February 2024 Chapter Update | |
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Thank you for your membership with NASW. Take a look at our upcoming chapter events in February 2024. Read more about 2024 Conference Planning, upcoming webinars (earn CEs!), our 2024 Policy Conference, 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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2024 NASW-WA Statewide Conference Call for Presenters Closes February 23rd
The 2024 NASW-WA Statewide Conference will be an in-person event encompassing 1.5 days of intensive learning and dialogue. Our presenters play a critical role in this conference by leading important conversations, inspiring dialogue, and sharing best practices.
The Conference will be held in-person on September 19-21, 2024 at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, WA (near Spokane), and will feature two-hour keynote presentations and 1.5-hour breakout session presentations. All presentations will be live; although we anticipate several will be recorded for future distribution to social workers, upon approval from the presenter.
The deadline for proposals has been extended to February 23, 2024. All submissions must come through our online submission process linked below. Limit of 3 proposal submissions per presenter.
Click here for more information and to submit your proposal today!
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Social Work Month Award Winners Announced Soon
Save the date for March 22, 2024, for our virtual Social Work Month Celebration. Our Chapter's Executive Committee met this month to choose Award winners that we celebrate annually during Social Work Month! Award winners will be announced as soon as all nominees, nominators, and award recipients are noticed. Many thanks to our members who submitted nominations this year!
Save the Date to join us for the Social Work Month Celebration on March 22, 2024. This year, we will host a virtual awards recognition to honor the accomplishments of social workers and community members. Read more about the Social Work theme, "Empowering Social Workers," here.
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2024 NASW-WA Policy Conference Registration Now Open
The 2024 NASW-WA Policy Conference is scheduled for Monday, February 19, 2024, in Olympia. The live, in-person event will be at United Churches of Olympia located at 110 11th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
This year, we will offer an in-person opportunity to learn about the policy process in Washington and discuss NASW-WA's policy priorities for 2024. The Legislative Action Committee continues to work to create an educational and rewarding experience for social work professionals and students. Updated materials will be posted as they are available - so check our Action Center for updates!
Registration is now open for the in-person event! We need to know if you plan to join us for the event as space is limited. Register to save your spot today! Click here to register!
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Virtual Event: Legislative Update
The Chapter's Membership Engagement Committee will host a virtual event on February 20th to provide legislative updates. The updates will be presented by Nichelle Curtis-McQueen, Chair of our Legislative Action Committee and supported by Chapter staff. Please RSVP to attend if you can make it!
Legislative Updates
The Legislative Action Committee (LAC) continues to meet monthly and check in about the bills the Chapter supports and tracks. Our Voter Voice Action Center page includes a listing of state legislation organized by priority areas including social work professional issues, mental health/SUD, social justice, and economic justice. In addition to the Social Work Compact (outlined below), we are supporting bills that help address behavioral health workforce shortages (such as HB 2247), and legislation that promotes scholarships for behavioral health professionals (such as HB 1946) and more. Click on "Key Legislation by Priority Area" on our Action Center to learn more.
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SW Compact Updates
HB 1939 (Orwall) Adopting the social work licensure compact. This bill establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact (Compact), or agreement between participating states, to allow social workers to apply for a multistate license. The Compact creates a Commission (composed of member states) to help administer the program. To be eligible for a multistate license under the Compact, applicants would need to hold or be eligible for an active, unencumbered license in their home state; pay any applicable fees and submit application materials; notify their home state of any adverse actions or encumbrances on their license; and meet their home state’s continuing education requirements. The Compact’s aims are to ease mobility for licensees, expand employment opportunities, leverage technology, and support relocating military families.
HB 1939 includes all of the provisions of the model legislation. Our state's bill includes a section 1, however, that outlines intent and reiterates Washington's commitment to protecting gender affirming care and reproductive rights. Note that NASW-WA sought and secured a sponsor to move the legislation forward in Washington. The map at swcompact.org shows the states that have passed (MO, SD) social work compact legislation. The bill has passed the House of Representatives and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate soon. NASW supports passage of the compact nationwide; additional information is available here.
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Tips and Tricks: Optum/United Healthcare Issuing Overpayment Notices to Providers: Important Information and Steps to Take
NASW members recently informed the association of notices of overpayment from the insurer, Optum/United Behavioral Health, and its Optum Recovery Service Team. An overpayment occurs when an insurer pays more than is expected for a health service. It can happen for many reasons. Learn more and how NASW is trying to help.
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Public Comments for School Social Work Standards
NASW’s Task force for School Social Work Practice Standards is seeking public comments for the attached document: Best Practice Standards for School Social Workers. The document provides a useful set of standards for school social workers seeking specific information related to school social workers. Your comments are important and will determine how the task force moves forward. The public comment period begins February 6 and will end March 8.
To review the document, click Here. If you would like to post a comment, click on “Submit your comment” button below then click Reply button. You will then have the option to type your comment in a text box and click the submit button when you are done. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to enter a username. You can choose any name as a username. Questions can be emailed to mcoleman.nasw@socialworkers.org.
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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.
Next Session
Friday, February 16, 2024
Responding to Requests for Clawback/Overpayment Requests
Presenter: Mirean Coleman, LICSW, CT - NASW Director of Practice
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Social Workers and the SAVE Plan to Reduce Student Loan Debt
Qualifying SAVE borrowers will see their debt canceled automatically beginning in February 2024. More information at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan
NASW is currently seeking social workers who received forgiveness from the shortened SAVE repayment period announcement. Borrowers must have been enrolled in SAVE; been in repayment for at least 10 years; and originally took out $12,000 or less for college. If that’s you, please email us at media@socialworkers.org subject line My SAVE Story.
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Poor People's Campaign Event on March 2nd
The Poor People’s Campaign, a revival since 2018 of Dr. King’s original PPC in 1967, is focused on making connections and bringing together people from all walks of life—young and old, Black, Brown, and white, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian, people of all faiths and no faith, poor and working-class, of all gender identities and sexual orientations——into a fusion movement aimed at dismantling unjust systems that exploit poor communities and communities of color and transforming our economy into one that values all humanity. The PPC will host a rally on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at noon at the Olympia State Capitol. To learn more about the rally and the purpose, principles, and aims, go to https://www.washingtonppc.org/
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Seattle/King County Clinic February 15-18, 2024
Seattle/King County Clinic returns to Seattle Center February 15-18, 2024, offering free dental, vision, and medical care to people in need. Services are extensive and include dental fillings and extractions, eye examinations and prescription eyeglasses, physical exams, behavioral healthcare, social work, immunizations, laboratory tests, mammograms, ultrasounds, x-rays and much more. Find out more at https://seattlecenter.org/skcclinic/
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