December 2019
SOCIAL WORKERS LEADING FOR JUSTICE
Hello,

I can hardly believe it's already December. To kick off the month, another one of our priority bills, which would limit insurance company ghost networks, has become law! See social work action center below for a brief summary of the overall child health bill and what the ghost network component may mean for you in your practice.

Truly, what a year 2019 has been! In the January/February issue of Social Work Voice we'll unveil our 2019 Annual Report and you'll get to see our proudest highlights. I want to take this opportunity as we head into the holidays to express my gratitude. Each day, you show up in your homes, places of work, and communities, to do the work on the front lines throughout our commonwealth. We are so much stronger because of your commitment to social work, clients and communities, and to NASW-MA.

We have seen amazing social workers taking action all across the state this year. With that, I want to draw your attention to this incredible op-ed co-authored by NASW-MA member Liz Speakman and social worker Sue Chandler. These two experts lent their powerful voices to our efforts to advance the ROE Act, which would expand access to abortion care in our state.

We have much to look forward to in 2020: the MLK Forum on Racial Justice which will be in January, LEAD 2020, a special spring conference on social work activism, Symposium 2020: Voices of Empowerment and Social Justice (participant registration is now OPEN!), continued advocacy and legislative wins, and much more. We can't wait to share in these events and experiences with you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you,

Rebekah
Rebekah Gewirtz
Executive Director
IN THIS ISSUE:
  • Membership Hub
  • Continuing Education & Events
  • Symposium 2020
  • Social Work Action Center
  • Private Practice
  • Notes from the Field
  • Licensing Test Prep
  • National News
MEMBERSHIP HUB
Social Work Month 2020: Social Workers - Generations Strong
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.

Learn more about this year's theme here.
Give the Gift of NASW Membership this Holiday Season!
Do you know a friend, family member, or colleague who is not a member of NASW but should be? NASW-MA membership makes a great gift, especially for social work students! For just $60/year, students get access to the benefits you know and love. Help us spread the word!

For more information, visit https://www.naswma.org/page/GiftMembership or contact Noel Schutz, LCSW, Membership and Advocacy Manager.
It's not too Early to Plan for your Field Placement... NASW-MA has Internship Opportunities!
NASW-MA is seeking social work interns for this winter, summer and the 2020-2021 academic year. Interns at NASW-MA have the opportunity to work alongside Chapter staff and statewide partners, gaining professional experience and networking opportunities. We provide weekly supervision and activities as required by Schools of Social Work to meet graduation requirements. 

If you have any questions about our internship program, please contact Noel Schutz, LCSW Membership and Advocacy Manager. You can also check out our website for more information.
NASW-MA Membership is Statewide
As the largest professional social work organization in the state, we are proud to have members from every part of the Commonwealth. See how many NASW-MA members live in your region and connect with them through NASW!

Be in touch with:
  • Noel Schutz, Membership and Advocacy Manager
  • Beth Morrison, Northeast Regional Coordinator
  • Jessica O'Neill, Central Regional Coordinator
  • Jeff Schrenzel, Berkshire and Pioneer Valley Regional Coordinator
  • Melissa Dawson, Southeast Regional Coordinator (currently on maternity leave until Jan 2020), be in touch with Noel Schutz between now and Jan!
In Your Mailbox: Social Work Voice
In November, you received the November/December issue of Social Work Voice . Highlights from this issue include:

  • Supervised Consumption Sites Prevent Overdose Deaths and Increase Access to Treatment
  • Into the Weeds: Tackling Inequities in Marijuana Legalization
  • Leading on Racial Justice: Shared Language to Advance Our Work
  • We Limited Clawbacks... Now What? Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
  • ...and much 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 January/February issue, which goes to over 22,000 social workers in MA, is January 10. Email Jamie Klufts for more information.
SYMPOSIUM 2020
Registration is Now OPEN!

NASW-MA's 16th Biennial Social Work Symposium
Voices of Empowerment and Social Justice
April 30 & May 1, 2020
The Largest Two-Day Gathering of Social Workers in New England

Our Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joy DeGruy , author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing. Dr. DeGruy’s research focuses on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence and American chattel slavery.

Early-bird Registration for Symposium 2020: Voices of Empowerment and Social Justice , including pre-symposium intensives and the exciting evening intensive, is now open until March 10, 2020. 

Registration Instructions:
  • Click Here to Register. But before you do, click here to download the preliminary Program Book with details on each workshop and each component of Symposium 2020. Please note: we are strongly encouraging on-line registration this year! It is much simpler and easier through our new conference website.
  • Enter your name and confirm your registration type (i.e., member, nonmember, student, etc.)
  • Select admission type (Both Days, Thursday only, or Friday only)
  • If you would like to attend the Awards event and/or the Networking night, too, you will be able to select those events within your admission on the next page.
  • If you would only like to attend the Awards Night or the Networking Night you can do that on the main registration page.
  • FYI: All agencies must select admission type for agencies to receive the NASW member rate for Symposium 
  • Select Pre-symposium Intensives and Evening Intensive (if applicable - additional fees apply)
  • Submit with one simple click

Earn up to 15.5 CEUs!

