1. No category

XXXV No. 3
The North
Carolina
Social
Worker
Newsletter
June/July2011
2011
The North
Carolina
Social
Worker
Newsletter December
December2011/January
2010/January
XXXV No. 6 XXXIV No. 6 The North
Carolina
Social
Worker
Newsletter
2012
Volunteer Spotlight
Why It Can and Will Get Better
By Ashley Shope, MSW, P-LCSW; NASW-NC Membership Committee Member
ore than one-third of our LGBTQ
LGBT Marriage Amendment, as well as the bullying that is hapyouth have attempted suicide.
pening in our school systems across the country, I felt it was time
Nine out of 10 LGBTQ youth in our
social workers made a video, taking a stand for our youth and
country are harassed daily in school
voicing how it can and will get better.
due to their sexual orientation (“It Gets
At the NASW-NC Fall Conference, I recorded videos of approxiBetter,” 2011). These statistics, coupled with how LGBTQ colmately 20 social workers who voiced their thoughts on why it is
leagues and clients are treated by people in our society, are two of
important for social workers as a profession to fight and advocate
the primary reasons I decided to put together a social work video
for our youth who are LGBTQ. Every social worker’s story was
for the “It Gets Better Project.” This project focuses on young
passionate yet different; however, all had a similar theme reflectpeople who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning the core values of our NASW Code of Ethics. These values:
ing and helps them see how love and happiness can be a reality
service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, imporin their future.
tance of human relationships, integrity, and competence are the
M
On the “It Gets Better” website, you will find videos from President Obama, Lady Gaga, and Hilary Clinton, as well as videos
from every day citizens who support our youth who are LGBTQ.
Surprisingly, when I searched for videos from social workers advocating for this cause, I found very few, which I found troubling.
Because of what is going on in North Carolina regarding the Anti-
Become Part of the NASW-NC Leadership Team
Call for Nominations for the Chapter Leadership Election
stepping stones to positive interactions with the people we serve
including those of differing ages, races, ethnicities, and sexual
orientations.
To our LGBTQ youth in North Carolina, as well as around the
Why It Can and Will Get Better continued on Page 4
Occupy Raleigh
Activists, Supporters Needed to Foster
Human Dignity and Empowerment
By Michael T. Davitt, LCSW; NASW-NC Member
ocial workers like to feel that they’ve made
(Term Begins July 1, 2012)
a difference in the lives of others. That’s
why we
From
the
President’s
Desk,
Credentials
Received
..................
2 do what we do. I’ve been consistently involved with the
Vice President (2 Yr Term)
Treasurer-Elect (3 Yr Term)
Occupy Raleigh Movement since October 2nd, the date of our first
(1 Yr as Treasurer-Elect, 2 Yrs as Treasurer)
New Members ...........................................................................
..4 Assembly (GA) in Moore Square.
General
Student Representatives (1 Yr Term)
NASW-NC ...................................................................................
6
On October
15th, at the historic Capitol building, we held a large
Committee on Nominations &
• Graduate
Ethics
in
Practice........................................................................
7
rally
attended
by about one thousand people and kicked off a 24/7
• Undergraduate
Leadership Identification
occupation
of
the sidewalk on Morgan Street that lasted forty(CNLI)
Chair
(2
Yr
Term)
NASW-NC Board Minutes .......................................................... 8
District Representatives (2 Yr Term)
three days until November 26th when the Occupiers encamped at
Women of Achievement Award .................................................
9
the Triangle,
a privately owned, leased lot of land in downtown
Delegates to the National
• SouthIssue
Central of the Month ............................................10-12
• CentralLDF Legal
where
Edenton,
West and Hillsborough Streets intersect. That
Delegate
Assembly
(3
Yr
Term)
•
South
Piedmont
• Coastal
marked
a
new
phase
in the local development of this young move•
Western
• Piedmont
2011 Student ATOD Awards
.....................................................
12
• 5 Delegate
Positions
ment and in the lives of its diverse participants.
Advertisements....................................................................13-15
Our populist movement needs people to join us as we engage
SeeMark
PageYou
9 for
details on how YOU can become
Calendars!.................................................................16
and educate the public through a variety of activities and direct
FY 2012 Leadership Vacancies
S
part of the NASW-NC Leadership Team
In This Issue
Occupy Raleigh continued on Page 5
New Members................................. 5
NASW-NC Board News..................... 9
President’s Message........................ 2
Legislative Update...........................6
LPU & Practice Unit Updates........... 10
Executive Director’s Message..........3
Ethics in Practice.............................7
Chapter Update................................12
Member Spotlight.............................. 4
Professional Development.............. 8
NASW-NC Articles........................... 13
412 Morson Street l P.O. Box 27582 l Raleigh, NC 27611-7582 l 919/828-9650 or 800/280-6207 l FAX 919/828-1341
2
December 2011/January 2012
XXXV No. 6
From The President
NASW-NC
ACTnowNC
Social Workers!
Board of Directors
2011-2012
President
Tanya Roberts, MSW, ICPS
President-Elect
Jessica Holton, MSW, LCSW, LCAS
Vice President
Kelley Ryan, MSW, LCSW
Secretary
Candace Payne-Butler, MSW, LCSW
Treasurer
Georgianna Mack, MSW, LCSW
CLNI Chairperson
Gloria Cook, MSW
Undergraduate Student Representative
Braden Forbes
Graduate Student Representative
Erica Snyder
Coastal District Representatives
Elisabeth Bridgewater, MSW, LCSW
Vacant
Central District Representatives
Joanne Caye, MSW
Jamillah Bynum, MSW, ACSW, LCSW
Piedmont District Representatives
Felissa Ferrell, MSW, LCSW, CSW-G
Lucas Vrbsky, PLCSW, MSW, CCJP
South Piedmont
District Representatives
Felicia Parker-Rodgers, MSSA, LCSW, ACSW, BCD
Sonyia Richardson, MSW, LCSW
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
By Tanya Roberts, MSW, ICPS
S
ocial workers always act on something. We respond to disasters; we support those
in need; we advocate for those who are unable; and we must also act on issues.
For our state to build a strong future we must prevent many of the ills we face.
Substance abuse is a completely preventable malady. More than 40% of people who
begin drinking before the age of 15 eventually become alcoholics.1 In addition to
the health risks, underage drinking cost the citizens of North Carolina $1.4 billion in
2007.2
North Carolina had more than 11,000 alcohol-related crashes in 2009; of those, 363
were fatal crashes.3 Alcohol use is also associated with 2 out of 3 incidents of intimate
partner violence.4 The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome estimates
that approximately 40,000 infants are born with some kind of fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder, including fetal alcohol syndrome, every year in the United States – that’s 1
in every 100 babies born.
The NC ABC Commission is committed to addressing these issues. Recently they
launched the new website www.ACTnowNC.org as a resource for parents, teachers
and our communities. This site is one place to find information about alcohol laws, research, treatment, the negative impact of alcohol on the fetus, youth, adults, and older
adults, and the latest news and public service announcements.
