NASW News

NASW has teamed up with the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) to produce a new tool for consumers that guides them to better control of their health care. NASW, together with other NTOCC Advisory Task Force members such as the Case Management Society of America and Consumers Advocating for Patient Safety, developed the tool, a two-page document entitled Taking Care of MY Health Care. (PDF) A client can take the document whenever he or she visits a hospital, nursing center, or other health care facility, or meets with a health care professional at home. "You have a right to your personal health information," the document states....

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Dawn Hobdy, manager of NASW's Office of Ethics and Professional Review, hosted the Dec. 14 Lunchtime Series Teleconference titled "Exploring Common Ethical Dilemmas in Today's Workplace." The event was one in the latest series of live teleconferences hosted by NASW to give members an opportunity to earn 1.0 continuing education units after successfully completing an online exam. Hobdy explained that the Office of Ethics and Professional Review facilitates the professional review process of complaints against members. As a benefit, the office also provides ethics consultations as well as training. "When you become an NASW member, you agree...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, NASW News Staff March is national professional Social Work Month. This year's theme, "Social Work: Purpose and Possibility," focuses on the future of social work and the need to recruit more social workers into the profession. NASW's goals for Social Work Month are to recruit more social workers to the profession; expand the public perception of the breadth and depth of social work; reach out to national and local media to promote the importance of social work services and social work professionals to society; and promote a theme that builds pride among social workers. It is also NASW Executive Direc...

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A new law was signed by President Bush in October that requires health plans to continue coverage for certain dependent children who take a medically necessary leave of absence from a post-secondary education institution. NASW was a supporter of Michelle's Law (H.R. 2851, S. 400) and worked with organizers in cancer and education communities to advocate for passage of the bill, said Asua Ofosu, NASW senior government relations associate. "We've supported this legislation because of our long-held belief that everyone should have access to necessary medical care," she said. The law, originally sponsored by U.S. Rep Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) is name...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   As social work has risen in status among the professions, it has become increasingly evident that state regulations simultaneously provide support for and impose limitations on professional social work practice. NASW state chapters face diverse challenges in working with state legislators and professional boards on issues regarding licensure and title protection. Licensing regulations impact social workers but are not designed for social workers. The purpose of a license is to protect the public by ensuring that the licensee has met fundamental levels of education, examination, supervision, practic...

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An updated version of a popular social work manual is now available. The NASW Press announced in December the release of Person-in-Environment System Manual, 2nd Edition. In the new edition, authors James Karls and Maura O'Keefe brought the relevance of the original system manual into a 21st century social work perspective. The latest edition includes CompuPIE software designed to help practitioners write and record a multifaceted, comprehensive assessment and treatment plan for clients in most settings. The manual complements the book "Person-in-Environment System: The PIE Classification System for Social Functioning Problems." Person-in-E...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark and NASW staff visited the NAACP Washington Bureau on Dec. 15 to discuss collaboration and the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. They met with Hilary Shelton, the current director of the bureau, as well as NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous, whose father-in-law was the dean of the school of social work at the University of Pittsburgh from 1972-2001. "Since the bill is named for Height and Young, both civil rights leaders, it is a natural fit that we meet with the NAACP and ask them to support the bill," said Clark. ...

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NASW and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) announced that a new module has been developed to help people understand the complex disease multiple myeloma, the second most common blood cancer. The module, "Living with Multiple Myeloma," complements the Cancer Survival Toolbox®, a free, self-learning audio program that helps people develop important skills to better meet and understand the challenges of their illness. The Toolbox and the new module were developed by NCCS and leading cancer organizations and specialists, including NASW. The latest module was developed in part through a grant from the Centers for Disease ...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   A documentary film on social worker and civil rights leader Whitney M. Young, Jr. will be completed this spring and made available to community groups, high schools, colleges and universities. The documentary is part of a Film and Leadership Development Project, which aims to develop leadership skills among community organizers and students in high school, college and graduate school so that they can work effectively to promote democracy and work toward racial, social and economic equality throughout the world. The film and training course teaches students about Whitney Young's leadership style. Y...

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— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff   The NASW Legal Defense Fund (LDF) recently released its annual report for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which began July 1, 2007, and ended June 30, 2008. LDF offers financial support to many members' legal cases and also provides support for friend-of-the-court briefs filed by NASW. Additionally, LDF supports educational projects and programs to enhance the legal status and knowledge of the social work profession. LDF obtains the bulk of its funds for case support and other projects from the dues renewal check-off by members on their annual renewal applications. "During the program year, the Legal D...

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