XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Work Newsletter November / December / January 2016-2017 In This Issue President’s Message........................ 2 Executive Director’s Message..........3 Member Spotlight............................. 4 New Members.................................5 Advocacy Update............................ 6 Ethics in Practice.............................7 NASW-NC Chapter Updates........8-9 Profession Update.................................10 Professional Development....................11 Student Updates..............................12-13 412 Morson Street l PO Box 27582 l Raleigh, NC 27611-7582 l 800.280.6207 l www.naswnc.org C harlotte has always been my home and see- ing my community in a state of crisis so- lidifies my belief that social workers have an obligation to advocate for the reform of racial discrimination in this country. The UNC Char- lotte School of Social Work faculty and student associations organized protests across campus and I have been so encouraged in the ways that the social work community is taking a stand. I have also witnessed the unrest and desperation of a community that does not feel supported. For lasting change to take place, a cultural shift in perspectives needs to occur, but until then, those who have inherited privileges in this coun- try need to use their position of power to create Social Justice continued on Page 8 A Social Worker’s Response to Social Justice, Race and Racism By Mariah Cowell, NASW-NC Intern, UNCC BSW Student NASW NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER National Association of Social Workers NASW-NC seeks engaged and passionate North Carolina members to serve on the Board of Directors! 2017-2018 Vacancies: President Elect Secretary CNLI Chair BSW Representative MSW Representative Piedmont District Representative At Large Representatives Volunteering as an ambassador for your professional association is a great opportunity to network and grow as a social worker and to help advance the social work profession in North Carolina. Learn more about this opportunity on Page 9 www.naswnc.org We Need You! Join the NASW-NC Board of Directors Social Work In Times of Disaster H urricane Matthew’s flooding rains wreaked havoc on communities across eastern North Carolina. Across the region, families have been left homeless, businesses have been destroyed, schools closed for weeks and access to clean drinking water has been put at risk. As social workers, we know the emotional toll disasters have on individuals and this di- saster has impacted many of us and our clients. Social workers should take a lead role in helping those who have been affected. In 2003, the National Association of Social Work- ers (NASW) released a statement identifying social workers as “uniquely suited to inter- pret the disaster context, to advocate for effective services, and to provide leadership in essential collaborations among institutions and organizations.” NASW-NC member and disaster response expert Dr. Mark Marquez experienced the floods first hand and recounts his experience, “I have lived in North Carolina for many years, many of those along the coast and have been through many hurricanes (Fran, Floyd, Bertha, Hugo, etc.), so I took the concerns about Matthew as I would normally. That is be prepared, think safety and don’t worry too much. Hindsight tells me I should have worried more, not so much about the initial impact or visual damage of the storm (which was terrible) but about the devastation the flooding caused to myself, my com- munity, NC and the entire eastern seaboard. This experience has made it very clear to me that you CANNOT overprepare for a hurricane. I plan to be better prepared next time.” NASW-NC has compiled resources for your community and clients to aid in this time of crisis. Resources include information on applying for Federal assistance, accessing un- employment during disasters, help with rebuilding homes and places of business, places to get food and take a shower, and more. Check out our "Ethics in Natural Disasters" article on page 7. l Demonstration on UNC Charlotte campus organized by social work students and faculty.
Transcript
XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Work Newsletter November / December / January 2016-2017
In This IssuePresident’s Message........................ 2Executive Director’s Message..........3Member Spotlight............................. 4
New Members.................................5 Advocacy Update............................ 6Ethics in Practice............................ .7NASW-NC Chapter Updates........8-9
412 Morson Street l PO Box 27582 l Raleigh, NC 27611-7582 l 800.280.6207 l www.naswnc.org
Charlotte has always been my home and see-ing my community in a state of crisis so-lidifies my belief that social workers have
an obligation to advocate for the reform of racial discrimination in this country. The UNC Char-lotte School of Social Work faculty and student associations organized protests across campus and I have been so encouraged in the ways that the social work community is taking a stand. I have also witnessed the unrest and desperation of a community that does not feel supported. For lasting change to take place, a cultural shift in perspectives needs to occur, but until then, those who have inherited privileges in this coun-try need to use their position of power to create
Social Justice continued on Page 8
A Social Worker’s Response to Social Justice, Race and RacismBy Mariah Cowell, NASW-NC Intern, UNCC BSW Student
N A S W NORTH CAROL INA CHAPTERNational Association of Social Workers
NASW-NC seeks engaged and passionate
North Carolina members to serve on the
Board of Directors!
2017-2018 Vacancies:
President Elect
Secretary
CNLI Chair
BSW Representative
MSW Representative
Piedmont District Representative
At Large Representatives
Volunteering as an ambassador for your
professional association is a great opportunity to
network and grow as a social worker and to help advance the social work
profession in North Carolina.
