NASW-MN Coronavirus Bulletin #3 | April 7, 2020
With MN Governor Tim Walz declaring a “stay at home” order last month, our lives and practice continue to be impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We care deeply about the health and well-being of our members, all Minnesota social workers, and the clients and communities you serve . As more details emerge and recommendations for health and safety change, NASW-MN is committed to providing information and resources that are relevant and useful for you.

Social workers in mental health, human services, case management, domestic violence, chemical health, and more are included in the list of essential jobs during the “stay at home” order. Whether you leave the home to go to work or are working remotely, thank you to all of you who have reached out to us with your questions, experiences and challenges. We continue to serve and support you during this time.
Social Work Licensure and Examinations
CLARIFICATION: BOSW vs. NASW-MN
Many of you have reached out with questions about fulfillment of your licensure requirements. Please note that the Minnesota Board of Social Work (BOSW) is the entity that oversees and manages licensure for social workers. This is not the role of NASW-MN.

We are your voice to the Board and advocate for the social work profession! We work closely with the Board on issues related to licensure and practice. Please let us know how we can advocate for you at this time.

KEY LICENSURE UPDATES FROM THE BOSW
At their March 20th meeting, the Board issued three time-limited variances.
  • You can get all your CEUs via independent study (for licenses expiring between 2/29/2020-2/28/2022)
  • You can do all supervision via phone or electronic media (for licenses expiring between 2/29/2020-2/28/2022)
  • All new applicants will have an additional 6 months to complete application requirements (for applications with close date on or before 12/31/2020)

Subscribe to the MN BOSW’s e-mail list to stay informed about issues impacting practice and licensing requirements. The BOSW is still operating, including online services , and  e-mail .

LATEST INFO ON LICENSURE AND EXAMS
Social Work Education
GRADUATING SOON?
We are currently in conversations with the MN Board of Social Work about temporary licensure, particularly for graduating social work students. Subscribe to the MN BOSW’s e-mail list and watch your e-mail for more information to come from NASW-MN about this.
 
CSWE STATEMENT ON STUDENT FIELD HOURS
The Council on Social Work Education revised its statement on its response to COVID-19. This statement includes a reduction in the number of required field placement hours at program discretion. Read the full statement from CSWE.
Practice and Organizational Resources
GENERAL RESOURCES





 
EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR NONPROFITS
 
 
FREE WEBINAR ON PREPARING YOUR TECH FOR COVID-19
TechImpact has a free webinar recording called “Prepare. Respond. Serve” on how to rapidly get the right technology in place and minimize disruptions to your organization. This is not a telehealth webinar. Access the recording .
 
ADVICE FROM OUR TECH SUPPORT, WHIZKIDS
Slow connection? The current technology infrastructure was not prepared to deal with such a large shift to remote work in such a short period of time. As a community, there are several things we can do to manage the connectivity issues many are experiencing. Here are a few tips you may share with your team:

  • If you are connected to wireless internet in your home, try connecting directly to the back of your router with a Cat5 or Cat6 cable.

  • Limit the amount of devices in your home that are streaming music, video, or any other services that use bandwidth while you are working.

  • If possible, based on your company, encourage employees to work outside of peak business hours, which is considered 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

  • Be patient. If you or someone on your team is experiencing a connectivity issue, wait a few minutes and then try again. It’s very likely that your issue is a result of capacity and will resolve itself in due time.
Self-Care Resources
CALM IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS: AN ONLINE RETREAT
Our colleagues at Natural Mental Health are offering a FREE program to help tamp down the viral spread of fear. Beginning Wednesday, April 1 at 7:00 PM CST, they will lead a weekly Facebook Live gathering to discuss how to use lifestyle medicine, mindfulness skills, and heart-opening practices to stay resilient and connected. They will also share pediatric expertise for parents who want to know how to help their kids through these hard times. Q&A and additional support resources are also offered. 
COVID-19 General Info for Social Workers

  • NEW! Coronavirus Disease in MN Dashboard - tracks virus in Minnesota and provides latest available data on available ventilators, ICU beds, personal protective equipment, and testing.





NASW ISSUES JOINT STATEMENT WITH ASWB AND CSWE
The three largest social work organizations in the United States are calling social work practitioners, students, faculty, employers, regulators, policy makers, and all interested parties to action.  Read the full statement.

OUT-OF-STATE PRACTITIONERS MAY PROVIDE TELEHEALTH IN MN
Governor Walz signed Emergency Executive Order 20-28 on April 6, 2020 that will authorize out-of-state mental health providers to provide telehealth services to Minnesota patients during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency to help ensure that the mental health needs of Minnesotans are met during the stress and uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic.  Learn more on the MN Board of Social Work COVID-19 page
Chapter Updates and Events
NASW-MN MEMBER SURVEY
Last month, we conducted a survey to examine the impact of COVID-19 on our members, and identify the best ways we can serve you during this time. Thank you to the those that responded! We will be sharing the results and our forthcoming actions in an e-mail later this week. Please stay tuned!
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
We are continuing to work on postponing and making many of our upcoming events virtual in order to be part of the effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Our first priority is the health and safety of our members and the clients and communities you serve.
 
We are working to identify new dates or virtual participation options for upcoming events wherever possible . See below for status updates on upcoming events and programs:
If you are already registered for any of the above events, you will receive an e-mail from us (if you haven’t already) to let you know your options for refunds or transfers.

For new registrations, please make your payment during online registration via credit card to expedite your confirmation; we’re not in the office to receive calls or check payments.
 
CHAPTER OFFICE REMAINS CLOSED
In keeping with public health guidelines around social distancing, we have closed our Chapter office as of March 17 th and are working remotely until further notice. We will be checking voicemails periodically and still have access to e-mail. Our office phone number is 651-293-1935. For questions or concerns requiring a more immediate response, please e-mail us at admin.naswmn@socialworkers.org
We are working diligently to advocate for your practice, provide you with helpful resources, and create opportunities for you to earn the CEUs you need! Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this trying and unprecedented time.

Please check our website, www.naswmn.org , and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the most current information.
 

In the spirit of social work,
Karen
 
Karen Goodenough, MSW, LGSW
Executive Director