ACTION ALERT: CALLS needed to counter requests to extend the social work licensure exemption! #INVESTINSOCIALWORK

Current Act Now Campaigns: Social Work Legislative Alerts, Legislative, NASWNYS

 

Dear Members, 

Your immediate action is needed.

Though we have made great strides to end the licensure exemption, our fight is far from over. As you are reading this, calls are currently being made by members of the opposition asking for this exemption to continue beyond the scheduled expiry date (July 1, 2018), using false claims to further their agenda (see myths below).

Our efforts so far are getting results at the Capitol. Both the Assembly and Senate have released one-house budget bills that call for an expiration of the licensure exemption (currently set for July 1, 2018) and full implementation of the 2002 social work licensing laws that would require qualified licensed professionals be the ones to provide diagnosis and treatment of serious mental illness. (Read: NASW-NYS Thanks the Caucus for Standing with NYS Social Workers to Push Important Reforms)

We are so close to ending a 14-year tradition of inequality in New York’s mental health care, but need your help getting to the finish line. Your voice is critical to building the strong support needed to end the exemption that allows state agencies to hire unlicensed employees to provide diagnosis and treatment of serious mental illness and invest in the social work profession.  

As such, we need you to dedicate 5 minutes every day for the next two weeks and call on your legislators to ensure the social work licensure exemption ends THIS YEAR.  

 

Call your Senate and Assembly Members and tell them to end the social work licensure exemption THIS YEAR!

 

 

Action Steps Needed

 

Call Your Legislators

 

 

  • Call the NYS Legislature Switchboard:
    Senate: 518-455-2800
    Assembly: 518-455-4100

 

 

Your Script

Hello, my name is ____________, I am a constituent from (City), (Zip Code). I am in strong support of ending the social work licensure exemption. As it stands now, state agencies cannot guarantee that individuals accessing mental health services will receive care from a person licensed to provide certain services, such as diagnosis. An end to this exemption is a strong step toward improving the quality of mental health care for all New Yorkers and ending a 14-year tradition of inequality. Thank you for your time.

 

Dispel myths

Help counter false claims regarding the Social Work Investment Initiative, including:

  • Myth: NASW-NYS wants to restrict access to care.
    FALSE. What we are looking to restrict is the number of diagnoses and treatments provided by unlicensed mental health providers.

 

  • Myth: An end to the licensure exemption will cost existing jobs and disallow limited permit counselors from performing necessary clinical tasks related to earning their clinical hours.
    FALSE. Part of the Social Work Investment Initiative includes grandparenting for staff currently employed in exempt agencies and only those performing assessments and diagnoses and providing psychotherapy will need to be licensed – as established by the 2002 licensing laws. (See page 49, lines 23-36)

 

  • Myth: The removal of this exemption would be devastating to individuals.
    FALSE.     While the exemption is in place, agencies cannot guarantee that individuals will receive services from a person licensed to provide certain services, such as diagnosis. This exemption establishes two tiers of care for mental health services, and favors those with private insurance and wealth. At the core of the Social Work Investment Initiative is improving the quality of mental health care for all New Yorkers by ensuring access to a licensed mental health provider — regardless of whether they are accessing services through state agencies or private insurance.Aside from devaluing the requirements set forth by law, this exemption renders the professional standards moot – rendering YOUR license moot.

 

Get active and spread the message on social media! 

  • Share the action alert widely to your networks
  • Download the Social Work Investment Initiative Advocacy Toolkit at www.naswnys.org/invest 
  • Use the hashtag #INVESTINSOCIALWORK
  • Highlight the importance of ending the licensure exemption that puts some New Yorkers at risk of seeing an unlicensed provider
  • View the Social Work Investment Initiative: What is it and what’s the urgency video for a refresher: https://youtu.be/Rn1C4hjT5zg
  • Be sure to tag your state representatives in your post! (Be sure to look up the Twitter handles of your legislators)

 

Dinner Journal Advertising is Available at the 2018 Nassau Division Social Work Awards!

Nassau Division

Save the Date: 2018 Nassau Division Social Work Awards is June 13, 2018

 

Dinner Journal Advertising is Available at the 2018 Nassau Division Social Work Awards!

 

Pricing:
Full Page: $100 ♦  1/2 Page: $50  ♦  1/4 Page: $30  ♦  Booster: $10 

 

Payment can be made by credit card over the phone through the NYS Chapter office at 518-463-4741, or by check payable to NASW-NYS Nassau Division sent to NASW-NYS, 188 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210.

