SOCIAL WORKER. Legislative Advocacy Day Registration IN THIS ISSUE. p. 10

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1 T H E P E N N S Y L V A N I A A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER Legisative Advocacy Day Registration p. 10 SOCIAL WORKER VOLUME 32, NUMBER 4 WINTER 2011 IN THIS ISSUE Tite Protection Update 2 Moving Us Forward 3 President s Coumn 4 Ca for Proposas 5 BSW Visibiity Day 6 Support Bacheor Leve Licensure 7 Update From the Hi 9 Legisative Advocacy Day 10 Legisator Spotight 13 Socia Work Spotight 14 Socia Work Month Membership Services Update 18 Socia Workers of the Month 19 HIPAA Version 5010 Is Coming 20 Sef-Care 21 Becoming a NASW-PA Leader 22 NASW-PA Nomination From 23 NASW-PA 2011 Conference Highights 24 Winter CE Caendar 26 NASW-PA CE Workshop Registration 27 PA Fund for Workforce Soutions 28 Recognizing Our Socia Work State Board Representatives 30 Student Paper Contest Winner: Heaing the Mind, Body and Sou from Within 33 Army Nationa Guard 35 It s time to take action to change the rights, privieges and protection of the socia work profession. It s time to be visibe in your workpace, your community, and in Harrisburg. Pennsyvania is the second argest educator of socia workers with 42 Counci on Socia Work Education accredited programs. Every state schoo except Carion University, Indiana University of Pennsyvania and Penn State University offers a bacheor and/or master s degree in socia work. The University of Pittsburgh is a tier one research schoo offering a nationay recognized PhD program. We have prestigious private schoos that are eaders in socia work education, such as the University of Pennsyvania and Bryn Mawr Coege. We aso have reigiousy affiiated schoos, such as Marywood University, Phiadephia Bibica University and Messiah Coege, demonstrating that faith and socia work are good partners. With so many educationa institutions, it is not surprising that there are an estimated 40,000 degreed socia workers iving in the Commonweath. Given the number of schoos and the size of our profession, what is surprising is our status. The rights and protections of the socia work profession in Pennsyvania are on par with Guam and the U.S. Virgin Isands. We do not have a practice act; 43 states and the District of Coumbia do. We do not have bacheor s eve icensure for emerging professionas, and our seasoned cinica coeagues do not have the abiity to diagnose cients. We are undervaued and critica to our cients webeing we are underutiized. Together, we can change that reaity by inking arms, taking risks and putting ourseves out there in a whoe new way. NASW-PA continues to demonstrate its wiingness to stand proud for our profession. It is time for you to show your strength and pride, and this edition of The Pennsyvania Socia Worker wi hep you do it. An NASW-PA sponsored biboard. 425 North 21st Street, Suite 401 Camp Hi, PA

2 NASW-PA LEADERSHIP OFFICERS Gwen Phiips, LCSW Wiiam Johnston-Wash, MSW Mike Fiore, LSW, HSV Linda Martin, LCSW, RN President Vice President Treasurer Secretary MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Troy Brinde, LCSW Brandywine Division Chair Kathy Minnich, LSW Centra Division Chair Hope Horowitz, LSW Lehigh Vaey Division Chair Nancy Side, PhD, LSW North Centra Division Chair Matt Fino, LSW Northeast Division Chair Suzanne McDevitt, PhD Northwest Division Chair Christine Matthews, LSW, MBA, CLC Phiadephia Division Chair Sarah Graden, LSW Phiadephia Division Rep I Reginad E. Duckson, MSW Phiadephia Division Rep II Nathanie Morey, MSW Southwest Division Chair Tony Mastroianni, LSW Southwest Division Rep Daisi Dumas Eyery, LSW West Centra Division Chair Megan Dickman MSW Student Representative Katie Wiiams BSW Student Representative CHAPTER COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS & LEADERSHIP IDENTIFICATION Vacant Brandywine Division Say Reed, LSW, HSV Centra Division Phiip Arnod, LCSW Lehigh Division Vacant Northwest Division Loyd Lyter, PhD, LSW Northeast Division Amy Gedrich, LCSW, ACSW Phiadephia Division Jim Kuemmere, ACSW Southwest Division Patricia Savage, ACSW West Centra Division STAFF Jenna Mehnert, MSW, ACSW Executive Director Amy Sagen, LSW, MSG, ACSW Associate Executive Director Rebecca Davis, MSW Director of Membership Justin Feming, BS Director of Government Reations Christina Mortensen, LSW Director of Research & Communications Hai Farre Membership Assistant Aicia Newkam, AS Continuing Education Assistant Christina Mortensen, LSW Christina Reardon, LSW Lio Mueer Editor-in-Chief Editor Graphic Designer The Pennsyvania Socia Worker Vo. 32, No. 4 Winter 2011 ISSN # Pubished quartery (Spring, Summer, Fa, and Winter) by the Nationa Association of Socia Workers, Pennsyvania Chapter, 425 N. 21st Street, Suite 401, Camp Hi, PA Phone: Fax: ADVERTISERS: See cassified section for information on advertising. For a rate card detaiing advertising specs and poicies, ca the chapter office at The chapter reserves the right to reject advertisements for any reason at any time. No iabiity is assumed if an advertisement is omitted for whatever reason. GENERAL INFORMATION: Pubication of advertising and/or editoria copy in this newsetter does not constitute endorsement or approva by NASW and/or NASW-PA of content, point of view, standards of service, or opinion presented therein, nor does the chapter guarantee the accuracy of information. Whie the editoria staff attempts to verify accuracy, the author is utimatey responsibe for content sources and accuracy. Comments or opposing points of view are encouraged and must be signed. Except when other requests are made and honored, written reactions wi be printed and signed with the writer s name under Letters to the Editor. A copy is subject to editoria approva. NASW-PA reserves the right to edit artices for purposes of carity and/or space. MEMBER ADDRESS CHANGES: , membership@ naswdc.org or POSTMASTER, SEND ADDRESS CHANGES: NASW, 750 First St. NE, Ste. 700, Washington, DC Tite Protection Update Impementing the New Law In 2008, NASW-PA advocated for the socia work profession s reputation and was successfu in estabishing tite protection for Pennsyvania s socia workers. The State Board of Socia Workers, Marriage and Famiy Therapists and Professiona Counseors is finaizing reguations that ceary state it is unawfu for individuas to ca themseves socia workers, use the tite socia worker or use the abbreviation SW uness they either hod a current icense or have received a bacheor s, master s or doctora degree from an accredited schoo or program of socia work. With the first draft of the reguation, an agency or individua vioating tite protection woud be charged $100 per month, with $1,000 being the maximum annua charge. However, due to the compicated nature of prosecuting such an offense, it became the perspective of NASW-PA that the $100 per month penaty shoud be raised to $1,000 per month, with a maximum annua charge of $10,000. The Board was receptive to this idea. Revised reguations now indicate that penaties for vioating the aw resut in a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and second and subsequent offenses caing for forma action and a fine of up to $10,000. This is a great victory for the socia work profession and NASW-PA commends the Board for their work on drafting these reguations. Revised reguations now indicate that penaties for vioating the aw resut in a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and second and subsequent offenses caing for forma action and a fine of up to $10,000. It is no secret that there are entities within the Commonweath that do not compy with this aw and continue to batanty vioate it. The higher monetary penaty wi serve to dissuade individuas who woud disregard tite protection. Protecting the integrity of the profession is a critica mission of NASW-PA and a socia workers. Therefore, if you encounter an individua who is breaking the tite protection aw, it is essentia that you contact NASW-PA so we can coectivey protect the vaue of our education, skis and profession.

3 MOVING US FORWARD BY JENNA MEHNERT, MSW, ACSW Executive Director I have spent the ast five years of my ife criticay thinking about the socia work profession more than anything ese contempating, fighting, debating and even arguing about the virtues, vaue and status of a profession I found accidentay. I never intended to be a socia worker. I panned to be a high schoo history teacher. I ended up at the University of Pennsyvania by the advice of a facuty member during my undergraduate studies. As student director of my coege s women s center, the facuty adviser tod me I woud be a danger to society if I did not get the education of a socia worker. She tod me it was obvious I was born to be a socia worker. It was not unti I started the appication process to get into MSW programs that I even began to understand there was such a thing as the socia work profession. Whie at UPenn, I came to vaue and respect the caing that I fet to buid a better society, and I identified that caing as the core mission of the socia work profession. I deveoped a professiona identity, even though I never panned to spend much time working in direct practice. It was made cear to me that if I worked within a framework of a profession that is committed to sef-determination and the dignity and worth of a peope, my systemic change efforts woud be far more meaningfu than if I worked outside of a professiona framework. I am not going to be disingenuous and say that it did not fee good to attend raies to make unreaistic demands. It certainy did fee good to beieve that I was 100 percent right and the other side was 100 percent wrong. I was not drawn to this profession to fix my own issues or because I coud not hande other academic courses (a popuar misconceptions about socia workers). It was made cear to me that if I worked within a framework of a profession that is committed to sef-determination and the dignity and worth of a peope, my systemic change efforts woud be far more meaningfu than if I worked outside of a professiona framework. I came to socia work to buid better systems for cient popuations that are disempowered from creating systemic change. I thought screaming in the streets was the best way to make that happen. I came to see that, whie I have the heart of an advocate, ony through reasoned and rationa efforts invoving compromise coud I promote true systemic change. As I ook across our great nation today, I wonder where that reasoned, compassionate approach has gone. Lawmakers, poitica candidates and members of the genera pubic aike seem wiing to make decisions with itte data, uncear facts and a ack of any deeper understanding of how rea peope s ives wi be affected. Peope fabricate information simpy to make their points, rather than etting facts direct decision making or aowing citizens best interests guide our compass. I do not care what your reigious or poitica beiefs are. I wi do everything in my power to make sure you are safe and fed, and that barriers to your empoyment or academic success are removed so you may make the choice to be successfu even if it means I pay some of the costs out of my own pocket. I care about you even if I have never met you. Is this my approach just because I am a socia worker? No. Is it my ethica obigation to promote this attitude because of my profession? Yes. Our society is engaged in a baming cuture that scares me. The unempoyed have been universay abeed as azy. Hungry chidren are products of bad parents who shoud just stop buying potato chips with their food stamps. Veterans face homeessness and addiction because they refuse hep. Caims of sexua abuse by chidren are depicted as misunderstandings bown out of proportion by zeaots. And, my favorite, the neuroogica disorder of autism has been caed a fabrication that is simpy the resut of bad parenting by over-indugent parents. These are not the beiefs of the society that I want to be a member of, yet this mindset can be found throughout my community. So, if you agree with me that the coec- Continued on page 5 W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 3