Learn more about this opportunity on Page 9
www.naswnc.org
We Need You!Join the NASW-NC Board of Directors
Social Work In Times of Disaster
Hurricane Matthew’s flooding rains wreaked havoc on communities across eastern North Carolina. Across the region, families have been left homeless, businesses have been destroyed, schools closed for weeks and access to clean drinking water
has been put at risk.As social workers, we know the emotional toll disasters have on individuals and this di-saster has impacted many of us and our clients. Social workers should take a lead role in helping those who have been affected. In 2003, the National Association of Social Work-ers (NASW) released a statement identifying social workers as “uniquely suited to inter-pret the disaster context, to advocate for effective services, and to provide leadership in essential collaborations among institutions and organizations.”NASW-NC member and disaster response expert Dr. Mark Marquez experienced the floods first hand and recounts his experience, “I have lived in North Carolina for many years, many of those along the coast and have been through many hurricanes (Fran, Floyd, Bertha, Hugo, etc.), so I took the concerns about Matthew as I would normally. That is be prepared, think safety and don’t worry too much. Hindsight tells me I should have worried more, not so much about the initial impact or visual damage of the storm (which was terrible) but about the devastation the flooding caused to myself, my com-munity, NC and the entire eastern seaboard. This experience has made it very clear to me that you CANNOT overprepare for a hurricane. I plan to be better prepared next time.”NASW-NC has compiled resources for your community and clients to aid in this time of crisis. Resources include information on applying for Federal assistance, accessing un-employment during disasters, help with rebuilding homes and places of business, places to get food and take a shower, and more. Check out our "Ethics in Natural Disasters" article on page 7. l
Demonstration on UNC Charlotte campus organized by social work students and faculty.
The summer was a whirlwind of exciting opportunities to advance the mission of the Association. Since I last sat down to
write, I have had no less than three different stories to share that capture the unique work and time being completed to ensure that social work remains a viable profession for genera-tions to come. Each of these stories, worthy in their own right, pale in comparison to the work that came about from the unfortunate but increas-ingly all too common tragedy in Charlotte. Whether you identify as #bluelives-matter, #blacklivesmatter or #alllivesmatter I think we can all agree these are troublesome times. At the board meeting prior to the death of Mr. Keith Lamont Scott, collectively we decided that one of our goals as a board would be to address oppressive themes throughout our state and nation.Disparaging rhetoric that should not be thought, let alone spoken has become common place even in polite company. It is not that this language is new but it is becoming more ubiquitous that is the concern. It threatens to erode the un-dergirding of our profession, and allows oppressive legislation and systemic dis-crimination to be the underpinnings of our state. This threatens the tapestry of our nation and makes the work of the everyday social worker that much more difficult. It is in this sea of divisiveness that tragedies like Mr. Scott’s death are swept away if we are not visible and loud. In hopes to create a forum for healing, advance dialogue to openly challenge racial discrimination and promote partnerships for meaningful change, NASW-NC is joining with local universities to hold panels and forums to discuss this tragedy and its greater meaning. Events have been scheduled or held in Charlotte, Bur-lington and Wilmington and many more are in discussions. I hope that you will join one of these, or ask how to host one in your area. It is our belief that our col-lective voice is louder and it is our onus as social workers to say and do something. Our overarching theme of challenging oppression is already a hallmark of our profession, but as a board we intend to make it visible in a way that we believe will continue to keep our profession distinguished and relevant. Whether it is one these upcoming forums, attending an HB2 opposition rally, being politically in-volved with our PACE committee, or any of the other multifaceted mechanisms to challenge oppression, I call on you to be loud and visible as our profession col-lectively makes change. As always, I am humbled to be charged with this great responsibility of being president of our association. I hope to see many of you at the Fall Conference and find me so we can further explore how we can make last-ing change. l
From the PresidentChallenging OppressionBy Ryan Estes, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
Social Worker
NASW-NC Social Worker of the
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In the past, the Red Cross has said that more social workers volunteer during times of disaster than any other profession. Over 40%
of the mental health volunteers are Licensed Clinical Social Workers. All other mental health professions combined make up the remaining 60%. I once had an agency staff member tell me that, “If we could have just you guys, it would be great because you guys know how to get down in the mud with people.” That has always resonated with me and it also speaks volumes about how we are as a profession and how we are trained. The devastation that hit North Carolina due to Hurricane Matthew was far greater than anticipated and appeared to be worse than what was felt by our southern state counterparts. More deaths and water rescues took place in North Carolina than in other states, because the flooding was more than anyone expected or in many places, that they had ever experienced. Our state and many individuals experienced the force of a true natural disaster. As social workers, we want to be there and we were. But more is needed. When the water recedes and recovery is taking place, but while things are still fresh in our minds, I would encourage social workers to look for disaster training. Contact the American Red Cross in your area about how you might become a mental health responder. The courses one takes should count as credit for licensure renewal. The information received is priceless when it comes to understanding the structure of working during a disaster and the dynamics of what happens. Look for webinars on disasters through the NASW website at www.socialworkers.org.Roles for social workers include being a disaster mental health professional, which requires an active LCSW, or being a regular volunteer which can be handled by a BSW or MSW. The need is great and we are the perfect profession to be there to meet the need. Get educated and trained now, so that you can help meet a need in the future. l
Join together with hundreds of social workers from across North Carolina to learn about policy issues in substantive areas of social work practice
and educate your legislators about the social work profession and important client issues.
