FLINT, Mich. - Social workers in Michigan are learning to wear many hats as health care reform is implemented. The expansion of Medicaid and the establishment of the state Health Insurance Exchange is vastly expanding health care coverage to hundreds of thousands of Michiganders.

Executive director of the Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Counties Robert Sheehan said this will broaden the scope of social workers.

"Social workers will be taking on actually a traditional social-work role, to integrate the care that our patients, clients, consumers get, between their primary-care provider, their behavioral health-care provider, their housing provider, employment and legal systems," Sheehan said.

Because of payment and employment structures, over time many social workers have become specialists. As this new model of the health care industry is molded, many social workers are expanding their own expertise. However, Sheehan said, more training opportunities are needed to help social workers become aware of all the dimensions of human need. NASW-Michigan is developing a model that has social workers playing a key role in integrated health care.

It will be a challenge for some agencies as they re-calibrate the role, Sheehan said. Some will take on larger caseloads where the work is simpler, and others will take fewer cases but more intensive clients. What will help, he noted, is the addition of peer support specialists or community health workers, who will work with them as a team to connect clients to resources.

"They'll have these paraprofessionals around them to tie consumers, clients, patients to those needs in partnership with the social worker, so the social worker's role will become more of a therapist/integrator/orchestra leader," he explained.

Research shows that integrated care is key in improving health outcomes, quality of life and reducing costs, he said, estimating that about half of the 22,000 licensed social workers in Michigan will take on this new role of health-care integrator.

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Free Q & A Sessions on Private Practice
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"An Hour With Private Practice" is a monthly call-in question-and-answer session focused on a specific private practice subject. Callers can join in the discussion, ask questions, and comment. These sessions will provide you with important clinical social work updates affecting the delivery of mental health services.

Sessions are limited to the first 100 callers on the day of the event. Registration is not required. "An Hour With Private Practice" is held every third Wednesday of each month 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET. There are no sessions held in December.

Meeting Title: An Hour with Private Practice

Teleconference Lines:

US/CAN Toll free: 866-575-6534
Int'l Toll: 913-981-5579

Participant Passcode: 713670

January 15, 2014
Major Changes for Clinical Social Workers in 2014

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Losing Nelson Mandela

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) joins the world in mourning Nelson Mandela's death and remembering the enormous contribution he made to mankind.


Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 to the son of a Xhosa tribal leader and was given the tribal name, Rolihlahla, meaning "troublemaker." His life would later be defined by his fierce dedication to ending decades of apartheid and the brutal oppression of black South Africans.


In 1952, Nelson Mandela came to national prominence in South Africa when he helped organize the first country-wide protests called the Defiance Campaign. He was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) which modeled itself after the American non-violent civil disobedience civil rights movement. The ANC led many anti-apartheid protests in South Africa, including a 1960 protest in the township of Sharpeville, which ended with the South African police shooting and killing 69 black protestors. This event became known as the Sharpeville massacre, and led to an intensification of Nelson Mandela's resolve to end oppression. In 1962, he was arrested for treason and imprisoned for inciting a strike. That imprisonment lasted 27 years.


The years of near isolation and inhuman conditions at Robben Island prison would have emotionally withered a lesser man. Mr. Mandela drew strength from that experience. He, along with other ANC leaders who were imprisoned with him, continued the struggle for freedom from behind bars. It was this unwavering sense of moral commitment and self-sacrifice that sustained the anti-apartheid movement among young black South Africans, and eventually led to a world-wide movement that shined a light on the worst government sanctioned racism seen in the world.


During the mid-1980s, many social workers joined other Americans in anti-apartheid protests that eventually resulted in the February 1990 release of Mr. Mandela from prison. The leadership, dignity, intelligence and love of country he displayed when he was freed captured the attention of the world.

In 1993, Nelson Mandela (along with South Africa President FW De Klerk) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994, he was elected as South Africa's first black president and, through a process of national reconciliation, was instrumental in the country's bloodless transition to African leadership and shared democracy.


The National Association of Social Workers, with its own history of fighting against racism in the United States, celebrates the life and legacy of an inspirational world leader and social justice icon.


"South Africa has lost its greatest son and the world has lost one of its brightest lights. As the world mourns the death and celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela, his impact on the world will be remembered, acknowledged and fully appreciated by countless millions. Nelson Mandela taught us all that we are far more powerful than we might dare to believe, that our humanity runs deeper than we might ever imagine, and that our natural desire for freedom and justice can never be extinguished. Personally, I am incredibly thankful for his transcendent example of humanity, courage, and leadership; his life is a reflection of the very best that resides in all of us.”

– Angelo McClain, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Social Workers

NASW Joins Hunger Groups in December 4 Call in Day for SNAP

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December 4, 2013

Over the next few days, Congress will decide whether or not to cut hunger-relief programs in the farm bill. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provide much needed nutrition assistance to vulnerable kids, seniors, and low-income families. We need your help to mobilize thousands of phone calls to Congress this week to make sure they protect food assistance from cuts.

Please make a phone call to your Members of Congress today to ensure that struggling Americans have access to programs that help them put food on the table. 

Calling Congress is easy!  Here’s how: 

• Call toll-free to 1-888-398-8702
• Listen to the pre-recorded message and enter your zip code when prompted.  Press 1 to be connected to your Representative first. Once you are connected, state that you are a constituent and give your name and the town you are calling from. 
• Let them know you are calling about the farm bill and deliver this important message:

As a constituent, social worker and member of the National Association of Social Workers, I urge you to support and protect SNAP in any Farm Bill or other legislative vehicle. Oppose SNAP cuts.

Call back to repeat the process for your two senators, pressing 2 to be connected to the first senator and 3 to be connected to the second senator.

 

NASW Urges Congress to End LGBT Employment Discrimination

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December 2, 2013

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) supports the collective efforts of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocates and civil rights organizations to end discrimination and harassment in the workplace. 

Representing over 130,000 members nationwide, NASW endorses the Employment Non-Discrimination Act as a critical step to protect all workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  NASW urges the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 1755, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). 

Workplace discrimination is real.  Lesbian gay, bisexual, and transgender employees experience harassment and negative employment performance reviews solely due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Going to work should not include living in fear of colleagues or being denied the chance to earn a living based on one’s identity.

Currently, there is no federal law protecting individuals from job discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender.  Only a few states and territories have passed laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, with even fewer prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.  

NASW applauds those states, corporations, and municipalities which have passed laws, regulations, and policies banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.   Discrimination of any kind harms the health and well-being of individuals, their families, and communities.  ENDA is a necessary step to ensure that strong federal protections exist for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers no matter where they live and work.  

NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the country.  The association works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain standards for the social work profession, and to advance sound social policies.  Social workers help individuals and families in all communities improve their well-being.  They also promote social change to eliminate unfair living conditions for the people they serve.  

NASW urges Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act so that all workers are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Action Requested

NASW members are encouraged to contact your member of the House of Representatives to urge passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 1755).