4 PRESIDENT S COLUMN GWEN PHILLIPS, LCSW NASW-PA President Out and About Refecting on My First 30 Days as President of NASW-PA During my first 30 days in office, I made a concerted effort to visit severa organizations in the Phiadephia area. The purpose of these visits was to see if these organizations knew about NASW, to inform them of what our mission was and who we represented, to see how many professiona socia workers were empoyed, and to engage them in a working partnership for the future. I had the sense that some non-members may have fet that our organization is an eitist group, servicing a seective few. My mission was to change this point of view. The organization representatives that I met with incuded representatives from Congreso, The Sodiers Project, Bethany Christian Services and one of the owners of a new private practice agency, Stronger Than Ever LLC. Athough the popuations they served were different, some of their concerns were the same. I wi share with you some of the concerns they shared with me and how as an organization we coud assist them. Congreso is a mutiservice organization with a focus on Latino communities. It is a comprehensive organization providing empoyment, heath and socia services to more than 15,000 individuas a year. Congreso s phiosophy is that each individua and famiy has strength that can be used to their advantage. The organization beieves that with appropriate guidance and opportunities, any famiy can prevai over chaenges, satisfy needs and achieve sef-sufficiency. Professiona socia workers are empoyed by the agency, as we as a arge number of other professionas and support staff. One of Congreso s major concerns at the time of my visit was the proposed budget cuts and what the cuts might mean to its programs and the cients it serves. The organization aso requested a meeting with our training staff to discuss the possibiity of NASW-PA providing continuing education training. The Sodiers Project is a private nonprofit group of vounteers, icensed psychiatrists, psychoogists, socia workers, nurses, and marriage and famiy therapists. The group offers free confidentia counseing to miitary service members and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conficts and their extended famiies. The Phiadephia Division of NASW- PA provided training for the group ast fa. The Sodiers Project offers seminars to providers and to communities that are interested in giving back to those who have given so much. The seminars are geared to heighten the providers skis, as we as the community s awareness of the changes famiy members may be experiencing when an individua eaves or returns from service. One of the key points of the work is homecoming. The project provides a safe pace to tak and think about the changes that a persons invoved may experience when a veteran returns. I am taking my third seminar with the intent to give back to the miitary community. One of the main concerns for The Sodiers Project eadership is to get quaified professionas trained. The group is working on getting space in the community where confidentia counseing can take pace. I had the sense that some non-members may have fet that our organization is an eitist group, servicing a seective few. The third visit was to Bethany Christian Services, specificay to empoyees within their Safe Famiies for Chidren program. Representatives refer to their program as a movement of compassion that gives hope to famiies in crisis. Host famiies provide oving homes where parents may vountariy eave their chidren to be cared for whie parents seek to restore stabiity in their ives. The mission of Safe Famiies for Chidren is to prevent abuse and negect by overwhemed parents. Famiy friends are an integra part of the ministry. They can be of assistance to the parent or the host famiy. The desired outcome is that parents have earned new coping skis and have a new support system in pace when they are reunited with their chidren. There are many reasons why famiies cannot turn to their extended famiies, friends and neighbors. Reasons incude the impact of poverty, isoation from famiy members, 4 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

5 and safety. Famiies hear about Safe Famiies for Chidren from others who have taken part, from other socia service agencies, through posters and brochures in pubic paces, and by word of mouth. The movement reies on area churches to see this project as one of their ministries. It is an opportunity to offer bibica hospitaity and to share the gospe in words and in deeds. Host famiies and famiy friends go through an interview and training process before they can take an active part in the program. Bethany Christian Services empoys socia workers and other support staff. The movement is interested in working with NASW with the possibiity of deveoping continuing education trainings and to be a training site for future area events. This is an exceptiona program that heps chidren and famiies in crisis to earn positive coping skis and deveop new support systems. I wi be a vounteer by heping potentia host famiies and famiy friends compete the necessary paperwork. My ast meeting was with one of the owners of Stronger than Ever LLC. This is a new private practice counseing service in the Baa Cynwyd area. The counseing service has been open since February In addition to offering menta heath services, the practice is interested in working with miitary personne and their famiies, as we as with individuas with gambing addictions. The owner I spoke with shared that there is a need for quaified gambing addiction programs in the area. It was a peasure to earn how being a member of NASW s private practice speciaty groups assisted Stronger than Ever with information and how through the NASW- PA quartery newsetter it was abe to find office space. In summary, a of the sites I visited were open to working with NASW- PA. They were given information on our conference, our annua report and our egisative advocacy activities. I wi aso assure that their continuing education needs are met. This was a very exciting and worthwhie 30 days. I am ooking forward to the next 30. MOVING US FORWARD Continued from page 3 tive discourse of our nation is headed in the wrong direction, then you too are ethicay obigated to chaenge the hate-based, judgmenta, antipeope attitudes taking over our country. I want to be cear. I am not taking about promoting taking points from any ibera or conservative poitica agenda. I am not taking about being identified with any other group or movement. What I am taking about is correcting peope at church and chaenging peope in the grocery store. I am taking about etters to the editor and pubic statements at PTA meetings. I am taking about promoting a society that cares for a its members the strong and the weak, the heathy and the sick, the addicted and the baanced, the rich and the poor. We are an interdependent society. Your actions wi affect me, and my inaction wi affect you. We need to cut out this every person for themseves nonsense and reaize our success or faiure as peope is in fact reated to the we-being of a our country s members. I do not beieve in entitement programs; I beieve in opportunities and barrier reduction. I beieve in evidence-based approaches to address chaenges peope face. As socia workers, we know many socia entitement programs ensure faiure by design. Rather than abeing peope as faiures and unworthy of hep, et s design systems to remove barriers and empower peope. What we need is to have socia workers buid better systems informed by what cients reay need, remove barriers, hod peope accountabe and respect that each person s journey wi be different. Before we can get to a pace where better systems can be buit, we need a nation that beieves and acts true to the beief that a peope have vaue regardess of their race, gender, age, size, sexua orientation, reigion or the amount of money in their bank accounts. It is our job as a profession to promote a vaue for a peope, even when promoting that vaue means making yoursef a bit uncomfortabe. We cannot be sient any onger. NASW-PA 2012 Annua Conference October Vaey Forge Workshop proposas are now being accepted for the NASW-PA 2012 Annua Conference in Vaey Forge. Pease visit for more information and submission instructions. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 5

6 NASW-PA and Schoos of Socia Work Host a BSW Visibiity Day in Harrisburg Messiah Coege University of Pittsburgh On Oct. 24, 2011, NASW-PA and severa schoos of socia work hosted a BSW Visibiity Day. NASW-PA woud ike to thank the students and facuty that attended this event to advocate for themseves, their coeagues and the socia work profession. Represented schoos incuded Eizabethtown Coege, West Chester University, Kutztown University, Caifornia University, Juniata Coege, Messiah Coege, Mansfied University, Phiadephia Bibica University and the University of Pittsburgh. These dedicated students visited egisators, distributing BSW icensure fyers (see opposite page) and sporting the names of their coeges or universities. The day was a success as many egisators became curious of the students and engaged in diaogue surrounding icensing. The fyer that students eft with each senator and representative incuded information on the services that bacheor s eve professionas provide and the settings where they provide them, such as hospitas, famiy service agencies, homeess sheters and residentia treatment faciities. Licensure woud demonstrate that bacheor s eve professionas have passed a rigorous exam, meet nationay estabished competency standards and are dedicated to the socia work profession. Currenty, 33 states and the District of Coumbia recognize icensure at the bacheor s eve. We fee the students who took part in BSW Visibiity Day payed a critica roe in the effort to add Pennsyvania to the ist of icensing states. Mansfied University 6 CONTACT US: (IN PA) Kutztown University

7 Pease support icensure for bacheor eve socia workers ike me! Currenty, 33 states and the District of Coumbia recognize icensure at the bacheor s eve. Licensure is about pubic protection, and the services I wi provide are critica to the ives of Pennsyvanians. To that end, it is important that I meet nationay estabished competency standards and be hed accountabe by the state for my actions. I want to be icensed, reguated and hed accountabe for my practice of socia work. In Pennsyvania, socia workers are icensed, but ony at the master s eve. There are two tiers of professiona icensure, creating a professiona adder of services. Unfortunatey, the Commonweath is missing the first rung on the adder without the incusion of BSW icensure. Nurses with bacheor s degrees are icensed in Pennsyvania, so there is precedent for icensure at the bacheor s eve. Licensure woud show prospective empoyers that I passed a nationay recognized exam that tests core competencies in socia work service deivery. Licensure reinforces my commitment to the profession and guarantees continuous professiona improvement by requiring continuing education. Professiona training Unike other majors, I am required to take very specific courses designed to prepare me for entry into the workforce as a front-ine socia work professiona. My training as a BSW student prepares me to engage in the foowing areas as I enter the workforce: Adherence to a Professiona Code of Ethics Cient Advocacy Cause Advocacy Case Management Community Outreach Crisis Intervention Interviewing Intake and Referra Probem Soving Safety Assessment As a icensed professiona, I wi be hed accountabe to socia work aws set forth by the State Board of Socia Workers, Marriage and Famiy Therapists and Professiona Counseors. Licensure provides pubic protection and professiona accountabiity for the cients I wi serve. It aso woud serve to protect the peope of the Commonweath from receiving poor quaity services. Professiona education The BSW education combines ibera arts with professiona socia work foundation content to prepare graduates for the practice of socia work. My BSW program, in fact a programs in the country, meet rigorous academic standards recognized by the Counci Continued on next page W I N T E R

8 Continued from previous page on Socia Work Education, our nationa accrediting body. The BSW curricuum is one of the few that must be accredited at the program and university eve. The BSW curricuum provides a professiona socia work foundation that is transferabe to different settings and popuation groups. This foundation incudes study in areas such as: Psychoogy, Socioogy, Anthropoogy, Human Bioogy Human Behavior in the Socia Environment Critica Thinking Famiy Dynamics Socia Services Systems Socia Work Theory and Standards Socia Wefare Poicies Practice-Based Research Socia Work Practice with Individuas, Famiies, Groups, Organizations and Communities Socia Work Vaues and Ethics Professiona experience My socia work program requires me to compete a fied pacement practicum which consists of at east 400 hours of direct socia work practice in a professiona agency. Those hours must be supervised by a credentiaed professiona with a master s or bacheor s in socia work. This signature requirement of a BSW degree is intended to aow me a structured opportunity to appy cassroom earning to rea ife. This is an essentia component of the BSW curricuum that provides me with rea word experience under the eadership of a highy quaified fied supervisor. No other bacheor eve program requires a professiona pacement, fied supervision, and an accompanying fied pacement academic course the way that a BSW program does. How does my BSW degree make me different from other human service majors? My BSW degree wi prepare me for immediate entry into a socia work career in many different pubic and private socia work settings. After graduating, I wi possess the professiona skis and training needed to promote beneficia change in the ives of my future cients. I wi be abe to deiver front ine socia work services in a mutitude of professiona settings incuding: Aging Services and Nursing Homes Crimina Justice Agencies Chidren and Youth Services Chid Wefare Agencies Domestic Vioence Programs Famiy Services Home Care Agencies Hospitas Pubic Heath Agencies Menta Retardation/ Deveopmenta Disabiity Services Community Action Agencies Homeess Sheters Residentia Treatment Programs Rape Crisis Programs Why icense me? Whie not a menta heath cinician, I wi be providing critica services to very vunerabe individuas. My future roes coud incude tasks such as conducting safety assessments for abused chidren, providing crisis advocacy services to rape victims, visiting the edery in their homes, serving as a probation officer, mentoring troubed teens, making determinations about parenta abiities, and matching adoptive famiies with needy chidren. I wi deiver services in many different settings working for many different types of empoyers, but in each setting I wi be functioning as a socia worker. My future cients, and society at-arge, have a right to know that I have met nationay estabished competency standards, that I am continuing to expand my knowedge-base, and that they have recourse shoud I operate in an unethica or unprofessiona manner. I am a member of a profession, and I want to be hed to the professiona icensing standards aready in pace in 33 other states and the District of Coumbia. For a the reasons stated above, I and the thousands of other BSW students and graduates committed to serving the citizens of this Commonweath, ask for your support for bacheor eve socia work icensure. PENNSYLVANIA BSW PROGRAMS Avernia University Boomsburg University Cabrini Coege Caifornia University of Pennsyvania Carow University Cedar Crest Coege Chatham University Eastern University Edinboro University of Pennsyvania Eizabethtown Coege Gannon University Juniata Coege La Sae University Lock Haven University of Pennsyvania Mansfied University of Pennsyvania Marywood University Mercyhurst Coege Messiah Coege Miersvie University of Pennsyvania Misericordia University Phiadephia Bibica University Saint Francis University Seton Hi University Shippensburg University Sippery Rock University Tempe University University of Pittsburgh Vaey Forge Christian Coege West Chester University Widener University. 8 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