March 1, 2017 North Carolina General Assembly, Raleigh, NC
NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Day
From the Executive DirectorSocial Workers Leading the WayBy Kathy Boyd, ACSW, CMSW
4 November / December / January 2016-2017 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Member SpotlightKathy Lowe, ACSW, CSW-GImpacting the Aging Community at the Micro and Macro LevelBy Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP
Kathy Lowe is a long-standing member of NASW and was recently reappointed to her fourth term, to the North Carolina Governor’s Advisory Council
on Aging. The Council has the important task of making recommendations to the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services aimed at improving human services to the elderly. Kathy’s terms have extended through the administrations of Mike Easley, Bev Perdue, and now Pat McCrory. Of this role Kathy says, “It has been a privilege to be able to contribute to the discussion of policies adopted by our state government that impact older adults.”
Social Work Beginnings Kathy studied her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and Smith College School of Social Work for her Master of Social Work. Smith College’s unique block placement enabled Kathy to spend two summers in internships all around the country.After working for a number of years in a variety of social work practice settings, Kathy was out of the workforce for 15 years to raise her children. After moving to North Carolina, she found a job with the Blumenthal Jewish Home, a skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Clemmons. Kathy says this opportunity changed her professional life as she fell in love with working with the aging population. Her next job was with Friends Homes West, a continuing care community in Greensboro. Kathy’s role was as Resident Health Care Counselor to 300 residents in independent living. She was partnered with a nurse and they would evaluate the residents and help them transition into other levels of care.Kathy left this position to teach at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work in the Center for Aging Research and Educational Services (CARES) in the Jordan Institute for Families. For six years, Kathy taught educational programming to human services professionals and assisted organizations in planning for and measuring success in serving the aging population.Kathy’s final job before retiring was at Wake Forest University in the School of Medicine translating research into effective treatment for people. Kathy used her social work skills to build bridges between researchers, health care providers and the community at large. Her job was to help the hospital better understand who their patient population was and how to better relate to them and to help the patient population and the community at large better understand the role of research in their health.
Involvement with NASW and Council AppointmentKathy has been a member of NASW since graduate school and took advantage of her membership to contact NASW-NC Executive Director Kathy Boyd about how she could get the dormant NASW-NC Aging Practice Unit resurrected
and served as the chair from 2003 to 2010. Kathy also served on the national workgroup to create the NASW Clinical Social Worker in Gerontology credential.Shortly thereafter, there was an opening on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging and NASW-NC recommended Kathy Lowe for the appointment. The open spot was to be filled by the North Carolina Speaker of the House.In 2004, Speaker of the House Richard Morgan appointed Kathy Lowe as his aging advisory council member. Kathy was reappointed in 2008 by Speaker Joe Hackney, and in 2012 by Speaker Thom Tillis, and again in 2016 by Speaker Tim Moore making her one of the longest-serving council members and currently the only social worker.The Council’s charge is to make recommendations to the governor and DHHS aimed at services to older adults, to study problems in aging and to promote public understanding of all issues of older adults in North Carolina. This includes recommendations on the allocations of monies for adult services.
On Being an Agent of ChangeKathy attributes her longevity on the Council to being a social worker with concrete knowledge and experience with the aging population. According to Kathy, “Social workers come to whatever table they are sitting at with the biopsychosocial perspective and probably nowhere in the life cycle is that more important than when talking about older adults.” The NASW Code of Ethics charges social workers with infusing advocacy into their work. Kathy says, “My service on the Council has been the opportunity I needed to be able to contribute to the process of social change.”How can social workers live out their responsibility to be a change agent in the world? Kathy recommends a good goal for social workers is to find an area you are passionate about and dedicate yourself to that cause over a long period of time. “I am very selective about where I give my time and attention. I cannot do everything for every problem in the world. This is it for me. I have given a lot of my years to this. This helps me stay focused and engaged in the profession and prevents being diverted and being burned out.”
The Importance of NASW MembershipKathy’s recommendation to all social workers: “Be a member of NASW and network, make those personal relationships with fellow social workers. If I weren’t a member of NASW and Kathy Boyd didn’t know me and recommend me, none of this would have happened.l
“Social workers come to whatever table they are sitting at with the biopsychosocial perspective and probably nowhere in the life cycle is that more important than
when talking about older adults.” - Kathy Lowe, ACSW, CSW-G
The North Carolina Chapter of NASW would like to welcome the following new members who joined during the months of August, September and October! They have chosen to support their profession and advocate for social work values by joining NASW. We hope that, as new members, you will take an active role with the association by joining a commit-
tee, attending a board meeting, or participating in a Local Program Unit.
