NASW-IL Web Blog

Free CEUs! Recession Buster New Member Benefit and Other Volunteer Opportunities

Earlier this month, social workers around the state received their June membership issue which is comprised of articles and descriptions of the multitude of products and services the NASW Illinois Chapter offers. Responding to member responses to surveys and the current economic challenges our state and country face, the NASW Illinois Chapter is now offering FREE CEUs. Free CEUs are now being offered to NASW Illinois members attending any live CEU event including attendance to all CEU courses (with the exception of ethics trainings and symposia/conferences) , LSW/LCSW review courses, and district meetings until November 30, 2011. This even includes attendance to live virtual CEU events with a small technology fee of $8. In dollar terms, that’s $405 worth of free CEUs (27 out of 30) for the cost of one membership! If you’re not a member of the association, take advantage of this recession buster new member benefit.

Our June membership issue also includes a call to members to volunteer with the NASW Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC). This unique volunteer opportunity comes around every two years and coincides with the election cycle in Illinois. NASW PAC Illinois helps elect candidates to public office who support legislation and policies consistent with the goals of the social work profession and the needs of social work professionals statewide. This summer we need members to meet and interview Illinois candidates for the 2010 election in their areas of the state. NASW PAC Illinois has developed a list of political races around the state that are of great importance. A questionnaire is provided as well as support for volunteers in the process. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to interview many incumbents and candidates during this process. It is one of the most important ways we begin to cultivate relationships with future elected officials and make them aware of the importance of our profession to the lives of their future constituents. If you are interested, contact NASW Illinois PAC Chair Joe Harper or NASW PAC Staff Liaison at pac@naswil.org.

Wishing all of you a happy and safe Independence Day weekend.

Town Hall Meetings, CPS School Social Workers Honored, and a Fundraiser for the NABSW-CC

Social workers are always meeting in a variety of settings. This past week was no different, as I had the opportunity to participate several social work gatherings.

On Wednesday night, I attended a town hall meeting hosted by Jewish Child Family Services (JCFS), Keshet, and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago that dealt with the state’s current fiscal crisis and the threats to special education funding. State senators Ira Silverstein (D-8) and Heather Steans (D-7), representatives Karen (D-58), Rosemary Mulligan (R-65), Elaine Nekritz (D-57), as well as Julie Smith, Education Policy Advisor in the office of Governor Quinn, and Beatrice Diaz, Associate General Counsel, Illinois State Board of Education, participated on a panel moderated by NASW Illinois’ Government Affairs Consultant Phil Milsk. JCFS provides an array of programs that make a difference in the lives of thousands of children, adults, and families throughout Chicago’s diverse community each year. Their services include counseling, treatment for individuals with disabilities, respite care, special education programs, and residential care of abused and neglected children. Although the general message was not overly encouraging, it was important for social workers and consumers at this town hall meeting to speak directly to their elected officials about the personal impact the current inaction on the budget will have on individuals and their families.

On Thursday, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Specialized Services held its first school social work professional development conference in at least six or seven years. In the early part of the 2000s, CPS held annual conferences for their social workers. We’re glad they are back. The NASW Illinois Chapter exhibited at the conference which over 300 persons attended at the UIC Forum on the University of Illinois at Chicago’s campus. CPS social workers Melvin Caldwell and Theresa Toro presented a workshop on Media, Marketing , and Messages: School Social Work Practice, Working to Undo the Damage by Creating More Peaceable Schools. They both presented to the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors at its November 6 , 2009, meeting, as well as co-wrote an article in the February/March 2010 Networker magazine. During the lunch a variety of service awards were presented to CPS social workers. Most noteworthy was the recognition given to CPS social worker Dan Coyne. This past March, Dan donated a kidney to his favorite Jewel store checkout cashier in Evanston, Myra de la Vega. De la Vega, a Phillipina immigrant and single mother of two teenagers, also attended the event. A pretty remarkable act of kindness.

