May is National Foster Care Month, a time to raise awareness on the plight of children and youth in the foster care system. The National Association of Social Workers, with Casey Family Programs and other partner organizations, underscore the important work of social workers, and the increasing need for a safe, stable and nurturing environment for children and youth during National Foster Care Month. NASW has created a web section for National Foster Care Month highlighting child welfare related resources. Visit it here: http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/children/2012/fostercare.asp

PRESIDENT-ELECT
Candi Gray (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW, OSW-C) is a licensed clinical social worker and member of NASW and AOSW (Association of Oncology Social Work). Candi has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, helping those impacted by various health-related problems and illnesses. Beginning her career at the City/County of San Francisco Health Department in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, Candi went on to work in the areas of geriatrics, substance abuse, medical case management, HIV/AIDS, and oncology. Currently, she works as an oncology social worker at the Community Cancer Center in Normal, IL, a comprehensive, community –based cancer care provider serving persons in Central Illinois. The Center focuses on outpatient cancer care and includes services such as medical and radiation oncology, CyberKnife service, comprehensive breast service, nutrition, community education, and offers a full complement of support services. As an oncology social worker, Candi is responsible for all clinic-wide psychosocial support services, program development and standards, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement and accreditation. Candi states, “As an oncology social worker, I have the privilege everyday to help those who are affected by cancer find the knowledge, support, and hope they will need to face the challenges and changes their diagnosis brings.” Additionally, she has been a field supervisor for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University’s social work programs and Illinois State University’s Child Life program.

SECRETARY
Cheri Sinnott (MSW, Washington University in St. Louis; LCSW) is director of the Illinois Service Resource Center (ISRC), a statewide agency that provides behavioral support to students who are deaf and hard of hearing. She has been with ISRC since 1993. Additionally, she is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Lake County and maintains a private practice. From 2007 to 2011 she served as Northeastern District Chair for the NASW Illinois Chapter.

CHICAGO DISTRICT CHAIR
Alexander Brown (MBA, Lake Forest College; PhD, The Institute for Clinical Social Work; LCSW) is executive director and CEO of Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow (PACTT). The agency provides residential, educational, and vocational services to children and adults with autism in Chicago and the western suburbs. In the past, he has served as clinical director of a very large nonprofit that provides a wide range of social services in Cook and Dupage Counties; executive director of an agency that provides supportive housing to adults recovering from chronic mental illnesses; managed community-based programs that serve older adults; and hospital-based crisis intervention, outpatient therapy, and employee assistance programs. He has also served as a reviewer for the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and currently teaches graduate-level courses in human resources and nonprofit marketing at DePaul University’s School of Public Service. He has served on the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations including the Howard Brown Health Clinic, the John Howard Association (which promotes prison reform), and the NASW Illinois Chapter where he also serves as Chicago District Chair. He also serves on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Disparities Research Task Force and as a reviewer for Cancer Control and Population Sciences grants. He presents frequently to both professional and lay audiences on a wide range of topics related to both clinical and administrative matters. He degree in social work from Simmons College and the Institute for Clinical Social Work and a masters’ degree in business from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

JANE ADDAMS DISTRICT CHAIR
Sheryl Frye (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW) is assistant director of counseling for Military Student Services at Northern Illinois University (NIU). She provides case management and academic support services for veterans and military students. Sheryl also serves as case manager for the student threat assessment team at NIU. She has fifteen years of social work practice experience. Her clinical experiences include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, couples counseling, Dialectical Behavior therapy, play therapy, drama therapy, recreational therapy, and crisis intervention. She has practiced in university counseling centers, hospitals, residential treatment centers, and community agencies. Sheryl’s clinical areas of interest include PTSD, mind/body health, anxiety, and depression. Sheryl is currently pursuing her doctorate in adult and higher education at Northern Illinois University.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT CHAIR
An e-mail was sent out on April 3, 2012, to members of the NASW Illinois Chapter Southern District soliciting members for the Southern District chair position. If you would like to be considered for the Southern District chair position, please contact NASW Illinois Chapter Executive Director Joel L. Rubin at office [at] naswil.org.

THREE RIVERS DISTRICT CHAIR
Martha Neira (MA, University of Chicago; LCSW) has a professional life that spans over thirty years of dedicated and committed work to those whom, in many cases, cannot advocate for themselves. Martha's extensive experience includes working with multi-ethnic populations from varied socio-economic backgrounds, focusing on working with children and families involved in the child welfare system due to abuse and neglect. Martha's trajectory within DCFS took her from providing direct services to families involved with DCFS and the Juvenile Court System to becoming a unit supervisor, manager, and culminated with several years as a clinical facilitator attached to Juvenile Court to facilitate the resolution of complex cases. She retired from DCFS to continue her career as an individual psychotherapist. Presently she is an independent contractor at UCAN, providing individual therapy.

MEMBER AT-LARGE
Monica Guilhot-Chartrand (MSW, University of Minnesota; LCSW) is a bilingual clinical social worker, originally from Uruguay, who has served the community as a licensed professional in the states of Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. She has practiced in the fields of behavioral health and social service with a specialization in clinical social work. She currently provides direct services through her work at Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Services, including interventions focused on interpersonal interactions, intrapsychic dynamics, and life-management issues. She also has training and experience in multicultural settings. She has practiced both in administrative and clinical capacities, ranging from program director to clinician, providing direct services to families and individuals. She has also been community faculty for the Social Work Department at Metropolitan State University in Minnesota. Monica also enjoys working with older adults, particularly on themes related to unresolved grief and loss. Other areas of expertise include blended families and cross-cultural matters.

MSW REPRESENTATIVE
Jennifer Tan currently studies at The University of Chicago where she is pursuing a dual MBA/MA from the Booth School of Business and the School of Social Service Administration. Prior to her move to Chicago, Jen worked as coordinator for the office of the Chief Development Officer of Facing History and Ourselves, an international civic education organization that develops and shares teaching strategies, curricula, and resources that encourage students to take responsibility for their world. Jen has also worked as the first International Recruiter for the William J. Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS and Climate Initiatives where she helped start and grow the organization's first recruitment efforts to serve and staff program teams across 70 countries. A Massachusetts native, Jen speaks Cantonese Chinese and Vietnamese. She graduated with a BA in American Civilization from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and has also studied at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, SAR.

BSW REPRESENTATIVE
Lydia Quinones is a current BSW student at Governors State University. She returned to college and majored in social work seeking a social justice program so that she could pursue her goal of advocating for better social policies co-mingled with mental health. As a non-traditional student she has finally found her vocation and passion in social work. In pursuing such a vocation she is fulfilled in knowing that the education she is receiving will be making her a more culturally competent worker in the field of social work. Her strengths as a social worker stem from being a third generation social worker. Her grandmother led the way as an emergency protective services worker for the Department of Children and Family Services in Chicago, IL. She is very proud of this legacy, and this adds to her personal strengths and perseverance in pursuing a career in social work. She also feels that the knowledge that she gained as a manager and railroad conductor prior to returning to school have assisted in her professional and personal growth. At present, she works part-time empowering individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, volunteers, is active in her hometown community government, and is a member of student government.

2014 DELEGATE ASSEMBLY

Alexander Brown (MBA, Lake Forest College; PhD, The Institute for Clinical Social Work; LCSW) is executive director and CEO of Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow (PACTT). The agency provides residential, educational, and vocational services to children and adults with autism in Chicago and the western suburbs. In the past, he served as clinical director of a very large nonprofit that provides a wide range of social services in Cook and DuPage Counties; executive director of an agency that provides supportive housing to adults recovering from chronic mental illnesses; managed community-based programs that serve older adults; and hospital-based crisis intervention, outpatient therapy, and employee assistance programs. He has also served as a reviewer for the Council on Accreditation (COA) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and currently teaches graduate-level courses in human resources and nonprofit marketing at DePaul University’s School of Public Service. He has served on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations including the Howard Brown Health Clinic, the John Howard Association (which promotes prison reform), and the NASW Illinois Chapter where he also serves as Chicago District Chair. He also serves on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Disparities Research Task Force and as a reviewer for Cancer Control and Population Sciences grants. He presents frequently to both professional and lay audiences on a wide range of topics related to both clinical and administrative matters.

Mary Garrison (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW; ACSW) is associate professor of social work at Millikin University. Courses taught by Mary include human behavior and the social environment; practice with diverse populations; social work ethics; community mental health; introduction to the helping professions; and an international travel course (social policy in Ireland). Additionally, Mary is adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign teaching generalist practice and mental health policy courses. Mary has had extensive practice experience in the social work field, with over fifteen years of practice in mental health services. Mary is currently a part-time private practitioner at Decatur Psychological Associates. Throughout her career, Mary has served as a therapist, clinical supervisor, manager, consultant, child development specialist, and victim/witness advocate. Mary has been active in providing continuing education opportunities for colleagues through professional workshops, presentations, and trainings domestically and internationally. Mary serves as advisor to several committees and participates on a number of boards including the National Alliance on Mental Illness Illinois State Board, Mental Health Association of Macon County, and the governing board of the Macon County Homeless Council. Mary is the current NASW Illinois chapter East Central District Chair and has previously acted as a Delegate Assembly Member and as the East Central District Nomination Committee Chair. Mary was the recipient of the Social Worker of the Year Award for the NASW East Central District as well as the state of Illinois in 2011, and was also awarded the Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award from Millikin University.

Don Phelps (PhD, University of Illinois; MSW, Aurora University) is a licensed clinical social worker and currently a tenured associate professor in the School of Social Work at Aurora University. During the last twenty-five years, Don has worked as a youth and family therapist, clinical director, chief operating officer, and executive director.

Chasity Wells-Armstrong (MSW, Governors State University; CADC) has several years of public/community service within community agencies and organizations. She is an advanced social work practitioner and has been active in her professional organization for several years. Currently she is serving her second term on the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors as Calumet District Chair. Recently, Chasity was selected by the board to serve on the NASW Illinois Political Action Committee (NASW IL PAC), was one of four social workers awarded the 2011 Emerging Leader in Social Work, and was one of the 600 social workers in the nation selected to attend the 2010 Social Work Congress. She serves as an Advisory Board Member for both Governors State University and Trinity Christian College. Furthermore, Chasity serves in the Kankakee Branch of the NAACP. As a member of the executive committee for the Kankakee NAACP Branch, Chasity has worked to support several committees and was recently appointed as education chair. Moreover, Chasity serves as a member of the Zonta Club of Kankakee which is affiliated with Zonta International, an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of women worldwide. She has served on the Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Committee, collaborating with the state of Illinois and coordinating the 2011 Rescue and Restore Event. In addition to community obligations, Chasity served six years on the school board for Bishop McNamara Catholic High School. She has worked in state government for both the Illinois Departments of Developmental Disabilities and Employment Security.

Greetings District Members:

Please be reminded that we have an upcoming district event.  

See the following information for details:

Date:  Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time:  10:00am

Location:  Old Plank Trail Community Bank, 20012Wolf Road, Mokena, Illinois - 708.478.4447

Presenter:  Amy Switak, LCSW, CSW - G

Topic:  Working with the Geriatric Population, What Social Workers Need to Know

NOTE:  PLEASE RSVP through the chapter website at:  http://www.naswil.org so that arrangements for refreshments can be made.

Becoming a member also helps NASW to continue to promote the profession, allowing social workers to have a voice in shaping Illinois and national policy with dedicated governmental consultants lobbying on your behalf to promote and pass sound legislative policy. It makes sense to support and become a member of the largest professional social work association in the state, one that advocates on your behalf for a responsible and fair state budget ensuring funding for Illinois human services organizations and social work jobs. With over 150,000 members in 56 chapters nationwide the NASW is the most recognized membership organization of professional social workers in the world.

THE BENEFITS

• Members have the opportunities to network, building leadership skills by serving on the chapter board of directors, district leadership council, committees, task forces, and shared interest groups (SIGs).
• Members can attend chapter office events or participate in online education services offered by national to receive free CEUs.
• Becoming a member now gains you access to the NASW Social Work Career Center to help find a job as well as develop your resume and interviewing skills.
• Discounts on our LSW/LCSW review course.

THE SAVINGS
BSW & MSW Student Membership Dues Annually: $48

• BSW student members who maintain continuous membership after graduation automatically enter a 2-year transitional period with reduced dues of $94 each year.
• MW students who maintain continuous membership after graduation automatically enter a 3-year transitional period with reduced dues of $94 in years 1 and 2, and $143 in year 3.

Doctoral Student (in a Social Work/Social Welfare Program) Membership Dues Annually: $143

NASW student members and eligible transitional members may apply for discounted professional liability insurance for student field placement and/or for the first two years of professional practice. 

So don't wait any longer! Become a member today!

Late Summer International Social Work Conference Planned

The NASW Illinois Chapter’s International Activities Network SIG will again participate in this year’s international conference with social workers from Chicago’s Sister Cities of Birmingham, UK, and Hamburg, DE. This will be the 16th Annual International Conference of these Sister Cities and follows on the heels of a very successful conference last summer in Chicago and Champaign-Urbana. These conferences have proven to be truly unique professional development opportunities which immerse participants in the social work culture and practice of other countries. It will also confer in excess of 20 CEUs depending on each delegate's total contact hours. Hamburg’s State Youth Authority is hosting the 2012 conference and underwrites the cost. Delegates are only responsible for their airfare.
 
A delegation of eight Illinois social workers is expected to arrive in Hamburg on August 31, 2012, and conclude its work on Saturday, September 8, 2012. In addition to the Hamburg and Illinois colleagues, the exchange will include social workers from Birmingham, UK. The theme for the exchange is Social Work and Children Rights - New Approaches. Given cultural, racial, and ethnic differences, exchange participants will consider the impact of the United Nations’ Bill of Rights for Children on social service delivery systems and attempt to identify those interventions and service delivery models that may be universally applicable. There will be a hands-on look at social work practices in schools and social work with the diverse immigrant groups from Africa, the middle East, eastern Europe and central/south America.
 
This exchange has been planned by the host city and typically consists of a mixture of daily group and individual meetings with local officials, university faculty, and social service organizations’ staff. Full eight-hour work days are to be expected along with social opportunities with colleagues in the off hours. The conference will conclude with a one-day mini-conference inviting all professionals in Hamburg to participate. The keynote speaker will be Eileen Munro of the London School of Economics who has studied and published her findings on child protection services in the UK.
 
To apply, please fill out the online application form (LINK). The application form is to be submitted no later than 5:00pm on June 15, 2012. Interviews for selected applicants will be scheduled in late June, and selections determined no later than July 7, 2012.

I hope all of you are doing well. 

Welcome to all new members and congratulations to all the upcoming graduates.

Social Work Month Recap
The March Social Work Month event went well.  Three (3) members of our district received awards:

• Jim Rowe, JD ~ Public Citizen of the Year
• Lynn Bos, LCSW ~ Social Worker of the Year
• Billie Phillips Terrell, PhD, ACSW ~ Lifetime Achievement

Upcoming Event
Date:  Saturday, May 12, 2012
Time:  10:00am–12:00pm
Location:  Old Plank Trail Community Bank, 20012 Wolf Road, Mokena, Illinois 60448
Presenter:  Amy Switak, LCSW, CSW -G
Topic:  Working with the Geriatric Population, What Social Workers Need to Know
2 CEUs / FREE NASW Illinois Member / $10 Nonmember

NOTE:  Please RSVP through the chapter website: http://www.naswil.org/calendar/events/2213/. Refreshments will be provided.

If anyone has any suggestions for topics, please feel free to send your suggestions.

As your district chair I need to share with you that  my speciality practice is mental health. Please allow me to take a moment to share with you that May is Mental Health Month. One theme for the month is “Do More for 1 in 4.” This is a call to action to help the one in four American adults who live with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition and the fact that they can go on to live full and productive lives.

You too as members can elect to have the Mental Health Specialty Practice Section (SPS) as part of your NASW membership. There are also sections for Administration/Supervision; Aging; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults; Child Welfare; Health; Private Practice; School Social Work; Social and Economic Justice & Peace; and Social Work and the Courts. It's just another opportunity to be proud of your profession! Read more about SPS here.

CHAPTER NEWS

• 2012 Emerging Leader Awards: The NASW Illinois Chapter is seeking nominations for its annual 2012 Emerging Leader Awards. Know a deserving up-and-coming social worker? Submit a nomination form here: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-update/accepting-nominations-for-the-2012-emerging-leader-awards/.
• 2012 Board of Directors Elections: With chapter elections closing on April 30, 2012, be sure to stay tuned to the NASW Illinois Chapter website (http://www.naswil.org) as we announce election results!

FREE CEU OPPORTUNITIES
I now have completed the lineup of  CEU presentations for 2012. The events will be held on the third Friday of each month. The events are held at the Methodist Atrium building in Peoria from 9:00 to 10:00am. So far, these events have included good information, great discussions, and a wonderful opportunity to meet other NASW members. The May event will be held on May 18th from 9:00 to 10:00am. This will be a presentation by Greg Hixon of DCFS who will present on the use of WRAP-around services to provide supportive services to children and families. Greg has worked for DCFS for twenty-five years and has a wealth of information. I encourage you to come join us in the discussion, get to know others in the district, and earn a free CEU!

DID YOU KNOW...? 
This month's challenge: Would you like to know more about the legislative issues of concern to the NASW? Go to http://naswil.org/news/chapter-update/budget-outlook-grim-for-human-services/ and read more from Phil Milsk, NASW Illinois Governmental Relations Consultant.

The next meeting of the Retired Social Worker SIG will be held on Friday, May 11, 2012, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the NASW Illinois Chapter office at 404 South Wells, 4th Floor. We will spend part of our time talking about major events in our lifetimes and how they have affected our views of the world. We will also begin to plan our next few meetings. We welcome both retired social workers and those who are thinking about retirement. Please feel free to contact RSW SIG Chair Cynthianna Hahn at rsw@naswil.org with any questions about the group.
 

I would like to welcome our newest NASW members to the East Central District! We are so pleased to have you in the association and a part of our district. Our new members are:

• Yi-Chien Hung
• Margaret Jobst
• Kathleen Buckley
• Katrina Freehill
• Andrea Yuhas
• Antonial Lotts

Chapter News

• Networking Happy Hour on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Please join your colleagues for a networking event at Medici (102 North Street) in Normal, IL. Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. I look forward to seeing you all there! Please be sure to check the NASW Illinois Chapter website (www.naswil.org) for valuable information regarding the profession and for a multitude of CEU opportunities.
• Social Work Speaks, Ninth Edition, NASW Policy Statements, 2012–2014 is now available through NASW press: http://naswpress.org/publications/practice/speaks.html. Social Work Speaks is a compilation of the policy statements adopted by the NASW Delegate Assembly in 2011. As most of you are aware, the Delegate Assembly, NASW's key policymaking body, meets every three years, and Social Work Speaks is the result of the Delegate Assembly's systematic approach to policy development and guides NASW's advocacy efforts in social policy.

PRESIDENT-ELECT
Candi Gray (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW, OSW-C) is a licensed clinical social worker and member of NASW and AOSW (Association of Oncology Social Work). Candi has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, helping those impacted by various health-related problems and illnesses. Beginning her career at the City/County of San Francisco Health Department in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, Candi went on to work in the areas of geriatrics, substance abuse, medical case management, HIV/AIDS, and oncology. Currently, she works as an oncology social worker at the Community Cancer Center in Normal, IL, a comprehensive, community –based cancer care provider serving persons in Central Illinois. The Center focuses on outpatient cancer care and includes services such as medical and radiation oncology, CyberKnife service, comprehensive breast service, nutrition, community education, and offers a full complement of support services. As an oncology social worker, Candi is responsible for all clinic-wide psychosocial support services, program development and standards, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement and accreditation. Candi states, “As an oncology social worker, I have the privilege everyday to help those who are affected by cancer find the knowledge, support, and hope they will need to face the challenges and changes their diagnosis brings.” Additionally, she has been a field supervisor for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University’s social work programs and Illinois State University’s Child Life program.

