Samantha Allen, MSW, LCSW, Calumet District Chair
Greetings Calumet District,
My name is Samantha Allen, and I am honored to be your newly elected Calumet District Chair. Let me first thank you for your involvement in the chapter and for your vote of confidence in my ability to fulfill the role of Calumet District Chair. I would like to acknowledge the outgoing NASW-Illinois Chapter Board Members for all of their hard work and dedication to the Calumet District. In addition, I’d like to acknowledge the incoming NASW-Illinois Chapter Board Members. Congratulations and best wishes during your term!
As the Calumet District Chair, I am committed to serve and advocate on behalf of the district. It is my goal and pleasure to continue to work towards our efforts of change through advocacy, policy, and the advancement of social work. I would also like to ensure that we consider your thoughts when planning district events. This is your district, so I encourage you to get involved in the chapter. Please reach out to me with any questions or suggestions of CEU topics or networking event ideas. You can contact me at calumet.naswil@socialworkers.org.
Welcome and thank you to all new members and to those members who renewed their membership! You are all appreciated! Enjoy your summer! Be safe, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can during my term.
Reflections:
Juneteenth 2022: We celebrated our very first Juneteenth celebration as a national holiday! The national acknowledgement of June 19th as the historical day that celebrates the freedom of Black Americans from slavery, is very vital to the history of healing for Black Americans. As social workers, it is very important for us to understand, recognize and assist in the dismantling of any system of oppression that continues to exist.
Pride Month 2022: Pride Month is a celebration that commemorates the diversity of LGBTQI+ communities. Pride Month commemorates a day in 1969 when LGBTQI+ group beginning of a human rights movement. The LGBTQI+ persons continue to fight for equality. Our roles as social workers are truly meaningful in assisting the LGBT community with continued adversities as they are dealing with unique vulnerabilities in society.
Roe vs. Wade Overturned: The U. S Supreme Court officially reversed the Roe v. Wade on Friday June 24th, declaring the constitutional right to abortion is no longer in existence. This ruling takes away the freedom of personal choice and self determination. Our bodies belong to no one but ourselves. As social workers, we should be prepared to advocate on behalf of fellow advocates and humans everywhere seeking the right to choose.
CHAPTER NEWS
2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards
Deadline: Sunday, July 31, 2022
One month left! We are looking for nominations for the annual NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards! This year, we are looking for outstanding individuals whose work has supported and promoted the social work profession and the people it serves. There are four award categories: Social Worker of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Public Citizen of the Year, and Emerging Leader. For more information, go to: https://www.naswil.org/post/accepting-nominations-for-the-2022-social-work-awards
Save the Date! 2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Hybrid Conference
Mark your calendars! The NASW-Illinois Chapter will be back and meeting in person for this year’s conference! Taking place in a hybrid format, we’ll be offering in-person CEUs on November 17, 2022, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle Naperville in Lisle, IL, and running it back as a live virtual conference on Thursday, December 1, 2022. More info to come later this month, but stay tuned and circle those dates in your calendar!
IDFPR Website Domain Change
The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) website domain has changed as of June 14, 2022. If you have previously bookmarked the old URL (idfpr.com) to your website browser, please note that the IDFPR website has changed to a new domain: idfpr.illinois.gov. We will be updating links to IDFPR on our own chapter website accordingly and appreciate your patience as we update this content.
2021–2023 LSW/LCSW Licensure News and Updates
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: https://www.naswil.org/post/idfpr-licensure-renewal-requirements-for-2021-2023
Other Chapter News
• IDFPR Waives License Renewal Fees and Initial Application Fees for Frontline Healthcare Workers: https://www.naswil.org/post/idfpr-waives-license-renewal-fees-and-initial-application-fees-for-frontline-healthcare-workers
• NASW-IL Advocacy at Work: Gov. Signs HB 4797 Expanding Telehealth Services for Students - https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-il-advocacy-at-work-gov-signs-hb-4797-expanding-telehealth-services-for-students
• Governor Pritkzer Grants One-Time Fee Waiver for First-Time & Renewing LSW & LCSW License Applicants: https://www.naswil.org/post/governor-pritkzer-grants-one-time-fee-waiver-for-first-time-renewing-lsw-lcsw-license-applicants
For more news, go to the NASW-Illinois Chapter News page: https://www.naswil.org/blog
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