6 November / December / January 2016-2017 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
What NASW-NC Has Been Doing for YOU!Advancing the Social Work Profession By Kay Castillo, BSW; Director of Advocacy, Policy and Legislation, Registered Lobbyist
Advocacy Update
Advocating for the social work profession is often seen as a macro issue - which it is! However, it is
rarely seen as a clinical one - which it also is! At NASW-NC, we believe that policy affects practice and practice affects policy. One of the unique things
about the social work profession is that we incorporate our macro advocacy efforts to influence our direct practice work. We are continuously looking at new ways to improve the profession in our state and sit at the table when big decisions are made that impact our profession and the clients we serve. What have we been working on to better the social work profession? • Network Adequacy: This summer, we joined the Network Adequacy Working Group with the Department of Insurance. This group has been looking at legislation to improve access to behavioral health care including standards for drive time and wait times, eliminating surprise billing to consumers, updating provider directories and more. All of these efforts will improve provider relations with insurance companies and directly impact the delivery of care to consumers.
• PACE Endorsements: In September, the Political Action Committee met and made final decisions on endorsements. Check out who we endorsed and consider voting for these candidates when you head to the polls in November! These candidates reflect the values of the social work profession and will work on our behalf while in office.
• Provider Classifications: NASW-NC was invited to participate in a stakeholder working group with the Division of Medical Assistance on behavioral health provider classifications for Medicaid and NC Health Choice. NASW-NC recommended to the group to remove behavioral health providers from the high risk category which has created undue burdens for LCSWs. This recommendation is awaiting approval.
• School Social Work: NASW-NC has been working with the Child Fatality Task Force to support funding for
more school social workers. A presentation was made by NASW-NC member and school social worker Darlene Johnson to the committee in October. We will continue to work with the committee to support more funding as the legislative session begins in January.
• Prison Advisory: NASW-NC continues to advocate for the hiring of social workers, both clinical and non clinical, in the Department of Public Safety and continues efforts to update policies used during the treatment of inmates with mental illness and developmental disabilities. This year we have seen improvements to policies such as self-injurious behaviors and suicide prevention. We have also advocated for the removal of solitary confinement as punishment - particularly for those with mental illness. Therapeutic Diversion Units have been established at four prisons and offer behavioral health care to inmates.
• Second Annual Policy Educators Summit: NASW-NC brought together over 40 policy educators to discuss classroom ideas. Presentations were made by Disability Rights NC, the Budget and Tax Center at NC Justice Center and Democracy NC. Policy educators shared ideas for teaching NC policy in the classroom and ways to engage students in Get Out The Vote efforts and more.
• Occupational Licensing Boards Reform: As the legislative session ended without action on consolidating licensing boards (something we advocated against!), we continue efforts to talk with legislative leaders and other behavioral health provider groups to help prevent the consolidation and elimination of some licensing boards. We will continue these efforts during the 2017 long session to ensure the protection of our licensing board.
NASW-NC works on behalf of the social work profession on a variety of issues. It is a member benefit provided by NASW-NC to have a registered lobbyist advancing and supporting the profession of social work in North Carolina. We need you. If you are a social worker and not a member of your professional association we ask that you to join to support the advocacy efforts on behalf of your profession. Click here to join today! l
Recognize Your Favorite Advocate!
NASW-NC is seeking nominations for the 2017 Myrna Miller Wellons Advocacy Award.
This annual award is given to a North Carolinian who has demonstrated a strong passion to advocate for the needs of the social work profession and/or policy
issues.
A strong candidate is a social worker who has been a champion in impacting policy both for the social work profession and the clients served by social workers.
Award winners will be recognized at the annual Ethics Conference and Awards Luncheon in March. More information: www.naswnc.org
November / December / January 2016-2017 7 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Ethics in PracticeEthics in Natural Disasters
Hurricane Matthew brought flooding rains and power outages that
caused some businesses to close temporarily and others to close indefinitely. While social workers receive calls to help those in need, who helps social workers in need? Your Chapter Ethics Committee would like to
hear from social workers who incurred personal and profes-sional losses. Please email us at [email protected] to tell us how the hurricane affected you, which resources offered assistance and what needs remain. Focused on prevention and proactive efforts, your Chapter Ethics Committee recommends that you review or develop a contingency plan that supports your ability to protect your professional responsibilities optimally through unexpected circumstances. We recommend you attend to:
1. Insurance coverage: Offset losses to property, income, and other situations. Review your coverage with your insurance agent.
2. Client confidentiality during natural disas-ters: Visit www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/2005/is-the-security-rule-under-hipaa-suspend-ed-during-a-public-health-emergency to read, “Is the Security Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) suspended during a national or public health emergency?”