Submitting Your Ad:
After payment has been made, please e-mail .jpeg, .pdf, or document of your ad (7 x 11 journal) to Nassau.naswnys@socialworkers.org

For additional information or if there are any questions, please contact Eileen Moran at Nassau.naswnys@socialworkers.org

Deadline for Journal Ads: May 18, 2018

 

Become a Medicare Pro! (Self-study Program)

Continuing Education

 

NASW-NYS is proud to partner with the Medicare Rights Center to bring you the most up to date information about Medicare with Medicare Pro, a self-study program designed to teach you everything you need to know about Medicare.

Visit https://naswwa.inreachce.com/ to sign up!

For instance, did you know:

    • There are two distinct ways for individuals to receive their Medicare benefits: the Original Medicare program and Medicare Advantage Plans (including HMOs, PPOs, and more), which must cover at least the same benefits as Original Medicare but may offer additional services and have different rules and costs. 
    • Medicare’s drug benefit (Part D) offers outpatient prescription drug coverage for people with Medicare and is only available through private companies. Medicare Part B also covers drugs under certain circumstances, including a limited number of vaccines. 
    • Medicare covers dozens of preventive services, some at all times and some under special circumstances. 
    • There are a number of eligibility requirements and coverage rules for individuals in need of Medicare-covered outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies, as well as durable medical equipment (DME). 
    • People with Medicare have the right to appeal if they are denied coverage for a health service or item. Having a health care provider’s letter of support stating why the service or item—such as a medicine—is needed is often essential to a successful appeal. 
    • Medicare has complex rules regarding its coverage of hospital stays and related care, as well as regarding hospital discharge requirements and recommendations. 
    • There are a number of programs that can help reduce health care and prescription drug costs for people who meet income eligibility and other requirements.

 

MI Pro is a product of the Medicare Rights Center, a national nonprofit consumer service organization and the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.

ACTION ALERT: Call your legislators TODAY and tell them to invest in school social workers for safer schools! 

Current Act Now Campaigns: Social Work Legislative Alerts, Legislative, NASWNYS

Mental disorders have become all too common among children. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly one in five children from the ages 13 to 18 currently have and/or previously had a seriously debilitating mental disorder. In 2017, the New York State Council of School Superintendents released a financial survey in which an overwhelming number of their districts scored the increasing mental health needs of youth as an alarming top priority. 

Schools are often the first place mental health concerns are recognized and addressed . Assemblymember Felix W. Ortiz and Senator Jesse Hamilton have introduced twin bills in the Assembly (A.9533-A) and Senate (S.7526-A) that would require public school districts to employ and provide access to at least one licensed or certified school social worker in each of the schools under their jurisdiction.

By ensuring access to a school social worker to assist with students’ social emotional needs, our state is taking an important step toward enhancing overall school safety for students, and securing better academic outcomes. Your voice is critical to building the strong support needed to pass this bill.


Call your Senate and Assembly Members and tell them to pass Assembly bill A.95330A/Senate bill S.7526-A!

 

 

Action Steps Needed

 

Contact Your Legislators

 

 

  • Call the NYS Legislature Switchboard:
    Senate: 518-455-2800
    Assembly: 518-455-4100

 

Your Script

Hello, my name is ____________, I am a constituent from (City), (Zip Code). I am asking you to support and vote in favor of Assembly bill A.95330A/Senate bill S.7526-A that would require public school districts to employ and provide access to at least one licensed or certified school social worker in each of the schools under their jurisdiction. Schools are often the first place mental health concerns are recognized and addressed. This legislation is a strong step toward enhancing overall school safety for students, and securing better learning outcomes. Thank you for your time.

 

Spread the message on social media! #SW4SAFESCHOOLS

  • Use the hashtag #SW4SAFESCHOOLS
  • Highlight the importance of school social workers in building safer schools and improving overall academic achievement for students
  • Be sure to tag your state representatives in your post!

 

NASW-NYS Thanks the Caucus for Standing with NYS Social Workers to Push Important Reforms

NASWNYS
NASW-NYS thanks the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, especially Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz for standing with NYS social workers and the social work profession by including social workers and NASW-NYS’s legislative priorities in their 2018 Annual People’s budget, including:
 
  • The Social Work Investment Initiative (pg 31-32) which seeks to end the licensure exemption and requests substantial state investment into the social work profession
  • Reforming school disciplinary practices to put students in front of social workers and guidance counselors, not police officers and judges (pg 17)

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Happy Social Work Month!

NASWNYS, Private

 

Learn more about the 2018 Social Work Month Theme
Happy Social Work Month!

It’s our favorite time of the year: Happy Social Work Month!

Every day, the nation’s 650,000 social workers act as advocates, champions, and leaders who make our society a better place to live.

