year, NASW-NYS will be providing live in-person individual trainings, conferences with multiple breakout workshops, online live webinars, and a special edition VMHTI Newsletter with self study CE opportunities.

The Policy Coordinator is responsible for putting the mission of social work into action through implementation of the Chapter Advocacy Agenda. Pursuit of theChapter Advocacy Agenda is achieved through lobbying on behalf of the Chapter at the NYS Legislature, government agencies, and other organizations; finding creative sources of funding for professional development opportunities as they relate to the legislative landscape for members; and staffing and assisting the Political Action for Candidate Election committee.

The Nominations & Leadership Committee uses this information to establish the preliminary slate for elected governance positions and appointments to committees and task forces. You may nominate yourself or another colleague. All nominees must be a member in good standing of the NASW-NYS Chapter. **Nominees will also be asked to complete a Biographical Fact Sheet to be considered for selection.

Click Here To Nominate
Click Here for All Position Descriptions