Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! NASWVA joins founder Mental Health America in publicizing the mental health inequities faced by communities and individuals who are Black, Indigenous, or non-white (BIPOC) due to systemic barriers and historical prejudices.

The Latest News

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) announced the elimination of “restrictive housing,” one of the Departments euphemisms for solitary confinement.

“Restrictive housing” is defined by the American Correctional Association as confinement in a cell for 20+ hours per day. That is NOT true. Throughout this period, numerous people have contacted the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement with complaints of VDOC’s continued use of solitary confinement. A report filed earlier this year by an independent, court-appointment monitor concluded that Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women routinely isolated people with mental illnesses for 23+ hours a day. When lawmakers introduced a bill earlier this year to end solitary confinement and require that every incarcerated person be given four hours out-of-cell per day with few exceptions, VDOC claimed it would cost 23$ million a year to implement, effectively killing the bill’s chances of passage.

For years, VDOC has routinely denied that it uses solitary confinement. Instead, it has kept people isolated for 22-24 hours per day, in units with a variety of names: restrictive housing, administrative segregation, mental health units, etc. By any name, solitary confinement is torture.

Being isolated in a cell the size of a parking space for a vast majority of the day causes physical and mental illnesses. VDOC is able to make these unsubstantial claims because there is no system of independent oversight over Virginia prisons, and the public has no way to verify its alleged reforms. Partners in the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement will continue to call out VDOC’s lies, as well as its human rights abuses, and anyone who helps maintain the status quo.

New Practice Guidance Available: “New Program Instruction from Administration on Children, Youth, and Families: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment”

A new document is available to provide guidance for social workers who assist their agencies with applications for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Treatment Programs State Grant Funds, work in agencies administering the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) State Grant, and/or work with Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) Program grantees.

“New Program Instruction from Administration on Children, Youth, and Families: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment” is available at https://bit.ly/PracticeAlertChildAbuseFunds.

The Program Instruction provides information on the allowable use of the funding and actions states and territories must take to report on planned and use of the funds. Additionally, the PI provides updates on the regular fiscal year 2021 appropriation for the CAPTA State Grant program and the requirement to prioritize use of funds to develop and implement plans of safe care for substance-exposed infants and their families.

NASW Apologizes for Racist Practices in American Social Work

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has released a statement acknowledging that “our profession and this association have not always lived up to our mission of pursuing social justice for all. NASW apologizes for supporting policies and activities that have harmed people of color.”

According to NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW. “While NASW continues to offer anti-racist training in communities, publicly denounces violence, and advocates tirelessly for anti-racist policy changes, we must also acknowledge the role the social work profession has played in supporting discriminatory systems and programs for decades.”

For instance:

Progressive Era social workers built and ran segregated settlement houses.
Social worker suffragists blocked African Americans from gaining the right to vote.
Social workers helped recruit Black men into the infamous Tuskegee Experiment.
Social workers participated in the removal of Native American children from their families and placement in boarding schools.
And since the founding of the profession, bias among some social workers has limited delivery of health care, mental health treatment, and social services to people of color.

Details of this work are included in the newly released report, Undoing Racism through Social Work: NASW Report to the Profession on Racial Justice Priorities and Action.

“This acknowledgement comes at a critical time, especially as we enter the Juneteenth weekend,” says Virginia Chapter Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE. “Our recent surveys show that fighting systemic racism is members’ top social justice issue of concern, and they are committed to advocacy around it. We also have expanded trainings on racial equity, social work and race, implicit bias, self-awareness, multicultural supervision, and other such topics to support social workers as they reflect on their own biases and serve clients directly harmed by ongoing racism. Together, we will make progress on this stubborn and complex issue.”

Read the full statement here.

CLOSED: Tuesday, June 29 Only! An NASWVA Flash Sale on Summer Courses--Take 10% Off till Midnight

Save 10% off summer trainings Tuesday, June 29 until midnight if you register with the code SUMMER-10! This is the first time we have offered trainings in the summer, so the chapter is offering a hot one-day-only FLASH SALE to save you money and bring in the sunshine.

NASW members are welcome to stack your savings—taking advantage of members-only discount rates AND the 10% off code! Save on the following two trainings:

JULY 16: Licensure Exam Prep Workshop Package—NASW members save $22.20 off the regularly member-discounted rate of $222!

Nonmembers save $28.70 off the $287 rate! Nationally known instructor Dr. Dawn Apgar will hold a July 16 workshop worth 6 CEs to prepare you for any level of the license exams. Breaking down the test into logical, organized study modules; creating a study plan; overcoming test-taking fears—she covers it all and more!

Included with the exam prep package are six months of access to Dr. Apgar’s amazing learning management portal, which offers you 24/7 on-demand convenience to study guides, a discussion board, practice exams, self-assessments, interactive flash cards, Q&A with Apgar, and other tools to help you pass on the first try.

Register by midnight, June 29 and use the code SUMMER-10—you’ll receive the study manual ($90 value!) prior to the workshop. If you register between July 2 and 14, you will NOT save the 10%, and you’ll receive the manual after the workshop, but member discounts do apply.

AUGUST 20-21: Foundations of Supervision—NASW members save $27.50 off the member-discounted $275 rate! Nonmembers save $35 off the usual $350 rate.

Yes, our most popular supervision course of all—the one that sells out fastest—is on sale at the best rate we’ve EVER offered on this 14-CE (including 2 ethics CEs) course!

We’ve sold out this course so quickly in 2021 that we decided to try one in August as well to help as many social workers as possible meet the Virginia minimum hours required to legally supervise social work supervisee.

Hurry! This flash sale only runs until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29.

Manage Your Student Loan Debt with Savi

More than 80% of BSW and MSW graduates carry loan debt, according to the Council on Social Work Education, and managing student loans as a social worker comes with unique challenges. Many social workers have both undergraduate and post-graduate education, leading to more debt.

NASW has partnered with Savi, a student loan technology company, to provide members with access to resources and expertise to better understand, manage, and repay student loan debt. The Savi Student Loan Tool analyzes repayment and forgiveness programs to help borrowers make better decisions and determine the best solution, and can also provide digital enrollment and re-enrollment each year.

Members can select a free account to explore options at no cost or choose a member-discounted premium account to get help enrolling and submitting application paperwork directly to loan servicers, as well as to access one-on-one support with student loan experts. According to Savi, users have a projected average savings of $2,064 a year and save hours in paperwork and anxiety.

NASW and NASW Virginia advocate for loan forgiveness for social workers as part of their ongoing work to improve working conditions and salaries, to support social work professionals, and to ensure that consumers have continued access to qualified professionals.

NASW Celebrates June 17 U.S. Supreme Court Ruling that Affordable Care Act Will Remain Law

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 17 that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will remain as law. The 7-2 ruling in California v. Texas determined that the plaintiffs, a group of 18 Republican-led states, did not have legal standing to bring the case. The plaintiffs sought to dismantle the ACA, arguing that the ACA could not continue without the financial penalty of the individual mandate, which was eliminated by Congress in 2017.

NASW celebrates this important victory for Virginia and our country. Over the past several years, legal challenges to the ACA have created uncertainty for millions of Americans. They have also put many consumer protections at risk, including protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, access to preventive services, and access to behavioral health services.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACA has been more important than ever before. As people have suffered financial hardships, the health care marketplaces and Medicaid have seen record enrollment. More than 31 million people now have health insurance coverage through the ACA, and the law has made a significant difference in reducing the uninsured rate in all 50 states since 2010. Today’s ruling ensures that individuals and families will continue to have quality health insurance coverage through the ACA.

