NASW's policy papers are now available online at Policy Issues. The policy papers allow visitors to view NASW's summarized opinions and recommendations on a variety of issues, said Elizabeth Franklin, project manager and lobbyist at NASW. These issues are pertinent to many national discussions happening in the executive branch as well as in Congress. The policy papers will be useful to social workers and a variety of stakeholders and decision makers interested in a quick reference on how NASW views a certain issue and what should be done regarding these issues to contribute to healthy individuals, families, and communities. "This is especi...

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Rick Harris, executive director of the NASW Rhode Island Chapter, pauses in front of the Capitol building in Washington this summer during his bicycle tour on behalf of marriage equality. For the past four summers, Harris has used the trip to collect signatures for a proclamation that supports same-gender marriage equality. His latest tour logged 1,200 miles in 15 days and boosted his signature count to more than 1,900.

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NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark has been elected to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Board of Directors. The LLS is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Clark was elected after a rigorous review process, noted current LLS board member Marie M. Lauria, an oncology social work consultant who is past president of the Association of Oncology Social Work and former president of the Association of Pediatric Onc...

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Remembering Springle I had the privilege and the pleasure of working with U.S. Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tenn.[July News]. His sense of humor and ready smile were an uplifting experience for all of us. His dedication to duty and his social work skills were exceptional. Keith will be missed by me and the others who worked with him there. He was one of a kind — not only as a naval officer but also as a social worker and was the best in both. Susan B. Avery, LCSW, ACSW Fort Worth, Texas Rethink Use of 'Rampage' In your recent article, "Rampage Claims Social Worker" [July News], ...

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Longtime corrections leader and social worker Charles Kehoe is the new superintendent of the Richmond, Va., Juvenile Detention Center. "I'm excited about it," Kehoe said just before taking his new position in August. "It's a wonderful opportunity. Working with kids is something I enjoy doing. It's a rewarding and challenging career." Doris D. Moseley, interim director of Richmond's Department of Justice Services, said Kehoe is highly regarded in the field of adult and juvenile corrections. "We are very fortunate to have him join our team," Moseley said in a statement. Kehoe, 65, said he wants to make a difference at the center, a 60-bed j...

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NASW President James Kelly, fourth from left in the back row, and other members attended IFSW meetings in Switzerland. NASW President James Kelly and other NASW members attended an executive committee and special task forces meeting of the International Federation of Social Workers in Switzerland in June. Kelly is the regional president of IFSW North America, which includes the U.S. and Canada. The executive committee reviews the affairs of the federation between general meetings and determines program activities in accordance with the general policies adopted by the general meeting. NASW member Michael Cronin, associate professor of so...

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NASW continues to strengthen relationships with the Department of Health and Human Services. Most recently, NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark and staff met with Mary Wakefield, administrator at the Health Resources and Services Administration within HHS in July to discuss areas of mutual interest. The meeting was an opportunity to express the urgency of addressing an anticipated work force shortage for social work in coming years. A report by the NASW Center for Workforce Studies states that approximately 30,000 social workers currently specialize in gerontology. By 2010, as more people reach age 65, the National Institute on Aging ...

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The health care reform debate raged on in Washington over the summer. NASW has been tracking proposals and utilizing its membership advocacy to support health care reform legislation that best reflects the association's policy statements. At press time, NASW members were being encouraged to support the House's America's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200). "This act is the result of work among three committees in the House to fulfill President Obama's goals of reducing health care costs, protecting and increasing consumers' choices, and guaranteeing access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans," said NASW lobbyist Jame...

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Jack Hansan received the Rhoda G. Sarnat Award Recipients of the 2009-2010 NASW Foundation Awards include a social welfare leader, a hospice advocate, a mental health researcher and an NASW chapter project that will examine hospital social work services. The recipient of the International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award is NASW Social Work Pioneer® John (Jack) E. Hansan. His more than 50 years of experience include leading two national professional social work organizations as well as being a volunteer, author, historian and entrepreneur. Hansan was interim executive director of NASW in the early 1980s. Prior to that role, he served as executiv...

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Many people believe a cancer diagnosis is inevitable, according John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society. A recent study estimates that an alarming percentage of people don't know cancer is the most preventable life-threatening disease affecting Americans, Seffrin said. In order to help change that mindset, NASW, as part of C-Change, is helping spread clear, simple messages about healthy living and screening so people can take charge and reduce their own risk of cancer. C-Change is a coalition of 130 organizations that works to eliminate cancer as a major public health problem. NASW has previously collaborated with C-Change to prod...

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