NASW News

Alaska is a state like no other, explained Meg Loomis, executive director of that state’s NASW chapter since October. “Hence, social work here is like no other,” Loomis said. “The size and population of our state allow for many career prospects, especially for emerging social workers. There is a great deal of demand and respect for the profession in our state.” Loomis served for two years on the chapter’s board of directors when the executive director position became available. She previously worked as the Behavioral Health Consultant for the Southcentral Foundation Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Anc...

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March is National Professional Social Work Month and NASW and its chapters are gearing up for exciting events to promote this year’s theme: “Social Workers Change Futures.” “Our chapters work hard to make Social Work Month a success,” said Gail Woods Waller, NASW director of communications. “This year is no exception.” Many chapters capitalize on the month to promote the Social Work Public Education campaign in their communities. NASW’s Washington State Chapter reached out for financial support from social work stakeholders in the state to help fund a series of newspaper ads and radio spots...

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Dana Strohm was quoted in the Royal Purple News, the student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. Strohm teaches a new class that aims to promote awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning individuals, the story reported. He said the course will help broaden the understanding of diversity in sexuality. “The course objectives are to gain insight into the development of LGBTQ culture and communities from both a historical and scientific perspective,” Strohm told the newspaper. “And also, it is to understand the diversity of human affect and sexual identity.” Strohm said...

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From the Director Living in Washington, D.C., I am surrounded by people who work and live in the world of public policy. A great many of the conversations I have — or overhear — each day revolve around some political issue. If the issue is important enough, the entire city seems to come alive, and the debate or controversy takes precedence in most meetings, even when the meeting purpose is unrelated. For those of you who live elsewhere, it may seem like strange behavior and you may wonder how we tolerate it. I would argue that the issues debated in our nation’s capital are similar to those in many smaller towns and cities ...

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Justin Aaberg, Cody Barker, Asher Brown, Harrison Chase Brown, Raymond Chase, Tyler Clementi, Jeheem Herrera, Billy Lucas, Felix Sacco, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, Seth Walsh — each of these boys, only teenagers, reportedly unable to cope with the torment by their peers for being gay, took their own lives last year. Their tragic deaths made national headlines, bringing much-needed attention to the enduring problem of bullying in schools. For example, the rash of incidents inspired Dan Savage, a gay, internationally syndicated relationship advice columnist, to create the It Gets Better Project, a collection of videos featuring celebri...

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NASW and the NASW Foundation in conjunction with Professionals Abroad, a division of Academic Travel Abroad, have planned two social work delegations to Cuba this year. “This is an excellent opportunity to interact with social workers and service providers in Cuba and to learn about the similarities and differences in how services to children, families and older persons are provided,” said Joan Levy Zlotnik, director of the NASW Foundation’s Social Work Policy Institute. Zlotnik, who will lead the Social Services for the Aging delegation to Cuba in March, said the venture “is an important chance to learn more about ...

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Jeff Feldman is NASW New Jersey’s director of public affairs. Natasha Welsey may not be a social worker yet, but she appreciates the work NASW’s New Jersey Chapter is doing to teach students like herself about the profession through its Prospective Social Workers program. Welsey, who is pursuing an associate’s degree in human services, said she was thrilled by the chance to take part in the chapter’s program, which offers students at two-year colleges the opportunity to connect with social workers and social work students as well as learn the benefits of being involved with a professional association. “It p...

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NASW’s Roxana Torrico Meruvia explains how generational differences play out in today’s workplace. The landscape of today’s workplace is changing. For the first time, four generations are working side by side, said Roxana Torrico Meruvia, senior practice associate for the NASW Center for Workforce Studies and Social Work Practice. Labor shortages, the rising age of retirement and the challenging economy are just some of the reasons for the mix of generations at work. The center is examining this historic change in workforce demographics to promote a more cohesive workplace, especially relating to social work settings. ...

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NASW President James J. Kelly has joined a select group of social workers who have risen to the rank of college president. In January, Kelly began his term as president of Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., a liberal arts business school where Kelly had served as provost and executive vice president. Menlo labels itself “Silicon Valley’s Business School” and takes pride in being known as a global pioneer in business and industry. NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark said: “Dr. Kelly has brought a wealth of talent and experience to the leadership of NASW. His diverse background and widespread experience as a so...

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After several years of effort by NASW and its California Chapter, state-licensed clinical social workers can now apply for a federal student loan repayment program. Due to conflicting interpretations of licensing requirements, California social workers were unable to apply for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which aims to recruit and retain medical, nursing, dental and behavioral/mental health clinicians in communities designated as shortage areas. NHSC is a network of 7,500 primary health care professionals and 10,000 sites in underserved communities across the country. Rebecca Gonzales, director of government re...

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