Barbara Brenner, ACSW, DrPH
The challenges faced by the social work profession in the past two years are unprecedented. Few of us anticipated the scope and intensity of the attack on social programs, on the very concept of government responsibility to protect and intervene on behalf of the disadvantaged, the frail, the vulnerable. At a time of widening disparities in income and living standards, we are witnessing an ideological shift to individualism and against communal values, justifying a thrust towards privatization of "public goods," such as welfare and health services. The breakdown of empathy for the disadvantaged and needy has been accompanied by increased racial and ethnic stereotyping. Such stereotyping is being accepted by significant segments of the population who should, on the contrary, be uniting to fight regressive trends. Attacks on professional standards are part and parcel of the attack on those we serve.
In response, the Chapter has aggressively carried forward an agenda incorporating the full range of social policy and professional issues, taking positions on public assistance and adequate support services for families and children; the adequacy of child protective services; block grants; managed care; patient's rights, patient care and professional standards in hospitals and nursing homes; health and mental health entitlements; tax and budgetary policy, professional licensing, and more.
The Chapter Board has supported the development of a strong social action infrastructure which has enhanced the Chapter's efforts, alone and in coalition with the New York State Chapter and with other social work, health and human service groups to influence legislation and regulation. Among the results has been our recent meetings with key legislators, including the Speaker of the Assembly, our strong presence at the statewide Lobby Day, March 19, in Albany, and our successful push for agency based voter registration training. Working with PACE, the Chapter held a dynamic political and social action conference in January and plans are underway to mobilize our membership for the 1996 elections and beyond. An important measure of our growing influence is the news media's reliance on the Chapter as a resource in their coverage of the response to the murder of little Elisa Izquerido.
The Chapter has been very concerned about the needs of membership in response to the changing work environment. Our New Initiatives Committee has launched a series of programs including a job bank, ongoing seminars on coping with changes in the field, job search skills and support services for members undergoing job transition. We have also developed programs on multicultural issues. Our Committee on Affirmative Action and Multicultural Affairs organized thought provoking, and well attended seminars on "white privilege." Finally, there has been major progress in our efforts to achieve licensing in New York State. A social work licensing bill has been introduced in the State Legislature and we are working hard to achieve passage this year.
The Chapter continued to have an important impact on social work at the national level. We successfully petitioned National NASW to place two position papers on the agenda of the 1996 Delegate Assembly, a position statement on Cultural Competence and Cultural Diversity (authored by our Committee on Latino Affairs) and another on the Role of Government, Social Work and Social Policy, written by the Co-chairs of our Health Care Policy and Practice Network. Finally, our Professional Ethics and Standards Committee and our Committee on Inquiry provided substantial input into the final draft of the proposed new Code of Ethics which will be debated at the upcoming Delegate Assembly.
None of this could have been accomplished without the leadership of Executive Director Bob Schachter and our superb staff, and even more importantly your support and active participation. Our two year increase in membership from 9400 to almost 9700, despite increasing financial stress and an uncertain employment situation, as well as the active participation of hundreds of you in the Chapter's efforts is convincing proof that social workers consider the Chapter to be a strong voice and an effective force on their behalf and on behalf of those we serve. We hope that the Chapter's successes will encourage even more of you to contribute your time and energy to our
efforts to achieve social justice, quality services, and greater professional influence. We all know how much remains to be done.
In the coming months the Chapter will be faced with important decisions on critical and highly visible public issues and where there is a risk of acting and a risk of not acting. These include a decision on whether the Chapter will file an amicus brief supporting the appointment of a receivership of the New York City Agency for Children's Service, in a suit filed by Children's Rights, Inc. If we do file a brief, how far should we go in urging the courts to take control of the troubled child protection system away from the city? How great is the risk of antagonizing Mayor Giuliani and thereby closing the door to a consultative relationship with ACS should receivership be denied? Do we have an ethical responsibility to act even in the face of this risk? What is the risk to children and their families if we don't act?
Similarly, we have been invited to support a legal challenge to Governor Pataki's Executive Order #20. It was this Order which was recently used by the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform to block State Health Commissioner DeBuono's promulgation of new regulations requiring that MSW's direct hospital social services in both urban and rural hospitals. The regulation requiring urban hospitals to have an organized social work department directed by a qualified medical social worker remains in the State Hospital Code. While there is a strong case that can be made to challenge the constitutionality of the Governor's use or misuse of power, we must address the risks to NASW of taking a lead in such a challenge. Will litigation that questions the Governor's authority diminish or enhance our ability to influence state social and fiscal policy and to advance passage of a social work licensing bill? Are there other avenues open to us to combat deprofessionalism?
It has been a great privilege to serve as President of the New York City Chapter. Working with social work colleagues in and through NASW-officers and members of the Board of Directors, committee and task force chairs and active members-has been the most rewarding experience in my professional life. Clearly, the next two years will not be easy. One of the factors in our favor will be the leadership of our incoming Chapter President, Dr. Carmen Ortiz-Hendricks. Carmen has been active in many of the Chapter's efforts over the past two years and is committed to continuing and expanding our agenda. We must now commit our full support to Carmen and the entire Chapter leadership as they continue to lead the profession forward.
Editor's note: This is Dr. Brenner's last column as President.