As a social worker, you can ACTnow by becoming a partner with ACTnowNC and by
following ACTnowNC via:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ACTnowNC
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups/ACTnowNCorg
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/ACTnowNC
Delicious: www.delicious.com/ACTnowNC
Twitter: @ACTnowNC
If you are interested in learning more, please contact me at:
Tanya Roberts, MSW, ICPS; President, NASW-NC - tanyaproberts@gmail.com l
Western District Representatives
Judy LeRoy Robinson, MSW, LCSW
Sabrina Southern, MSW, LCSW
South Central District Representatives
Jessica Sawyer, MSW, LCSW
Kesi Thompson, MSW, LCSW
Eleanor Calabrese, MSW, LCSW
Delegates
Tina Souders, MSW, LCSW, JD
Kelly Spanger, MSW, LCSW, MPA
1 NIAAA. Underage Drinking: A Major Public Health Challenge, 2003.
2 PIRE research report, 2009.www.udetc.org/underagedrinkingcosts.asp.
3 North Carolina Alcohol Facts website, http://www.hsrc.unc.edu/ncaf/index.cfm?p=home.
4 Greenfield LA. Alcohol and Crime: An Analysis of National Data on the Prevalence of Alcohol Involvement in Crime. Report prepared for the Assistant Attorney General’s National Symposium on Alcohol
Abuse and Crime. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 1998.
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
From The Executive Director
Conference Scholarship
for New Professionals
By Kathy Boyd, ACSW, CMSW
I
t is with great excitement that I share with you the development of a new
fund to support our social work members. The Conference Scholarship
Fund was a concept originally laid out by the late Myrna Miller Wellons,
NASW-NC member and devoted leader, and that concept has now become
a reality. The Conference Scholarship Fund was developed to support our
beginning career social work professionals by providing registration support
for attendance at our professional conferences.
We all know that our new graduates are entering a world that is a much different place than it was for those of us who received our degrees years ago.
Today we see that more graduates have more student loan debt than ever
before, there is more competition for jobs than ever before and it is an employer’s market. Many new graduates struggle with a beginning career salary, loan payments, fees for obtaining a license and fees for supervision and
professional development.The Conference Scholarship Fund will support a
few new professionals at each of our NASW-NC Conferences by providing
assistance towards their professional development.
I am asking you to join me in supporting our next generation of social work
colleagues and professionals by making a generous and tax deductible donation to the Conference Scholarship Fund. One hundred percent of your
donation goes towards the Scholarship Fund, as the Chapter donates all administration time for Fund management. In addition to gaining a tax deduction for yourself you will know that your donation will help those new professionals who follow in your footsteps, dedicating their life work towards
helping those in need. Let’s make the next generation’s road a bit easier by
showing our support and donating to our new Fund. Please fill out and mail
in the donation form found on page 9. l
Planning for Social Work
Month is underway and the
official theme for March 2012
is “Social Work MATTERS.”
A key message for this year’s
celebration is that social
workers are the safety net in a
civil society.
Be on the lookout for Social
Work Month events held by
NASW-NC Local Program
Units in March!
3
December 2011/January 2012 NASW-NC
Chapter Staff
Kathy Boyd, ACSW, CMSW
Executive Director
kathy@naswnc.org
Erin Timmermans
Associate Executive Director
erin@naswnc.org
Kay Paksoy, BSW
Director of Advocacy, Policy & Legislation
kay@naswnc.org
Hope Murdock
Director of Professional Development
hope@naswnc.org
Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP
Director of Membership, Marketing
& Communication
valerie@naswnc.org
Debbie Conner, MSW
Bookkeeper
finances@naswnc.org
Rebecca Duranleau
Staff Associate
associate@naswnc.org
919/828-9650 l 800/280-6207
www.naswnc.org
Advertise in the Newsletter
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North Carolina!
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4
December 2011/January 2012
Member Spotlight
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Membership
Suicide - Personally and Professionally
By Sean C. Pumphrey, MSW, LCSW; NASW-NC Member, East Carolina University School of Medicine
A
s I finished a presentation on suicide, a colleague, disturbed
by statistics he’d just heard, approached me. As a family
practitioner who’d lost a family member to suicide, he was particularly concerned to learn about the short time span that typically elapses between suicidal patients’ final visit to their doctor
and their completion of suicide.
My colleague confirmed my suspicion that when patients say
they’ve been contemplating suicide, many physicians and therapists don’t know the key questions to ask these patients—and
themselves.
Suicide is to a therapist what heart failure is to a cardiologist. I’ll
stay late or quash a subpoena for a person with an active history
of suicidal thoughts or ideation. But, despite my best efforts, a patient considering suicide controls the situation, and the care provider often doesn’t understand that person’s journey or thoughts.
Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, writes in her book Night Falls Fast:
Understanding Suicide, “No matter how much we may wish to
reassemble the suicide’s psychological world, any light we gain is
indirect and insufficient: The privacy of the mind is an impermeable barrier.” After a suicide, confusion, guilt, and agony flood in,
even though, as Jamison points out, “Love, success, and friendship are not always enough to counter the pain and destructiveness of severe mental illness.”
Jamison also discusses the controversial death of explorer Meriwether Lewis as suicide, noting that Lewis described his life as
“indolent,” “filled with gloomy thoughts,” and failing to “advance
the information of the succeeding generation.” Ironically, though
Lewis considered himself a failure, my 9-year-old knows his
name.
In his song “Rhyme & Reason,” musician
Dave Matthews sings, “My head won’t
leave my head alone/I don’t believe it will
‘til I’m dead and gone.” This song goes on
to express the pain of addiction and suicidal thinking—two highly correlated states. This song haunts me
as well as enlightens me about the thought process leading up to
suicide, especially in the case of Tom.
A Case History
Tom always “stuck up for the little guy” and was the life of the
party and the spokesperson with a perfect balance of humor and
eloquence, though he just couldn’t see himself this way. He was
continuously mired in negative self-perception and self-doubt,
which was usually caused by negative life events or perceived
relationship failures.
In 1978, when Tom was in seventh grade, his brother found a
suicide note Tom had written. Then, between Tom leaving the
Army and attending college in 1987, the same sibling found Tom
overdosed on pills and alcohol. Tom’s stomach was pumped, and
he was ordered into counseling.
In 2000, Tom booked a hotel room and ingested enough medicine
to kill himself, only to wake up the next morning saying, “Why
the hell did I wake up?” He asked the same sibling to accompany
him to a psychiatric hospital, where he admitted himself. After 11
months of Alcoholics Anonymous, psychotherapy, and psychiatric follow-through, Tom completed suicide in April 2001 even
though his family had thought he was doing well.
Suicide continued on Page 13
Why It Can and Will Get Better continued from Page 1
United States, please know this: NASW-NC
social workers will never give up the fight for
your equal rights. WE will not stop advocating for your right to be treated as worthy and
equal citizens in our country. WE, NASW-NC,
will not stand for, nor let groups of individuals,
get in your way of achieving true happiness
as a human being. WE will not stand by while
you are bullied in school or in your community because of whom you love. WE want you
to know that to us, each of you, are extremely
resilient with so much to offer our society and
our world, as you all are the leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, we want you to know it can
and will get better, we will make sure of that.
In the words of Harvey Milk, “All young
people regardless of their sexual orientation or
identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.”
Our hope for this will never be silent. l
NASW-NC wants to highlight our amazing
members! To submit a NASW-NC Member story,
contact Valerie Arendt, valerie@naswnc.org.
NASW-NC Member videos on how “It Gets Better.” Clockwise from top right: Rafel Lane; Tab and Lisa Ballis;
Beth Erb; Justin Mikel and her mother, Margaret-Ann Mauney.
XXXV No. 6
5
December 2011/January 2012 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Membership
Welcome New Members!