This past Friday, the National Association of Black Social Workers–Chicago Chapter (NABSW-CC) held its annual award and recognition event at the Bronzeville Community Club House. The 2010 Award recipients included Dr. Miranda Samuels, Khalid Scott, Diane Bradie-Baskin, Jataun Williams, and Dr. Dorothy Holly-Turner. Newly elected NASW Illinois Chapter President-Elect Yolanda Jordan and I attended.

 

Annual Leadership Meeting, Julie Hamos, Marge Berglind

This past Thursday and Friday, NASW Illinois current board leadership and incoming board membership met in Chicago, IL, first for a leadership training on Thursday and then on Friday for the last NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors meeting of the fiscal year. Friday’s meeting competed with the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks’ rally and parade. The board attended to the business of the chapter all day and was not distracted by the celebrations of the close to two million revelers!

Julie Hamos, the newly appointed director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (see 4/13/10 blog post) was invited to speak to the chapter leadership in the afternoon. She outlined some of the challenges she faces as the director of the largest of all of the state agencies in Illinois, making up a one-third of the state budget. She also discussed the influx of new people who will be coming into the heathcare system as a result of federal healthcare reform, as well as questioned whether we will have a sufficient workforce to serve this group. The NASW Illinois Chapter Board also discussed the lack of movement regarding the LCSW Medicaid reimbursement issue, which has been a Public Act since August of 2007 yet still lacks a system of billing and reimbursement. Director Hamos indicated a willingness to “reopen the conversation” on the issue and setting up a meeting to do so.

Director Hamos also discussed the nursing home reform issue at length and the Williams v. Quinn consent decree.

Jane Addams Hull House Association, located in Chicago is celebrating the accomplishments of Jane Addams by holding four symposia in a year-long celebration that will culminate in Jane Addams’ 150th Birthday Celebration in September 2010. One of these symposia was held this morning in which the Jane Addams Women of Valor Award was presented.

One of the awardees was Margaret (Marge) Berglind, LCSW, and longtime NASW Illinois Chapter member. Marge is president and CEO of Chicago Care Association of Illinois. The Child Care Association of Illinois (CCAI) promotes, protects, advocates for, and strengthens a responsive, not-for-profit service delivery system and shapes public policies for the benefit of children and families. Marge is true advocate for the member child welfare agencies and articulates the needs and the realities of the child welfare system in the state of Illinois. The keynote speaker at the event was Dr. Creasie Hairston, dean of the University of Illinois Jane Addams College of Social Work.

Illinois Mental Health Courts, CHA Waiting Lists Open Up, Go Blackhawks!

The NASW IL Chapter was a sponsor once again at the third annual Mental Health Courts in Illinois: Supporting Recovery and Resilience Conference that took place yesterday at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.  NASW IL member Lisa Salvadore, LCSW, CADC, a senior clinician/consult for the DuPage County Health Department, was one of the conference’s coordinators.  The workshops included the preliminary results from the Illinois Mental Health Courts Study. The complete results will be available at the 2011 Illinois Mental Courts Conference.  There are currently twelve operational mental health courts in Illinois. The following is a list of Illinois Mental Health Court Coordinators:

Illinois Mental Health Court Coordinators
Cook County
Mark Kammerer
(773) 869-2258   
mekammerer@hotmail.com

DuPage County MICAP       
(630) 407-8846
james.wojtas@dupageco.org

Kane County TAC   
Leigh Bell
(630) 444-3158   
bellleight@co.kane.il.us

Lake County TIM       
Tania Murillo           
(847) 377-3898   
tmurillo@lakecountyil.gov

Lee County
Kim Becker           
(815) 284-5247   
kbecker@countyoflee.org

Madison County
Glenda Bell           
(618) 692-8691   
glbell@co.madison.il.us

McHenry County
Susan Van Diggelen
State’s Attorney’s Office   
(815) 334-4824   
smvandiggelen@co.mchenry.il.us

McLean County
Dennis McGuire       
(309) 888-5360   
dennismcguire@mcleancountyil.gov

Rock Island LIFE Program
Mark Raskie
Adult Supervisor       
(309) 558-3716   
mraskie@co.rock-island.il.us

Will County
Julie McCabe-Sterr
State’s Attorney’s Office   
(815) 774-7852   
jmccabe@willcountyillinois.com

Winnebago County TIP
Michelle Rock
Specialty Court Administrator
(815) 319-4805   
mrock@wincoil.us

For the first time in a decade, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is opening its Family Housing Wait List. This is the list used by the CHA to fill rental units as they become available in CHA-owned properties across the city. There will be 40,000 families selected by lottery for CHA's Family Wait List. The lottery will be conducted at the end of a four-week period during which anyone eligible can register for the lottery. Those selected will be offered housing as it becomes available.  You can find out more about this at the CHA Web site.