NASW continues to support the Biden Administration’s efforts build on the ACA’s successes to make health care more affordable and accessible for all people.

2022 NASWVA Annual Conference Call for Session Proposals Now Open

Virginia social workers are invited to submit session proposals for the 2022 NASWVA Annual Conference in March to help hundreds of social workers learn the latest about professional practices and social justice issues.

The call for proposals aims to attract submissions that reflect what past attendees from Virginia and elsewhere have suggested for future conferences: COVID-19 impacts on social work, telehealth, ethics, racism and other discrimination, trauma, grief, LGBTQ issues, addiction, aging, self-care, new methods and techniques, and public health priorities, to name a few.

Please note that all presenters—like the chapter—must remain nimble and flexible to adapt content and instruction format in light of potential pandemic scenarios. The conference will likely be divided into in-person and virtual events (Virginia location will be announced later).

Deadline for proposed sessions is October 1.

NASW Virginia Joins NASW’s “Month of Vaccination Action” to Help Minority Communities Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

As part of a new Month of Action to help Black, Latinx, and other communities of color boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, NASW is asking Virginia social workers and social work students to share and reinforce special digital messaging and tools.

The social media messaging and outreach is in English and Spanish, and the Virginia Chapter is posting these regularly throughout June on Facebook.

The effort supports the Biden Administration big push to attain a minimum 70% vaccination rate across the country by July 4. Virginia is expected to reach that level well before the holiday if vaccinations continue at the current pace. However, areas such as Jackson Ward are well below vaccination goals due to problems with transportation, child care accessibility, inability to take off work, a lack of technology to learn where vaccination sites are, and vaccine hesitancy or misunderstandings.

NASW CE Institute Offers 17 LGBTQ+ On-demand Trainings

Pride Month in June is a great time to gain more understanding of your LGBTQ+ clients. Check out the 17 on-demand trainings available at NASW’s CE Institute for convenient 24/7 viewing.

NASW Releases Its Pride Month Video Celebrating the Organization’s Actions to Advance LGBTQ+ Rights

NASW has posted a nearly two-minute video showcasing the actions and achievements of its decades-long battle for LGBTQ+ rights. The YouTube video shares information about banning so-called “conversion therapy,” promoting gay marriage, adding LGBTQ+ leaders to its Board of Directors, supporting anti-discrimination actions to avoid harm to children’s and adult’s mental health, supporting adoption by LGBTQ+ families, and more. Social workers also are invited to access NASW’s LGBTQ+ resources.

2021 Revised NASW Code of Ethics Now in Effect: New Self-care, Cultural Humility/Competency Provisions Added

The NASW Code of Ethics has been updated with new language that addresses the importance of professional self-care and revises the Cultural Competence standard. It went into effect for all social workers June 1.

A living document, the code responds to the needs of the profession, which are influenced by ever-changing world conditions and trends. The latest changes affect all social workers.

NASW is committed to advancing professional ethics and is offering the following new resources:

Join NASW's free 90-minute webinar: "2021 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics: Self-Care and Cultural Competence." If you want to earn CEs, NASW members pay a discounted rate of $20; Nonmembers can earn CEs at the $25 rate. Remember, anyone can watch the webinar free of charge. The registration link will be available shortly, and the free training will be available on-demand.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the rationale for the 2021 approved revisions and other important details.
Buy English or Spanish translations of the code at https://naswpress.org/. NASW is updating its web pages to post the new code but wants you to be the first to know about 2021 ethics resources to support the profession.

NASW Virginia LCSWs: Deadline for Licensure Requirements Is June 30

The countdown is ON! You have until June 30 to meet the 30-CE professional development requirements of licensure in Virginia. Note that you will need six ethics CEs as part of those 30 CEs.

Still need CEs? Visit www.naswva.org/calendar-of-events for the remaining June trainings that can earn you CEs prior to the deadline. The NASW CE Institute also offers NASWVA and other CE-qualifying on-demand trainings at https://naswinstitute.inreachce.com.

In addition, you can still register for on-demand-only access to the 2021 NASWVA Annual Conference recorded sessions to earn up to 49.5 CEs, including 11.5 ethics CEs. Viewing is available until June 18, and you can use your special member discount for the best rate. Register at http://bit.ly/2021ConfOnDemandRegistration

NASW members, do you have questions about licensing? Email Debra Riggs, CAE, at driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org.

New Multicultural Supervision Training Added June 18-19! Earn 14 CEs

Although the June 4-5 Foundations of Supervision course has sold out, NASW Virginia has added "Supervision: The Many Faces of Multicultural Competence: Ethics, Awareness, Sensitivity, Humility, and Responsiveness,"[LINK to https://bit.ly/MulticulturalSupervisionJuneRegis] which offers 14 CEs, including three ethics CEs.

Day 1 will cover “Ethics Alive” concepts such as cultural sensitivity, awareness, humility, responsiveness, and other essential multicultural components. Day 2 will focus on application of multicultural strategies in supervision, including a brief overview of generational cohort cultural characteristics and their impacts on supervisory relationships.

Taught by Delores Dungee-Anderson, PhD, LCSW CTST, Professor and J. Patrick Slifka, LCSW, the two-day course fulfills the training requirement mandated by the Virginia Board of Social Work to provide clinical supervision for LCSW candidates. Cost is $275, NASW members; $350, nonmembers. A sellout is expected, so hurry to save your virtual seat now.

Final Chance! Earn up to 49.5 CEs with On-Demand-Only Registration for the 2021 NASWVA Annual Conference, View through June 18

Register to earn up to 49.5 CEs, including 11.5 ethics CEs, is still available for convenient on-demand-only access to the 2021 NASWVA Annual Conference[LINK TO THE MAIN AGENDA] recorded sessions.

The conference, which ran March 25-27, has received excellent ratings from its record-breaking attendees. Access to the sessions, as well as two keynotes by civil rights icon Bettie Mae Fikes and PostSecret.com founder Frank Warren, is available until June 18.

NASW members can use your special member discount for the best rate. Register at http://bit.ly/2021ConfOnDemandRegistration

NASWVA Early-Career Professionals Group Meeting Will Feature Q&A on Virginia Social Work Licensing

Senior social work students and social workers who have been in the field less than three years are invited to the chapter's Early-Career Professionals Group meeting June 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. Guest speaker is Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, who will talk about updates to license requirements and answer questions on licensing trends, exam prep, license requirements, and anything else related to licensing in Virginia. Free!

If you have not received the meeting emails or reminders, please contact Roshonda Poole at shondaro@yahoo.com to request the meeting Zoom link or to ask any questions about the free monthly group. Meetings usually feature a guest speaker and networking/check-in conversation meant to support early-career and incoming social workers as they develop their leadership and professional identities and skills.

Social Workers Should Promote More Attention to Reducing Psychological Maltreatment, Says May 20 Instructor Stuart Hart

Hart defines PM as “a repeated pattern of extreme incident(s) of caretaker behavior that thwarts a child’s basic psychological needs (e.g., safety, socialization, emotional and social support, cognitive stimulation, respect) and conveys a child is worthless, defective, damaged goods, unloved, unwanted, endangered, primarily useful in meeting another’s needs, and/or expendable.”

