Jacki Brunk (she/her), LCSW
Northeastern District Chair
Welcome to the monthly district update for the Northeastern District! Read on for important information regarding your local district as well as statewide events.
I’m pleased to announce a virtual training in November!
Brains on Stress Can't Learn: Skills to De-Stress Children
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 9am to 11am CT
Presenter: Alisa Kaczoroswki, MS, MBA, Certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist
Platform: Zoom Live Virtual
CEUs: 2.0
Children who have experienced trauma and stress cannot learn in the moment because their brain is stressed. Mental health practitioners can learn ways to accommodate this and help children feel safe, secure and loved. Mind-body skills are simple to teach and fun for kids. They promote relaxation and reduce stress, making them common sense strategies to help ALL children learn to regulate their emotions.
Join us for this engaging workshop by registering here:
Please reach out to me with comments, questions and/or suggestions about the information NASW shares with you. I also want to hear from you regarding topics or speakers that interest you. I encourage you to continue to check the website for other events and trainings you may be interested in: https://www.naswil.org/events
CHAPTER NEWS
ANNOUNCING! New Proposal and Legislative Guide to Support School Social Workers Across Illinois
The NASW-Illinois Chapter is excited to present two powerful new resources aimed at improving mental health support for students statewide: the NASW-Illinois Chapter Policy Proposal for Enhancing School Social Work Staffing Ratios, and the accompanying NASW-Illinois Chapter Legislative Guide on Mental Health in Schools: The Urgent Need for More School Social Workers. Both resources are now available for members to use in advocating for better staffing and increased support for school social workers. These tools reflect the dedication and expertise of school social workers across Illinois who led this initiative to ensure every student in Illinois has access to the mental health resources they need to thrive. Read more about these new tools here: https://www.naswil.org/post/announcing-new-proposal-and-legislative-guide-to-support-school-social-workers-across-illinois
National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter Urges Immediate Action to Address Mental Health Crisis in CPS Schools
Today, the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL), in partnership with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), calls for urgent action to address the mental health crisis affecting students in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). NASW-IL recently announced a workload based safe schools ratio that once again shows major deficiencies in how CPS addresses mental health in schools. This data driven approach backed by recent state Medicaid funding changes, would allow CPS to hire a workforce of school social workers adequate to meet the rising needs of its students. This proposal advocates for a workload-based staffing model that estimates CPS requires at least 2,031 school social workers to support students’ mental health, a number that could be conservative given the level of trauma experienced by Chicago’s youth. Read more about this call to action here: https://www.naswil.org/post/national-association-of-social-workers-illinois-chapter-urges-immediate-action-to-address-mental-he
ISAC Renews Partial Loan Repayment Program for FY2025
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is currently accepting applications for their Professional Loan Repayment Program through June 30, 2025. If you are a social work graduate working in IL schools or municipalities or are a social worker working in a CBHC, click the links below to find out whether you are eligible:
For Social Work Graduates Working in IL Schools and Municipalities: https://www.naswil.org/post/isac-renews-partial-loan-repayment-program-for-fy2025-for-social-work-graduates-working-in-il-school
For Social Workers Working in Community Behavioral Health Care: https://www.naswil.org/post/isac-renews-partial-loan-repayment-program-for-fy2025-for-social-workers-working-in-community-behavi
NASW-IL Announces Key Endorsements for 2024 Illinois General Election
The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) proudly announces its endorsements for the upcoming 2024 Illinois general election. This election is of critical importance as it will significantly shape the future of social work and human services across Illinois. Read our full list of endorsements here: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-il-announces-key-endorsements-for-2024-illinois-general-election
IDFPR Updates on Licensure Process in Illinois
Read through our brief update on some significant progress we've made with our partners at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as a result of our collective advocacy to address the historic delays in obtaining social licensure in the state: https://www.naswil.org/post/updates-regarding-licensure-process
NASW-IL Clinical Supervision Hours Tracking Log: A Guide for Illinois Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL), with the valuable assistance of one of our longtime supervision presenters, Natalie K. Holzman, LCSW, is pleased to introduce a voluntary tracking log designed to help social workers track their clinical supervision. This log is a practical tool to support you in your journey toward obtaining your Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license. Read more about the tracking log here: https://www.naswil.org/post/introducing-the-nasw-il-clinical-supervision-hours-tracking-log-a-guide-for-illinois-social-workers
NASW-IL CE Worksheet for 2023–2025 LSW/LCSW Licensure
Following the latest Social Work Act changes approved by IDFPR for the current licensure cycle, the NASW-Illinois Chapter is proud to release this year's NASW-IL CE Worksheet for Licensure. This document is intended to aid Illinois LSW and LCSW licensees to keep track of all continuing education requirements for the current licensure cycle. Download the worksheet at: https://www.naswil.org/post/just-released-nasw-il-ce-worksheet-for-2023-2025-lsw-lcsw-licensure
Essential Practice and Licensure News:
IDFPR Updates on Licensure Process in Illinois: https://www.naswil.org/post/updates-regarding-licensure-process
NASW-IL CE Worksheet for 2023–2025 LSW/LCSW Licensure: https://www.naswil.org/post/just-released-nasw-il-ce-worksheet-for-2023-2025-lsw-lcsw-licensure
2024 Social Work Rule Changes Approved for Social Work Professionals: https://www.naswil.org/post/new-2024-social-work-rule-changes-approved-for-social-work-professionals
2024 Federal Requirements for IL Social Workers (NASW Membership required): https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Legal-Defense-Fund/Legal-Issues/Corporate-Transparency-Act
IDFPR Licensure Renewal Requirements for 2023–2025: https://www.naswil.org/post/idfpr-licensure-renewal-requirements-for-2023-2025
“Ask NASW-IL” Series
We’ve posted several “Ask NASW-IL” questions in the past month relating to questions we’ve been receiving at the chapter. Click through the links below to learn more!
Can I see clients as a social work student or graduate but before I get my LSW/LCSW?
How can I utilize the alternative to the ASWB exam to get my LCSW?
For a complete list of archived “Ask NASW-IL” articles, go to: https://www.naswil.org/blog/categories/ask-nasw-il
Other Chapter News:
NASW-IL DEIAB Committee Statement on the Death of Sonya Massey: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-il-deiab-committee-statement-on-the-death-of-sonya-massey
Biden’s Legacy: NASW thanks the President for his unprecedented support for social workers - https://www.naswil.org/post/biden-s-legacy-nasw-thanks-the-president-for-his-unprecedented-support-for-social-workers
NASW-IL 2024 Illinois Spring Legislative Report: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-il-2024-illinois-spring-legislative-report
Social Work Rules and Specialty CEU Rules Webpages Updated: https://www.naswil.org/post/social-work-rules-and-specialty-ceu-rules-webpages-updated
For more news, go to the NASW-Illinois Chapter News page: https://www.naswil.org/blog
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