3. Your needs: Access NASW-NC’s document entitled “Disaster Relief Resources,” by visiting http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.naswnc.org/resource/resmgr/pans/Hurricane_Matthew.pdf. The listed resources apply to social workers too.
4. Your services: Consult NASW’s Code of Ethics (2008) and your Chapter Ethics Committee if you have questions about whether efforts to assist those in need are exploitative or otherwise unethical.
Helping when social workers hurt is not a new concept. However, we must maintain an awareness of our vulner-abilities so we manage them effectively, exercising sound judgment as we progress through the recovery stages asso-ciated with a natural disaster.The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a docu-ment entitled, “Risk Management Handbook Volume III Standard 4.4 Contingency Planning.” To access it, visit www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-In-formation-Technology/InformationSecurity/Downloads/RMH_VIII_4-4_Contingency_Planning_Standard.pdf. This resource describes four phases of contingency plan-ning: preparedness, alert and notification, recovery, and reconstitution. Whether you work in private practice or in a different setting, ensuring that you and/or your employer has policies to address these issues protects your license. Let us use this opportunity to evaluate our decisions regard-ing electronic health records, storage of paper records, and releasing confidential information during times of natural disaster. For more guidance, review the 2005 U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights,
“Hurricane Katrina Bulletin: HIPAA Privacy and Disclo-sures in Emergency Situations,” found at www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/katrinanhipaa.pdf. Again, please email your experiences and ethics questions to your Chapter Ethics Committee at [email protected]. Your information will help us provide better services for our membership.
PLEASE NOTE: Your NASW-NC Chapter Ethics Committee continues to offer Peer Ethical Consultation FREE to NASW-NC members. NASW-NC offers consultation to assist its members in considering options for ethical decision-making. Should you access this service, please understand that you are fully responsible for your actions regarding your ethics question brought before NASW-NC staff and/or members of the NASW-NC Ethics Committee. We are not responsible for any consequences that occur as a result of your actions. Additional resources for Ethics Consultation: • You may contact your malpractice insurance carrier for ethical and
legal consultation. If NASW Assurance Services is your carrier, you may contact the Risk Management Helpline at 855-385-2160.
• If your question has a legal component, you may contact NASW’s national office attorneys at 800-742-4089.
• Since most complainants file ethical complaints with the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board, consider reviewing the Social Work Practice Act and the Administrative Code found at www.ncswboard.org to ensure your compliance. l
By Ravita T. Omabu Okafor, MSW, LCSW; NASW-NC Ethics Committee Chair
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Dedicated to the Practice of Social Work, its Professionals and Organizations
8 November / December / January 2016-2017 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
NASW-NC Chapter Updates
Donate and get your end of the year tax deduction!Support the programs of the North Carolina Chapter Fund of the NASW Foundation.
All gifts are appreciated and recognition of all contributions will be provided in the NASW-NC newsletter.
I want my donation to go to the following program area(s): � Presidents’ Award - Supporting MSW students with financial awards based on leadership. � Toby Brown Award - Supporting BSW students with financial awards based on overall excellence. � Conference Scholarship Fund - Supporting our next generation of social workers through scholarships to conferences. � Outreach-Research-Education (ORE) - Supporting the development of professional social work materials, documents and presentations.
DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Name _______________________________________________________________ In Honor Of / In Memory of (Optional)__________________________________________ My Address________________________________________________________________ Honored Individual’s Address (For Recognition Card):______________________________ My Phone #______________________My Email__________________________________
Amount of Donation ________$25 ________$50 ________$100 ________$200 _______Other (please specify) Payment Type: Charge my: Visa/Mastercard American Express Account # ________________ Exp. Date ______ Check made payable to the NASW Foundation. Please indicate award type in the memo line.
Please mail to: NASW-NC, PO Box 27582, Raleigh, NC 27611
Social Justice continued from Page 1 supportive policies and environments.The targeted abuse and discrimination of people of color is not a new phenomenon and it would be an injustice to this community to not acknowledge the history of race in America. It is important to note that police violence is a manifestation of the larger, institutionalized race problem, not the source. Social workers are in a unique position to utilize their edu-cational background to prioritize the intersections of envi-ronment, context and history to advocate for social justice for a group that has been systematically oppressed. Social workers are obligated to advocate and fight for the rights and safety of people of color. NASW-NC partnered with Johnson C. Smith University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte to provide
a space for social workers to discuss the recent events. This forum covered social justice, race, and racism and allowed social workers and community stakeholders to come to-gether to process, grieve and plan for future action. A par-ticipant stated that the best thing social workers can do is to “know your role.” This statement perfectly encapsulates how our profession can respond to injustice. If you are a macro social worker, you can fight for policy change. If you are a clinician, you can counsel individuals through racial trauma. If you are a trained mental health professional, advocate for or provide de-escalation training to police officers and crisis respondents. If you are a school social worker, advocate for the end of unequal distribution of resources to communities of color. If you are a profes-sor, teach your students about the many ways that racism is embedded in our systems. We all have an important role to play and it is our time to act.The next meeting to continue the discussion and plan for action will be held at UNC Charlotte Center City Campus on Tuesday, November, 15th from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. l
Left to right: NASW-NC Board Member Derrik Anderson, NASW-NC As-sociate Executive Director Valerie Arendt, NASW-NC Board Member Eboni Moran, UNC Charlotte’s Dr. Susan McCarter, Johnson C. Smith University’s
Dr. Melvin Herring and Dr. Lisa Workman. Photo right: JSCU students.
