Join friends and colleagues for 1 of 3 upcoming Social Work Networking Nights!

BOSTON: September 20, 5:30–8:30 pm, The Red Hat, 9 Bowdoin St., Boston

BRIGHTON (this event exclusively for retired or retiring social workers): October 17, 6:00–8:00 pm, Harry’s Bar & Grill, 1430 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton

NORTHAMPTON: October 10, 5:30–8:30 pm, Packard's Bar Northampton, 14 Masonic St., Northampton

NASW-MA has active regional councils in each part of the state. Join your Council to meet social workers from your area, plan continuing education and other events, and stay connected to the Chapter.

See all events and meetings happening in your region:

Lucille Jerome, LICSW, ACSW, a NASW-MA member since 1977, was one of four women honored with the Because of Her Award at Lowell Women's Week 2018 in February. The annual award recognizes "leadership, generosity, compassion, activism and commitment to the Greater Lowell, Massachusetts community." Lucille received her award for her work creating and hosting  For the Young at Heart, a monthly cable television program now in its 11th year. The award noted that "Because of her, elders can stay informed and connected with issues and services that can improve their lives." Lucille received her MSW in 1978 from the Boston University School of Social Work. Congratulations, Lucille!

Need answers? Want help? Introducing a new member benefit! MyNASW Community—a members-only online space—is your go-to for all things social work: mynasw.socialworkers.org

NASW-MA is seeking members for its Awards Committee. The purpose of the Committee is:

Contact Cassandra Prager with any questions and to learn how to apply. The deadline to put your name forward is early September, so act soon!

PRIDE Month may be over, but the celebration is not! Join our Central Regional Council for Worcester's Pride Parade on Saturday, September 8. We will have stickers and posters for you. Plea se RSVP to Council Co-Chair Pat Strong to receive meet-up time and location details: [email protected].

Join us for a screening of  CAREgivers , an award-winning film examining the lives of caregivers and public servants.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

6:00 - 8:00 pm

GVNA Fitchburg Adult Day Health

481 Electric Avenue, Fitchburg

The screening will be followed by an interactive   group activity and discussion.

Attendees will learn to define and unpack layers of trauma and related components, as well as the meridian tapping technique for releasing and eliminating traumatic emotions for use with clients. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

9:30 am - 12:45 pm

The Walker Center

144 Hancock St., Auburndale

Speaker: Judith Swack, PhD, President, Healing from the Body Level Up, Inc.

This program, co-sponsored by the Boston University School of Social Work, will confront the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, from macro to micro, equipping attendees with trend data, information about the social determinants of health, screening and identification tools, and evidence-based treatment strategies. 

Friday, September 14, 2018

9:15 am - 5:00 pm

Boston University, Photonics Colloquium Room, 9th Fl., 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston

Join us for a screening and discussion of the 2017 film Félicité, about a Congolese singer who finds financial and emotional support after her 14-year-old son's accident from a regular in the bar where she performs.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

2:00 - 5:30 pm

The Studio Cinema, Belmont

Discussant: Hugo Kamya, PhD, Professor, Simmons School of Social Work

This workshop will explore the role shame plays in criminal, abusive, addictive, and self-destructive behaviors. Implications for interviewing and treatment approaches will be covered as well as the challenges to counter-transference management represented by shame.

Monday, September 17, 2018

9:00 am - 12:15 pm

Parish of St. Michael, Bedford

Speaker: Linda (Lynn) T. Sanford, LICSW 

Join us for a screening of "Being Mortal" and a conversation about end of life care.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

4:30 - 6:30 pm

GVNA Greenfield Adult Day Health

489 Bernardston Rd., Suite 207

Greenfield

The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Chauntelle Carty, RN, BSN, CHPN , Director of Hospice, GVNA Healthcare, Inc, and  Ellen Sparrow, LICSW, ACHP-SW , Social Worker/Co-Director GVNA Fitchburg Adult Day Health Center.

Eating disorder diagnoses have historically caused fear in providers. Although eating disorders are dangerous mental illnesses, recovery from an eating disorder is possible with appropriate treatment. This program will leave attendees with a better understanding of the symptoms and diagnosis of eating disorders as well as provide tools and therapeutic interventions for the treatment of eating disorders. 

Thursday, September 20, 2018

9:30 am - 12:45 pm

Temple Israel, Boston

note: program was originally scheduled to take place at the Dedham Holiday Inn

Speaker: Monique Bellefleur, Ed.M, LMHC, Clinician & Director of Community Education, Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA)

The presentation will provide an intro to functional medicine, the brain-gut connection and how trauma is connected to chronic illnesses, the ACE Score, and will allow for question and answers at end of the presentation.

Friday, September 21, 2018

8:30 am - 12:00 pm

Child and Family Services

3057 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford

Speakers: Achina Stein, DO, DFAPA, ABIHM, IFMCP , and Sally Davidson, RN, MS, ANP-BC, IFMCP

Join us for a screening of the 2017 film The Florida Project, followed by a discussion centered on working with homeless and otherwise marginalized families.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

2:00 - 5:30 pm

The Studio Cinema, Belmont

Discussants: Janice Furlong, LICSW, Faculty, Boston University School of Social Work, and Katy Novick Nolan, LICSW, Faculty, Simmons School of Social Work

Join us for a screening of the 2017 film The Insult, examining how an emotional exchange between a Lebanese Christian and a Palestinian refugee results in a court case that gets national attention. 

