Michael Mallory, Chicago District Chair
Happy April Chicago,
Like many of you, I am eagerly waiting for a reprieve from these recent snowy surprises! Here’s to hoping that we see some warmer weather soon! I hope all of you were able to take in the pride of your work during March’s Social Work Month. Speaking of pride in our work, please keep an eye out for your ballots as this is election month for our NASW-Illinois Chapter Board of Directors. Make sure to view the roster of candidates prior to voting as you will only be able to access your ballot once. If you have not received your ballot, please contact us.
For those of you who are interested in getting more involved with the work of the NASW, there are several opportunities available:
NASW-Illinois Workforce Diversity Focus Group:
In our continued efforts regarding strengthening the social work workforce in Illinois, the NASW-Illinois Chapter received additional funding to develop, Strategies to Strengthen the Social Work Workforce Diversity Pipeline in Illinois, from the Telligen Community Initiative (TCI). Part of this wide ranging grant will be examining barriers to entry to the social work profession by establishing five focus groups across the state of Illinois with under-represented communities (Black Latinx, Asian, Native American) social workers. Those interested in learning more or signing up please click HERE.
NASW-Illinois Chapter Conference: Call for Presenters
Those passionate about sharing knowledge to your fellow colleagues are encouraged to consider presenting at our upcoming conference. The chapter is seeking presentations to reflect the following areas: Effects of COVID on social workers/ social work profession; Telehealth for Social Workers; & Self-care for Social Workers. Deadline for submission is May 2nd. Please learn more about this opportunity HERE.
NASW-Illinois Chapter 2022 Virtual Advocacy Day
Thank you to those who attended our virtual advocacy day. I hope that you found the content informative and motivating. In terms of upcoming events, I will be reviewing historical presentation proposals to find a suitable training opportunity for our next event. As always, if you have any recommendations, please feel free to reach out to me.
Upcoming Events:
NASW National Conference
Join more than 2,000 social workers, like-minded professionals, and social work thought leaders at NASW’s 2022 National Conference. Take advantage of unparalleled opportunities in professional development, continuing education, and networking. Engage in thought-provoking conversations tackling the most pressing issues facing the social work profession across the world. To learn more about this event please click here.
For those of us who are anxious about this year’s CEU requirements, please keep an eye on our website as our office posts crucial updates regarding licensure renewals. This website also provides critical updates regarding any changes to our CEU requirements put forth through IDFPR.
2021–2023 LSW/LCSW Licensure News and Updates
While February 28th marked the deadline for renewing licenses for some, some of you already know that December 1, 2021, marked the first day of the next licensure cycle. We announced changes in IDFPR licensure renewal requirements in an article published on November 30, 2021, and updated it with frequently asked questions. We’ve been getting questions from members about whether the in-person CEU waiver will be repeated for the new cycle. Read about that and more HERE.
Thank you all for your continued dedication to the important work we all do.
Warmly,
Michael
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