9 UPDATE FROM THE HILL BY JUSTIN FLEMING, BS Director of Government Reations House Bi 816 on the Move After summer break, state egisators returned in ate September to begin working on a myriad of issues. With many high profie issues competing for attention, it was thanks to the efforts of Senate Consumer Protection and Professiona Licensure Committee staff that House Bi 816 received unanimous passage out of the committee this fa. House Bi 816 was given timey consideration in committee after passing the House of Representatives unanimousy in June. Senate Bi 990, introduced by Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), was a simiar bi that passed the Senate ast session, but staed in the House. House Bi 816, introduced this session by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), has been abe to move swifty through the compicated egisative process as a resut of the strong advocacy competed ast session by Sen. Waugh and his staff. We are hopefu House Bi 816 wi be paced on the caendar and given consideration by the Senate in a timey fashion. With the strong support of both Sen. Waugh and Rep. Grove, we are confident this bi wi pass if the poitica wi is present to pace it on the marked caendar. For those members who might not have read previous artices about the bi, it is a simpe bi that is of great assistance to seasoned professionas ooking to earn their LCSWs. House Bi 816 contains a provision that exempts socia workers who obtained their ACSW credentias prior to Jan. 1, 2001, from providing documentation reated to the supervision requirements necessary to earn an LCSW. These socia workers wi then be eigibe to take the cinica socia work exam to obtain cinica icensure. Impacted professionas are seasoned socia workers who are either supervisors themseves or cannot prove supervision because it took pace so ong ago. Practice Act Update Senate Bi 922 is a comprehensive socia work practice act. On the advice of Senate staff, NASW-PA is rewriting the egisation aongside the Pennsyvania Association for Marriage and Famiy Therapy and the Pennsyvania Society for Cinica Socia Work. The new and improved Senate Bi 922 wi provide cear tiers of icensure for socia workers in Pennsyvania, incuding icensure for bacheor s socia workers to provide frontine, generaist socia work services. This bi wi ceary define bacheor-eve generaist practice as not being cinica, whie outining many areas of practice appropriate for BSW-eve professionas. Other changes in the egisation incude providing fewer exemptions, carifying severa definitions and making technica changes in anguage. NASW-PA thanks the staff in the office of Sen. Chuck McIhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery) for its hard work to change Senate Bi 922. NASW-PA aso thanks the staff on the Senate Consumer Protection and Professiona Licensure Committee for showing a path forward for the egisation and for its guidance to improve the bi. We are hopefu to have the egisation fuy amended by NASW-PA s Legisative Advocacy Day on March 27, It is our goa that Senate Bi 922 can run through the egisative process in the fina year of this egisative session. What Wi Senate Bi 922 Do? Protects the practice of socia work in Pennsyvania so that ony a icensed socia worker can provide socia work services. SB 922 ceary defines socia work services. Provides a icense for socia workers with bacheor s degrees to perform generaist socia work services. Ceary expains appropriate roes for icensed bacheor s socia workers, icensed master s socia workers and icensed cinica socia workers. Creates the expectation of icensure aready in pace for most other professions, such as nurses, occupationa therapists, doctors, speech therapists and awyers. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 9

10 2012 LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY Tuesday, March 27 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Senate Bi 922. Practice Protection & Bacheor Leve Licensure Registration Form Deadine: March, 23, 2012 Name Home Address City State ZIP Business Phone Home Phone Fax E-mai Check a that appy: I am empoyed. Agency I am retired. I am unempoyed. I am a student. Undergraduate Graduate Schoo NASW-PA encourages you to make an appointment with your egisators. Pease do so before sending in the registration form and fi out the information beow: Senator Time Representative Time If the above section is not fied out, NASW-PA wi schedue an appointment for you and provide that information on Legisative Advocacy Day. THE FORUM, 500 WALNUT STREET 7:30 8:30 a.m. Registration and Continenta Breakfast 8:30 8:40 a.m. Wecome Gwen Phiips, LCSW President, NASW-PA 8:40 9:25 a.m. Legisative Process/What to Expect/ Taking Points on Bis Jenna Mehnert, MSW Executive Director, NASW-PA CAPITOL 9:30 11:00 a.m. Attend Committee Meetings and Legisative Visits List of Committee Meetings wi be provided when registering. Socia Workers are encouraged to set up egisative visits prior to the day or ca NASW- PA to arrange visits. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Attend House and/or Senate Session/ Lunch /Legisative Visits The House and Senate go into session at 11:00 a.m. Socia Workers may watch House and Senate session ive from 4th foor baconies. 1:00 2:00 p.m. Ray at the Capito Main Capito Rotunda Featuring remarks by invited members of the Genera Assemby to speak about Bacheor Leve Licensure, Certified Schoo Socia Workers and Practice Protection. NASW Member # Registration fee is $10 per person. Encosed is my check for $, payabe to NASW-PA. Mai check to: 10 NASW-PA 425 N. 21st Street, 4th Foor Camp Hi, PA CONTACT US: (IN PA) We need you in Harrisburg on March 27, For questions, ca (in PA ony) or fax or e-mai Justin at [email protected]

11 6 Cannot Attend Legisative Advocacy Day? Ways to take action in your area! Whie it is NASW-PA s stated goa to get more socia work professionas to Legisative Advocacy Day in 2012, we understand some of you wi be unabe to attend. However, just because you cannot participate in person does not mean you cannot take action. Here are six ways you can be more invoved: Locate and visit your egisator. Legisators are the awmakers of Pennsyvania, and it 1 can be beneficia to know the individuas who you need to be on your side. You can ocate your egisators and other eected officias by going to our website at and cicking on the Legisative Advocacy tab. On the eft pane, ocate Find YOUR Eected Officias and fi in the required information. Visit your eected officias in their home districts and estabish a rapport with them. It is much tougher for egisators to discount the advice of someone they know. That someone coud be you! 2Communicate your position. Whether it is writing an emai, making a teephone ca or meeting with your egisator, you can communicate your concerns and poicy initiatives to your oca representative or senator. If you have something you care about, take action and contact your egisators. The more etters and phone cas egisators receive, the more they re forced to isten. Remember, egisators work for voters that s us! Donate $10 or more to NASW-PA PACE. 3 NASW-PA has a poitica action committee that is focused on funneing resources (both money and time) to candidates that share our goas as we as vaue socia workers and the cients we serve. In addition, we are committed to getting socia workers to run for office in the upcoming eection cyce. This woud be a great way to show support for your coeagues and et ike-minded egisators know how much we appreciate them working on our behaf. Get invoved in oca campaigns. This is 4 a crucia step with 2012 being an eection year for state and federa eected officias. Vounteering on poitica campaigns and participating in grassroots advocacy can give you a sense of reationship buiding and eadership. If the candidate you are vounteering for wins the eection, you can be sure your time and effort wi not go unnoticed. Even if you vounteer for a sma amount of time, you have made a big difference by providing support and hard work toward the campaign. If you are interested in vounteering for a campaign, visit our website at and cick on the NASW-PA Campaign Mobiization ink under the Legisative Advocacy tab. Register to vote. Registering to vote can 5 be the first step toward making a difference. This not ony invoves voting for federa offices, but aows the opportunity to vote for individuas in state and oca offices. It is utimatey our money, our chidren, our heath care, our empoyment and our democracy. Make it work! You can view ways to register at 6 Contact the media. A simpe etter to the editor or opinion editoria can go a ong way when trying to share your message. Be sure to make your points short and specific. Don t expect editors to be experts in the fied of socia work. Simiar to egisators, they ony know what you te them. You can find a isting of newspapers and other media resources on the state s website at pa.gov and then cicking on the Media tab. The Media Markets ink wi take you to a media resources divided into regions. Need support in writing your piece? Emai [email protected] for assistance. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 11

12 Need Transportation to Legisative Advocacy Day? Where there is a wi, there is a way. Let NASW-PA hep you find a way to Legisative Advocacy Day on March 27, It is the goa of NASW-PA that experienced socia work professionas are represented at Legisative Advocacy Day. NASW-PA and division chairs are panning carpoos, vanpoos, and even renting buses. If NASW divisions have the demand to coordinate vans or buses, NASW-PA is wiing to assist those groups in earning continuing education credits if their commute is at east one hour each way. If you are interested in traveing to Legisative Advocacy Day with NASW-PA members, pease visit nasw-pa.org. From the front page, cick on the Legisative Advocacy Day button on the right. This page wi have information about the day in genera, as we as provide a sign-up for individuas interested in joint transportation. If you are unabe to access the NASW-PA website, pease ca the chapter office at or emai [email protected]. 12 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

13 LEGISLATOR SPOTLIGHT State Representative Duane Mine (R-Chester) State Rep. Duane Mine is in his third term serving the citizens of Chester County. NASW-PA began working with Rep. Mine as a resut of his strong support for socia workers serving our veterans. Additionay, Mine is the representative for members of executive director Jenna Mehnert s famiy. This oca connection fueed NASW-PA s eary reationship with him. Since that time, he has been responsive to requests for assistance and supportive of high quaity socia work services. I hod much admiration for the transformative roe that socia workers pay, states Rep. Mine. As the tite suggests, these professionas work for the socia good. NASW-PA thanks Rep. Mine for his eadership in supporting causes that are important to our membership and for taking the time to isten to members concerns. Prior to joining the Genera Assemby, Rep. Mine was a tenured professor and director of a master s degree program at West Chester University. He brings that experience to the egisature in his service on the House Education Committee, where he has heped NASW-PA address barriers to educationa achievement. Rep. Mine aso serves on the House Aging and Oder Aduts Committee and understands the chaenges socia workers face in providing services and care to oder Pennsyvanians. Rep. Mine is a cam eader who istens we and works hard to address issues in a way that unites rather than divides those with competing interests. Over the years, he has demonstrated his strong support for human services in Pennsyvania. State Representative Keith Giespie (R-York) State Rep. Keith Giespie has represented York County s 47th district since 2003 and is activey invoved with protecting the pubic heath of a Pennsyvanians. Rep. Giespie has been a great hep to NASW-PA as a member of the House Professiona Licensure Committee. He has supported House Bi 816 in committee and on the House foor. House Bi 816 exempts those who earned their ACSW prior to Jan. 1, 2001, from providing documentation reated to cinica supervision so they are eigibe to take the cinica socia work exam. NASW-PA thanks Rep. Giespie for being attentive to the chaenges socia workers face and for being a strong supporter of the socia work profession. With his kind heart and gente spirit, it is no wonder he is a friend of our profession. From the first time he was approached by NASW-PA, Rep. Giespie has demonstrated strong support of NASW-PA s efforts to ensure high quaity socia work services and protect the pubic. He notes that Having spent over 34 years in the heath care arena, prior to eection to the Genera Assemby, I saw firsthand the great and necessary work of our socia workers. These skied and focused personne provide a key eement in the continuum of care and frequenty provide ife sustaining intervention. Rep. Giespie is a certified emergency medica technician and over the years has provided immediate, ife saving care to thousands of individuas. Before he joined the Genera Assemby, Giespie served as the director of safety, security and prehospita systems for Memoria Hospita in York. He is a graduate of Soanco High Schoo in Lancaster County and Frankin & Marsha Coege. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 13

