Diona Shelton, LCSW, CATP, CCTP
Southern District Chair
Hello Southern District Members!
June marks the official start of the summer as well as Pride Month. Pride month is a time when the world’s LGBTQ communities come together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Every year in the month of June, many people take time to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan which is often referred to as the "tipping point" for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Today many celebrations include parades, parties, picnics, workshops, and other symposia to honor the unique contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The National Association of Social Workers takes this time to commemorate the month and celebrate individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their tremendous impact on our world.
Standing for Advancing Equal Opportunity for All,
Diona Shelton, LCSW, CATP, CCTP
CHAPTER NEWS
2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Election Results
Thank you to those who took part in this year's 2021 NASW-Illinois Chapter Elections during the month of April. Please take a moment to give recognition to the individuals who will be representing you on the NASW-Illinois Chapter Board of Directors starting July 1, 2021. https://www.naswil.org/post/2022-nasw-illinois-chapter-elections-1
2022 NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Work Awards
Deadline: Sunday, July 31, 2022
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!
ICYMI: IDFPR Waives License Renewal Fees and Initial Application Fees for Frontline Healthcare Workers
As reported by the chapter back in May, Governor Pritzker announced plans during his February budget address to waive licensing fees for nearly 470,000 frontline healthcare workers. An FAQ was released by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) which provides answers to some of the frequently asked questions around the fee waiver. We have collated below some of their FAQ into the questions most pertinent to social workers. Read the full article here: https://www.naswil.org/post/idfpr-waives-license-renewal-fees-and-initial-application-fees-for-frontline-healthcare-workers
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