October 2018
SOCIAL WORKERS LEADING FOR JUSTICE
Hello,

I   hope you had a great summer and are having a productive start to the fall season. This September we offered a variety of continuing education programs to help you meet your licensing needs by the September 30 deadline - and to keep you up to date on key topics. We are always looking for more great programs to bring to you so if you have ideas you’d like to share, please reach out! As we look forward to the rest of the fall there is much exciting work ahead.

I want to remind you that the General Election is Tuesday, November 6th. If you are not registered to vote or have recently moved and need to update your address, you can do so here (deadline is October 17th!) . If you will be away on Nov. 6th and need to request an absentee ballot, use this form . View our slate of NASW-MA PACE-endorsed candidates below.

Speaking of PACE and elections, we have really great gear available for purchase in our online store. Order by October 5th to receive in time to wear to the polls in November!

Additionally, we've extended the deadline to submit nominations for our annual NASW-MA Awards. Nominate social workers, allies, and organizations here by October 26.

Are you a school social worker? Our annual School Social Work Conference is happening on Friday, November 16th! Join us as we explore "Fear and Safety in Schools: The Role of Mental Health Staff."

Our office will be closed on Monday, October 8th in observance of Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Happy Fall!

Rebekah
Rebekah Gewirtz
Executive Director
rgewirtz.naswma@socialworkers.org
617-227-9635 x116
IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Membership Hub
  • Continuing Education & Events
  • Social Work Action Center
  • Private Practice
  • Notes from the Field
  • Licensing Test Prep
  • National News
MEMBERSHIP HUB
Deadline Extended! Submit Your Nominations for NASW-MA Awards by Friday, October 26
Recognize social work colleagues and allied professionals and organizations for their commitment to social justice and social work values. Nominations are open for the following awards:
Deadline is Friday, October 26!
Social Work Networking Nights are Back!
Join friends and colleagues at one of our upcoming Social Work Networking Nights!

  • NORTHAMPTON: October 10, 5:30–8:30 pm, Packard's Bar Northampton, 14 Masonic St., Northampton

  • BRIGHTON (this event exclusively for retired or retiring social workers): October 17, 6:00–8:00 pm, Harry’s Bar & Grill, 1430 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton
Students! Become an NASW-MA Student Ambassador
NASW recognizes the value student members play in the future success of the Social Work profession. Student Ambassadors will generate recognition of their Social Work program, network with other social work students and professionals, and provide relevant NASW information to fellow students such as Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD), facts about licensing, and ways to get involved to promote the profession. 1-2 NASW-MA Student Members will be selected from each school of Social Work in Massachusetts, with term from now to May 2019. Time Commitment is up to 4 hours each month plus 2 NASW volunteer opportunities. To learn more, please contact Laura Gallant, Student Ambassador Coordinator: lgallant.naswma@socialworkers.org .
Introducing myNASW: A New Member Benefit!
Need answers? Want help? Introducing a new member benefit! MyNASW Community—a members-only online space—is your go-to for all things social work: mynasw.socialworkers.org

  • Post questions and participate in discussions specific to your specialty or practice setting
  • Search for and connect with your peers via the member directory
  • Browse documents and digital resources shared by fellow members
In Your Mailbox: Social Work Voice
You should've already received the September/October issue of Social Work Voice, including:

  • Power to the Polls: Your Voting Guide is Here
  • New Automatic Voter Registration Law Lifts up Marginalized Populations
  • Ask the Experts: What Makes a Social Work Leader?
  • Walk and Talk Therapy: Moving Toward Wholeness
  • Fall Conference Line-up
  • ...and more!
Have an upcoming event, job opening, or other opportunity to share with the social work community? Advertise with us! All ads appear on our website and are published in Social Work Voice. The ad deadline for the upcoming November/December issue is October 26. Email Jamie Klufts for more information.
CONTINUING EDUCATION & EVENTS
Central MA
Central Region Book Club:
"A Search for Purple Cows: A True Story of Hope"
2.5 CEUs Available!
Join the Central Regional Council for their upcoming book club meeting, discussing "A Search for Purple Cows: A True Story of Hope" with the author, Susan Call.