He notes that teenagers are most likely to experience PM. “Recognizing that bullying is primarily PM, social media experiences of late childhood and adolescence appear to be increasingly corrupting and destructive,” Hart says. “… It is not fully appreciated by many mental/behavioral health providers that PM has been found to be one of the most powerfully destructive components of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and that it deserves systematic assessment and centrality in interventions.”

The pandemic has only worsened matters. “It appears probable that the severe limitations on face-to-face human relationships considered necessary for protection have increased depression and suicidal behavior – both of which are strongly related to [PM],” says Hart.

In response, he co-developed the NASW chapter course to help social workers understand child PM’s “nature, significance, most promising interventions, and relevance for their service responsibilities and opportunities.” The course, which includes 3 ethics CEs, also aims to strengthen social workers’ “capacity to advance attention to and reduction of PM in the policies and practices of their systems of service.

“Additionally, it is our intention to promote the strengthening of ‘upstander’ behavior--the readiness to intervene where PM is occurring at the interpersonal level through ‘soft start-up’ communication and compassionate empathy to generate respectful, supportive, and caring relationships.”

Save your live-virtual seat for this training by registering by May 18.

Social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as high social media usage among teens and children, are among the reasons why health care providers such as social workers are seeing an increase in psychological maltreatment (PM) and need to better understand it, according to researcher Stuart Hart, PhD.

Dr. Hart, who is principal of strategic initiatives for the International Institute for Child Rights and Development in Canada and a professor emeritus at Indiana University, will be among the panelists at a PM training May 21. Co-hosted by NASW Virginia, NASW Metro DC, and NASW Texas chapters, the 4-CE training--Psychological Maltreatment--Cognitive and Emotional Violence to Children: Its Nature and Intervention—runs 1-4 p.m. EDT and requires an additional one-hour pre-course viewing of a video.

Registration is now open! Earn 12 CEs at the NASW Virginia “Encore Conference” May 1-2

Join your peers this Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, for an NASW Virginia “Encore Conference” that lets you earn up to 12 CEs, including six ethics CEs! It’s a great chance to earn ALL of your required six ethics CEs for your Virginia license in one weekend!

DC-licensed social workers also can earn three public health priorities CEs.

Thanks to the generosity and support of our presenters, the chapter is offering this live-virtual event to provide more opportunities to earn CEs via a selection of popular sessions from the chapter’s March 25-27 Annual Conference.

NASW members pay the discounted rate of $160. Nonmembers are welcome and pay $242.

Not an NASW member yet but want to save that $82, as well as enjoy year-round discounted trainings and other benefits?
Join NASW today!

Earn 12 CEs at the Just-Announced NASW Virginia
“Encore Conference” May 1-2

Missed the NASW Virginia Annual Conference March 25-27? Registration opens shortly for an NASW Virginia “Encore Conference” Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2! You can earn up to 12 CEs, including six ethics CEs!

Thanks to the generosity and support of our presenters, the chapter is offering a live-virtual event that features a variety of popular sessions from the March conference.

Members, check your inbox regularly—a registration link will be sent shortly, but meanwhile, save these dates! It’s a great chance to earn ALL of your required six ethics CEs for your Virginia license in one weekend!

NASW members pay the discounted rate of $160. Nonmembers are welcome and will pay $242. Nonmembers can check here later for the registration link.

Not an NASW member yet but want to save that $82, as well as enjoy year-round discounted trainings and other benefits?
Join NASW today!

Questions? Contact professionaldevelopment.naswva@socialworkers.org. We hope to see you at the Encore Conference soon!
Bring your colleagues!

NASWVA Responds to Chauvin Verdict, Offers Support to Black Social Workers and Others

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter April 20. This verdict offers a small glimmer of hope that we can live in a community where police are held accountable for harming and murdering Black and brown people.

However, this verdict will not bring murder victim George Floyd back. Our hearts are still broken over his death.

We thank all the advocates who have worked on the front line to tirelessly seek justice for Mr. Floyd and his family and friends. Although this feels like a victory in one sense, we continue to echo NASW’s national call for dramatic reform of the current police state in the United States. We must look at how white supremacy, imperialism, and capitalism compel us to fundamentally reshape community safety and protection for one another. We must invest in care and community.

If you have not yet read NASW Virginia’s statement on racial justice, equity, and equality, you’ll find it here.

To all Black social workers and members, please know that the chapter stands beside you in solidarity at this difficult time. As your professional home, we want to support you however you find meaningful, knowing full well that the social work profession must itself continue candid conversations about its own role in systemic racism. We know that looking within is as critical as working toward external change. We promise that we as a chapter and wider organization are working to do better.

Gold Exhibitors:

Family Insight

Good Neighbor

Gardner-Webb University

Virginia Victim Assistance Network

Silver Exhibitor:

Deer Oaks

Bronze Exhibitors:

Devereaux Advanced Behavioral Healthcare

Patient Advocate

Smiles for Children

NASWVA 2021 Annual Conference Attracts Record Attendance

Thank you to the 376 social workers, exhibitors, and sponsors who attended the NASW Virginia Annual Conference March 25-27! Using the Social Work Month theme, "Social Workers Are Essential," the event provided nearly 30 breakout sessions on a range of practice-related and social justice issues, as well as four outstanding keynote speakers--civil rights "songstress" and storyteller Bettie Mae Fikes, PostSecret.com founder Frank Warren, Platinum-selling musician Jim Donovan, and poetry slam duo Adios America.

"Although the conference had to be virtual again due to the pandemic, the format enabled attendees to conveniently engage in their professional development in new ways," says Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE. "They also benefited from the peer-to-peer expertise of social workers from 10 other states and even overseas, since the event could be borderless."

The Call for Proposals for the 2022 Annual Conference will open in June.

Meanwhile, the virtual Exhibit Fair is still ongoing with its 16 exhibitors and sponsors until April 27; it remains available to all registrants, some of whom may not have had a chance to complete their one-on-one meetings and shopping during the March 25-27 meeting. To access, please login into the conference and click on "Exhibitors." An encore Exhibit Fair is scheduled for April 14--look for more information in your inboxes soon.

Thank you for helping to make the conference a success, exhibitors and sponsors! Here is the list of those with virtual booths at the Exhibit Fair:

Lead Sponsors:

NASW Assurance Insurance Inc. (Lead sponsor)

Anthem HealthKeepers Plus (Lunch & Learn sponsor)

Diamond Exhibitors:

Angel Flight East

Brain Injury Association of Virginia

Dominion Behavioral Healthcare

Newport Academy

NorthSpring Behavioral Healthcare

Virginia Relay

NASW Virginia Chapter Honors Five Social Work Leaders, Students for Outstanding Achievements
RICHMOND, VA: The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers presented its 2021 Annual Awards for professional and academic excellence to three social workers, a state legislator, and a social work student March 27 during its Annual Conference.

Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Award, the chapter’s highest individual honor recognizing a social work professional with a proven career-long commitment to strict ethics and the social work profession, as well as outstanding professional performance and leadership:

Recipient: Kimberly Jones, MSW, LCSW, behavioral health provider, Horizon Health Services, Sutherland, Va.

