PASSED: Governor Cuomo signs parity reporting bill

Divisions, Legislative, NASW-NYS/NYC

 

PASSED! Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed the parity reporting bill as Chapter 455 of the laws of 2018. We thank the Governor for holding insurers, health plans, and behavioral health management companies accountable to the federal and state MH/SUD parity laws, and ensuring all New Yorkers will receive the mental health and substance use treatment and coverage they need.

Thank you and the entire NASW-NYS membership for taking the time to make your calls, emails, and tweets to the Governor and urging him to enact A.3694-C. Parity is a critical lynchpin in maintaining and enhancing access to care, and what an incredible gift to all New Yorkers this holiday season!

ACTION ALERT: Contact Governor Cuomo to Sign MH/SUD Parity Report Act (A.3694-C)

Current Act Now Campaigns: Social Work Legislative Alerts, Divisions, Legislative, NASW-NYS/NYC

Contact Governor Cuomo TODAY as MH/SUD Parity Report Act (A.3694-C) Reaches Governor’s Desk Requiring Action by December 22

NASW-NYS is urging members to contact Governor Cuomo as he decides on whether to approve the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (MH/SUD) Parity Report Act (A.3694-C).

Attention Social Workers: It is imperative that you call and/or email the Governor TODAY as he must decide whether to approve the Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder (MH/SUD) Parity Report Act (A.3694-C) in the next ten days (December 22, 2018), which incidentally falls on the day Timothy’s Law, New York’s parity law, was signed in 2006. This important legislation would provide New York with annual transparency and accountability from insurers, health plans and behavioral health benefit managers on compliance with federal and state MH/SUD parity laws, which, we know from settlements with the New York Attorney General, remains elusive.

Under A.3694-C, insurers, health plans and behavioral health benefit managers will be required to submit certain key data for the purpose of allowing the Department of Financial Services to evaluate compliance with federal and state MH/SUD parity laws and issue an annual parity report. Twenty-two statewide organizations, as well as five national organizations, representing mental health and substance use disorder providers, medical specialty societies, as well as consumer representatives of mental health and substance use disorder services, actively support the enactment of this legislation.

While the supporters overcame the vigorous objections of insurers and health plans to secure the bill’s passage by 60-0 in the Senate and 137-1 in the Assembly, we must continue to make sure our voices are heard in the next ten days!

Don't wait to act – take five minutes to call and email the Governor’s office TODAY.

Your support can have a huge impact.  

Sample Phone/Email Script

CALL THE GOVERNOR:
(518) 474-8390

Press 2 to speak with a person

SEND AN EMAIL:

https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

Hi, my name is _______________. I am a social worker practicing in New York State. I urge Governor Cuomo to sign A.3694-C into law, which passed the Senate unanimously and the Assembly with one dissenting vote, and would be among the strongest parity compliance reporting measures in the nation. New York needs compliance with these laws to sustain and enhance care for with those with MH/SUD.

NASW-NYS is hiring: Executive Administrative Assistant and CE Coordinator

Divisions, NASW-NYS/NYC


NASW-NYS is hiring for two positions at the Chapter: Executive Administrative Assistant and Continuing Education Coordinator. Interested persons can send a résumé, cover letter, and writing sample (10 pages max) to NASW-NYS Executive Director Samantha Howell at showell.naswnys@socialworkers.org

Click the buttons below to download each position's job description.

Please share widely!

 

Please include a résumé, cover letter, and writing sample (10 pages max) as part of your application.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Call for Members: Program Proposal Review Team

Divisions, NASW-NYS/NYC

Program Proposal Review Team

Call for Members

Application deadline: Saturday, December 14, 2018


In an effort to increase member leadership opportunities, as well as diversity of expertise and perspective, the NASW-NYS Board of Directors' Program Committee is seeking volunteers to serve on a Program Proposal Review Team.

This team will be responsible for reviewing all program proposals submitted to the Chapter for webinars and in-person programs. The team will review program proposals to ensure they comply with NYSED requirements, display best practice, and are in line with the Code of Ethics and NASW-NYS principles. Persons interested in serving on the Review Team should submit a Letter of Interest describing any area(s) of professional expertise and a CV or résumé to Marcia Schwartzman Levy, Chapter Board President, by December 14th, though applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline. Licensed social work professionals are encouraged to apply.

Team members should expect to spend up to five (5) hours per month reviewing programs. Programs will be referred to team members for review, based on need, areas of expertise, and other factors. Team members may also be asked to participate in conference calls with the Program Committee and Chapter staff.

NASW-NYS will provide training for team members.

 

Please include a Letter of Interest describing any area(s) of professional expertise and a CV or résumé as part of your application.

Application deadline is Saturday, December 14, 2018. 

