Private Practitioners Group Frequently Asked Questions |
a committee of the NYC chapter of NASW
Lynne Spevack LCSW, Chairperson
What is the Private Practitioners Group? Who can join the Private Practitioners Group? How do I join the Private Practitioners Group? Are there any attendance requirements or expectations? How can I confirm a meeting date? What subway stations are located close to the chapter office? Where can I park my car near the chapter office? What is the email etiquette for the Private Practitioners Group? How will I be able to distinguish between the group’s email and “junk” emails? How can I disseminate an announcement to the entire group? How can I remove my name from the Private Practitioners Group mailing list? What is the history of the Private Practitioners Group? How can I volunteer to further develop the Private Practitioners Group? Who can I contact if I have further questions or suggestions to make regarding the Private Practitioners Group?
What is the Private Practitioners Group?
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 where clinical topics are addressed, our discussions have focused primarily on the non-clinical aspects of private practice. However, clinical issues are, inevitably, interwoven into our discussions.
We've generally picked a topic to focus on in each meeting. Sometimes we've invited speakers, and sometimes we've discussed the topic among ourselves, sharing ideas and information with one another. Meeting topics have included marketing, fee policies and practices, managed care, insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, licensing, documentation, safety, HIPAA, starting a private practice, tax preparation, and risk management. Some of the most popular topics, such as marketing and fees, are periodically revisited. Topics are selected based on the expressed interests of the group; please feel free to make suggestions!
In addition, Private Practitioners Group members communicate regularly via email about various issues pertinent to private practice. Email affords members a way to be kept informed of important news pertinent to private practice and to share information about resources with one another. Because it can be difficult to coordinate the schedules of various private practitioners, communicating by email has become an important function of the Private Practitioners Group.
Who can join the Private Practitioners Group?
The Private Practitioners Group welcomes new members, and we generally have new members join us at every meeting. LCSW clinicians who are in part-time and full-time private practice, as well as those contemplating beginning a private practice, are welcome to attend the Private Practitioners Group meetings and to participate in our email communications. The group membership encompasses clinicians with a variety of theoretical orientations and practice modalities from all five boroughs and the NYC environs.
LCSW social workers contemplating beginning a private clinical practice generally have several years of supervised experience doing clinical work in an agency setting, and many also have obtained post-masters degree institute training. The New York State licensing law requires that social workers practicing independently have the LCSW credential. Insurance reimbursement generally requires six years of documented clinical experience.
Private Practitioners Group members are encouraged to belong to NASW. Non-NASW members are welcome to attend one or two meetings of the Private Practitioners Group or to participate for a couple of weeks via email before deciding whether or not to join NASW and continue to be involved in the Private Practitioners Group. Your NASW dues support the activities of the Private Practitioners Group by providing meeting space, refreshments, and technical and administrative support and guidance.
How do I join the Private Practitioners Group?
Simply provide your name, type of license, NASW membership status, email address and telephone number to the PPG chairperson. Joining the PPG means that you will receive PPG emails and can attend PPG meetings.
There is no need to RSVP in order to attend a meeting; interested clinicians can simply show up at a meeting. It is strongly recommended that you confirm the meeting schedule before attending. (See “How can I confirm a meeting date?” below for instructions.)
Clinicians who cannot attend meetings can still be involved in the Private Practitioners Group via email. Because it can be difficult to coordinate the schedules of various private practitioners, communicating by email has become an important function of the Private Practitioners Group. Many members participate primarily or solely via email.
In order to received PPG emails, you may need to reset your ISP's "spam filter" so that it will accept emails that are sent to a large number of recipients. Please note that in some cases, you may initially receive PPG emails (despite your spam filter being active), but later you may find that the emails are not being received, perhaps because as the size of the PPG membership increases, it exceeds your ISPs quota.
Are there any attendance requirements or expectations?
No. Social workers can attend meetings as often or as infrequently as they like. Some folks attend every month, and others attend once in a while. Each meeting topic stands alone, so participants can choose to attend whenever they like. Some members do not attend meetings, but stay in touch via email.
Please feel free to attend meetings even if you must arrive late and/or leave early. Many of us have busy schedules, so we understand. Please don’t hesitate to attend meetings because you are not available for the entire meeting time. We’re flexible!
The NASW Private Practitioners Group generally meets monthly, on the first Friday of each month, from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. The meeting schedule is occasionally changed to accommodate holidays that fall on the first Friday of the month. Some folks arrive early and some stay late to socialize and network. The group leader is generally available after meetings to answer questions and discuss individual concerns.
From time to time the Private Practitioners Group may offer additional meetings at other times, including occasional evening meetings.
How can I confirm a meeting date?
Meeting confirmation announcements are routinely emailed to members who have submitted their email address to the group chairperson. Alternatively, you can call the chapter office on the morning of the meeting at 212-668-0050, or call the chapter office (prior to the meeting date) and ask to speak with Lynne Spevack. If you have not submitted your contact information prior to the meeting date, it’s recommended that you confirm the meeting before attending.
If you want to confirm that a meeting is not being cancelled due to inclement weather, you may call the chapter office on the morning of the meeting..
