Click here to apply by October 15th. Priority will be given to early applications. Questions? Contact Noël Schutz: [email protected].

Are you passionate about supporting the LGBTQIA+ community? Are you looking for a way to get more involved with NASW-MA's advocacy work? Consider joining our LGBTQIA+ Shared Interest Group (SIG)! This SIG is a space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies to come together to advocate for policies and create programming that advances social, economic, and racial justice. Contact Noël Schutz, Membership and Advocacy Manager, to learn more.

We are always eager to celebrate the work and commitment of social workers doing incredible work in our communities. Routinely, NASW-MA will highlight nominated social workers across our social media platforms as one way to do this.

For the month of October, our highlight theme is social workers for social justice.

So far we've highlighted Marie Andrée Pierre-Victor, Carla Monteiro, Jeff Butts, Brandy Henry, Kevin McCarthy, and Gerry Miller.

Are you an NASW-MA member in private practice? Join Therapy Matcher now for just $200 this fall to gain access to personalized referrals designed to make your life easier. When you join now, you'll gain access to referrals through June 2021.

Learn more: naswma.org/TMprovider or email [email protected]

Presented by Cheryl Hamilton, Director, Suitcase Stories, International Institute of New England 

Online registration is closed. Email Adam Linn to see if you can be added to the registration list.

Presented by Carrie Burke, LICSW, Director of the Social Services Advocates for the Public Defender Division at the Committee for Public Counsel Services

Join the Central Region Book Club for a facilitated group discussion of the Oprah's Book Club Pick and #1 New York Times Bestseller Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker.

Facilitated by with Bob Bureau, MEd, BA, CAGS, CCFE, CCFT, Founder, Resiliency Solutions

The United States Latinx population has been exposed to and infected with the Coronavirus at disproportional rates compared with the white population. The current crisis has exacerbated the pre-existing health disparities among the Latinx population and highlighted the social determinants of health that put Latinx at higher risk for illness and death. This webinar will present information on social work practice with Latinx individuals and families during this current crisis. 

Presented by Yvonne Ruiz, PhD, LICSW, Associate Professor, Salem State University School of Social Work

Please email Kelly Zieba to register: [email protected].

Presented by Katie Binda, LICSW, an organizational consultant specializing in health care settings

Join us for a discussion of the book So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. We encourage participants to secure their copy of the book from BIPOC-owned bookstores. See ideas here.

Discussants: Casandra Arevalo, LCSW, and Angelica Emery-Fertitta, LCSW, two leaders on NASW-MA's Racial Justice Council.

Earlier this spring, we made the decision to POSTPONE Symposium 2020 due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. A reminder that if you already registered, all of your registration items, including workshop and intensive selections, will automatically transfer to 2021, at the current cost to attend.

Mark your calendars! Symposium 2021 is happening VIRTUALLY on April 15-16, 2021. This conference will include our keynote speaker Dr. Joy DeGruy and all 90+ workshops and intensives.

Please feel free to also reach out to [email protected] for more information about Symposium or with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at Symposium in 2021!

Hundreds of web-based continuing education offerings are available to social workers for free or low-cost on NASW's Online CE Institute, including many of the webinars related to COVID-19 that NASW-MA offered earlier this year.

Contact us to get meeting access details to any of the above: [email protected].

The Healthy Youth Act is a priority bill for NASW-MA and, if passed, would ensure that sex ed being taught in public schools is comprehensive, medically accurate, LGBTQ inclusive, and prioritizes the teaching of consent and healthy relationships.

Watch our events calendar and Facebook page for details.

We look forward to honoring this year’s recipients and their amazing work as allied leaders in our social work communities with you then.

It's that time of year again! We need your help to determine NASW-MA's 2021-2022 legislative priority agenda, which informs our advocacy at the state level. It is you, our members, that make us effective advocates for social workers and social justice. That’s why we want to hear directly from you!

Tell us what policies or issues you want NASW-MA to prioritize in 2021-2022. Complete the survey by October 22nd. It will take less than 5 minutes of your time!

