Monthly News & Updates

January 2025

SPECIAL FEATURE

LaVell Rucker Named Missouri School Social Worker of the Year

December 20, 2024

By Ebony Duncan, LMSW, President of SSWAM & Cassie E. Brown, LCSW, NASW-MO Executive Director

The Missouri School Social Worker of the Year Award recognizes one current School Social Work Association of Missouri (SSWAM) member in good standing who demonstrates outstanding contributions in her/his service to students and their families, shows initiative in providing services, and contributes to a positive image for the school social work profession. 

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Transitions at NASW-MO: Chapter Welcomes Interim ED, Says Good-bye to Cassie E. Brown

NASW-MO’s current Executive Director, Cassie E. Brown, will be transitioning out of her role as Executive Director on January 8, 2025. NASW-MO will welcome as Interim ED, Denise Rathman, MSW, the current Executive Director of NASW-Iowa. Denise has served as ED of NASW-IA for over a decade and brings a wealth of advocacy, lobbying, macro social work, and public policy experience to her role with NASW-MO.

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NASW-MO Prepares For 2025 Legislative Session

By Cassie E. Brown, MSW and NASW-MO’s Lobbying Team

The 2025 Missouri legislative session, which begins on January 8, is now less than three weeks away. NASW-MO Chapter will continue a robust advocacy agenda aimed at protecting the social work profession as well as supporting the communities we serve.  


Over the fall, NASW-MO Chapter held a series of advocacy trainings and virtual town halls to provide information about the upcoming session as well as hear from members about the issues that matter most. I want to say thank you to everyone who participated! Your voice makes our association's work stronger.  


We hope this article will provide a helpful overview of the upcoming session as well as NASW-MO Chapter's advocacy agenda.  

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Leaders Needed: Opportunities to Serve NASW-MO!

NASW-MO is seeing two passionate and outgoing Chapter members to take on the roles of Nominations Committee chairperson and Ethics Committee chairperson.  


The Nominations Committee is tasked with identifying NASW-MO members across the state to run for office on the Chapter Board of Directors. The committee works to identify members representative of the state geographically, as well as culturally. Work with this committee is approximately January-April with elections in late spring. 



The Chapter Ethics Committee (CEC) provides ethics education and training to chapter members and others in their local community, consistent with the CEC charge and practices of the NASW Office of Ethics and Professional Review (OEPR). The CEC Chairperson would host virtual quarterly meetings. The CEC is responsible for assisting the OEPR in addressing complaints filed against members in accordance with the Association’s policy on professional review. The CEC assists the OEPR in convening local mediations and panels to conduct hearings, when necessary. The Chair serves a one-year term, for no more than 3 consecutive years. 


If interested in either position, please contact 

chapter.naswmo@socialworkers.org, and someone will reach out to you. Thank you!

Diversity and Awareness Observances for January

Click on the link for more information about ways to celebrate or observe the month, day, or week! 


National Poverty in America Awareness Month


Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 20)


Also please note:


The Missouri General

Assembly will begin session on January 8, 2025.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Opportunities for the NASW-MO Board. Students and Professionals are needed! Submit soon…

The NASW-MO is seeking Board Member nominations. Visit Opportunities for the NASW-MO Board (socialworkers.org).


SAVE THE DATE!


NASW-MO Virtual Conference March 7-8, 2025


Did you miss the deadline and would still like to present at the virtual conference? Click here to submit a proposal.


Announcing our Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD): March 4th!


2025 Spring and Summer Webinar Series Call for Presenters


Are you seeking to advertise your social work business? Check out NASW-MO's new opportunities and rates!


Save the date! NASW National Conference! June 15-19, CHICAGO! (close to home!)


Check out NASW-MO's CEU Central

Your Inspiration for the Month 

This New Year’s Inspiration of the Month is “A House Called Tomorrow” by Alberto Ríos. This is the poem I searched for so hard. We social workers need to be inspired by artists who see clearly the things we sometimes get lost in the struggles we face daily. Read this poem this New Year’s and remind yourself of light in the darkness. Of hope and progress. Of things that cannot be overcome and the reasons you chose to serve others… This is a poem worth printing and putting by your desk, folks. Some of these lines felt like they were written for my heart. I hope they speak to you, too.

NASW-MO thanks our Fall Conference Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Ethically Speaking

The Intersection of Social Work and Artificial Intelligence

By: Laura Ribeiro, MSW, LCSW, RPT

With artificial intelligence (AI) advancing on a moment-by-moment basis, it is impossible to keep up with its ever-changing landscape. As social workers, we consider how environmental factors impact our clients and so today we must also consider the immeasurable impact of AI on our clients and the field of social work as a whole. With our call to ethically provide services to the most vulnerable in our midst, the intersection of AI and social work practice must be at the forefront of our minds.

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NASW-MO Student Lounge

Free: Upcoming National Student Event Series: 

Using Social Work Case Vignettes to Prepare for Your Licensing Exam


Thursday, January 16, 2025

6:00 - 7:30 pm ET


Free for all to attend: Register for "Using Social Work Case Vignettes to Prepare for Your Licensing Exam"

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From the Executive Director’s Desk 

Cassie E. Brown MSW, LCSW 

Chapter Executive Director

It is with a heavy heart that I share that I am leaving my position as Executive Director of NASW-MO. My last day will be January 8th, 2025.



I could not have had a greater privilege than to have served social workers and those we support in Missouri. Whether traveling to far corners of the state to share space with professionals and social work students or advocating in Jefferson City for Missouri’s vulnerable populations, this has been challenging and gratifying work. I can look back proudly on the work we have accomplished together as an Association. But there is more ahead.

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