Michael Mallory, MSW, LCSW, Chicago District Chair
Good Day, Chicago,
I hope all of you were able to enjoy a restorative holiday break and were able to spend time with loved ones. Thank you to those who attended the NASW-IL conference a few weeks prior; it was a pleasure being able to meet some of you from our district. My hope is that those who attended were satisfied with the content that was presented during your chosen sessions.
While we move onward into the winter, let us prioritize our health and wellness by being mindful of self-care and continuing to practice caution as we anticipate a tough flu season during an ongoing pandemic. In the spirit of empathy and compassion, I extend well wishes and warmth to all of you during the upcoming holiday season.
In preparation for the new year, I ask that if any of you have any suggestions regarding district events or recommendations of venues to host in-person events to e-mail me those suggestions directly. Otherwise, please review the section below as there are various important updates. An additional section is related to loan forgiveness opportunities that may be helpful for you and your broader networks.
Thank you all for your continued dedication to the important work we all do.
Humbly yours,
Michael
Upcoming Events:
New Student Loan Repayment Program Launches for Community Behavioral Health Care Professionals
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has launched the application for a student loan repayment assistance program to support qualified mental health and substance abuse professionals. The Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program is designed as an incentive for recruitment and retention of those who practice in underserved or rural areas. Read more HERE.
2021–2023 LSW/LCSW Licensure News and Updates
It is important that you take the time to review the updates from IDFPR regarding NEW CEU requirements. Most importantly, the State has put forth a requirement for licensed folx to receive at least one CEU hour of Implicit Bias training. Additionally, starting in 2023 the State will also require a training on the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s. I encourage all of you to read about these new requirements HERE.
Ask NASW-IL: I'm a new LSW/LCSW—do I need to start acquiring CEUs yet?
With the removal of the licensing examination as requirement for licensed social workers (LSWs) in Illinois at the beginning of the year, the state has had an unprecedented number of new licensed social workers join the profession in the first six months of this year—almost 3,000 in the first six months compared to 421 for the same time period last year. With this crop of new LSWs, many are asking themselves what they need to keep their new license as first-time licensed-holders. More specifically: Do I need to start acquiring CEUs for my first license renewal? Read more HERE.
NASW-IL Statement in Support of the Anjanette Young Ordinance
The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) stands in solidarity with and in support of Anjanette Young and the proposed legislation created in her honor, the Anjanette Young Ordinance. This ordinance would, among other requirements, ban no-knock warrants, require that officers wait at least 30 seconds during knock and announce raids to give residents a chance to open the door to their home, thus implementing common sense policy and procedural changes surrounding warrants and safeguarding the human rights of Chicago citizens. Read more HERE.