Diona Shelton, DSW, LCSW, CATP, CCTP
Southern District Chair
Welcome to the month of March, Southern District. I hope you all are surviving the cold winter temperatures and are looking forward to the seasonal changes of spring. Spring is my favorite season as I often look forward to the bloom of the flowers, warmer temperatures, the sweet melodies of the chirping birds as they return, and all the beauty that this season brings.
March is also when we celebrate social workers’ wonderful contributions to society. This year’s theme is Social Work Breaks Barriers. Our national office has launched a toolkit to help commemorate the month. Please check out the promotional items as we celebrate our great profession. https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Social-Work-Month. I wish to thank each social worker for all you do to challenge the status quo and serve as the trailblazers for justice and equality for all. Our world is a better place because you are here.
As we look forward to the spring months, the Southern District is pleased to host our in-person CEU event later this month. I look forward to meeting both new and existing members at the event and warmly welcome our presenter, Mrs. Rachel Yaw, LCSW, RPT, in a dynamic presentation that helps us all to focus on resiliency and self-care. This event is sold-out; however, a waitlist is still available. In addition to our March CEU event, I am also pleased to announce an upcoming in-person CEU event that will take place in May. We welcome Ky A. Miller, MSW, LMSW/ LSW who will focus our attention on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community as we explore ways that social workers can offer support. Our May event will be eligible for 3.0 Cultural Competency CEU’s, and registration is now open. I hope to see you there!
Warm regards,
Dr. Diona Shelton, DSW, LCSW, CATP, CCTP
NASW-IL Southern District Chair
Upcoming Southern District Events
NASW-IL Southern District CEU Event: Enhancing Resiliency & Self Care through Restorative Practices
Presenter: Rachel Yaw, LCSW, RPT
Description: Come join in this Southern District event by engaging in playful, restorative techniques to enhance your resiliency and self-care.
Venue: Collinsville Library - 408 W. Main Street, Collinsville, IL 62234
Registration Link: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/zht30ok0nimvpa/
Cost: 3 CEUs/ $45 Nonmember/ FREE NASW Member
NASW-IL Southern District CEU Event: Supporting LGBTQ+ Clients at Every Level of Social Work
Date: Saturday, May 13th 2023, from 9:30 AM to 12:30pm
Venue: Collinsville Library - 408 W. Main Street, Collinsville, IL 62234
Presenter: Ky A. Miller, MSW, LMSW/LSW
Cost: 3 Cultural Competency CEUs / $45 Nonmember / FREE NASW Member
Description: This NASW-IL Southern District event will enhance social workers’ ability to support LGBTQ+ clients at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers will learn how to uphold the key social work principles to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of LGBTQ+ people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s dual focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Social workers will explore environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems created within the context of society.
Registration: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/ze5h8qz0fo4gek/
CHAPTER NEWS
Rules Filed to Remove In-Person CE Requirement
IDFPR officials have informed us that rules have been drafted by lawyers for a proposal that will entirely remove the in-person continuing education requirement from licensure renewal. JCAR will be posting a draft of the proposed language tomorrow to their site at which point the rule will then enter a period for public comment which we encourage you to participate in. Once the public comment period has passed, the new rule will be voted on and likely passed, at which point, the in-person requirement for continuing education will be completely removed as a licensure requirement for LSWs and LCSWs. Read more here: https://www.naswil.org/post/2021-2023-licensure-renewal-update-rules-filed-to-remove-in-person-ce-requirement
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! Read more and register here: https://www.naswil.org/post/announcing-2023-virtual-advocacy-day
Seeking Job Seekers! 2023 NASW-Illinois Chapter Virtual Job Fair
Monday, April 3, 2023, from 2:00–5:00pm via Zoom Events
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. Read more here: https://www.naswil.org/post/seeking-job-seekers-2023-nasw-illinois-chapter-virtual-job-fair
Ask NASW-IL: Will this course count for CEUs in Illinois?
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. Read more here: https://www.naswil.org/post/ask-nasw-il-will-this-course-count-for-ceus-in-illinois
Other Chapter News
· February 14, 2023 Update on the Social Work Interstate Compact: https://www.naswil.org/post/february-14-2023-update-on-the-social-work-interstate-compact
· NASW Opposes Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Exams: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-opposes-association-of-social-work-boards-aswb-exams
· 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule: What Clinical Social Workers Should Know: https://www.naswil.org/post/2023-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-final-rule-what-clinical-social-workers-should-know
· UPDATE: Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship: https://www.naswil.org/post/update-post-master-of-social-work-school-social-work-professional-educator-license-scholarship
For more news, go to the NASW-Illinois Chapter News page: https://www.naswil.org/blog
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