Samantha Allen, MSW, LCSW, Calumet District Chair
Greetings Fellow Social Workers of the Calumet District,
Hello Autumn! Tis the season for change. While we celebrate the seasonal joys, we should remind ourselves that they are opportunities for change and transition in the beautiful forest of wisdom and meaning. Let us all be mindful to make moments to self reflect, engage in self care and build community care for the purpose of managing our own mental well-being and personal and professional development.
In the month of October, we come together in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to show support for the many people affected by breast cancer. To show your support, wear your pink clothing or ribbon all month or specifically during Pink Week, October 3rd through 5th.
During October, we also observe Mental Illness Awareness. This week is dedicated to spreading the awareness about mental health topics in order to decrease the stigma and provide helpful and life-saving information and resources. To show your support, wear green or a green ribbon all month or during October 1st through 7th, volunteer at a mental health organization, and spread awareness regarding mental health.
In other news, licensing renewal as begun. If you haven’t heard the amazing news, IDFPR has officially removed the in person requirement for CEUs. This change in policy is a major success and widens the scope on inclusion for the field of social work. Should you have questions and need more information regarding licensure requirements, please find helpful information here: https://www.naswil.org/ceu-requirements
As for district news, our district is partnering with the Southern District for next CEU event. Please see below! We hope to see you there.
From Racially Colorblind to Colorbrave
Date: Friday, November 17 from 12:00pm to 4:30pm CST (10am - 2:30pm PST)
Speaker: Crystal C. Rozelle-Bennett, LMSW (she/her)
Description: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr (8/28/1963)
More than 50 years after Dr. King's speech, individuals continue to use his words to justify their claim of being racially colorblind. Racial colorblindness is modern day racism and denies the racial disparities that continue to exist in various systems, including healthcare, education and the criminal justice system.
In the helping profession, not only is it unrealistic to be racially colorblind, it is dangerous and does more harm than good. If you don't see my color, you can't see me. And if you can't see me how can you empathize with my racial experiences, accept my whole being and validate my perspectives?
In this workshop, professionals will explore the experience of microaggressions in our client’s personal lives as well as ways microaggressions might manifest in the therapeutic relationship.
Professionals will reflect on their personal biases and explore strategies of cultural humility in practice.
CEUs: 4.0 CEUs (including 2 hours of content in Ethics and 2 hours in Cultural Competency)
Virtual Platform: Zoom
Registration: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/z1528e8y1gesupb/
Should you have any suggestions for CEU events or have questions, feel free to reach out to me at calumet.naswil@socialworkers.org I hope to see you soon.
CHAPTER NEWS
Registration Open! 2023 NASW Chapters Conference: A Meeting of the Profession
Join us for two days of live virtual education with social workers across our sister chapters in NASW-Nevada and NASW-North Dakota! This year's annual conference will take place on Thursday, November 2, and Friday, November 3, 2023, via Pheedloop. Up to 11.0 live virtual CEUs will be offered, including CEUs fulfilling requirements for ethics, cultural competency, and suicide prevention. For more information and to register, go to: naswmeets.org.
2023 NASW-Illinois Chapter Statewide Awards
This year, the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) is honoring the work of some exceptional Illinois social workers and individuals whose work promotes social justice and social change with and on behalf of the people and clients they serve. This year’s 2023 NASW-Illinois Chapter Statewide Award winners include: Lifetime Achievement Awardee Thomas A. Kmetko, LCSW; Social Worker of the Year Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, LSW; Emerging Social Work Leader Leyda M. Garcia-Greenawalt, LSW, MSW; and Public Citizen of the Year Raquel Rosendo. Read more about this year’s winners at: https://www.naswil.org/post/2023-nasw-illinois-chapter-statewide-awards
Other Chapter News:
• September 2023 - Student Network SIG Update: https://www.naswil.org/post/september-2023-student-network-sig-update
• Partial Loan Repayment Assistance Available to Those Working in Community Mental Health Centers: https://www.naswil.org/post/partial-loan-repayment-assistance-available-to-those-working-in-community-mental-health-centers
• NASW-IL Advocacy At Work: Gov. Signs HB 2365 Providing Alternative to ASWB Exam: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-il-advocacy-at-work-gov-signs-hb-2365-providing-alternative-to-aswb-exam
• Get Ready to Update Records and Billing with New Nonbinary Gender Option in IL: https://www.naswil.org/post/get-ready-to-update-records-and-billing-with-new-nonbinary-gender-option-in-il
• Student Loan Payments to Resume: What You Need to Know - https://www.naswil.org/post/student-loan-payments-to-resume-what-you-need-to-know
• Social Work Profession One Step Closer to Interstate Licensure Compact: https://www.naswil.org/post/social-work-profession-one-step-closer-to-interstate-licensure-compact
• Ask NASW-IL: Will this course count for CEUs in Illinois? - https://www.naswil.org/post/ask-nasw-il-will-this-course-count-for-ceus-in-illinois
• 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
For more news, go to the NASW-Illinois Chapter News page: https://www.naswil.org/blog