Joseph Harper (MSW, Washington University in St. Louis; MBA; LCSW; DCSW; ACSW; CCHP; CADC) is unit director at Chester Mental Health Center, a maximum-security forensic psychiatric hospital in Chester, IL. Joe provides clinical oversight to a unit at the facility and serves on numerous committees there. He previously worked for several years as the program administrator for mental health services at Menard Correctional Center, the state’s largest maximum-security correctional facility. Joe served as a mental health consultant on the Menard Correctional Center Hostage Negotiation Team as Crisis Team Leader and chaired several other treatment committees. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and former first vice president of the NASW Illinois Chapter. He also served as chair of NASW IL Political Action Committee. He has previously served as chair of the Metro East St. Louis District and has represented the NASW Illinois Chapter at the most recent NASW Delegate Assembly. Joe has presented on the topic of services to offenders at several conferences including those held by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Joe has also co-authored several publications in the field forensic social work practice.

SECRETARY
Cheri Sinnott (MSW, Washington University in St. Louis; LCSW) is director of the Illinois Service Resource Center (ISRC), a statewide agency that provides behavioral support to students who are deaf and hard of hearing. She has been with ISRC since 1993. Additionally, she is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Lake County and maintains a private practice. From 2007 to 2011 she served as Northeastern District Chair for the NASW Illinois Chapter.

CHICAGO DISTRICT CHAIR
Alexander Brown (MBA, Lake Forest College; PhD, The Institute for Clinical Social Work; LCSW) is executive director and CEO of Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow (PACTT). The agency provides residential, educational, and vocational services to children and adults with autism in Chicago and the western suburbs. In the past, he has served as clinical director of a very large nonprofit that provides a wide range of social services in Cook and Dupage Counties; executive director of an agency that provides supportive housing to adults recovering from chronic mental illnesses; managed community-based programs that serve older adults; and hospital-based crisis intervention, outpatient therapy, and employee assistance programs. He has also served as a reviewer for the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and currently teaches graduate-level courses in human resources and nonprofit marketing at DePaul University’s School of Public Service. He has served on the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations including the Howard Brown Health Clinic, the John Howard Association (which promotes prison reform), and the NASW Illinois Chapter where he also serves as Chicago District Chair. He also serves on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Disparities Research Task Force and as a reviewer for Cancer Control and Population Sciences grants. He presents frequently to both professional and lay audiences on a wide range of topics related to both clinical and administrative matters. He degree in social work from Simmons College and the Institute for Clinical Social Work and a masters’ degree in business from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

JANE ADDAMS DISTRICT CHAIR
Sheryl Frye (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW) is assistant director of counseling for Military Student Services at Northern Illinois University (NIU). She provides case management and academic support services for veterans and military students. Sheryl also serves as case manager for the student threat assessment team at NIU. She has fifteen years of social work practice experience. Her clinical experiences include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, couples counseling, Dialectical Behavior therapy, play therapy, drama therapy, recreational therapy, and crisis intervention. She has practiced in university counseling centers, hospitals, residential treatment centers, and community agencies. Sheryl’s clinical areas of interest include PTSD, mind/body health, anxiety, and depression. Sheryl is currently pursuing her doctorate in adult and higher education at Northern Illinois University.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT CHAIR
At the time of creating this ballot, there were no nominations received for the Southern District Chair position. If you are interested in running for the position, please contact NASW Illinois Chapter Executive Director Joel L. Rubin at jlrubin@naswil.org.

THREE RIVERS DISTRICT CHAIR
Martha Neira (MA, University of Chicago; LCSW) has a professional life that spans over thirty years of dedicated and committed work to those whom, in many cases, cannot advocate for themselves. Martha's extensive experience includes working with multi-ethnic populations from varied socio-economic backgrounds, focusing on working with children and families involved in the child welfare system due to abuse and neglect. Martha's trajectory within DCFS took her from providing direct services to families involved with DCFS and the Juvenile Court System to becoming a unit supervisor, manager, and culminated with several years as a clinical facilitator attached to Juvenile Court to facilitate the resolution of complex cases. She retired from DCFS to continue her career as an individual psychotherapist. Presently she is an independent contractor at UCAN, providing individual therapy.

MEMBER AT-LARGE
Monica Guilhot-Chartrand (MSW, University of Minnesota; LCSW) is a bilingual clinical social worker, originally from Uruguay, who has served the community as a licensed professional in the states of Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. She has practiced in the fields of behavioral health and social service with a specialization in clinical social work. She currently provides direct services through her work at Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Services, including interventions focused on interpersonal interactions, intrapsychic dynamics, and life-management issues. She also has training and experience in multicultural settings. She has practiced both in administrative and clinical capacities, ranging from program director to clinician, providing direct services to families and individuals. She has also been
community faculty for the Social Work Department at Metropolitan State University in Minnesota. Monica also enjoys working with older adults, particularly on themes related to unresolved grief and loss. Other areas of expertise include blended families and cross-cultural matters.

Kari Palishen (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW; ACM) is an inpatient oncology social worker at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) in Chicago, IL. Kari has worked in multiple
medical settings throughout the Peoria/Bloomington and Chicagoland areas. Kari was awarded the 2010
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Excellence in Social Work Practice Award, and participates in several committees at NMH, including past chair of the Quality Committee and active member of the Education Committee. Kari has also mentored MSW students from several accredited schools of social work and has provided LCSW supervision to MSW graduates new to the field.

MSW REPRESENTATIVE
Jennifer Tan currently studies at the University of Chicago where she is pursuing a dual MBA/MA from the Booth School of Business and the School of Social Service Administration. Prior to her move to Chicago, Jen worked as coordinator for the office of the Chief Development Officer of Facing History and Ourselves, an international civic education organization that develops and shares teaching strategies, curricula, and resources that encourage students to take responsibility for their world. Jen has also worked as the first International Recruiter for the William J. Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS and Climate Initiatives where she helped start and grow the organization's first recruitment efforts to serve and staff program teams across 70 countries. A Massachusetts native, Jen speaks Cantonese Chinese and Vietnamese. She graduated with a BA in American Civilization from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and has also studied at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, SAR.

Jody Blaylock is a first-year graduate student at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. Jody is currently an intern at Access Living for Metropolitan Chicago where she works to move adults with disabilities out of nursing homes and into independent living. She is also administrative assistant at Community Organizing and Family Issues. In 2011, Jody graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in aging studies. Her undergraduate field placement was at Life Care Center of Orlando, a skilled nursing facility that focused on short-term rehabilitation for older adults. During her time as an undergraduate, she gained international experience through a year-long internship in South Africa and a study abroad trip to Costa Rica. Throughout college, she worked as a manager in the food service industry. Jody's current interests include poverty, inequality, and housing, particularly as these issues intersect with policy. She plans on pursuing these interests further in her second year of graduate school by studying social administration, with a focus on poverty and inequality.

BSW REPRESENTATIVE
Lydia Quinones is a current BSW student at Governors State University. She returned to college and majored in social work seeking a social justice program so that she could pursue her goal of advocating for better social policies co-mingled with mental health. As a non-traditional student she has finally found her vocation and passion in social work. In pursuing such a vocation she is fulfilled in knowing that the education she is receiving will be making her a more culturally competent worker in the field of social work. Her strengths as a social worker stem from being a third generation social worker. Her grandmother led the way as an emergency protective services worker for the Department of Children and Family Services in Chicago, IL. She is very proud of this legacy, and this adds to her personal strengths and perseverance in pursuing a career in social work. She also feels that the knowledge that she gained as a manager and railroad conductor prior to returning to school have assisted in her professional and personal growth. At present, she works part-time empowering individuals with physical and developmental disabilities, volunteers, is active in her hometown community government, and is a member of student government.

CHAIR, CHAPTER COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS AND LEADERSHIP IDENTITY (CCNLI)
Giesela Grumbach 

2014 DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
Alexander Brown (MBA, Lake Forest College; PhD, The Institute for Clinical Social Work; LCSW) is executive director and CEO of Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow (PACTT). The agency provides residential, educational, and vocational services to children and adults with autism in Chicago and the western suburbs. In the past, he served as clinical director of a very large nonprofit that provides a wide range of social services in Cook and DuPage Counties; executive director of an agency that provides supportive housing to adults recovering from chronic mental illnesses; managed community-based programs that serve older adults; and hospital-based crisis intervention, outpatient therapy, and employee assistance programs. He has also served as a reviewer for the Council on Accreditation (COA) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and currently teaches graduate-level courses in human resources and nonprofit marketing at DePaul University’s School of Public Service. He has served on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations including the Howard Brown Health Clinic, the John Howard Association (which promotes prison reform), and the NASW Illinois Chapter where he also serves as Chicago District Chair. He also serves on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Disparities Research Task Force and as a reviewer for Cancer Control and Population Sciences grants. He presents frequently to both professional and lay audiences on a wide range of topics related to both clinical and administrative matters.

Mary Garrison (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW; ACSW) is associate professor of social work at Millikin University. Courses taught by Mary include human behavior and the social environment; practice with diverse populations; social work ethics; community mental health; introduction to the helping professions; and an international travel course (social policy in Ireland). Additionally, Mary is adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign teaching generalist practice and mental health policy courses. Mary has had extensive practice experience in the social work field, with over fifteen years of practice in mental health services. Mary is currently a part-time private practitioner at Decatur Psychological Associates. Throughout her career, Mary has served as a therapist, clinical supervisor, manager, consultant, child development specialist, and victim/witness advocate. Mary has been active in providing continuing education opportunities for colleagues through professional workshops, presentations, and trainings domestically and internationally. Mary serves as advisor to several committees and participates on a number of boards including the National Alliance on Mental Illness Illinois State Board, Mental Health Association of Macon County, and the governing board of the Macon County Homeless Council. Mary is the current NASW Illinois chapter East Central District Chair and has previously acted as a Delegate Assembly Member and as the East Central District Nomination Committee Chair. Mary was the recipient of the Social Worker of the Year Award for the NASW East Central District as well as the state of Illinois in 2011, and was also awarded the Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award from Millikin University.

Don Phelps (PhD, University of Illinois; MSW, Aurora University) is a licensed clinical social worker and currently a tenured associate professor in the School of Social Work at Aurora University. During the last twenty-five years, Don has worked as a youth and family therapist, clinical director, chief operating officer, and executive director.

Chasity Wells-Armstrong (MSW, Governors State University; CADC) has several years of public/community service within community agencies and organizations. She is an advanced social work practitioner and has been active in her professional organization for several years. Currently she is serving her second term on the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors as Calumet District Chair. Recently, Chasity was selected by the board to serve on the NASW Illinois Political Action Committee (NASW IL PAC), was one of four social workers awarded the 2011 Emerging Leader in Social Work, and was one of the 600 social workers in the nation selected to attend the 2010 Social Work Congress. She serves as an Advisory Board Member for both Governors State University and Trinity Christian College. Furthermore, Chasity serves in the Kankakee Branch of the NAACP. As a member of the executive committee for the Kankakee NAACP Branch, Chasity has worked to support several committees and was recently appointed as education chair. Moreover, Chasity serves as a member of the Zonta Club of Kankakee which is affiliated with Zonta International, an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of women worldwide. She has served on the Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Committee, collaborating with the state of Illinois and coordinating the 2011 Rescue and Restore Event. In addition to community obligations, Chasity served six years on the school board for Bishop McNamara Catholic High School. She has worked in state government for both the Illinois Departments of Developmental Disabilities and Employment Security.
 

Nominations are now being accepted for the annual NASW Illinois Chapter Emerging Leader 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 through Thursday, May 31, 2012.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Be a current NASW member
• Work in Illinois
• MSW degree from an accredited graduate school of social work
• Minimum three years post-masters experience (Consideration will be given to full- or part-time employment and/or volunteer work)
• 40 years of age or younger (Consideration will be given to individuals irrespective of age for whom social work is a second or later career)
• Demonstrated excellence in the following areas, including but not limited to: Public or nonprofit agency-based practice; policy/legislative advocacy and/or academia; contributions to services, programs, resource development, management, political efficacy, cross-cultural and anti-racist practices, teaching, research, and/or the development of practice knowledge

NOMINATION FORM
To nominate someone for the Emerging Leaders Award, please fill out the online nomination form (LINK) before Thursday, May 31, 2012. Please be prepared to provide a letter of endorsement for the nominee.

DEADLINE
The deadline for submitting a nomination is Thursday, May 31, 2012.

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
For a list of past award recipients, click here (LINK).

This event gave us the opportunity to recognize two of our own, which are a credit to our profession, enhance our professional knowledge, and accumulate CAUs. Corazon Community Services contributed to the success of the evening by sponsoring the event and providing cheery and comfortable accommodations. It was good to meet NASW members belonging to the Three Rivers District. Thank you for participating!

2012 Board of Directors Election: We are beginning to finalize our election slate for the 2012 election. This year’s elections will take place from April 2–30, 2012. A ballot will be sent out to the entire membership with nominee information posted to the chapter website. Please stay tuned.

Please join me in congratulating our West Central District award winners. A list of all award winners will be posted at http://www.naswil.org/.

Free CEU Opportunities
I have continued to line up CEU presentations for the third Friday of each month. The events are held at the Methodist Atrium building in Peoria from 9:00am to 10:00am. While our attendance has been small at this point, the conversations have been lively. I have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to meet other social workers in the area. The April event will be held on April 20, 2012. This will be a presentation by Dennis Crowley focusing on the importance of self-care for people working in the social work field. Far too often, we spend time encouraging others to invest in themselves and wind up neglecting ourselves. I encourage you to come join us in the discussion, get to know others in the district, and earn a free CEU!

Did You Know...?
The NASW is looking for nominations for emerging leaders. If you or someone you know meets to criteria, consider submitting a nomination. Nominations are due by Thursday, May 31, 2012.

• Emerging Leader Nomination Form: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/2012-emerging-leader-awards/

This Month's Challenge: 
Send me an e-mail of introduction. Let me know you are out there and getting the information that I send via e-mail or the online updates. I would love to hear from you!

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters, LCSW, PhD
E-mail: wcentral@naswil.org

Chapter News

CEU Event: NASW Illinois and University of Illinois School of Social Work are co-sponsoring a spring CEU seminar on Friday, April 13, 2012. Join us for a full day of continuing education courses. Full-day and part-day options will be available.  Please see the following links for information:

• Spring CEU Seminar information:  http://www.socialwork.illinois.edu/
• Afternoon Session information:  http://www.socialwork.illinois.edu/spring_ceu.html
• Direct link to registration:  https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/8429051

For additional information or questions about the seminar, please contact Meredith Olson at (217) 244-4854.

2012 NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors Election: We are beginning to finalize our election slate for the 2012 election. This year’s elections will take place from April 2–30, 2012. A ballot will be sent out to the entire membership with nominee information posted to the chapter website. Please stay tuned, and check the website for voting information—PLEASE MAKE SURE TO VOTE!

Social Work Speaks, 9th Edition, NASW Policy Statements, 2012-2014 is now available through NASW Press: http://naswpress.org/publications/practice/speaks.html. Social Work Speaks contains the policy statements adopted by the NASW Delegate Assembly in 2011.  As most of you are aware, the Delegate Assembly—NASW's key policymaking body—meets every three years, and Social Work Speaks is the result of the Delegate Assembly's systematic approach to policy development and guides NASW's advocacy efforts in social policy.

Thank You! I want to thank everyone who came out on March 8^th to honor our East Central District Award winners!  The event was a complete success because of everyone’s participation. Let’s take another moment to congratulate this year’s East Central District Award winners:

• Social Worker of the Year: Sandra Kopels
• Public Citizen of the Year: The Honorable Jeffrey Ford
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Kathryn Conley Wehrmann

Also, another award to think about nominating a deserving social worker for is the Emerging Leader Award. Please see the homepage at www.naswil.org for more information.  To nominate someone visit https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/2012-emerging-leader-awards/.

The NASW Illinois Chapter and the Southern District would like to welcome its' new members: Ashley Houser, Alyssa Rubka, Andrea Shupe, Amanda Smith, and Talila Young.

Welcome New Members to NASW Illinois!

Cynthia Brush
Liberty Grzybowski
Alexis Hernandez
Kimberly Lauer
Jennifer Park

The Jane Addams District of NASW Illinois celebrated this year's theme of Social Work Matters on Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Rockford, IL. The district celebrated our profession and presented the following awards: Richard Kunnert for Public Citizen of the Year, Warren Heinke for Lifetime Achievement Award, and Lynn Cadmus for Social Worker of the Year. Congratulations to our award winners! The NASW Illinois Chapter recognizes social work as the profession of hope as well as recognizing the hard work that we do to help people navigate through life’s difficult challenges. 

Expert panelists included NASW Illinois members Tammy Daniele and Margaret Powers, recipient of the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award for the NASW Illinois Chapter Northeastern District . 

Social work has built a reputation as the helping profession for over a century and has made significant contributions to the strength and vitality of our country and its communities during that time period. We have done that work through a firm belief in hope and resiliency. Social Work is the profession of hope. Tell us how you inspire hope today.

Help us celebrate our profession in March by answering the question “Social Workers Inspire Hope By…”  Deadline: We will be accepting photos through March 31st, however for consideration for the World Social Work Day 2012 Video, photos must be received by March 15th.

Want to submit a photo? Click here (LINK) to find out how.

The governor gave a budget message on February 22, 2012, that provided very little detail as to how he plans to balance the state's budget for FY2013. He prominently mention the "big two": pension reform and Medicaid cuts. On a positive side, he wants to spend more money on early childhood education. The governor proposed closing more state facilities including the Tinley Park and Singer Mental Health Centers, the Murray Developmental Center in Centraila, and the Tamms "Super Max" Prison in Alexander County.  

Following his address, the state's human services agencies briefed a packed Howlett Building Auditorium on specific cuts. In the case of the Department of Healthcare and Human Services, the discussion and written materials laid out a series of potential options for reducing Medicaid spending with no specific recommendations. Options include (1) Reducing eligibility for the All Kids Program to 200% of the poverty level, which would take about 19,000 children off the program; (2) Eliminate the Illinois Cares Rx Program; (3) Take all undocumented children off of All Kids;  (4) Lower income eligibility threshold for the Family Care Program;  (5) Eliminate medical care for torture victims; (6) Eliminate the renal dialysis program, serving 270 clients; (6) Raise the DON score for supported living facilities and nursing facilities; (7) Eliminate adult optional services such as hospice, pediatric palliative care, adult dental, adult chiropractic care, adult OT and PT, podiatric care, adult speech therapy, (8) Eliminating or limiting eligibility for the waiver for medically fragile/technology dependent children, etc.. Obviously, none of these are good options.

As for programs operated by the Department of Human Services, proposed cuts include reducing the lifetime limit for TANF from 60 months to 36 months; reducing employability development services; cutting Teach Reach by 20%; raising parent co-payments for child care; eliminating mental health non-Medicaid grants; reducing mental health capacity grants; making it harder to qualify for the Home Services Program; limiting Home Services to Medicaid eligible individuals prospectively;  and much more.

Our work is cut out for us to preserve these important programs and services. The time is NOW to become active. There will be cuts, but our voices will contribute to the dialogue about what the State's funding priorities should be next year. 

