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Latest News |
The Offical Website of the National Association of Social Workers - West Virginia Chapter! Check back often! We'll add new content, features and photographs on an ongoing basis. Don't forget to add us to your bookmarks! Contact information concerning employment and continuing education opportunities relevant to West Virginia social workers is posted free of charge when timely and as our capabilities allow. Electronic format submission preferred. We reserve the right to edit submissions to remove qualitative content All editorial decisions are final. |
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Thank you for attending the 2009 Spring Conference! The following resources will enhance your conference experience and provide easy access to information for record keeping purposes.
Handout: Workshop G2 - Why We Speak the Way We Do, Dr. Kirk Hazen Handout: Appalachian Language Networking Session, Dr. Kirk Hazen Continuing Ed: WV LPC Approved Session Continuing Ed: NAB/NCERS Approved Sessions Continuing Ed: MCLE (Attorney) Credit Information Continuing Ed: WVU Nonprofit Management Certificate Credit Info Naomi Haines Griffith, MSW: Keynote Speaker 2009 Sponsors & Exhibitors - Thank you!
Major Sponsors: 1-800-GAMBLER: The Problem Gamblers Help Network of WV Burgess Center for West Virginia Children and Families, WVU Division of Social Work
Day Sponsor: Central Counties Area Health Education Center / Cabin Creek Medical Systems
Gala Reception Sponsors: Family Options Providers / Right From The Start The Dream Taybill Advance Pharmacy Services Bellefaire JCB and Monarch Center for Autism The Honorable Delegate Charlene Marshall (D-Monongalia) Bethany College Department of Social Work Concord University Department of Social Work Marshall University Department of Social Work Mountain State University Department of Social Work Shepherd University Department of Social Work West Virginia State University Department of Social Work West Virginia University Division of Social Work West Virginia Health Care Association Mid-America and Mid-Atlantic Addiction Technology Transfer Centers/SAMHSA National Association of Social Workers, Inc. |
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Click here to view our report on the November 2008 Legislative Interim meetings. |
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2009 Social Work Day at the Legislature was March 4th! These links to useful information are for members who wish to influence policy making! How to be an Effective Citizen Lobbyist Legislative Information Set up your own bill tracking site to follow legislation! Legislative Alert: Increase the Tobacco Tax! Maps of State Capitol Grounds and Buildings
Report on 2009 Social Work Day at the Legislature Two-hundred social workers and social work students from across the state met on March 4th at the State Capitol. State Senator Dan Foster, MD provided a briefing on major health care reform proposals, including the importance of increasing the state tobacco tax to fund health programs, and the menu labeling proposal to improve healthy decision making a the time of purchase in chain restaurants. Participants then ment with their elected officials in support of an increase in the state tobacco tax. Among the compelling benefits of increasing the tax is that it will prevent scores of young people from ever taking up smoking. It far from certain that this important measure will pass, so it is important that NASW members continue to communicate with their senators and delegates, as well as Governor Manchin. Passage of the tax measure is essential to real health care reform efforts in WV… including extending health insurance coverage to the estimated 250,000 West Virginians who have no medical coverage. Legislators need to know that there is broad public support for a sizable increase in the state tobacco tax. Social Work Day participants also attended committee meetings, observed floor sessions, witnessed the House and Senate Resolutions declaring March 4th as Social Work Day, and met with Governor Joe Manchin, III to receive his Proclamation of March as Professional Social Work Month in West Virginia. The legislative alert on the tobacco tax put forward by a coalition of organizations, including NASW, WV can be found at www.preventchildabusewv.org, where you will also find a link to easily contacting your elected representatives. |