National Cancer Survivors Day, June 6, 2010

This coming Sunday, June 6, 2010, is National Cancer Survivors Day. Around the country, over eleven million cancer survivors will join survivors around the world in observing this day. Events will be taking place in communities to celebrate life and to demonstrate that life, following a cancer diagnosis, can be meaningful and productive. It’s on this day that the contributions of families, friends, researchers, and healthcare providers who support cancer survivors (Including oncology social workers) will be recognized.

Social workers play a major role in providing psychosocial care to persons with cancer, as well as to their families, and caregivers, through networking, education, advocacy, research, and resource development. In fact NASW National Director Betsy Clark’s background is health care with a specialization in oncology. She has worked in direct clinical practice; has held several academic positions including an associate professorship in medical oncology; has been a hospital administrator; has conducted research and has published in such areas as cancer survivorship and bereavement. Betsy is past president of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and an advisory board member of the Intercultural Cancer Council, a partner with C-Change: Collaborating to Conquer Cancer.

As noted in a recent article in the May 2010 National NASW News, the demand for cancer care in the near future will far outpace the workforce trained to help people with the disease. NASW is joining the campaign to address this problem by encouraging non-oncology social workers and social work students to strengthen their core understanding of cancer.

 National Cancer Survivors Day will be observed in a variety of settings around the state of Illinois. One of those settings is the Community Cancer Center in Normal, IL. The center’s mission is to improve the health status of individuals by providing comprehensive, community-based cancer care. Candi Gray, MSW, LCSW, OSWC, chair of the NASW IL East Central District and member of the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, is the only social worker at the Community Cancer Center. She notes that “as an oncology social worker, I have the privilege everyday to help those who are affected by cancer find the knowledge, support, and hope they will need to face the challenges and changes their diagnosis brings.”

This past April, the Oncology Nursing Society, the Association of Oncology Social Work, and the National Association of Social Workers developed a Joint Position on the Role of Oncology Nursing and Oncology Social Work in Patient Navigation.

Additional cancer resources for social workers can be found at here.

Budget Bust, Diversity Committee, Lewis vs. City of Chicago, NASW Legal Defense Fund

Last night in Springfield, the Illinois House of Representatives approved borrowing $3.7 billion to pay for the Illinois retirement system. This was coupled with the House passing a $57.1 bilion appropriations bill and sending over to the Senate a bill that would grant Governor Quinn “emergency” authority over cutting and borrowing to close the $13 billion budget hole. As many of you are aware, over the past several months, the social work community has been very active is voicing its support for a responsible budget and sufficient revenues to support the human services sector across the state. The deliberations by the General Assembly still do not solve the shortfall of revenue.

While the General Assembly was deliberating in Springfield, the NASW IL Chapter’s Diversity Committee presented a workshop entitled Cultural Competence Issues and Social Work Practice which focused on three ongoing challenges to cultural competence of practitioners and services organizations: white privilege, domination, and subordination (Presented by Barbara Wahler), politics, the media, and immigration (Presented by Tom Kenemore); and the origins and current impact of race and racism (Presented by Carl Johnson). Their presentation took place as the news on Tuesday was dominated by the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Lewis v. City of Chicago. By a vote of 9-0, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers who use tests that have the effect of ruling out disproportionate numbers of women and minorities may be sued each time they use the results to hire. The case stemmed from a group of City of Chicago fire fighters who argued that the city used the 1995 firefighter’s exam in a way that favored whites. The unanimous decision on Monday means that “a new act of discrimination was committed every time scores from the 1995 exam were used to hire new firefighters.”