14 SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHT NASW-PA is deveoping a series highighting Pennsyvania socia workers. This series wi offer commentary on the profession to hep guide socia workers who are entering the profession. This series wi serve as an education too to inform young socia workers and the genera pubic of the amazing work that socia workers do every day, as we as where professiona socia workers can be found. Mark Pie, MSHA, MSW Mark Pie is chief executive officer and president of Diakon Lutheran Socia Ministries. He oversees a operations within senior iving communities and famiy and community ministries, as we as most support services. He has overseen Diakon s growth and severa successfu reorganizations. Mark was named chief operating officer at Diakon s creation, having hed a simiar roe with Lutheran Services Northeast (LSN), one of the two organizations that created Diakon. He joined LSN as senior vice president in 1997, overseeing the organization s operations in 14 eastern Pennsyvania counties. Prior to joining LSN, Mark served as vice president of Somerset Hospita, a nonprofit 150-bed community hospita in western Pennsyvania. Before being named hospita vice president in 1988, he served as chief executive officer of Twin Lakes Center in Somerset, a nonprofit drug and acoho treatment service under Somerset Hospita s corporate umbrea. Mark is a 1974 graduate of Lycoming Coege in Wiiamsport, from which he received a bacheor s degree in socioogy, cum aude. He earned his MSW from the University of Pittsburgh. He aso hods a master s of science in heath administration from the Medica Coege of Virginia in Richmond, Va. QWhat is your current roe as a socia worker? I am currenty serving as president/ CEO of Diakon Lutheran Socia Ministries. Diakon is a muti-site, nonprofit organization serving individuas and famiies throughout centra and eastern Pennsyvania and parts of Maryand through a variety of programs, incuding comprehensive senior iving communities, foster care, adoption, home and community-based services, hospice care and services for at-risk and adjudicated youths. Why did you choose Q socia work? I was interested in heping peope and communities, and making a difference in peope s ives. After graduating with a bacheor s degree in socioogy from Lycoming Coege, I went directy to graduate schoo for socia work at the University of Pittsburgh. I beieved that working toward my MSW woud provide me with the skis I needed to make a greater impact on individua ives and heath care and socia service systems. My first post-msw experience was working with retired coa miners aong the East Coast. I became interested in hospita socia work and in that roe had the opportunity to participate in the deveopment of a behaviora heath network, incuding a drug and acoho program. My hospita experiences exposed me to many aspects of the heath care arena, and eventuay I earned a second master s degree in heath administration from Medica Coege of Virginia an exceent compement to my MSW. What advice woud you Q give to anyone entering the profession? Students shoud reaize that it is a very chaenging fied, but there aso is a ot of work to be done, which presents opportunities. Regardess of the venue in which you practice, try to begin your work with an estabished nonprofit organization (or hospita or schoo, etc.) that can provide the support and supervision beneficia to your deveopment as a socia worker. When considering empoyment opportunities, remember what a vauabe asset a good supervisor can be especiay when you are just earning the ropes. How has a socia work Q background heped you in poicy settings? My background in socia work broadens my perspective when addressing poicy issues at any eve. This perspective, I beieve, enabes me to see the broader impact on and overa impications for groups of peope or society in genera. How do you think socia Q work heps you in service deivery settings? I no onger provide direct service, but my years of direct service experience provide the firsthand experience necessary for program deveopment and evauation. Neary every aspect of my job is in some way touched by my background as a socia worker, because embracing socia work throughout my career has shaped who I am as a person and as an administrator. 14 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

15 Socia Workers Strengthen Society Socia Work Month 2012 NASW-PA wi be using Socia Workers Strengthen Society for its 2012 Socia Work Month theme. Reminiscent of Rosie the Riveter, NASW-PA is excited to use this imagery and anguage when ceebrating and promoting the socia work profession. This not ony aows for positive visibiity, but aso works to change the stereotypes and perceptions many hod about socia workers. By changing these fase perceptions, we wi be abe to increase the vaue of our profession. In evoking a sense of strength and pride, NASW-PA is aunching a Show Us Your Strength Campaign in preparing for the March events. NASW-PA wi use this campaign as a patform to generate visibiity across Pennsyvania s media circuits, as we as socia media. Rather than defend our profession in the news, we want to generate positive stories about socia workers who strengthen our society on a daiy basis. How can you join the Show Us Your Strength Campaign? On the back of this page you wi see a What is Your Strength? sign. Whatever your strength is as a socia worker, pease share it with us. Send us photos of yoursef, with your competed sign, to [email protected] or post them on NASW-PA s Facebook page at naswpennsyvania. What wi NASW-PA do with the photos? NASW-PA wi use the photos in a number of ways through March. The more images NASW-PA receives, the more visibiity wi be increased. In panning Socia Work Month 2012, NASW-PA wi be using photographs from the Show Us Your Strength Campaign in the foowing ways: Printing in The Pennsyvania Socia Worker we wi incude entries in the spring issue of The Pennsyvania Socia Worker. This issue wi be out in March 2012 as we kick off the month ong ceebration. This is one way to show that you are a proud socia worker. Facebook NASW-PA wi be sharing the photos on Facebook, athough participants may opt out of sharing the photos onine. The goa of using socia media in this process is to increase visibiity, share this sense of strength and pride with others, and to foster interaction within our socia work community. Media NASW-PA wi draft severa press reeases, op-eds, and etters to the editor in March. The campaign wi serve as a too to garner media attention as we highight how Pennsyvania s socia workers strengthen society. NASW-PA is currenty designing a webpage for the genera pubic, or those newer to the profession, to educate peope about the critica work that socia workers perform. The webpage wi aso provide a series of taking points, statistics, and facts on the profession as a whoe. Photos wi be used excusivey on this webpage. Pease consider participating in this unique opportunity to support your profession! W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 15

16 Socia Workers Strengthen Society What Is Your Strength? 16 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

17 SAVE THE DATE Socia Workers Strengthen Society Socia Work Month 2012 Caendar NASW-PA and its oca divisions are panning events for Socia Work Month 2012, which begins March 1. It is the goa of NASW-PA to host one event in each of the nine divisions to provide members the opportunity to ceebrate within their oca community. We are very excited for this year s activities and hope you can join us for at east one of these nine oca events. Members are encouraged to invite as many coeagues as possibe to these events! As panning continues, detais for each event wi be made avaiabe at and announced in monthy e-newsetters. Brandywine Division Troy Brinde, LCSW, Chair Chester and Deaware counties Pease join the Brandywine Division on March 7, 2012, for a 3-hour continuing education workshop, Legisative Poicy and Process: Advocating for the Socia Work Profession. The workshop wi be ed by Justin Feming, Director of Government Reations of NASW-PA. The event wi be hed at Aronimink Eementary Schoo from 1 4 p.m. Centra Division Kathy Minnich, LSW, Chair Adams, Cumberand, Dauphin, Frankin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Miffin, Northumberand, Perry, Schuyki, and York counties Pease save the date for an a-day training on Friday, March 16, Lehigh Vaey Division Hope Horowitz, LSW, Chair Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Pike counties Pease save the date for March 27, 2012, to ceebrate Socia Work Month with the Lehigh Vaey Division. North Centra Division Nancy Side, PhD, LSW, Chair Bradford, Cinton, Coumbia, Lycoming, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Suivan, Tioga, and Union counties Pease save the date to join the North Centra Division on March 31, The division wi be hosting a day-ong event featuring Barbara Hae-Seubert, socia worker and author of Riptide: Strugging with and Resurfacing from a Daughter s Eating Disorder. Barbara wi speak in the morning, with an afternoon session/movie presentation. The event wi be hed in North Manser Ha at Mansfied University. Northeast Division Matt Fino, LSW, Chair Luzerne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties Pease be sure to join the Northeast Division on March 16, The division wi host a breakfast from 7:45 9 a.m., with a continuing education workshop from 9:15 11:15 a.m. The workshop wi feature Cay Yeager, presenting Importance of Evidence-Based Approaches in Working with Dependent and Deinquent Chidren. The event wi be hed at Misericordia University. The breakfast is imited to socia workers ony, with no cost. There is a $5 CE fee for NASW members to attend the workshop. There is a $20 certificate fee for nonmembers. The workshop is free to individuas who are not seeking continuing education credits. Northwest Division Suzanne McDevitt, PhD, Chair Cameron, Crawford, Ek, Erie, Forest, McKean, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties The Northwest Division is thried to host a series of events for Socia Work Month The division wi host the Annua Socia Work Awards Luncheon on March 6, 2012 at Mercyhurst University in Erie. Pease be sure to save the date. Moving into the foowing month, the division wi hod an event on Apri 5, 2012, featuring a nationa expert on socia work ethics, Frederic Reamer, PhD. Continuing education credits wi be avaiabe. Dr. Reamer s workshop wi cover documentation and reated matters. Phiadephia Division Christine Matthews, LSW, MBA, CLC, Chair Bucks, Montgomery, and Phiadephia counties The Phiadephia Division is panning a happy hour networking event in center city for March. The division wi aso be hoding a continuing education workshop to ceebrate the month s events. Detais are to be announced. Southwest Division Nate Morey, MSW, Chair Aegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Buter, Carion, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreand counties The Southwest Division wi cosponsor the annua Socia Work Month Symposium and Recognition Luncheon with the University of Pittsburgh, Schoo of Socia Work, and NASW-PA Pioneers. The event wi be hed in conjunction with Seton Hi University, Sippery Rock University, Chatham University, Carow University, and Caifornia University of Pennsyvania. The event wi be hed on March 1, The symposium wi offer attendees six continuing education credits, incuding three in ethics. The theme for 2012 wi be Using Technoogy in Socia Work Practice. West Centra Division Daisi Dumas Eyery, LSW, Chair Bedford, Bair, Cambria, Centre, Cearfied, Futon, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, and Somerset counties Pease save the date for March 2, 2012, to ceebrate Socia Work Month with the West Centra Division. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 17

