Children & Families Connections

March 2020 Newsletter

Welcome to NASW-Tennesse's monthly e-newsletter focused on supporting your work with children & families in Tennessee. Monthly issues are emailed to our members and shared with the public through our Facebook page and website . Each issue includes a theme for that month, the latest information and research related to children & families, as well as tools and resources you can use in your practice.

Coronavirus Information for Social Workers

Social workers, like many health and behavioral health professionals, are concerned about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the people whom we serve, their families, and others in the community. NASW knows you also have questions about how COVID-19 impacts your social work practice.

NASW, at a national and chapter level,has been working on multiple fronts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to support professional social workers during this public emergency. These efforts include advocacy to ensure insurance coverage for teletherapy and developing new resources to assist you.

Social workers are in a unique position to promote disease prevention efforts (including disseminating accurate information from trusted sources), and to help address anxiety and other concerns that are arising as a result of this public health crisis. Click on the below button to find resources you can use in your efforts. As the situation continues to rapidly evolve, NASW will continue to monitor developments and work to protect social workers and the clients we serve.

March is Social Work Month

Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work.

The theme for Social Work Month 2020 is Social Workers: Generations Strong.

The theme has various meanings. As we enter a new decade it is important to look back and honor the powerful, positive impact the social work profession has had on our society for generations.

We also want to spotlight the life-affirming work that social workers from all generations — from the Greatest Generation to the Z Generation — are doing. And since NASW is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2020, Social Work Month is a great opportunity to remind social workers of the important work NASW has been doing for decades and the need to join.

NASW-TN regrets the delay in hosting our Annual Awards ceremony that was originally scheduled for March 24 at Social Work Day on the Hill. We will be highlighting our award winners in this and future issues of Children and Family Connections.

2020 Lifetime Achievement Award

Elizabeth H. Strand, MSSW, LCSW, PhD

NASW-TN is pleased to recognize Dr. Elizabeth Strand, a true social work pioneer and perhaps our youngest lifetime achievement award winner. 

Dr. Strand’s pioneering work includes founding and serving as the director of Veterinary Social Work (VSW) at the University of Tennessee Colleges of Social Work and Veterinary Medicine. Through her leadership and vision, the VSW Certificate Program for students enrolled in the UT Social Work graduate program provides students with a comprehensive foundation in veterinary social work focusing on the knowledge and skills needed to integrate animals into social work practice in ethically sound ways, and in keeping with the values of the social work profession.

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Grief Recovery Specialist, a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher, and an ordained interfaith minister. She has been recognized for her grief support service program, Suicide Awareness in Veterinary Education (SAVE), as well as her excellence in service and leadership over the years. Some recent examples include the All Creatures Great and Small Endowed Clinical Associate Professor in Veterinary Social Work (2015), The University of Tennessee President’s Connect Award recipient (2018), and The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service recipient (2019).

Her steadfast commitment to social justice is also evident as she works diligently to dispel stigma and other barriers to accessing mental health resources. Dr. Strand has developed and implemented three certificate programs for the University of Tennessee School of Social Work, Veterinary Social Work being the first, which led to the development of a certificate program for mental health professionals and then another for animal-related professionals. Dr. Strand has volunteered her time with HABIT (Human Animal Bond in Tennessee) and serves on the board for Humans and Animals Learning Together (HALT) and Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee.

In addition to her research and numerous publications, Dr. Strand has also served as a field instructor and mentor for over 100 social work students and she was named Field Instructor of the Year in 2005. Dr. Strand is a champion for self-care and promotes it as essential to ethical social work practice. Dr. Strand not only recognizes the dignity and worth of the client, she honors the dignity and worth of the professional as well.    

Middle Tennessee Tornado Relief

Many state and local organizations and communities came together to respond to the tornadoes that ripped through Tennessee on March 3. Tornado recover is a continuing process and we hope the below resources can be of assistance in your work.

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