The NASW Legal Defense Fund filed an amicus friend of the court brief in this case last November. The full brief can be found here. For those of you who don’t know, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is another one of those hidden jewels of the association. Established by NASW in 1972, it provides financial legal assistance and support for legal cases and issues of concern to NASW members and the social work profession; it also supports educational projects and programs to improve the legal status and knowledge of the social work profession. As a part of its mission, LDF has supported precedent–setting lawsuits and makes available legal resources of interest to NASW members and social workers generally On its web page on the National NASW Web site, it publishes “Legal Issues of the Month,” and other valuable information for social workers. Before joining the National Board of Directors, NASW IL member Joe Monahan, ACSW, JD, served two terms as an LDF trustee and served as chair in his final term.

State Budget Press Conferences, Acknowledging Jeanne Marsh, PhD

Around the state today, the Responsible Budget Coalition (of which the NASW Illinois Chapter is a member) is holding press conferences in eight different cities throughout Illinois. The RBC brings together many diverse organizations that represent and serve millions of Illinois residents. The NASW Illinois Chapter, along with its fellow members of the RBC, is committed to building the support needed to solve Illinois' budget crisis, prevent harmful cuts to essential public services, save jobs, eliminate the state's long-term structural deficit, and make taxes fairer. The message at today’s Press Stand-Ups is simple—Go back and do the job right. Pass a responsible budget. The alternative is unacceptable. NASW Illinois members are participating in these conferences taking place in Chicago, Rockford, Moline, Peoria, Quincy, Decatur, East St. Louis, and Vienna. I attended the Chicago news conference in which a wide variety of agencies were represented including Lutheran Social Services, Erie Neighborhood House, Heartland Alliance, and others. Long time NASW Illinois member and school social worker, Galen Thomas, spoke at the Vienna news conference this morning in southern Illinois. The following are his remarks:

The state of Illinois currently owes Williamson County Special Education over $2 million in special education funding. We provide all the special education services to the five school districts in Williamson County. Herrin School District, where I provide most of my social work services, is owed over $800,000 in state funding. My director, Stephanie Dillard, informs me that our region has the highest poverty rate in the state of Illinois at 40%, and we have the highest percentage of our students receiving special education services. But our region receives the least amount of state education funding per capita. Chicago receives $4300 student special education funding per capita while our region receives only $2100. When the funding formula actually cuts funding to impoverished districts like Cairo, something is very wrong.

Our students suffer every time they cannot find a dentist because the state funding has been delayed so much it is hard to find a dentist to take the medical card. They suffer when they have to be put on a waiting list because the budget has been cut at the community mental health program. They suffer when they cannot get enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program to prepare them to learn when they reach mandatory school attendance age. And the list goes on.
   
Personally, when I retire this year, my position will not be filled because of budget shortfalls. I feel sorry for the remaining school social workers and psychologists who will have to figure out how to provide services to the five schools that I have been serving. But some school districts are cutting positions even more drastically up and down the state.

Some people are upset that the legislators cut the spring session short rather than stay in Springfield and work on the budget. I would recommend that the legislators not return to Springfield until both Republicans and Democrats are ready to pass a fair, responsible budget. How much money could be saved if they simply stayed in their local districts where they would be more readily accessible to their constituents?

Thank you for the opportunity to express these comments.

Last night I attended a reception honoring the achievements of Jeanne Marsh, PhD, dean and George Herbert Jones Distinguished Service Professor during the last five years at The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA). Jeanne is stepping down as dean and will return to the SSA faculty. This is Jeanne’s second stint as dean. She also served as leader of SSA from 1988–1998. Jeanne has been an institution at SSA, joining the SSA faculty in 1978. She has always been a strong supporter of NASW Illinois and edited the association’s Social Work journal from 2001–2005.

Neil Guterman, PhD, the Mose and Sylvia Firestone Professor will succeed Jeanne for a five year term effective July 1, 2010.

