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THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® Social Work E-News
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Issue #27, February 12, 2003
EDITOR'S EYE
Dear Social Work Colleagues,
Welcome to Issue #27 of the Social Work E-News. This e-mail newsletter is brought to you by the publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine and other social work publications.
I want to welcome all new subscribers since the last edition. THE SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS now goes out to over 14,000 social workers, social work students, and others interested in the profession.
I recently attended a continuing education workshop on compassion fatigue. Also known as vicarious or secondary trauma, this condition occurs when professionals, including social workers, work with trauma survivors and begin to suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress themselves. I was surprised at the number of people at the workshop who did not know what compassion fatigue or vicarious trauma was. It also struck me that the overall number of people attending this particular workshop was small. Other workshops I've attended recently, more focused on therapeutic techniques and other skills, were much more highly attended. What does this say? I hoped that it wasn't an indication that social workers aren't interested in learning about how to take care of themselves, or that their agencies are not as willing to pay for them to attend something of this nature. The benefits of attending such a seminar can be tremendous, and I would encourage all social workers to seek out continuing education on both self care AND client care issues. THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER magazine has published two articles on the topic of vicarious trauma, including one in the current (Winter 2003) issue.
I will be attending the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting in Atlanta, GA later this month. If you are planning to attend, please stop by my booth in the exhibit hall (White Hat Communications/The New Social Worker-in booth #213) and say "hello!" I'd like to meet you!
Until next time,
Linda Grobman, ACSW, LSW
Publisher/Editor
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER®
http://www.socialworker.com
linda.grobman@paonline.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from a Reader in India
News
Web Sites of Interest
Calendar of Events
On Our Web Site
In Print
Job Corner
Newsletter Necessities
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LETTER FROM A READER IN INDIA
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Dear Editor:
In the Uttar Pradesh state of India, western belt is quite rich in terms of farm productivity, & vicinity to national capital makes the area more prone to advancing the life patterns.
In the era of proclaimed information technology, this area has seen a number of young loving couples being set ablaze merely for the crime that they wanted to marry each other.
One such henious act happened on 14th of January 2003 in Titro town of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh when a couple who married without parental consent were caught & burnt alive.
I urge international community to write Govt. of India, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, National Human Rights Commission & UNHCR for asking them that what the administration has done in such matters in a dozen such events during last some years.
Indian youth who believe in choosing their partners need world intervention. How shameful & how pathetic.
Rajat Panwar
rajatishi@rediffmail.com
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NEWS
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Editor's Note: March is Social Work Month in the U.S. What are you doing to celebrate?
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National Professional Social Work Month in March
The National Association of Social Workers' theme for the 2003 National Professional Social Work Month campaign is "The Power of Social Work: Preserving Rights and Strengthening Voices." As this year marks the 20th annual (official) celebration of the social work profession, NASW has chosen a theme that underscores the commitment social workers make in improving all communities through legislative advocacy, service delivery, research, and education. See http://www.socialworkers.org for more information about Social Work Month and to download a toolkit for promoting social work during the month of March.
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SENATOR MIKULSKI FIGHTS FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND SENIORS
Feb. 11, 2003-Washington, DC-U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) has introduced legislation to ensure that clinical social workers can receive Medicare reimbursements for mental health services they provide in skilled nursing facilities. The Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of 2003 (S. 343) will correct section 4432 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), which prevents clinical social workers from directly billing Medicare for the mental health services they provide nursing home residents.
"Clinical social workers are the primary providers of mental health care to the residents of nursing facilities," said Mikulski. "Health care is not just about pills and paperwork, it is about the people who make a difference in the everyday lives of their patients. This bill is about equal access to Medicare payments for the equal and important work done by clinical social workers. It is about providing our seniors with high quality, affordable mental health care."
Before the 1997 BBA provision, social workers billed Medicare Part B directly for mental health services provided in nursing facilities and were directly reimbursed by Medicare. Under the new Prospective Payment System, social workers may not be paid for services they provide. Psychologists and psychiatrists, who provide similar counseling, are exempt from the Prospective Payment System and therefore are able to separately bill Medicare for their services.
"We need to prevent inequities in our health care system, especially those that reduce the quality of care," added Senator Mikulski. "Without skilled clinical social workers, many nursing home residents may never get the counseling they need when faced with a life threatening illness or the loss of a loved one. This legislation will make sure that does not happen."
