Highlights of NYC NASW Committees
The Chairs/Co-Chairs of the Chapter’s program committees were asked to provide a brief description of their current activities and goals for the program year. Several are shared below. To join a committee/contact a chair(s), please email the office at naswnyc@naswnyc.org. Names will be passed on to the appropriate committee chair(s). Meeting dates and topics are routinely listed on our Calendar of Events. Most meetings are held at the Chapter office.
The Health Care Policy and Practice Network
International Affairs Committee
Gerontological Social Work Committee
The Health Care Policy and Practice Network
By Gerald Beallor, ACSW and Barbara Brenner, MSW
The Health Care Policy and Practice Network was created in 1989 to assess
the impact of public policy and regulation on social work practice in health
care settings, to respond to developments that endangered the social work
role in health care, and to advocate for accessible health and mental health
services. The emergence of managed care in New York, in particular necessitated
study and action.
Over the last 20 years, the Network has taken the lead in challenging the
DRG methodology and its impact on the safe and appropriate discharge of patients
from hospitals; in organizing New York City social workers to advocate for
universal health care; in preserving organized social work departments in
hospitals; in advocating for consumer rights and for the fair treatment of
social work services in managed care; and in advocating for new sources of
revenue to support social work services.
To plan and execute the actions necessary to deal with managed care issues
and concerns, a Managed Care Advisory Committee was organized to act on behalf
of the NYC Chapter and has become a planning and executive arm for setting
priorities in both managed health and mental health. The Critical Incident
project was created in response to the many complaints about managed care
from social workers. The report on the project has led to work with the State
Attorney General’s office toward changing the behavior of managed care
organizations. In addition, members of the Network and Managed Care Advisory
Committee took leadership in challenging the illegal audit of mental health
client records by Oxford.
The current priority is to advocate for reimbursement of social work services
in institutional and community based health settings and in private practice
which Federal, State and local government agencies and managed care organizations
control. To be effective, this effort will require the involvement of more
health and mental health social workers in organized advocacy projects.
The Health Care Policy and Practice Network meets quarterly as a forum to identify issues and exchange information regarding practice and policy. The Managed Care Advisory Committee meets monthly.
By Paula Caplan, CSW, CASAC, Chair
Perhaps best known for its sponsorship of the annual Addictions Institute,
attracting internationally recognized experts in the field, the Addictions
Committee promotes a number of activities and services designed to advance
addiction treatment services. Visit our
Addictions Committee section and you will see the threefold mission of the committee, our current
objectives and details about other activities. The three components of the
mission are to provide opportunities for professional development, peer support
and advocacy concerning political action and public policy.
As a committee, we are dedicated to supporting ongoing activities. These include
the provision of free trainings, which afford CEU’s at our monthly meeting,
peer support to colleagues dealing with addictions through the Peer Consultation
Committee, sponsorship of the Addictions Institute, and involvement in political
advocacy. Mounting challenges confronting the field demand an equal commitment
to intensified efforts and expanded role in the promotion of humane, diversified,
evidence-based interventions that support effective treatment. We have already
begun to establish relationships with other organizations involved in related
work, such as the Association of Substance Abuse Providers, an organization
that represents individuals and organizations across all regions of NY who
impact or provide addiction treatment services. Consistent pursuit of our agenda and accomplishment of our goals
requires an active membership able to accomplish increased task demands with
minimal effort.
If you want to stay abreast of issues confronting the field, the Addictions Committee offers a wealth of knowledge and experience. In addition to the bountiful learning opportunities, another benefit of meeting attendance is the excellent networking opportunities. .
International Affairs Committee
By Patricia Dawson, CSW and Moira Curtain, CSWR, Co-Chairs
The NYC NASW International Affairs Committee is a network of diverse social
workers, social work faculty and students interested in maintaining a global
perspective on issues relating to social work through education, advocacy,
and career development.
The purpose of the committee is to: promote activities which focus on issues
concerning cultural diversity, immigrants and refugees, social development,
and international social welfare; provide a place where career opportunities
can be explored within an international context; promote educational exchanges
with other social workers worldwide; and advocate for fair and just international
social welfare policy.
Over the past few years, the International Affairs Committee has sponsored
and co-sponsored a range of events representing a wide array of interest from
social workers of all fields of practice. Highlights include:
Ÿ Iraq
Forum: Social Work Responses in Iraq and NYC
Ÿ Next Stop NYC: Responding to Traumas
of Past Present and Future Refugees
Ÿ Addressing Domestic Violence in Immigrant
Communities: Implications for Multicultural Practice
Ÿ Trauma
Experiences of Adolescent Immigrants
Each year, the committee has supported the representation of the International
Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) to the United Nations with volunteers
and outreach for Social Work Day at the United Nations.