Social Worker of the Year, the chapter’s highest annual honor of a social worker and an NASW member who has demonstrated service beyond job requirements, has taken risks to achieve results, has contributed to the public's knowledge and positive image of social work, and has demonstrated clear, ethical leadership qualities:

Recipient: Alison Sampson-Jackson, PhD, LCSW, MSW, CEO, Integrated Solutions,

Legislator of the Year, in recognition of policy leadership and achievements in the political and public arena of mental and behavioral health advocacy and policy making:

Recipient: Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-25th District)

Public Citizen of the Year, the chapter’s highest honor for an outstanding community member who is not a social work or legislator but whose achievements exemplify the values, ethics, and mission of professional social work:

Recipient: Jorden Costen-Sumpter, founder and executive director, Safe Space NOVA, Alexandria, Va.

Bachelor of Social Work Student of the Year in recognition of exemplary performance and leadership by a BSW student:

Recipient: Emily Hewett, Christopher Newport University

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“Through their many achievements and leadership during the past pandemic year, these five honorees have demonstrated deep commitment and high performance within the public and social work fields,” says Debra Riggs, CAE, executive director of NASW Virginia. “At a time when social workers have emerged as essential mental and behavioral health heroes in the COVID-19 pandemic, NASW Virginia is especially proud to applaud each of these award recipients.”

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Final registration call for Virginia Social Workers to Earn up to 68 CEs at the NASWVA Annual Conference March 25-27!!

Procrastinators alert! Virginia social workers have only days left to register for the Thursday through Saturday, March 25-27, NASWVA Annual Conference, where you can earn up to 68 CEs, including all of your ethics CEs.

Choose from 30-plus breakout sessions, four nationally known keynoters, two facilitated networking sessions, a full self-care track, a "Munch" and Learn with a world-class art curator, an Exhibitor Fair, and myriad fun events such as a virtual pet parade, a mini cooking class, a virtual hike, sunrise yoga, a Celebrating Hygge night, and a meditation session. Topics include

ethics (8 sessions)
COVID-19 and telehealth lessons
racial justice and equity in social work (7 sessions and keynotes)
trauma
children's and adolescents' mental health
legal issues for social workers
LGBTQ issues
ecotherapy
dance and music therapy
human trafficking
addiction
advocacy and much more.

The meeting offers numerous experiential learning formats that combat Zoom fatigue, and all sessions encourage attendee dialogue and Q&A.

Each attendee also receives a mailed engagement packet with goodies that let them experience learning and events hands-on.

Once registered, attendees can download a helpful conference app to create a customized daily professional development schedule, as well as to see other attendees, skim the agenda, and visit 17 virtual booths of sponsors and exhibitors.

Registration options include Live-only (18.5 CEs), Live+60 Days (live event plus 60 days to earn more CEs by viewing your choice of on-demand session recordings), or On-Demand-Only (access to all 30-plus recorded sessions, keynotes, and networking and other events).

Use your NASW members-only discount! Nonmembers welcome! Join hundreds of social workers in your professional community for this highly rated event and enjoy high-quality learning, fellowship, and fun.

Questions? Contact Virginia Chapter Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, at driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org.

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Social Work Month Series Explores Why
“Social Workers Are Essential”

Social Worker Suzanne Baldwin Advocates for Children and Military Families

“Most of my work is with children embroiled in litigation or their parents who are struggling to successfully coparenting,” according to Suzanne Baldwin, PhD, LCSW, RN, of Virginia Beach. “The other focus of my work is working with military families worldwide. The pandemic has made the challenges these populations immeasurably more complicated.

“As the children’s therapist, my advocacy for their well-being has been given an even greater voice as other professionals have had to reduce their presence, while I have maintained consistent contact,” she explains. “As I have a significant knowledge about the military lifestyle, including personal experience, and have been working with the court system for over 20 years, understanding (and presenting) consistent, caring, and professional interventions and testimony has taken on an even greater urgency.

“Social workers have the adaptability and professional knowledge to work with an ever-changing system for the good of their clients. I was a newborn intensive care nurse for 20 years and taught at the university level for two decades. These experiences helped prepare me for my second career.

“I am thankful to be a social worker working with families who are distressed, conflictual, and traumatized.”

NASW Virginia Distributes Social Work Month Press Release to Educate Public about Social Workers as Important Advocates, Resources

The NASW Virginia Chapter asks members to keep an eye out for articles published in local newspapers, magazines, and elsewhere that are or could be based on its press release sent statewide March 2 to 155 print media and wire services. The release aims to increase awareness of what social workers do, why the public is encouraged to tap into these professionals for their advocacy abilities and resource knowledge, and what Social Work Month and its "Social Workers Are Essential" theme mean.

Please send any print or digital articles mentioning Social Work Month or content from below to Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org. The chapter also invites members to cut and paste the release to send to their own media contacts!

Social Work Month in March Showcases the Many Roles of Virginia’s “Unsung Heroes” in Providing Mental and Behavioral Health Care

RICHMOND, VA—The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and its nearly 3,000 members are celebrating Social Work Month this March with the national theme “Social Workers Are Essential.” The campaign educates the public about social workers as advocates and resources, and highlights the valuable contributions social workers make statewide, especially during the pandemic.

Social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rising from a current 700,000 to an estimated 800,000 professionals by 2029. Virginia has nearly 10,000 licensed clinical social workers, and demand for social work services continues to outpace availability of behavioral health providers.

“Few people realize that social work professionals comprise the largest behavioral health group in the country, or that many of our members work alongside doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers, thus experiencing similar risks and exhaustion,” says Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE. “The profession has exploded over the past decade and is poised to grow exponentially. Even Ashley Biden, daughter of President Biden, is a social worker!”

Riggs notes that Virginia social workers “have worked extra-long hours and executed a radical pivot to telehealth to respond to skyrocketing public needs for more mental and behavioral health services in our state. We are grateful that the General Assembly, Gov. Northam, and leaders such as Sen. Creigh Deeds recently boosted funding and established a new oversight entity to strengthen Virginia’s mental health care systems.”

While TV and movie versions of social workers have generated an unfair stereotype of these professionals as people “who just take away kids from their families,” social workers are embedded in many work settings throughout society. They provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment, assist active military and veterans, help schoolchildren, transition the returns to society of people who have been imprisoned, help corporations better serve communities, and protect children from neglect and abuse. They also work in nonprofits, private practice, the court system, and local and state agencies.

However, the profession has other challenges beyond public confusion. A severe shortage of social workers in schools, colleges, and universities has often left young people inadequately supported when faced with complicated issues such as trauma, addiction, anxiety, loneliness, grief, and online learning stressors—all of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

And although social workers play a critical role in the nation’s health care system, they could and should be much better compensated for their efforts, according to a 2019 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

“We hope Social Work Month will help the public realize that social workers are highly educated and well-trained professionals who subscribe to one of the healthcare industry’s most stringent codes of ethics,” says Riggs. “People should feel confident turning to social workers, who work tirelessly to advocate for their clients and communities.”

She notes that “social workers often are unsung heroes, and their natural tendency toward humility and discretion mean their extraordinary work is often undervalued or unseen. Please consider saying a kind word to the social workers in your lives and at work, especially during Social Work Month. Like our chapter, they are always fighting for policies that benefit families, individuals, and the vulnerable populations they serve such as children and older adults.”

Happy Social Work Month! NASW Virginia will be celebrating the 2021 Social Work Month throughout March as a recognition of the diverse ways that social workers contribute to their communities. Look for stories from our members and others about why they love social work and how they know that "Social Workers Are Essential," the theme for this year AND for our chapter's conference March 25-27. Thank you all for your hard work and commitment!

