NASW News

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Multiple Chronic Conditions Strategic Framework, unveiled last December, incorporates a number of changes NASW recommended to reduce health disparities. Through the framework; HHS aims to achieve four goals: Foster health care and public health system changes to improve the health of individuals with multiple chronic conditions; Maximize the use of proven self-care management and other services by individuals with multiple chronic conditions; Provide better tools and information to health care, public health and social services workers who deliver care to individuals...

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Advocate for Our Elders I was greatly heartened to read NASW President James J. Kelly’s piece in the April 2011 issue of the NASW News about the importance of gerontological social work. Indeed, while those of us practicing in this field face many challenges, we also “are able to work with many role models, many of whom display tremendous strength and wisdom.” But while recruiting and training workers, we also must continue to advocate for our elders, educating others about aging's negative and positive aspects. Growing older can bring physical and cognitive decline, but it also can bring greater self-knowledge and wisdom,...

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Donna Montgomery always knew she enjoyed helping people. But after years of working as a registered nurse in a hospital’s psychiatric department, she noticed the system of treatment was heading in a new direction in the early 1980s. She said hospital administrators and insurance companies were placing more emphasis on rushing patients through the process. Taking time to learn about the patient as a whole person was no longer encouraged. “I figured this was not what I was meant to do,” she said. In her mid-40s, Montgomery decided to make a change. She pursued an MSW while still working as a nurse. She eventually became a...

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Advances in technology are streamlining NASW’s 2011 Delegate Assembly. Every three years, NASW convenes a delegation to set program priorities for a three-year period — in this case, fiscal years 2012-15 — as well as broad public and professional policy for the association. This year’s culminating event takes place Aug. 5-6 and it will continue the trend started with the 2008 Delegate Assembly, where delegates conducted business as usual under parliamentary procedure, but via a secured, interactive website and the telephone. The discussion process for NASW members and delegates has already begun using NASW’s ...

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WCTV in Tallahassee, Fla., profiled the unique work of Janet Nelson, a licensed clinical social worker who provides mental health services to Tallahassee Community College students. Nelson, a student of martial arts since 1974, has taught women self-defense techniques since 1980, the story explained. “Nelson began to see how she could bring together her social work background with her knowledge of self-defense techniques to help social workers and other human services professionals learn how to stay safe while helping others,” the news station reported on its website. The story went on to say that Nelson was a presenter at the ...

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From the Director During the last few months the world has been filled with turmoil, tragedy and unrest. We have watched countries fight for democracy, unions fight for rights and individuals fight for their lives. In a short time span, we have witnessed wars, earthquakes and tsunamis. But we have also witnessed heroism and human kindness. Every significant world event is accompanied by indelible images. Some of these are horrific and forever etched in our memories. Who can forget the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings or pictures of the levees giving way in New Orleans after Katrina? In March, the image of the tsunami hitting Ja...

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The site includes a tribute to Gabe Zimmerman. In an effort to honor social workers who have lost their lives while performing their social work duties, the NASW Foundation has started a memorial Web page. Robert Carter Arnold, director of the NASW Foundation, said hosting an interactive Web page for the victims offers people around the world an opportunity to learn more about these special social workers and the chance to post comments and condolences. “Even if you are not a social worker, you can read the profiles and if you were moved by someone’s story, you can write a comment,” Arnold said. Each person honored has...

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Reps. Mel Watt (photo lower right), Ed Towns and Allyson Schwartz are founding members of the Congressional Social Work Caucus. All three attended a March 15 launch event for the caucus sponsored by NASW. On March 15 — World Social Work Day — members of the U.S. House of Representatives formed the Congressional Social Work Caucus, coinciding with reintroduction of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act by Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. Towns will chair the caucus, which is composed of members of Congress who are social workers and those who ar...

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Reps. Mel Watt (photo lower right), Ed Towns and Allyson Schwartz are founding members of the Congressional Social Work Caucus. All three attended a March 15 launch event for the caucus sponsored by NASW. On March 15 — World Social Work Day — members of the U.S. House of Representatives formed the Congressional Social Work Caucus, coinciding with reintroduction of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act by Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. Towns will chair the caucus, which is composed of members of Congress who are social workers and those who ar...

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Social workers who have devoted their time and energy to helping the people of Africa overcome extreme poverty have seen their efforts rewarded, and say the philosophy of “help others help themselves” is being proven every day. Gary Bailey, president of the International Federation of Social Workers and a former NASW president, is a member of the board of Makula Fund for Children, which provides assistance to Ugandan children who have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related illness. “My hopes for this continent are indeed very personal as an African American myself,” Bailey said. “I believe that the progre...

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