Wendnesday, October, 3, 2018
5:45 - 8:15 pm
Anna Maria College, Zecco Center for Performing Arts, Jacques Conference Room, Paxton

Discussant: Susan Call , author of "A Search for Purple Cows"
Greater Boston
YES on 3 Phone Bank - Boston
Join NASW-MA for a phone bank to defend transgender equality. This November, MA voters will decide the fate of trans rights at the polls. We must educate voters and help them defend trans rights by voting YES on question 3 this November. Haven't done a phone bank before? No worries! We will begin with a brief training and experienced NASW-MA staff will be there to assist you. All are welcome to attend! Email Sophie to RSVP: shansen.naswma@socialworkers.org.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018
6:00 - 8:30 pm
NASW-MA Offices, 11 Beacon St., Suite 510, Boston
Pioneer Valley
Social Work Networking Night - Northampton
Join us for a social worker networking night in Northampton! All NASW member, social workers, and social work students are welcome. This event is sponsored by High Watch Recovery.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018
5:30 - 8:30 pm
Packard's Bar Northampton, 14 Masonic Street, Northampton
Greater Boston
Retired & Retiring Social Workers Networking Night - Brighton
Are you a retired social worker? Thinking about or in the process of transitioning to retirement? This networking event is for you! We hope that this social work networking event will lay the foundation for the formation of an entirely new shared interest group designed to address the needs and concerns of retired and retiring social workers. No RSVP required. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, October 17, 2018
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Harry's Bar & Grill, 1430 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton
Greater Boston
"What a Difference a DA Makes" at Suffolk University
What a Difference a DA Makes is a first-of-its-kind public education campaign in Massachusetts. Powered by a network of partner organizations, this campaign seeks to highlight the key role that the Commonwealth’s district attorneys play in determining the effectiveness and fairness of the criminal legal system – and to inform and educate Massachusetts residents so they are more aware and engaged in their local district attorney elections.

Monday, October 29, 2018
12:15 - 1:30 pm
Poetry Center, Sawyer Library, Suffolk University, Boston
Greater Boston
Misery or Mastery: Documenting Medical Necessity
3 CEUs Available!
Learn the formula to quickly write effective treatment plans and progress notes that document medical necessity. As a result authorizations are easy, audits are less threatening, HIPAA is honored, and your good clinical work is represented with integrity. This program is sponsored by Therapy Matcher.

Friday, November 2, 2018
9:30 am - 12:45 pm
Parish of St. Michael, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford

Speaker: Beth Rontal, LICSW, the "Documentation Wizard"
Special discount for Therapy Matcher members!
Contact Barbara Burka for a discount code.
CANCELLED - NASW Fall Film Festival: Strong Island
This event, originally schedule for November 4, 2018, has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Central MA
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK CONFERENCE:
"Fear and Safety in Schools: The Role of Mental Health Staff"
5.5 CEUs Available!
The Annual School Social Work Conference will explore how fear impacts the safety of our schools and what social workers and counselors can do to support students, staff, families, and themselves. Lunch will be provided. 

Friday, November 16, 2018
8:45 am - 3:30 pm
Hogan Center, Holy Cross College, Worcester
Keynote: James McCauley, LICSW, Associate Director and Co-founder, Riverside Trauma Center, "Out of Harm’s Way: Restoring Safety, Predictability, and Control to our School Communities"

In this keynote address we will explore what science teaches us about resilience and how we can change our brains to manage real and imagined fears. We will explore specific strategies for overcoming adversity and maximizing our potential. We will also discuss why we need to be strong advocates and role models for self-care in our school communities
 
Morning Workshops:
  • Session 1: “Sharing Our Stories: Discussion and Consultation on Fear and Safety in Our Own School(s)” with Nanci Ginty Butler, LICSW, Riverside Trauma Center
  • Session 2: "How School Social Workers Can Best Support Students in Safely Navigating Social Media" with Jacquelyn Lamont, Director of Youth Safety and Outreach, Suffolk District Attorney’s Office
  • Session 3: “Effective Interventions with Students: Dealing with Parental or Guardian Substance Use” with Karen Welling, LICSW, Early Childhood Trauma Specialist