Commemorating Black History Month and Welcoming Social Work Month: A Black Social Worker’s Perspective on the January 6 Insurrection

By Tangela Francis, LCSW, MSW
Like most Americans I was shocked watching the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol unfold on television January 6. Like most people of color, I shook my head, confirming silently to myself that “if they were black, they would have been shot.”

There was a sense of confusion and disgust; it all made no sense and perfect sense at the same time. The events bubbled to the surface the imbalance of justice and perception of what a threat looks like. At a Black Lives Matter March, peaceful protesters were gassed for photo opportunities, and lines of the police “protection” were aggressively established.

In January 2021, though, there was little of that reaction, especially initially, and seven people ultimately lost their lives! In its omnificence the insurrection highlighted what some Black Americans have said for so long: There are two Americas--one that cultivates and condones hate and violence, another that expects the hate to be ingested with no push-back and zero repercussions. In essence, as racial justice advocates have generally said, “This is why we kneel, why we march, and why we burn it down.”

Black Americans have existed in a divided space for the entirety of U.S. history. Some people recognize it, while others have done an insincere job at masking the hatred and racism, using daily microaggressions more difficult to assail than bullets. People of privilege have become fluent in their statements of “I have black friends” or “I am the least-racist person.” Well, those Black friends may no longer be excusing you or giving you a pass!

I am hopeful with the transition of power in the White House and Congress that a transition occurs in what is morally acceptable, and that the new administration can tamp down the racist overtones that increasingly emblazoned our daily lives for the last four years. I don’t expect immediate fixes. Clearly, this has been going on far longer than recently, and it runs deeper than just what we are experiencing today.

As we look ahead to Social Work Month in March and behind us now at Black History Month, my hope and expectations as a social worker are that we begin mending our open wounds and addressing systemic racism with the same or greater vigor we adopt when learning new dance crazes on TikTok. My dream is that people who are affected are given a voice, and the silence ends. The lifting is heavy, for sure, but we social workers—including Black social workers--are strong, and we remain hopeful that everything is possible.

New NASW Health Practice Alert on “COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ”

In a new Practice Alert, COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ, NASW provides resources for social workers to learn more about available COVID-19 vaccines and the general eligibility guidelines to access a vaccine in the initial phases of distribution.

NASW encourages individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when they meet their state’s eligibility criteria. The organization is advocating for vaccine access for social workers and populations at high-risk for COVID-19 and will continue to monitor federal and state vaccine distribution plans.

How Frontline Essential Workers Can Access Vaccination

Local health departments, pharmacies, healthcare systems, and employer-based occupational health units are working collaboratively to vaccinate other essential workers. Many essential workers will likely receive the vaccine through employer-based vaccination clinics. Others will get it through their local health department or through arrangements with pharmacies and healthcare providers.

Information will be released from local health departments, employers, and healthcare providers about how and when you and other social workers can receive your COVID-19 vaccines. The ability to schedule appointments will depend on the supply of vaccine available.

For the latest information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine.

NASW Seeks Comments on “Clinical Social Workers in Private Practice” Manual by Jan. 4, 2021

NASW’s Task Force for Private Practice Guidelines is seeking public and member comments for the document, Clinical Social Workers in Private Practice: A Reference Manual. The manual provides a useful set of guidelines for clinical social workers starting a private practice and for seasoned clinical social workers seeking specific information related to the practice and business side of a private practice.

The public comment period began Friday, Dec. 4, and ends January 4, 2021. Please review the manual here. Questions about the manual can be sent to mcoleman.nasw@socialworkers.org

Final Rule Issued for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including Telehealth Reimbursement

The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services has issued the final rule for Medicare CY 2021 (physician fee schedule), which includes elements pertaining to telehealth and reimbursement for certified social workers (CSWs) who participate in Medicare, among other provisions.

NASW is “carefully reviewing the final rule and its implications…. [The] proposed rule proposed substantial payment cuts for scores of specialty providers, including CSWs, in order to increase reimbursement for primary care services (budget neutrality is required). We vigorously opposed these cuts, which unfortunately were not removed in the final rule. We are working with our partners to try to get this addressed, but it will be a challenge.”

To learn more, read this CMS press release and fact sheet.

NASW, NASW Virginia Outraged at Rioting in the U.S. Capitol

"The National Association of Social Workers strongly condemns the unlawful storming of the U.S. Capitol by pro-[President] Trump rioters," announced NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, in a statement January 6. "Their violent, riotous behavior is seditious and forced the evacuation of Congress and halted the declaration of Joe Biden’s presidential victory.

"Trust that the guardrails of democracy will hold, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in on January 20. NASW calls on all elected officials to condemn this unlawful attack on our democracy," he concluded.

"What the country witnessed yesterday in Washington, DC, was not peaceful protesting as enabled by our Constitution. It was nothing less than an insurrection by domestic terrorists determined to overthrow the democratic electoral processes that have sustained our great country for 244 years," said Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, of the NASW Virginia Chapter. "We urge all citizens, especially social workers, to vocally oppose these dangerous displays that threaten lives and our democracy."

Tell Your Senators to Pass the Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Aid Package!

NASW has issued an Action Alert asking social workers to immediately contact their senators to demand passage of a bipartisan $908-billion COVID-19 aid package, which may be voted on in the next week.

With hunger and long-term joblessness increasing, and unemployment benefits and the eviction moratorium expiring by the end of this month, Congress must act now, NASW says. The bipartisan proposal offers $300 per week in Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, rental assistance, nutrition aid, and monies for education and state/local services, but more funding is needed.

For more info, visit https://bit.ly/NASWalertCOVID19Relief

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The NASW Virginia Chapter applauds NASW-endorsed Virginia candidate Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), as well as President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, for winning their historic congressional and national elections.
“Rep. Spanberger has been a longtime advocate for mental health access, telehealth, and broadband expansion across Virginia, so we are proud that her leadership on these issues will continue,” says NASW Virginia Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE. “Also, the election of a woman, especially a woman of color, to the top ticket of the United States is long overdue and is a huge moment of pride for all who embrace equality.

NASW Virginia Congratulates Its Endorsed Candidates on Election Wins: Spanberger, Biden, and Harris

"We also thank all of the state’s social workers who voted, volunteered, and encouraged their clients to vote,” she continues. “Voting truly is social work! Now, as the state and nation try to heal from this brutal campaign season, we look forward to finding ways to reunite and refocus on the social justice and practice-related issues that NASW Virginia Chapter has prioritized for the next few years.”

Read NASW’s national statement of congratulations here.

Get Recognized—Nominations Are Open for the 2021 NASW Virginia Annual Awards

Every year at the Annual Conference in March, NASW Virginia announces up to five award winners chosen for their excellence and commitment to the values of social work:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Social Worker of the Year
Public Citizen of the Year
BSW Student of the Year
MSW Student of the Year

We are currently accepting nominations for the 2021 awards! Recipients will be honored virtually at the NASW Virginia Annual Conference March 27, 2020.

Submit a Nomination Now!
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2021

Just Added! Last Chance in 2020 to Get Ready for the Social Work Licensure Exam

NASW Virginia has added a Licensure Exam Prep Workshop/Package December 2 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to the training lineup.

Earn six CEUs and pay only $222 (members) or $287 (nonmembers). Registration deadline is November 20 to receive the book prior to the training, November 30 for final registration and to receive the book after the training.

The highly rated course will be taught again by Dr. Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW, whom past attendees have lauded for her “excellent” knowledge, “energetic” presentation style, and “caring” and engaging personality. The chapter has already received numerous emails from attendees who have passed the exam and who credit their success in large part to this workshop and the free access to Apgar’s robust study tool clearinghouse/learning management portal.