The North Carolina Chapter of NASW would like to welcome the following new members who joined during the
months of June and July! They have chosen to support their profession and advocate for social work values by joining NASW. We hope that, as new members, you will consider sharing your experiences and perspectives and take an active role with the Association by joining a committee, attending a Board meeting, or participating in a Local Program Unit.
Coastal District (A) Jamie B. Sessoms
Rickoma J. Caldwell
Dayna L. Farrington
Michelle Fulk
Christien Harden
Carol S. Jackson
Amy Moore
Quinetta C. Rascoe
Wendy E. West
Central District (B)
Marlen R. Alston
Cynthia Clark
Katherine L. Cooper
Susan D. Couch
Nicole A. Ellis
Shaelon B. Goeddeke
Gary S. Grubb
Erin N. Holt
Steven M. Jack
Jessica C. Laube
Hawa Owusu
Christian Baker Rogers
Wendy J.Ross
Kimberly Ann Williams
Western District (E)
Ben Alexander-Eitzman
South Piedmont District (D) Cara M. Beale
Trina L. Bobo
Kimberly Edwards Bishop
Melanie Burzlaff
Kailey Coleman
Bruce Case
Ariana DeToro-Forlenza
Jamie S. Castaneda
Madison Dillon
Russell W. Dowless
Heather Staton Colomb
Kristy Green
E. Kimberly Dunbar
Katie Hadden
Sophia Estrella-Thomas
RobertG H. Lear
Suzanne Frey
Colleen C. Marchese
Adrian Green
Kristina Mejia
Katy D. Hawks
Kayla M. Moore
Piedmont District (C) Lisa A. Jones
Doreen Morici
Sheneice N. Freeman
Colleen M. Kinslow
Darrah Noble
Courtney Langhorne
Marian G. Lechner
Eric J. Oleson
Sonja Long-Williams
Debra J. Lester
Leighton E. Pauly
Caroline P. Mclean
Jessica Rodrigues
Michele A. Lewis
Amanda R. Migliaccio
Dina Rose
Rachel J. Mann
Sryrita Miller
Samantha Sample
Tara Ferguson Motes
Deborah H. Moore
Kristy Treadway Smith
Cynthia
L.
Pender
Ann B. Reeder
Amanda Stem
Amanda M. Reeves
Jettana T. Thomas
Sarah R. Smusz
Charity Sneed
Ashley N. Spence
Tiffany Thompson
Jessica Todd
Thomas J. Toscano
James Turner
Kelly N. Vaughan
Deni L. White
Kimberly A. Whitehead
Cora L Willow
Brittany L. Zinser
Occupy Raleigh continued from Page 1
actions. We’re all about raising consciousness and purging corruption from the political process. We hold GA at the steps to
the Capitol on Morgan Street every night at 6:30 pm. It’s best to
come earlier to talk with, listen and get to know the others and
their perspectives. Populist movements need people on the street
as well as behind the scenes.
Many people “like us” on Facebook, about 8,000. Folks give us
the thumbs up driving by, toot their horn. A bitter sounding, “Get a
job” is the most commonly heard insult. It appears that the masses
of people support us in spirit, but don’t yet care enough to show
up in person, yet we press on keeping the faith, hoping more will
step up to offer their support by coming out to be with us even
if it’s just for a couple hours now and then. We see ourselves
engaged in this project for years, not months. We’re a resilient
bunch! I’m personally advocating for another major rally in the
spring when we will be that much more organized and ready to
enlist many more people to help us bring fairness and balance
back to government.
I liken my experience with the movement to the work I do with
the military as a Military and Family Life Consultant, supporting and counseling soldiers from a particular community (post).
Although, in this case I am a founding member of the community
not an objective consultant which makes it much more challenging, as you can imagine. Still, I am using and sharpening the same
skills and enjoying it.
I believe this movement will be successful because it is emerging from the inside out of the hearts of the American people. It’s
authentic, the genuine article, a true grassroots movement. In fact,
it’s the broadest based social movement we’ve ever seen in our
country. This is what American democracy looks like when it’s
working well, when the people are engaged with each other ex-
South Central District (F)
Patricia Alliot
Rebecca Thomson Blake
Ebony R. Brown
Patricia C. Caropreso
Alexandra L. Chung
Theresa P. Cole
Samantha E. Daniel
Lauren Diaz
Julia G. George
Emily R. Godwin
Erin Gora
Catherine D. Ladd
Joseph H. Latterner
Charles Chadbourne McClintock
Andrea McClung
Mollie J. Meisterman
Justin B. Mitchell
Katie M. Penree
Michelle L. Perkins
Tara M. Russian
Doris Taitague
pressing themselves, forming community.
The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to
be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” The founders saw
the dignity inherent in every person. We can become empowered
when we stand up, speak out and claim ownership of our own
government.
Human Dignity and empowerment is what social work is all
about. I hope more social workers will get involved, help us to
occupy our democracy. Occupy Raleigh invites you to find the
way you can best contribute and offer that. You’ll probably sleep
well afterward. It feels so good when we do what we truly believe
in. I believe this movement is the newest form of civil rights. I
see it as a quickening of the evolution of the human spirit in that
it supports human dignity via democratic personal empowerment.
We believe that human rights are superior to property rights, a
corporation is not a person and money is not speech.
Thomas Jefferson told us, “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” President John F. Kennedy told us, “Ask
not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for
your country.” After ten years of war, high unemployment, and
the bank bailouts, we are left with a serious crisis in confidence.
Do you feel the urgency to help get our country back on track?
What will you do? Please visit us in person or at our website at
www.OccupyRaleigh.org. Contact: mtdavitt@nc.rr.com l
Michael T. Davitt, LCSW, SUNY Stony Brook, ’86, is an independent
contractor with an active, full practice in Raleigh providing school-based
mental health treatment for young boys who qualify for public health
insurance in the Wake County Public Schools. He also provides consultation for U.S military personnel as an MFLC in Europe two months each
summer and again at Christmas time in the U.S., usually North Carolina.
He is also developing a charitable organization: City of Oaks, City of
Mentors, which seeks to link mentors with children most likely to benefit.
6
December 2011/January 2012
Racial
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Legislative Update
Justice Act, Repealed
By Kay Paksoy, Director of Advocacy, Policy and Legislation
Note: At the time this article was written, legislators had recently adjourned from another mini session and
the Governor had not made a decision as to veto or sign the bill into law.
L
ate Sunday night, after Thanksgiving, legislators trudged back
to Raleigh for another unannounced mini session. What was
unannounced about the session was not that they were meeting;
it was the content for this mini session. We soon found out that
legislators were going to attack a bill that had been signed into
law in 2009: The Racial Justice Act.
The original Racial Justice Act allowed death row inmates to open
their case on the grounds of being sentenced the maximum penalty
due to racial bias. Though the Act did not allow the release of
inmates from prison, it did take them off death row and, instead,
sentenced inmates to life in prison if there was evidence of racial
bias during their trial proceedings.
The new bill, Senate Bill 9, No Discriminatory Purpose in Death
Penalty, would reform the 2009 Act to be consistent with the
United States Supreme Court’s Ruling of 1987 in McCleskey v.
Kemp. The 1987 ruling was imposed after a study found that the
death penalty was more often imposed on blacks and killers of
white victims in Georgia.
After an extended committee meeting to discuss the bill with public
comment, Senators approved the bill from the committee and
took it to the floor for a vote. After more discussion on the Senate
floor, Senators approved the bill 27-17 with four Republicans and
two Democrats absent. The bill was sent to the Governor after it
passed the Senate; the same Governor that signed the original bill
into law in 2009.
