The 2008 hurricane season proved to be the second most destructive on record, behind only 2005's historic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many Gulf Coast communities were still recovering from the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina when Hurricanes Ike and Gustav made landfall over the summer. Community leaders, social workers and first responders once again were put to the test as millions of residents were ordered to evacuate. After the storms, news reports revealed more than 200 deaths were blamed on the two hurricanes. Tens of thousands of residents had lost their homes and damage estimates reached $54 billion. But there was good news to ...

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NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to voice concerns about a proposed "provider conscience regulation" that would allow a health care provider to refuse to provide certain medical services on the basis of his or her religious or moral beliefs. Speaking on behalf of the association's 150,000 members, Clark stated that the proposed regulation lacks involvement from stakeholders, is unclear in its definition and is too broad in scope. Clark stated NASW requests a 90-day comment period and hearings on newly proposed regulations prior to implementation....

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Social Work Pioneer® Carl E. Munson was recognized for contributions to clinical practice. Two social workers who have made significant contributions to the profession were honored with the NASW Foundation's annual Knee/Wittman Awards in October. The awards program was established to recognize the values, ethics and approaches exemplified by two dedicated social work pioneers, Ruth Knee and Milton Wittman. This year, Carlton E. Munson and King Davis were honored for their efforts with a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. The event was sponsored by NASW and the NASW Foundation. NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark, who is also pre...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   NASW has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case before the North Carolina Court of Appeals addressing a custody dispute between a same-sex couple. In the case Boseman v. Jarrell, Melissa Jarrell has requested that the court void a final adoption order to which she agreed over three years ago and, therefore, destroy the parent-child status between the child and his second parent, Julia Boseman. In the brief, NASW argues that North Carolina law and public policy bar this from happening and asks the court to respect the 2005 final adoption order. NASW supports the lower court's ruling that it is...

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The conference will take place in Las Vegas, Nev., in conjunction with the Aging in America conference. Program details have been announced for NASW's Annual Practice Conference, "The Aging Boom: Is Your Clinical Practice Ready?" The conference will include 3 tools-to-use workshops, 16 breakout sessions, 2 general sessions and a keynote address. The conference, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas from March 15-16, will offer social work-specific educational content and unique networking opportunities. It is being held in conjunction with the American Society on Aging / National Council on Aging 2009 Aging in America Conference. Sandra Lop...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, NASW News StaffOn Oct. 7, 2009, President George W. Bush signed into law the "Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act" (H.R. 6893), which is aimed at certain deficiencies in the child welfare system. "This law recognizes the importance of providing foster care youth with needed support as they transition to adulthood, which can be a vulnerable time for many of them," said NASW Senior Lobbyist Nancy McFall Jean. The bill extends federal foster care payments, at state option, for youths who remain in foster care up to the age of 21. It aids relatives in caring for foster children by extending adoption assista...

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Donna Steffey spoke to the Northern Virginia Daily about ways to help children when a family is dealing with a financial crisis. Children as young as 5 or 6 can have a basic understanding of money, Steffey, a licensed clinical social worker with Generations Counseling Center, said in the article. "Kids pick up on just about anything. They are more tuned in than most parents realize," she said. For many middle-class families with young children, this is the largest financial downturn they've experienced, making it even more of a source of insecurity. She encouraged parents to talk to their children about financial problems in a general way...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   Elizabeth J. Clark joined other leaders to endorse the program. NASW has endorsed Give an Hour, a national nonprofit grassroots organization with the goal of creating a national network of licensed mental health professionals who can offer free mental health services to military personnel and their families. NASW first announced its endorsement of Give an Hour in the July issue of the NASW News, but joined the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at the Reserve Officers Association on Nov. 10 in Washington,...

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