NASW must put liberty of citizens, members first This letter is in response to the article in the June 2015 issue of NASW News titled “NASW supports ban on ‘reparative therapy’ practices.” I am in full agreement that social workers must act to protect children from this potentially harmful and coercive form of “treatment.” However, in a free society such as ours, an adult should remain free to contract for whatever service he or she chooses without interference from the state, regardless of how potentially harmful such a service may be. I think we run into a dangerous situation when we attempt to pro...

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Originally from Wisconsin — a place known for cold, snowy winters —Sonja Bigalke-Bannan has called Hawaii her home for about a decade, where the average temperature of the tropical climate hovers around 80 degrees. It’s a diverse place, and can be both beautiful and challenging to live in, said Bigalke-Bannan, who became the executive director of NASW’s Hawaii Chapter a year ago. “There is a housing crunch, and, because of its remote location, there are worries about food and security. A gallon of milk can cost $10 if it’s not on sale,” she said. “But there is also a lot of positive, and it&r...

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Scholarship, Fellowship and Chapter Research Grant Programs The NASW Foundation has chosen the 2015-16 recipients of its scholarship, fellowship and chapter research grant programs, and will award more than $150,000 to the recipients. Social work and NASW chapter candidates were selected for: The Jane Baerwald Aron Doctoral Fellowship Program The Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship Social Work HEALS Doctoral Fellowships The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarships The Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarships The Ruth Fizdale Chapter Research Grant Program. Stacia West, a social work student ...

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Members, staff active in White House event and forums; help shape policy briefs NASW Social Work Pioneer® Bernie Nash is a nonagenarian who has a long history with the White House Conference on Aging. He was a delegate to the very first conference — held in 1961 — and delivered the opening remarks at the most recent WHCoA in July. President Barack Obama (photo right) speaks during the White House Conference on Aging in July. “The first (conference) was very exciting; President Eisenhower opened it,” Nash said. “At that time, I was the director of a state agency on aging in Minnesota, located within th...

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NASW member Al Brewster is a Vietnam veteran and cofounder of Battle Buddies, a volunteer-led program dedicated to helping veterans of military service, their families and significant others heal. According to an article in Southern Maryland Newspapers online, Brewster says that moving successfully between the worlds of war and civilization requires a connection with someone else “who has been there and done that.” The article says those who have served in the military have seen parts of the world and conditions that are completely outside of the American experience. When they try to readjust to civilian life, everyday occurren...

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Racism triggers deep emotions in the U.S. It is a word with different meanings for diverse populations. It can bring about shame and avoidance for some and justifiable resentment for others. Can some good happen from the racial tension of today? Social workers with experience in this area believe it can. But they say it will take courage to dig deep and allow honest communication to bring about professional and personal growth. It will also take greater awareness of how institutions and systems continue to negatively impact people of color and other marginalized populations, they say. NASW member Karen Bullock is a professor and head ...

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This year, and particularly this summer, has been full of enormous changes in my life professionally and personally. Central to the many professional changes is my recent relocation to a new position in New York state, as dean and professor of the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany, SUNY. Change as a rule invigorates me, but I must admit that this summer was full of so many co-occurring changes that I found myself at times buzzing not with excitement but just questions about the changes made and the impact of these on my life and the lives of those around me. In my work with NASW this spring and summer, we took on exciti...

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CQ-Roll Call releases book naming 25 most powerful women in Congress Three social workers — U.S. Sen. Barbara Milkulski, D-Md.; Congressional Social Work Caucus Chairwoman U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (photo right), D-Calif.; and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. — are included in a book called “Powerful Women: The 25 Most Influential Women in Congress,” which congressional news provider CQ-Roll Call released in May. The book lists the 25 women under seven categories: Party Power; Media Savvy; Debate Shapers and Swing Votes; Policy Dealmakers; Policy Workhorses; Breaking Out; and Freshmen on the Rise. NASW Senior Field ...

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The U.S. Supreme Court was expected to issue rulings in June on same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act that will have a profound impact on populations that NASW members serve. In April, the court heard arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, from Ohio, and three related cases from Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. These cases could decide whether states have an obligation to perform same-sex marriages and recognize same-sex marriages formed in other states. Meanwhile, in King v. Burwell, the court will decide whether tax credits that help low- and moderate-income people afford health coverage under the Affordable Care Act are legal. ...

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About 1,400 social work job seekers across the U.S. signed up for NASW’s first virtual career fair in May. Virtual interviews were conducted for social work positions in a variety of areas, including behavioral health, medical, case management, and therapy. About 24 employers — such as Kaiser Permanente, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, United Health Group and United Methodist Family Services — participated in the career fair. The VA in particular reserved ample space at the fair, seeking to fill several social work positions at two of its medical centers, according to Yvette Mulkey, manager of NASW’s Special...

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