There are thousands of bills pending right now, and it really is not a good time to write a summary of pending legislation. However, I want to mention a couple of bills and resolutions.

First, HJR-CA 12 (Jakobsson) would put on the ballot a constitutional amendment that would allow Illinois to have a graduated state income tax rate. The chapter is supporting this measure which, if adopted and then voted upon favorably by the electorate, would give us an opportunity to revamp our tax code, something that is long overdue.

SB 3773 (Sandoval) would subject nonprofit organizations that receive state funding from any source and of any kind to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This bill, if enacted, would subject nonprofit agencies to a FOIA request from anyone. It would require huge amounts of staff time and legal services to deal with these requests. The bill is scheduled for the Senate Executive Committee next week. We oppose.

HB 5290 (Cassidy) would amend the School Code provisions regarding bullying prevention to require the Illinois State Board of Education to develop a template bullying prevention policy for school districts to use in developiong their own policies. The bill requires that certain basic elements of a policy (e.g., having a complaint process, identifying who the contact person in the district is, collecting basic data and reporting it to the state board, posting the policy on the district's website) by part of every district's policies. The bill was held in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee this week, but is expected to be heard again next week with an amendment that addresses concerns of school management groups. The NASW Illinois Chapter supports Rep. Cassidy's bill.

HB 5363 (Gabel) would transfer programs now in the Department of Human Services to the Department of Public Health. There will be an amendment to specify that certain programs such as youth services will stay at DHS. The bill will be heard in the House Human Services Committee next week. The chapter is neutral on this bill, but will continue to watch it.

There will be no RSW SIG meeting for March, but we are looking forward to a CEU event on Friday, April 20, 2012, at the NASW Illinois Chapter office. Nina Raskin, LCSW, will present on the topic Aging in Tandem: Understanding Ourselves As We Help Clients Deal with the Issues of Aging and Loss. This meeting should be interesting for both retired social workers and for those who work with older adults.

Our May meeting will take place on Friday, May 11, 2012, at the NASW Illinois Chapter office.

Retired social workers or those who are considering retirement are welcome to participate in our meetings. Please feel free to contact Cynthianna Hahn, Chairperson of the group, at rsw@naswil.org with any questions.

• Citizen of the Year award winner is Representative David Leitch
• Lifetime Achievement award winner is Sandra Mills
• Social Worker of the Year winner is Joseph Croegaert

Please join me in congratulating our West Central District award-winners. A list of all award winners will be posted at http://www.naswil.org/.

Social Work Month Events!

Social Work Month events have been planned throughout the state. Here in the West Central District, we will be celebrating on Saturday, March 31, 2012. The event is titled: The Spark of Living and Dying: The Aging Brain. This is a day-long event that will include six hours of CEUs and an awards luncheon. This will be a don't-miss opportunity. For more specific information or to register for the event, go to http://www.bradley.edu/spark. Additionally, we will have a pre-event on March 16, 2012, at the Methodist Atrium building. We will be discussing the book Tuesdays with Morrie. The discussion will be led by Lori Cheek, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Illinois Valley. Please consider participating in one of these events.

Did You Know...?

Advocacy Day 2012: Advocacy Day has been announced and will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012! You find more information by going to the Advocacy Day page on our website for more information: http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/.

CEU events: I am continuing to create a schedule of free one-hour CEU events on the third Friday of each month. If you or your organization has a specialization you would like to present, please contact me. I have several presentations planned, but I still have some openings. You can find information for those events that are already planned on the website http://www.naswil.org/. Please watch your e-mails for more information. Contact me if you have ideas for presentations or would like to present a topic yourself.

This month's challenge:  As social workers, we spend a great amount of time caring for others. With March being Social Work Month, plan a special event with fellow social workers and treat yourself, attend a social work celebration, and please contact the winners of the West Central District Social Work Awards and congratulate them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters
E-mail: wcentral@naswil.org

On Friday, February 24, 2012, over forty attendees representing fourteen schools of social work and fifteen human service employers gathered at the NASW Illinois Chapter offices in Chicago to initiate a discussion on the many challenges that the current economic downturn in our state and country has had, and its impact on the social work force and the future of social service delivery in the state of Illinois. The summit came about through the cooperation of the NASW Illinois Chapter, the Illinois Association of Deans and Directors, and social work employers statewide. The summit represented a realization that the social work profession—both the practice and academic arenas—need to come together to assess and plan for this new reality. Dr. Wynne Korr, dean, and Dr. Barry Ackerson, associate dean, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Dr. Stephanie Brzuzy, director of the School of Social Work at Aurora University; Dr. Michael Jogerst, assistant dean and director of Career Services at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA); and Joel L. Rubin, executive director of the NASW Illinois Chapter all served as a planning group for this event.

Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (http://ctbaonline.org/) opened the day by presenting a sobering overview of the Illinois’ economic and employment challenges. He concentrated mostly on Governor Quinn’s recent FY2013 budget speech, “Rendezvous with Reality,” which focused on spending cuts to resolve the budget cuts (which is not a major cause of the deficit problems to begin with); and as Ralph noted, cutting spending in the core service areas at this juncture in time is really poor public policy. He also discussed the many factors that have lead to Illinois’ structural deficit, the challenges of proposed Medicaid cuts, the impact of deferred payments owed to providers, flat funding for education, and the looming pension crisis.

Following Ralph’s remarks, a panel discussion took place. The panel consisted of Dr. Wynne Korr, dean of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) School of Social Work (Champaign, IL): Karina Ayala-Bermejo, Esq., vice president of Human Resources & General Counsel at Metropolitan Family Services (Chicago, IL); Shaun Lane, deputy director with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Division of Service Support; and James Fogerty, director of Internships and Students Services at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work. Panelists were addressed the following two questions:

1. Social work employment and training; are we prepared for the changing landscape?
2. How will the provision of human services look like and what role will social work play in it?

The panelists’ remarks offered significant discussion and differing viewpoints by participants which led into the afternoon group breakout sessions that addressed the following topics:

1. Currently, where are social workers going with their degrees? What do we know from the data from schools of social work?
2. What are current and future market expectations?
3. What are the competencies and skills required for these markets?
4. How do we strengthen the connection between schools of social work and employers?

It is our hope that the 2012 Social Work Jobs Summit is just the beginning of our work. The four breakout groups will serve as working groups that will continue the conversation.

A full summary of the working groups initial suggestions will be posted on the NASW Illinois Chapter website in the coming days.

Photos from the summit can be found posted to the NASW Illinois Chapter Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/naswil.

It is Social Work Month in March, and this brings about the annual Advocacy Day 2012 in Springfield, IL. This will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Please see www.naswil.org homepage for more info.

Finally, the NASW Illinois Southern District would like to make a warm welcome to new members: Ann Bachman, Jennifer Beadle, Christina Rae Brimm, Beth Ann Foster, Matthew Clayton Hicks JR., Shari Lemmon, Tarah Rottmann, and Kenny Sullivan. We look forward to meeting all of you at future events. Hope to see everyone at the Social Work Month dinner.

In addition, NASW Illinois Chapter Executive Director Joel L. Rubin will speak about the Future of Social Work. Joel will have just completed participation in the 2012 NASW Illinois Chapter Jobs Summit where schools of social work, state, and private employers exchanged information about their outlook for the years ahead. One CEU will be offered to those in attendance. Recent grads are especially encouraged to attend.

We will meet at the centrally located Ela Area Public Library at 275 Mohawk Trail in Lake Zurich, IL (at the corner of Rt. 22 and Old Rand Road.) from 7:00-8:30pm.

Seth Boughton
Mercedes Hanson
Timothy Naill
Andrew Nguyen

Jane Addams District is looking forward to March, not only for spring but to celebrate Social Work Month. This year's theme is Social Work Matters.  Please join us on Thursday, March 15, 2012, at 5:30pm for refreshments, networking, and to recognize this year's district award winners: Lynn Cadmus for Social Worker of the Year, Warren Heinke for Lifetime Achievement, and Dick Kunnert for Public Citizen of the Year. Come celebrate with us at the Rosecrance Berry Campus at 8616 Northern Avenue in Rockford, IL.

I would like to welcome our newest NASW members to the East Central District!  We are so pleased to have you in the association and a part of our district. Our new members are:

HAPPY SOCIAL WORK MONTH!

The theme for Social Work month this year is Social Work Matters. A key message for this year’s celebration is that social workers are the safety net in a civil society. Let’s take time to celebrate our profession! Here are some great upcoming events to do just that:   

• Advocacy Day 2012: Advocacy Day 2012 is coming! Please mark your calendar for Thursday, March 29, 2012, to attend! Go to the Advocacy Day page on our website for more info: http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/.
• Social Work Day at Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal, IL, is set for Wednesday, March 28, 2012, from 8:00am to 4:00pm at Illinois State University’s Alumni Center. The theme for this year is Social Workers as First Responders to Trauma. Registration and information can be found at:    http://socialwork.illinoisstate.edu/alumni/SocialWorkDay2012.shtml

CHAPTER NEWS

Please take a moment to join me in congratulating this year’s East Central District Award winners:

• Social Worker of the Year:  Sandra Kopels: Sandra has her JD and MSW degrees from UIUC and has made significant impact in the social work profession resulting in formal policy and legislation that provides essential protection and awareness for the constituents involved.
• Public Citizen of the Year:  The Honorable Jeffrey Ford: Judge Ford is a circuit judge in Champaign County who has been a pioneer with both drug and mental health courts in our district.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Kathryn Conley Wehrmann: Kathryn is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Illinois State University and a member of NASW.  Kathryn has a passion and dedication to social work that has been evident throughout her career.

Please join us in celebrating these three amazing individuals on Thursday, March 8, 2012, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Milo’s in Urbana, IL (2870 Philo Road). Hors d'oeurvres will be provided with a cash bar. Please RSVP to Mary Garrison at ecentral@naswil.org. I look forward to seeing you at the celebration!

2012 Board of Directors Election: This year’s elections will take place from April 2–30, 2012. Please get involved and cast your vote for the leadership you want in our state for NASW! 

Advocacy Day 2012 has been announced for Thursday, March 29, 2012! The event will take place down at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, IL. Join an anticipated 1,000 social workers and student from across the state to attend a half-day of educational seminars on lobbying in the state of Illinois. Participants will receive an Advocacy Day packet complete with legislative materials and tip sheets on lobbying. See the Advocacy Day page for more information as it becomes available.

Want to find out if your school is organizing a group? Contact NASW Illinois Chapter Social Work Interns Lindsey Burke (lburke@naswil.org) or Chelsey Kelley (ckelley@naswil.org).

Prairie Capital Convention Center
1 Convention Center Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701

Save $3.00 by registering online!
REGISTER HERE: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/advocacy-day-march-29th-2012/

Having a large group attend?
Download our group registration spreadsheet and e-mail to NASW Illinois Chapter interns Lindsey Burke (lburke@naswil.org) and Chelsea Kelley (ckelley@naswil.org).

Advocacy Day is a ZERO profit event for the chapter, in that any fee that is charged is based on the costs to present the event including catered continental breakfast, printing/folder fees, and space/speaker fees.

CIF is a voluntary, nonprofit organization. Its goal is to promote international understanding and world peace through education and information sharing among human services professionals.

“My first experience with CIF-USA was in 1985 when I was awarded a fellowship to study social welfare in Stockholm, Sweden,” Sutton explained. “Living in Sweden with host families increased my awareness of social and cultural differences and the acceptance of those differences. The social welfare system provides support for families from cradle to grave, which was enlightening.”

As president of CIF-USA, Sutton represents the United States , which is one of thirty national branches worldwide. More than thirty countries have established national branches throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North American, South America, and Oceania. Sutton’s focus as president is to increase membership by encouraging Americans to participate in CIF programs around the world.

“The learning and fellowship that occurs at these conferences enhances our personal and professional development in many different ways,” Sutton explained. “Friendships were developed many years ago and continue today through the conferences and visiting each other’s home country.”

This year’s conference, “Global Societies of Inclusion or Exclusion?” examined the worldwide social problems associated with new and rapidly changing technology. Some examples of the changing technology include the Internet, social networking sites, and others which can create issues of inclusion or exclusion for some people.

“We can replace knees, hips, hearts, and more, but still need human service professionals to help in the care of emotional and family needs,” added Reid Sutton, MD, PCH/FMC physician, who also attended the conference.

Carolyn Sutton has been a member of CIF since 1985, and was previously vice president of CIF-USA. At PCH/FMC, she provides psychosocial assessments for inpatients and responds to emergency department and critical care unit referrals. She also provides one-on-one psychosocial intervention to patients in the oncology/infusion clinic and conducts monthly support groups.

Sutton is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Oncology Social Workers. She also coordinates the PCH/FMC Employee Assistance Counseling and Education Program.

Governor Quinn gave his State of the State address to a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate today. The full text of his speech is available on the state of Illinois' website. The governor made every effort to emphasize the accomplishments during his tenure as governor since he took over for Rod Blagojevich following the 2009 impeachment. He highlighted legislation he has signed such as the legalization of civil unions, the repeal of the death penalty, major education reform, the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Illinois DREAM Act, campaign finance reform, workers' compensation reform, and others. He also mentioned a number of infrastructure improvement projects completed or initiated while he has been in office including the CTA Red Line renovation, improved highways and bridges, and building projects at state universities.

He focused a great deal on job creation, mentioning the expanded working hours at the Ford Plant on the far southside of Chicago as well as touting the efforts of a recycling business in Romeoville. He also highlighted advancement in technology such as broadband upgrades and accessibility.

As for the future, he briefly mentioned the need for pension reform and Medicaid reform without going into any detail. He steered clear of any budget details, saving those for the budget message he will deliver later this month.  

He mentioned several new initiatives: (1) A new technology center at the Merchandise Mart for launching digital start-ups; (2) A $6 million statewide competition to build "ultra-high broadband" in neighborhoods across the state; (3) Abolishing the natural gas utility tax, which he called "unfair, regressive, and not based on the ability to pay"; (4) A new Child Tax Credit of up to $100 per year for a "typical family of four"; (5) A tax credit for hiring veterans; (5) An unspecified major investment in early childhood education;  (6) Raising the high school dropout age to 18; (7) Making more MAP Grants available to college students; (8) An investment in modernizing classrooms across the state; (9) Creation of the Illinois Foreclosure Protection Network and a major housing initiative jointly with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle; and (9) A clean water initiative. He acknowledged that some of these initiatives will require legislative action. He also did not specify how the initiatives would be funded.

It will certainly be interesting to see what the governor proposes for his 2013 budget and what will come of efforts to reform the state's pension systems to reduce the state's liabilities. Medicaid—always a political hot button issue—will have very strict scrutiny in an election year.

In preparation for Social Work Month which is held in March, I want to ask all members to pay close attention in the upcoming weeks for an e-mail from me to share with you the date and location of this year's awards celebration. 

It is not too late to submit your nominations for the annual NASW Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards in the Southern District. It is very simple to submit a fellow co-worker, supervisor, or friend for social worker of the year, lifetime achievement, or public citizen of the year. The process is much easier to nominate someone than in years past. Please take a moment to recognize a deserving NASW member or citizen at www.naswil.org/news/chapter-awards/. Deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Also the Southern District Chair position is up for election this year so if you are interested in a leadership position, this is your opportunity. As a district chair you, also serve on the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors. This is a very exciting and rewarding experience. Nominate a colleague or even yourself at http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/join-the-board/. Deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Social Work Month (March) is quickly approaching, and this is also the month for Advocacy Day. This year it is on March 29, 2012. For more info visit http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/ .

Keep in mind that the Southern District will be hosting a special evening and CEU event for Social Work Month in March.  Details will be forthcoming in a future e-mail to members. Also watch for it to be posted on the Southern District page.

Finally the NASW Illinois Chapter and the Southern District would like to make a warm welcome to new members: Mathew Bauman, Catherine Dye, Stephanie McCluskey, Michael Davis, Patricia Gumz, and Brittany Day.

On Friday, January 27, 2012, Jane Addams Hull House Association will officially close and file for bankruptcy as it can no longer financially continue to keep its doors open. Founded in 1889, Hull House Association has evoked a huge outpouring of emotion, outrage, and shock not only in the Chicago area and throughout the state, but throughout the country. A variety of efforts to save Hull House have been initiated. These are all commendable. However, the closure of Hull House is symptomatic of the ongoing financial challenges and pain that human service providers and the persons they serve are facing in Illinois. Provider bill backlog still remains in the billions in large part because Springfield has failed to address the backload. The scenario is all too familiar—providers not being paid for months for services rendered.

Increased stress on the state budget has translated into job losses in the private sector as well. According to Illinois Partners for Human Services, state fiscal woes forced nearly half of its surveyed nonprofits to lay off staff during this past year. Unfortunately the state has accepted unpaid bills as an ugly necessity to muddle into the next budget cycle and has failed to address the needed debt restructuring.

As the date of Governor Quinn’s FY13 budget address quickly approaches, we must make it clear that human service agencies can no longer serve as short-term lenders to the state in providing services without compensation. If not, we will continue to see more agencies be forced to abandon their missions—the “governmental responsibility” of serving the less fortunate—that Jane Addams wrote about close to a century ago.

Here we are, well into the 2012 season. I hope everyone is adjusting to the new year well. We certainly can't have many complaints with the winter so far! With the new year, we have lots of things coming of quickly that I would like to point out and ask for feedback and help with.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
West Central District Awards: We are almost out of time! The deadline for nomination for Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement award, and Public Citizen of the Year is 01/31, and we currently have no nominations. It is impossible to imagine that we have no one in the entire district that is deserving of recognition. I ask you all to please consider nominating yourself or someone you feel is deserving of recognition. Again, all nominations are due on January 31, 2012. The nomination process is fairly easy. For information about the awards you can go to: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-awards/. The nomination forms can be found online: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/2012-nominations-for-annual-social-work-awards/. We have a lot of dedicated social workers and community leaders that work hard. This is our opportunity to say thanks and commend them for the work they do. Please nominate a candidate today!

Social Work Month Event: Along with the awards and March Social Work Month, I am working with two other organizations to put together an event that I think will be amazing. We still have a few details to finalize before I can release the information, but the dates will be March 30 and 31, 2012. Please mark your calendars now. More information will be released in the next few weeks. You won't want to miss it! The West Central District awards will be presented on March 31st.

Leadership Recruitment: The NASW Illinois Chapter’s Nominating Committee is needing to finalize nominations for the upcoming leadership elections in March. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in taking a more active role in the NASW. The Nominations Committee needs representatives from each of the eight districts to participate in the nominations process (2–3 teleconference meetings at most). The complete leadership recruitment packet and a nomination forms can be found at http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/join-the-board/. Submissions are due by January 31, 2012.

Did You Know...?

Advocacy Day 2012: Advocacy Day has been announced and will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012! You find more information by going to the Advocacy Day page on our website for more information: http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/.

CEU Events: I am currently finalizing a schedule to offer free one hour CEU events on the third Friday of each month. If you or your organization has a specialization you would like to present, please contact me. I have presenters for about half of the year. I will be releasing the calendar of events for the year along with times and locations in the next few weeks. Please watch your e-mails for more information. Contact me if you have ideas for presentations or would like to present yourself.

