Michael Mallory, MSW, LCSW, Chicago District Chair
Good Day Chicago!
Happy Social Work Month!
Thank you ALL for your ongoing work in the field of social work. It’s thanks to ALL of you that our field is making better communities as we all work toward breaking barriers for those we serve. I say this as I was reminded and motivated by the Social Work Month Proclamation’s ending statement “Social Workers endeavor to work throughout our society to meet people where they are and help empower people and our society to reach goals they wish to attain.” Our field is so diverse in the type of roles/work that we can do, and this proclamation speaks to this as it references how social workers in micro, mezzo, and macro levels are all creating change to support disenfranchised communities and populations. I encourage all of you to read this year’s proclamation HERE.
While we carry forward into the month, I want to share an exciting/important piece of news; our advocacy team has worked endlessly with local legislators to draft a new rule to our CE requirement to remove the in-person requirement for licensure renewal. This effort took considerable work on our advocacy team’s part, and we are hoping that this rule gets passed through state legislature. That said, as I mentioned last month, please keep an eye for official correspondence from our office about the status of this as there is the risk of misinformation being shared on local list serves.
In the spirit of Social Work Month, I found it important to include an opportunity for networking and am co-hosting an in-person event with Preferra Insurance [Risk Retention Group] that will discuss professional liability and risk mitigation. I found more important than ever to share this discussion as our field is facing potential risks while providing abortion and trans-affirming care due to other states’ hostility and litigiousness toward out-of-state providers providing this care to their residents. Therefore, as this is an evolving situation I find it important to begin the conversation so that we can hear how liability insurance providers are protecting those providing this life saving care. At the end of this event, all participants will enjoy lunch and an hour-long networking opportunity. I am really excited for this event and encourage you to attend. Please register quickly as there is limited space. Register HERE.
Again, thank you ALL for your continued work in our field and for being the change makers, advocates, therapists, and leaders our communities need.
Humbly yours,
Michael
Upcoming NASW-IL Events
NASW-IL March CEU and Networking Event
Please join the NASW-IL Chicago District and event sponsor Preferra Insurance to learn more about the risk we take on in our work and how to best protect ourselves from liability. This workshop will cover critical topics such as the social worker’s responsibility to the client, documentation and record-keeping, confidentiality, mandated reporter statutes, the duty to warn and client disclosures, the standard of care, managing risk, and the importance of having professional liability insurance coverage and knowing the extent of its benefits. Register HERE.
2023 Virtual Advocacy Day
Join the NASW-Illinois Chapter for our annual day of advocacy education with other social work professionals and students! Learn about current emerging issues in the state of Illinois as well as up-to-the-minute legislation currently up for vote in the Capitol. Unite your voices with hundreds of other social work colleagues on issues that affect the social work profession! Register HERE.
NASW-IL Virtual Job Fair
Looking to take the next step in your social work career? Join us for this year’s virtual job fair! Meet and make connections with organizations all around Illinois who are hiring. All job fair registrants will receive a list of exhibitor contact information for follow up with after the job fair. Register HERE.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness [PSLF]
I encourage those of you who have federal student loans and that applied for the limited PSLF waiver in October to check their loan servicing website for updates. Over the course of the last week many individuals have been reporting that their PSLF status has been updated to reflect the waiver which may have counted previously ineligible payments. That said, please check your loan servicer website for more information. If you’re unfamiliar with PSLF please click HERE to read more about it.
2021–2023 LSW/LCSW Licensure News and Updates
News of the rule filing by IDFPR to remove the in-person continuing education requirement from licensure renewal has broadened the range of continuing education options available to Illinois social workers. However, it is still important to remember that in order to utilize an education course for continuing education units (CEUs) for licensure renewal, there are steps you can take to ensure whether a course fulfills IDFPR requirements continuing education. For more information click HERE.
Σχόλια