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Volunteer Opportunity! NASW Virginia Seeks Policy Committee Members

Looking for ways to support your profession? Want to ensure the social work voice is reflected in legislative decisions? NASW Virginia seeks members to serve on the chapter’s Policy Committee.

The committee will include members with diverse professional and personal experiences who support a unified approach to legislative and advocacy efforts on behalf of the NASW Virginia membership.

If you are interested in participating on the Policy Committee and making your voice heard, please email Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, at driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org with a statement on why you are interested, a description of your current professional position and related work environment, and information about other professional experiences relative to this committee.

NASW Virginia Supports Texas Social Workers Fighting Code of Ethics Changes That Enable Potential Discrimination

The NASW Virginia Chapter stands in solidarity with Texas social workers who are fighting their Governor’s removal of protections against discrimination for disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression from the Social Work Code of Conduct!

The Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (TSBSWE) accepted the language from the Governor, whose rationalization is that agency rules cannot be more expansive than those in state law. However, the board has the explicit statutory authority to propose and adopt rules regarding “the scope of practice of and standards of care and ethical practice for social work.”

This includes defining anti-discrimination protections under the Code of Conduct, which “should receive protected status,” says the chapter. “Social workers already have the ability to decline to provide services to a client based on their competencies and training, but they cannot discriminate based on selective personal values … [the new language] could send the erroneous message that [discrimination] is allowed. This might deter a client from coming in for services or cause a social worker to withhold a service they are ethically obligated to provide.”

Sign this petition to show Texas social workers you oppose any changes to their Code of Conduct!

Stan Remer Inducted into Social Work Pioneers by NASW Foundation and Shares Life Reflections from the Field

Congratulations to former Virginia Chapter Board of Directors Member Stan Remer, MSW, MHA, LCSW, who will be inducted to the prestigious Social Work Pioneers by the NASW Foundation at an October 17 ceremony.

Remer has received numerous awards in the past, including the 2017 NASW Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award. Because his father was a public welfare social worker and “model to me,” Remer chose to follow in his footsteps, returning to school to get his MSW at age 49. As a youth, Remer accompanied his father to some client homes, and the challenges of the profession and its leadership opportunities kept him in the field.

Here, Remer shares lessons from his long career--especially as a legislative advocate for social work--and the future of the profession:

What changes do you foresee for social work in the next five to 10 years, especially with the long-term impacts of COVID-19?

Remer: “You can dream to go as far as you want to. You need to keep you sights high and always work to move on to the next step in your career. However, you must prepare yourself for success.

“I have been amazed at the growth of private practice in social work. In working on my MSW thesis, I focused on whether social work being done in private practice was still ‘social work’ or had they left the profession with its goal of social justice and work in social agencies.”

What skills in social work will always be necessary to success?

“I feel first and foremost it is important to establish the relationship. In my early days, we called this the ‘casework relationship.’ If you do not start where the client is, you will never be successful in the field of social work.”

What skills or knowledge do social workers tend to undervalue until they have been in the field as long as you?

“I think ‘macro social work’ is the skill in the field that tends to be undervalued. If you can change the policy or system, you will not help just one person or one family, but you can help many thousands of individuals with the same issue or problem. I think this [understanding] led to my early work on social work licensure in several states, as well as my current work as a legislative advocate with Congress on issues related to social work.”

How has NASW and especially the Virginia Chapter helped you throughout your career?

“I joined NASW as a student in my second year of graduate school at the University of Missouri and have been a member ever since (over 52 years). Early in my career when I was on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, I remember traveling over 100 miles to Pierre, South Dakota, for a chapter meeting. NASW has always been a valuable part of my growth and learning as a social worker.”

New $100,000 Federal Grant Will Expand Telehealth in Rural Virginia

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)—whom NASW and the Virginia Chapter endorsed in the 2020 election--has announced a new $100,000 federal grant that will go toward strengthen telehealth services for rural communities across Virginia.

“For years, rural Central Virginians have been facing healthcare challenges like hospital and clinic closures, long wait times, and a shrinking number of doctors and specialists,” she wrote in her recent legislative update. “During COVID-19, the barriers to accessing affordable healthcare have become even higher. Pandemic or no pandemic, living in a rural zip code should never condemn an American to going without the treatment they need. This federal investment will help preserve the lifeline of telehealth for more of our rural neighbors.”

The award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be disbursed through HHS’s Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program and will go to support the work of the nonprofit Virginia Rural Health Association.

“As the largest provider of behavior health professionals, we are excited to work with Rep. Spanberger to further advance and

strengthen telehealth in Virginia,” says NASW Virginia Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE.

Spanberger is a strong advocate for telehealth. In July 2020, for example, she helped introduce a bipartisan bill to require HHS to track the impact of expanded telehealth programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation would mandate a study to understand the impact that telehealth has had on key metrics like hospital readmission rates, so lawmakers and HHS officials can efficiently maximize the impact of future investments to help more Americans.

In April, Spanberger cosponsored the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, a bipartisan bill that sought to cut red tape to allow Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of telehealth services.

Virginia Chapter Applauds NASW Coalition Calling for CDC to Slow High Rate of COVID-19 in Jails, Prisons

NASW has co-signed a letter with a coalition of 100-plus medical experts, human rights organizations, and faith-based organizations that calls on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to revise its current COVID-19 guidance for adult and juvenile correctional facilities to restrict the use of punitive and prolonged solitary confinement as a form of pandemic response at the federal, state, and local levels. See more here.

NASW Releases Statement Opposing Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

NASW has released a statement voicing "deep disappointment" in President Trump's Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping. "The order distorts our nation’s history and broadly understood concepts such as 'systemic racism' and 'White privilege.' And it is a thinly veiled attempt by Trump to stoke racial division in an already-fractured country for his own political purpose." Read the full statement: https://bit.ly/3j4njGn

NASW Virginia Mourns Death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg

NASW Virginia is deeply saddened at the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an icon of the movement to protect and secure human rights for immigrants, women, and LGBTQ citizens. An “unflagging champion for gender equality and a trailblazer for equal justice under the law,” according to NASW, Justice Ginsburg was only the second woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and she served until her final living day. She lies in repose at the Supreme Court Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 22 and 23, and will be buried next to her husband Sept. 29 at Arlington National Cemetery. We will miss you, Notorious RGB, and we will continue to honor your legacy through our advocacy work and our individual votes! In her own words: "If you want to be a true professional, do something outside yourself."

National Suicide Hotline Designation Act Heads for Presidential Signature into Law

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, September 22, marking a legislative victory for NASW and its members nationwide who advocated strongly for it.

The bill is an important step to making operational a nationwide three-digit dialing code for mental health crises and suicide prevention: 988. The legislation passed the Senate earlier in 2020 and will now go for signing by President Trump to become law.

Beware of Licensing Scam

The Department of Health Professions (DHP) has been made aware that some licensees have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from one of our licensing boards, such as the Board of Pharmacy, or another agency, such as the DEA. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require the payment of fines.

Please note:

Phone calls may “spoof” DHP or a Board and appear to be from our number;
If you need to verify the identity of a DHP investigator or inspector, call (804) 367-4691 or email enfcomplaints@dhp.virginia.gov;
DHP will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as social security number, date of birth, bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.