This Month's Challenge
I encourage all of you to find a way to get involved with the NASW. There are several opportunities to suit all schedules and interests. Several opportunities have already been mentioned in this update. Please start by nominating potential award recipients, marking your calendar to attend a NASW sponsored event, and sending me an e-mail about a topic you would like to present or an idea for a presentation. With your feedback, we can work to provide opportunities that meet the needs of social workers throughout the district.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters
E-mail: wcentral@naswil.org

The fellowship will provide the opportunity for an experienced social worker with substantial child welfare experience to gain invaluable national public policy experience by spending one year working on the development of federal child welfare policy in the United States Senate.  This is a great opportunity to contribute a social work perspective to the development of public policy, to broaden awareness of the value of social work-government collaboration, and to contribute child welfare practice and research knowledge to the policy-making process. It is also a unique professional experience to gain practical knowledge about how policy is made.

Candidates must:

• Have a social work degree
• Have at least 5 years of professional child welfare experience and expertise
• Have an understanding of the policy-making process and federal child welfare policies and  legislation
• Be a current member in good standing of the National Association of Social Workers
• Be able to spend 12 months living in the Washington, DC area and working on Capitol Hill.

Only one fellow will be selected and the Fellowship will start as soon as possible after the selection is made based on the successful applicant’s schedule and other logistics. The Fellow’s stipend will range from $65,000 to $85,000, plus up to an additional $10,000 to cover travel and other relevant expenses (e.g., moving, attending professional social work conferences, etc.).  Finalists for the Fellowship will be invited to participate in an in-person interview in Washington, DC in early Spring.

For more information about the application details, visit www.socialworkpolicy.org/fellowshipapplication.   If you have additional questions please submit them to swpifellowship@naswdc.org.

Please forward this information to others who may be interested and eligible.

For more information about the NASW Social Work Policy Institute, visit www.SocialWorkPolicy.org.

 Welcome New NASW East Central District Members

I would like to welcome our newest NASW members to the East Central District! We are so pleased to have you in the association and a part of our district. Our new members are:

• Corinne Bend
• Samantha Pittman
• Kyle Kovski
• Hannah Mueller
• Julie Peoples
• Janice Derrickson
• Megan Wicklund

Chapter News

March 2012 is Social Work Month. The theme this year is Social Work Matters. A key message for this year’s celebration is that social workers are the safety net in a civil society. Let’s take time to celebrate our profession! Here are some great upcoming events to do just that—Save the dates below! 

• Advocacy Day 2012: Advocacy Day 2012 is coming!!!! Please mark your calendar for Thursday, March 29, 2012 to attend! Go to the Advocacy Day page on our website for more info: http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/.
• Social Work Day at ISU in Normal, IL, is set for Wednesday, March 28, 2012, from 8:00am to 4:00pm at Illinois State University’s Alumni Center. The theme for this year is Social Workers as First Responders to Trauma. Mark your calendar and register for this free event (there is an additional cost if you would like CEU’s) – more details will be coming soon!
• 2012 Board of Directors Election: This year’s elections will take place from April 2–30, 2012. Please get involved and cast your vote for the leadership you want in our state for NASW! 

Our next meeting will be held on Friday, February 17th, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the NASW Illinois Chapter office. We'll spend most of our time planning meetings for March and April. We always save some time to socialize, and social workers who are considering retirement or are retired are welcome to attend. Please feel free to contact RSW SIG Chair Cynthianna Hahn at rsw@naswil.org with any questions.

Advocacy Day 2012 has been announced for Thursday, March 29, 2012! The event will take place down at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, IL. Save money and register for early bird rates online (LINK). Be sure to check back on our Advocacy Day page as more news and information is released.

Advocacy Day Website: http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/
Register Online: http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/

As we head into 2012, preparation begins for the new spring legislative session in Illinois. There are no scheduled session days until January 31, 2012. During January and early February there will be thousands of bills introduced in both the Illinois House and Senate. Committtee hearings on bills will begin in February. 

Key issues this year will be, as usual, the Illinois state budget and the closely related issues of how to address the state's growing pension payment obligation and unpaid bills that disproportionately affects human services and health care providers.  

Here is a timetable of important dates on the 2012 Spring legislative schedule:

• January 26:  House Deadline for New Bill Requests at the Legislative Reference Bureau
• January 31: Senate Deadline for New Bill Requests at LRB
• February 1: Governor's State of the State Address
• February 10: Deadline for introducing new bills (Senate)
• February 13–17:  No Session
• February 16:  Deadline for introducing new bills (House)
• February 22: Governor's Budget Address
• March 9: Deadline for Substantive Senate Bills to Advance out of Senate Committees; Deadlne for Substantive House Committees to Advance out of House Committees
• March 20:  Primary Election
• Late March: Social Work Advocacy Day
• March 30:  House Third Reading Deadline for House Bills; Senate Third Reading Deadline for Senate Bills 
• April 1–16:  Easter and Passover Break
• May 4: Deadline for Substantive Senate Bills to Advance out of House Committees; Deadline for Substantive House Bills to Advance out of Senate Committees
• May 25: Senate Third Reading Deadline for House Bills; House Third Reading Deadline for Senate Bills
• May 31: Scheduled Adjournment

BUDGETING FOR RESULTS COMMISSION
The Budgeting for Results (BFR) Commission issued its first report on November 2, 2011. To read the report go to www. Budget.Illinois.gov and click on the link for the BFR Commission. A link to the report will be available on the commission's home page. The commission has scheduled meetings each month from January through August. The schedule and minutes from previous meetings are available on the commission's website. The next meeting will be held on January 27, 2012, by video conference in Chicago (16-100 Thompson Center) and Springfield (Room 205 State Capitol Building) from 1:00 to 3:00pm.

The governor is set to issue a report on budget priorities and revenue projections for the next three years in the next couple of days. This is required under the same law that created the BFR Commission.

Welcome to all the new members of the Calumet District!

I encourage all of you to stay connected to the NASW Illinois Chapter by checking the website at www.naswil.org for legislative updates that impact the profession and clients, job postings, district event announcements, CEU opportunities, licensing information, and so much more.

UPCOMING EVENTS
The Calumet District generally hosts events on the fourth Thursday of the month. Be sure to check the chapter website for events across the state as any event within the state is open to the entire membership.

Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Location:  JN-Michael's Restaurant on 5000 Lincoln Highway in Matteson, Illinois 60443; 708.498.0310
Time: 10:00–11:30am
Title: January 2012 Calumet District Networking Breakfast
Presenter: N/A

NOTE: Each person is responsible for their own breakfast.
NOTE: YOU MUST RSVP THROUGH THE CHAPTER WEBSITE FOR EVENTS.

ANNUAL AWARDS
Please keep in mind that March is Social Work Month. Each year, our district members have an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work of three professionals: Public Citizen of the Year, Social Worker of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award. I encourage all of you to consider your colleagues, members of your community, and those in your professional networks for an award. Criteria for each award is listed on the NASW Illinois Chapter website: Go to www.naswil.org, select the 'News' tab, and go to the 'Chapter Awards' heading for more information. Nominations must be submitted by January 31, 2012.

REVIEW COURSE
The NASW Illinois Chapter office will be hosting an LSW/LCSW Review Course on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:00am.  Please review the chapter website for more information.

Any suggestions and/or ideas for the district? Please send them along!

I look forward to meeting you all soon! Happy Holidays!

The Southern District Chair position is up for election this cycle. Anyone interested in getting involved with the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, please view the complete leadership recruitment packet and nomination forms at http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/join-the-board/. Submissions are due by January 31, 2012. 

Happy Holidays and New Year!

Welcome New NASW Illinois East Central District Members!
This is a record month for new membership! I would like to welcome our newest NASW members to the East Central District! We are so pleased to have you in the association and a part of our district. Our new members are:

Emily Lynn Padjen
Heather Stapleton
Daniel Patrick Beagles
Laura Megan Pierce
Amanda Kampwerth
Michael Leo Sophir
Michael Terrill Peterson
Vanija Barkley

Chapter News
DEADLINES APPROACHING!

• Chapter Awards: Nomination forms are now available for the annual NASW Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards. The nomination process has been simplified significantly and should allow for more nominations this cycle. Information about the awards can be found on the chapter website (LINK) and the nomination form can be found online (LINK). DEADLINE: January 31, 2011.
• Leadership Recruitment:  The NASW Illinois Chapter’s Nominating Committee is beginning its work to identify leadership for the 2012 slate. Initial solicitations for chapter board members also went out during November. Please encourage members to get involved with the chapter by joining the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors! The complete leadership recruitment packet and a nomination forms can be found at http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/join-the-board/. Submissions are due by January 31, 2012.

Upcoming Events
January 2012 Networking Happy Events

• Bloomington: 01/18/12 - 5:00–7:00pm at Entourage Lounge & Canteen Bar on 909 N. Hershey Avenue in Bloomington, IL
• Champaign/Urbana: 01/20/12 - 5:00–6:30pm at Milo’s on 2870 S. Philo Road in Urbana, IL
• Decatur: 01/24/12 - 5:30–7:30pm at Paco’s Sol Bistro on 237 N. Main Street in Decatur, IL

Come kick off the new year socializing and networking with your social work colleagues at these events! Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Hope to see you at these events!

Our next meeting will be held on Friday, January 20, 2012, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the NASW Illinois Chapter office at 404 South Wells, 4th Floor. All retired social workers and those who are considering retirement are welcome to attend. Larry Lesof and Sally Goren will continue the thought-provoking discussion they led at the October meeting about how social work practice changes as we get older. Members will also discuss plans for future meetings. Please contact SIG chair Cynthianna Hahn at cynch42@gmail.com with any questions about the RSW SIG.
 

Legislative Accomplishments
The 2011 year began with several legislative accomplishments including a state income task that was a start in solving the state’s current fiscal crisis as well a repeal of the death penalty in Illinois. NASW Illinois worked actively with the Responsible Budget Coalition to achieve this. During the same week, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB3539, a landmark legislation repealing the death penalty in Illinois. On March 9, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed Public Act 96-1543 into law (http://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?name=096-1543). Two Illinois legislators were vital in getting this historic piece of legislation passed: Illinois Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) and Illinois State Representative Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood). They were both presented with the NASW Illinois Chapter’s 2011 Legislative Award at the statewide conference in November.

A record number 900 social workers and social work students descended upon Springfield, Illinois, to participate in the 2011 Social Work Advocacy Day. This year, we exceeded our numbers yet again and established a record for attendance. Our large numbers could not have come at a more important time. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon opened the morning session with an inspiring message regarding the importance of advocacy. She was followed by a panel comprised of experts and leaders in the human services arena: Michelle Saddler, secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services; Michael McRaith, director of the Illinois Department of Insurance; Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability; and Stephanie Altman, programs and policy director of Health and Disabilities Advocates. NASW Illinois Legislative Consultant Phil Milsk moderated the panel. The panel represented the most knowledgeable professionals in our state about the challenges of the state budget, funding human services, and reforming healthcare and Medicaid. They provided even greater insights during the respective breakout sessions.

The NASW Illinois Chapter’s Licensure Task Force convened several times during the past fiscal year, developing two proposed rule changes regarding the addition of cultural competence training to be included in the 30 CEUs required for licensure renewal; they also discussed the cap on online CEUs. These proposed changes now have to make their way through the administrative process at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, the governor’s office, and Joint Committee on Administration Rules (JCAR). These proposed rule changes would not take effect until 2013 licensure cycle.

If you want to know more about the chapter’s legislative efforts, be sure to sign up for our NASW Illinois Legislative Action Alerts. Over 9,000 people received our many alerts this past year. You can help us advance our 2012 Legislative/Policy Agenda.

EAPrefer
In conjunction with NASW Assurance Services Inc., the chapter launched in November a new exciting benefit. EAPrefer, a program that helps Illinois members put their experience and expertise as social workers to use as an employee assistance program (EAP) professional, allows members to assist others as well as earn additional income. EAPrefer allows EAP network providers to easily match qualified social workers with clients who need them. Complete details can be found at http://eaprefer.org/ or calling a program representative at 1.866.307.2325.

Greater Content in Online Networker Magazine: Faster,Expanded Access to Social Work News and Information
2011 was the first full year that the Networker magazine appeared entirely online. Not only has this shift saved the chapter in printing costs, it also has allowed us to increase our publication frequency to monthly, as well enhance the magazine’s content. For example, the Networker has included eight private practice–related articles, eight school social work articles, seven book reviews, three articles on aging, one on mental health, six on ethics, and eight of our long-running ‘Since You Asked’ articles. The past year’s articles can be found in the Networker archives at: http://www.naswil.org/news/networker/archives.

We have also improved the NASW Illinois Weekly Update, our weekly, virtual social work newspaper this past June. The Weekly Update links members to news related to the social work profession and the human service sector. Still haven’t signed up for these updates? Sign up in three easy steps!

1. Go to: http://paper.li/NASWIL/1306282408.
2. Click on the blue square on the right-hand side of the screen that says 'Subscribe'.
3. Enter your e-mail address into the box.

Our revamped website continues to provide the most recent social work professional news.

The NASW Illinois Chapter’s social media presence in 2011 continued to grow. Our iPhone and Android app are extremely popular, and our number of followers on twitter (@naswil), our ‘likes’ on Facebook, and the numbers of members on LinkedIn continue to grow.

2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference
Over 600 attendees participated in this year’s statewide conference. They were treated to a conference that included over 70 workshops and an outstanding exhibit hall. Technology, the hard work of the NASW Illinois Chapter staff, and the many volunteer presenters who shared their expertise and knowledge with their colleagues made the 2011 conference our most successful in recent years. A full description of the conference can be found at: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-update/2011-nasw-illinois-chapter-statewide-conference-summary/.

CEU Trainings
During 2011, NASW Illinois Chapter districts held 49 district events around the state (both CEU and networking). A total of 29 events were held at the NASW Illinois Chapter office, which including 10 licensure reviews courses and seven ethics trainings.

During 2011, all NASW Illinois Chapter members continued to earn free CEUs for all in-house courses (ethics workshops excluded).

2011 Social Work Awards
In February, the chapter presented its 2011 Emerging Leaders Awards to four emerging leaders at a luncheon during the February 2011 Board of Directors meeting. The awardees included the following:

• Robert B. Campbell, MSW, LCSW, QCSW
• Shelley Milosevic, MSW, LSW
• Amy Terpstra, MSW
• Chasity Wells-Armstrong, MSW, CADC

At the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference in November, Candi Gray (NASW Illinois Chapter Vice President and chair of the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Awards Committee) presented the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Awards. Recipients included the following:

• Legislative Award: Illinois Senator Kwame Raoul and Illinois State Representative Karen Yarbrough
• Public Citizen of the Year – Benjamin S. Wolf, JD
• Social Worker of the Year – Mary Garrison, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Richard L. Jones, PhD

Shared Interest Groups (SIGs)
There are currently five active SIGs in the NASW Illinois Chapter, all of which have had significant programming during 2011:

• Older Adults
• Retired Social Workers (RSW)
• Mediators Network
• International Activities Network (IAN)
• Student Network
• Social Work Field Directors

Chapter SIGs are maintained and sustained by members. SIGs can be formed around a particular practice area or geographic area around the state. Over 30 SIG meetings took place this year. SIG activities have ranged from networking events to CEU programming to hosting a social service exchange between Hamburg, Germany, and Birmingham, England.

NASW Political Action Committee (PAC) Illinois
The NASW PAC Illinois, whose mission is to strengthen the involvement of social workers in the political process, has been enhanced with a new board and revised bylaws. The PAC now has its own website at http://naswilpac.org/. The PAC also played an important role in the aldermanic campaigns (both the primary and the runoff) of James Cappleman, LCSW, an NASW Illinois member who was elected to the Chicago City Council as alderman of the 46th ward. A reception of his behalf was held at the chapter offices back in February. NASW Illinois members volunteered for his campaign as well. Concerted effort is currently being made towards developing PAC leadership and conducting political organizing and training.

NASW Illinois 2011 Marketplace Guide
During this past fiscal year, the chapter produced the first ever 2011 Marketplace Guide, a comprehensive buyer’s guide of social work resources. The guide represents a variety of products and services used by social work professionals. We were able to attract many advertisers for this inaugural issue and hope to expand the guide in 2012.

Thanks to NASW Illinois Volunteer Leadership and Professional Staff
The NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, which is elected by the membership, plays an important role in setting the direction and policy of the association. We thank chapter president Yolanda Jordan and her leadership team around the state for all of their hard work this past year.

We are a member association, but the day-to-day operations and successes we experience are due in large part to the chapter’s professional staff. Illinois is fortunate to have committed professionals serving the membership. They include in Chicago, Kyle Hillman, manager of financial services and conference-special events; Christina Polus, manager of events and education; Nina Nguyen, manager of membership and communications; as well as our public affairs consultant Phil Milsk.

The Illinois General Assembly returned to Springfield yesterday to deal with some business that was not completed during the six-day veto session that ended on November 10th.   In one day they managed to pass a supplemental funding bill for the current fiscal year, SB 2412.   However, after the Senate passed the bill with the required 3/5 vote, the House overwhelmingly failed to concur with the Senate Amendments to HB 1883, a bill that, among other things, would have given tax breaks to certain corporations including Sears Holding Company and CME.    Legislation that would make major changes to the State's pension funds for current employees was not considered yesterday.

The supplemental funding bill was strongly supported by NASW and many advocacy and provider organizations.   It is over 180 pages long, and most of the bill moves dollars around in certain State agencies and fills in some relatively small funding gaps in agencies' operations budgets.  However, the bill also contains some signficant funding increases for the following programs and services:

• $8 million to DHS for indigent funeral and burial services
• $30 million restored to the DHS budget for community mental health services (this item had been in SB 2407, which has been mentioned previously in our updates and Chapter alerts)
• An additional $29.5 million for State mental health centers OR the cost of transitioning of residents to alternative settings
• $40 million for State Operated Developmental Centers for persons with developmental disabilities OR for the cost of transitioning residents to alternative settings
• $30 million  for various addiction treatment lines in the DHS budget
• $4.7 million for emergency food and shelter
• $20 million for long term care re-balancing efforts including the costs associated with consent decree compliance (including Williams v. Quinn)

The corporate tax break issue is very complex both substantively and politically.   NASW slipped opposed to the House version of the bill, SB 397, House Amendment #3, when it was in committee on Monday afternoon.   The bill advanced to the House floor, but Rep. Franks, an opponent, filed a series of note requests to slow the bill down. (Notes requests ask State agencies for information about a bill's impact on things like the budget, State mandates, etc.  A bill cannot move until the notes are filed, which can take several days).   In the meantime, the Senate passed it's own version of the bill, which was amended on HB 1883 yesterday.  The bill received the required 3/5 majority vote.   However, when HB 1883 was called in the House for a vote yesterday evening, it only received 8 votes.  The 2 chambers disagreed about various aspects of the bill and there were some political factors that also infliuenced the vote. 

The corporate tax break issue is probably not dead, but to revive it will take some significant work from proponents.   The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (http://www.citbaonline.org)  has a good analysis of the legislation.  Also, check out the Capitol Fax blog for some political insight by Rich Miller. 

Why are we interested in the issue of corporate tax breaks?   Because this is money that could be used for other things like human services and education.   It could also be used to pay back due bills.  The current general fund deficit in Illinois is about $8.5 billion.

I encourage all of you to stay connected to the NASW Illinois Chapter by checking the website at www.naswil.org for legislative updates that impact the profession and clients, job postings, district event announcements, CEU opportunities, licensing information, and so much more.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The Calumet District generally hosts events on the fourth Thursday of the month. Be sure to check the chapter website for events across the state as any event within the state is open to the entire membership.

Date:                      Saturday, January  28,  2012

Location:               JN-Michael's Restaurant

                                5000 Lincoln Highway

                                Matteson, Illinois 60443

                                708.498.0310

Time:                      10:00am–11:30am

Title:                       January 2012 Calumet District Networking Breakfast

Presenter:             N/A

NOTE:                     Each person is responsible for their own breakfast.