18 MEMBERSHIP SERVICES UPDATE REBECCA DAVIS, MSW NASW-PA Director of Membership Years of Membership We have to say we are sorry. In the Annua Report, we isted members and years of membership with NASW. We received mutipe cas that the information was incorrect and, in fact, it was. We found out the database we received our information from is not forgiving of any apse of membership, and we are truy sorry not to have accuratey captured every one of our amazing members. We appreciate and recognize a of our members for their years of membership and commitment to the socia work profession. Before joining NASW-PA as director of Membership, I practiced professiona socia work for more than 10 years. In my years as a student and then as a professiona, I heard of NASW and had even joined for a whie. However, before coming to work for NASW-PA, I had no idea about the scope of work it did, or the impact it has on our profession and our cients. The point of contact where we reaize that NASW is working for us is different for each of us. As a profession, we are in many different settings. Another chaenge we face in Pennsyvania is how geographicay spread out we are. It is easy to become disconnected from the profession at arge. We need to keep focused on the starting connection; we are a socia workers. NASW-PA has a weath of information and resources, as we as advocates who work tireessy for us and our cients. Woudn t you ike to be paid more? Woudn t you enjoy more professiona recognition? Woudn t it be nice to be acknowedged for being a trained, skied professiona? NASW-PA works toward these shared goas on a daiy basis, and your membership is critica towards accompishing our goas. As of Oct. 26, 2011, NASW-PA had 6,200 members. The organization is growing stronger every day. Thank you for being a part of NASW and pease encourage those around you to join so we can have an even arger impact on positive changes for socia work. Are You a Proud Socia Worker? Fostering professiona identity among socia workers is a distinct goa of NASW-PA. Currenty, NASW-PA is coordinating an effort to create proud socia worker speciaty icense pates with the Pennsyvania Department of Transportation. The Speciaty Pate Program provides interested and quaified organizations the opportunity to have members purchase a unique icense pate. Because NASW-PA is a nonprofit association serving the community, each NASW-PA member can quaify to receive a pate. If you are interested in obtaining a speciaty icense pate, pease visit From the front page, cick on Speciaty License Pates under Member Corner. You wi be asked to acknowedge your interest in being the owner of such a pate by entering your name and contact information. The estimated cost to obtain a pate wi be $25 per recipient, with an annua renewa rate of $20. According to the requirements of the program, a minimum of 300 recipients must be reached so te your friends and coeagues! We hope to dispay our unity and strength in numbers throughout the Commonweath. 18 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

19 NASW-PA Announces Socia Workers of the Month Winter 2011 DECEMBER Shari VanderGast, LCSW, JD, hods a business degree from Corne University, a MSW from Coumbia University, and a JD with a concentration in heath care aw from Tempe University. Shari is an LCSW, BCD, hods an ACSW, a certified professiona in heath care risk management, and a Feow of the American Coege of Heathcare Executives. She currenty works as the senior vice president, chief operating officer and compiance officer at Access Services, a behaviora heath care not-for-profit that serves 14 counties in eastern Pennsyvania. Shari is very engaged with NASW-PA, through presenting at annua conferences and appointment to the Leadership Counci where she serves Montgomery County. Shari VanderGast JANUARY FEBRUARY Rufus Syvester Lynch Meredith Moore Dr. Rufus Syvester Lynch, ACSW, forensic socia worker, and former dean of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Schoo of Socia Work, Cark Atanta University (CAU) is president and principa investigator of the Institute for the Advancement of Working Famiies. Dr. Lynch has 40 years of combined professiona experience in inter-discipinary and trans-discipinary areas of practice, incuding behaviora heath systems, recovery from substance use disorders and issues of menta heath, community empowerment, empoyment and training for TANF famiies and the working poor, forensic socia work education, human services consutation, justice system advocacy and administration, poicy deveopment and anaysis, programmatic deveopment and impementation, pubic/private educationa consuting, research and systems evauation, strategic deveopment, and systems integration of initiatives that support Responsibe Fatherhood programming. Continued on page 20 Meredith Moore, LSW, earned her undergraduate degree in music therapy from Forida State University and is board certified in this fied. She obtained her MSW from Tempe University, where she hed memberships with Goden Key Internationa and Apha Deta Mu honor societies. In 2007 and 2008, she was a recipient of the John Frederick Steinman feowship and was twice nominated for the Menta Heath America Professiona of the Year Award. Her extensive experience incudes speciaized work in the menta heath and paiative care, with advisory board membership for severa organizations. Meredith is an educator with the Lancaster County Crisis Intervention Team and participates in contractua work with oca coeges, incuding service as a community support member with the Frankin and Marsha Orchestra. She is active with the Susquehanna Vaey chapter of Deta Zeta aumni and recenty received resource famiy icensure from Diakon Adoption and Foster Care. She currenty serves as a icensed cinician for the Lebanon VA Medica Center at the York and Lancaster community based outpatient cinics and reports being privieged to work with the veterans and their famiies. Woud you ike to nominate a friend or co-worker for Socia Worker of the Month? For nominations or more information go to and then Professiona Deveopment. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 19

20 SOCIAL WORKERS OF THE MONTH Continued from page 19 Dr. Lynch has taught or ectured at over a dozen coeges and universities, authored or co-authored over 22 pubished manuscripts in professiona books and/or schoary journas, and activey participated in over 60 professiona conferences, workshops, and training institutes. Among his proudest achievements as a macro practitioner, was his work in state government. For exampe, whie serving as Chief of Staff to the Pennsyvania Speaker of the House of Representatives, he served as chief author and architect of egisation creating the Pennsyvania Department of Aging; as Senior Human Services Poicy Advisory to the Lieutenant he caused to be drafted, the first muti-eve educationa socia work icensure bi ever introduced and seriousy considered by the Pennsyvania Genera Assemby; and as a Pennsyvania Supreme Court Appointee, Dr. Lynch in coaboration with the Constabe Association of Pennsyvania and the Administrative Office of the Pennsyvania Courts (AOPC), spearheaded the deveopment of the first comprehensive egisation in Pennsyvania s history to reguate constabes who serve the judiciary. Currenty, Dr. Lynch has turned his attention to the study of fathers within the context of famiies. Dr. Lynch is aso the chair of the NASW-PA Leadership Counci. Cinica Socia Workers Be Aware: HIPAA Version 5010 Is Coming Effective Jan. 1, 2012, cinica socia workers and other heath care providers, heath care cearinghouses, covered entities, and business associates who use eectronic transactions mandated by the Heath Insurance Portabiity and Accountabiity Act (HIPAA) wi be required to repace the current software, Version4010/4010A standards, with Version 5010 standards. Version 5010 updates standards incuding caims submission and status, remittance advice, eigibiity, and referra authorizations. Eectronic transactions that do not use Version 5010 beginning January 2012 wi be rejected for non-compiance with HIPAA eectronic transactions. Rejections incude denia of reimbursement. Cinica socia workers are encouraged to transition to Version 5010 prior to January Doing so aows participation in training and testing of the new software and systems to ensure they are working propery before the compiance date. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is assigned by the Department of Heath and Human Services (HHS) to oversee compiance of the standards. Currenty, there is no deay expected in the impementation of Version Changes in Version 5010 Version 5010 brings improvements in technica, structura and data content, as we as system changes. It wi improve standards functionaity between providers and payers. The software aso: Accommodates the reporting of cinica data of the Internationa Cassification of Diseases, Tenth Edition, Cinica Modification (ICD-10-CM), which is schedued for impementation on Oct. 1, Increases the number of diagnosis codes aowed on a caim. Enhances data coection and transmission. Distinguishes between principa and admitting diagnoses and reasons for service codes. Monitors treatment outcomes and cinica care. Improves caims receipt and procedures. Acknowedges and rejects transactions across a jurisdictions. Returns caims requiring corrections eary in the process. Preparing for Impementation of Version 5010 Cinica socia workers shoud deveop an impementation pan for compiance in transitioning to Version Fu functionaity is expected by CMS on Jan. 1, The foowing steps may hep prepare cinica socia workers for the conversion: Contact your practice management and/or software vendor to determine when Version 5010 wi be avaiabe and instaed on your computer system. Contact your biing service, cearinghouses, payers and other covered entities to determine when they wi have upgrades competed and when testing can begin. 20 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

21 Identify and make any changes that wi occur as a resut of the new software. Enro in training courses to become famiiar with the software. Conduct interna and externa testing to ensure that eectronic transactions can be sent and received. Begin using Version 5010 prior to Jan. 1, 2012, to ensure eectronic transactions are working smoothy. Cinica socia workers shoud be aware that successfu impementation of Version 5010 wi depend on when they are abe to acquire and insta the new software. The RESOURCES NASW offers members severa resources on the Heath Insurance Portabiity and Accountabiity Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Pease visit to access this member benefit. Artices of interest incude: amount of time it takes for cinica socia workers to become compiant wi depend on the size of their private practice and avaiabe resources. To avoid pacing themseves at risk for payment denias and other interruptions of services due to inappropriatey submitted caims, cinica socia workers are responsibe for confirming compiancy of Version 5010 with practice management and biing services empoyed by them to perform eectronic biing. Additiona information about Version 5010 is avaiabe onine from the CMS website at gov. NASW members may aso contact NASW for questions: atmcoeman@ naswdc.org. Overview of HIPAA: Review HIPAA basics, earn about important deadines and find out if you are required to compy with HIPAA. Medica Privacy: This section incudes a comprehensive coection of materias on the HIPAA Privacy Rue, incuding NASW Practice Updates, a ega overview, guidance from HHS, sampe forms and the compete text of the federa medica privacy reguations. Eectronic Transactions Standards and Code Sets: This section provides answers to frequenty asked questions about the eectronic transactions standards appicabiity and deadines, HHS s enforcement pan, and an NASW Practice Update with compiance tips. Security Standards: This area provides requirements of the HIPAA Security Standards, incuding an NASW presentation, a Sma Practice Impementation Guide, and the text of the federa reguations. Nationa Provider Identifier: This section contains information about the Nationa Provider Identifier system, its benefits, what is required, an NASW Practice Update and CMS registration information. Join NASW-PA for a 5k or Triathon Sef-care may mean a number of different things to different peope. For some of us at NASW- PA, it means running, swimming and biking our way to happiness or peace of mind. Have you ever thought of running a 5K or doing a sprint triathon? Are you interested, but do not want to do it aone? Then join NASW-PA as part of our team effort. The staff of NASW- PA pans to pu together teams for a few events occurring in centra Pennsyvania this spring. If you woud ike to join us at one of the foowing events, pease emai [email protected]. Domestic Vioence 5k Wak/ Run for Randi This event wi be hed on Sat., May 12, 2012, at Adams Ricci Park in Mechanicsburg. York YWCA Ladies Sprint Triathon The YWCA event features a sprint distance triathon with an indoor poo swim. It is hed at the end of June each year. This event aso aows teams. If you can bike, run, or swim, we may be abe to organize teams and partner you with another participant. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 21