If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from DHP:

Notify DHP at 804-367-4691, or email enfcomplaints@dhp.virginia.gov;
Report the communication to local law enforcement or the Virginia State Police;
The Federal Trade Commission also accepts reports about “Imposter Scams” through the FTC Complaint Assistant, or at 1-877-382-4357; these reports are used to aid ongoing investigations.

The Drug Enforcement Administration also has warned of imposters posing as DEA agents. Information and reporting of these scams can be found at this DEA website.

National Suicide Prevention Month Resources for September

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, which comes at a critical time this year during the pandemic and national racial reckoning. Thanks to the lobbying of NASW and its mental health allies, preparations continue for the federal government's transition to an easy-to-remember three-digit (988) national suicide hotline, which goes into effect in 2022. Meanwhile, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline remains 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. More resources are available at https://nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month.

NASW Virginia Celebrates Women's Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day, celebrated every August 26, commemorates the passage of women’s suffrage in the U.S. and reminds us of the hurdles overcome by the heroic women who faced violence and gender discrimination to propel the women’s movement forward. When we reflect on the long battle to get the 19th Amendment ratified, we cannot ignore the fact that the movement largely excluded Black women. For example, the National American Woman Suffrage Association prevented Black women from attending their conventions. Black women often had to march separately from white women in suffrage parades. To this day, Black voters still face aggressive attacks on hard-fought voting rights. Some jurisdictions are using intimidation or threats to accessibility in order to discourage Black people from voting. Women aren’t done fighting for equal rights. Today, the wage gap between men and women, especially women of color, still impacts women’s economic power, and gender-based discrimination still plagues workplaces and business transactions. Celebrate Women’s Equality Day by registering to vote, helping others register to vote, and advocating for access to absentee ballots and early voting for every election. For ways #socialwokers can play a role in voter turnout either remotely or in-person visit https://votingissocialwork.org/ #VotingIsSocialWork #NASW #WomensEqualityDay

NASW News Release: Social Workers Must Help Dismantle Systems of Oppression and Fight Racism Within Social Work Profession

What can social workers do to fight systemic racism? NASW has released a more detailed call to action: “Social Workers Must Help Dismantle Systems of Oppression and Fight Racism Within Social Work Profession.” Read the full release here: bit.ly/NASWsocialWorkerActionsAgainstRacism

NASW Practice Alert on Home Health: Telehealth During COVID-19 and New Payment System

The Medicare home health benefit, which includes medical social services, has long been essential to beneficiaries living with acute, chronic, and advanced health conditions. Access to home health services is of utmost importance during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

A new NASW Practice Alert provides an overview of the Medicare home health benefit, describes NASW’s advocacy on behalf of both home health social workers and beneficiaries served during the COVID-19 pandemic, and clarifies the status of home health social work under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model.

NASW Virginia Chapter Calls for Justice, Healing, and Further Action on Racial Equality

At this painful historical time, social workers statewide strongly condemn the May 25 murder of African American George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers and urge Virginia residents to unite for healing that enables collaboration and a recommitment to genuine progress toward racial equality, says the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Virginia is home to 1.6 million African Americans—19% of its total population and the ninth highest percentage in the country, according to the 2010 Census. Many Black residents feel disenfranchised, their cries for attention to inequities around education, housing, employment, health, and criminal justice carrying over from generation to generation without redress.

Social workers witness the short- and long-term harm and agony caused by these injustices every day in their jobs—from schools to hospitals, government agencies to private practices. As the largest behavioral health providers in the country, social workers already receive extensive diversity and inclusiveness training, follow a code of ethics and cultural values grounded in respect and tolerance, and advocate fiercely for the advancement of equality whether based in race, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristic.

Now, others are waking up to the tremendous need to add their voices to ours. The shock of watching Mr. Floyd murdered in front of pleading bystanders and complicit peers has traumatized Americans to the point that indignation has moved into outrage and action.

We see and affirm the pain of the African American community and acknowledge four centuries of harassment, degradation, and injustices done to fellow community members due simply to skin color. The massive, largely peaceful protests show that larger society is finally demanding the end to atrocities such as police brutality against people of color. Like our NASW national leaders, we in Virginia echo the call for policing reform as a vital step toward racial unity.

A separate but related reform to diminish police violence would be adoption of a “Marcus Alert,” a de-escalation approach named for teacher Marcus David-Peters, who was fatally shot by officers in 2018 after having a mental health crisis. A Marcus Alert would require law enforcement to activate a mental health professional as a first responder with possible police backup in a situation identified as a suspected or confirmed mental health crisis. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who has advocated for a Marcus Alert system, reports that the city’s police department is already exploring how that intervention would work.

Social workers are well-educated in violence and systematic racism of all types. We as social workers stand poised to give informed input needed for deeper law enforcement training and procedural reforms. But we also support NASW’s demand that “before America can end racial disparities in use of force, there must be a change in police culture. Police departments must root out the many officers who continue to view Black lives as being less valuable than that of other Americans.”

As society comes to terms with the robust agenda needed to dislodge deeply embedded systemic racial bias, NASW Virginia pledges to step up more to do what it does best: advocate for the protection and equal human rights of our clients and the social workers who serve them. We pledge to scrutinize public policy even closer for signs of inequity in outcomes, fight effort to legitimize wrongdoing as acceptable norms, and further leverage the strengths of our members to offer solutions and insights that help Virginia and America truly become a place where “liberty and justice” is for all.

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ARTS and DMAS Guidance Available on Business Re-opening

Governor Ralph Northam has announced a “Blueprint for Easing Public Health Restrictions” starting Friday, May 15, 2020. While Behavioral Health and Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) and the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) understand that some providers may be eager to resume more face-to-face services, they are reminding everyone that the provider flexibilities, allowances, directives, and limitations related to delivery of behavioral health and ARTS services extend throughout the declared public emergency in Virginia until otherwise formally notified.

Health providers and stakeholders are invited to sign up for automatic notifications of business re-opening guidance from ARTS and DMAS.

To access archived ARTS’ COVID-19 guidance, directives, recordings, webinars, and FAQs effective until the state emergency ends or otherwise notified, visit https://www.dmas.virginia.gov/#/emergencywaiver.

Richmond Newspaper Publishes NASW Virginia Op-Ed on Social Workers as Pandemic Heroes

The Richmond Times Dispatch has published “Unrecognized Heroes Adapt Mental Health Services in a COVID-19 Era,” an op-ed by NASW Virginia Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, about social workers as “invisible” essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The May 4, 2020, article describes what social workers do and how some are adapting in a COVID-19 era. It also calls for more workplace safety measures, including adequate personal protection equipment and legal enforcement against employers who retaliate against social workers for raising safety concerns in the execution of their daily duties.

The chapter continues to reach out to media outlets to build awareness about the social work profession and its contributions as behavioral health experts both in general and during the pandemic.

The full text of the op-ed can be read here.

NASW Victory! CMS Approves Medicare Reimbursement for Audio-only Device Delivery of Mental Health Services by Social Workers

A strong advocacy campaign led by the National Association of Social Workers and its chapters has resulted in victory with the May 1 announcement by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that it will permit clinical social workers to receive Medicare reimbursement for psychotherapy services provided via audio-only devices such as landlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CMS made the rule adjustment, along with other temporary waivers and changes, to increase access to healthcare and mental health services for the millions of older adults who currently cannot safely receive services in person. The agency had previously enabled greater deployment of telehealth by allowing healthcare providers such as clinical social workers to use smartphones with video chat apps to provide services in addition to pre-pandemic-approved video conferencing platforms.