NASW-NC was opposed to this overturn of the original bill.
In 2009, NASW-NC fought alongside advocates to ensure the
passage of the original Racial Justice Act legislation with the
notion it gave equal protection without racial bias. NASW-NC
is disheartened to see this law be overturned in such a quick,
unannounced manner. It is possible that, even with the Governor’s
veto, Senators can overturn her veto with enough votes. It is
with the help of our members that we can voice the social work
opinion on legislators and the Governor by making phone calls
and sending emails on about important legislation. Thank you for
being a part of our advocacy efforts.
For updated information on this legislation and others,
please contact Kay Paksoy at the chapter office by emailing
kay@naswnc.org. l
For more NASW-NC updates on the North Carolina General Assembly,
check out Hull House NC, NASW-NC’s Advocacy Blog:
http://socialworknc.blogspot.com
Myrna Miller Wellons Advocacy Award
T
he NASW-NC Myrna Miller Wellons Advocacy Award is an
annual award given to an individual who has demonstrated
a strong passion to advocate for the social work profession and/
or policy issues. This nominee has been a champion in impacting
policy both for the social work profession and the clients served
by social workers.
The Award, previously the Advocate of the Year Award, was
renamed in 2010 in honor of the late Myrna Miller Wellons,
a former Director of Government Relations for NASW-NC and
strong advocate for the social work profession. Mrs. Wellons was
a tireless advocate for many issues and a mentor to many social
workers across the state.
Award Criteria
Candidates for the Award must be nominated. Nominees must
be residents of North Carolina and have demonstrated a clear
passion for advocating on behalf of social workers. The nominee
can be a social worker, elected official, or anyone who has made
a difference through advocacy. Everyone is welcome to nominate.
impacting the social work
profession and the clients served
by social workers. Specific
examples are required.
•• Discuss
the
nominee’s
involvement in professional, civic
and community organizations,
giving specific examples.
Selection and Recognition of Recipients
Completed nomination packets received by January 10th will
be reviewed by the NC-PACE and Legislative Committees and
considered for the Award. In selecting the Award winner, weight
is placed on active involvement in advocating on behalf of the
social work profession and/or social work client populations.
NASW-NC recognizes the Award Winner in the following ways:
Nomination Procedure
Nomination forms can be found on the NASW-NC website.
Forms may also be requested from the NASW-NC Chapter office
by calling 800-280-6207, or email kay@naswnc.org. Nomination
forms must be accompanied by the following documentation and
received by the NASW-NC Chapter office by January 10, 2012:
•• Press releases may be sent to area media.
•• Information about the winner is placed on the NASW-NC
•• History of employment and/or volunteer experience (with
dates) OR resume of nominee.
•• Discuss how the nominee has advocated for policy
•• A photo of the Award winner along with an article will appear
on the front page of the NASW-NC newsletter.
web page.
•• The winner is presented with a plaque at the NASW-NC
annual Ethics and Recognition & Awards Conference.
•• The winner is recognized at NASW-NC conferences they
attend.
Deadline for nominations is January 10, 2012. l
XXXV No. 6
7
December 2011/January 2012 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Ethics
Ethics Corner
in
Practice
My License Has Expired. The Licensing Board
Can’t Discipline My License, Can They?
S
By Ravita T. Omabu Okafor, MSW, LCSW; NASW-NC Ethics Committee Chair
ay you graduate from an accredited school of social work, earn
your clinical license, and secure a clinical social work position. A few years later, you accept a position that does not include
clinical duties. You decide, “Hey, I’m not using my license, so
why should I continue paying to maintain it?” You decide to allow your license to expire. As the years pass and staffing changes
occur, you decide that your agency “needs” your clinical expertise.
According to the North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 21,
Chapter 63, Section .0404 (found at http://www.ncswboard.org/):
(a) Persons whose certificate or license is suspended for failure to renew, pursuant to G.S. 90B-9(c), are prohibited from
engaging in the practice of clinical social work and from
holding themselves out as certified or licensed by the Board
until they apply for and receive reinstatement of their certificate or license by the Board.
Yes, social workers in North Carolina have had their expired licenses disciplined. As professional social workers, we are responsible for maintaining licensure when providing clinical services.
Section of the North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 21,
Chapter 63, Section .0102 defines clinical social work as follows:
(12) Clinical Social Work Experience. As it relates to the
work experience required for LCSW licensure, two years of
clinical social work experience in direct practice means the
professional application of master or doctoral social work
theory, knowledge, methods, ethics, and the professional use
of self to restore or enhance social, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial function. Clinical social work experience requires
the application of specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the areas of assessment, diagnosis,
and treatment of one or more of the following disorders or
conditions: mental, emotional, addictive, or behavioral disorders and conditions. In addition, the clinical social work
experience may also include clinical case management, information and referral, mediation, client education, clinical
supervision and clinical consultation that is directly related
to the treatment plan or personal care plan of a client or consumer.
Have an Ethical Dilemma?
Take advantage of your NASW Membership Benefit!
If you, a supervisee, colleague, or other social worker you know
practices clinical social work without the required license, please
share this article with them and encourage them to comply. Our
NASW (2008) Code of Ethics, Standard 2.11 Unethical Conduct
of Colleagues (found at http://socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.
asp) states:
(a) Social workers should take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose, and correct the unethical conduct of
colleagues….
(c) Social workers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should seek resolution by discussing their concerns
with the colleague when feasible and when such discussion is
likely to be productive.
When we renew our licenses, we affirm that we have reviewed
the N.C. General Statute 90B, the “Social Work Certification and
Licensure Act,” and Title 21, Chapter 63 of the N.C. Administrative Code and agree to comply fully with them. Please take time
to review these documents found at www.ncswboard.org so we
honor commitments and maintain discipline-free licenses for the
duration of our social work careers. l
Your NASW-NC Chapter Ethics Committee (CEC) offers ethical consultation to NASW-NC members. To request an ethical consultation,
please email us at naswncethics@gmail.com. As we are volunteers, email
communication allows us to receive and process requests most quickly.
If you prefer to call, our phone number is 1-800-280-6207, ext. 300.
When requesting a consultation, take note of the following disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER: Please understand that you are fully responsible for
your actions regarding your ethics question. NASW-NC offers services
to assist practitioners in considering options. We are not responsible for
any consequences that occur as a result of your actions. In addition to reviewing this email, we recommend that you confer with other colleagues
and call NASW’s national Ethical Consultation Hotline (1-800-7424089, Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.). As an
NASW member, you may also contact Eric Marine (Risk Management
Hotline, VP of Claims) at 1-800-421-6694. Since most ethical complaints get filed with the North Carolina Social Work Certification and
Licensure Board, consider reviewing the Social Work Practice Act and
the Administrative Code found at http://24.199.170.182/code.asp#500 to
ensure your compliance.
NASW Credentials Received!
Congratulations to the following NASW members who received National
professional credentials through NASW in
October and November 2011!
Brandi Marie Kohr, C-CATODSW
Specialty Certification in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
Nancy Beth Lubowicz, LCSW, ACSW
ACSW Certification
Debra O. Moran, ACHP-SW
Your NASW-NC Chapter Ethics Committee offers ethical
consultation to NASW-NC members!
Email naswncethics@gmail.com to request a consultation.
Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker
Lucas Vrbsky, PLCSW, MSW, C-CATODSW
Specialty Certification in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
8
December 2011/January 2012
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
2012
Professional Development
March Social Wo
Conference
and Awards
Continuing Education
I cannot teach anybody anything,
Thursday, March 1, 201
I can only make them think.