Afternoon Workshops:
  • Session 4: "Self-care for School Social Workers"
  • Session 5: "Supporting Immigrant Students in Schools – A Panel Discussion"
  • Session 6: “Confronting Ethical Challenges in School Social Work Practice: The Conflicts and Challenges” with Stephen O’Neill, LICSW, BCD, JD, and Seth Kleinman, LICSW
SOCIAL WORK ACTION CENTER
Have you made a plan to vote in the General Elections on November 6th? PACE, our Chapter PAC, is seeking help on the campaign trail for the following candidates! If you're interested in helping them get elected by canvassing or phone banking , learn more here . To join PACE, email the Chair, Alison at alifreeman89@gmail.com .
NASW-MA's Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) Endorsements of Candidates With Competitive General Elections
Statewide

Senate

House of Representatives
*Asterisk denotes incumbent

For a full list of endorsements, including primary winners, visit: www.facebook.com/naswmapace
Upholding Protections for Transgender Individuals at the Ballot this November: Vote YES on 3!
Join NASW-MA and stand with transgender individuals on Nov. 6 (general election day) by voting YES on Question 3! A "yes" vote is a vote to uphold a Massachusetts law enacted in 2016 that protects transgender people from discrimination in public spaces, like restaurants, shops, and doctors’ offices. 

Join fellow social workers and phone bank to talk to Massachusetts voter on Wednesday, October 11th 6:00p-8:30pm. RSVP on Facebook! No prior experience necessary.
 
Want to get involved? Help the campaign to have thousands of conversations with voters about what’s at stake—dignity and respect for our transgender neighbors.
Learn how you can make calls from home or knock doors by clicking here or emailing shansen.naswma@socialworkers.org .
What Legislative Wins Do You Want to See?

While we have many legislative accomplishments and momentum to be proud of from this last state legislative session, there is more work to do. We are already think ing about the next two-year legislative session that runs from January 2019 to July 2020.

Deadline extended to October 10th!

Want to help set NASW-MA's legislative agenda for 2019 - 2020? Email Mary to join the Chapter's Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC).
Bring Your Voice to the State House...Provide Testimony!
Our Chapter testifies at the State House in support or opposition of various bills, often those that are on our legislative agenda or at the request of coalition partners. We encourage social workers in all settings to come to hearings and make their voice heard on issues that make a difference in the social work profession and the clients and communities we serve.

To this end, we are preparing for the next session by creating a Testimony Speaker Bureau of social workers who are experts in a variety of areas, to be mobilized when a bill needs the voice of social workers.
 
Logistics:
  • Participate in a brief (15-30 minute) webinar, sometime in the fall, regarding public hearings and how to prepare oral and submit written testimony.
  • Sophie will reach out to you requesting testimony throughout the two-year session (Jan 2019-July 2020) as opportunities arise. Sometimes we are only given a few days notice.
  • This is an on-call volunteer position and there is no requirement to attend a hearing if it does not work with your schedule.
  • All hearings are located at the State House in Boston, typically Monday-Thursday during business hours (9a-5p).

Want to share your expertise by giving testimony? Please fill out this form.
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Therapy Matcher Fall Special - Join Today!
Receive referrals for your private practice! Join Therapy Matcher in October or November to enjoy membership through June 30th. Receive referrals that match your insurance, location, schedule, and specialties and be part of a network of hundreds of practicing LICSWs. Available to new members only, receive up to 9 months for a heavily discounted rate.
Reimbursement Alerts
Two very important practice alerts that clinical social workers should be aware of that will affect reimbursement.

  1. Using 90837 in Private Practice – This document discusses the use of 90837 and how one may avoid an overpayment request when using this code: http://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=hteD7HthW4A=&portalid=0  
  2. New ICD-10-CM Code Changes for Clinical Social Workers – This document informs clinical social workers of new diagnostic codes that will become effective October 1, 2018: http://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=BwvF1Og9XGE=&portalid=0  

Information provided by Mirean Coleman, NASW Clinical Manager: Mcoleman.nasw@socialworkers.org.
Valuable Member Benefit: Join the NASW-MA Private Practice Google Group
The Private Practice Google Group is an exclusive member benefit powered by social work colleagues from across the state and NASW-MA. By signing up you'll receive timely updates from your colleagues about ethics, billing and insurance, and other critical private practice issues. You can also pose your own questions to the group to crowd source answers from colleagues. NASW-MA also uses this platform to send important clinical alerts to members.