About the NASW-NYS Program Committee 
The NASW-NYS Program Committee is responsible for the development of state-wide program planning, and for the review, monitoring, and evaluation of all programs of the Chapter. The Committee has also been charged with identifying and making recommendations to the Board regarding local and statewide programming goals and objectives. Visit the NASW-NYS Leadership & Governance page for more information on our Chapter's leadership. 

Registration now open for 2019 LEAD (March 5, 2019)

Divisions, Legislative, NASW-NYS/NYC
The following blog post has been updated to reflect the change in one of our 2019 LEAD issues. For the most timely updates on 2019 LEAD, please visit https://naswnys.org/LEAD

2019 LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY DAY (LEAD)

MARCH 5, 2019

in ALBANY, NY

 
 

WHAT IS LEAD?

LEADERSHIP BUILDING
EDUCATIONAL
ADVOCACY
DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Social Work Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) is a legislative event hosted by the National Association of Social Workers - New York State (NASW-NYS) Chapter, the New York State Social Work Education Association (NYSSWEA), and the New York State Association of the Deans of Schools of Social Work, that brings hundreds of social work students and professionals to the Capitol. The goal of this event is to further social workers’ knowledge about policy issues in substantive areas of social work practice, teach participants about legislative advocacy, and provide an opportunity for social workers to lobby on behalf of specific legislation.

This year's LEAD event is on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Registration deadline is Friday, February 22, 2019.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

LEAD is open to both social work students and professionals. Attendees will visit their legislators throughout the day via legislative appointments or blanket canvassing to advocate for our issues. Attendees may also opt to serve as group leaders, responsible for leading the assigned meetings with legislators.

Information, updates, and resources pertaining to 2019 LEAD will be emailed DIRECTLY to your email address. As such, please ensure your email address is correctly filled out when registering.

WHAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR

 

2019 LEAD ISSUES

RACIAL EQUITY ASSESSMENT IN LEGISLATION (REAL)

The Racial Equity Assessment in Legislation (REAL) Act, is a bill that would require the NYS Legislature create a mechanism by which all bills be viewed through a racial equity lens. This process will help ensure that the laws passed to protect and support New Yorkers, do so for all New Yorkers.

 

SOCIAL WORK INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

On March 30, 2018, the Legislature passed the Health and Mental Hygiene budget bill, which called for the full and complete implementation of the 2002 licensing laws and included most of our exact language related to diagnosis, treatment, and non-licensed tasks – effectively ending the 14-year licensure exemption. However, it is imperative that our proposed amendments be enacted in conjunction with a financial commitment to invest in the social work profession. As such, we continue to advocate for funds to support loan forgiveness, test prep, and workforce studies to help identify where additional supports are needed.

 

RESOURCES

WHAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE

National Association of Social Workers - New York State Chapter

New York State Association of Deans of Schools of Social Work

 

New York State Social Work Education Association

National Association of Social Workers - New York City Chapter

Now Accepting Nominations and Applications for 2019 Awards and Scholarship

Nassau Division

 

SAVE THE DATE

The 2019 NASW-NYS Nassau Division Social Work Awards Event

April 3, 2019

at the Long Island Marriott

Chardonnay Room

101 James Doolittle Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553

6:00PM - 8:30PM

Please save the date for our Division's annual social work awards event,  where we will be honoring this year's award winners and student scholarship recipient.

Now accepting award nominations and scholarship applications!

 

 

The NASW-NYS Nassau Division is requesting nominations for the following awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Social Work Student of the Year
Social Worker of the Year
Public Citizen of the Year
Agency of the Year

 

Each year, the NASW-NYS Nassau Division seeks to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations who support and promote the social work profession and make a positive impact in the lives of many. 

We ask you to reflect on the leaders, advocates, and champions that have made a difference in your life or in their communities and consider nominating them for an award at the annual NASW-NYS Nassau Division Social Work Awards event on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Nomination deadline:
Tuesday, February 12, 2019

2019 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

 

Application Deadline is Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Attention Students! The NASW-NYS Nassau Division is now accepting applications for its annual Student Scholarship Award. One scholarship will be granted to a Baccalaureate or Master level social work student who resides in Nassau County or attends a university in Nassau County. Applicants must be a student member of the NASW-NYS Nassau Division. 

Only complete applications and documentation will be considered. The scholarship recipient will be awarded at the NASW-NYS Nassau Division Social Work Awards event on April 3, 2019.

Funds for the scholarship are raised by the NASW-NYS Nassau Division and do not include membership dues.

SAVE THE DATE

2019 NASW-NYS Nassau Division
Social Work Awards Event

APRIL 3, 2019

at the Long Island Marriott

6PM - 8:30PM