CEU or Contact Hour?
McKimmon Center
―S
ocrates
Raleigh, NC
Work EthicsBy Hope Murdock, Director of Professional Development
K, so what is the difference between a CEU and a contact hour? Social Workers in North Carolina are not required to have the
Online
registration
begins
ards O
Luncheon
Most people use these terms interchangeably, but each of them official CEU.
What is required
is a contact hour. A contact
hour is in J
mean something very distinct and different. When a Social
1, 2012can
Worker seeking licensure recertification credit calls the Chapter
enter office to inquire about continuing education opportunities, they
frequently use the term CEU. When selecting continuing education
C
the actual time you are participating in a workshop. Contact hours
are what the Licensing Board is looking for.
Mark your calendars for this special event! Our An
The Board will
does be
not held
requireatpre-approval
of organized
training
the McKimmon
Center
in Raleigh,
opportunities for yourself, be aware of what the differences are events attended by the social worker. However, your continuing
kicks is
offsubject
our celebration
Social Work
Month while
to audit. Forofa complete
description
between a CEU and a contact hour and how they could affect you. education activity
s in January
2012
of what the our
Licensing
Boardproviding
requires forEthics
Social Continuing
Work Continuing
field and
Education.
The official Continuing Education Unit (CEU) was developed Education, please go to their website at http://70.61.113.172/
by the International Association for Continuing Education & conteducation.asp
Brochure and Registration forms will be avai
Our Annual
Ethics(IACET)
Conference
Training
and is a measure used in continuing education
Raleigh, NC.
This
conference
(www.naswnc.org).
Sponsor/Exhibitor
forms
Still
Confused?
No problem. Consider
this example using
our are av
programs. Generally, a CEU is defined as ten hours of participation
which
offers
twenty
hours
of
instruction.
th while awarding
excellence
in
in a recognized
continuing
education program, with qualified Clinical Institute
site. For information on how you can volunteer or if
ucation. instruction.
concerns,
please contact Hope Murdock a
# or
of CEUs
=2
919-828-9560
or
800-280-6270
or hope@naswnc.o
1
CEU
=
10
hours
of
classroom
instruction
Be
aware!!
Some
of
you
may
in
fact
need
the
official
CEU
for
work,
e available on our website
or
a
particular
kind
of
credential
you
are
working
on,
however
the
s are available now on the web# of contact hours = 20
term CEU is in the public domain so any organization may award a
eer or if you
havewithout
any questions
1 contact hour = 1 hour of classroom instruction
“CEU”
receiving accreditation from IACET.
dock at the Chapter office:
**Remember, contact hours are what the North Carolina Social
aswnc.orgConfused yet? Don’t worry, you are not alone.
Work Certification and Licensure Board is looking for. l
Call For Presentations
Ca
Call for Presentations
NASW-NC Clinical Social Work
Summer Institute
May 21-23, 2012
Hawthorne Inn
Winston-Salem, NC
Are you a seasoned LCSW that
understands the historical development of clinical social work
supervision and has a clear vision
of the obligations of the supervisee
and supervisor?
If so, consider joining the 2012
faculty for the Clinical Supervision
Certificate Training Conference.
For more information, please go to
www.naswnc.org
July 16-20, 2012
Hilton Wilmington Riverside,
Wilmington, NC
For information, please go to
www.naswnc.org
The annual Institute has a casual
atmosphere but maintains an
extremely high level of quality
learning. Participants receive up to
20 hours of continuing education,
and many come back year after
year. The Institute offers advanced
skill training and introductory
classes for both the beginning and
experienced practitioner.
May 2
Hawt
Wins
Are
unde
of cl
has
the s
If so
for t
Train
XXXV No. 6
9
December 2011/January 2012 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
NASW-NC Board of Directors
The Social Work Profession Needs Your Involvement!
Join the NASW-NC Board of Directors
O
ur Chapter is filled with social workers from across the state
who work in a variety of capacities and bring with them
different talents, interests, values and cultural backgrounds. What
unites us is being a member of the social work profession. As
the professional association for such a diverse profession, our
leadership must be as diverse as our membership to represent the
issues and engage in the activities that are important to each of
you.
Please review the available leadership opportunities and consider
running for one that fits your skills and interests as a way of giving
back to your profession and enhancing your own leadership skills.
You may nominate yourself, a friend, or colleague who is also
a member of NASW-NC. CNLI Chair Gloria Cook is available
to discuss the opportunities with you and help you decide which
role best suits you. Experienced leaders are welcome and new
candidates are highly encouraged to run.
Complete a volunteer application: On NASW-NC website, www.
naswnc.org under “About NASW-NC” by January 31, 2012.
NASW-NC 2011-2012 Board of Directors
FY 2012 Leadership Vacancies
Vice President: In the absence of the President, chairs the Board
meetings and represents the Association when necessary. Serves
on the Executive Committee.
Treasurer-Elect: Makes budget reports to the Board at all board
meetings. Chairs the Finance Committee that reviews the annual
budget. The Finance Committee meets by conference call six
times each year prior to each Board meeting. The Treasurer is
bonded by the National NASW office. Serves on the Executive
Committee.
BSW and MSW Student Representative: Represents the
interests and issues of social work students to the Board. Contacts
student associations at all other schools at least once during the
year. Prepares articles on student issues for the Chapter newsletter.
District Representative: Represents their District on the Board.
Promotes and attends events and local program unit meetings
within their district as a representative of the Board. Assists in
membership recruitment, involvement and retention.
Committee on Nominations & Leadership Identification
(CNLI) Chair: Identifies and encourages members to run for the
NASW-NC Board of Directors. CNLI Chair is not allowed to run
for office immediately after serving in that position. CNLI Chair
is a non-voting board position.
Delegate: Represents the membership of the NC Chapter at the
Delegate Assembly held every three years. Encouraged to attend
Board meetings but not required to do so and are not voting board
members.
Contact Gloria Cook, MSW; NASW-NC CNLI Chair for more
information: gloriacook@earthlink.net or (919) 244-7071. l
YES! I want to support the programs of the North Carolina Chapter Fund of the NASW Foundation
All gifts are appreciated and recognition of all contributions will be provided in the NASW-NC newsletter.
I want my donation to go to the following program area(s):
□□ President’s Award - Supporting MSW students with financial awards based on leadership.
□□ Toby Brown Award - Supporting BSW students with financial awards based on overall excellence.
□□ Conference Scholarship Fund - Supporting our next generation of social workers through scholarships to conferences
□□ Outreach-Research-Education (ORE) - Supporting the development of professional social work materials, documents and presentations
□□ Use my donation where it is most needed
*DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!*
Name_______________________________________
□□
In Honor Of: (Optional)_________________________________________________
□□
My Address________________________________________________________________
Honored Individual’s Address (For Recognition Card):______________________________
My Phone #______________________My Email__________________________________
Amount of Donation ________$25 ________$50
________$100 ________$200 _______Other (please specify)
Check (Please make payable to NASW Foundation)
Credit Card
□□ Visa/MasterCard
□□ American Express
______________________________________
Account Number
Exp. Date
______________________________________
Signature
Please make checks payable to NASW Foundation. Please indicate Award type in the memo line and mail to:
NASW-NC, PO Box 27582, Raleigh, NC 27611
10
December 2011/January 2012
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Around the State
Practice Unit
and
Local Program Unit Updates
Health Care Practice Unit Update
Submitted by Hope Rife, ACSW, LCSW; Steering Committee Member
he Health Care Practice Unit has been working actively to
increase the opportunities for healthcare-related content at
NASW-NC conferences. Following a meeting of a small group of
interested members at the Clinical Institute in Wilmington in July,
social workers practicing in healthcare settings were encouraged
to submit proposals related to healthcare social work issues for the
Fall Conference. An impressive number of proposals were then
generated, and the end result was a total of four healthcare-related
sessions offered to Fall Conference attendees.