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Thursday and Friday, August 27 and 28, 2009 Schedule of Events Thursday, August 27, 2008 9 am - 10:30 am: Opening Plenary Session (1.5 CE Hrs) 10:45 am - 12:15 pm: Concurrent Workshops: (1.5 CE Hrs) A. Workplace Safety B. Bringing it Home: NASW Branch Activities 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Concurrent Workshops (3 CE Hrs) C. Fundraising with Generation Next D. Elder Law E. Clinical Supervision, Eric Rankin F. Supervising Employees with Secondary Trauma G. Learning About Your Team 4:30 - 6:00 pm: Exemplar Reception/NASW & WVU Div of Social Work Updates (.5 CE Hrs) Friday, August 28, 2008 8:30 am - 11:30 am Concurrent 3 hr. Workshops (3 CE Hrs) H. Conflict Resolution I. Employment Law J. Futures Planning K. Grant Writing 12:45 pm: Keynote Address (1 CE Hr) Returning From War: Hilda Heady, MSW 2:00 - 4:00 pm Concurrent 3 hr. Workshops (3 CE Hrs) L. Serving WV Veterans, Military Personnel and their Families (Panel Discussion) M. Utilizing JAN: Effective Job Acommodation N. Impaired Practitioners O. Issues Affecting Continuing Education Information The Management Institute is approved for WV and OH licensed Social Workers & WV Certified Addictions Counselors. Applications pending for WV LPC’s, Attorneys and persons enrolled in the WVU Nonprofit Certificate Program. Social workers help people every day, so it’s only natural to have a built-in service project at NASW events like this. Please plan to bring personal hygiene items, canned food to donate to HOPE, Inc. to assist with their important work to support victims of domestic violence in Marion Co. |
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Federal employees who make tax deductible donations through the Combined Federal Campaign can now support social work by choosing NASW Foundation: Social Workers Helping Communities in Campaign. Social workers are vital to helping people in crisis. Proper training and preparation enables social workers to care for those in need and improve their lives. Charitable donations made to the NASW Foundation support educational opportunities for social workers nationally AND within the NASW West Virginia Chapter. Look for: NASW Foundation in the Combined Federal Campaign listing of “Women, Children & Family Service Charities” |
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NASW Resources on Aging-- New Products New resources produced by NASW’s policy and practice staff! • Social Work in Long-Term Care and Aging: Decreased Health Care Costs, Increased Quality of Life: This four-page handout is posted on the NASW website (go to aging initiative page or aging practice page; http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/aging/2008/swLTChandout0808.pdf The handout was distributed at recent conferences of the Pioneer Network and NCCNHR: The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. This document supports the need for professional social work in long-term care ( • Turn to NASW for Resources on Aging: This two-page flyer, updated in August 2008, presents multiple NASW resources related to aging, including the consumer website/National Social Worker Finder Online Directory; standards for social work practice; the online career center; WebEd courses; the Social Work Reinvestment Initiative and government relations; and more: http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/aging/2008/agingBroch0808.pdf The flier was distributed at recent conferences of the Pioneer Network and NCCNHR: The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. An excellent handout for classes, workshops, and conferences! • National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC): NASW serves on the Advisory Task Force for this organization and helped develop tools to help professionals, consumers, policy makers, and the media understand and improve transitions of care between health and behavioral health care settings and providers. Visit the NTOCC site www.ntocc.org to view the tools, which include a Transition of Care Checklist for professionals, a complementary form for clients/consumers (Taking Care of MY Health Care), and a concept paper addressing how to improve transitions of care. • Discharge Planning Checklist: NASW served as a consultant to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( |
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February 2010: Defendant pleads guilty to murder of Brenda Lee Yeager; faces possible double life sentence. 2009: HB2566, regarding the malicious assault law and protected persons… refered to by Governor Manchin as the Social Worker Safety Bill, passed the West Virginia Legislature on the final night of the 60-day session and has been signed into law. Brenda Lee Yeager's daughter and sister, as well as the owners of the company she worked for, were on hand to witness the signing along with Delegate Virginia Mahan (D-Summers), who championed the bill, and Sam Hickman, CEO of NASW WV, which supported the bill. Delegate Bonnie Brown (D-Kanawha), also a supporter of the bill, and NASW member Dennis Pease, director of Daymark, Inc, also attended the signing ceremony. During the 2009 Legislative Interim meetings Select Committee A on Children, Juveniles and Other Issues investigated safety measures, including technology solutions. The Select Committee on Health was assigned a study of the safety of DHHR employees engaged in in-home services, but has asked House and Senate leaders to reassign the study to Select Committee A. HB2566 expands and redrafts the state’s malicious assault law to make it clear that an assault on a social worker like Brenda Lee Yeager would be a covered offense. Yeager was brutally beaten, raped, murdered and her body mutilated on “The passage of this significant piece of legislation is a fitting tribute to the memory of our colleague Brenda Lee Yeager, and an important tool for social workers across