At Symposium 2020, we will offer a series of workshops to encourage the creative spark within us and to share our social work values and knowledge with each other. By participating in Symposium 2020, you will be joining over 100 presenters, over 800 social work colleagues, and 60+ exhibitors over two days at the premier social work event in New England.

Visit the Symposium 2020 conference website for more information and to register today! 

For questions about anything related to Symposium 2020, please email symposium.naswma@socialworkers.org . You are also always welcome to call our office at 617-227-9635 and we'd be happy to talk with you more.
Student Poster Session at Symposium 2020 Networking Night
Do you have a micro, mezzo, or macro project, topic, or paper you have already written? Are you working on a project or paper (practice or research) for your internship or a class? If yes, this is your opportunity to spotlight your work!

Application Deadline for Student Poster Session Submissions:
February 11, 2020
BSW, MSW, and DSW/PhD students are welcome to apply
Read the submission guidelines here and complete the application form via the link below.


Networking Night @Symposium and Student Poster Session
Thursday, April 30, 2020
5:30 – 8:30 pm | Judging begins at 6:00 pm
Framingham Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center
 
Receive Recognition for Your Work!
Awards, Prizes, and Additional Recognition in Social Work Voice and E-Newsletter
 
SPONSOR, EXHIBITOR, ADVERTISER REGISTRATION OPEN!

For our Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers (SEA) and for members who work in agencies: Registration for SEAs is LIVE ! If you sign up to sponsor, exhibit, or advertise before December 10, 2019 you will be featured in the Jan/Feb issue of the Social Work Voice magazine that reaches all 22,000 licensed social workers in Massachusetts. Register today !

Do you think your agency would be interested in participating in Symposium 2020? Let us know by emailing us at Symposium.naswma@socialworkers.org .

For questions about anything related to Symposium 2020, please email symposium.naswma@socialworkers.org. You are also always welcome to call our office at 617-227-9635 and we'd be happy to talk with you more.
CONTINUING EDUCATION & EVENTS
Northeast
Preventing Professional Burnout
1 CEU Available!
Join Salem State University's Friends of the School of Social Work for their fall professional development workshop, " Preventing Professional Burnout " with Mary Byrne, PhD

December 2, 2019
5:30 pm - Social Hour
6:30 pm - CEU Presentation
Stonewood Tavern, 139 Lynnfield St., Peabody

One CEU is available for this event, for a registration fee of $25. We are also encouraging attendees to donate a new, unwrapped toy to benefit local children on the North Shore during the holidays.
Pioneer Valley
Contemporary Emotion Research and its Relevance for Clinical Practice
1.5 CEUs Available!
Join the Pioneer Valley Regional Council for “ Contemporary Emotion Research and its Relevance for Clinical Practice ” with Eva Hudlicka, PhD, MSW, LICSW, EH , Private Practice.

December, 12, 2019
7:30 - 9:00 pm
Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Conference Room A, Greenfield

As always, CE programs in Western MA are Free for NASW Members . Advance registration is not required.
Northeast
Northeast Region Holiday Party
Join the Northeast Regional Council for an NASW-MA member Holiday party! All NASW members welcome. Come connect and celebrate with colleagues.

December 18, 2019
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Warp and Weft, 197 Market St., Lowell

Questions? Contact NASW-MA's Northeast Region Coordinator, Beth Morrison: bethoshaffer@hotmail.com
Central MA
Central Region Book Club: In the Midst of Winter
2 CEUs Available!
Join the Central Region Book Club for a facilitated group discussion of the book, In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende. Barbara Driscoll de Alvarado, PhD, Associate Professor at Anna Maria College, will be our discussant.

Central Region Book Club: In the Midst of Winter
January 21, 2020
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Adcare Outpatient Services
95 Lincoln St.
Worcester

Registration, light refreshments, and networking will begin at 5:45 pm.
Greater Boston
Save the Date: Nursing Home Conference is June 11, 2020!
Save the date for NASW-MA's 38th Annual Nursing Home Conference!

June 11, 2020
Bentley University
Waltham

Call for Papers is now OPEN! Social workers in the field of nursing home social work can submit papers in advance of this important conference. Those papers that are selected will be shown at the conference. There is also a portion of the day's agenda dedicated to hearing from the authors of three selected papers.

Submit your paper to Samantha Thompson-Foster by April 1, 2020.