22 Becoming a Leader within NASW-PA LLOYD L. LYTER, PHD, LSW Member, NASW-PA Chapter Committee on Nominations & Leadership Identification There are many reasons members give for not seeking eection for a position on the NASW-PA board of directors. Reasons incude ack of experience, uncertainty about what the board does, ack of time, too many other commitments, feeing others are better quaified, thinking candidates must be nominated by someone ese the ist can be a ong one. There are just as many, or more, reasons some members decide to run. There are even more benefits when serving. Mike Jeffrey, former NASW-PA treasurer, states that One of the sections in the NASW Code of Ethics is ethica responsibiities to the socia work profession. I fet that serving on the NASW-PA board of directors was an exceent way to contribute my time and expertise to the advancement of the socia work profession. My experience on the board has made me more aware of the broader picture of socia work and how it impacts me, the profession as a whoe and the cients we support on a daiy basis. Daisi Dumas Daisi Dumas, current West Centra Division chair, taked to me about what she gains from serving on the board. My experience on the board has made me more aware of the broader picture of socia work and how it impacts me, the profession as a whoe and the cients we support on a daiy basis. It has improved my advocacy skis and empowered me to speak up for our profession and our cients. Wiiam Johnston-Wash, current vice president, said, Being a part of the NASW-PA board of directors aows me to fee connected to the community at the oca eve through outreach and advocacy. I reaize that NASW makes a difference in Pennsyvanians ives every day. Never doubt that a sma group of committed peope can change the word. Indeed, it is the ony thing that ever has. Margaret Mead My own service on the board, at different times as Phiadephia Division representative, at arge member and vice president, was driven by reasons simiar to those given by Mike Jeffrey and Wiiam Johnston- Wash. But, my service aso gave me some of the same benefits Daisi Dumas spoke about. At first I was hesitant to run, feeing unsure about what woud be expected of me and concerned about how effective I might be as a board member. Once I got past my own hesitation to run for office, I found a coegiaity among the board members that proved the axiom that the sum is greater than its parts. I found support for the words of Margaret Mead, Never doubt that a sma group of committed peope can change the word. Indeed, it is the ony thing that ever has. One great benefit to serving on the board comes from meeting others simiary committed. There is the opportunity to make connections across that state that serve us professionay, as we as personay. Those who have served have deveoped reationships with others on the board that have asted ong beyond their time in office. Nominations for the next eection must be made soon. NASW is a membership organization that is overseen by an eected board of its own members. Serving in office is an opportunity to ive some of the vaues in the Code of Ethics, specificay the vaues of service and importance of human reationships. Whie serving the membership and the profession, you have an opportunity to deveop strong professiona reationships that wi ive beyond your time on the board. Look at the current ist of offices to be fied in the next eection and see if you might be quaified to run or if you know someone ese you might support in running. My coeagues on the Chapter Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification and I wi soon be sotting the baot for the next eection. Now is the time to consider having your name on the baot. We ook forward to receiving a number of nomination forms. Find your own reason to run for office. 22 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

23 BE A LEADER Use your eadership skis! Deveop new skis! Vounteer for a NASW-PA Eected Position. Chapter eected positions incude the Board of Directors and the Chapter Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification (CCNLI). Positions Open for 2012 Baot For more information about the positions, pease visit Here s your opportunity to use your eadership skis in a socia work environment or to deveop new skis! A number of positions are open on the 2012 sate. OFFICERS Terms begin 7/01/2012 Any member in good standing is eigibe to run. A President-Eect ( , President ) A Treasurer-Eect ( , Treasurer ) A Vice President ( ) Procedure A Nominate yoursef or another chapter member (form on next page) A If you are nominating someone ese for a position, that person wi be contacted. A Peope seected for chapter eadership may aso be asked to compete a biographica fact sheet. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 3-year terms 7/01/12 6/30/15 Any member in good standing from the division specified is eigibe to run. A Southwest Division Chair A Southwest Division Representative STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1-year terms 7/01/12 6/30/13 Any member in good standing who wi be a socia work student during the 1-year term is eigibe to run. A MSW Student Representative A BSW Student Representative Thank you for your interest in assisting the chapter with this important task! NOMINATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2012 W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 23

24 2011 Annua Conference HIGHLIGHTS In October, socia workers converged on Lancaster to take part in the 2011 NASW-PA Annua Conference and isten to Dr. Harry Aponte, Bevery Mackereth, Eizabeth Wiiamson, and our pane discussing Marceus Shae natura gas extraction in Pennsyvania. Pane members incuded Jason Weige, Pamea Twiss, Rhonda Keer, Mark Roinick and Nancy Side. Many socia workers received a 30 continuing education credits toward icensure renewa, networked with peers from across the state, and earned about new programs from more than 25 exhibitors. The conference reviews have been exceent, and we wi work hard to incorporate comments/reviews into the 2012 conference agenda. NASW-PA executive director Jenna Mehnert and president Gwen Phiips pictured with Dr. Juia Szarko and Dr. Jason Pedersen. Juia and Jason were honored with the Coeague of the Year Award. Keynote speaker Bevery Mackereth. Keynote speaker Eizabeth Wiiamson At a Gance 302 socia workers registered for the conference 75 attended pre-conference institute trainings 60 workshop presenters 37 workshops offered (incuding 4 ethics workshops) 31.5 possibe credits earned 27 exhibitors 7 award recipients 4 student poster presentations 1 amazing conference Chris Hoffman accepting the Socia Worker of the Year Award 24 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

25 Laura Gochnauer, winner of the PACE Pot. This year s conference PACE raffe hit an a time high by raising more than $1,000. Congratuations to student member and poster presenter Laura Gochnauer on winning the PACE Pot. Laura won $425 as part of the raffe, but donated $325 back to the poitica action committee. She used the remaining $100 to pay for her conference registration. NASW-PA staff is gratefu for the generous contributions of our conference attendees, as we as their continued dedication and commitment to our ongoing egisative advocacy. Thank You to a of our sponsors, advertisers, and exhibitors: Lifetime Achievement Award winner Nadine Bean, pictured with her famiy. Jenna Mehnert and Gwen Phiips with Stephen Stoeffer, honored with the Kristin Bowser Outstanding Young Socia Worker Award Rep. Mike Stura accepting the Legisator of the Year Award Rep. Seth Grove accepting the Legisator of the Year Award. Association of Socia Work Boards Associates of Springfied Psychoogica Beechwood Rehabiitation Services Behaviora Heath of the Pam Beaches Community Care Behaviora Heath Community Service Foundation/ Buxmont Academy Devereux Famiy Design Resources (Diakon, SWAN) Gateway Heath Pan Genesis HeathCare Highmark Caring Pace Kutztown University LifeForce Edercare Corporation Mavern Institute Marywood University Miton Hershey Schoo NHS Human Services NR Pennsyvania Associates LLC Pennsyvania Army Nationa Guard Pennsyvania Partnerships for Chidren Professiona Mediation Associates Inc. Rea Aternatives Socia Work p.r.n. Staffing Pus Inc. Success Rehab TCR The Meeh Foundation University of Pennsyvania University of Pittsburgh White Deer Run/Cove Forge/ Bowing Green Brandywine THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 25

26 Winter 2011/12 Continuing Education A workshops isted are NASW-PA approved and meet the continuing education requirements for the Commonweath of Pennsyvania. A continuing education events isted beow are approved for continuing education credits (CEs) for the icensure period from March 1, 2011, through February 28, 2013, for icensed socia workers, icensed cinica socia workers, professiona counseors and marriage and famiy therapists in the Commonweath of Pennsyvania. Trainings marked with (E) are designated as ethics courses, meeting the requirement that each icensee secure three credits in ethics per icensing period. Additiona trainings wi be added throughout the year. Pease check our website ( Professiona Deveopment) for updates. NASW-PA reserves the right to cance courses with insufficient registration. In the event that NASW-PA cances a workshop, a fees wi be refunded in fu. Fim Festiva workshop fee covers discussion and CEs Licensure Prep Courses DECEMBER December 6 Treatment Panning. Adie Foundation, Inc., 228 N. Main St., Doyestown. 9 am 4 pm. Certificate fee: $15 NASW members, $25 nonmembers. 6 CEs. Offered by Bucks County Drug & Acoho Commission, Inc. To register ca Peg McCoskey at (215) *December 6 Eder Abuse: Negect and Expoitation. New Haven Court at Linewood, 100 Freedom Way, Greensburg. 5 7 pm. Free. 2 CEs. Offered by Southwest Division. To register visit December 8 Medication Assisted Therapy: A Pharmacoogic and Medica Overview for Non-Medica Professionas. Bucks County Drug & Acoho Commission, Inc., 600 Louis Dr., Suite 102A, Warminster. 9 am 4 pm. Certificate fee: $15 NASW members, $25 nonmembers. 6 CEs. Offered by Bucks County Drug & Acoho Commission, Inc. To register ca Peg McCoskey at (215) Licensure preparatory courses are being schedued. Dates for courses at Edinboro University, Marywood University (Scranton), Tempe University, and the University of Pittsburgh are to be announced. Visit to view a compete ist of schedued courses. One-Day Prep Courses (Fee: $75 for NASW members, $150 for nonmembers) December 3, 2011 Marywood University Lehigh Vaey January 29, 2012 Boomsburg University March 31, 2012 Marywood University Lehigh Vaey Apri 20, 2012 West Chester University In anticipation of passing egisation that wi exempt those hoding the ACSW credentia prior to January 1, 2001 from providing documentation reated to supervision, NASW-PA is offering additiona icensure preparatory courses to prepare these seasoned professionas for the LCSW exam. This course wi be offered to ACSW credentiaed persons for a reduced rate of $50. December 8 Group Soup Series Part 5: Personaity Disorder. Mon Yough Community Services, 500 Wanut St., Lower Leve, McKeesport. 11 am 2 pm. $50 NASW members, $60 nonmembers. 3 CEs. Offered by Mon Yough Community Services. To register visit www. nasw-pa.org and downoad brochure. December 10 Meditation Teacher Training. Pasha Yoga Studio, 4508 Zuck Road, Erie. 1 4 pm. $500 NASW members, $500 nonmembers. 30 CEs. Offered by Pasha Yoga Studio. To register contact Michae at rhadeya@ pashayoga.com. December 13 HIV/AIDS. Famiyinks, 2644 Banksvie Rd., Pittsburgh. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. $85 NASW members, $85 nonmembers. 6 CEs. Offered by Famiyinks. To register contact Deborah Murphy at (412) or [email protected]. December 16 PA FASD (Feta Acoho Spectrum Disorder). Erie Maennerchor Cub, 1607 State St., Erie. 9 am 4 pm. $60 NASW members, $70 nonmembers. 6 CEs. Offered by Preferred Systems, Inc. To register ca Mike Chevaier at (888) Offered by It Takes a Viage, Inc. To register visit JANUARY January 20 Prescription Drug Abuse. Erie Maennerchor Cub, 1607 State St., Erie. 9 am 4 pm. $60 NASW members, $70 nonmembers. 6 CEs. Offered by Preferred Systems, Inc. To register ca Mike Chevaier at (888) FEBRUARY February 28 Speech and Language: The Key to Deveopment. Vaey Forge Education Services, 1777 N. Vaey Road, Mavern. 6 8:30 pm. $15 NASW members, $25 nonmembers. 2 CEs. Offered by Vaey Forge Education Services. To register visit for more information. March 9, 2012 TBA NASW-PA office (Cinicay focused for ACSWs) University of Pennsyvania *NASW is responsibe for the registration of these workshops. Form on page CONTACT US: (IN PA)

