Message from NASW-NJ Executive Director Walter Kalman

Same-Sex Marriage on the Ballot

In my message last week I noted the Governor Christie's nomination of Bruce Harris to the State Supreme Court. If confirmed by the state Senate, Harris, who was elected mayor of Chatham Borough last November, would be the third African-American and first openly gay justice named to the state Supreme Court — and the seventh openly gay justice in the nation. [The Governor also nominated Phillip Kwon, who worked under Christie when he was U.S. attorney].

Following closely on the heels of this announcement, the Governor proposed putting same-sex marriage on the ballot in November. Again, advocates across the state spoke out, this time challenging the Governor's call for a public vote to settle the topic. Why? Because they believe that it's not fair to let voters decide this issue, just as voters didn't decide on other civil rights issues at the ballot box.

And while recent recent polls have shown the majority of New Jersey voters support allowing same-sex marriage, the ballot issue would be a costly and divisive fight, and advocates know the odds are against them.

I will post this discussion to our NASW-NJ Blog and, as always, I invite you to weigh in on the issue of putting same-sex marriage up for a public vote in November.

We've Extended the Early Bird Deadline to Feb 22nd! Register Now for the NASW-NJ Annual Conference and Exhibition 

                                                   
2012 NASW-NJ
Annual Conference & Exhibition

A Meeting of the Profession
Social Work Leadership: Tools for Effective Change

Trump Taj Mahal
Atlantic City
May 6-8, 2012

Early Bird registration discount now ends February 22nd. Don't delay!

Try our NEW Online Registration - It's Quick, Easy, and Secure! Click here.

Our Exhibitor Prospectus will be available online soon!

Questions? Call our Conference Hotline at 732-296-8070 x18.

We're Looking for Someone Special...

NASW-NJ 2011 Award Recipients

Know a Social Worker who has done something amazing? Have a colleague who has given a lifetime to their social work career? Know an individual who does great things in their community?

Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Public Citizen of the Year nominations are due February 24, 2012.

For more information, click here.

See our Feb. '12 CE Newsletter - Now Online!

Check the February 2012 CE Newsletter sent to all members. If we missed you, or if you would like to take another look, just click here. The CE Newsletter is also just a click away on our homepage, so you can give it a look anytime.

Why Not Take an Online Course at Home?

Need CEs in the new year? Earn CEs in 2012 and over the cold winter months from home!

Click here to visit the NASW-NJ Online CE Institute. New courses are being added, so check the site periodically. All courses listed are approved for certified, licensed and licensed clinical social workers; certified school social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and certified and licensed alcohol and drug counselors.

African American Social Workers: NASW Wants to Publish Your Profile

February is Black History Month. To celebrate it NASW National is inviting African American social workers to publish a personal profile on www.HelpStartsHere.org. 

All African American social workers are eligible to participate. NASW membership is not required. Anyone wishing to participate this year should send his or her response to Theresa Spinner at tspinner@naswdc.org. Ms. Spinner will send you a draft of your profile for your review and approval before posting it onto the site. 

Submissions should be sent to Ms. Spinner no later than  
Friday, February 10, 2012.

To view the profile questions and for more information click here.

Needed: Volunteer Disaster Case Managers for Long Term Recovery from Hurricane Irene

New Jersey was severely impacted by Hurricane Irene – FEMA had over 89,000 applications for assistance! Many of these applicants will be helped by their insurance, FEMA and the Small Business Administration but many will be left with unmet needs. Several counties have developed Long Term Recovery Groups to help these individuals and families. 

The Long Term Recovery Groups are in need of volunteers to serve as Disaster Case Managers (DCM). Click here to read MORE.

If you are interested in volunteering as a Disaster Case Manager, or you know someone who might be interested, please call/email the contact person in the County where you want to help:

Bergen County - Tricia DeBartolome (201) 291-0534 ortriciad@bergenunitedway.org 
Morris County - Rita Kelly (973) 279-7100 x33 or rkelly@catholicharities.org 
Passaic County - Rita Kelly (973) 279-7100 x33 or rkelly@catholicharities.org
Somerset County - Lynn Weckworth (908) 253-6505
or lynn.weckworth@unitedwaynnj.org

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Reduction of Rates Paid to
LCSW Private Practitioners

As of December 1, 2011 Horizon BCBS changed the rate that had been paid to LCSW’s that are in network with the company. The NASW-NJ staff is in contact with Horizon BCBS to clarify this problem. In network providers with Horizon BCBS will receive letters from the company clarifying the issue soon.  As we receive more information regarding this matter we will be sure to notify you. For more information about this please contact flimberes@naswnj.org or call 732-296-8070 Ext. 24.

Help Fight Inequality: Ask Your Representative to Co-sponsor ENDA

Click here to Take Action!