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Social Workers Raise Concerns about President Bush's State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - On Tuesday, January 28, 2003, President George W. Bush laid out his plan for addressing what he considers to be the greatest threats to world security and U.S. economic growth. In his second State of the Union address to the American public, he urged the nation to support military action against Iraq and identified several new programs that support his administration's "compassionate conservatism" agenda.
The National Association of Social Workers agrees with many of the sentiments expressed in Bush's State of the Union address. Human dignity, help for the nation's elderly and children, job creation, and world peace, are concepts NASW vigorously supports. However, NASW - representing nearly 150,000 professional social workers - has expressed concerns about the potential consequences of several of the President's recommendations.
In regard to war with Iraq, President Bush said in his address, "Our war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is power. Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. If this threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all action, all words, and all recriminations would come too late. If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him."
NASW's position is as follows: "The human, social, and economic costs of war are immense. Such action should be undertaken only under imminent and immediate threat to our country, and with the sanction of the United Nations and support of our allies. NASW supports U.N. sponsored multi-national efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. Whenever possible we strongly urge the non-violent resolution of international conflicts. We know that those who are already poor and powerless are further victimized in violent confrontations."
In regard to Medicare Reform, President Bush stated, "We must work toward a system in which all Americans have a good insurance policy, choose their own doctors, and seniors and low-income Americans receive the help they need. Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society. We must renew that commitment by giving seniors access to preventive medicine and new drugs that are transforming health care in America. All seniors should have the choice of a health care plan that provides prescription drugs."
NASW responded, "NASW works to protect the program integrity, financial stability, and entitlement status, as well as the prominent role social workers play in the Medicaid and Medicare programs, including long term care. We oppose forcing vulnerable seniors to put their health care needs in the hands of private HMOs, in order to have access to prescription drugs."
NASW also responded to President Bush's recommendations on faith-based human services and economic stimulus. To read more about NASW's responses to these issues, see https://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/2003/013103_response.asp
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BPD Summer 2003 Policy Fellow Award
(Editor's Note: We are repeating this article from the last issue-the deadline is approaching quickly. The 2002 Policy Fellow, Delene Porter, has written about her experience for THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER. See her article at http://www.socialworker.com/bpdfellow02.htm )
BPD invites BSW students who are currently enrolled or who have completed a policy course(s) to apply for the Summer 2003 Policy Fellow Award sponsored by the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) in collaboration with the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR).
This BSW Policy Fellow experience will provide the opportunity for an undergraduate social work student to spend the summer of 2003 in Washington D.C. to gain experience in the areas of political advocacy, lobbying, and participating in policy change efforts at the national level.
The selected Fellow is expected to spend 8 to 10 weeks in Washington D.C. under the capable supervision of the Executive Director of IASWR. It is anticipated that the Fellow will have office space at NASW Headquarters in downtown Washington D.C.
The stipend amount awarded is $5,000 which can be used any way the Fellow deems necessary to assist in covering expenses. The Fellow is responsible for arranging his/her own housing.
Students applying should have an interest in addressing social work issues through policy-change at the national level and have an understanding of the policy changing process. The student must be willing to perform administrative and research activities. Basic computer skills are expected, including the ability to do research on the Internet.
The applicant must submit a resume, a current copy of his/her transcript (unofficial), two letters of reference (only one from a social work faculty member), which specifically address the applicants' ability to work as an advocate on legislative policy.
In addition, the applicant must submit a statement of approximately 1,000 words that addresses the following questions:
a) Based on your area of interest and knowledge of the policy making process, how would you envision using your social work knowledge of policy to contribute to the passing of social work legislative issues? (e.g. the National Center for Social Work Research Act & see www.cswe.org)
b) What are some of your professional goals that would compliment this policy fellow experience?
c) What experiences do you feel you have had that prepared you for this opportunity?
The recipient of the Fellow Award must also commit to attend the BPD conference in Reno, Nevada to present his/her Washington experience on Saturday, October 25th. (BPD will pay for air travel and one night's lodging for the student selected). The recipient will also be required to write an article on the experience for publication.
Deadline for receipt of the application material is February 17, 2003. Please send four (4) copies of the resume, letters of reference, transcript, and statement of interest to:
Dr. Jack Sellers, Chair
BPD Policy Fellow Committee
Box 5029
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL35632-0001
The Chair of the Selection Committee will e-mail or call each applicant within seven days after receiving the application to confirm that the application was received. If the applicant has not received a receipt confirmation within seven days, please notify Dr. Sellers by e-mailing him at jrsellers@una.edu, or calling him at 256-765-4391.