NOTE:                     YOU MUST RSVP THROUGH THE CHAPTER WEBSITE FOR EVENTS.

ANNUAL AWARDS:

Please keep in mind that March is Social Work Month. Each year, our district members have an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work of three professionals: Public Citizen of the Year, Social Worker of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award. I encourage ALL of you to consider your colleagues, members of your community, and those in your professional network for an award. Criteria for each award will be listed on the website at http://www.naswil.org. Select the "News" tab, and go to the "Chapter Awards" heading for more information.  Nominations must be submitted by January 31, 2012.

BOOKS: 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett depicts the relationships between maids and their white employers during the Civil Rights Era. Most of you are aware that a movie has been made from the book. If anyone is interested in a book discussion during February 2011, please let me know and I will schedule an event for our district. This may be a good topic to discuss during Black History Month.

Also, if anyone has any culture/diversity-related ideas for an event in February, please let me know.

Any other suggestions and/or ideas for the district? Please send them along!

I look forward to meeting you all soon!!

Chasity Wells-Armstrong, MSW, CADC
Calumet District Chair

We are coming to a close on 2011, and there is a lot of information to close out the year. Lots of things to be grateful for and lots of things to begin thinking about.

First points of gratitude:

-    As most of you know, the 2011 NASW Illinois Statewide Conference was held in November and was a tremendous success. For a recap of the event, click here. I would like to thank all of those that worked hard to create this opportunity for social workers throughout the state to network and learn together. I hope all that attend had a wonderful experience.

Things to think about:

-    It is that time to begin to think of Social Work Month in March and begin the awards nomination process. We are in need of nominations for Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Public Citizen of the Year. All nominations are due on January 31, 2012. For information about the awards, go to: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-awards/. The nomination forms can be found online here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/2012-nominations-for-annual-social-work-awards/. We have a lot of dedicated social workers and community leaders that work hard with little recognition. This is our opportunity to say thanks and commend them for the work they do. It is a daunting task for one person to consider all of the possible applicants and identify those most deserving in our district. I hope that all of you will take an active role in nominating worthy recipients.

-    Leadership Recruitment:  The NASW Illinois Chapter’s Nominating Committee is beginning its work to identify leadership for the 2012 slate. Initial solicitations for chapter board members also went out during November. I encourage anyone interested in taking a more active role in the NASW to get involved with the state chapter by joining the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors! The Nominations Committee needs representatives from each of the eight districts to participate in the nominations process (2–3 teleconference meetings at most). Please contact Joel Rubin at jlrubin@naswil.org with both committee suggestions or board nominees by Wednesday, November 30, 2011. The complete leadership recruitment packet and a nomination forms can be found at http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/join-the-board/. Submissions are due by January 31, 2012.

Did you know:

-        EAPrefer: The national NASW office just announced a new employee assistance professionals network referral program called EAPrefer. Read more about it here: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-update/new-nasw-member-benefit-eaprefer/.

-        2012 Legislative/Social Policy Agenda: The latest NASW Illinois Chapter 2012 Legislative/Social Policy Agenda was announced for the new year. Read the complete agenda here: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-update/2012-legislativesocial-policy-agenda-1/.

This month's challenge: Let's get involved! I encourage each of you to find one way to get involved. You can do this in any of a number of ways:

1. Go to the website and learn all that NASW is and plans to do in the upcoming year.
2. Send me an e-mail at wcentral@naswil.org with any suggestions or request to get involved in our district
3. Make a nomination of someone you know for one of our three district awards, or
4. Consider getting involved in the NASW state chapter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters
E-mail: wcentral@naswil.org

• Julia Gordon
• Valerie Arwood

I know the holidays are just around the corner, but my district is already thinking Spring! March is Social Work Month and in preparation for this we are putting together a Social Work Committee. If you would like to be part of this committee and work with other members on nominating a Social Worker of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement awardee, or a Public Citizen of the Year, please contact me at jaddams@naswil.org.  Have a wonderful holiday!

As the year is coming to a close, it is a reminder that the new year will bring opportunities for several awards and Social Work Month in March 2012. The NASW Illinois Chapter District awards nomination forms are now available for the annual NASW Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards. The nomination process has been simplified significantly. So please consider someone deserving. Information about the awards can be found on the chapter website (http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-awards/) and the nomination form can be found online (http://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/2012-nominations-for-annual-social-work-awards/).  DEADLINE: January 31, 2012. 

Also there are several opportunities to take on a leadership roll within the NASW Illinois Chapter and Southern District. The NASW Illinois Chapter's Nominating Committee is beginning its work to identify leadership for the 2012 slate. I encourage those of you who are willing to take the extra step and get involved to inspire and motivate members to promote the profession by joining the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors. The Southern District also needs representatives for the nominations process. This will require two to three teleconference meetings at most. Please email me at southern@naswil.org to participate in this process. The complete leadership recruitment packet and nomination forms can be found at http://naswil.org/volunteer/join-the-board/. Submissions are due by January 31, 2012.

Thanks to those of you who attended the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference. A summary of the conference can be found at http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-update/2011-nasw-illinois-chapter-statewide-conference-summary/ .

Last but not least, the NASW Illinois Chapter and Southern District would like to welcome new members: Fantasia Freyer, Danielle Shelton, Suzanne Campbell, Katherine Clover, Thuy Duong, Andrea Francies, and Jackie Gilliland. We look forward to seeing you at future meetings and events.

I would like to welcome our newest NASW members to the East Central District! We are so pleased to have you in the association and a part of our district. Our new members are:

• Amber Broad
• Katherine Connelly
• Kaitlyn Connolly
• Elizabeth McGarry
• Karen Stipp

Notes of Interest:

The 2011 NASW Illinois Statewide Conference was a great success, and it was great to see many of you there! Please check out this link for a summary of the conference (LINK) and check out our NASW Illinois website at www.naswil.org for Illinois chapter news!

NASW has set the 2012 Legislative/Social Policy Agenda. The details can be found at: http://naswil.org/news/social-work-news/2012-legislativesocial-policy-agenda/. Check it out!

We have an exciting year ahead in 2012! Please check out the NASW Illinois website and read your e-blasts and chapter updates for upcoming Networking Happy Hours around the district, a CEU event on cultural competence, and the events to be held during Social Work Month in March 2012. The theme for 2012 is “Social Work Matters” with the key message for this year’s theme focusing on the concept that social workers are the safety net in a civil society. (http://www.socialworkers.org)

2012 Social Work Awards:

The deadline is getting close! Please let me know if you wish to nominate anyone for an award. Let’s celebrate the amazing social workers and citizens in the East Central District! 

Please consider nominating individuals for the following awards. As your district chair, I will be facilitating the incoming nominations to ensure all the information below is submitted. Please take a few moments to consider nominating someone, and let me know if you have any questions. Please see the nomination requirements below:

Social Worker of the Year: An NASW Illinois member in good standing who: reflects the values espoused in our NASW Illinois Chapter Mission Statement; promotes the NASW to the public and advocates for the populations social work serves; represents the highest ethical standards of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics; contributes to improvement of the social fabric in tangible and intangible ways; takes risks and enlists public support for improved human services.

Lifetime Achievement Award: An NASW Illinois member in good standing who: has accomplished stellar successes in his/her social work career which have enhanced the profession, supported clients, upheld social work values, and advocated for the betterment of all people.

Public Citizen of the Year: A non-social worker who: exemplifies the social work profession with outstanding service to individuals served by social workers; reflects the highest ethical standards in his/her field of endeavor; takes risks and enlists public support for improved human services; advocates for and contributes to the public’s awareness of social problems.

The chapter is committed to diversity among award recipients. Nomination forms are available online now at: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/2012-nominations-for-annual-social-work-awards/

Deadlines for Social Work Award Nominations: January 31, 2012.

Thanks for a great 2011, and I look forward to seeing and working with our district in 2012! Happy holidays to all and please have a safe and happy holiday season.

I'd like to encourage all of you to get a head start in continuing education (November 2013 is less than two years away!) and wish to offer a great presentation with 3.0 CEUs on Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia on Friday, December 16, 2011, at 8:30am at Rainbow Hospice, 1555 Bishop Court in Mt. Prospect.

Please go to http://www.naswil.org/calendar/events/1972 for more information.

Congratulations to our newest NASW members in the Northeastern Illinois District:

See you in Mt. Prospect on the 16th!

East Central District Chair Mary Garrison interviewed Wosen in November to learn more about who she is and her connection to social work.

Why are you pursuing your BSW degree?
I have always known that I had a passion for helping people. I was always the person people would come to when they really needed some advice or someone to listen to them without judgment. With such experiences, I knew that the only path that I could take was one in which I would service individuals as well as the community. When I discovered that the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana had started a bachelor program, I was intrigued. While I had a general sense of what a social worker was, I wished to know more so I enrolled in the intro class. Afterwards, I was hooked. I knew that social work was everything that I was looking for in regards to a future career choice. Afterwards, I applied for the BSW program and was instantly accepted. As I continue my education towards obtaining my BSW, I can honestly say that everything seems to have fallen into place and I have been enjoying myself since.

What of social work interests you the most?
There are several aspects of social work that interest me. Ever since being in the program, I have met some astounding individuals, whether they are my peers, professors, or social workers that I met through networking. Sometimes it baffles me how much social workers are not recognized for the work that they do in helping others and the community. The stories that I have heard about their experiences with their volunteer work or job experiences are really awe-inspiring and motivational. One can practically feel the passion that they have for what they are doing and the empathy that they express for their fellow man.

What does social justice mean to you?
While many people may describe social justice to be about diversity, I consider social justice to mean going out and doing something. Educating oneself is one thing, but to actually go out and make a difference to a person and/ or a community is vastly different. Just as the term “justice” means to actively administer or uphold the law, “social justice” means to actively bring about change for the betterment of man. 

What are your plans after your BSW?
After I receive my BSW, I hope to continue my education and obtain my MSW. I am currently not sure what my focus would be in the field, however, I am currently considering pursuing either child and family welfare or mental health. I am unsure of where I would like to work if I pursued a career in mental health, though if I were to consider a career in child and family welfare, I would love to work for the Department of Child and Family Services.

Do you have a person that has inspired you?
I was actually inspired to pursue a career in social work through my faith in God. I have had to endure many trials and tribulations, and it was through my faith that I was able to persevere through them. Waking up every morning and reading a scripture from the Bible helps brighten and motivate me to make the best out of each day. It was through prayer for direction to God that social work even became an option for me. So while I may have more human individuals who inspire me, God is the one that has been there for me the whole way and continues to help me in my pursuing my dreams to help my fellow man.

Ten sessions specifically addressing aging issues in social work were presented at this year's NASW conferenrce last month. This is a record and next year we hope there will be even more. The sessions were well attended, indicating that there is a 'market' for this information. Not only that, but I heard from presenters that they feel more connected to NASW Illinois now that there are programs specifically designed to address the issues they are addressing in the field.  

The next Older Adults SIG meeting will be on December 12, 2011, at 3:00pm where we will review our accomplisments over the past couple of years including conferences, publications in the NASW Illinois Chapter newsletter, and advocacy work. We will set an agenda for next year which will include how to build on our work regarding social work in nursing homes, and we will also carve out and address other areas of  work with an aging population. 

Please join us for our next planning meeting of the Older Adults Shared Interest Group (SIG) on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 3:00pm at the NASW Illinois Chapter office at 404 South Wells, 4th Floor, in Chicago or by teleconference at 1-800-786-1922 (Participant 51484748#).

Please indicate your participation, or let us know if you are interested in getting on the SIG e-mail list by contacting Phyllis Mitzen, SIG Chair at older@naswil.org.

Bishop Joseph Perry, the official Postulator of the Cause of Father Tolton, presented the Martha Jane Tolton award to Maudette Carr in acknowledgement of her work as a mother, grandmother, and social worker. In accepting this prestigious honor, Maudette recognized the many women who formed her values and faith, as well as the many women she has met in her daily work as a social worker who continue to inspire and assist her by numerous examples of strength, courage, perseverance, dedication, and faith.

Father Tolton was the first African American Roman Catholic priest in the United States, and he was a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Augustus Tolton was born into slavery in Missouri in 1854. When the Civil War broke out, his father escaped from slavery to join the Union Army, though he was killed in battle. In the meantime, Martha Jane gathered her children and made a harrowing escape from Missouri to Quincy, Illinois, where Martha Jane came to meet a widow who allowed the Tolton’s to stay with her. Martha Jane worked while raising her children and assured their education and that they would grow in their Catholic faith. Young Augustus was educated through Quincy College and pursued priesthood, where he became ordained in 1886. His ministry began in Quincy, Illinois, before moving to Chicago. Father Tolton died in 1897.
 

• NASW Illinois will continue to work towards comprehensive solution to the state budget crisis by actively supporting the identification of new revenues that address the state’s structural budget deficit, solvency and capacity to support a thriving human services infrastructure to meet the needs of the State’s most vulnerable residents in the short-term and long-term. The chapter will also advocate for prompt payment to providers (through debt restructuring) including the backlog in payments.
• Support Illinois’ implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the role social workers can play in it.
• Monitor compliance of the Williams v. Quinn Consent Decree to ensure that residents in IMDs have access to community services. Advocate for social work professionals to play a role in supporting that transition.
• NASW Illinois will continue towards establishing the rules process for PA 95-518, the social work Medicaid reimbursement law, which will enable mental health services to be more readily available on a community level and how this will fit into the Medicaid reform laws adopted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2011, P.A. 96-1501.
• Advocate for fair and equitable insurance reimbursement rates for licensed clinical social workers.
• Seek approval from the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (IDFPR) of two proposed rule changes (recommended by the NASW Illinois Chapter’s Licensure Task Force) regarding the addition of cultural competence training to be included in the 30 CEU requirement, as well as the cap on online CEUs. These proposed rule changes would take effect for 2013 licensure cycle.

Ongoing Initiatives

• NASW Illinois will work to promote the hiring of social workers and advocate for the role of the social work profession in the human service sector in Illinois.
• NASW Illinois will closely monitor and review, and support when deemed appropriate, initiatives to eliminate or reduce poverty in Illinois, as well as support efforts of the state’s Human Services, Budgeting for Results and Poverty Commissions.
• NASW Illinois will support legislation and policies that enhance the safety of social workers in the performance of their work.
• NASW Illinois will support initiatives that provide for and protect the human rights of all Illinois citizens.
• NASW Illinois will support initiatives that ensure that women will have reproductive choice and reproductive health services in Illinois regardless of their financial circumstances.

As always, the NASW Illinois is guided by the policy statements that appear in Social Work Speaks 2012–2015 in its advocacy efforts. The NASW Delegate Assembly, a national body of 300 professional social workers, meets every three years to develop Social Work Speaks policy statements.

EAPrefer™ gives you the opportunity to receive referrals from employee assistance program (EAP) network providers, who match qualified social workers with the employees who need them.

Developed by NASW Assurances Services (ASI) with social workers in mind, EAPrefer™ has:

• Prescreened and negotiated with select EAP network providers in Illinois to provide fair compensation
• Tailored referrals to fit your schedule — take on as many or as few cases as you wish
• Reduced the paperwork and administrative burden
• Created an easy system for you to sign up and begin receiving referrals
• Participation is free, and is limited to NASW members.

To learn more about EAPrefer™ and to find out if you meet the program qualifications, visit www.EAPrefer.org or call toll free: 866-307-2325. You will be receiving program materials in the mail within the next week and a program representative will also be calling you soon to tell you more.

Click here to enroll.

The operative word at the 2011 conference was Twitter, or should I say #naswil? The old school bulletin boards were replaced by a 52-inch plasma television screen broadcasting conference tweets throughout the three days. At any given time, you could catch attendees watching the board for the latest tweet about what they learned at a workshop, who was in attendance, or other happenings. Kyle Hillman of the NASW Illinios Chapter staff was also providing crash courses in Twitter, which enabled even more attendees to participate in the conversation.

Past NASW Illinois Chapter President Kathy Wehrmann chaired the 2011 conference and introduced our opening plenary speaker, Brent Rasmussen, a U.S. Paralympics Athlete and U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball Captain. Brent’s keynote topic, “Overcoming Adversity: The Power of Attitude, Hope and Help,” provided a positive message to all of you who work daily to help others and instill hope in individuals, families, and communities. Brent came to our conference through the generous support of NASW Assurance Services, one of the conference’s main sponsors. He took the audience through his narrative from high school and college athlete to the snowy night in February 2002 that changed his life completely. Brent discussed how he now looks at his accident in a positive light with positive outcomes, and that his accident may have been the best thing that happened to him as it opened many doors. He also shared the many resources available in Illinois for disabled persons to participate in sports activities.

Following his prepared remarks, Brent joined a panel of professionals who work in rehabilitation settings in the Chicago area. They included:

• Kristin Balfanz-Vertiz, MSW, LSW, Director of Extended Services, Case Management, and Recreational Therapy for Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, and Director of the Deaf Access Program for Sinai Health System in Chicago.
• Dinh To, LCSW, an inpatient medical social worker at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for the past thirteen years.
• Julie Rinaldi, PhD, a child psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

A common theme during the panel discussion was the strong bonds that exist within the disability community.

On Wednesday evening, Candi Gray (NASW Illinois Chapter Vice President and chair of the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Awards Committee) presented the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Awards. Recipients included:

• Legislative Award: Illinois Senator Kwame Raoul and Illinois State Representative Karen Yarbrough for their work in the landmark legislation repealing the death penalty in Illinois, Public Act 96-1543, signed into law by Governor Quinn on March 9, 2011. As Yolanda Jordan, NASW Illinois Chapter President, noted earlier this year, “As key sponsors of the legislation, Senator Raoul and Representative Yarbrough’s efforts are consistent with social work values, and the values of this association. The practice of capital punishment opposes one of the social work profession’s most basic beliefs—that of holding the integrity of human life and the promotion of human well-being among the highest values to which a society aspires. We are proud to see the state of Illinois join other states and countries in abolishing capital punishment, and recognize that without the efforts put forth by these two politicians, this achievement could not have been had.”
• Public Citizen of the Year – Benjamin S. Wolf, JD: Mr. Wolf is an attorney who has served as director and chief legal counsel of the ACLU of Illinois' Institutionalized Persons Project since 1984. The Illinois Institutionalized Persons Project provides legal representation to Illinois residents of prisons, jails, mental health centers, and developmental centers and institutions for children such as group homes and foster homes. A native of Evanston, Mr. Wolf’s legal advocacy has resulted in significant reforms within the Division of Mental Health, Department of Corrections, and the Department of Children and Family Services that have improved conditions for these most vulnerable citizens. This includes the recent settlement agreement in the case known as Williams v. Quinn which begins a systemic process of giving approximately 4,500 persons with mental illness the choice to move out of the IMDs into community-based settings with the support and care appropriate for the individual circumstance.
• Social Worker of the Year – Mary Garrison, MSW, LCSW: Mary Garrison, MSW, LSCW, ACSW, is currently associate professor of social work at Millikin University and adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mary has had extensive practice experience in the social work field, with over fifteen years of practice in mental health services. She is also a part-time private practitioner at Decatur Psychological Associates. Throughout her career, Mary has served as a therapist, clinical supervisor, manager, consultant, child development specialist, and victim/witness advocate. Mary has been active in providing continuing education opportunities for colleagues through professional workshops, presentations, and trainings domestically and internationally. This past spring she was elected to serve a two-year term as NASW Illinois Chapter East Central District Chair and served as an Illinois Delegate to the 2011 NASW Delegate Assembly.
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Richard L. Jones, PhD: Richard L. Jones, PhD, currently serves as president emeritus for Metropolitan Family Services where he served in distinction for the past 13 years. Dr. Jones’ resume reads like a lifetime of social work leadership accomplishments, from serving as president of the Center for Families and Children in Cleveland, Ohio, and executive director of Boston Children’s Services in Boston, Massachusetts. One of his many volunteer leadership roles was serving as the immediate past chairman of the board of the NASW Assurances, Inc.