Statement on the Murder of Brenda Lee Yeager National Association of Social Workers, NOTE: In lieu of flowers, the family of Brenda Lee Yeager has requested that donations for funeral expenses be made to The Brenda Yeager Fund at any City National Bank branch. Social worker Brenda Lee Yeager, 51 of The members and leaders of the National Association of Social Workers, West Virginia Chapter mourn the loss of our valued colleague and share in the grief of her family, co-workers and loved ones. We also mourn for the innocent child whose life has been irrevocably altered by this tragedy. It is the highest calling of our profession to utilize our skills, training and expertise to protect society's most vulnerable citizens. This calling often places social workers in extremely dangerous situations. Media reports have treated Brenda Yeager and her professional calling as a social worker with the utmost respect and dignity. They have also noted issues in the provision of services, such as that We do not know why Brenda was visiting this family alone. From what we know this was a scheduled visit to an existing client family. Although policies on field visits vary with the situation and there was no reason to suspect danger on this occasion, Brenda would probably be alive today has she not called on this family alone. Not only has the life of a dedicated social worker been senselessly lost and her family and friend made to suffer, but the lives of the child she was trying to protect and the young couple she sought to instruct to be better parents have been irrevocably changed for the worse. This tragedy will increase the National Association of Social Worker's commitment to implement better policies, procedures, staffing, training and salaries to prevent it from happening again. Last year, the State of The threat of increased criminal penalties may well avert some violent crimes against social workers, but more can be done: - Policies and staffing levels should insure that social workers never go alone into potentially violent situations in the field. Our assessment skills are excellent, but we must be sure to err on the side of caution. Employers, regulations and policies need to support social workers when they determine that making a visit alone is not a safe option. - Social workers should be equipped with self-defense skills and technology devices to assure their personal safety. GPS sytems and 'panic button' communication devices to alert authorities, office safety features such as electronic locks, and access to criminal background check databases to quickly determine risk before making field visits are all good initial steps. - State and federal funds should be applied to assure that social workers - especially those in protective services and field work - are well trained and competitively paid for the important work they do. For several years, NASW West Virginia has sponsored social worker safety courses to increase awareness, offer safety tips, and improve self-defense skills. We will continue to do so, and we will work to assure that employers provide social workers with the tools needed to do their jobs safely and effectively. More information can be found online at: http://everydayselfdefense.com/ The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's publication 'Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Servcies Workers', can be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf |
