NASW Wisconsin Chapter: Connect to End COVID-19
During the three-year Connect to End COVID-19 campaign the NASW
Wisconsin Chapter implemented Chapter communications and outreach in
Wisconsin on behalf of the initiative (2022-2024) and hosted a MI-SBIRT
Training (2023) in collaboration with the UT Austin HBRT team.
The Wisconsin Chapter was one of 21 NASW Chapters that partnered with
the NASW National Connect to End COVID-19 team in implementing a wide
array of communications and outreach activities aimed at promoting
vaccine confidence. Communications channels ranged from newsletters and
targeted emails to NASW Chapter websites, Social Media, and in-person
outreach to social workers at Chapter conferences and other events.
The Wisconsin Chapter also was one of 30 NASW Chapters that
collaborated with UT Austin’s HBRT, in hosting 27 virtual MI-SBIRT
trainings across the United States, primarily in states with low
vaccination rates and high levels of vaccine hesitancy. These
interactive trainings, led by HBRT trainers, introduced MI and SBIRT,
and how these evidence-based modalities can be effectively deployed to
help guide collaborative conversations with clients about COVID-19
vaccine decision-making. The complimentary, six-hour (one-day)
trainings, included five complimentary CEUs for currently practicing,
licensed NASW social work members.
NASW Wisconsin Chapter Interview: Outcomes
Marc Herstad, MSW, CISW—Executive Director, NASW Wisconsin Chapter
What is the biggest success of Connect to End COVID-19, as
related to the role NASW Chapters (and specifically your Chapter) played
with communications and outreach on behalf of the grant? What are
related smaller successes?
Our webinar on MI-SBIRT was a huge success. It filled up almost
immediately and the evaluations were outstanding. Our intern, Oliver
Wink, did an exceptional job gathering information, especially on
at-risk communities, for our webpage on vaccine hesitancy and special
populations. Slightly higher open rates on social media posts over time.
How did social workers in your state benefit from your
efforts on behalf of Connect to End COVID-19 (and the overall
initiative, including NASW National communications, trainings, webinars,
etc.)?
Wisconsin social workers had one central place from a trusted source
to go for the most up to date accurate information on vaccines and
vaccine hesitancy. Wisconsin social workers benefitted from having a
place to go for any resources they would need, particularly with special
populations, to help them understand the problems that exist and ways
to address them.
Is there still work to be done, generally, related to
COVID-19 and the impact(s) of the COVID-19 Pandemic? More specifically,
is there still work to be done with special populations and the most
vulnerable?
Yes. There are still very low booster rates, and a sense, especially
in rural communities, that COVID is some kind of conspiracy. There is
still a lot of misinformation out there around vaccines and COVID 19. We
need a better understanding of long COVID and the long-term effects it
may have. There are still many problems with access, particularly in
communities of color, transportation, insurance, etc.
What are lessons learned, within the context of social work, from the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Start where the client is at, which is a general social work
principle, and listen to people. You have to work within the culture of
the community. Different communities require different approaches.
What are lessons learned from the CDC vaccine confidence grant?
The outreach we provided does make an impact by providing a reliable
source for quality information. We need to keep raising the issue, even
as interest wanes. After noticing that our website traffic wasn’t very
high, we started including vaccine hesitancy information in our weekly
newsletter which has an over 50% open rate.
How did social workers (NASW Members) benefit from the MI-SBIRT Trainings?
It was very well attended, and the evaluations were very good. Evaluation quotes:
“I liked the examples on framing questions
using the scale. For example, if they scored something a 4, "why not a 2
or a 3" I will add this to my tool kit for sure!”
“I have been attending these sorts of workshops for decades now, and this was one of the best.”
“Excellent training, the presenters were
knowledgeable and good at keeping me engaged in the training. I will use
the information I learned in the training in my job as a Behavioral
Health Therapist.”
Anything else that you believe is important to mention?
The goal of this project is important, and we are an important constituency for reaching these goals.
NASW Wisconsin Chapter Communications: Campaign Highlights