Additional information and conference registration will be available at naswma.org/events
Resources to You Need to Participate in Symposium 2020: Voices of Empowerment and Social Justice!
Need approval to attend Symposium 2020? Use our professional development approval letter to show the value and benefits you will receive during and after the conference. 

Click here for the template letter. And be in touch with us if you'd like to talk more about this. Email: symposium.naswma@socialworkers.org
SOCIAL WORK ACTION CENTER
Safe Communities Act Hearing - POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER
The hearing scheduled for 12/2/19 on the Safe Communities Act, which is an NASW-MA legislative priority, has been postponed. The Safe Communities Act ensures basic civil rights for migrant communities and prohibits state and local entities from aiding in immigration enforcement and deportation. View the fact sheet here .

Once we know the rescheduled date of the hearing we will let you know!

We're looking for social workers to provide in-person and/or written testimony in support of this legislation at the rescheduled hearing. Contact Noël if you'd like to testify. Can't attend the hearing but want to take action? Use our pre-drafted email template to contact your state legislators .

Be sure to sign up for our Legislative Alert Network to get legislative action alerts and news related to professional practice, social and economic justice and Beacon Hill delivered straight to your inbox.
Child Health and Wellness Bill signed into Law - NASW-MA Priority Ghost Network bill included!
We are thrilled another NASW-MA priority professional practice bill has been signed into law! The bill limiting insurance company ghost networks was included as part of the child health and wellness bill signed by Governor Baker on November 26, 2019.

Ghost Network language summary : Requires insurance companies to maintain accurate and accessible provider directories for health plans.The provision directs companies to make the directories available without requiring users to create a new online account or profile. The directory must be updated frequently to ensure the information is correct. Insurance companies must take steps to make the directories user-friendly for individuals with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Establishes a task force to develop recommendations to ensure the accurate electronic posting of directories headed by the Commissioner of Insurance.

In addition to the ghost networks component of the bill, NASW-MA is named on the commission within the bill to provide recommendations regarding the pediatric workforce.

Additional key provisions of the bill include:
  • Secures healthcare benefits for foster children until the age of 26, making it easier for this vulnerable population to access to MassHealth benefits. It codifies the practice for Massachusetts in the event of change on the federal level to the Affordable Care Act.
  • DCF will be required to create an annual report of Department’s performance.
  • Requires the Health Policy Council (HPC) to create an analysis of children with medical complexities in the Commonwealth
  • Creates Special Commission to examine the pediatric workforce (NASW-MA named member)
  • Creates Special Commission to study and make recommendations on the role of school based health centers

Be sure to sign up for our Legislative Alert Network to get legislative action alerts and news related to professional practice, social and economic justice and Beacon Hill delivered straight to your inbox.
Hands Off SNAP!
For the third time this year, the Trump administration is defying Congress to seriously undermine the SNAP program. If  the administration’s rule goes into effect, $4.5 billion will be cut from SNAP. But we can take action to stop this reckless action.

Submit a comment and tell the administration why any cut to SNAP is unacceptable at www.handoffSNAP.org .

Be sure to sign up for our Legislative Alert Network to get legislative action alerts and news related to professional practice, social justice and Beacon Hill delivered straight to your inbox.
Save the Date: LEAD is March 23, 2020!
We're thrilled to welcome 700 social work students and professionals to the State House again in 2020. This year, our NASW-MA Legislative Education and Advocacy Day or LEAD will take place on Monday, March 23, 2020.

March is Social Work Month and LEAD is a great way to celebrate the profession together with leaders in state government.

We are excited to announce our confirmed speakers so far:
  • House Speaker Robert DeLeo
  • Rep. Tami Gouveia, MSW
  • Senator Jo Comerford, MSW

Check our website for more speaker information as it becomes available.

Current and aspiring social workers will learn about the legislative process and be inspired to become advocates on behalf of the profession and the populations served by social workers. We look forward to advocating with you in March! Details and registration coming soon .

For more information, be in touch with Noel Schutz or Delaney Gagnon, Advocacy Coordinator.
Survey on Policy Opinions of Social Workers 
Calling all Massachusetts NASW Members! Your help is needed. An important survey on the policy opinions of social workers in Massachusetts is being conducted by our colleague in Alabama. Your feedback is extremely valuable to this research project.  To participate in this study, please follow the link below:
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Therapy Matcher Half-Year Special!
Receive referrals for your private practice! Referral volume is way up, and we are looking for additional clinicians to meet the need. 

Join Therapy Matcher in December or January to enjoy membership through June 30th. This is great opportunity to try Therapy Matcher for a reduced cost and see if it is a good fit for you and your practice . 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 6 months for a heavily discounted rate.

Learn more about Therapy Matcher here or contact Barbara Burka, Therapy Matcher Director: info@therapymatcher.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
Open Enrollment is Here!
Open Enrollment through the Massachusetts Health Connector is happening now through January 23, 2020.