Donate on behalf of a
social worker you admire
and we will help you
honor them!
November / December / January 2016-2017 9 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
NASW-NC Chapter Updates
September NASW-NC Board of Directors MeetingsBy Kathy Boyd, ACSW, CMSW; Executive Director
The NASW-NC Board of Directors held their last board meeting on September 10, 2016. The meeting was held in the chapter office and board members
discussed structural changes to the board appointment and election process, statewide NASW activities, the upcoming Pride Parade held in Durham each year, upcoming state and federal elections and the state of social work in North Carolina.The Board took the following actions during the meeting; • “I move to approve the Executive meeting minutes of June 4, 2016.” Motion made by Carolyn Craddock with a second by Ryan Estes. Motion carried.
NASW-NC seeks engaged and passionate North Carolina members to serve on the Board of Directors! Volunteering as an ambassador for your professional association is a great opportunity to network and grow as a social worker and to help advance the social work profession in North Carolina.NASW-NC is fiscally stable and organizationally sound as a result of incredible leadership and staff and it is our aim to remain THE association supporting social workers! Join us!
Join the NASW-NC Board of Directors!
• “I move to approve the meeting minutes for the Board of Directors Retreat meeting held on 07/22 and 07/23 of 2016.” Motion made by Priscila Hilligus with a second by Mary Stephens. Motion carried.
• “I move to appoint Danielle Doyle to the Member At-Large position for the 2016-2018 term, effective September 10, 2016.” Motion made by Amanda Flory with a second by Jennifer Cobb. Motion carried.
The next NASW-NC Board of Directors meeting will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Board meetings are open to members and anyone wanting to attend should email Chapter Executive Director Kathy Boyd at [email protected]. l
NASW-NC and the social work profession need you! By serving on the board you will: • Help advance and strengthen the Social Work profession • Network with social workers across North Carolina • Grow as a social work professional • Build your resume
To Learn More and ApplyThe Board of Directors holds six meetings during the year, including an annual Board retreat in July. Board members serve as ambassadors of NASW-NC which includes carrying out Board generated activities such as member recruitment and retention, promotion of the social work profession, marketing of NASW-NC conferences and activities and fund development.
Vacancies 2017-2018 NASW-NC Ballot
• President Elect—3 year term (2017-2020). Serve one year as Elect and two years as President
• Secretary—2 year term (2017-2019) • Committee on Nominations and Leadership (CNLI) Chair—2 year term (2017-2019)
• BSW Representative—1 year term (2017-2018). Graduate 2018 or later.
• MSW Representative—1 year term (2017-2018). Graduate 2018 or later.
• Piedmont District Representative—1 year term (2017-2018).
• At Large Representatives—2 year term (2017-2019). 7 positions available.
Go to www.naswnc.org/?126 for more information and to submit an application.Deadline to apply is January 31, 2017.
Join the NASW-NC Board of Directors! We need your voice!
10 November / December / January 2016-2017 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker NewsletterXXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Profession Update
The NASW Legal Defense Fund maintains a database of Amicus Briefs. These amicus curiaes or ‘friends of the court’ are filed when issues before the court might
impact the social work profession or even a social worker directly. According to NASW, “Friend of the court briefs are accepted by courts as an aid to understanding aspects of issues that may not be fully addressed by the parties to the litigation, or where specialized knowledge may be helpful in reaching a conclusion in high profile cases.” Recently, two such supporting documents have been filed in North Carolina.
Piro v. McKeeverNASW filed an amicus brief on 5/26/2016 before the NC Court of Appeals. The NC Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the defendant, Ms. McKeever. The ruling was appealed and heard at the North Carolina Supreme Court on October 11, 2016. NASW-NC and an attorney representing NASW were present.Case background: Ms. McKeever, a licensed clinical social worker, conducted therapy sessions with a child from May 2011 through September 2013. The Plaintiff was not within the diagnostic and treatment relationship between McKeever and the child at any point. Following mandatory reporting standards, Ms. McKeever suspected child abuse
and reported it. This report resulted in the Plaintiff not seeing the child for two years. As a result, the Plaintiff sued the social worker. The decision of the North Carolina Supreme Court will impact if a third party can sue a clinician and, ultimately, mandatory child abuse reporting standards. The NC Supreme Court decision is pending.