Sessions offered included “Advocating for Our Profession
in Healthcare Settings,” “An Overview of the Department of
Veterans Affairs System of Care: The Who, What, When and
Where,” “How to Use Lessons from Illness and Injury to Help
Your Clients,” and “Aging and Healthcare: Can One Plan for the
Future Based on the Present?”
In addition, the Health Care Practice Unit met over lunch on
Friday at the Fall Conference.
The Health Care Practice Unit will soon be seeking proposals for
healthcare-related sessions for the July 2012 Clinical Institute.
Please encourage those you know who might have interest in
presenting workshops on issues of importance to social workers in
home health, hospice, hospitals, inpatient rehab, long-term care,
primary care and other healthcare settings.
We invite you to join the Health Care Practice Unit’s listserv to
network, share ideas, and post information affecting social work
practice in healthcare. To join the listserv contact Valerie Arendt
at NASW-NC (valerie@naswnc.org).
T
Contact Larry Peterson (lawrencepeterson@gmail.com), Jan McNeely (janice.
mcneely@carolinashealthcare.org), or Hope Rife (hope.rife@conehealth.com) if
you have questions about or interest in the Health Care Practice Unit. l
Boone Local Program Unit Update
Submitted by Judith Phoenix, MSW, LCSW; Chair
fter many years of remarkable leadership, Dev Looper is
stepping down as chair of the Boone Local Program Unit.
Judith Phoenix will be leading our active LPU in 2012. However,
Dev has promised to offer support in a co-leadership role. Our
format is a monthly luncheon with a speaker and one hour of CE.
A
School
of
Join us in 2012 for our monthly potluck meetings:
Monday, January 23: Angel McMann from Watauga Youth Network will speak on Mentoring for National Mentoring Month.
Monday, February 27: “Working Sensitively with LGBT Youth:
What Research and the Social Work Code of Ethics Have To Tell
Us.” Presented by Dr. Kelly Williams. l
Fayetteville Local Program Unit Update
Submitted by Tanisha James, LCSW, LISW-CP; Chair
he Fayetteville LPU will resume meetings in January 2012.
Look for upcoming workshops on Understanding Needs of
Women Veterans, Relationship of Pastoral Counseling and Social
Work, and Celebrating Social Work Month in March. Each monthly
workshop provides 1 contact hour and a certificate of attendance
will be available immediately following the presentation.
Seeking Leadership
The Fayetteville LPU is seeking a co-chair to assist in planning
and securing presenters. Please contact Tanisha James if
you are interested in this leadership opportunity: tanisha@
legacycounselinggroup.com
The LPU is always seeking presenters for the monthly meetings.
This is a great opportunity to showcase your specialty and share
your knowledge with other local community members. They are
looking for presenters to help educate and bring together social
workers in the area.
Did you know that as you share your expertise with others, you
develop the reputation as a thought leader in your chosen field?
NASW-NC values your experience and extends the opportunity
for you to share your knowledge. l
T
Orange County Local Program Unit Update
Submitted by James McCracken, MSW, LCSW; Chair
he Orange County LPU has grown tremendously in its first
year! The current Chair is looking for a little help with
organizing such amazing presentations. Please contact James
McCracken if you are interested in this leadership opportunity:
socialworkerjames@gmail.com
Orange County LPU meetings are now on the second Tuesday of
the month. Please join us! l
T
Social Work Updates
Submitted by Karen Koch, MSW, LCSW; Greenville Local Program Unit Chair
O
n September 30, 2011, the East Carolina University School
of Social Work held their Second Annual Alumni and Friends
Celebration at the Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville.
Over 75 people attended the event which raised close to $10,000
for the school’s priority fund. The event marked the inaugural
ECU SSW Hall of Fame honoring a Distinguished Alumni and
Rising Star Alumni. These two awards will be given annually to
alumni who demonstrate outstanding achievement in social work
direct practice, research, teaching, community organization, or
administration and who demonstrate leadership and service to the
profession, community or school.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Cynthia Asbell,
BSW, Class of 1995. Cindy has spent her career on the frontlines
in Child and Adult Protective Services. She
currently works at Pitt County Memorial
Hospital as the DSS Liaison for Adult
Protective Services and Guardianship.
Natasha Holley, MSW, Class of 2005, was
presented the Rising Star Alumni Award.
She is the co-owner and Clinical Director
of Integrated Family Services, PLLC. Under
NASW-NC Member
her leadership Integrated Family Services Natasha Holley, MSW
has implemented four mobile crisis teams
serving 16 counties in northeast North Carolina. She serves as a
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Behavioral Health surveyor and is a member of the Association
for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. l
XXXV No. 6
11
December 2011/January 2012 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
Student Representatives
MSW Student Board Member
BSW Student Board Member
A
I
Erica Snyder, MSW Student, UNC-Chapel Hill
s I progress through my educational
career I have learned of numerous social
injustices that are overt and covert in our
society. Learning about the injustice was not
enough, I wanted to be involved in a profession
that was actively engaging in societal change. I
went to a trusted undergraduate professor and
shared what I was passionate about and she
suggested that social work may be a good fit.
She couldn’t have been more right!
It has been wonderful to pursue a degree in a
field that supports my views on human rights and social justice.
As I am nearing the end of my MSW program I look forward
to taking the valuable skills I have gained into the community
practice arena of social work. I plan to work in the anti-human
trafficking field, I would like to raise awareness in the community
about the issue and also educate and train people regarding human
trafficking. I also see the importance of using facilitation skills
to build a bridge between various disciplines who must work
together in order to truly impact human trafficking. Long term I
hope to be involved in policy and inclusive program development
to ensure that this population receives holistic services and reduce
the demand for human exploitation.
When NASW was brought up during orientation I knew that this
was an organization I would join. With all the different issues for
social workers to address, I wanted to be a part of an organization
that advocates for social workers and their clients. Since joining I
have been able to stay current on policy issues that will affect my
field and I have been able to meet some amazing social workers
with incredible life experiences. NASW provides students with
the ability to network with people working in our field of interest,
provides access to multiple resources, and provides us with
cutting edge information relating to social work. Why wouldn’t
a student join?
Being a board member for NASW-NC has been a wonderful
experience. I am getting to take an active role in nonprofit
leadership and I have met people who are passionate about
preserving the integrity of the social work profession and
advocating for the disenfranchised. I wanted to be on the Board
of Directors to ensure that the voices of MSW students were
incorporated into the dialogue and to help advance my profession.
Being a part of NASW-NC’s board has enriched my final year
as a graduate student and I look forward to remaining an active
member of NASW as my career continues. l
Join the NASW-NC Board of Directors as a
Student Representative!
Braden Forbes, BSW Student, Campbell University
graduated high school in 2008 very unsure
of what I wanted to do. I came to Campbell
University as a communication studies major
and realized quickly that I was in the wrong
field. I did not know what to change my major
to, but I knew I wanted to do something that
involved helping people who felt they were
not being heard.