The 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Emerging Leader Awards were given this past February and also acknowledged at the awards event. These awardees included:

• Robert B. Campbell, MSW, LCSW, QCSW
• Shelley Milosevich, MSW, LCW
• Amy Terpstra, MSW
• Chasity Wells-Armstrong, MSW, CADC

Thursday and Friday featured over seventy workshops in seven different tracks. We thank the close to 60 exhibitors that participated in our busy exhibit, which culminated in a iPad giveaway. Congratulations to Alice Ferree, our 2011 iPad winner!

The 600+ attendees who participated in the conference could not have done so without the hard work of the NASW Illinois Chapter professional staff and interns and their new and innovative ideas that provided added value for everyone in attendance. We also thank our generous sponsors whose support also helped make the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference one to remember. They include:

• NASW Assurance Services
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
• Monahan and Cohen
• Dominican University, Graduate School of Social Work
• Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work
• The Law Offices of Marta J. Papa
• NASW National Specialty Practice Sections

I realized that there wasn’t a difference between Allison and Allison the Social Worker. I’m not saying that my job defines me – but my passion for this profession does. What occurs to me personally will undoubtedly have an effect on me professionally. We’re in a line of work that requires us to put our heart on the line every day. The empathy that we express to our clients isn’t learned in a workshop or classroom but comes from our personal experiences and ability to relate and actively listen to other individuals and their experiences. Some of my most memorable moments from the day aren’t even from the sessions, but from the organic connections and conversations I have had with fellow social workers I’ve just recently met. So I stopped over-thinking, let go of the pressure and went to the sessions that I wanted to go to, not for any other reason other then I was intrigued by the subject. And you know what? Those were the best sessions of the day.

The keynote speaker, Brent Rasmussen, surprised me when he said that his accident was the best thing that ever happened to him. My jaw fell to the ground the moment I heard that but then I understood it. Everything in my life has happened for a reason and led me to this point. I may not have a traumatic event or a tragic story that led me to this profession but I can say that making the choice to follow my instinct to be a social worker is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Without that I wouldn’t have been able to learn the amazing things I have learned, experienced eye-opening moments, or more importantly, met my admirable, fellow social workers. So if knowing that I’m supposed to be here, taking in every word of each session, and opening myself to hearing new and challenging beliefs from peers, makes me a nerd, then I have to say one thing: if the shoe fits. J

(LINK)
 

The NASW Illinois Chapter bylaws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the board of directors representing fifty percent of the districts in attendance at a regularly called meeting, provided that the proposed bylaw amendment has been published and distributed to chapter members at least three weeks prior to the meeting.

A copy of the proposed bylaw amendment can be viewed here and is open to comment from chapter members.

Amy Ives Aalberts
Ayele Wosen
Michelle Bricker
Christine Connolly Brown
Lucy Nelson
Artesha Williams

Note of Special Importance
A HUGE thank you to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for allowing NASW Illinois to come on campus and host a Lunch'n’Learn with BSW and MSW students – it was a great success with over 25 students attending!  Thanks to Joel Rubin, Candi Gray, Lindsey Burke, and Alicia Beck for all of their help with the event.

2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference
I look forward to seeing many of you at the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference on November 9–11, 2011. Please join the East Central District at the networking reception on November 9, 2011, from 4:00–6:00pm. Hope to see you there!

If you have not registered for the conference and still would like to attend, please check out the website for more information: http://www.naswil.org.

License Renewal and CEUs
As you all know, this year is a license renewal year in November 2011. Don’t forget to get all your CEUs in order to renew your license. If you have not completed your three required ethics CEUs, check the NASW Illinois Chapter website at www.naswil.org to register for one of the many ethics CEU events still available this fall. There will also be ethics CEUs available at the statewide conference – just another great reason to attend! If you have questions about licensure and CEUs, please go to the NASW Illinois Chapter website, and many of your questions will be answered!

2012 Social Work Awards
Let’s celebrate the amazing social workers and citizens in the East Central District!
Please consider nominating individuals for the following awards. As your district chair, I will be facilitating the incoming nominations to ensure all the information below is submitted – please take a few moments to consider nominating someone and let me know if you have any questions. Please see the nomination requirements below:

Social Worker of the Year: An NASW Illinois member in good standing who: reflects the values espoused in our NASW Illinois Chapter Mission Statement; promotes the NASW to the public and advocates for the populations social work serves; represents the highest ethical standards of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics; contributes to improvement of the social fabric in tangible and intangible ways; takes risks and enlists public support for improved human services.

Lifetime Achievement Award: An NASW Illinois member in good standing who: has accomplished stellar successes in his/her social work career which have enhanced the profession, supported clients, upheld social work values, and advocated for the betterment of all people.

Public Citizen of the Year: A non-social worker who: exemplifies the social work profession with outstanding service to individuals served by social workers; reflects the highest ethical standards in his/her field of endeavor; takes risks and enlists public support for improved human services; advocates for and contributes to the public’s awareness of social problems.

The chapter is committed to diversity among award recipients. Nomination forms are available on the chapter website: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-awards/.

Deadlines for Social Work Award Nominations: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Many of your licensure questions can be answered by viewing the NASW Illinoiss Chapter website: http://www.naswil.org/social-work-practice/licensure/.

There will be no other Northeastern District CEU opportunities until December.

On Friday, December 16, from 8:30-11:30am, we are pleased to present a 3 CEU event:

Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia
It is estimated that 90 percent of people who survive to the advanced stages of dementia reside in long-term care settings. The advanced stages of dementia are characterized by severe cognitive and functional impairments, resulting in complete dependence on caregivers. A curative model is not appropriate, as seen in burdensome medical interventions such as repeated antibiotic therapy, tube feeding, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Palliative care is a more realistic approach with focus on maintaining quality of life and providing comfort measures. Although dementia is now the fifth leading cause of death among older Americans, hospice and palliative care is not standard practice. This three-hour interactive workshop will help social workers to provide optimal carte and to ease decision-making for families and other care providers.

Presenters: Daniel Kuhn, LCSW; Jeannine Forrest, PhD, RN; and Amy Wilbourne, LSW. It will be held at Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care at 1550 Bishop Court in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Please register via the website: http://www.naswil.org/calendar/events/1972/

Finally, please welcome the newest members of NASW in the Northeastern District: Susan Carroll, Lola Ladmir, Brenda Nelson, Kimberly Sauer, and Briana Wagner.

Contact/E-mail Changes
I have had several people contact me to let me know that they have had an e-mail change or accidentally deleted their e-mail. You can update your contact information yourself through the Member Center portion of the NASW national web site: https://www.socialworkers.org. The link is in the upper right-hand corner in yellow.

Otherwise, you can update your information with the National office in one of two ways:

1. Phone: The NASW membership phone number is 800-742-4089
2. E-mail: membership@naswdc.org

If you think that your contact information has changed and needs to be updated, please do this so that you can receive up-to-date information about our district and upcoming events.

Licensure Renewal
Don't forget that we are approaching licensure renewal time. Many of your questions about licensure renewal can be answered by viewing the NASW Illinois Chapter website tab on licensure: http://www.naswil.org/social-work-practice/licensure/. Go ahead and check it out!

Did You Know...?
The NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Awards have been announced for 2011. I would like to congratulate this year's recipients: Mary Garrison has received the Social Worker of the Year award, Richard Jones received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Benjamin Wolf received the Public Citizen of the Year, and finally Illinois Senator Kwame Raoul received the Legislative Award. You can read more about the recipients at: http://www.naswil.org/news/networker/featured/nasw-illinois-statewide-awards-2011/.

This Month's Challenge
National Social Work Month is in March. We need to begin our search for nominees. All nominations must be submitted by January 31, 2012. The nomination forms will be available on the website soon. If you know someone you would like to nominate for Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, or Public Citizen Award, please consider submitting nomination forms. I be sure to forward the nomination information when it is available.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters
Eemail: wcentral@naswil.org

Humphreys discovered that Great Britain was sending foster children abroad to South Africa, Australia and other countries without their parents’ permission. Sometimes these children were falsely told their parents had died or no longer wanted them. Many of them were abused in their new homes overseas. Humphreys has worked in the past few decades to reconnect these adults with their birth families and to get British Commonwealth governments to recognize and offer assistance to these victims.

The NASW Illinois Chapter has fifty free tickets available for a viewing of Oranges and Sunshine on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at 5:00pm at the Landmark Century Cinema, 2828 North Clark Street in Chicago, Illinois.

If you are interested in reserving tickets (Two ticket maximum per person), please contact the NASW Illinois Chapter office at office@naswil.org. Be sure to include your NASW member ID number. You MUST be a current NASW member to redeem. Tickets will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and will be available for pick up at the NASW Illinois Chapter office at 404 South Wells, 4th Floor, in Chicago.

For more information about the film as well as view the trailer, go to: http://www.iconmovies.co.uk/orangesandsunshine/.

For directions to the Lankdmark Century Cinema, go to: http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Chicago/Landmark%27sCenturyCentreCinema.htm

2011-12 Student Liaisons: Allison Schuck (Aurora), Jasper Lopez (Bradley), Kim Rueter & Holly Davis (Chicago St.), Theresa Pendergraff (Dominican), Sherri Funk & Jeanna Robinson (Governors St.), Tim Feltman & Christopher Leach (Loyola), Meagan Pinkerton (MacMurray), Katie Clancy (Northeastern Illinois), Sarah Condreay (Olivet Nazarene), Christopher Gibbs & Jessica Benton (SIU-Edwardsville), Monica Gilkison (St. Ambrose), Lindsey Burke (UChicago), Sheena McNeal & Hope Williams (UIC-Jane Addams), Lisa Simpson (U of I-Springfield), Wosen Ayele (U of I-Urbana-Champaign), and LaCresha Preshon-Morris & Erin Blasier (St. Francis)

Become an NASW Illinois Student Liaison
Want to build your leadership skills and professional resume? Looking to get involved with advocacy and the NASW Illinois Chapter? Consider becoming an NASW Illinois Student Liaison! As a liaison, you will to determine the best ways of communicating with your school’s students and leaders, setting up potential school visits about membership and licensure. Student liaisons are also instrumental in the organization of our annual Advocacy Day event. With a record number of almost 900 attendees in 2011, we’re looking to make the 2012 Advocacy Day an even bigger success! (Read more about 2011 Advocacy Day here.)

Advocacy Day 2012 Update
We’ve received student inquiries our about annual Advocacy Day event, which is great! The biggest question: When is Advocacy Day? NASW Illinois is pending the release of the 2012 legislative schedule before announcing an official date. After a date has been announced, planning efforts with our student liaisons and others will pick up quickly! As mentioned above, with a record number of almost 900 attendees in 2011, we’re looking to make the 2012 Advocacy Day an even bigger success! And we need you there to make it happen! Check with our Advocacy Day page for news as it happens.

2011 Statewide NASW Illinois Chapter Fall Conference
This great biannual event is coming upon us quickly! On November 9, 10, and 11, you have the opportunity to network with other social workers across the state and attend high-quality continuing education programs that meet social work licensing renewal requirements. Do check this event out if you can squeeze it into your academic calendars! Click here.

Seeking Social Media Advocates!
Did you know NASW Illinois is on Facebook? And Twitter? NASW Illinois is looking to provide active and involved social media reporters at this year’s 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference: A Meeting of the Profession. Take part and earn the chance to attend this year’s conference for FREE! Click here to find out more.

Searching For a Job? Let Us Help!
Looking for a job after you graduate? Want to enhance your professional resume and portfolio? NASW offers a national job board to search for jobs across the country, as well as career development tools to help you with coaching services, resume writing, reference checking, and more. Take advantage of Professional Resume Writing Services to gain an edge in a competitive job market, or let The Princeton Review help you successfully prepare for the SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and GMAT. Check out NASW Job Link, and don’t forget about the NASW Illinois Chapter Job Board as well!

These are just some of the exciting news and benefits that NASW Illinois is able to offer our student members. As the future of the social work profession AND the NASW organization, we know that our student members have what it takes become leaders in the social work arena after graduation. Let us help! If you have any questions on membership or social work, feel free to contact us. This is YOUR professional organization—let us work for you!

• Joe Harper, LCSW, to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) on the proposed closing of Chester Mental Health Center.
• Marge Berglind, president and CEO of Child Care Association, to the state’s Budgeting for Results Commission.

Their testimony reflects the importance of members of the association using their knowledge and expertise to shed light on important social work professional issues.
 

Joseph J. Harper, LCSW

DHS has submitted a recommendation to the Commission for the closure of Chester Mental Health Center. This is in conjunction with closure requests for other state operated psychiatric hospitals and the virtual elimination of acute care civil psychiatric beds in the state hospital system. The plan submitted by DHS is inadequate and will deal a death blow to the system of mental health care in Illinois.

Chester Mental Health Center is the mental health “emergency room” for the state. Chronically mentally ill patients (both civil and forensic) who are unable to be treated elsewhere due toviolent and aggressive behaviorsin community and state operated psychiatric hospitals or the correctional systemare sent to Chester for treatment and stabilization. CMHC and its predecessor organizations were created over 100 years ago and proudly serve this function. The facility was created by state statute and is permitted to function with special provisions for maintaining the safety of staff and patients. The DHS closure recommendation letter indicates that Alton MHC will be designated as the new maximum security facility for the state simply by installing $550,000 of security perimeter fencing. ; this is undoubtedly underreporting as it does not reflect costs associated with other physical plant modifications, provisions for additional staff, staff training etc.

The mental health system in Illinois is currently in crisis and is unable to provide adequate psychiatric services for the community. The current state of affairs is outlined in a position statement issued by the Illinois Hospital Association in May of 2011:

1. Illinois state operated hospitals had approximately 35,000 beds in the 1950-1960’s. By 2009 only 1,400 beds remained in the IL state hospital system.The number of licensed psychiatric beds throughout the state decreased from 5,350 in 1991 to 3, 869 in 2010—a 28% decrease.
2. In 2009, Illinois hospital ED’s treated 750,000 people with a behavioral health condition. Of those, more than 190,000 had a primary diagnosis of mental health or substance abuse.
3. There are 53 IL counties that do not have any form of inpatient psychiatric care.

Community mental health center s and private hospitals do not have the resources to deal with additional patients. Many have already had significant budget reductions. The DHS closure recommendation asserts that DHS will provide “minimal funding to serve patients in the community setting.” Those costs are not enumerated in the closure recommendation. In addition, DHS indicates that it will assist community hospitals with “building capacity” to serve 2,800 annual admissions. Again the specifics of the associated costs are not outlined.

The State of Illinois should not make the same mistake that the State of Missouri did last year in eliminating most of their state hospital civil beds. Missouri unceremoniously “dumped” the responsibility for some 4,000 individuals previously served by the state system on the community. This resulted in an influx of untreated chronically mentally ill consumers in the Emergency Rooms of private hospitals. The wait time for all patients to be seen in the emergency rooms increased, the wait time for availablepsychiatricbeds has increased, and the level of violence in the emergency rooms has increased. Psychiatric patients often find it difficult to deal with the chaotic environment of the typical emergency room and staff are often not equipped to deal with this population. The transition has been so problematic that the state has had to assist with reopening the St. Louis Metropolitan Psychiatric Center.

From personal experience and the clinical literature, I can assure you that the movement of the untreated chronically mentally ill from the state hospital systems to the correctional system –a process termed trans-institutionalization—is a stark reality. The correctional system in Illinois is already overburdened and being scrutinized for their inability to effectively treat these individuals in that system. Dismantling the state hospital system will undoubtedly lead to increased incarceration rates for the chronically mentally ill and increased problems for the correctional system.

Numerous professionals on the front line are opposed to this proposed change in the operation of the state hospital system. My own professional organization, the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter, representing approximately 7,000 professional voting Illinois social workers, has voiced their opposition to this plan in writing to Governor Quinn. I applaud the organization and my colleagues for standing up for those without a voice in our society. I am requesting that the Commission summarily reject the DHS recommendation for the closure of Chester Mental Health Center.
 

Margaret M. Berglind

We thank the Committee for the opportunity to provide comments on the important task of Budgeting for Results.

The Child Care Association of Illinois (CCAI) represents 65 child welfare agencies that provide services for Illinois children in such areas as residential treatment, foster care, child mental health, juvenile justice, youth services and special education. The services provided by our agencies benefit Illinois children and families, and many of the services directly benefit vulnerable children and fragile families, and are provided upon referral by state agencies as part of state contracts.

The CCAI supports the concepts included in the Budgeting for Results initiative. However, we are concerned about major components of the process for the human service related priorities:

• How state agencies seek input and agreement from the private contract agencies in the Budgeting for Results processes, budget requests and suggestions for efficiency; and how the state agency’s ideas for efficiency in state government might impact their private providers
• How state agencies monitor their private providers
• How state agencies can quickly adopt greater efficiencies in monitoring their private contractors.

SEEKING PRIVATE PROVIDER INVESTMENT IN BUDGETING FOR RESULTS

The human services system in Illinois relies heavily on private agencies to provide the direct care and programs for our citizens. Any initiative for state human agencies to Budget for Results translates into private contract agencies providing such results. In the Department of Children and Family Services, for example, private agencies provide nearly 95% of the direct care of state wards—either in foster care or residential treatment. In the Department of Human Services, 100% of the youth services work in communities is provided by private agencies.

It is imperative that Illinois adopt a process that mandates that state agencies seek consultation from their private sector partners as they pursue funding requests, develop performance measures and monitor those measures. Such consultation has to be more than the occasional meeting at which information is given out to providers, or the alert that new contract expectations are posted on a state agency web site. The process must include shared analysis of need, open discussion on areas of system or performance improvement and discussion of cost.

The Department of Children and Family Services uses a Child Welfare Advisory Committee (CWAC) process to work with its providers in many areas of child welfare system improvement. This process is mutually chaired by the public agency executives and private providers. Private providers have helped design our performance contracting models and metrics. CCAI has long advocated for a structure similar to CWAC in the Department of Human Services. We still await formation of a public/private provider oriented group that can help DHS grapple with its many service, program and budgetary challenges. As the Department of Juvenile Justice moves to a system of more community based services for its young people, we strongly suggest they develop a provider group now. We ask the commission as part of its recommendations to:

• Insist that the same CWAC process be used by DCFS as that agency enters into a Budgeting for Results process.
• Insist that Department of Human Services adopt a Provider Advisory Group process as that agency enters in a Budgeting for Results process.
• Insist the Department of Juvenile Justice develop a Provider Advisory group as soon as possible.

MONITORING PRIVATE PROVIDERS

CCAI agencies understand and agree that when vital state functions are contracted to private providers, the state must provide proper oversight. However, as part of Budgeting for Results, the state agency must be required to detail why the monitoring funds they request are truly necessary, and how such monitoring is actually making services better. They should be asked to stretch to determine if they can be more efficient and effective in their monitoring as a state function.

State agencies must be required to develop “Monitoring That Matters.” In partnership with provider agencies, state agencies should examine the types of data, material and information that truly reflect good practice, competent care and the ability to mutually improve outcomes for clients. Current private agency monitoring is often developed only by state agency staff, frequently in a checklist format, with information based on single incidents/anecdotes. Such monitoring does not really improve the quality of care for Illinois children and families and expends valuable state funds that could be put to better use.