Sign up to join the group by sending an email to chapter.naswma@socialworkers.org with "Join Google Group" in the subject line.
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
Help with Loan Forgiveness and Social Workers 
Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) is promoting one-time funding that can assist social workers seeking education loan forgiveness. The temporary funding acts as a patch for some who qualify for loan forgiveness under a ten-year plan that covers some workers if they have paid on their loans over the past ten years. As explained by Congressman Davis’s office: a recent funding bill allowed up to $500 million in loan forgiveness for the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The funds are to provide Public Service Loan Forgiveness for public servants who were denied Public Service Loan Forgiveness solely because they were in the wrong federal student loan payment plan. The funds go out on a first-come-first-served basis. Here is an overview of the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness from the website of the Department of Education ( https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service/temporary-expanded-public-service-loan-forgiveness#how-qualify)

Public servants must meet all of requirements for Public Service Loan Forgiveness except that they made payments on an ineligible payment plan. To qualify, public servants must have:
  • Submitted an application for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and had that application denied only because some or all of the payments were not made under a qualifying repayment plan;
  • Had at least 10 years of full-time employment certified by a qualifying employer and approved by FedLoan Servicing, the federal loan servicer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program;
  • Made 120 qualifying payments under the new requirements for the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program while working full-time for a qualifying employer or employers; and
  • Be Direct Loan borrowers (borrowers with loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program are not eligible for the opportunity).
Save the Date: October 17 Behavioral Health Virtual Job Fair Features Hundreds of Jobs
Attention NASW-MA members! Are you looking for a new career? Join the Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Behavioral Health Virtual Job Fair on October 17 , from 6:45 to 10:15 PM ET! Network with employers from across the country hiring professionals just like you. Register now: http://bit.ly/BHVJF
Open Request Period for Autism Services Waiver Program
The Autism Division of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) runs a program for low-income children with autism called the Autism Services Waiver Program . This program serves children under the age of 9 who meet both the clinical and financial eligibility that includes having/obtaining MassHealth Standard Insurance. The Autism Division will accept new application requests for families interested in this program between the dates of October 17, 2018 and October 31, 2018 . Applications must be postmarked or emailed from a parent/guardian no earlier than October 17, 2018 and no later than October 31, 2018.
 
Contact the Autism Division at AutismDivision@state.ma.us   or your local Autism Support Center if you have any questions about this application process.            
The Social Work Assistance Network (SWAN) - A Resource for You!
SWAN is a free, confidential colleague assistance program sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of NASW. SWAN assists social workers with consultation regarding personal and professional issues, which may be having an impact on their ability to practice in an optimal manner. Learn more about this service and member benefit here .
LICENSING TEST PREP
Licensing Test Prep Happening in Your Neck of the Woods!
NASW-MA Licensing Test Prep courses include:
  • FREE Social Work ASWB Exam Guide
  • Access to online ASWB exam guide portal
  • Full-day Test Prep course (9 am - 4 pm)

Upcoming exam dates and locations:
  • November 2 | Brockton
  • December 8 | Springfield
Save your spot today!
NATIONAL NEWS
New CE Tracker Released!
Confidently track your social worker licensing renewal requirements with CE Tracker—the online tool that tells you exactly what you need to renew your license and tracks your progress along the way. This online platform allows you to track your license renewal requirements, completed CE’s, and provides suggested content to obtain the continuing education you nee d. Learn more at socialworkers.org/cetracker
Save the Date! NASW Virtual Conference
Mark your calendars for the NASW 2018 Virtual Conference, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 14 & 15. This two-day program will address the opioid crisis from a social work perspective, feature both plenary and breakout sessions, and offer CE credits. This event will be live-streamed. Information will be on the NASW website socialworkers.org .