Social workers and social work students who volunteer their time and energy
to help in all aspects of program development coordinate programs.
To learn about upcoming meetings and events and join our mailing list,
please clicking here and complete the IAC Membership form.
The Disaster Trauma Working Group
By Madelyn Miller, MSW, Chair
The Disaster Trauma Working Group has been meeting since 1997 to support social
workers’ interest and experience in disaster trauma work. DTWG began
in response to the TWA 800 aviation disaster, to offer social workers an ongoing
context of support and learning. A collaborative relationship was developed
with the American Red Cross of Greater New York at that time.
Bimonthly DTWG meetings focus on comparative disaster experience, related
trauma and loss issues, and importantly, address the impact of such work on
ourselves. Meetings generally include a presentation, an accompanying reading
list, and open discussion. A local and global focus regarding disaster tragedies
and challenges facing disaster workers is framed within a historical context.
Since September 11, 2001, DTWG has offered training on the unique dynamics
of terrorism, our expanded roles in responding to the collective impact of
mass violence, and our dual experience as survivors and service providers.
Anniversary meetings continue to mark the passage of time through reflection
and remembrance. And the context of war, occupation, and human rights violations
is acknowledged.
With a current focus on the future, and disaster preparedness planning, DTWG
continues to incorporate a public health perspective, considering the well
being of the broad community as well as individuals. Synthesizing lessons
learned in the past two years, our focus is on development of new response
initiatives and continued collaborative efforts.
All social workers are invited to meetings.
Gerontological Social Work Committee
By Ken Onaitis, CSW and Ann Brownwill Gubernick, CSW, Co-Chairs
Social workers in the field of aging have long been active in Chapter committees.
In 1998 a distinct committee was re-formed to address workplace and practice
issues. Members represent academia, community-based agencies, government,
housing and medical facilities, legal and mental health services, and private
practitioners.
Under the leadership of past chairs Barbara Rinehart, PhD and Beatrice A.
Maloney, CSW, and the current chair Ann Brownhill Gubernick, CSW, the Committee
continues to highlight goals developed in 1999:
Ÿ Addressing practice issues (elder abuse,
mental health services, and family care giving) led to advocating for lower
case loads in case management agencies with the New York City Council’s
Committee on Aging.
Ÿ Addressing geriatric social work education
led to workplace issues (staffing, salaries, and working conditions).
See Gerontological Social Work- The Wave Of The Future for
more details.
The GSWC meets each quarter at the Chapter office. Please call for more information and check the Calendar of Events. Click to view related articles under Gerontological Committee Section
By Wayne Orlowitz, MSW, Co-Chair
The Nursing Home Committee consists of social workers employed in various
long-term care facilities in New York City, public proprietary and voluntary
auspices, as well as representatives from consumer organizations and the New
York City Department for the Aging. The current co-chairs are Wayne Orlowitz and Ricky Consenza.
The NASW Nursing Home Committee will hold quarterly meetings over the program
year. One meeting is an annual meeting to discuss Nursing Home Surveillance
conducted by Federal and State regulatory agencies with a focus on social
work’s role. A second annual meeting is a joint NASW meeting with the
Health Policy and Practice Network and the Home Care Network to review long-term
care policy and practice issues. Other meeting agenda’s include the
goal of improving social work practice and working with consumer groups in
terms of client advocacy.
Please contact co-chairs for meeting information.
By Lynne Spevack, LCSW, Chair
The Private Practitioners Group provides a forum for social workers in private practice to exchange ideas and resources, learn from and support one another, combat the isolation that can occur in private practice, network, and join forces to implement projects and secure resources that we cannot obtain individually. Since there are many venues in NYC where clinical topics are addressed, our meetings focus primarily on the non-clinical aspects of private practice. However, clinical issues are, inevitably, interwoven into our discussions.
Meetings are generally held at the chapter office at noon on the first Friday of each month, and occasionally on weeknight evenings. Each meeting usually focuses on a specific issue; speakers are invited to present on topics such as marketing, fee policies and practices, insurance and managed care, orientation to private practice for newcomers, and risk management and ethics. In alternate months we have a marketing support group, facillitated by the committee chairperson Lynne Spevack and focused on supporting one another in implementing marketing strategies to generate more referrals and increase income in our private practices.
Social workers who are in part-time and full-time private practice and those contemplating beginning a private practice are welcome to attend meetings and to join the Private Practitioners Group. New members are always welcome, and there is no need to RSVP to attend a meeting. Those who cannot attend meetings can be involved in the group's activities by email, where over 300 Private Practitioners Group members share information about office space, referrals, and other matters pertinent to private practice. For additional information, see the FAQ in the Private Practitioners Group section of NASW NYC's website.