McCrory, et al. v. Harris and BowserNASW has joined with the National Council on Jewish Women, the League of Women Voters, The Voting Rights Institute, The Racial Justice Project at New York Law School and The Campaign Legal Center to file an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in support of the three judge federal ruling that strikes down the redrawn congressional maps in North Carolina citing racial gerrymandering.You can read more about that decision here. The decision will impact congressional districts 1 and 12 in North Carolina. It follows several years of lawmakers implementing changes to voting and congressional maps. The US Supreme Court will hear the case on December 5, 2016. l
NASW Involved with Two Court Cases in North CarolinaLegal Defense Fund Defending NASW Members for 40+ YearsBy Kay Castillo, BSW; Director of Advocacy, Policy and Legislation, Registered Lobbyist
Position: Military & Family Life Counselors Company: Magellan HealthJob Description: Positions provide short term, non-medical, walk around counseling to the active duty military personnel and their family members at various military installations in North Carolina including: Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, MCAS Cherry Point, Pope Air Force Base and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. This is a solution focused program and it is full time, Monday –Friday.Minimum Requirements: Master’s Degree, must be licensed at the Independent level (LPC, LMFT, LCSW, etc.) and a minimum of 2 years experience. An equivalent combination of experience and education is acceptable. Apply online: www.magellanhealth.com requisition number R00000008477 or for more information contact Kathy Wurster at 860-507-1812.
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Professional Development
Have you heard? NASW-NC has a growing library of webinars. Social Workers can
get up to 20 hours of their required 40 hours of CE credit via distance education. NASW-NC is pleased to
meet the needs of the membership with free and low cost CE webinars like these:2 Ethics CE hours - “Ethical Management of Counter-Transference: Informed Consent, Competence & Self-Care” by Ravita Omabu Okafor, MSW, LCSW1 CE hour - “Family Psychoeducation: An Introduction” by Bebe Smith, MSW, LCSW1 CE hour - “Financial Wellness As a Social Work Specialty” by Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW1 CE hour - “Financial Self-Care for Personal and Professional Use” by Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW1 CE hour - “Through the Signs and Symptoms: Understanding the Basic Neurobiology of PTSD” by Jessica Holton, MSW, LCSW, LCAS**FREE for NASW-NC members: 1 CE hour -”Department of Insurance State Resources for Providers” by Carla Obiol, Deputy Commissioner for the NC Dept of Insurance (DOI)
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NASW-NC WebinarsGet your online CE with NASW-NC in the comfort of your home!By Hope Venetta; Director of Professional Development
Access all the NASW-NC developed webinars here:
www.naswnc.org/?Webinars
We are seeking webinar presenters on a variety of social work topics. If you are interested in becoming a NASW-NC webinar presenter, please contact Hope Venetta, Director of Professional Development at [email protected]. l
Have you heard? NASW-NC has a growing library of webinars. Social Workers can get up to 20 hours of their required 40 hours of CE credit via distance education. NASW-NC is pleased to meet the needs of the membership with free and low cost CE options like these:
2 CE hours Ethical Management of Counter-Transference:Informed Consent, Competence & Self-Care by Ravita Omabu Okafor, MSW, LCSW
1 CE hour Family Psychoeducation: An Introduction by Bebe Smith, MSW, LCSW
1 CE hour Financial Wellness As a Social Work Specialty by Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW
1 CE hour Financial Self-Care for Personal and Professional Use by Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW
1 CE hour Through the Signs and Symptoms: Understanding the Basic Neurobiology of PTSD by Jessica Holton, MSW, LCSW, LCAS
**FREE 1 CE hour Department of Insurance State Resources for Providers by Carla Obiol, Deputy Commissioner for the NC Dept of Insurance (DOI)
# of CE hours Member Price Nonmember Price
1 hour $5.00 $15.00
1.5 hours $5.00 $20.00
2 hours $10.00 $30.00
If you are interested in presenting a talk as a webinar, please contact Hope Venetta, Director of Professional Development at [email protected].
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Student Updates
Read the latest updates on the Social Work profession in North Carolina at:
ncsocialwork.org
NASW-NC BSW Student InternMariah CowellUniversity of North Carolina Charlotte
I have chosen to pursue the field of Social Work because I am passionate about change being
implemented with a social justice perspective. I decided to major in Social Work because I saw injustice in our society and recognized that simply having conversations with others would not implement any systematic change. This summer I worked as a Research Assistant with Shaping the Message to look at how media literacy training impacts the way African-American teenagers perceive themselves, interpersonal violence and social media. This experience al-lowed me to see how macro social work and research can truly influence society and the body of knowledge that social workers use to inform their practice. I am fortunate enough to have amazing professors within my university’s School of Social Work who have supported and nurtured my desire to pursue macro work at the BSW level. Interning at NASW–NC has been a goal of mine since I entered my BSW program. I was inspired by the dedica-tion to which NASW–NC advocates for policies and legisla-tion that supports the values we hold as a profession and to our clients. I am incredibly appreciative for this opportunity to learn and the chance to explore the many facets of social work. I hope to continue on after graduation in May to receive my Masters degree in Social Work. I would love to work within the policy and advocacy field to continue to implement the knowledge and perspective I have gained from my experi-ence. l
ATTENTION MSW STUDENTS!
