Ms. Trust goes to Washington

Each year the NASW Annual Leadership Meeting (ALM) brings together all the Executive Directors, the Presidents or the President Elects of the Chapters (there are 55 chapters), the National NASW Board of Directors and the National staff to receive training on issues common to the Leadership of the Association.  It is an extraordinary experience being in among all this brain power, exuberance, leadership and passion for the profession. One day is spent on building strong relationships between elected volunteers, leaders and staff so that this team can go home and recreate the powerful voice of social work in its local Chapter.  The training that our President, Betty Morningstar, and I received will be passed on to our Board of Directors and other Committee and Shared Interest Group Chairs as we increase the strength of leadership in the Chapter.

President Morningstar and I had the opportunity to visit the offices of our two Massachusetts Senators, John Kerry and Scott Brown, as well as each of our Congressmen, Barney Frank and Michael Capuano.  Our main objective was to lobby our Congress people to sign on to the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (HR 1106/S.584.  This Act will not only strengthen the social work profession by giving it National Visibility, but it will also provide demonstration grants advancing the implementation of social work practice models in agencies and organizations throughout the country.  Senator Kerry has just signed on as a co-sponsor, as a result of our visit. You can count on President Morningstar and me to lobby the other three Congress people to a favorable decision.

A highlight of the 3 day event was the awarding of National Awards to exemplary social workers and public citizens.  The Massachusetts Chapter’s nominee for Public Citizen of the Year, Clementina Chery won the award with her exceptional vision and passion for creating the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Dorchester , MA.   In 1993, Ms. Chery’s son, Louse, was shot and killed while on his way to a Christmas party given by a group called Teens Against Gang Violence- a violence prevention, intervention and peer leadership development program. The Institute is dedicated to carrying on their son’s legacy of preventing violence in their community. The audience of National leaders and citizens were spell bound by the work of NASW-MA Chapter’s Ms. Chery.

So that’s a short round up  of what your Executive Director is up to on these yearly trips.  I am proud and grateful to represent the Massachusetts Social Work Community in the Nation’s Capital.

Carol J. Trust

When I'm 64...

Will you still need me?  Will you still feed me…….?  So the 1960’s lyrics of the Beatles song go and I still smile every time I hear that tune.  Decades old it may be, but the concern still prevails. How will life be as I get older, as my clients age, as we see the demographics shift such that there are more older folks in our lives than younger ones.  The subject has been getting more pressing as these topics are brought up in the media, and I become aware of my own aging. 

So what is NASW and the Chapter, in particular, doing about this?  How can we support our members who are dealing with these issues personally and professionally?  The news is good.  When you are an NASW member you can be sure to get all kinds of acknowledgment, support and resources in the area of aging.

For starters, in the area of acknowledgment, just take a look at the award winners at the 2011 Chapter Award event.  3 out of 7  work in the area of aging; Kathy Kuhn  recipient for the Greatest Contribution to Social Work Practice is on staff at the Institute of Geriatric Social Work; Chet Jakubiak, recipient of the Award for Social Policy and Change is  a leader at the  Massachusetts Association of Older Americans,  and Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich, recipient of the Greatest Contribution to Social Work Practice is Chairperson of the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, Older Adults and Families Concentration.  We applaud these outstanding NASW members for their contributions to the field of Geriatric Social Work.

Then we have all the Continuing Education Events on the subject of working with the Elderly  held this past year, including: Love, Sex and Aging: Intimacy and Older Adults; the film Beaches of Agnes that focused on successful and creative aging.  And the Major CE event of the  year for folks working with the Elderly-The Annual Nursing Home Conference.

Further, the Chapter has two wonderful Shared Interest Groups (SIGS) that concentrate on issues related to working with the elderly:  The Nursing Home SIG and the Elder Issues SIG.  Both of these groups keep us well abreast of the issues that relate to the aging population. And when you go on the National NASW webpage you’ll find loads of resources related to working with the Elderly, in particular the Aging Section which takes a look at Aging issues from a National perspective.

So, when I hear questions from members regarding what NASW is doing to support social workers working with the geriatric population, a big smile of pride crosses my face.  And I am sure there is more that can be done.  As always, let me hear from you about this or any other topic.

And lastly, for those of you who are wondering why does Carol have a particular interest in the aging subject and how old is she, anyways?  I want you to know that I have no interest whatsoever, in your age and, I appreciate your showing the same indifference to me.

With Best Regards,

Carol Trust (trust@naswma.org.)

WHEN AN APOLOGY IS NOT ENOUGH

Every now and then we find out about program/service that is so extraordinary, either because it is so focused on a population that has not been visibly served or so potentially controversial that folks may be worried about its implications, that it deserves some special coverage with the social work community.  This recently happened when I was visited in the office by Ms. Linda Kenney, President/Executive Director of MITSS. She had been directed my way by one of the Directors of Social Work at a major teaching hospital in Boston who ongoing continually uses the MITSS services.  The MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services) program is one such program.

Every social worker should know about this service, not only for their professional practice but also for their family’s’, friends’ and neighbors’ well- being.   I will take some language from the program’s written materials to adequately convey the purpose and value of this service.

Medically induced trauma is an unexpected outcome that occurs during medical and/or surgical care. These events may affect the emotional well- being of the patient and/or family members.  It is different from other types of traumas for several reasons: patients and their families may feel isolated because hospitals often are not set up to provide emotional support beyond the hospital stay; the trust between the care giver and the patient has been breached or, patients may feel vulnerable because they will need continued care within the same system that harmed them.

As a result of the medically induced trauma, patients can experience a whole range of serious emotional effects, immediately or even weeks or months later after the harmed experience.

This is where the MITSS program comes in by offering extensive therapeutic educational support groups for patients and their families as well as hotline availability where support and encouragement are always available.  In addition, the program works with medical organizations to provide education and process improvement.