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Click here to make a Nomination for the 2009 Awards of Merit! Summary of the 2008 Awards Presented at the Spring Conference Social Worker of the Year: Debra Beatty, ACSW of Elkview. A therapist in private practice, Debra's impressive skills and caring personality helped to make her the obvious choice. Committed to her profession and community, Debra has been involved in many consumer advisory groups and is a member of the NASW WV Spring Conference Planning Committee Exemplar Award for Excellence in Social Work Management: Steve Mason, ACSW of Charleston. Steve has performed with great distinction as the state's chief addicitons specialist at WV DHHR's Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities. He is the recipient of pervious awards of merit from his peers in the addictions treatment field. Steve has chosen to retire this year. Public Citizen of the Year: Rev. Dennis Sparks, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches. Dennis is a tireless, respected and effective advocate for good causes, including children's health, child welfare, clean elections, and economic and social justice. Having Dennis and the WVCC on your side is a wonderful thing! Jon Blair Hunter Award for Political Advancement: State Sen. Jon Blair Hunter, MSW began most of his speeches on the Senate floor with 'As a professional social worker...'. He no only promoted our profession, but consistently demonstrated its most cherished values. Jon was presented with the inaugural award recently named in his honor by the Chapter Board of Directors. This was previously known as the Legislator of the Year award. Special Award: Betsy Randall, PhD, ACSW. As outgoing President of the Board of Directors of the NASW West Virginia Chapter, Betsy has help to shape and lead our success over the past two years. The Chapter exercises influence far beyond our size and is is in better financial condition than when she took office. Her respectful and inclusive style of leadership has been appreciated. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS! |
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Join us April 28, 29, 30, 2010 at the Charleston (WV) Civic Center We have an exceptional Spring Conference planned for you! Keynote Address Handout Information: Claudia Black Addictions in the Family (A 1) Handout: Claudia Black Families and Addictions: Intervention (B 1) Handout: Claudia Black Renowned addictions and codependency expert, author and trainer internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders.
Keynote Speaker: Claudia Black, MSW, PhD Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Schedule and Workshop Descriptions Thursday, April 29, 2010 Schedule and Workshop Descriptions Friday, April 30, 2010 Schedule and Workhsop Descriptions Networking Sessions Available at Spring Conference (final draft) Downloadable Registration Form - The pre-registration period has ended but you can still Register At-the-Door from 4-6pm on Tuesday, April, 27 or beginning at 7:30am on April 28, 29 or 30. Lots of great selections will still be available! Online Registration - The online registration period has ended but you can still Register At-the-Door from 4-6pm on Tuesday, April, 27 or beginning at 7:30am on April 28, 29 or 30. Lots of great selections will still be available! Downloadable 2010 Spring Conference Brochure WV Licensed Professional Counselor Continuing Education Information Nursing Home Administrator Continuing Education Information 2010 Sponsors & Exhibitors - Thank you!
Major Sponsors: 1-800-GAMBLER: The Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia Beatrice Ruth Burgess Center for West Virginia Children and Families, WVU Division of Social Work Central West Virginia Area Health Education Council Boone Memorial Healthcare, Madison; Care Partners Home Health, Morgantown; Grant Memorial HomeCare, Petersburg; Home Care Plus, Lewisburg; Housecalls Home Health, Parkersburg; Housecalls Home Health, Harrisville; Jackson Home Health, Ripley; Mountaineer HomeCare, Charleston; PCH Home Health, Princeton; PCH Home Health, Beckley; Preston Memorial HomeCare, Kingwood; Roane HomeCare, Spencer; St. Mary’s Medical Center Home Health Services, Huntington, WV and Proctorville, OH; Wetzel County HomeCare, New Martinsville; Grant Memorial Hospice, Petersburg; Housecalls Hospice, Parkersburg; Ohio HomeCare, Belpre
Gala Reception Sponsors: West Virginia National Guard Family Programs National Association of Social Workers, West Virginia Chapter
Journeys of Life Books, Gifts and More Mid-Atlantic Addiction Technology Transfer Centers/SAMHSA Funded National Association of Social Workers |
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A group of West Virginia doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers are currently in Northern Haiti offering medical and social services relief through a local hospital. The two social workers, from Kanawha County, are NASW members Jenny Woodson, MSW and Martha Minter, MSW. The two organized and brought care packages for the earthquake patients. For the children, they asked Stephanie Gregory's 3rd grade class at Bridgeview Elementary School to write get well notes, and the Central WV Red Cross provided Mickey Mouse dolls. The Red Cross also donated 400 bags with personal hygiene products that are being distributed. As you can imagine, this was a big hit in the pediatric unit! |
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