For today’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, intolerance still is evident in the 29 states that permit discrimination based on sexual orientation and the 38 states that have not yet prohibited discrimination based on gender identity. On April 6, 2011, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced H.R.1397, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to address this issue. Currently, there are 157 co-sponsors.

H.R.1397 would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  H.R.1397 is similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans employment discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin and color.  As social justice advocates, NASW strongly urges the Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Please contact your Representative to ask them to co-sponsor H.R.1397, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. 

CHIPRA - A Great Accomplishment!

Members of Congress aren’t getting a lot of credit for things they got right these days so we would like to point one out—passage of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). On the anniversary of the Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization, let’s celebrate a popular law that was approved with bipartisan support. Since its passage three years ago, the law has helped drive the number of uninsured children under 18 down by one million.  MORE

Webcast: Living with HIV/AIDS: Social Security Can Help

The Social Security Administration will be hosting a webcast, “Living with HIV/AIDS – Social Security Can Help” on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. MST. The webcast will be accessible directly from the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov/denver. 

In this webcast, we will explain important elements of our benefits and services of particular interest to case managers and those who assist people living with HIV/AIDS. Topics will include:
·         Synopsis of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
·         Social Security programs for individuals with disabilities
·         Electronic services and how to apply for benefits
·         Medicare, Medicaid and Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)

What Is the Migration and Child Welfare National Network?

Leading organizations in the fields of immigration and child welfare have come together to increase the effectiveness of the child welfare system's and other corresponding systems' response to migration issues. These organizations constitute the founding members of the Migration and Child Welfare National Network (MCWNN).

The network currently has four main areas of focus related to migration and child welfare:

- policy/advocacy,
- promising practices,
- research and evaluation; and,
- transnational relations.

Committees assigned to each of these areas hold bimonthly conference calls and have activities planned for the next few years.

Are You Ready to Run?

Registration Open! Are You Ready to Run™?

NASW-NJ is pleased, once again, to work with the Center for American Women and Politics on its Ready to Run™ Program, which is a bi-partisan program for women who want to run for office, seek higher office, work on a campaign, get appointed to office, or learn more about the political system.

Ready to Run™ on Saturday, March 10, 2012
8:00am - 5:30pm

Pre-conference programs for women of color start on
Friday, March 9, 2012, 12:00 - 8:00 pm
Douglass Campus Center
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
Click here for more details. (Early bird deadline is February 10th!)

If you are an NASW-NJ member who is interested in attending, apply through NASW-NJ for a scholarship. Please contact Kendra Hayes at
732-296-8070 x16 or khayes@naswnj.org.

Special Interest Group (SIG) Meetings

Morris Private Practice SIG

Feb 6, 2012
9:30 - 11:30am

The Morris Guild of Psychotherapy
1 Madison Ave., 3rd floor
Morristown NJ 07960

Topics related to private practice will be discussed in an open format.

Click here to RSVP

Monmouth-Ocean Private Practice SIG

Feb 9, 2012
7:00 - 9:00pm

EMS Building in Tinton Falls
46 Old Mills Road
Tinton FallsNJ07724

Discussion on three private practice issues.
- How to Get on Insurance Panels
- Documentation
- Social Media/Confidentiality

Click here to RSVP

North/Central PPSIG Meeting & Presentation

February 13, 2012
12:00 - 2:00pm

The Peoples Care Center
120 Findern Ave.(Conference Room)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Topic: "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Military, But Didn't Know Who To Ask"

Presenter: Ann Marie Williams, LCSW

Click here to RSVP

Classified

Clinical Coordinator – LCSW plus three years of supervisory experience; responsible for supervision, development and coordination of adult services in a large social service agency; four days per week, email: jsayovitz@jfsmetrowest.org.

LCSW - CHE Senior CareTherapy is seeking NJ Licensed Clinical Social Workers to provide psychotherapy. Please visit our website www.cheservices.com and forward your resume to njcareers@cheservices.com.

Child Therapist, PT (2 evenings) Northern NJ family service agency seeks LCSW to provide individual and family therapy to children exposed to domestic violence. Three years’ experience with children required. Email pstern@jfsmetrowest.org.
    

Continuing Education (non-NASW sponsored)*
    
Register now for The Princeton Family Center for Education’s Bowen family systems training seminars. Four Fridays: February, March, April, June.  5 NASW CEUs each (Provider #886506444).  Visit www.princetonfamilycenter.org or call 609-924-0514. 

*While these are not NASW-NJ courses, as a service to our members we will only run ads for programs that have documented approval by NASW-NJ, NASW-National, or the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), or which are exempt from CE regulations of the NJ Board of SW Examiners. For information on assessing CEUs, click on this link for the ASWB statement on assessing CEUs.