— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   Practitioners, educators and students convened on April 6 for the 26th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations in New York City. The theme for the 2009 program was “Global Poverty: Challenges for Social Work Practice.” Social Work Day at the United Nations is co-presented by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). NASW and its chapters in New York City, New York State, New Jersey and Connecticut are collaborating organizations. Additionally, 24 colleges and universities support the effort. Robin Ma...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 28. She was confirmed by the Senate in a 65-31 vote. Through its involvement in the National Coalition for Women’s Appointments, NASW supported Sebelius’ nomination and confirmation. The coalition works to help more women attain cabinet and executive positions in President Obama’s administration. Before becoming secretary of HHS, Sebelius served as the governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009. She was the second female governor of the state. She was the Democrati...

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  West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin signed a bill into law that addresses social work safety. West Virginia Chapter Executive Director Sam Hickman (directly behind Manchin) testified on the issue.

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Violence against a social worker once again made national headlines in May when uniformed social worker and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle was killed by gunfire along with four colleagues at a mental health clinic in Baghdad, Iraq (see related story in this issue). A 44-year-old Army sergeant who was ordered to undergo counseling has been charged with five counts of murder in relation to the killings. The tragedy is the latest example of how important it is for social workers to get special training and resources to protect them while performing their jobs. In recent years, several social workers and social work aides have lost their...

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NASW is urging the Department of Defense and President Obama to evaluate the military’s multiple deployment practice and mental health staffing levels in reaction to the recent killing of five U.S. military personnel at a mental health clinic in Baghdad, Iraq. Among those killed on May 11 was U.S. Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle, a uniformed social worker. A 44-year-old U.S. Army sergeant, who was ordered to receive psychological counseling at a stress center at Camp Liberty in Baghdad where Springle was stationed, has been charged with five counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault. The suspect had reportedly been servin...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   Elizabeth J. Clark spoke at the event, which was held in Washington, D.C. Media representatives and women’s health experts gathered at the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, D.C., on May 14 to discuss how to raise public awareness of women’s health issues through television, movies and the news. NASW Foundation and NASW communications staff collaborated with the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) to present the “Pictures This: Women’s Health” media forum. The NASW Foundation was also the lead sponsor of the event. “NASW was pleased to w...

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Remembering Kahn News of Professor Alfred J. Kahn’s death [May News] triggered memories of his unique set of skills. I first met Professor Kahn in the mid-1970s when he co-directed (with Dr. Sheila B. Kamerman) the “Cross National Studies of Social Service Systems.” It was my great good fortune to be the Federal Project Officer for that DHEW (Social and Rehabilitation Service)-funded three-year project. In meetings of both the Advisory Committee and the Principal Investigators from Canada, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Israel, Poland, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia, Professor Kahn displayed an uncanny knack for keep...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   NASW works to influence public policy through a number of means, including legal advocacy in the federal and state courts. This work is done primarily with the support of the NASW Legal Defense Fund (LDF) by filing amicus curiae ("friend of the court") briefs in cases of significance to the social work profession or to social workers' clients. "Amicus briefs are a mechanism to shape the outcome of legal decisions which, in turn, can significantly change or affect public policy," said Carolyn Polowy, NASW general counsel. In the opinion of NASW member Rufus Sylvester Lynch, president and principal ...

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Guam Chapter hosts awards ceremony. From left, are Vivian Dames, Claudine Tenorio, Tricia Atoigue Lizama, Arthur Barcinas. NASW’s Guam Chapter is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Former chapter president and co-founder Lisa Natividad and current chapter President Louise Toves reflected on how the chapter started and how it has grown to be an asset to the community. Guam is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Natividad said the chapter started when the Guam Association of Soci...

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NASW President James Kelly is on the planning committee. NASW is a supporting organization for a global summit, the “2010 Joint World Conference of Social Work and Social Development: The Agenda,” taking place in Hong Kong. NASW President James Kelly and NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark will be among the attendees for the event that will unite social work leaders, advocates and academics from around the world in an effort to draft a global social work agenda for the next decade. The hosts for the event are the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) of which NASW is a member; the International Association ...

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