27 Registration for the workshop on the previous page that has an asterisk (*) in front of the date. NASW-PA is peased to provide you with a diverse caendar of workshops. You have severa options to register for these workshops. Visit and cick on Continuing Education Caendar. Find the date and cick on the workshop that you wish to register. More information about the ocation, presenters, the workshop itsef, and cost of workshop wi be on this screen. At the top right-hand side of the screen you wi find a Register for Event Now button, simpy cick and foow the on-screen instructions. Compete this form and fax ( ) or mai it to the address beow. Name Address City, State, & Zip Phone number ( ) - E-mai If you do not have an active e-mai address, a confirmation wi be maied to the address above. NASW member Yes, member # No Date Tite Location Cost I.e. 1/28/09 Ethica Decision Making with Chidren Camp Hi $30 Tota Credit Card information Same as maiing address Name on Card Biing Address Biing City, State, & Zip Phone number ( ) - Wi you be using MasterCard or Visa Credit Card # Exp. Date / CVV (# on back of card) Pease print the name you woud ike to have printed on your CE certificate. Mai this form and make checks payabe to NASW-PA, 425 North 21st Street, Suite 401, Camp Hi, PA Pease direct questions to [email protected] or by caing W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 27

28 The Pennsyvania Fund for Workforce Soutions MEGAN K. SMITH Pubic Poicy Manager, United Way of Pennsyvania NASW-PA is peased to highight the Pennsyvania Fund for Workforce Soutions. What Is the Pennsyvania Fund for Workforce Soutions (PFWS)? The Pennsyvania Fund is a unique coaboration of organizations committed to investing in workforce deveopment to benefit both businesses and ow-income workers. PFWS investors incude phianthropic partners from four regions (southwestern, northwestern, southeastern, and south centra Pennsyvania); statewide phianthropic, business, workforce and abor organizations; associations of manufacturers and technoogy businesses; and the Pennsyvania Department of Labor and Industry. A Dua Customer Approach to Workforce Deveopment The efforts of the Pennsyvania Fund compement the Commonweath of Pennsyvania s comprehensive workforce reform based on investments in industry partnerships (training consortia) that ink to key regiona industry custers across Pennsyvania. Both the Commonweath and the Pennsyvania Fund support a dua customer approach to workforce deveopment the idea that pubic investment in skis must connect not ony to workers (the suppy side of the job market) but aso to empoyers (the demand side of the job market). Connecting to empoyers enabes the identification of the workforce needs of businesses with good jobs and the targeting of skis training to those needs. For owincome workers, connections to empoyers provide information on good-paying jobs and how best to enabe ow-income workers to quaify for jobs with pathways into the midde cass. As the foundation of its dua customer workforce system, Pennsyvania invests in more than 70 industry partnerships tied to regiona industry custers. The Pennsyvania Fund Strategy In the context of the state s workforce reform, PFWS s goas are to 1) increase partnership activity that benefits ow-income famiies through investments in particuar partnerships, as we as technica assistance and capacity buiding; 2) to institutionaize the state workforce strategy though egisative change (In a major victory, PFWS 28 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

29 just heped achieve the unanimous passage of industry partnership egisation by the state egisature.); and to 3) buid civic eadership support, ed by phianthropy and business, for workforce systems change buit on investment in partnerships. The PFWS Investors PFWS is a robust coaborative with the United Way of Pennsyvania (UWP) as fisca agent and a rich mix of statewide and regiona investors, incuding the Pennsyvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Nationa Fund for Workforce Soutions (see beow), The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Erie Community Foundation, the Phiadephia-based Job Opportunity Investment Network, the United Way of the Capita Region, the Technoogy Counci of Centra Pennsyvania, the Manufacturers Association of South Centra Pennsyvania, Pennsyvania Partners, and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board. PFWS is a natura fit for the United Way of Pennsyvania. UWP seeks to advance the common good in three areas: education, heath and income. Thus, both UWP and the Pennsyvania Fund share a commitment to promoting financia stabiity for a Pennsyvanians. The structure of UWP aso matches the structure of PFWS, and incudes both oca UW efforts grounded in particuar regions and the statewide work of UWP. The Nationa Fund for Workforce Soutions The Pennsyvania Fund is one of more than two dozen phianthropic groups (or funders coaboratives ) across the country which invest in workforce partnership projects that have strong connections to empoyers and that aso hep ow-income workers. These funders coaborative are part of a nationa network, the Nationa Fund for Workforce Soutions (NFWS). NFWS provides funds to each site aong with technica assistance, incuding via annua peer earning meetings and evauation. Of the NFWS sites, Pennsyvania is the ony one that spans a arge state. Except for Rhode Isand, the other Nationa Fund sites are metropoitan or span a singe rura region. The reach of PFWS refects the statewide span of Pennsyvania s workforce deveopment reform. Projected Outcomes The PFWS anticipates serving 2,854 job seekers over a two-year period that began in ate 2010, with 1,899 enroed in training/ education and 1,084 job pacements. In addition, PFWS goa is to serve 1,016 incumbent workers over two years, with 836 enroed in training/education, 551 receiving wage increases and 584 education/ skis credentias earned. Long-Term Workforce Systems Change Long-term, the PFWS vision incudes three mutuay reinforcing components: Regiona coaboratives across the state that work with oca Workforce Investment Boards to understand the regiona economy, support the continued deveopment and maintenance of industry partnerships in critica sub-custers of the regiona economy, and aign the services of PA CareerLinks and other education, training, and workforce service providers with the needs identified by industry partnerships. These partnerships, aready tighty inked with their empoyer members, woud promote two kinds of empoyer systems change: 1) effective organizationa practices within empoyers, increasing productivity, quaity/service, and competitiveness; and 2) human resource practices (e.g., widespread use of peer mentors, career coaching) that increase retention, training and advancement opportunities for workers, incuding new hires and entry-eve workers. Regiona partnerships woud coaborate across the state to define and impement: 1) capacity buiding and peer earning within and among regions, and among partnerships (within and across sectors) that further enhance the empoyer success and opportunities for workers at a eves; and 2) state poicies that support high-performing industry partnerships and an overa workforce system that benefits empoyers and workers. The engagement of phianthropy and other stakehoders (e.g., business, the workforce system, anti-poverty organizations, abor and environmenta organizations) with regiona coaboratives and statewide poicy advocacy that strengthens broad, bipartisan civic eadership support for workforce systems change. This woud ensure that the state s dua-customer reforms founded on strong industry partnerships takes root over mutipe gubernatoria administrations, deivering growing benefits for businesses and workers. For more information about PFWS, pease contact Megan Smith at [email protected] or You can aso visit the PFWS website at W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 29

30 Recognizing Our Socia Work State Board Representatives The State Board of Socia Workers, Marriage and Famiy Therapists and Professiona Counseors is ed by a dedicated group of vounteer professionas. The roe of this Board is to protect the pubic from unprofessiona, improper, unauthorized and unquaified practice of socia work, marriage and famiy therapy and professiona counseing. In doing so, the Board sets forth rues and reguations governing our profession such as continuing education guideines, cinica supervision reguations, and penaties for vioating tite protection. The Board has seen a number of dedicated and strong advocates for our profession over the years. NASW-PA woud ike members to take a minute in order to famiiarize themseves with the current socia work representatives on the Board. Nadine M. Bean, PhD, LCSW I serve on the Board because I want to ensure that the pubic receives socia work services of the highest standards. Socia workers often serve the most underserved and disenfranchised popuations in the Commonweath and across the country. These vunerabe popuations must be protected by ensuring that icensed socia workers have degrees from accredited institutions, are kept abreast of the atest in evidence-based and innovative socia work practice skis through high quaity continuing education offerings, and adhere to the ethica standards of the NASW Code of Ethics. Nadine Bean is a certified disaster menta heath services vounteer with the American Red Cross and aso works extensivey with its Service to the Armed Forces program. Her first depoyment for the Red Cross was in New York City after the September 11th attacks. She has a ong history of work in the pubic sector, from working in a rura Ohio community menta heath center to working in chid wefare and eary intervention in Batimore County. Her advocacy work extends into affecting change in socia poicies, as we as in direct services. She is a past president of NASW-PA ( ) and has served on the boards of the Ohio, Maryand, and Pennsyvania chapters of NASW. Nadine is finishing her first term as a member of the Pennsyvania State Board of Socia Workers, Marriage and Famiy Therapists and Professiona Counseors. Nadine is an associate professor in the MSW program at West Chester University. She teaches courses in advanced socia work practice with famiies, advanced socia work practice with individuas, chid wefare, menta heath and iness, socia work in disasters, advanced socia research methods, and appied socia research. Nadine strives to mode what she expects students to achieve via participation in oca, nationa and internationa socia work and socia service conferences, innovative cassroom demonstrations, pubication in professiona venues and service to the university, the profession and to the arger poitica and poicy environment. Nadine is a founding board member of an innovative rebuiding organization in New Oreans Lower Ninth Ward ( This organization combines wood, nai, brick and mortar rebuiding with mind, spirit and community rebuiding. She has been vounteering in New Oreans since June 2006 and has taken students and staff from West Chester University to the area. 30 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

31 Renée Cardone, LCSW The primary duty of membership on the Board is to protect the pubic through carefu consideration of issues that arise in the deiberative process. Socia work is unique and distinctive among the professions. I strive to preserve the essence of socia work (as distinguished from marriage and famiy therapy or professiona counseing) in the process of interpreting and appying aws and reguations that govern our icenses and practice. I aim to transate those aws and reguations into meaningfu and understandabe guideines for socia work practitioners, whie educating non-socia work Board members about our profession and working aong with them to make the decisions that affect the practices of a three of the discipines under the purview of the Board. Renée Cardone was appointed to the State Board in November She earned her MSW at Smith Coege Schoo for Socia Work. She has worked in a variety of settings with chidren, adoescents and aduts for 30 years of practice in Pennsyvania and Virginia. She hods an LCSW icense in both those states. Renée is a member of NASW and the Pennsyvania Society for Cinica Socia Work. She is past-president of the Cinica Socia Work Guid 49, OPEIU. Her professiona interests, in addition to her work with coege students, incude promotion of the socia work profession and the essay genre in socia work. Renée aso hods a master s degree in Spanish iterature and inguistics and is proficient in Spanish. She currenty ives and works in centra Pennsyvania, where she is empoyed at Buckne University, in Psychoogica Services, as a counseor to the students. Lina Hartocois, MSS, PhD, LSW Serving on the Board is an honor and a priviege. It is aso a commitment and responsibiity that I take very seriousy. I view my roe as twofod: to protect the pubic by ensuring competent, ethica practice and to represent my professiona socia work coeagues by drafting and enforcing poicies and reguations that are fair, reasonabe, and effective. What propeed me to invest the time and energy to serve on the Board can be summed up by Edridge Ceaver s famous ine, you re either part of the soution or you re part of the probem. Lina Hartocois earned her MSS and PhD degrees from Bryn Mawr Coege. She is associate dean for students and director of the Cinica Doctorate in Socia Work (DSW) Program at the University of Pennsyvania Schoo of Socia Poicy & Practice, where she aso teaches courses on socia work practice. Dr. Hartocois was a practicing socia worker for many years, most recenty in private practice. She was appointed to the Pennsyvania State Board of Socia Workers, Marriage and Famiy Therapists and Professiona Counseors in IN MEMORIAM Katheen Reese NASW-PA sends its condoences to the famiy and friends of Katheen Reese. Katheen passed away on Aug. 16, She had an extraordinary career as a socia worker and eader. Katheen advocated to improve the quaity of ife for tens of thousands of Pennsyvanians through a career at the Department of Pubic Wefare. She served as Commissioner for Menta Heath Quaity Assurance and Director of the Bureau of Hospita Services within the Office of Menta Heath and Substance Abuse Services. In this tenure, she was responsibe for the administration of 16 state psychiatric hospitas and 2 restoration centers. She eventuay returned to her home of Nanticoke to finish her career and engage in community service. She was a ong-standing member of NASW and hed the ACSW credentia. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 31