That following summer, I lived in Clearwater
Beach, Florida, and volunteered at a homeless shelter weekly, which involved helping
around the facility and talking with individuals and families that
were living there.
I learned that a majority of them were homeless because of a situation that was not their fault. During my walks on the beach at
night, I noticed that a lot of individuals and families from the
city slept at the beach because they had no home. This experience made me much less judgmental of people without homes.
My eyes were opened to opportunities to help others and to my
own potential to make a difference.
A kind professor at my college showed me what the profession of
social work can do, and I knew that was the right major for me. I
know the occupation of social work is right for me because I can
help people who feel like they aren’t being heard. I am passionate
towards helping anyone overcome problems and to make their
lives better. I am currently a senior at Campbell University. I will
be getting my BSW in May 2012. I hope to go to school to get my
MSW after that.
Overall, I’m open to working in any field of social work. However, the medical and mental side of social work interests me the
most. I’m currently doing my senior internship at Community
Home Care and Hospice and I enjoy it tremendously.
I am a member of NASW because I recognize that there are so
many benefits to being a member: I can network with other social
workers and learn more about social work. Students should join
NASW because they can get to know other students who are in
school for social work by participating in conferences. Students
can also benefit from the lending library and job bank.
I joined the NASW board because I want to be the voice for the
BSW students of North Carolina. I want to advocate so that BSW
students become more involved in NASW and I want to help
them network with other social work students. When I became
the Undergraduate Student Representative for the NASW Board,
I did not realize how important that role played in the organization. The Board makes huge decisions in setting chapter policies.
It is an honor to serve on the Board. l
Attention Graduating BSW Students!
A Reminder About the Toby Brown Award!
The Toby Brown Fund provides an annual award of $1,000 to a graduating BSW student from an accredited social work program. The
award is in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and field work. Applicants must be members of NASW and be involved
in their school’s student social work association. The recipient can use the award in any way he/she chooses. If you are interested in
applying for this award, please visit NASW-NC’s website under Member Awards at www.naswnc.org for an application. You may also
call our office at (800) 280-6207, or e-mail Valerie Arendt at valerie@naswnc.org. Applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2012.
If you are a graduating BSW student, we encourage you to apply for this award!! Good Luck!
12
December 2011/January 2012
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
NASW-NC Chapter Update
What
has
NASW-NC
been doing for
You?
NASW-NC staff is dedicated to advancing and representing the social work profession to best serve our members. In order to
do this, we stay involved with coalitions and groups, Schools of Social Work events and other community activities. Please let
us know of other ways we can assist you as a Social Worker and as a member of NASW-NC!
NASW-NC’s five staff members represented you and the
social work profession in the following state-wide coalitions
and meetings:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Joint Insurance Commission
Substance Abuse Federation
Action Marketing
Covenant with NC’s Children
Provider LME Leadership Forum (PLLF)
Professional Association Council with Division leadership
to discuss the Provisional License
The Coalition (Mental Health Advocacy Group)
Coalition for Persons Disabled by Mental Illness
Medicaid Advisory Committee Meeting
Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human
Services
Eastern Carolina University MSW Advisory Committee
meeting
Mental Health and Aging Coalition
In addition to being involved in the coalitions above, we:
• Hosted Annual Fall Conference in Asheville
♦♦ Our Executive Director gave personalized,
•
•
•
•
•
•
individual consultations about practicing SW in
North Carolina
♦♦ Held a Career Fair for Social Workers looking for
jobs or to advance their education
♦♦ NASW-NC staff gave two well received, in
depth workshops designed to help social workers
get jobs in this economy. One was on resume
writing and interview skills. The other focused on
understanding, creating and protecting your online
professional image.
Spoke with students at Schools of Social Work
Met with Legal Services in NC to set up a strategy to
provide internships for social work students in Legal
Services offices throughout NC
Revitalization of P-LCSW Practice Unit
Responded to members’ questions and concerns about the
deemed status option for social workers to obtain the LCAS
Established and began fundraising for the new conference
scholarship program designed to support newly graduated
social workers: NASW-NC Conference Scholarship Fund
Responded to YOUR calls and emails asking for
consultation and information.
Thank you, the Staff of NASW-NC
NASW-NC 2011 Annual Fall Conference
by Kathy Boyd, ACSW, CMSW; Executive Director
f you were not able to join us in November for the NASW-NC
Annual Fall Conference in Asheville, you truly missed a major
event of the 2011 year for the social work profession in North
Carolina.
I
With a focus on career and professional development, the talents
of your NASW-NC Chapter staff were on full display. Kay Paksoy and Erin Timmermans presented a session on “Understanding, Creating and Protecting Your Virtual Image” which had attendees asking for a full day conference just on this topic alone.
working with your colleagues in Asheville, you can still catch up
with fellow social workers by attending North Carolina’s largest
social work ethics conference by registering to attend the NASWNC Annual Ethics Conference to be held in Raleigh on Thursday,
March 1st. l
Valerie Arendt filled in for an entire panel to lead a discussion on
“Resume Writing and Interview Skills” and received rave reviews
for her information packed session that went well beyond the basics of “just” resume writing and interviewing.
Other sessions included those by NASW-NC members Hope
Rife and John Rife who received excellent feedback for their
session on “Advancing Our Profession in Health Care Settings”,
which gave attendees solid and concrete examples and techniques
on advocacy. The conference schedule included some thought
provoking and controversial sessions that had attendees debating
the issues and topics at hand.
If you missed gaining continuing education credits while net-
NASW-NC Fall Conference Volunteers from left to right: Elaine Sanford-Sawyer,
Kathy Van Metter, David Saunders, Deric Boston, and Carolyn Boyd
XXXV No. 6
13
December 2011/January 2012 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
NASW-NC Articles
Suicide continued from Page 4
Like Lewis’ death, the cause of Tom’s death is controversial due
to the combination of methadone and alcohol found in his bloodstream. Was it an overdose as he was attempting to get high? Was
it an accidental or purposeful poisoning? Tom’s family will never
know. The many variables in Tom’s case cannot be fully accounted for here; however, the history of ideation and attempt, the alcohol and drug use, and the negative self-perception and doubt are
all elements manifested in numerous other suicide cases.
In Pat Conroy’s book South of Broad, the main character expresses the lasting effects on his family of his brother’s suicide:
“Somehow we managed to survive that day, but none of us ever
experienced the deliverance of recovery. I realize you can walk
away from anything but a wounded soul.” This statement powerfully resounds with me both professionally and personally because Tom was my brother.
What You Need to Know
Vigorous suicide prevention efforts have increased the awareness of certain suicide statistics in recent years. Most therapists
know spring is when the most suicides occur, and women tend to
use drugs to commit suicide while men are more likely to choose
guns. But most don’t realize the majority of victims visit their
general practitioners in the month prior to their suicide or that
only one-third of victims leave a note.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2007), research shows that risk factors for suicide include the following:
depression and other mental disorders or a substance abuse disorder often in combination with other mental disorders (More than
90% of people who die by suicide have these risk factors.);
• a prior suicide attempt;
• a family history of mental disorder or substance abuse;
• a family history of suicide;
• family violence, including physical or sexual abuse;
• firearms in the home, the method used in more than onehalf of suicides;
• incarceration; and
• exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, such as family
members, peers, or media figures.