We ask the commission, as part of its recommendations to

• Insist state agencies implement “Monitoring That Matters” for any contracted human services.

STATE AGENCIES TO ADOPT GREATER EFFICIENCIES IN MONITORING THEIR PRIVATE CONTRACTORS.

We also recommend the commission strongly encourage state agencies to seek efficiencies in the ways they contract with and monitor private human service providers. A report from the HB 5124 steering committee was provided to the General Assembly almost a year ago. Few of the suggestions for implementation of HB 5124, which mandated streamlined auditing, accountability and monitoring have yet been implemented, and many more are waiting for discussion or some action by the state agencies. State agencies have not made those recommendations a priority. Two items could be immediately addressed for greater efficiencies: an electronic document vault and deemed status for accredited agencies.

Electronic Document Vault

CCAI agencies have long expressed frustration about the many duplicate requests for hard copies of identical information made by multiple state agencies and from various divisions. We estimate that 36% of the materials requested from various state entities were requested by another division or another state agency during the same year. These include materials such as the agency’s annual independent audit and bylaws. Responding to such duplicate requests diverts precious provider time and resources away from our primary responsibility: caring for abused and neglected children.

Creation of an electronic document vault accessible by any state agency should be a top priority to gain efficiency. If the state cannot create it quickly, it should allow private agencies to develop their own vault as an allowable expense. Other states, including Florida and North Carolina already have such systems.

We ask the commission, as part of its recommendations to

• Insist state agencies work with private providers to fully implement the electronic document vault within 6 months.

Deemed Status

Human service agencies frequently seek accreditation from a nation entity that demonstrates the provider’s good governance, stability and compliance with best practice standards. Many of the materials generated or standards required are identical to state agency licensing, approval or contract requirements. An accredited agency should not be required to submit additional and duplicate materials for state bureaucratic requirements, since the materials submitted to show compliance with accreditation standards far exceed state standards. Some of our state human service agencies have rule provisions already to allow deemed status, but have not been able to operationalize them.

We ask the commission as part of its recommendations to:

• Insist state human service agencies immediately convene a work group with provider agencies to develop an action plan to IMPLEMENT DEEMED STATUS within the next 6 months. Insist that any state human service agency without a deemed status provision immediately convene a work group with its private providers to develop a deemed status process within the next year.

Certainly, an operational electronic vault system as we detail would help with

The Child Care Association agencies and staff are more than willing to work diligently with our state agency partners to implement any recommendations and to grapple with the hard questions of how Budgeting for Results in human service agencies that rely greatly on the private sector for their results, can be implemented.

Respectfully Submitted,

Margaret M. Berglind
President/CEO   
Child Care Association of Illinois   

There are a number of exciting professional events and news items I wish to bring to your attention:

The statewide conference will be held in just a few weeks in Oak Brook, Illinois. There are many interesting topics and speakers to choose from. It’s a great opportunity to obtain the CEUs necessary for license renewal and an opportunity to meet other social workers throughout the state. I’ll also be presenting on Friday afternoon on Managing a Mental Health Crisis in a Long Term Care Setting.

Speaking of CEUs, you can obtain all three ethics CEUs either online or at the chapter office. For a listing of all NASW Illinois Chapter events, please check out the website calendar at http://www.naswil.org/calendar/month/2011-09/.

Locally, we will host an in-service on Friday, October 21, from 12:00 to 1:00pm entitled, Working with Co-Occurring Clients: Walking Through the Maze of Treatment. In this lunch and learn, you will be given information and education on the current trends, impact, and the beginning process of working with co-occurring (dual diagnosis) clients. This will be held at Family Service of McHenry County at 4100 Veterans Parkway in McHenry, Illinois. A light lunch will be served. Please register to attend at www.naswil.org.

Finally,  let us welcome the following new district NASW members: 

I would first like to welcome our newest NASW Illinois East Central District Members: Lisa Brinkerhoff, Wendy Heeren, and Pamela Wingate. Welcome to all of you! We are so thrilled to have you as a part of our district.

As you know, the NASW Illinois State Conference is coming up quickly Novemer 9 through 11, 2011. There is still time to register. Please take the time to see what wonderful opportunities for continuing education and networking are available. Check it out!

District Events for October: We will be holding an NASW Informational Event at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work on Monday, October 17, 2011 from 12:00 to 1:00pm. Event participants will include Candi Gray, NASW Illinois Chapter Vice President; Mary Garrison, East Central District Chair; as well as our NASW Illinois Chapter Interns Lindsey Burke and Jacob Gappa. During the event, we will be discussing NASW membership including all the benefits and resources available as well as have a question and answer session over lunch to engage our future social work colleagues!

I wish you all a great October!

Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) takes place October 2nd through 8th and is an opportunity to learn more about serious mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Mental illnesses are medical illnesses. One in four adults experiences a mental health problem in any given year. One in seventeen lives with serious, chronic illness. People who live with mental illness are family members, friends, and neighbors.  

Look for activities or events in your neighborhood to increase your awareness of mental illness.

Look for the NASW Illinois Chapter booth at the Mental Health Fair this Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Cherry Vale Mall in Cherry Valley, Illinois, as we kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week!

Hopefully everyone has received an e-mail already concerning the upcoming Legislative Update event scheduled for October 4, 2011, at 6:30pm. The event will feature Phil Milsk, JD, the NASW Illinois Chapter Governmental Relations Director. The event is being held at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Illinois at 405 West Jackson Street, Conference Room 1C. As many of you know the fall veto session will begin at the end of October. The veto session is held after the adjournment of a regular session when the General Assembly reconvenes to consider the governor's vetoes. It is vital that social workers attend this meeting to learn about the issues germane to the social work profession, to our clients, and to the agencies we work for. Please go here to register. One CEU will be provided FREE to members, $10.00 for non-members. Please come join us even if you don't need the CEU so that you will be informed in order to effectively advocate to your legislators. 

For those of you who still need your ethics CEUs, the Southern District will host an ethics CEU event on Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 9:30am to 12:30pm at the Chester Mental Health Center at 1315 Lehmen Drive, Chester, IL 62233. Travis Nottmeier, LCSW, CADC, and current Southern District Chair will be presenting a three-hour ethics presentation. Travis is a clinical social worker with sixteen years experience working within the criminal justice system, seven years of that working as a social worker. He has worked at Menard Correctional Center and is now employed at Chester Mental Health Center. He received his BSW and MSW from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He also has a certification in alcohol and other drug abuse counseling. Travis has been a member of NASW since 2003. The workshop will highlight the decision-making process that social workers face on a daily basis which come from the evolution of social work ethics and from the current NASW Code of Ethics. More often than not it is a "best choice" decision and not a "right or wrong" choice. Case vignettes and examples across all social work disciplines will be explored, as well as contemporary concerns, but some focus will be on the involuntary client given the speaker's experience in this area. Pre-registration will be required online. Go to the 'Calendar' section of the Southern District website to register. Three ethics CEUs will be granted for the cost of $30.00 for members and $60.00 for nonmembers. Remember the deadline for the licensure period for everyone is November 30, 2011.

Another great opportunity to get your last minute CEUs is the NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference on November 9 through 11, 2011. Register online here: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=16599&.

Last but not least, the NASW Illinois Chapter and the Southern District would like to welcome new members: Jacqueline Edwards, Angela Humphries, Alexandra Keys, Reagan Nelson, and Jennifer Wernsman. We look forward to meeting you at future meetings and events.

The event was fun and stimulated professional curiosity; it also provided an opportunity for all to earn CEUs. It was good to see so many NASW Illinois members. Thank you to those who participated! Photos of the event are available in the NASW Illinois Chapter Photo Gallery here: http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/gallery/092611-three-rivers-district-event/.

September 16, 2011

Governor Pat Quinn
2 ½ State House
Springfield, IL   62706

Dear Governor Quinn:

On behalf of the 7,000 members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Illinois Chapter, we would like to express our concerns regarding your announcement to close the Chester Mental Health Center in Chester, IL.
 
We fully understand the realities of the current state budget and the many challenges you face as Governor.   The social work community’s concern is tied to providing service within the constraints of the budget.  However as our Code of Ethics states, social workers advocate for resource allocation procedures that are open and fair. When not all clients’ needs can be met, an allocation procedure should be developed that is nondiscriminatory and based on appropriate and consistently applied principles.  

The proposed closing of Chester Mental Health Center (CMHC) presents a challenge to some core social work values as well the provision of vital services to a very vulnerable population.   CMHC and its predecessor facilities have existed since 1910.  The facility has a successful and lengthy history of providing care to individuals who have significant histories of unsuccessful treatment attempts at other private and state operated facilities due to their violent and assaultive behaviors associated with their mental health condition.  Additionally, CMHC has successfully served forensic patients that due to the nature of their crime and behaviors are in need of a highly structured secure treatment environment.

The state of Missouri reduced the number of their inpatient psychiatric beds last year resulting in a community crisis.  This action in the state of Missouri significantly impacted the ability of community hospitals to provide emergency room services to the community due to the influx of patients who were no longer being served by the state hospital system.   In fact, this move was so problematic that the state had to assist with funding to reopen a psychiatric emergency room in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

We urge you, together with leadership in the Illinois General Assembly to reassess your recent announcement in the light of the dislocation, hardship and ultimately additional cost to implement this closing.

NASW Illinois Chapter leadership would be more than willing to meet with you and your staff to discuss these issues in more detail.

Sincerely,

Yolanda Jordan, LCSW      Joel L. Rubin, MSW, CAE
President                            Executive Director
 

I have been working on a CEU event that will be held in Peoria on October 31st. Mary Garrison, the East District Chair and professor at Milikan University, will be presenting on The Ethical Challenges of Technology in Social Work. This event will qualify for four (4) ethics CEUs. In order to register, go to http://naswil.org/calendar/events/1906/.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for additional CEU events, please feel free to contact me at wcentral@naswil.org.

I have had several people contact me to let me know that they have had an e-mail change. Here are the instructions to correct your contact information:

You can update your contact information yourself through the member center portion of the NASW national web site (https://www.socialworkers.org). The link is in the upper right-hand corner in yellow. Otherwise, you can update your information with the national NASW office in one of two ways:

1. Phone: The NASW membership phone number is 800-742-4089

2. E-mail: membership@naswdc.org

If you think that your contact information has changed and needs to be updated, please do this so that you can receive up to date information about our district and upcoming events.

NEWS

New Members:
I want to welcome our newest member to our district: Brian Aterbridge. We are very excited to have you on board!

2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference:
Again, don't forget the statewide conference November 9th -11th. The event is sure to offer terrific educational and networking opportunities. I hope you consider attending. Register online here: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=16599&.

Licensure Renewal:
Don't forget that we are approaching licensure renewal time. Many of your questions about licensure renewal can be answered by viewing the NASW Illinois Chapter website tab on licensure: http://www.naswil.org/social-work-practice/licensure/. Go ahead and check it out!

Networking Opportunities:
I continue to look for additional CEU and other networking events. I would appreciate any suggestions for events. Even better, if your agency would like to be the spotlight agency or host an event, please contact me at wcentral@naswil.org. If there is an agency you would like to recommend to be a spotlight agency, please forward me any information you have and I will be happy to arrange that.

Did You Know?
Did you know that you can earn CEUs through the NASW from the comfort of your own home? What's that, did you ask how? Let me tell you. Just go the 'Education and Career Development' tab on the NASW Illinois Chapter website and click on 'CEU Opportunities'. There you will find a list of articles available to read and then take the quiz. It's that easy. Check it out!

This Month's Challenge:
I have two challenges this month. First, if you are interested in the West Central Ethics CEU event on October 31st, please register. I think it will be an exciting event, and we will have time over the lunch hour to network. Secondly, send me an idea of an event/topic you would like to see. I would be happy to see what we can do to put it together.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Art making is a form of human development, at any age, and it works its agency through the shifting of what an individual perceives as possible. As long as there is possibility, there is hope; in its absence, there is only despair. The sense of the possibility, complexity, and essential mystery of the world is what keeps the soul engaged with reality. (Permuth, 2006, p. 23)

To read more, click here. (Note: Must be an NASW member to access.)

Meet Your NASW Representatives
For the 2011–2012 school year, the NASW Illinois Chapter has two new representatives on its chapter board of directors: Graduate Student Representative Megan Sarasek (MSW Student, Loyola University Chicago) and Undergraduate Student Representative Sherri Funk (BSW Student, Governors State University). Have questions about all things NASW? Don’t hesitate to contact Megan and Sherri. They serve as your representatives on the NASW Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, so don’t be afraid to say hello!

The NASW Illinois Chapter office also has two new social workers interns for the 2011–2012 school year: Lindsey Burke (MA Student, The University of Chicago) and Jake Gappa (MSW Student, University of South Dakota, Vermillion). Both will be helping to organize the upcoming 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference as well as next spring’s annual Advocacy Day. If you missed it, Jake also contributed to this month’s September Networker in our bimonthly Student Stand column with an article on keys to a successful new school year.

For more information about contacting any of our student reps and interns, check out the Student Network Shared Interest Group (SIG) page. Don’t forget to check back with this page for all news relating to student social workers!

Become an NASW Illinois Student Liaison!

Want to build your leadership skills and professional resume? Looking to get involved with NASW Illinois? Consider becoming an NASW Illinois Student Liaison! We are looking for student liaisons for each of the Illinois schools of social work to help out with organizing potential school visits this fall as well as take part in organizing this year’s 2012 Advocacy Day.

What’s involved with being a student liaison? As a liaison, you would help us to determine the best ways of communicating with your school students and leaders, setting up potential school visits in the fall about membership, and also in the spring about getting your license. Student liaisons are also instrumental in the organization of our annual Advocacy Day event. With a record number of almost 900 attendees in 2011, we’re looking to make the 2012 Advocacy Day an even bigger success! (Read more about 2011 Advocacy Day here.) We need your help! Contact NASW Illinois Social Work Interns Lindsey Burke (lburke@naswil.org) or Jake Gappa (jgappa@naswil.org) for more information on how to get involved!

Seeking Social Media Advocates!

Did you know NASW Illinois is onFacebook? And Twitter? NASW Illinois is looking to provide active and involved social media reporters at this year’s annual 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference: A Meeting of the Profession. Take part and earn the chance to attend this year’s conference for FREE! Click here to find out more.

Searching For a Job? Let Us Help!
Looking for a job after you graduate? Want to enhance your professional resume and portfolio? NASW offers a national job board to search for jobs across the country, as well as career development tools to help you with coaching services, resume writing, reference checking, and more. Take advantage of Professional Resume Writing Services to gain an edge in a competitive job market, or let The Princeton Review help you successfully prepare for the SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and GMAT. Check out NASW Job Link, and don’t forget about the NASW Illinois Chapter Job Board as well!

These are just some of the exciting news and benefits that NASW Illinois is able to offer our student members. As the future of the social work profession AND the NASW organization, we know that our student members have what it takes become leaders in the social work arena after graduation. Let us help! If you have any questions on membership or social work, feel free to contact us. This is YOUR professional organization—let us work for you!

Good luck on a successful school year!

You’re active in the online social work community contributing through your blog posts, communicating to your followers and fans in social media. Why not bring that energy and influence to the NASW IL Statewide Conference in Oak Brook, IL.?

NASW IL is looking to provide active and involved social media reporters the opportunity to network, learn and share their NASW IL conference experience with their audiences by providing benefits to you including a FREE conference registration.

Please review the benefits, requirements and expectations for the Social Media Reporter program, fill out the form below and let’s start the conversation.

Benefits:

* Free Conference Registration
* Invitation-only dinner Tuesday Night
* Opportunity to reserve an interview room and assistance setting up interviews
* Designation ribbon for badge

Preferred:

* Regular blog postings with dedicated following
* Strong twitter follower base
* Advanced knowledge of industry

What should a Social Media Reporter do in exchange for free access?

* Attend a conference call prior to the event to discuss the social work conference.
* Attend the general sessions; experience a minimum of two educational sessions a day; attend award reception; and attend the NASW IL Exhibit Hall
* Report on the conference, attendees and/or speakers in minimum of two social media channels - one of which must be a daily blog entry. (two paragraph minimum)

DEADLINE IS OCT 17th 2011

REGISTER HERE

NASW supports recommendations that include sufficient revenue increases to reduce the deficit while preserving our ability to create jobs, rebuild the economy, and protect vulnerable people from the loss of vital services.  As the Super Committee deliberates, NASW urges the members to supports savings that are balanced and include tax based solutions.  NASW offers the following recommendations for consideration:

• Cutting federal Medicaid funding, whether to benefits or eligibility or reduction in provider payments, hurt beneficiaries’ access to care and pass costs onto families.
• Cutting federal funding for low-income programs like SNAP/Food Stamps and LIHEAP hit vulnerable families hardest.
• Raising Medicare’s eligibility age to 67 would not only fail to constrain health care costs across the economy; it would increase them. 
• Cutting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) would be devastating to seniors with disabilities.
• There are opportunities to increase revenues through closing loopholes and letting the Bush-era tax cuts expire.

Action Requested
Please contact your Representative and Senators and ask them to talk to the Super Committee members about these issues. TAKE ACTION HERE!

Give an Hour™ is joining with Points of Light and the HandsOn Network and partnering with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and other national and state associations to engage mental health professionals in recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks. 

Please visit http://www.911dayofservice.org to make a tribute using the following language:

• Join Give an Hour (http://www.giveanhour.org) to provide free mental health counseling to service personnel, veterans, and their loved ones.
• Join Give an Hour (http://www.giveanhour.org) to give a talk in my community to raise awareness about military mental health issues
• More information about this effort and resources are available at: http://giveanhour.blogspot.com

NASW is a proud supporter of Give An Hour, an organization devoted to developing a national network of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. Give An Hour focuses on U.S. troops and their loved ones who are currently being affect by the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Give an Hour asks mental health professionals, including social workers, to literally donate an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. For more information on Give An Hour, or to volunteer, please visit http://www.giveanhour.org.

Hello Southern District members. Summer is quickly coming to an end and so is this license cycle. There are still plenty of opportunities to get CEUs to fulfill the license requirement deadline on November 30, 2011. Remember that the 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference is November 9th to the 11th, and this would be a great opportunity to get those last minute CEUs plus network with social workers throughout the state. To review the conference brochure, go to http://www.publish-it-online.com/publication/?i=76942. You will save $50.00 with early bird registration by September 9, 2011.

Also the Southern District is hosting a legislative update with Phil Milsk, attorney and NASW Illinois Public Affairs Consultant. He will be at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, 405 W. Jackson Street, Carbondale, IL 62901. The event will be from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday October 4, 2011. NASW Illinois members receive one free CEU and nonmembers are $10.00. Please register for the event under the Calendar section of the Southern District website: http://www.naswil.org/naswil/districts/southern/. 

Last but not least, the NASW Illinois Chapter and the Southern District would like to welcome new members Kristen Henke and Maranda Stachyra. We look forward to meeting you at future events.

Welcome New Members to the District!

• Eliza Cattani
• Casey Dreher
• Ganchimeg Enkhchimeg
• Amy Lindstrom

Upcoming CEU Event: Establishing and Maintaining a Vibrant Private Clinical Social Work Practice in 2011 and Beyond

Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 4:00–6:00pm

Details: This workshop will use the speakers expertise on transitioning from full time agency work to private practice and address challenges of those members currently in private practice. This CEU event will cover the nuts and bolts of establishing, building, and maintaining a vibrant private practice in clinical soical work in today's age.