Sunday, September 30, 2018

2:00 - 5:30 pm

The Studio Cinema, Belmont

Discussant: Noha Sadek, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist

Join the Central Regional Council for their upcoming book club meeting, discussing "A Search for Purple Cows: A True Story of Hope" with the author, Susan Call.

Wendnesday, October, 3, 2018

5:45 - 8:15 pm

Anna Maria College, Zecco Center for Performing Arts, Jacques Conference Room, Paxton

Discussant: Susan Call , author of "A Search for Purple Cows"

Learn the formula to quickly write effective treatment plans and progress notes that document medical necessity. As a result authorizations are easy, audits are less threatening, HIPAA is honored, and your good clinical work is represented with integrity. This program is sponsored by Therapy Matcher.

Friday, November 2, 2018

9:30 am - 12:45 pm

Parish of St. Michael, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford

Speaker: Beth Rontal, LICSW, the "Documentation Wizard"

Join us for a screening of the 2017 documentary Strong Island, examining the violent death of the filmmaker's brother and the judicial system that allowed his killer to go free.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

2:00 - 5:30 pm

The Studio Cinema, Belmont

Discussant: Holly Aldrich, LICSW, Founding Director, Center for Homicide Bereavement, a service of the Victims of Violence (VOV) Program at the Cambridge Health Alliance

Statewide

Senate

House of Representatives

*Asterisk denotes incumbent

Join NASW-MA and stand with transgender individuals on Nov. 6 (general election day) by voting YES on Question 3! A "yes" vote is a vote to uphold a Massachusetts law enacted in 2016 that protects transgender people from discrimination in public spaces, like restaurants, shops, and doctors’ offices. 

Join fellow social workers at the Freedom For All Massachusetts Town Hall at Fenway Health on Monday, September 25, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

 

Want to get involved? Help the campaign to have thousands of conversations with voters about what’s at stake—dignity and respect for our transgender neighbors.

Learn how you can make calls from home or knock doors by clicking here or emailing [email protected].

On August 13, 2018, 10,000 clinical social workers (CSWs) who are Medicare Part B providers received a letter from Global Tech containing results of a Comparative Billing Report (CBR) for Licensed Clinical Social Workers. NASW has reviewed the report and additional information provided by Global Tech.  Read more.

The Private Practice Google Group is an exclusive member benefit powered by social work colleagues from across the state and NASW-MA. By signing up you'll receive timely updates from your colleagues about ethics, billing and insurance, and other critical private practice issues. You can also pose your own questions to the group to crowd source answers from colleagues. NASW-MA also uses this platform to send important clinical alerts to members.

Sign up to join the group by sending an email to [email protected] with "Join Google Group" in the subject line.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has announced that there is now a web-based option for the submission of written mandated reports (51As) in cases of suspected child maltreatment. Per DCF, mandated reporters can now use any web enabled device to complete 51A reports online. You can, if you so choose, continue to submit your written reports by fax or mail as well.

 

Please access  www.mass.gov/child-abuse-and-neglect for further guidance on how to file on line. They offer a 15 minute Training Video on the site as well.  All mandated reporters will have to create an account with a password to log into the Gateway in order to file reports. This same password should be stored in a safe place for use in any subsequent mandated report submissions. 

 

Please call the DCF area office that covers the town in which the child/family resides when giving your verbal report during regular work hours. If filing after 5:00 pm or on the weekend, please continue to call the Child At Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200 to provide your verbal report. Written 51A reports, including those submitted electronically, must still be submitted within 48 hours of completing the verbal report. 

Have a grand idea to reduce social isolation and loneliness and increase engagement in older populations? Submit to the In Good Company Challenge by September 28!

See flyer here for details!

This competition is sponsored by The Competition Sponsors are Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab (MIT AgeLab), Benchmark Senior Living (Benchmark) and GE Healthcare, in collaboration with Massachusetts Governor Baker’s Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts. Prize Sponsors are MIT AgeLab and Benchmark.

SWAN is a free, confidential colleague assistance program sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of NASW. SWAN assists social workers with consultation regarding personal and professional issues, which may be having an impact on their ability to practice in an optimal manner. Learn more about this service and member benefit here .

NASW-MA Licensing Test Prep courses include:

Upcoming exam dates and locations:

Confidently track your social worker licensing renewal requirements with CE Tracker—the online tool that tells you exactly what you need to renew your license and tracks your progress along the way. This online platform allows you to track your license renewal requirements, completed CE’s, and provides suggested content to obtain the continuing education you nee d. Pre-Sale through October 1, 2018, with special discounts for NASW members. Learn more at socialworkers.org/cetracker . 

Mark your calendars for the NASW 2018 Virtual Conference, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 14 & 15. This two-day program will address the opioid crisis from a social work perspective, feature both plenary and breakout sessions, and offer CE credits. This event will be live-streamed. Information will be on the NASW website socialworkers.org .