December 2024 Chapter Update | |
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Thank you for your membership with NASW. Take a look at our upcoming Chapter events in December 2024 and beyond. Read more about upcoming webinars (earn CEs!), national and state updates, and more.
Please note that the Chapter has updated its email address associated with our mass emailing platform. We will now send Chapter emails from info.naswwa@socialworkers.org; please add this email and the socialworkers.org domain to your address book or safe senders list.
Jeremy Arp, MSW, ACSW
Executive Director, NASW-WA
(he/him)
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Award Nominations Open for Social Work Month 2025!
Each March, NASW-WA honors the accomplishments of social workers and community members during our Social Work Month Celebration. Do you know someone who should be recognized?
Nominations are open for our 2024 Awards! Read the award descriptions and more online here.
Once you are ready to nominate, click the "Award Nomination Form" button to submit a nomination! Please submit your nomination by January 31, 2025.
The 2025 theme for Social Work Month Theme is "Social Work Compassion + Action." The Chapter looks forward to reviewing the nominations from members. The Chapter will continue to work on selecting a venue for our annual Social Work Month Celebration. Our hope is to offer in-person and virtual options to celebrate our social workers and community members!
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PACE and Election Updates
Our Chapter's PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election) Committee worked to endorse 70 candidates in Washington statewide and legislative races this year. NASW-WA PACE donated over $4,000 to candidates. The majority of the candidates that we endorsed did win their elections.
In 2025, NASW-WA PACE will look to make endorsements in special elections. We look forward to continuing to make an impact!
The National PACE Committee reports that 144 NASW-PACE Endorsed Candidates won their races with some races needing a month to count all votes and numerous races being won within a percentage point or a couple hundred votes.
In the coming months, NASW and its chapters will work to build relationships with the returning and new members to ensure that the issues of our profession as well as those that impact our clients are prioritized.
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Legislative Updates
The Chapter's Legislative Action Committee (LAC) looks forward to the 2025 Legislative Session in Washington. The LAC is finalizing the legislative priorities this year, which includes social work professional issues, social and economic justice, and anti-racism and equity. The team is working to identify prefiled bills to track through the month of December.
The Chapter will host Policy Conference events focused on helping social workers learn more about advocacy, our Chapter’s efforts, and what social workers can do to participate in the process. SAVE THE DATES: The LAC will host a virtual educational event on February 5th, followed by an in-person Policy Conference event at the Capitol on President’s Day, February 17th. Once registration details are finalized by the LAC, we will open registration.More to follow!
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ZOOM FORMAT: An Hour with Private Practice: Questions & Answers
NASW Members Only...FREE
When: Third Friday of the Month 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
An Hour with Private Practice (HOPP): Questions & Answers is a free members-only question-and-answer session that provides members with important clinical social work updates affecting the delivery of mental health services in a private solo or group practice. Join us in 2024 to take part in the discussion, ask questions, and comment on private practice topics.
HOPP will resume in January 2025.
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World Social Work Day
The International Association of Schools of Social Work, the International Council of Social Welfare, and IFSW have jointly announced the 2025 World Social Work Day theme: “Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing.” (Read more).
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NASW Coalition Alert: OSHA Comments
The Health Professionals for Climate Coalition is urging all health professionals to tell OSHA that workers cannot afford to wait any longer for federal protections against prolonged exposure to deadly extreme heat. To help ensure that all workers are protected from the ever-rising threat of extreme heat, send in your comments to OSHA by December 30. Click here to take action.
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New ICD-10-CM Codes for Use by Clinical Social Workers
Effective October 1, 2024, clinical social workers were impacted by several code changes to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). Clinical social workers should pay attention to Chapter 5, Mental, Behavioral, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Six new codes have been added to mental health disorders: four are for eating disorders and two are for adults. Follow the link for a chart with diagnostic names and code numbers. (Read more)
Effective January 1, 2025, clinical social workers may receive reimbursement for services using a digital mental health treatment (DMHT) device. The device is a software approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a mental health condition in conjunction with ongoing mental health treatment that includes a plan of care. The device generates and delivers a mental health treatment intervention that has a positive therapeutic impact on a patient’s mental health. It is furnished incident to a clinical social worker’s professional services and is considered a practice expense. Any professional who is licensed to diagnose and treat mental illness, can seek reimbursement for the use of this type of software. (Read more).
NASW Supports Gun Violence Prevention in Schools
NASW participated in the Center for American Progress 10th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit. The Summit covered gun violence prevention strategies in communities and public health and legislative responses to gun violence. NASW was invited to participate in a panel discussion regarding Safe Learning Environments: Investing in School-Based Behavioral Health Personnel and Community Partnerships. During the session NASW highlighted school social workers’ contributions to violence prevention and safe learning environments. (Read more)
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Practice Perspective
During this time of year seasonal depression is most prevalent. NASW's new Practice Perspective, Seasonal Affective Disorder and Substance Use, aims to explain seasonal affective disorder and highlight the significance of screening for substance use during depressive episodes. Social workers will find resources that may be helpful when working with individuals with depressive symptoms and using substances.
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Bylaws Amendment Process
There are two new proposed Bylaws amendments approved by the NASW Board available for member comment. Both proposals relate to Article IX Committees and Task Forces. The proposal includes a name change from “National Committee on Women’s Issues” to “National Committee on Women” and “National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning + Issues” to “National Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+.”
Both proposals will be open for member comment for at least 90 days beginning November 19, 2024 through February 18, 2025. Please find both proposals here for your consideration.
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Call for Proposals
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) welcomes the submission of proposals to present at the 2025 NASW National Conference – Social Work: Celebrating Our Legacy | Developing the Future. The conference will be held June 15–19, 2025, in Chicago, IL, and will bring together social workers and related professionals committed to advancing the future of the profession and continuing the fight for social justice. (Read more).
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2025 Seattle/King County Clinic Seeks Volunteers
Volunteer registration is opening on January 6, 2025, for the upcoming Seattle/King County Clinic, happening April 24-27, 2025. SKCC, a volunteer-driven, giant free clinic at Seattle Center, has provided over 30,000 patients with more than $26 million in dental, vision, and medical care since its inception in 2014. The clinic relies on volunteers like you to continue to provide this valuable community service to those who have trouble accessing and/or affording care. Click here to create or update your volunteer profile today and to get notified when registration opens.
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Chapter Classifieds
NASW-WA offers a space on our website for text-only classified ads. Click here for details.
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