32 32 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

33 Student Paper Contest Winner Heaing the Mind, Body and Sou from Within Sinead O Hare-Brown, MSW How often do you hear peope say that their troubes are someone ese s faut? If ony someone ese woud change, or if this had not happened, or if ony I was treated better. But what if you are a victim of a serious crime such as rape, chid sexua assaut, domestic vioence or physica assaut? How does one cope with this? Victims do not ask for this to happen, yet they reap the consequences of the trauma. Through my experience of working with such victims, common characteristics of the aftermath that a victim fees are simiar. Very often victims fee that they have ost contro of their ives, they fee very aone, ashamed, depressed, afraid, unworthy, unoved, guity, unovabe and more. There is no more joy, happiness, aughter, ove ony pain, oneiness and sadness. Most peope ive their ives hoding onto their persona trauma that they experienced in chidhood or as an adut, such as chid sexua assaut, rape, acohoism, parents getting divorced, domestic vioence and so on. By hoding onto these past experiences, they are sti aowing what happened to contro their ives today. When peope ive in the past, they do not experience the here and now. Subsequenty, I witness so many peope iving in the past or the future. What I mean by this is that if you ive in the past and are depressed, angry or sad because of past experiences, you are not concentrating on today and embracing the ife you have been given. If you focus on what you don t have and continue to say things ike I wish I had this or I wish I coud do that, you are imiting yoursef and again iving in the future, worrying about things that you don t have or may not happen. If ony an individua knew that you can change your way of thinking, be abe to ive in the moment, be heaed from a past traumas and ive the ife you desire. However, it has to start from within. Many of those who are suffering from traumatic experiences do not know how to cope with this in a heathy manner and therefore reach for unheathy coping skis such as drugs and acoho, reckess behavior, isoation and other unheathy coping mechanisms. Many of the victims use these unheathy coping skis as a sense of contro. They have fet so out of contro as a resut of the past trauma that this is the ony method that they can use to fee ike they have contro over their ives. What most peope do not reaize is that they have the power and contro to take their ives back and recreate them in the direction they want to go. Happiness comes from within, yet peope are aways searching for happiness in externa forces. On most occasions if someone has made the decision to come to counseing, somewhere in the mind, body or sou is unbaanced and they need hep to repair it. When I think of a human being and our mind, body and sou, I think about a windmi. Why a windmi? Windmis have bades, pump rods and a piston. The bades catch the wind and rotate, the pump rod rises and fas, the pump rod makes the piston draw water from the ground, a vave in the piston coses and does not aow the water out. As the piston rises it pumps water into a coection tank. As the piston owers, the vave opens so that more water can be coected. Without these three components the windmi wi not function propery. If the bades are broken, they wi not catch the wind and the other two functions wi not work propery. This is the same with our minds, body and sou. When one function is off baance the others wi be, too. We cannot be in great physica shape and be unheathy in our minds because it is unbaanced. If a person is overweight, this wi affect their menta state and soon they wi not fee good about themseves, depressed and so on. So, the goa here is to have a baanced mind, body and sou. There has to be baance in a areas. So where does one begin to hea the mind, body and sou? It starts with deaing with the past; whatever you have experienced in the past has to be deat with for you to move forward. Many peope suppress their feeings and emotions and do not dea with the trauma they have experienced and wonder why they fee unhappy. This does not mean that they approve or condone what happened, but, there is a eve of forgiveness or acceptance that one must arrive at to move forward. If we cannot accept what has happened in the past, then we are sti hoding bame and judgment that wi keep us stuck where we are. How do you forgive or accept? In most cases, we woud suggest that you seek a therapist who is trained to hep you through the process. The therapist wi be abe to hep the individua dea with the emotions that are coming up and hep them work through it. To forgive or Continued on page 34 W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 33

34 HEALING THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL continued from page 33 accept, one must acknowedge what has happened and not hide, suppress, be shamefu or embarrassed. Are individuas going to et their past continue to rue their ives today or do they want to be happy? Each person must decide. How has a past event affected them? What do they want to change? It is the utimate goa to take power back and create their ife! One of the main characteristics that I see with a victims is that they do not ove themseves. When I say this I do not mean from an egotistica perspective I mean reay ove and embrace the ife that has been given to them. How do we hea our mind, body and sou from within? I want to carify that I do not beieve that anyone shoud ever have to take this journey aone. There are so many peope who are wiing to hep: friends, strangers, famiy, therapists, vounteers, etc. However, peope in need of heaing have to want it and must beieve that they have the power to change and ive a good ife. The mind, body and sou are a connected. Therefore, the recommendations are a connected and not specificay for one thing. You have to figure out what you ike, what cams you, what reaxes you, what brings you to that feeing of inner peace. Each person is different, and one thing might work for one person and not another. Our thoughts create our feeings. If we are choosing to think and beieve that we are worthess and no good, then we wi begin to fee that way which wi utimatey ead to feeing depressed, ow sef worth, not treating yoursef we and attracting negative peope into your ife. Individuas may have had a partner who continuousy put them down, caed them names and physicay attacked them. If they had parents who made them fee ike everything they did was not good enough, then they may begin to think they are not good enough, which eads to them feeing ike they are not good. We coud go on and on here, but the bottom ine is that you get to choose who you are and who you want to be. I truy beieve that when peope judge others it reay is a refection on them and how they woud ike to be or they see the same quaities as their own. However, if someone is happy in their ives, they woud not fee the necessity to judge others. And when you are truy happy, the negative peope in your ife seem to disappear. We must choose our thoughts and choose who we are and who we want to be. We must encourage others to decide today that they are never going to give anyone the power over their ives again. We must acknowedge that individuas deserve the best; we are a here on earth with the same goa and same mission. If your thoughts are aways negative about others and about yoursef, what are you masking? What is the rea probem? Write down (or encourage others to) affirmations that appy to you, such as I ove mysef and am gratefu for the ife I have been given, I choose to create a positive future for mysef and ive a heathy ife, I am oved by others, I am oveabe, or I reease the past and am open and ready for a heathy future. You can make affirmations for anything in your ife. You are the boss of your ife, you get to choose. It is norma for peope when beginning to say affirmations for the negative voice to pop back in. That is OK; just kindy ask it to eave and continue to say the positive affirmations. Even if you don t beieve it, continue to say it. As they say in rehab, Fake it ti you make it. Hoding on to resentments, guit, fear, jeaousy and a negative forces wi hod you back from your heaing. Love yoursef enough to et go of the bame for others actions, take responsibiity for your ife now. What are you going to do now? How are you going to dea with it and recreate a positive ife for yoursef? Remember etting go is reay for you, not for the other person. They sti have to ive with their actions. You ive with 34 CONTACT US: (IN PA)

35 yours and know that you are good enough and you deserve to have freedom and peace. Are you reigious or spiritua? Find whatever it is that makes you happy and brings you inner peace whether it is going to church, praying at home, reading spiritua books ike the Bibe, reading and taking to your anges. Having that connection to a higher power, whatever it may be, is powerfu and can hep you through your process of heaing. Learn to use your higher power for guidance when you are going through rough times. Tak to your higher power, ask for hep and witness the miracuous resuts. If you do not beieve in any higher power, that is OK. Find anything that you can consider your higher power and can bring that peace to you when you need it. I personay find inner peace when I am at one with nature, waking aong the beach, istening to the waves, waking at home istening to the trees gistening. Listen to the sounds around you, be gratefu for everything you see and hear. Try waking and reay embracing your surroundings; quite often you find that when peope go waking they are not taking in their surroundings. Stop and isten, and you wi be amazed at what you see and hear. There are many, many sef-hep books out there today. Some authors incude Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, and Doreen Virtue. Find the one that you fee most comfortabe with and expore your options. Learn how to meditate. Meditation heps you get the answers you need. When you sience yoursef from the busy word, a the answers are within you. We a have a purpose, and our paths are set out for us. I have aways beieved in heaing our mind, body and sou from within. One of the methods that I have used mysef and am certified to practice on others for my own reaxation and heaing is Reiki. Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui deveoped the spiritua practice of Reiki in One of the greatest benefits from Reiki is stress reduction and reaxation, which triggers the body s natura heaing abiities and improves and maintains heath. It is a natura therapy that genty baances ife energies and brings heath and we being to the recipient. Reiki is exceent for heaing any physica, menta, emotiona and spiritua issues. Another therapeutic practice that a person can do is writing. Write down a your feeings, frustrations, whatever it is that is going on for you at that moment. If you are trying to reease anger, write whatever you woud ike to say to that particuar person, once you have finished rip it and reease that anger. Every time you do an exercise ike this, you are getting rid of once piece of negative energy within you and as a resut gaining heaing. Art is aso an exceent reease and therapeutic process, whether it is drawing, painting or music. Whatever heps you is worth doing. Exercise is aso very important; it heps you both physicay and mentay. Sinead O Hare-Brown received her bacheor s of socia science at the University of Uster in Northern Ireand. She earned her MSW at Marywood University. She is currenty an assistant director at the Handicapped Chidren s Association in Binghamton, NY. Sinead can be contacted at [email protected]. The Nationa Guard Is Your Ticket to Higher Education The Pennsyvania Army Nationa Guard is seeking icensed cinica socia workers to provide behaviora heath services as Army officers in our units. As an LCSW for the Pennsyvania Army Nationa Guard, you may be eigibe for up to $20,000 in annua bonus or up to $75,000 in student oan repayment. Are you a BSW graduate and seeking to further your education? Serve as a Pennsyvania Army Nationa Guard sodier and appy to the Fayettevie State University Master of Socia Work program. Earn your MSW with no out-of-pocket expense, heath care benefits and a paycheck whie doing so. For more information pease contact Capt. Kara Brinks at or [email protected]. W I N T E R THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKER 35

36 425 North 21st Street, Ste. 401 Camp Hi, PA NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG, PA PERMIT NO. 147 Why do over 5,000 socia workers turn to Socia Work p.r.n. for hep in deaing with workpace vioence? Why do they ca Socia Work p.r.n. when they need a job? Why do they turn to Socia Work p.r.n. for information on the atest resources for their cients? What are the three biggest mistakes socia workers make in their careers? What's wrong and what's right with the word of socia work in America today? You woud know a the answers to these questions if you were a recipient of the Socia Work p.r.n. Newsetter and a reader of our bog, The Socia Networker. Socia Work p.r.n. G o o d P e o p e... G o o d V a u e So by now you must be asking yoursef how do I get the newsetter and sign up for the bog? Guess What! It doesn't cost you anything. It's a gift from Socia Work p.r.n.! The newsetter and bog are both FREE! Go Go to to and right there on on the first page you wi see a box that says Subscribe for for Free Stuff. There you can sign up up for for the Newsetter, the Bog and other vauabe stuff! To Free Fax: [email protected] Socia Work p.r.n. - We ARE Socia Workers 36 CONTACT US: (IN PA)