March is Social Work Month
This year's theme, "The Time Is Right for Social Work," emphasizes how the need for social workers is great. Social workers have been an integral part of our nation for decades. Social workers played key roles in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements and pushed for social programs we now take for granted, including the minimum wage, a 40-hour work week, Social Security and Medicare.
The time is always right for social work. However more people are entering the field because the life-affirming services that social workers provide are needed more than ever. This is especially true as our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, economic inequality, global warming, and other crises. That is why the theme for Social Work Month 2022 is The Time is Right for Social Work.
As we turn to a new spring season, we at the NASW-Illinois Chapter want to thank you again for all that you do this month—and every month—for your clients, your colleagues, and your profession. We hope that you will find the time to celebrate yourselves this month and perhaps find some time to participate in one or some of the many NASW-Illinois Chapter event offerings this month.
Happy Social Work Month!
Learn more about Social Work Month here.
Take part in the upcoming Social Work Month festivities and events listed below!
NASW-IL Chicago District Networking Event: Alternative Crisis Response Services (Zoom)
This Chicago District networking event features two social work leaders in a discussion about their work related to providing alternative crisis intervention services to those in Chicago.
When: March 18, 2022, from 11:00am–1:00pm CT
Host: Chicago District Chair Michael Mallory
Cost: $10 Nonmember / FREE NASW Member
NASW-Illinois Chapter 2022 Virtual Advocacy Day (Zoom)
Join us for a day of advocacy with other social work professionals and students as we virtually descend upon the state capital in Springfield! The day will include a morning educational session on emerging issues and updates on 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 in Illinois by taking part in in this virtual day of advocacy.
When: March 21, 2022, from 9:00am–12:00pm CT
Presenter(s): TBA
Cost: No CEUs—Free; 3 CEUs / $45 Nonmember / $15 NASW Member
Lessons Learned from COVID: From Isolation to Connection (Zoom)
This Southern District CEU event will help participants understand the impact of COVID-19 on older adults and persons with disabilities and identify strategies to promote social connections and mental well-being for this specific population.
When: March 23, 2022, from 9:00am to 11:00am CT
Speaker(s): Elaine Jurkowski, LCSW
Cost: 2.0 CEUs / $30 Nonmember / $10 NASW-IL Member
Virtual Platform: Zoom
The No Surprises Act and Outpatient Mental Health Services (Zoom)
On January 1, 2022, a federal rule went into effect establishing “surprise” billing and transparency requirements to better protect patients from unexpected medical costs. Although the rule primarily focuses on hospital and facility-based services, certain provisions apply to all health care providers including social workers and other mental health professionals in outpatient practice settings. One such requirement is to provide all uninsured and self-pay clients with a “good faith estimate” of expected charges for recurring services. This virtual training will provide information and context relating to the No Surprises Act, and detail the practical steps necessary to comply with the new “good faith estimate” requirement.
When: March 24, 2022, from 3:00–4:00pm CT
Speaker(s): Joe Willuweit
Moderator: Joe Monahan
CEUs: 1.0 CEU / $30 Nonmember / $17 NASW Member
Best Practices in Supervision: Recommendations for Enhancing the Supervisory Experience (Zoom)
This Calumet District CEU event will cover best practices in supervision including the various stages of supervision (e.g., types of supervision, developmental stages of the supervision, providing feedback, and evaluation). In addition, dynamics of the relationship, conflicts, self-reflection, and addressing diversity in supervision will be covered.
When: March 25, 2022, from 10:00am–12:00pm CT
Speaker(s): Laura C. Taylor, PhD, LCSW
Cost: 2.0 CEUs / $30 Nonmember / $10 NASW-IL Member
Clinical Human Trafficking Training for Social Workers & Therapists (Zoom)
This West Central District CEU event will cover clinical human trafficking for social services providers to help them identify, support, and link survivors with appropriate services. Human trafficking not only crosses national and international borders, but also surfaces at the street level within our local communities. Illinois currently ranks in the top ten states in reports to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Law enforcement, medical providers, social service agencies, and educators are likely to come into contact with this covert crime, and they play a critical role in identifying and responding to human trafficking victims. However, many direct service providers are not familiar with the signs of human trafficking, the relevant laws, or the appropriate response.
When: March 28, 2022, from 11:00am–1:00pm CT
Cost: 2.0 CEUs / $30 Nonmember / $10 NASW-IL Member
Presenter(s): Sara Runyon, LCSW, MSW, Matthew Fuller
NASW-IL East Central District Networking Event: A Social Work Sampler - Social Work Practice Across Sectors (Zoom)
This East Central District networking event features a panel discussion designed to allow social workers who work in different sectors an opportunity to discuss their practice, their greatest challenges and successes, how their work has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they picture the future of their practice. Join this great opportunity to network with other social workers in our district, as well as learn about the wide variety of ways to work as a social worker in Illinois! Featuring social workers practicing in libraries, medical settings, child welfare, and education.
When: March 30, 2022, from 12:00–1:00pm CT
Host: East Central District Chair Melissa Box
Cost: $10 Nonmember / FREE NASW Member
Social Media Marketing in Mental Health (GoToWebinar)
This Three Rivers District CEU event will support social workers in deepening their understanding of the role social media can play in social work advocacy in furthering social work principles. The speaker will utilize real case examples of how social media presence can advocate for social work principles. Oftentimes this skill set is not taught in the classroom; this session will give education on best practices of using social media as a macro level tool that all social workers can engage in.
When: March 30, 2022, from 4:00–5:00pm CT
Presenter(s): Laurel Shwartz
Cost: 1.0 CEU / $15 Nonmember / $10 NASW Member
For ALL upcoming NASW-Illinois Chapter events, visit our Events page.