Diona Shelton (she/her), DSW, LCSW, CATP, CCTP
Southern District Chair
Happy Social Work Month, Southern District!
March is here, and so is the beginning of Social Work Month. The theme for Social Work Month 2024 is, "Empowering Social Workers!" The social work profession was founded on the guiding principles of social justice and social change. Our primary mission is to, “enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (NASW Code of Ethics, 2024, para. 2). Social workers practice in various professional settings, including but certainly not limited to schools, hospitals, governmental agencies, nonprofits, mental health clinics, prisons, the military, and numerous other private and public sectors. Needless to say, our work is seen and necessary in all aspects of society. As we embark upon this month, let us celebrate and continue to educate others about the wonderful and varied contributions of social workers.
As we commemorate this month, I would like to invite the Southern District to a networking event that will be held on March 14, 2024, on the beautiful grounds of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus. Breakfast will be provided. Register today! Please join me, your Southern District Chair, Joel Rubin, NASW-IL Executive Director, and Latesha Newsome, NASW-IL President, as we celebrate this month by connecting with one another. We would love to meet with you as we celebrate our unique contributions to the profession and fellowship in unity.
We are One! We are Mighty! We are Social Workers!
Celebrating All Month Long,
Dr. Diona Shelton, DSW, LCSW, CATP, CCTP
NASW-IL Southern District Chair
REFERENCE
National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (2024).
Breakfast with the NASW-IL Southern District
Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Venue: Morris University Center - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,
1 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville, IL, 62026
Cost: FREE to attend!
Description: Please join the NASW-IL Southern District for breakfast as we commemorate Social Work Month! This event will be a wonderful opportunity for social workers, new and old, to meet NASW-IL leadership and connect with one another over coffee and pi.
Registration: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/z3vaoom16p856n/
CHAPTER NEWS
2023 NASW-Illinois Chapter Legislative Awards Announced
We are proud to announce this year’s 2023 NASW-Illinois Chapter Legislative Award recipients for their efforts during the 2023 spring legislative session. Illinois State Senator Karina Villa, MSW, and Illinois State Representative Lindsey LaPointe, MSW, were imperative to getting House Bill 2365 (HB2365), a bill which created an alternative to the ASWB clinical exam for clinical licensure, passed and signed into law in Illinois. This alternative incorporates an apprentice approach to evaluating the competence and capabilities of aspiring social workers, offering them a fair and unbiased opportunity to demonstrate their qualifications. Click here to learn more about implementation of this bill, or click here to read our full article about this year’s legislative awardees.
2024 NASW-IL Advocacy Day
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
For the first time since 2019, this year's Advocacy Day is back IN PERSON! Join the NASW-Illinois Chapter on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, for our annual day of social work advocacy with other social work professionals and students. This year's Advocacy Day has been restructured to further enhance students and social workers' advocacy skills and ability to lobby directly to elected officials and their staffers. Read more about the day as well as register by clicking here.
Accepting Nominations for the 2024 Social Work Awards
DEADLINE: Monday, April 22, 2024
Nominations are now being accepted for the annual NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards! This year, we are looking for outstanding individuals whose work has supported and promoted the social work profession and the people it serves. Nominations will be accepted for the following award categories: Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Public Citizen of the Year, and Emerging Leader. To read more about the award categories and requirements as well as request a nomination, click here.
Call for Presenters! 2024 NASW Chapters Virtual Conference
DEADLINE: 9am Central Time on Wednesday, May 1, 2024
This year's annual conference has been announced! This year's 2024 NASW Chapters Virtual Conference: Empowering Social Workers will be hosted by the NASW-Illinois, Nevada, and North Dakota Chapters, and take place on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8, 2024. Presenters are invited to submit 60-minute presentations on a diverse array of topics including (but not limited to) cultural competency and implicit bias as it affects the social work profession. Preference will be given to dynamic presenters whose presentations are creative, interactive, and audience-engaged. To read more about presentation requirements as well as submit a presentation, click here.
Other Chapter News:
· February 2024 - Student Network SIG Update: https://www.naswil.org/post/february-2024-student-network-sig-update
· NASW Seeks Public Comments School Social Work Practice Standards: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-seeks-public-comments-school-social-work-practice-standards
· Illinois Breaks Barriers in Mental Health Workforce, Achieving Remarkable Growth in Licensed Social Workers (LSWs): https://www.naswil.org/post/illinois-breaks-barriers-in-mental-health-workforce-achieving-remarkable-growth-in-licensed-social
· Optum/United Healthcare Issuing Overpayment Notices to Providers: Important Information and Steps to Take - https://www.naswil.org/post/optum-united-healthcare-issuing-overpayment-notices-to-providers-important-information-and-steps-to
· NASW Tips & Tools for Social Workers: Optum/United Behavioral Health Overpayments - https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-tips-tools-for-social-workers-optum-united-behavioral-health-overpayments
· Ask NASW-IL: How can I utilize the alternative to the ASWB exam to get my LCSW? https://www.naswil.org/post/ask-nasw-il-how-can-i-utilize-the-alternative-to-the-aswb-exam-to-get-my-lcsw
· IDFPR Licensure Renewal Requirements for 2023–2025: https://www.naswil.org/post/idfpr-licensure-renewal-requirements-for-2023-2025
· Partial Loan Repayment Assistance Available to Those Working in Community Mental Health Centers: https://www.naswil.org/post/partial-loan-repayment-assistance-available-to-those-working-in-community-mental-health-centers
· Social Work Profession One Step Closer to Interstate Licensure Compact: https://www.naswil.org/post/social-work-profession-one-step-closer-to-interstate-licensure-compact
· February 14, 2023 Update on the Social Work Interstate Compact: https://www.naswil.org/post/february-14-2023-update-on-the-social-work-interstate-compact
For more news, go to the NASW-Illinois Chapter News page: https://www.naswil.org/blog
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