This is truly a valuable niche service- especially during those times when an apology from the medical and surgical team is not enough.

You can find out more about the program at: www.mitss.org

Carol J. Trust

Payment Reform: NASW’s Vigilant Stance

What does this mean for the social work community? How will these new proposals impact the delivery of mental health and social work services in clinics and agencies?  And what about all our LICSWs in private and group practices?  What will happen to the whole ‘fee for service’  payment system?  These are some of the questions that the health and mental health community are asking as we review the Governor’s  Payment Reform Legislation that was released in February 2011.

Let me tell you that the Massachusetts Chapter of NASW is being vigilant.  The Chapter has formed an Ad Hoc Advisory Group of members who are knowledgeable about  the delivery of mental health service in clinics, hospitals, private practice and other settings.  The group made up of policy experts, private practitioners, policy consultants and academia are meeting to devise proposals and action steps for the Chapter to take as the Payment Reform movement proceeds.  You can be sure that NASW will take a stand for social workers to be well represented on any of the Task Forces and Advisory Groups that the Secretary of Health and Human Services is forming.

We are watching, we are strategizing and we are active.  If you have particular knowledge about this new Payment Reform Legislation and would to join our group.  Let me know.

Carol J. Trust

Local Social Workers Prepared to Help Victims of Devastating Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

In the aftermath of the tragic events in Japan earthquake followed by the deadly tsunami, it is difficult to find the words that express my profound sadness. We all struggle to find ways of responding to this horrific event. However, there is something that social workers can do. The NASW Foundation’s Social Work Disaster Assistance Fund has been established to ‘help social workers help others’. Our colleagues in the Japanese professional social work association are uniquely suited to assess the needs of disaster victims in a culturally competent manner and to provide leadership in promoting effective disaster relief and recovery efforts. Your financial contributions are appreciated. 100% of donations received go directly to those who have suffered loss and are in need of financial or other assistance due to a disaster.

When a disaster strikes, social workers may be personally affected and need help themselves.  They lose their homes, their jobs, and their businesses (including private practices).  Some have even lost loved ones.  Your donation will help them re-establish their lives, so they can continue to help others.

The Social Work Disaster Assistance Fund enables the NASW Foundation to fulfill a key component of its mission statement:  to assist with rapid response in social crises.

Social workers have always been at the forefront of helping others.  Please make a contribution to the Social Work Disaster Assistance Fund today!

To make a donation, click here.

In addition, NASW-MA has contacted the Japanese Consulate to notify them of our Social Work Therapy Referral Service (SWTRS).  The Massachusetts Chapter SWTRS team has nearly 300 Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) ready to assist family members and friends of those impacted by this horrible disaster. Our thoughts are with those affected by this monstrous devastation.

Carol J. Trust

POLITICS, POWER & SOCIAL WORK

How often do we here the word "politics"and immediately assign it a negative connotation? 

Well, I want you to consider this.  There is nothing inherently nasty about politics. In fact, the NASW-MA Chapter has, and continues to, positively affect social change through politics.
 
Case in point- PACE which is the acronym for  the NASW MA Chapter’s Political Action for Candidate Election arm.  This Committee of highly informed political ‘junkies’ –all lively NASW members – who are hungry for political and electoral happenings, keeps the Chapter and the Association on the front burner of electoral activities.  Because of PACE’s important work, which includes interviewing and endorsing candidates who share the same values and vision as social workers, NASW-MA is seen as the organization that candidates seek endorsement when running for both State Senate and House seats.  Sitting at the small conference table in the Chapter office, interviewing the next potential Treasurer or Governor for the state is a thrilling experience. This is an exciting time to get involved with PACE as the group starts to plan  its upcoming strategies.  You can be part of this worthy AND positive process.

Empower yourself. Join PACE today!

For more information about PACE please contact Julie Balasalle at Balasalle@naswma.org or 617-227-9635 x20.

Carol J. Trust

SAY YOU'RE A SOCIAL WORKER!

March is Social Work month- a wonderful reminder of the vastness and contributions of our great profession. And I am  recalling a public education campaign that NASW ran about 20 years ago that is still so relevant, I am revisiting it this week.

The "Say you are a Social Worker Campaign"  called upon professional social workers to declare their profession in all public (and social) communications and venues rather than using other vague titles, which serve to mask our higher educational  accomplishments (BSW, MSW, DSW and Ph.D.)  And to what am I referring? Case in point.  You are being interviewed by a newspaper for an article on your work, or you are at a social event and some asks you what you do, or you are responding to a Red Cross disaster scene and must introduce yourself to firefighters on the scene as you reach out to them.  What do we often hear?  ‘ Oh, I am a psychotherapist,’ or ‘I counsel troubled teenagers’, or ‘I work  with domestic violence victims’ or ‘ I am the Director of a mental health clinic’. You would be surprised how often social workers say describe themselves in these terms.  There is nothing  wrong with these statements especially when they are prefaced with “I am a social worker”, then add, “I counsel troubled youth”, or I have a private practice in psychotherapy”, or ‘I work with homeless veterans, etc.

When you introduce yourself in this way, you’ll be performing an invaluable public education service that benefits our professional and ultimately yourself. 

No professional public relations effort can impress the public consciousness as much as tens of thousands of social workers saying, “I AM A SOCIAL WORKER.”  When you do not it is a loss to the entire profession  and to the public.  The best way to bolster the image of the social work profession is for social workers to identify themselves as SOCIAL WORKERS!  Join me in declaring our profession!  Be inspired by the NASW-MA Chapter's video, "This Could Be You: The Many Faces of Social Work."  Check it out right here: http://www.youtube.com/user/NASWMAchapter

Carol J. Trust