We are social workers in a time when the evidence-based practice movement has been a major influence on direct practice, the design of social programs, and policy in the major social work fields, like mental and behavioral health, child welfare, family services and many others. In the last 20 years there has also been steady growth in the number of social workers receiving federal and other major funding for their research, and many schools of social work, especially those in research universities, now enact a robust knowledge development mission along with their educational one. In a paper given at the annual meeting of the Society for S...

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Participants engage in a virtual reality session. The woman on the left wears a headset with goggles that simulates a real-life experience. Virtual reality experiences can aid some types of social work research and treatment methods. The University of Alabama is installing a lab this summer, the third U.S. university to do so. Attending a virtual party might sound more like a video game experience than a sophisticated research tool. But according to Amy Traylor, assistant professor at the University of Alabama school of social work, virtual reality experiences can aid some types of social work research and treatment methods. “We kn...

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NASW members Barbara Anderson Head (photo right), of Louisville, Ky.; Luba Shagawat (photo center), of Wayne, N.J.; and Karen Sowers (photo left), of Knoxville, Tenn., were elected to the National Academies of Practice in honor of their achievements and contributions to the health care profession. Membership in the NAP is extended to those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to furthering practice, scholarship and policy in support of interprofessional care. NAP works to advise public policymakers of health care issues using expert practitioners and scholars joined in an interdisciplinary dialogue. In addition to socia...

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NASW co-sponsored a webinar in May for the Child Mind Institute’s “Speak up for Kids” campaign, which aims to protect and promote children’s mental health. The institute created the campaign in 2010, giving partner organizations the opportunity to nationally promote children’s mental health and work toward eliminating barriers to care. “NASW was pleased to partner, once more, with the Child Mind Institute on their 2013 Speak up for Kids campaign, which aimed to help educate parents and stakeholders on how to obtain quality mental health treatment for children in need,” said Elizabeth Hoffler, speci...

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U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., reintroduced the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (S. 997) in the Senate on May 21. The act addresses the shortage of social workers in the U.S. and the national workforce issues facing the social work profession, including low salaries, increased tuition debt and safety concerns. Social workers can play an important role in keeping communities together and helping individuals and families cope with the stresses and strains they are facing, Mikulski says in a press release. “Social workers are among our best and brightest, our most committed and compassionate...

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The NASW Pennsylvania Chapter held a rally on April 16 at its state capitol rotunda in honor of its annual Legislative Advocacy Day. More than 800 social work students and professionals carried signs that read, “Social Workers Change Futures.” NASW-Pennsylvania Executive Director Ron Simon addresses more than 800 social workers rallying for positive change in state policy during the chapter’s annual Legislative Advocacy Day in April. Throughout the day, social workers met with their legislators to advocate for Senate Bill 807, which would establish licensure for bachelor-level social workers, and asked for support ...

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This photo, taken on Southwest 149th St. in Oklahoma City, shows some of the damage caused by tornadoes that hit the area on May 19 and 20. On May 19 and 20, tornadoes tore through the Oklahoma City area, causing deaths and injuries and affecting thousands of residents. The storms left a path of devastation in surrounding towns, including the cities of Moore and Shawnee, and leveled homes and buildings. It was the first time NASW member Lauren Black experienced a tornado, having moved to Moore from Massachusetts about a year ago. She said she was aware she was moving to a tornado-prone area, but during her first Oklahoma summer she barel...

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National Conference on Mental Health aims to reduce stigma, aid recovery, raise awareness. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, left, and President Barack Obama listen to Janelle Montaño speak during the National Conference on Mental Health at the White House on June 3. Montaño is a public speaker with Active Minds Inc. NASW CEO Angelo McClain attended the conference, which is part of the Obama administration’s effort to increase understanding and awareness of mental health. AP photo NASW CEO Angelo McClain attended the National Conference on Mental Health at the White House on June 3. He was among ...

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The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act of 2008 still awaits a final federal rule to implement the law. However, progress was made for patients’ rights on April 30 when the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont gave its interpretation of the law in the case C.M v. Fletcher Allen Health Care. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the ruling found in favor of a patient who alleged her health plan violated the MHPAEA. Colleen Coyle, general counsel for the APA, said in a news release that the ruling is significant because “it clearly puts the burden on the insurance industry to provide clinically...

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Client Records and Natural Disasters: Tips for Reporting Loss and for Recovery Beyond the devastation and disruption natural disasters can cause, there also can be serious repercussions for client record retention, privacy and risk management. In the wake of a natural disaster, it is important to be mindful of professional guidelines and legislation, and to comply with the NASW Code of Ethics; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and HITECH Electronic Privacy Acts; and individual state laws. See Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Interim Final Rules for more. Following are five tips to follow if rec...

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