Mary Garrison, East Central District Chair
Hello to all! I hope you are ready for fall to come upon us – it will be here shortly (September 23rd!) and all the wonderfulness of the season will come to life! This fall will be busy with many events and I hope you will take advantage of all that is available to you!
Congratulations to Nina O'Brien for her award as the Emerging Social Work Leader of the year for 2019! We are so proud to have Nina in our East Central District! Nina (MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LCSW) is local recovery coordinator for VA Illiana Health Care System where she works to promote whole health and recovery-oriented care within the VA system. As a mental health clinician, Nina has experience working with children, families, and veterans of all eras, including survivors of combat trauma and military sexual assault. She is a registered yoga teacher and launched a trauma-sensitive yoga program at VA Illiana in 2015. Nina believes in the healing power of connection and enjoys incorporating interventions for the mind, body, and spirit into her daily social work practice. In support of her nomination of Nina, colleague Katie Weber wrote: “[Nina] has advocated and pushed for services based on the Recovery Model. She has also single handedly started trauma-informed yoga classes for Veterans as well as yoga classes for VA employees to promote self-care. [She] continues to teach these classes out of passion despite her very limited availability. She is a great resource for Veterans and employees.” Thank you Nina for your commitment to our great profession – we are honored to have you representing all of us!
Your LSW/LCSW licenses is up for renewal this year – 11/30/19! Please see the
FAQ on 2019 Licensure Renewal: It’s Time to Renew Your License! https://www.naswil.org/post/faq-on-2019-licensure-renewal-it-s-time-to-renew-your-license
We want new members!! National launches member referral campaign. Refer a new or former NASW member, and get a special gift: https://www.naswil.org/post/nasw-member-referral-campaign-july-2019-october-2019
I will continue to seek suggestions for workshops and presentations you would like to have in our district – please send any suggestions to me at: ECentral.naswil@socialworkers.org. Below are upcoming events in our district & state.
Upcoming District & State Events:
· Social Work Values Matter: A Legislative Affair: Learn about legislative issues important to social work. This event is co-hosted with the Illinois Association of School Social Workers. 1.5 CEUs / $23 Nonmember / Free NASW Member Speakers: Mary Garrison, Nicole Ekiss, and Illinois State Legislators (TBA)
When: Friday, September 27th 5-7pm
Where: Millikin University Commons, 1184 W Main St., 302/Banquet Room A, Decatur, IL 62522
Registration can be accessed here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/092719east-central-cospo-ceu-event-decatur/
· 2019 NASW-IL Conference: A Meeting of the Professions
When: November 5-7, 2019
Where: The Westin North Shore, Wheeling, IL
Details and Registration can be accessed here: http://naswilmeets.org/
· LSW/LCSW Review Course: This workshop will help participants develop successful test-taking strategies for correctly answering examination questions and will review material in each of the content areas on the examination. Presenter: Mary Garrison 8 CEUs/ Nonmember $235 (no CEUs $225) / NASW Member $175
When: Dec 06, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Where: First United Methodist Church, 201 West North Street, FaithLink Room, Decatur, IL 62522
Registration can be accessed here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/naswil-review-course-120619-decatur/