Meetings are held at the chapter office: 50 Broadway, 10th floor, between Exchange and Beaver (1 ½ blocks south of Wall Street and just north of Bowling Green and Battery Park). The chapter office is located on the 10th floor, just opposite the elevators. Meetings are held in the large conference room at the rear of the office; the receptionist can direct you to the conference room. Bathrooms are located off of the public hallways on the 10th floor; pick up a key at the receptionists desk.
What subway stations are located close to the chapter office?
Subways that stop close to the chapter office include the 2, 3, 4 and 5 to Wall Street, the, R, W, 1 and 9 to Rector Street. A bit further away is the A and C to Fulton Street / Broadway/Nassau, and the J, M and Z to Broad Street.
Where can I park my car near the chapter office?
The following parking garages are located nearby:
Battery Parking Garage 212-425-1065 70 Greenwich Street (between Rector and Edgar Streets), two blocks west of Broadway. Enter heading south from Greenwich Street and heading north from Trinity Place.
Edison Park Fast 877-727-5327 www.parkfast.com 167 Front Street (between Front and South Streets)
Impark Garage 212-809-6789 55 Water Street (between Old Slip and South Streets) enter on Old Slip Street
State Pearl Garage 212-248-5752 1 Battery Park Plaza located on Pearl Street (between State and Whitehall Streets)
How can I stay apprised of the group’s activities and information pertinent to private practitioners?
Providing your name and email address to the group chairperson Lynne Spevack will allow us to keep you informed about the group's activities. On a monthly basis you will receive a notice about the date and topic for upcoming meetings. Meeting announcements may also be available at meetings and on the chapter website: naswnyc.org. Other notices of interest to private practitioners are disseminated via email, for example, news about recent developments in the insurance industry and last minute changes in the meeting agenda. Please be assured that every effort is made to protect the privacy of members’ email addresses.
You can submit your name and contact information for inclusion in our mailing list either by signing the attendance sheet at a meeting or by contacting Lynne Spevack. You will need to provide your name and type of license, email address and telephone number, and whether you are an NASW member.
In order to received PPG emails, you may need to reset your ISP's "spam filter" so that it will accept emails that are sent to a large number of recipients. Please note that in some cases, you may initially receive PPG emails (despite your spam filter being active), but later you may find that the emails are not being received, perhaps because as the size of the PPG membership increases, it exceeds your ISPs quota.
What is the email etiquette for the Private Practitioners Group?
In an attempt to minimize the misuse of email, group emails are sent to each member as “blind copies” so that the entire group doesn’t receive the email addresses of all of the other group members.
In order to keep the emails interesting to all, members are asked not to post the same (or similar) item more than once.
In addition, you are asked not to send any forwarded emails to the Private Practitioners Group chairperson, regardless of how important the cause or how funny the joke. Managing a group of over 400 members requires that the email volume is kept to a manageable level; thank you for your cooperation.
How will I be able to distinguish between the group’s email and “junk” emails?
Each email sent to the group identifies “NASW PPG” in the “subject” line of the e-mail.
I don’t currently have email, and I’d like to get it, but I don’t know how to go about it. Any suggestions?
The New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library offer free classes for people interested in learning the basics of computer literacy.
How can I disseminate an announcement to the entire group?
You can submit an item to the group chairperson via email to be considered for dissemination via email to the group. In order to maintain the viability of the group and the interest of the Private Practitioners Group’s over 400 members, there are certain limitations placed on what types of emails are disseminated to the group. Only emails pertinent to private practice will be disseminated. Members should submit a post only once.
At the monthly meeting, group members are invited to leave promotional materials regarding their private practice on the table beneath the photographs.
How can I remove my name from the Private Practitioners Group mailing list?
Simply contact the group chairperson to have your name deleted from the members list.
I paid money to join NASW’s Private Practice Section. Is the Private Practice Section related to the Private Practitioners Group?
No, they are not related. The Section is affiliated with the national NASW office, and benefits include a newsletter. Unlike the Section, the Group charges no fee, is affiliated with the local NYC chapter of NASW, and holds monthly meetings.
What is the history of the Private Practitioners Group?
The Private Practitioners Group has been meeting monthly since the fall of 2002. Membership now exceeds 400.
Some years ago the chapter had a committee on Independent Practice and Managed Care. The leader of this group, Dava Weinstein, had continued to field questions from members on various aspects of private practice in the years after that group disbanded. She believed that there was an interest in a chapter committee for private practitioners, and she took the initiative to call a couple of meetings in the spring of 2002. It was out of these meetings that the Private Practitioners Group began.
How can I volunteer to further develop the Private Practitioners Group?
Many of the chapter’s activities are conducted by NASW member-volunteers. There are several valuable projects which the Private Practice Group might engage in, given sufficient interest and manpower. If you would like to discuss the possibility of volunteering, contact the group leader Lynne Spevack for further information.
Who can I contact if I have further questions or suggestions to make regarding the Private Practitioners Group?
Please feel free to contact Lynne Spevack LCSW with any questions or recommendations regarding the Private Practitioners Group. Lynne can be reached by calling the NYC chapter of NASW at 212-668-0050. Lynne is an NASW member who volunteers to coordinate and lead the Private Practitioners Group.
Updated 11-1-07
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