Open Enrollment is the time of year when Massachusetts residents can enroll in or change health or dental plans for any reason. Free and low-cost options are available. Learn more here to help your clients navigate this process.
Important Licensing Renewal Information
In the past, all licenses came up for renewal on October 1 st in even years. From here on, your license will expire on your birthday, set from two years from your next birthday after October 1, 2018. Note that this could mean that your next renewal date will be significantly longer than two years from your last, depending on when your birth date falls.

The number of CEUs will remain the same for each licensee – 30 for LICSWs, 20 for LCSWs, and so on - no matter the length of time between renewals.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Training Requirement for Licensure
Chapter 260 is a state law that mandates Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault training requirements for social workers and other medical providers. 

The only course currently approved for this requirement is the online course developed by DPH. It is free of charge, and available at this link: https://chapter260training.org/courses/training/
 
However, we are working on possibly offering a course and hope to move that forward in the coming months. Stay tuned!

You can take the DPH course now or any time before your licensure renewal date. This is a one-time requirement, and will not need to be repeated for further renewal cycles.

The Board of Registration has recently approved the course for 2 social work CEUs.
Print out the certificate of completion and save with other CE records. It will not indicate anything about CEUs, but it will count that way.
CMS Releases New Rule Governing Arbitration Agreements within Long-Term Care Facilities 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently published a final rule that affects beneficiaries who seek or receive care in long-term care (LTC) facilities—defined by CMS as nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities that participate in Medicaid and Medicare, respectively. The rule, which took effect in most LTC facilities on September 16, 2019, addresses the controversial use of predispute binding arbitration agreements between LTC facilities and residents. Knowledge of this rule is essential not only for social workers employed by LTC facilities, but also for social workers who serve LTC facility residents, potential residents, and family caregivers in other capacities. More information: http://bit.ly/NASW-LTCarbitration19
The Social Work Assistance Network (SWAN) - An NASW-MA 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 Courses in Your Neighborhood
NASW-MA hosts Licensing Test Prep courses each month in various parts of the state. Upcoming courses include:
  • December 7 | Springfield
  • January 25 | Boston
  • February 28 | Bridgewater
  • March 28 | Springfield
  • April 18 | Worcester
  • June 13 | Northampton
  • September 19 | Worcester
  • November 20 | Bridgewater

Be in touch with Adam Linn for more information.
NATIONAL NEWS
NASW Press Black Friday Sale and CE Institute Year End Sale Starts November 26th - still one day left to take advantage of this!
Buy more to save more at 30% off regular price on select titles. To view and order NASW Press Black Friday Sale books online, visit the NASW Press website starting November 26. Discounts will be applied automatically prior to the final credit card charge on orders placed November 26 - December 3, 2019, midnight, when the sale ends. For phone orders, call 1-800-227-3590 during the sale to get the discount on the titles. For the latest information about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards, visit the NASW Press website . Questions? Email press@socialworkers.org or call 1.800.227.3590.

Members can also save 30% on CE Courses through the Social Work Online CE Institute using the code YEAREND19 at checkout November 26 - January 3, 2020, to save 30% on hundreds of CE courses in a variety of format - webinars, webcasts, podcasts, presentations, and more. This promotion excludes the NASW CE Tracker .
65 th Anniversary Membership Directory
Having partnered with Publishing Concepts Inc., NASW national will print a membership directory album for our 65th Anniversary in October 2020. The first step in this process a comprehensive member record update. From October 2019 to March 2020, members will be invited by postcard and email to contact the directory team and to update your member data. Up-to-date member profiles help to provide relevant resources and support based on your social work practice interests, and help to represent you better as we advocate on your behalf at the national, state, and local levels. If you choose to, you can be listed in the printed member directory, and you can submit a photo and/or a short essay. When you call to update your information, you can also tell the representative what information you would prefer to have excluded. There’s no cost to be featured in the directory, and if you choose to purchase the album, you can reserve your copy when you update your data. NASW’s last commemorative directory in 2015 featured thousands of member essays celebrating their social work history and experiences.

For more information on the directory, click here
NASW joins Mental Health for US
NASW has joined Mental Health for Us , a nonpartisan coalition of over 75 organizations seeking to elevate mental health and addictions as a focus during the 2020 elections and a priority for national action. For more information, you can access NASW’s press release about this collaboration .

The coalition is co-chaired by former U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) and former U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) both champions for mental health. The platform of the coalition is to ensure access to mental health and addictions services, including prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. Mental Health for US calls for substantial increases in federal funding for research on mental health conditions, suicide prevention, more effective treatments, system reforms, better tools and investment. The coalition is encouraging 2020 candidates to include mental health and addictions as priority areas of focus and wants to hear specific proposals and plans of action from candidates.