*Please unblock images to view full content of email* | | Volume three, Issue two, March 2025 | | |
Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant.
There will always be someone out there that needs what you have to give. ~Anonymous~
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Message from the Division Director
We are looking forward to the Western Division Awards Breakfast on April 9, 2025, being held at Niagara University from 8:30 to noon. You should have gotten the flyer by now. I will put the details in the later part of this newsletter. It would be great to see you there!
Please consider sending me your bio for the upcoming editions of the newsletter to introduce yourself to all our wonderful members.
As always, please let us know what’s on your mind regarding the Division and how we can work together to meet your needs. You can always reach me at nasw-nyswestern@gmail.com.
Thanks for all you do,
Elaine
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WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW MEMBERS!!
WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE JOINED OUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE WESTERN DIVISION.
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Virtual CEU events
March
White People's Stake in Racial Justice: Mutual Interest as a Framework for Social Work Practice
🗣 Presenter: Josie Diebold
📅 Date & Time: March 14, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
This training is being offered free to Western Division NASW-NYS members as a thank-you from the Steering Committee. You should have received an email with registration details—please let me know if you didn’t get it!
April
Health, Disability, and Justice: Intersections and Opportunities for Social Workers
🗣 Presenter: Mike Clarkson-Hendrix
📅 Date & Time: April 9, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
This training will be presented live at the Awards Breakfast and available online.
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Schedule of upcoming division meetings.
These are all virtual. Just go to the NASW-NYS website to register and you will be able to log in to the meeting. Hope to see you at any of these meetings that you are able to attend.
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Capitol Action Day was Feb. 11, 2025, in Albany, NY at the Capitol and Legislative Office Building. The Western Division hired a bus and took 23 social work students, 3 faculty members, a steering committee member, Cheryl Mill, and me to meet with our legislators. The meetings went very well, and we were able to address the Chapter’s Legislative Priorities with members of the legislature.
The Chapter's Legislative Priorities for 2025 include:
- Address Inequities in Social Work Salaries, click below to read the Chapter's position paper
- Expand Loan Forgiveness Programs for Social Workers Across the State, click below to read the Chapter's position paper.
- Improve the Ratio of Students to Social Workers in Schools & Mental Health Services for School Aged Children, click the link below to read the Chapter's position paper.
- Social Work Licensure Requirements, click the link below to read the bill text.
You can still participate in Action Alerts sent by the Chapter in emails that contain a drafted letter, which you can add to, and send to your State Senator & Assembly Representative, or you can call, write, email, or visit in person at their local offices or call, write, or email their offices in Albany. If you have questions or need assistance on any of this, you can contact our policy representative, Amanda Pressly, at pressly.naswnys@socialworkers.org
| | Social Work Awards Breakfast | | Here is the information on the event. You should have already received the flyer with the following information. Please let me know if you need assistance registering for the breakfast. Looking forward to seeing you there!! | | |
This event will be held in a hybrid format!
Join us in person at Niagara University or online.
Awards:
- Student of the Year awards from all five local social work programs
- Community Social Worker of the Year award
CEU Presentation:
Health, Mental Health, and Disability: Anti-Oppressive Opportunities for Social Workers
Presented by:
Michael Clarkson-Hendrix, PhD, LCSW-R
Chair of the Fredonia University Department of Social Work
Program:
8:30 AM: Registration and Networking
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Breakfast and CEU Presentation
10:30 AM: Coffee Break
10:45 AM: Awards Ceremony
11:45 AM: Closing Remarks
NASW-NYS/NYC Member - $ 20.00
NASW-NYS/NYC Member (Includes CEU) - $ 35.00
Non-Member - $ 25.00
Non-Member (Includes CEU) - $ 45.00
NASW Other Chapter Member - $ 25.00
NASW Other Chapter Member (Includes CEU) - $ 45.00
NASW-NYS/NYC Member: Table sponsorship (seats 6) - $ 185.00
Non-Member: Table sponsorship (seats 6) - $ 245.00
Awardees: Free
Table Fee:
Member Table: $185
Non-Member Table: $245
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That’s all for now. Stay warm and take care!
Sincerely,
Elaine Rinfrette, PhD, LCSW-R, NASW-NYS Western Division Director
Senior Steering Committee Members: Sylvia Gold, LCSW-R, Cheryl Eberl, LCSW-R, Cheryl Mills, LCSW-R, Jesse Grossman, LCSW-R, BCDCSW
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Monthly Membership Meeting
Join us for our Monthly Membership meetings on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:00 - 7:30pm. They are virtual and you can attend by registering at the link below. We hope to see you there!
Click here to register for an upcoming meeting
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Monthly Clinical Meeting
Join us for our Monthly Clinical meetings on the third Monday of each month from 6:00 - 7:30pm. It is virtual and you can attend by registering at the link below. You can present a case for feedback from other social workers with years of experience in various aspects of practice, or you can come to listen to other presenters and offer your input on the case. Any other clinical information is welcomed.
Click here to register for an upcoming meeting
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The Western Division invites you to join a resource list of Social Workers in the region! This resource list will include options to self-identify with various identities/groups that YOU are a member of or self-identify as. This list will be published to the NASW-NYS Western Division webpage, and used by clients, social workers, and other providers to link clients to social workers whom they will feel most comfortable with and understood by. This survey is entirely voluntary and all questions have a “Prefer Not to Answer” option. Thank you for all that you do to make our community stronger, kinder, and more inclusive! | |
Special Interest Groups (SIG) are member led networks of social workers across New York State and beyond. SIGs connect like-minded social workers on topics, practice areas, client populations, and other common interests for the purpose of sharing resources, and further developing support systems through the NYS Chapter. Current Special Interest Groups include:
- Strengthening Rural Social Workers
- Senior and Retired Social Workers Peer Support
- Social Workers Working With Older Adults
- One Team Veterans Book Club
- Private Practice Work Group
Click here to learn more about getting involved with a Special Interest Group. Want to create one of your own? Contact us at info.naswnys@socialworkers.org
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Elaine Rinfrette, RN, PhD, LCSW-R
Western Division Director
Elaine's career began as an RN upon graduation from the University of Rhode Island. After eleven years of nursing, she obtained her MSW from Boston University. Following this, Elaine worked for 20 years in outpatient mental health treatment where she developed her interests in trauma, self -care, and co-occurring disorders. Eventually she wanted to teach, so she completed her PhD in social work from the State University of New York Buffalo. Finally, Elaine became an associate professor in the social work department at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where she served as faculty, MSW program director for five years, and department chair for three years. She retired in May 2022 after eleven years on the faculty.
Elaine is married with two adult sons. She has two rescue cats, one dog, and lives in a rural area outside of Buffalo. She enjoys travel, playing bridge, doing some volunteer work, and socializing with her wonderful friends.
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