For instance, in New York, we are taking the lead this year with the #InvestinSocialWork campaign, which seeks to end a 14-year tradition of inequality in New York’s mental health system and request a substantial financial investment in the social work profession — one of the state’s largest groups of mental health providers. (Follow our updates here)

The 2018 Social Work Month theme “Social Workers: Leaders. Advocates. Champions.” will inform the public about the past and present role of social workers in helping the most vulnerable people in our society, as well as their role in improving the lives of all Americans.

The campaign will also improve the image and respect of the social work profession by educating the public, the media, and elected officials about the profession.

We hope you will take some time this month to celebrate yourself and all your tremendous efforts and accomplishments as social work leaders, advocates, and champions. Thank you, for being part of this wonderful profession! 

 

 

 

Get Involved this Month! 

MARCH 20 IS WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY! 

The 2018 World Social Work Day highlights ‘Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability’. It is the key day in the year that social workers worldwide stand together to celebrate the achievements of the profession and take the theme message into their communities, workplaces, and to their governments to raise awareness of the social work contributions and need for further action.

RECRUIT A MEMBER!

The achievements we accomplish as a Chapter would not be possible without the support and involvement of our members. Help our Chapter grow and advance the profession of social work further by encouraging other social workers to join as an NASW member!

 

Actual contents may vary. Full merchandise for display purpose only. 

 

Anyone who joins, renews, or transitions from a student to a regular membership from now until March 31st, will receive a special welcome gift from NASW-NYS!

 

GET INVOLVED

Social Work Month is a great opportunity for members to get more involved with the Chapter.

  • Be part of NASW-NYS by attending a Division meeting, join a Steering Committee, or run for NASW-NYS Leadership/Board position. See what opportunities are available.
  • Donate to PACE! Your support gives the Chapter funds needed to make difference in campaigns and elections. Your contribution to NASW-NYS PACE will go to support candidates who are social workers or social work-friendly. Please consider donating today!

  • Consider publishing an op-ed, letter to the editor, or a blog post to spread awareness about the profession of social work, address an issue of concern for you, or to simply share resources and information to your fellow social work colleagues. 

      • You can use events to educate the public about social workers. Create handouts using information from the Facts section of NASW’s website.

      • You can view a Sample Letter to the Editor

HONOR OUR SOCIAL WORKERS

NASW-NYS and its 10 Divisions host award programs and scholarships to recognize exemplary members, future leaders, outstanding agencies, and inspiring public citizens. If you are an NASW member, please take time this year to nominate social workers and other community champions you admire. Currently, you can submit nominations or submissions for the following events/programs:

We also encourage you to attend upcoming social work award programs to honor this year’s award recipients. Registration for the following award programs are now open:

 

ATTEND A WORKSHOP/EVENT NEAR YOU

MEETINGS/NETWORKING

March 6 – Central Division Steering Committee Meeting

March 6 – Northeast Division Steering Committee Meeting

March 8 – CNLI Committee Call

March 13 – Annual Social Work Month Long Island Fellowship Event (Farmingdale, NY)

March 14 – AGR/PACE Committee Call

March 17 – NASW-NYS Board Meeting (Albany, NY)

March 20 – CNLI Committee Call

March 22 – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! NASW-NYS Central Division Soup Day at Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)

March 29 – NASW-NYS Western Division Social Work Awards (Buffalo, NY)

March 29 – NASW-NYS Westchester Division Social Work Awards (White Plains, NY)

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION

March 5 – DBT: Not Just for Our Clients (Loudonville, NY)

March 6, 13, & 20 – VIRTUAL SERIES: Overlooked and Underserved: Clinical and Educational Perspectives in the Treatment and Support of Twice Exceptional Children, Adolescents, and Their Families (Live Webinar)

March 13 – Political Social Work: The Role of Social Workers in Politics @ the Annual Social Work Month Long Island Fellowship Event (Farmingdale, NY)

March 14 – LEARNING WEDNESDAY: Depression: Etiology, Assessment, and Diagnosis (Live Webinar)

March 28 – LEARNING WEDNESDAY: Depression: Promising and Evidence Based Treatments (Live Webinar)

 

LEGISLATIVE/ADVOCACY

March 6 – Social Work Investment Initiative Call-In Day 

March 21 – 2018 Legislative Education and Advocacy Day

 

OTHER

March 16 – Deadline to submit nominations for the 2018 Suffolk Division Social Work Awards

March 16 – Deadline to submit submission for the 2018 Suffolk Division Student Scholarships

March 29 – NASW Virtual Career Fair