Habilitative Systems Inc., State Budget Impasse

I was out on the west side of Chicago today where I had the opportunity to visit Habilitative Systems Inc., (HSI) and its president/CEO for the past twenty-one years, Donald Dew. Donald ranks amongst the top social work leaders in our state. In an ever challenging fiscal reality, Donald and HSI continue to rise to the occasion by providing quality services and fighting for continued funding for vital human services in the state. 

HSI is a multi-faceted human service agency that plays a substantial role in the articulation, development and delivery of programs and services to improve the quality of life in the city of Chicago. HSI helps thousands of individuals and families through the community-based programs offered through four integrated care centers: Behavioral Health Services, Children and Family Services, Disability Management Services, and Residential Services.

You may remember on Advocacy Day this past February, I participated in a press conference convened by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA) announcing the release of their study chronicling the state’s waning support for human services entitled, Illinois State Funding for Human Services in Context. The study notes the underfunding of human services in the state of Illinois by $4.4 billion from FY02 through FY10. Donald was one of the speakers at that news conference, emphasizing the important role that human service organizations play in employment in communities around the state.

HSI is one of the largest human service employers on Chicago’s west side and operates fifty programs in fifteen west side locations, employing over 200 people. I had the opportunity to visit two of its programs with Donald today. The first of these program, the Elois McCoy Village Apartments, is a sixty unit housing facility for elderly persons in need of affordable supportive living arrangements. It is located on a block square lot across the street from the organization's main facility at 415 South Kilpatrick. Funding for this project was obtained from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Chicago Department of Housing, and the Community Bank of Lawndale.

The second of these programs, the Robert LeFlore House, is one of five newly constructed 811 houses for persons with disabilities. These units provide additional housing for this population and allow for placement in both a community-based and lesser restrictive environment. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

There is still no resolution of the FY11 Illinois state budget crisis as legislators left Springfield late Friday with no resolution to our astronomical $13 billion debt. As many of you know, the chapter has been advocating for a tax increase to help fund Illinois human services, education, health, and safety. Legislators will be back in their district offices for the next one to two weeks. So a call or even a visit your state representative or state senator in the district. Finally, check the latest report from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability about Illinois being one of the lowest spending states in the nation.

Newly Elected Chapter Leadership, State Budget Crunch Time, New Social Work Graduates

The 2010 NASW IL Chapter elections, conducted online, ended this past Friday. I would like to acknowledge the newly elected chapter leadership who will be joining current board members when their terms begin on July 1, 2010. They include:

President Elect:

Yolanda Jordan, MSW, LCSW
 

Secretary:

Maudette Carr, MSW, LSW

 
Three Rivers District Chair:
Mary Cortes-Benjamin, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
 

Chicago District Chair:

Alexander Brown, PhD, MBA, LCSW

 
Southern District Chair:

Travis Nottmeier, LCSW, CADC
 
Member At-Large:

Joan Ente, LCSW, ACSW, C-ASWCM
 
MSW Representative:

Jervai Drago-Dumas (Loyola University Chicago)

 
BSW Representative:
Jennifer Hoye (Northeastern Illinois University)

I would like to thank all of those members who ran for elected office and encourage them to stay involved and engaged with the chapter. We had a very strong slate that Sue Razbadouski, chair of the Nominating Committee, and her committee worked hard to put together.

As our CapWiz alert sent out to the membership on Friday noted, today NASW IL is joining other organizations in hosting a call-in day so that legislators hear about the need for a responsible budget from advocates every day until the end of the session, which is tentatively scheduled to adjourn for the summer by Sunday, May 9th. Even if you make the call tomorrow and any day this week, we urge to call your legislator and tell them to:
•    Pass a revenue and tax reform package now to address the current and long-term budget crisis.
•    Protect vital human services from cuts.
•    Don’t leave Springfield until the budget crisis is resolved.
The general phone number for the General Assembly is (217) 782-2000. A complete list of member phone numbers can be found at http://www.ilga.gov.

We simply can’t let up now. We need to continue to remind our State Representative and State Senator how important it is to pass a responsible budget that funds critical human services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Illinois residents. We need to keep the pressure on until a just and responsible revenue and spending plan is approved.