Questions? Contact Noël Schutz: [email protected].

Interested in helping to put our legislative agenda together? Join our Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC)! Contact: [email protected] to learn how to get involved.

The General Election is only a month away... are you registered to vote? In Massachusetts, in order to vote in the General Election on November 3, you must be registered to vote by October 24. To request your mail-in ballot or find your polling location click here.

Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) is the political action arm of the NASW. As a political action committee, PACE endorses and financially contributes to candidates from any party who support NASW's policy agenda. PACE endorses and contributes to federal candidates.

NASW-MA PACE, the political action arm of NASW-MA, endorses candidates seeking political office in Massachusetts at the local and state level. PACE endorses candidates that support our Legislative Agenda and social work values.

Interested in learning more about NASW-MA PACE and how to get involved? Contact Jamie Klufts.

The late Justice Ginsburg spoke often about how medically unnecessary barriers to abortion undermine the legal right to abortion by denying access to care. These barriers disproportionately harm Black people, people of color, people with low incomes, and LGBTQ+ people. We can honor Justice Ginsburg’s legacy by removing the politically motivated barriers that delay and deny abortion care for patients in Massachusetts and ensuring that every patient has access to care.

Email your legislators today to demand they pass the ROE Act.

NASW-MA has endorsed a YES vote on Question 2 on the November ballot. Yes on 2 will give Massachusetts voters a stronger voice and ensure that our elected leaders have majority support. Adopting Ranked Choice Voting is one thing we can do right now to empower voters at this critical time in our democracy. 

Request a free yard sign today, and view a map of pickup locations near you→

All licensed social workers should pay attention to the following. Any questions can be directed to Barbara Burka.

Per a tweet sent by HHS spokesman Michael Caputo, HHS intends to extend the public health emergency (PHE) period by 90 days. The current expiration date was July 25. The new expiration date is October 25. As you know, the telehealth flexibilities under Medicare are attached to this federal PHE. This will be the second extension the agency has provided.

In May, National NASW released details guidelines for reopening social work practices. See the guidelines here.

You can also see guidelines from Assurance Services here and general safety guidelines for business from the state here.

Our staff are hard at work each day making sure we convey the most up-to-date information to you on the ever-evolving rules and regulations around tele-mental health in response to COVID-19. We update this page routinely as the insurance and health care landscape adapts and changes. Bookmark this page and check back frequently to learn about telehealth and its impacts on your practice during this time.

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.

EMPath just got approved to provide 12 CEUs for social workers for their biennial conference this October. This year’s theme is "The Future of Poverty Disruption." Hear from experts and leaders in the fields of housing, education, health, technology, philanthropy, and more to explore new strategies for disrupting poverty. 

The Social Workers Assistance Network (SWAN) is a NASW Massachusetts Chapter-sponsored colleague assistance program. SWAN provides professional consultation and referral to any social worker who may be experiencing personal issues that could impact their personal or professional lives. These difficulties may include stress due to the Covid-19 pandemic, chemical dependence, depression, anxiety, marital and family issues, and concern for a colleague. The SWAN Commission is comprised of volunteer social workers who are committed to assisting their colleagues. SWAN is a confidential service. All contacts and information shared is privileged and private. Learn more about this service and member benefit here.

NASW-MA hosts Licensing Test Prep courses each month in various parts of the state. Upcoming courses include:

Be in touch with Michael LaBerge for more information at [email protected].

Join NASW for a Facebook Live Town Hall on Racial Equity, Economic Equity, and COVID-19 tomorrow, Friday, October 2 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm.

Moderated by NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, the panelists include:

Head to NASW's Facebook page tomorrow to tune-in: facebook.com/naswsocialworkers

Read the full action alert and contact CMS before 5:00 pm on October 5 here.

On October 29, all NASW members are invited to a free “Night at the Awards” event to honor this year’s NASW and NASW Foundation national award recipients. Several surprises are planned. We are excited to honor this remarkable group of social workers and social work allies in a fun online tribute. Registration is free through the Virtual Forum website: naswvirtual.socialworkers.org

Read the full statement here.