Presenter: Robert Smith, LCSW

Location: Mildred Berry Center
8616 Northern Avenue
Rockford, IL 61107

Cost: FREE NASW Illinois Member / $10 Nonmember

2011 NASW Illinois Statewide Conference:  November 9–11, 2011 - DoubleTree Hotel Oakbrook, Oakbrook, IL - Don't miss out! Register NOW!  Early Discount Rate Deadline: September 9, 2011. This conference is not to be missed! The conference continues NASW's commitment to providing high quality, affordable continuing educaiton programs that meet social work licensing renewal requirements. Up to 18 hours of continuing education credit will be available with great offerings allowing for skill improvement and future opportunities. This conference has been approved for social workers in Illinois.  All courses offered through the NASW Illinois Chapter meet the continuining education qualifications for LSW's, LCSW's, LPC's, LCPC's, CADC's, TYPE 73, and LMFT's licensed in Illinois as required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Education.

License Renewal and CEU's:  As you may be aware, this year is a license renewal year for social workers in November 2011. Don't forget to get all your CEUs in order and renew your license. If you have not completed your three required ethics CEUs, check the NASW Illinois website at www.naswil.org and register for one of the many ethics CEU events this fall. There will also be ethics CEUs available at the NASW Illinois Statewide Conference - just another great reason to attend! If you have questions about licensure and CEUs, please go to the NASW Illinois website and hit the 'Education and Career Development' tab for answers to many of your questions.

Networking Event - East Central District Happy Hour: Thursday, September 15, 2001, 5:30–7:00pm at Jimmy Ryan's Restaurant (101 South Main St., #101) in Decatur, IL. Please join members of the East Central District for a Networking Happy Hour in Decatur.  This is a great way to connect with your social work colleagues. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served along with a cash bar. Please RSVP to Mary Garrison, East Central District Chair, at ecentral@naswil.org. Hope to see you there!

2012 Social Work Awards: Let's celebrate the amazing social workers and citizens in the East Central District! Please consider nominating individuals for the following awards. As your district chair, I will be facilitating the incoming nominations to ensure all the informaiton below is submitted. Please take a few moments to consider nominating someone and let me know if you have any questions. Please see the awards, descriptions, and nomination requirements below:

• Social Worker of the Year:  An NASW Illinois member in good standing who reflects the values espoused in our NASW Illinois Chapter Mission Statement; promotes the NASW to the public and advocates for the populations social work serves; represents the highest ethical standards of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics; contributes to improvement of the social fabric in tangible and intangible ways; takes risks and enlists public support for improved human services.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: An NASW Illinois member in good standing who has accomplished stellar successes in his/her social work career which have enhanced the profession, supported clients, upheld social work values, and advocated for the betterment of all people.
• Public Citizen of the Year: A non-social worker who exemplifies the social work profession with outstanding service to individuals served by social workers; reflects the highest ethical standards in his/her field of endeavor; takes risks and enlists public support for improved human services; advocates for and contributes to the public's awareness of social problems.

Our chapter is commited to diversity amonth award recipients. Nomination forms will be available online in later Fall 2011. All individuals nominated will require three (3) letters of support/recommendation, the nominatee's CV, and a headshot (JPEG preferred) of the nominee. Please consider nominating for these awards!

As always, please feel free to contact me at ecentral@naswil.org with questions and/or ideas for CEU events or projects.

I am very excited. We have now had two networking events, one in Peoria and one in Springfield. Although we were small in number, we were not limited in conversation. I had a wonderful time getting to know everyone. Our conversations at the Peoria event centered primarily on legislative issues and struggles facing social workers and their clients. We had some very informed participants and the conversation was very interesting. It is helpful to get a picture of what social workers across various settings face and are concerned about.

In Springfield, our conversation focused on membership and communication. We focused on ways of communication and possible barriers to communication. I will be getting information out shortly about upcoming CEU events and networking opportunities. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at wcentral@naswil.org.

I have had several people contact me to let me know that they have had an e-mail change. Here are the instructions to correct your contact information:

You can update your contact information yourself through the member center portion of the NASW national web site (https://www.socialworkers.org). The link is in the upper right-hand corner in yellow. Otherwise, you can update your information with the national NASW office in one of two ways:

1. Phone: The NASW membership phone number is 800-742-4089
2. E-mail: membership@naswdc.org

If you think that your contact information has changed and needs to be updated, please do this so that you can receive update to date information about our district and upcoming events.

NEWS

New Members

I want to welcome four new members to our district: Eliza Cattani, Casey Dreher, Ganchimeg Enkhchimeg, and Amy Lindstrom. I want to offer all of you a warm welcome to the NASW!

Statewide Conference

The statewide conference is quickly approaching. To register for the discounted early bird rate and an opportunity to earn up to 16 CEUs, visit the conference website at: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=16599&.

Licensure Renewal
Don't forget that we are approaching licensure renewal time. Many of your questions about licensure renewal can be answered by viewing the NASW Illinois Chapter website tab on licensure: http://www.naswil.org/social-work-practice/licensure/. Go ahead and check it out!

Networking Opportunities

I am working on a CEU and other networking events. I would appreciate any suggestions for events. If your agency would like to be the spotlight agency or host an event, please contact me at  wcentral@naswil.org. If there is an agency you would like to recommend to be a spotlight agency, please forward me any information you have and I would be happy to arrange that. These are just intended to be informal opportunities to learn more about the work going on throughout the district and to get to meet social workers throughout the district working a variety of capacities.

Did You Know...?
If you are looking for a CEU event to meet your ethics requirement for licensure, you can get that through a virtual event on October 21, 2011, through NASW Illinois? You can find more information on the website. Just go to naswil.org and look for "Educational Opportunities". The course is titled "Ethical Considerations for Managing Professional Boundaries in Clinical Social Work Practice." There are two times available. Registration is required.

This Month's Challenge
Let me know your're out there and receiving my e-mails and updates! Send me an e-mail with your name and a brief introduction. You name will go into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate. Who couldn't use some free coffee or gas money!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters
E-mail: wcentral@naswil.org

You can watch a trailer for the film and find out more information of where it will be playing.

For those of you attended our first conference of the decade, two days after September 9, 2001, Alex Kotlowitz was our keynote speaker, arriving back to his home in Chicago just hours before the conference on a Greyhound bus from Oklahoma City as all air travel was grounded. Kotlowitz has been writing about contemporary urban poverty, violence, and race issues for many years. Two of his books on these issues include There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America (1991), and The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns, a Death, and America's Dilemma. His writings on these topics are frequently found in The New York Times Magazine and the Chicago Tribune. I last wrote about Kotlowitz’s work in the fall of 2009: http://www.naswil.org/news/chapter-update/kotlowitz-olympics/.

Press Release: http://naswil.org/images/uploads/docs-general/The_Interrupters.pdf

Susan Meister, Division of Legal Services
Illinois Department of Public Health
525 W. Jefferson St 5^th Floor
Springfield, Illinois 62761
dph.rules@illinois.gov

RE: PROPOSED RULES FOR SKILLED NURSING AND INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES

Dear Ms. Meister:

The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter, represents 7,000 social workers in Illinois. In 2003, NASW published standards for Social Work Standards in Long-Term Care Facilities. The guiding principles focus on the “preservation and enhancement of a person’s physical and social functioning, the promotion of the conditions essential to ensure maximum benefits from long-term health care services, the prevention of physical and mental illness and increased disability, and the promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health and an optimal quality of life.”

NASW Illinois is a strong supporter of the Nursing Home Reform efforts and the resulting legislation. We believe that the Nursing Home Reform legislation represents a significant leap forward toward assuring the quality of care and service that residents of nursing homes in Illinois need and that they and their families should expect. However, it is in the rules that this legislation will be interpreted, and we believe that these rules must reflect the intent on the legislation in order to give the department, residents, families and advocates the tools to “[E]nsure maximum benefits from long term health care services.”

Therefore we are writing in support of the recommendations put forth by the Illinois AARP and the Illinois Citizens for Better Care (ICBC), both of which set out specific ways to strengthen the direct care components of the proposed rules. Citing the Abt Associates study—the most comprehensive study of direct care minimum staffing requirements to date—both organizations refer to the need to specify direct care service in hours, not percentages. As noted in the ICBC comments, “[I]t is inexcusable to adopt the registered nurse requirement from the Abt study without also adopting the entire licensed nurse requirement from which it was derived.” They also make recommendations to make waivers to the rules more transparent to the interested public. We understand that rules provide minimum standard  and that some individual providers will seek to provide the minimum. Thus the comments made in the AARP document to strengthen the notion of what the department expects are critical.

Finally, ICBC mentions the percentage of direct care time imputed to the Director of Nursing and Social Services Director. Direct service by a social worker is an important component of direct care and there is some evidence that nursing homes with better qualified social service staff have fewer psychosocial deficiencies. For starters, we advise the department to specify the number of hours of direct service required by the Social Service Director.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rules for skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities.

Very truly yours,

Phyllis Mitzen, MSW, ACSW                                       Joel L. Rubin, MSW, CAE
Chair, NASW Illinois Chapter                                       Executive Director, NASW Illinois Chapter
Older Adults Shared Interest Group

August 2011 - West Central District Update

One month into my term and I think that I am beginning to get my footing. My goal will be to send at least a couple of e-blasts to the members of the West Central District each month. Everyone should have received two from me in the month of July. This is a very quick and easy way for me to reach all members regarding information—I hope you will find useful. I am still learning the format for these systems and recognize that my first e-blast may have been difficult to read. There is a learning curve to using this technology. I now know to keep these very brief and to the point. If you have not received an e-blast from me this month, you may not be registered. This is very simple to do: Simply call the national NASW Member Services office at 800.742.4089 and provide them with your current e-mail address. Then you're set!

News:
New Members
I want to welcome two new members to our district: Patti Howell and Roberta Gates. I also missed Katrina Pender from last month. Welcome all of you to the NASW!

Statewide Conference:
The statewide conference is quickly approaching. All members should be receiving information very soon in the mail. Applications are still being accepted for sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers for the upcoming statewide conference. If anyone would like their agency or work to have a presence at the November conference, please go to the website.

Licensure Renewal:
Don't forget that we are approaching licensure renewal time. Many of your questions about licensure renewal can be answered by viewing the NASW Illinois Chapter website tab on licensure. Go ahead and check it out!

Networking Opportunities:
I have our first networking event planned and am working on a CEU and other networking events. I would appreciate any suggestions for events. Even better, if your agency would like to be the spotlight agency or host an event, please contact me at wcentral@naswil.org. If there is an agency you would like to recommend to be a spotlight agency, please forward me any information you have, and I will be happy to arrange that. These are just intended to be informal opportunities to learn more about the work going on throughout the district.

Upcoming Planned Networking Events:
Our first networking event is scheduled for August 17, 2011, at Granite City on the patio from 6:00–7:30pm. Appetizers will be provided. I hope to see many of you there so we can begin to get to know each other.

Did You Know:
I was just looking over the membership list for the West Central District. Did you know that there are over 300 NASW members in our district? I would really like the opportunity to meet and get to know you. Last month I challenged you to complete a brief survey. I appreciated the response I got. Three people have won $10 gift certificates and will be receiving them in the mail this week! I remember somewhere from my research classes that a good expected return for mailed surveys was 25%. I have gotten 5 returns so far. You can still complete the survey at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8JW33YS. In order to get a 25% return, I still need at least 70 more responses. I would appreciate your feedback so that I know my ideas are in sync with your needs.

This Month's Challenge:
Send me an e-mail of introduction. You can contact me at wcentral@naswil.org. Let me know who you are, what you do, and any ideas or suggestions you have. I really do want to get to know all of you!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Audrey LeMasters
E-mail: wcentral@naswil.org

In the past two weeks, NASW’s International Activities Network SIG and multiple partner agencies celebrated the success of their 15th Annual Tri-City Exchange. Through site visits, nine European delegates observed and learned how social service agencies are run during lean economic times in the United States with government withdrawal of funding and resources less accessible.

The site visits included a trip to: Cook County Juvenile Court, Erikson Institute, National Runaway Switchboard, and an Amish farm, just to name a few. Through a spectrum of agencies from Chicago to Champaign, delegates experienced varying degrees of assistance that are available to the citizens of Illinois.

At the conclusion of the two week event, a seminar was hosted at Dominican University and attended by Jan Poerksen, the State Council of the Authority for Labour, Social Affairs, Family, and Integration of the free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

The British delegate, Janti Champaneri, observed that the, “U.S. safety net is not highly developed, and there is no coordinated plan for services to society.” With both countries’ governments significantly cutting back on provisions for social services he adds, “Individuals are having to be more responsible for their own health care.” A rising tide of concern was about baby boomers and their pensions or social security for both countries; will there be enough? Will there be a social security in the not so distant future? Who could afford it?

The two weeks generated more questions with regards to the impact of government funding: What happens next? Are there going to be additional casualties? This is an ongoing issue that is being debated by the U.S. government and both parties. However, perhaps what is at stake is even more pressing.

The two week event would not have been possible had it not been for the efforts of the following organizations and their staff:

• National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter
• Dominican University
• University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• Chicago Sister Cities
• Goethe Institute
• Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center
• Illinois African- American Family Commission
• Erikson Institute
• Youth Guidance
• Youth Advocacy Center
• A Women’s Place/ Center for Women in Transition
• Crisis Nursery
• Illinois Mentor
• National Runaway Switchboard
• Universal Family Connection
• Chicago Child Advocacy Center

We would also like to thank the following people for their work on the Tri-City Exchange Planning Committee:

• Racquel Hays
• Jan Hockensmith
• Barbara Jackson
• Shelley Milosevich
• John Morrison
• Viviane Ngwa
• Tyra Oliver
• Bridgette Poston
• Ann Russell
• Jim Scherrer
• Terry Solomon
• David Simpson
• Joel Rubin
• Wynne Korr

On behalf of the entire International Activities Network SIG, I sincerely thank everyone for their support in making our 15th Annual Tri-City Exchange a success! 

Sincere efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of these contributors. IAN apologizes for any errors or omissions. Please help us rectify any oversights by contacting IAN at international@naswil.org.

The Southern District would like to welcome new member Sarah Miller.

As a reminder, the NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference is growing closer and NASW Illinois is still accepting sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers. 

Finally a great resource for members is the NASW Illinois Chapter Job Board: http://naswil.org/education-career-development/association-job-board/.

Please join Mary Garrison and East Central District members for a Networking Happy Hour in Champaign, Illinois, on Thursday, August 18, 2011, from 5:30–7:00pm at Bacaro Wine Lounge, 113 N. Walnut Street, Champaign, IL 61820. This is a great way to connect with your social work colleagues. Hope to see you all there. Please RSVP to Mary Garrison, East Central District Chair at ecentral@naswil.org.

The NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Conference is coming up this November 9–11, 2011. Information on the conference will be coming your way soon to your mailbox so keep an eye out for it! In the meantime, for conference information, please go to the NASW Illinois website at www.naswil.org to learn all about this incredible professional meeting, and sign up today! 

New jobs have been posted in the NASW Illinois Job Board page. To view the Job Board click on the following link: http://naswil.org/education-career-development/association-job-board/

Just to share.......The NASW Delegate Assembly is holding its national virtual meeting on August 5 through August 6, 2011. This body meets every three years to review and approve organizational policy as well as identify emerging issues within the social work profession. 

Want to host a CEU event, organize a volunteer opportunity or share information about the profession? Contact Mary Garrison, East Central District Chair, and we can make that happen! 

Have a wonderful August! 

For photos from the exchange, click here: http://www.naswil.org/volunteer/gallery/2011-ian-sig-exchange/.

Public Comment Period Closes September 2, 2011

NASW is developing Standards for School Social Work Services, and we need your help in ensuring that the revised standards are relevant to current practice. Please review the draft standards and provide feedback using the form below. The public comment period ends at 11 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 2, 2011.

Please consider the following questions as you review the standards:

• How applicable are the standards to social workers across practice levels, professional roles, and practice settings?
• Are the standards easy to understand? Are there any concepts that need to be clarified?

To read the standards, click here.

To submit your comments, click here.

My commitment to my fellow social workers in the Northeastern District is to promote programming in the district, communicate monthly, spotlight local agencies, and to make continuing professional education relevant and readily available.

This is where I need your help. Please keep me informed of news of interest to your colleagues, sharing innovative programs and practices in the area, and please suggest continuing education ideas, speakers, and venues.

Since our district covers northern Cook, Lake, and McHenry Counties, my goal is to offer programs accessible to members from Woodstock to Highland Park on a rotating basis. Tentatively, programs will be offered in McHenry County in July, October, January, and April. Lake County programs will be offered in February and May, and for Cook County in September, December, March, and June.

I enjoyed meeting many of you earlier in June in Northbrook and look forward to our next networking happy hour on July 14, 2011, in Crystal Lake. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for it here: http://www.naswil.org/calendar/events/1755/.

The two week event will allow delegates to visit youth focused social services both in and around Chicago and downstate Danville and Champaign-Urbana. The delegates will also take a rare opportunity to visit an Amish farm. At the culmination of the event, a conference is slated for July 22, 2011 at the Dominican University Priory Campus entitled, “The Impact of Globalization on Community Resources and Social Services”, whereby the delegates will share what they learned and discuss key similarities and difference between their respective countries and the United States in terms of how programs survive and thrive fiscally without sacrificing quality standards of care. The keynote speaker will be, Jan Poerken, State Council of Authority on Social, Family and Integration from Hamburg, Germany.

This event would not be possible without the efforts and generosity of many individuals and entities that have sponsored the event, but we still need your help. There are a few ways to do so. Please consider making a donation online: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/donate-to-the-nasw-il-ian/ or make a check payable to NASW Illinois. Please send them to NASW Illinois Chapter, Attn: IAN SIG, 404 S. Wells Street, 4th floor, Chicago IL 60607. Or you can register and attend the July 22, 2011 conference. For more information with regards to the conference, contact Dr. James Scherrer at jscherrer@dom.eduor www.naswil.org/calendar/events/1713/.  Join us in learning how to deal with this challenge that affects all of us.

On behalf of the committee, we hope to see you soon!

Find the new CAPTA booklet at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/index.htm#laws

For more information, contact Child Welfare Information Gateway at info@childwelfare.gov or 1.800.394.3366.
 

Chicago, IL— On March 9, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law Public Act 96-1543, the landmark legislation repealing the death penalty in Illinois. Two Illinois politicians were vital in getting this historic piece of legislation passed: Illinois Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) and Illinois State Representative Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood). As key sponsors of the bill, Senator Raoul and State Representative Yarbrough championed (and ultimately saw passed) a bill that the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter has supported yet seen fail numerous times before.

The National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter (NASW IL) is proud to give its' 2011 Legislative Award to Senator Raoul and Representative Yarbrough for their efforts in repealing the death penalty.

"As key sponsors of the legislation, Senator Raoul and Representative Yarbrough’s efforts are consistent with social work values, and the values of this association," noted Yolanda Jordan, LCSW, president of the NASW Illinois Chapter. "The practice of capital punishment opposes one of the social work profession’s most basic beliefs—that of holding the integrity of human life and the promotion of human well-being among the highest values to which a society aspires. We are proud to see the state of Illinois join other states and countries in abolishing capital punishment and recognize that without the efforts put forth by these two politicians, this achievement could not have been had."

Senator Raoul and Representative Yarbrough will be presented with their awards at the annual 2011 NASW Illinois Chapter Statewide Social Work Conference. An evening reception will be held on November 9, 2011, from 4:00–6:00pm, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oakbrook, Illinois.