Over the next several days, many social work students will be graduating from social work programs throughout the state. We welcome you to one of the most exciting and challenging professions. As National NASW Director Dr. Betsy Clark notes in her 2009 paper, A Broader Vision for the Profession, “Social work is the “profession of hope.” It is not simple “optimism” that defines us, but a grounded, full bodied hope.” We look forward to many of our graduates becoming engaged in the NASW IL Chapter, the largest profession of social workers in the state of Illinois.

2010 Social Work Congress—Washington, DC

This past week, NASW IL Chapter President Dennis Crowell and I, along with eleven other participants from Illinois, participated in the 2010 Social Work Congress, which brought together 350 leaders in the social work profession to create a plan to develop the next generation of social workers and address issues that challenge the fast-growing social work profession. The Illinois participants (in addition to Dennis and myself) included Adriana Gonzalez, LCSW, CADC, president of Latino Social Work Behavioral Health and Consulting Services, Inc.; Alicia McLaughlin, assistant professor and BSW/MSW Director of Field Education, Chasity Wells-Armstrong, MSW, CADC, Constituent Services Director for Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson and Calumet District Chair on the NASW IL Chapter Board of Directors; Richard Jones, PhD, MSW, president and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services and Chairman of the NASW Assurance Services Board of Trustees; Colleen Jones, LCSW, executive vice president and COO of Metropolitan Family Services; Diana Stroud, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW, assistant dean for Advancement and Alumni Affairs at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and treasurer of the NASW Board of Directors; Joe Monahan, MSW, ACSW, JD, of Monahan & Cohen law firm and Region IX (Illinois & Iowa) Representative on the NASW Board of Directors; Robyn Golden, LCSW, ACSW, DCSW, director of Older Adults Programs at Rush University Medical Center; Wynne Korr, PhD, dean and professor in the School of Social Work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Yan Searcy, PhD, associate professor in the Departments of Social Work and Sociology at Chicago State University; and finally, Elizabeth Gould, MSW, LCSW, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Supportive Services Program National Resource Center to States at the Alzheimer’s Association. But more on that in a bit…

Several of the Illinois attendees spent the Wednesday before the event on visits to members of the Illinois Congressional delegation. We personally met with Representative Debbie Halvorson and Representative Danny Davis and met with the staff of Representatives Debbie Halvorson (D-11, Crete), Tim Johnson (R-15, Sidney), Jan Schakowsky (D-9, Evanston), Danny Davis (D-7, Chicago), and Aaron Schock (R-18, Peoria), as well as a staff member in Senator Richard Durbin’s office. Our visits coincided with the sad news of the death of civil rights movement pioneer Dorothy Height.

We generally discussed three major topics in our meetings on Capitol Hill:

1. The various titles in the new healthcare legislation and the role of the social work profession;
2. The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R. 795, S. 686); and
3. The crisis of the Illinois state budget and its impact on the human services network.

 

However challenging the times are currently, going to Washington and meeting with democratically elected people has a way of restoring faith in the system. The Capitol was mobbed. When we took a break for lunch in the Longworth office building, I looked over the entire cafeteria and saw a cross section of America—middle and high school groups on their Washington trips, young staffers from congressional offices, and advocates from every group imaginable.

The actual Social Work Congress took place on April 22–23, 2010. There were many highlights. The work produced by the participants is summarized on the Social Work Congress homepage. Interspersed in the schedule between working on the imperatives were several general sessions. Kirstin Downey, author of the The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins: FDR’s Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience (2009), was particularly interesting. Perkins was a social worker and political activist who served as Secretary of Labor under President Roosevelt for twelve years. She also chaired the Committee on Economic Security which developed and drafted the legislation that became the Social Security Act in 1935. Downey is staff writer for the Washington Post and shared in the Pulitzer Prize awarded to the Washington Post staff for coverage of the campus slayings at Virginia Tech.

Following the Social Work Congress, Dennis and I participated in the association’s Annual Leadership Meeting (ALM) which brings together chapter presidents and executive directors from the around the country. It provided a good opportunity to share successes and discuss challenges facing the profession in states around the nation.