Happy July Social Work Friends!

There are lots of changes to announce at NASW-MA. Longtime staff Elaine Lowenstein (40 years) and Barbara Wright (23 years) retired at the end of June. We sent them off with cheer and best wishes. They've promised to stay in touch. Our chapter would not have thrived these past many years without their contributions and hard work.  I hope you'll join me in thanking them for everything they have done.

Today, July 5th, we welcome new Office and Financial Manager Michael LaBerge. Michael comes with experience in organizational operations, office management and finance. He is very interested and excited about the mission of NASW MA and is eager to get to work. I'm also very pleased to announce our new Communications Director, Jamie Klufts, who will begin on July 10th. Jamie comes with a wealth of experience in health communications, graphic design, and strategic organizational assessment with a focus on branding. She will be responsible for the Focus newsletter, our online e-newsletter, social media, the website, graphic design of our flyers and print materials, and press communications. Currently, we're in the process of hiring a new Membership and Program Manager who will work closely with the whole team here to make your membership experience even more meaningful and impactful. 

The Board of Directors, with many new faces and activist social work representation from across the state, will engage in strategic planning with staff, members and volunteers into the fall. Stay tuned for ways you can engage in the process!

I'll continue to keep you posted as we re-shape the Chapter office in the months ahead to meet the challenges of 2017 and beyond. We are updating our systems with a strong focus on communicating the work of NASW and a special focus on legislative and political work that will help invigorate our commitment to social work roots - fighting for economic justice and human rights, advancement of the social work profession, and advocacy for those served by social workers, many of whom are the most vulnerable members of society.

Please be in touch with your input, questions, and ideas. I've been travelling across Massachusetts, meeting with many of you and am eager to make contact.

In solidarity and hope,

Rebekah

Rebekah Gewirtz

Executive Director

(O) 617-227-9635 x16

(C) 617-645-4773

[email protected]

Chapter News

Successful June Continuing Education Events

Close to 125 social workers participated in continuing education (CE) events on two Fridays in June. These programs were the final two in our series of five CE workshops held in May and June.  An Introduction to Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples, led by Jill Fischer, LICSW and NASW member, offered information on studies showing the success of EFT with couples, and introduced social workers to various steps and strategies to implement and practice EFT. Joe Pereira, LICSW and Dennis Balcom, LICSW (pictured at left), both in private practice and NASW members, led a session on clinical treatment of men. This program, sponsored by the Social Work Therapy Referral Service, brought Joe and Dennis's longtime experience and expertise in this understudied area of practice, to a group of avid social work practitioners. Check out a related article on addiction, by Joe Pereira, in the July Focus Newsletter.

State House Hearings

Criminal Justice took center stage in June with two Judiciary Committee Hearings. Social workers testified to end mandatory minimums, reform solitary confinement, and on a host of other issues that will improve the circumstances of those in the criminal justice system so they can return to society and are less likely to be re-incarcerated. 

In addition, NASW rallied and testified for Paid Family Medical Leave arguing for low income and all parents to have bonding time with infants and recently adopted children.  The legislation would also allow employees to take time for ailing family members, and for individuals with significant illness. If the bill doesn't pass, we'll take it to the ballot for voters to decide. We are looking forward to working with our social worker members to help collect signatures from across the state.  We'll continue to keep you posted on the actions around this and how you can help make this important initiative law!

PACE Endorsement

In a special election for the late state senator Ken Donnelly's seat, PACE 

intervi ewed all three candidates, ultimately endorsing Rep. Sean Garballey, a huge  ally of NASW in the State House for the past decade. Sean championed the social work safety in the workplace law to passage a few years ago. It was a squeaker of a race with Sean ultimately losing to Sen. Donnelly's longtime chief of staff, Cindy Friedman. Equally progressive and a strong mental health advocate, we've kept an ally in the House and gained an ally in the Senate with the election of Cindy Friedman to this senate seat. 

Cindy Friedman, winner of the special election primary - congratulations Cindy!

This is the election year when PACE endorses social workers in local races. The committee is working on a special questionnaire for local candidates and is excited

 to have a few first-timers running.

Come participate in PACE this summer! Email Christine  Poff, Political Director, to learn more.