The winner of the 2003 Summer Policy Fellow Award will be announced by March 31, 2003.
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WEB SITES OF INTEREST
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http://www.congress.org
This site provides a user-friendly means of obtaining pertinent information and communicating with federal, state and local officials.
http://www.LifeLinePilots.org
This organization provides free air transportation to people traveling for medical needs. They serve the Midwest region of the U.S. primarily, but can also make referrals to similar organizations across the country.
http://www.idealist.org
An essential resource for nonprofits and those who want to start, run, or work for one.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting will be held in Atlanta February 27-March 2. THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER will have a booth (Booth #213) in the exhibit hall. Please stop by to say hello! See CSWE's Web site at http://www.cswe.org for more information about the conference.
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ON OUR WEB SITE
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We recently held two author chats on our Social Work Grad School site. One was with Manfred Melcher, author of BECOMING A SOCIAL WORKER: REFLECTIONS ON A CLINICIAN'S TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY. The second was with Jesús Reyes, author of THE SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANT'S HANDBOOK.
If you missed either of these chats, you can still "be there" (almost). We have posted transcripts of these two chats on our Web site. Go to http://www.socialworkgradschool.com and follow the links to the transcripts.
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IN PRINT
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER MAGAZINE
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is our print magazine, published since 1994 (now in our 10th year!), which is published quarterly. It includes articles on social work ethics, field placement, practice specialties, and a lot more. If you are not a subscriber yet and would like to be, go to http://www.socialworker.com for more information. Put a subscription to THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER on your "wish list" or order directly from our online store at http://www.whitehatcommunications.com/store -- where you will also find the social work and nonprofit management books we publish.
The Winter issue of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is now available. Included are the following articles:
* Identifying and Assessing Battered Women in Emergency Room and Trauma Settings
* Social Work Salaries: Keeping Up With the Times?
* Combatting Vicarious Trauma
* Feedback in Practicum: Givin' It and Takin' It
* Working with Deaf Colleagues and Clients
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and more
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We still have a limited supply of the book THE SOCIAL WORKER'S INTERNET HANDBOOK by Gary B. Grant and Linda May Grobman. This book, which is now officially out of print, covers general information about the use of the Internet, as well as specific social work-related uses. It also includes reviews of Web sites of interest to social workers. Although some of the examples in the book are outdated now, most of the general information remains accurate. The book is being sold at our online store at http://www.whitehatcommunications.com/store at about a 40% discount, while supplies last.
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SOCIAL WORK MONTH ITEMS
We have buttons with the slogan "I AM A SOCIAL WORKER!" available from our online store at http://www.whitehatcommunications.com/store -- these have been very popular for Social Work Month (March, in the U.S.) and for graduation.
At the request of some of our readers, we have made a few additional novelty items available. They include mugs, tote bags, tile coasters, and other items--all with the slogan "I AM A SOCIAL WORKER!" Order these items from our "Mugs and More Store" at http://www.cafepress.com/socialworker
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JOB CORNER
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Please visit our specialty job site at http://www.socialworkjobbank.com to search current job listings, or to post a job opening for your agency. Please let employers know that you saw their listings in the SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS and at SocialWorkJobBank.com. If you are an employer, contact Linda Grobman at linda.grobman@paonline.com to find out how you can get the word out about your job openings through SocialWorkJobBank.com and the Social Work E-News!
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NEWSLETTER NECESSITIES
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To see previous issues of this newsletter, go to the public archive page, located at:
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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® SOCIAL WORK E-NEWS is published by:
White Hat Communications (publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® magazine and THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER® ONLINE)
P.O. Box 5390
Harrisburg, PA 17110-0390
Linda Grobman, Editor
linda.grobman@paonline.com
http://www.socialworker.com
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Advertising:
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News:
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Copyright 2003 White Hat Communications. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this entire newsletter, with all information intact, by e-mail to social work colleagues, students, and others interested in social work, for personal use only. You may also print out this newsletter for personal use. All other uses of this material require permission from the publisher at linda.grobman@paonline.com
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER is a registered trademark of White Hat Communications.
Linda Grobman, ACSW, LSW
Editor/Publisher
THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER
http://www.socialworker.com 