Submit your application for the
NASW-NC PRESIDENTS’ AWARD
This $1,000 award is presented annually to an MSW student in North Carolina who shows outstanding leadership, high academic achievement, and excellence of practice in the field of Social Work. Applicants must be members of NASW who are expected to graduate from a Master of Social Work program in North Carolina within the current academic year. More information and applications are available at www.naswnc.org or contact [email protected] to request an application.
Deadline: December 15, 2016
Apply NOW!
NASW-NC BSW Student InternBrent JohnsonThe University of North Carolina at Greensboro
I am a senior social work major at the University of North Caro-lina at Greensboro and I feel
extremely honored to be one of the BSW interns for 2016-17 at NASW-NC. Having taken four years off after my first year in college and relocating to North Carolina, I decided it was time to finish my bachelor’s degree. I have always been extremely interested in sociology and how it explores and brings to light the disparities between class, race, gender, etc. As cliché as it sounds, even though it is an integral part, if not the most important part, of be-ing a social worker, I have always wanted to help people. One of the earliest memories I have is of me being dropped off on my first day of first grade and walking over to one of my classmates who was crying and consoling him, offering to stay with him so he wouldn’t be lonely. But I had no idea how to put all this interest and knowledge about sociology into practice. I never considered social work, because I unfortunately be-lieved the stereotype that social workers were only there to take your children away. That is until my sister started pursuing a BSW degree at North Carolina State University. We would often have discussions about gender, privilege, policy, etc., and she would tell me about the things she was learning in her social work classes and all the different paths you can pursue as a social worker. After a few of those discussions, I knew that becoming a so-cial worker was how I was going to put that interest and knowledge into practice. After being accepted to the BSW program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and taking those first few classes with students and teach-ers who were just as passionate about these issues as I was I knew I had made the right decision. I was not quite sure where I wanted to focus as a social worker because the profession is so broad. I then took my first policy class and I fell in love with it and realized that affecting change at the Macro/Policy level was exactly what I was passionate about. Having the wonderful opportunity to intern at NASW-NC and having learned so much already from the amazing staff in the few short months I’ve been here has done nothing but solidify and strengthen my passion to become a social worker. l
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Student Updates
I am a sophomore at North Carolina State University majoring in Social Work. I
have greatly enjoyed being the Membership Associate for NASW-NC since August of this year.
One of the many reasons I enjoy working at NASW-NC is because it has provided me the opportunity to see how social work operates on the macro level. Though I plan to work at the micro level upon graduating, serving as NASW-NC’s Membership Associate has enabled me to experience the field of social work on a larger scale. Each day, I learn something new and grow both personally
Welcome the NASW-NC Membership AssociateAbby Cozart, BSW Student, North Carolina State University
and professionally. I am eager to expand my knowledge of this wonderful organization and develop a better understanding of how social work functions on a broader spectrum.After graduating from NC State with my BSW, I plan to continue my education by pursuing an MSW degree. It is my goal to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, so I can work as a therapist with the geriatric population. I would love to work at the North Carolina State Veterans Home specializing in counseling residents with PTSD or in a nursing home utilizing music and animal-assisted therapy. I am passionate about working with the elderly and look forward to having a career in this helping profession. l
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The University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill School of Social Work
1-Year Advanced Standing MSW Program
Enables students with an accredited BSW degree to earn an MSW degree in just 12 months. Program begins each May inChapel Hill.
The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work is one of the nation’s leaders in social work research and education, and is ranked among the top five schools of social work in the country. We offer three MSW Program options and a Doctoral Program:
2-Year and 3-Year MSW Programs
Complete your MSW in Chapel Hill with our 2-year or 3-year program. We also have a satellite location in Winston-Salem which offers a 3-year program.
Ph.D. Program
Prepares students to become leaders in research on innovative social intervention, scholarship and social work education.
XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter November / December / January 2016-2017 15 XXXX No. 4 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
College of Health and
Human Performance
School of Social WorkA leader in social work education and research, East Carolina University prides itself on educating students for knowledgeable and competent practice. We encourage the development of high standards of personal and professional achievement, and instill an appreciation for human diversity.
Our nationally recognized faculty utilize traditional, hands-on, and experimental educational methods to ensure that our students are challenged in and out of the classroom.
Program HighlightsBachelor of social workMaster of social work
Advanced standing MSWPart-time on- and off-campus cohorts
School social work licensureGraduate certificate in gerontologyGraduate certificate in substance abuse
Contact UsSchool of Social Work224 Rivers BuildingMail Stop 505East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC 27858-4353