“This CMS change will directly assist thousands of Medicare beneficiaries in Virginia, especially those living in rural areas or with low incomes who may not have smartphones or reliable internet access,” says NASW Virginia Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE. “Audio-only capability for delivering mental health services adds another valuable telecommunications tool that clinical social workers can use to better serve diverse populations such as older adults and people living with disabilities.”

A Special Thank-you to Social Workers Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Virginia social workers continue to rely on their training, professionalism, and experience as they adapt their daily duties to troubleshoot issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rarely have social workers been so needed by their clients and organizations, whether schools or hospitals, private businesses or government agencies.

Because they are integrated into nearly every element of society, social workers are leading calmly and competently to help ensure children are safe, families receive needed services, and individuals are supported.

The work is stressful and exhausting at the best of times, but never more so than during an international public health crisis. However, social workers are—as always—resourceful, creative, and committed. They continue to develop special resources, master new communication tools, shift to a telehealth business format, and more. Especially moving is their consistent rallying of each other as they offer optimistic and empathetic phone calls, emails, and texts. This is when the strength and diversity of Virginia’s social work community counts most. This is when NASW Virginia is needed most.

We thank you! Please turn to us for support and help during this difficult period!

Bookmark the chapter’s COVID-19 web section and check it often for news curated just for Virginia’s thousands of social workers.
Scan the revised NASW Virginia Calendar of Events and consider earning your required CEUs virtually by registering for the many workshops and courses that have moved online for safe, easy access from your home.
Share Your Story! NASW Virginia is collecting stories of how COVID-19 is affecting the daily lives and workloads of social workers around Virginia. Please email driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org to share how the pandemic has changed your organization, personal activities, and experiences.

These stories will be shared as part of the NASW Virginia COVID-19 website and publicized to build awareness of what social workers do and, from a peer-to-peer standpoint, how they are adapting in this disruptive but temporary period. Read the first story of two NASWVA members—2020 Social Worker of the Year recipient David Lewis and Central Virginia social work leader Heather Stone—here.

NASW Calls for Greater COVID-19 Protections for Social Workers

NASW has asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to remind employers that retaliation is illegal against social workers and other healthcare employees who raise legitimate concerns about their personal safety while caring for patients with COVID-19. NASW urges any social workers experiencing acts of retaliation on the job are urged to file a whistleblower complaint online with OSHA or call 1-800-321-OSHA.

The organization also announce March 19 that it continues to vigorously advocate to Congress and the White House for social workers and other healthcare workers to have much greater access to optimal personal protective equipment, and for the federal government to invoke a wartime production law to require mass-production of PPE and other critical medical supplies. For more information on both stories, visit the NASW Virginia COVID-19 site.

NASW 2020 Virginia Training Opportunities

The many unknowns related to the pandemic mean specifics around locations and formats of NASW Virginia trainings are ever-changing. Please check the Calendar of Events for the latest information and email professionaldevelopment.naswva@socialworkers.org before registering for a course or workshop. Whenever possible, we will offer either virtual formats or webinars until told that in-person meetings are safe. Your health and safety remain a priority for us. Thank you for your understanding and patience under these extraordinary circumstances.

NASWVA Advocacy Update

CMS Issues Teletherapy Guidance for Clinical Social Workers with Medicare Clients

Under pressure from NASW and other medical societies, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance late today allowing telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries--a victory for NASW and other advocates who have been pushing for the move in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical social workers now can provide teletherapy to beneficiaries if a new or existing client is in their home. There will be no audits to determine prior relationship. Telephone/audio-only is not reimbursable; CSWs must use a videoconferencing platform, which should be easier since HIPAA requirements are also eased. For full details, visit http://bit.ly/MedicareTeletherapyGuidance.

Chapter Victory! Governor Signs “Conversion Therapy” Ban

On March 3, Gov. Ralph Northam signed into law chapter-supported legislation that bans “conversion therapy” of children, marking a victorious end to NASWVA’s longtime efforts to stop the widely discredited psychotherapy practice. Conversion therapy claims to alter or repress an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

“The NASW Virginia Chapter has worked hard to protect the rights and welfare of LGBTQ children and adults,” says Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE, “The use of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ in Virginia was an appalling and misleading practice that was not evidence-based. Thank you to all members who sent letters, made phone calls, and participated in the chapter’s Lobby Day to ensure this issue stayed on the front burner of state lawmakers.”

For background, read the NASW position statement.

Chapter Victory! Virginia Workforce Study Moves Ahead

The Virginia Chapter of NASW has successfully co-led legislative efforts to advance a study that would gather critical data about the state’s social work workforce, ranging from salary information to licensing to workforce development. The bipartisan joint resolution was unanimously reported out of the House to the Senate (SJ49) January 24 for further consideration.

The chapter and its allies, including leaders of the Association of Black Social Workers Richmond Chapter and several universities, are grateful to bill sponsor Sen. Jennifer McLellan (Richmond, second from left) for her hard work to support this unprecedented study.

"Special thanks goes to Dr. Angela Henderson (fourth from right) for jumpstarting and co-organizing these collaborative efforts, as well as for her commitment to the chapter and the profession," says NASWVA Executive Director Debra Riggs, CAE (bottom left). "We also appreciate the efforts of Abigail Philips, chief of staff to Sen. McClellan (third from left). We look forward to working with the Senate to bring this resolution to full fruition soon."

Please email Debra Riggs at driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org if you want to support this legislative effort. Follow the chapter on Facebook (@NASWVA) for the latest legislative and regulatory progress in this fast-paced General Assembly.

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CEU Requirement Deadlines Extended One Year

The Virginia Board of Social Work has extended the deadline for LCSWs to complete their 30 hours for this cycle by a year (until June 30, 2021), unless you are newly licensed and not required to complete continuing education requirements this year. However, this does not change the next two-year cycle—LCSWs must also complete an additional 30 hours by June 30, 2022.

Each LBSW or LMSW will have until June 30, 2021, to complete the required 15 hours of CE. Every LCSW is still required to complete the required 30 hours of CE for the June 30, 2022, renewal, and each LBSW and LMSW is still required to complete the 15 hours of CE by the June 30, 2022, renewal, as well. The extension does not apply to those individuals who must complete CEs as part of a Board order. If you have questions, please contact your compliance manager.

Look online at our CE Institute for many training courses and/or at the chapter’s Calendar of Events. Local training will be scheduled continuously. Our 2020 conference also offers numerous opportunities for ethics contact hours.

About the National Association of Social Workers Virginia Chapter

NASW Virginia Chapter (NASWVA) is the top provider of social work professional development in the Commonwealth, as well as a nonprofit association that advocates for professional practices and social justice in the interest of thousands of social workers and their clients.

The chapter operates as the statewide arm of the National Association of Social Workers, which also offers events and education to enhance the skills and knowledge of its members, creates professional standards, and to advances sound social policies. All members must first join NASW to automatically become members of the NASW Virginia Chapter.

What does NASWVA do?

Promotes the core value of belief in the inherent worth and dignity of each individual.
Endorses and advances a professional social work identity and presence.
Connects, educates, and defines standards that enhance and guide professional practice.
Assesses and addresses current trends and issues relevant to and affecting the profession.
Advocates and supports public policies and legislative efforts to further the profession of social work and embrace the diversity of human need.

Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members.

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