Although women are two to three times more likely to attempt
suicide, it is only the 15th leading cause of death for women; it’s
the seventh leading cause of death for men, according to 2010
information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Minorities, Children, and Adults
According to Nock (2009), the suicide rate among black adolescent males has risen greatly in recent decades. According to Joe
and his fellow researchers (2006), it’s important for a clinician to
recognize ethnic differences when assessing and treating black
adolescents, along with paying special attention to black adolescents who present with anxiety disorder. In subsequent years, Joe
presented research again demonstrating the association of anxiety with suicide attempts in black adolescents, most specifically
social anxiety, otherwise known as social phobia (Joe, Baser,
Neighbors, Caldwell, & Jackson, 2009).
Some caveats to understanding blacks’ suicide risk include the
fact that anxiety disorders and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses
have been correlated as a predictor to suicide attempt, and three
or more comorbid diagnoses increase suicide risk sevenfold. Joe
(2009) reports that black adolescents living in the southern United States have a diminished risk for attempting suicide, perhaps
due to the protective factor of cultural and religious beliefs.
According to the CDC, only 0.7% of blacks’ deaths are attributed
to suicide compared with 1.4% of whites deaths, 2.6% of Native
Americans, and 1.7% of Asian Pacific Islanders. Within the latter
two minority groups, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death,
ranking much higher than it does among whites and blacks. CDC
data show that Hispanic female high school students reported
higher rates of suicide attempts than their white, non-Hispanic or
African American counterparts.
Research into childhood suicide has highlighted numerous risk
factors, including a previous suicide attempt, depression, bipolar
disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, chronic anxiety, homosexuality/bisexuality, the use of certain medications,
and family history. Childhood victims of bullying or abuse are at
increased risk of suicide, as are children who suffer stressful, psychosocial events such as parental divorce, separation, or a death
in the family.
Suicide, according to the CDC, is the third leading cause of death
in people aged 10 to 24. However, in early adulthood (ages 25 to
34), suicide becomes the second leading cause of death.
Our nation’s current economic climate begs the question of how
closely suicide rates are tied to the economy. Although such rates
for the latest recession are unavailable, previous research indicates that unemployment correlates with suicide rates, increasing
the likelihood, according to the American Academy of Suicidology.
Preventive measures regarding suicide include medicine and psychotherapy as well as follow-up care after hospitalization or a
suicide attempt. Medication cuts suicide risk in half within one
month of treatment (Mann et al., 2005). Additionally, restricting
access to guns and lethal medicines that could be used to overdose
can assist in prevention. Simon and Savarino (2007) concluded
that psychotherapy and psychopharmacology help decrease suicide attempts, but more research is needed to measure psychotherapeutic prevention.
Overall, suicide prevention and intervention is complex. Practitioners never know how many people they prevented from completing suicide yet are unfortunately left with the pain of those
who have been lost to suicide. l
References
Joe, S., Baser, R. E., Breeden, G., Neighbors, H. W., & Jackson,
J. S. (2006). Prevalence of and risk factors for lifetime suicide
attempts among blacks in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 296(17), 2112-2123.
Joe, S., Baser, R. S., Neighbors, H. W., Caldwell, C. H., & Jackson, J. S. (2009). 12-month and lifetime prevalence of suicide
attempts among black adolescents in the National Survey of
American Life. Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(3), 271-282.
Mann, J. J., Apter, A., Bertolote, J., et al. (2005). Suicide prevention strategies: A systematic review. Journal of the American
Medical Association, 294(16), 2064-2074.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2007). Suicide in the U.S.:
Statistics and prevention — what are the risk factors for suicide?
Retrieved from: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/
suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml#intro
Nock, M. K. (2009). Suicidal behavior among adolescents: Correlates, confounds, and (the search for) causal mechanisms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(3), 237-239.
Simon, G. E., & Savarino, J. (2007). Suicide attempts among patients starting depression treatment with medications or psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(7), 1029-1034.
14
December 2011/January 2012
XXXV No. 6
The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
XXXV No. 6
15
December 2011/January 2012 The North Carolina Social Worker Newsletter
VANGUARD PROFESSIONAL
STAFFING, INC.
Social Work and Human Services Temps
& Temp to Perm
Open Recruitment statewide for
LCSWs, MSWs, BSWs, other
licensed professionals.
Full-time and part-time opportunities.
The Social Work Career Center is a robust career
Web site for social workers, where you can search
national job listings and find professional development
and career resources.
Visit the Social Work Career Center today to:
• Post your résumé to reach social work employers
• Search and apply for social work job postings nationwide
• Receive e-mail alerts when a new job has been posted
• Learn about social work salary trends, publications, social
work practice areas, licensing, and much more.
Call for Proposals
Deadline January 15, 2012
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
invites submissions of proposals to present at the
2012 NASW National Conference Restoring Hope:
The Power of Social Work.
General Submission Guidelines
The conference will focus on best practices, policies, and research findings that incorporate hope
and resilience into Social Work practice. Abstracts
are encouraged in all Social Work practice areas,
and at all levels of practice (micro, mezzo, or
macro).
Concepts of hope and resilience can be demonstrated through individual and group clinical interventions, care coordination, and resource access;
as well as, organizational, policy, and administrative
changes with all populations, across the lifespan.
Agencies: Call us when you have
vacancies, leaves of absence, or other needs for
temporary or permanent staffing.
Apply on-line at
www.vanguardprostaff.com
Or call 252-265-9033
Dedicated to the Practice of Social Work,
its Professionals and Organizations
Office Space Available
Beautiful, large, nicely furnished office in
suite of 4 office near Rex Hospital in Raleigh
available 2 days a week starting January 2012.
Large windows provide wonderful soothing
atmosphere looking out on to large field, trees,
and birds.
4 excellent therapists sharing suite, friendly and
collaborative with possibility of referrals.
Rent somewhat negotiable and includes:
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kitchen,
fax line
internet access
utilities and
possibility of taking over lease in 2 years
Please submit your vision
for hope at
Interested?
professionofHOPE.org
Call Jean at (919) 783-7077
or email at jeangross@jgross-lcsw.com
National Assocation of Social Workers
NC Chapter
P.O. Box 27582
Raleigh, NC 27611-7582
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAI D
Raleigh, NC 276
Permit No. 816
PHONE: 919.828.9650 or 800.280.6207
FAX:
919.828.1341
WEB: www.naswnc.org
NASW-NC
Your resource for professional social work information, advocacy and representation.
Mark Your
Calendars!
THURSDAY, March 1, 2012
Ethics Conference
McKimmon Center
Raleigh, NC
April 2012 TBD
LCSW Exam Prep Session
Moses Cone Hospital
Greensboro, NC
May 21-23, 2012
Clinical Supervision
Certificate Training
Hawthorne Inn
Winston-Salem, NC
July 16-20, 2012
Annual Clinical Social Work
Summer Institute
Hilton Wilmington Riverside
Wilmington, NC
October 2012
LCSW Exam Prep Session
Moses Cone Hospital
Greensboro, NC
2012 March Social Work Ethics
Conference and Awards Luncheon
Thursday, March 1, 2012
McKimmon Center
Raleigh, NC
Online registration begins in January 2012
Mark your calendars for this special event! Our Annual Ethics Conference
will be held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC. This conference
kicks off our celebration of Social Work Month while awarding excellence in
our field and providing Ethics Continuing Education.
Brochure and Registration forms will be available on our website
(www.naswnc.org). Sponsor/Exhibitor forms are available now on the website. For information on how you can volunteer or if you have any questions
or concerns, please contact Hope Murdock at the Chapter office:
919-828-9560 or 800-280-6270 or hope@naswnc.org