 

Summer Picnic in the Boston Public Garden

Before a summer break, NASW-MA Committees and Shared Interest Group members gathered in the Public Garden to mingle, talk across their respective activities, and welcome newcomers. It was a beautiful evening and we took turns chasing Rebekah's adorable two year old daughter, Nina, who was determined to feed the ducks and potentially dive into the pond! 

Social Work Action Center

Social Work Loan Forgiveness Hearing

NASW-MA's Social Work Loan Forgiveness bill is on the docket of the Higher Education Committee's hearing - Thursday, July 13th at 10am in the State House.   Students, new professionals and longtime loan payers - please join us to make the case that social workers, some of the lowest paid, highly educated, and skilled professionals in the state desperately need debt relief!  Passage of this bill would help social workers stay in the field and serve the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth.  Hearing personal stories about BSW and MSW debt loads can have a big impact on legislators. You can testify or just attend to show your support.  Email Clif Day if you'd like to participate at the hearing.

Hearing on Choice for All - even teenagers!

NASW's longtime commitment to choice fuels our effort to fight any restrictions on abortion in Massachusetts. Currently young women under the age of 18 must get a parent or judge's consent to terminate her pregnancy. On  Tuesday, July 11th at 1:00pm at the State House we have the opportunity to testify for bills lowering the age of abortion consent to under 16. While we will state unequivocally our opposition to any restrictions, at any age, we will support this incremental step.  To join NASW on July 11th, email Taylor Maranda .

An Important Initiative and Survey for Clinical Social Workers

Notes from the Field

New Procedure for Reporting Elder Abuse

Changes to Mass Health Impacting Social Workers

The Mass Health program is in the process of transformation with the new Delivery System Reform Implementation Plan (DSRIP) and upwards of $1.8B coming to Massachusetts over the next five years. As part of the program, Mass Health is seeking to ensure social workers are core to the new medical home and ACO systems that will be created.  We expect a social worker loan repayment program to be included for LICSWs and a special projects program that would allow LICSWs to be eligible providers.  We are just learning more about plans underway at Mass Health and will keep you informed as we learn more.  To see the slide deck of proposed initiatives relevant to social work, check out this link: www.mass.gov/hhs/masshealth-innovations. Do you have a special interest in Mass Health transformation?  If so, please be in touch by emailing with Rebekah.

Comments for the new group Ride-Health

Social Workers Anticipate Medicaid Cuts

Social workers have been on the edge of their seats worried that the US Senate health care bill would pass. Thankfully the bill did not pass before the July 4th holiday and much of that was due to the activism of leaders like you making calls and working together to defeat it.  Thanks to all who signed up to call residents in other states with swing vote senators. The list of those concerned about or opposed to the proposed bill got longer each day. We made a big difference!

With a Massachusetts congressional delegation that opposes this mean spirited tax break for the wealthy, and our senators, Markey and Warren, playing a loud role in opposition, joining a phone bank to call voters elsewhere in the country helped put pressure on those in power.

Right now we are collecting stories from social workers about what medicaid means to clients and people with whom you interact in hospitals, community health centers, schools, and wherever social workers are.  Do you have a story about how Medicaid has saved a life or changed a community?  Please share your story with us and we will be in touch with how you may be able to get more involved in advocacy. Email Rebekah with your story. 

Upcoming Events

Featured event!  

PACE Campaign Training 

Wednesday, July 19th 6-8pm at 14 Beacon St, first floor. Learn how to get involved on a political campaign at the local or state level. What's involved, what's the commitment, and how you can you be effective? Have you thought about running for office yourself? In the age of Trump we want more candidates with social work values making decisions and passing laws in Massachusetts. RSVP

• Love, Sex and Self-Respect: Your Body Holds the Keys, September 15, 2017 (3 CEs)
• Safety in the Workplace for Social Workers in Private Practice & Other Settings, September 28, 2017 (3.5 CEs)
• School Social Work Conference, October 20, 2017 (5.5 CEs)
• Culturally Informed Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, October 23, 2017 (3 CEs)
• The Pivotal Role for Clinical Social Work in Health Care: Updates on the Science of Behavior Change, November 3, 2017 (6 CEs)
• Integrating Sensory Motor Techniques in Group (and Individual) Treatment with Trauma Survivors, November 17, 2017 (3 CEs)

NASW READ - A Statewide virtual book group