I am pleased to serve as President-Elect for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. As a professor of social work and gerontology at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, I know the critical importance of social work practice to ensure the best possible services and outcomes for our clients of all ages, as well as the importance of continuing to promote our professional identity and value within the health, mental health, education, aging, and social service sectors in NYC and the global community. I look forward to an exciting and productive term!

Patricia Brownell, PhD, Associate Professor and John A. Hartford Faculty Scholar, Fordham Univerisity Graduate School of Social Service, will serve as President-Elect until June 30, 2008, at which time she will begin a two year term as Chapter President.

Platform Statement

I believe there are four interconnected initiatives that NYC NASW should undertake.  First, there is an urgent need to revisit the NYS Social Work licensing law with the legislature and to seek to correct at least four key areas of deficiency.  One is to insert the missing third tier that would provide licensing for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Bachelor of Arts (BA) and other currently non-licensed professionals working on the front lines of aging, health, mental health, and social services.  Two, there is a need to add requirements for continuing education credits at all licensing levels.  Three, there should be considerations for English as a second language built into the licensing examinations.  Four, it is important to revisit and correct the misperception that the LMSW and LCSW levels are hierarchical, which they are not.  Rather, they represent complementary dimensions of social work practice.

Second, there is an intensifying demand for social work expertise in gerontology and geriatric care management.  In my view, social work is the profession that is best equipped to take the lead in this growing practice field, but only if the profession also takes the lead in setting standards for education, training and continuing education in New York State for LMSWs, LCSWs, BSWs, and BAs to maintain currency within the field. With the continued graying of the population, and the growing diversity of aging in New York City, workforce issues are increasingly coming to the fore.  I believe certification through New York State for gerontological social work and geriatric care management is essential.

Third, the salaries of social workers, are unacceptably low.  NASW, with other social work professional associations, unions, and management, must work collectively to correct this deficiency.  We must do this by clearly articulating the value of social work, coming to consensus on fair and equitable salary levels, and making uniform and focused demands across sectors. There must be unequivocal and active commitment by NASW’s membership, partnering organizations, and coalition members to achieve this critical objective.

Fourth, social workers across public, voluntary, and private sectors must develop a common language and commitment to work collaboratively. The fragmentation of the current delivery systems, along with growing poverty, lack of affordable housing, uneven job opportunity distribution, and continued budget and service cuts, puts our clients in extreme jeopardy.  It also challenges the members of NASW and our partners to provide seamless and relevant services that bring change to communities, organizations, and improve lives. Addressing the fragmentation within our own profession is a responsibility that must be aggressively pursued.

As a long time NASW member, I have served as Chair of PACE, officer of the Board of Directors, Delegate Assembly member, Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee, Chair of the Nominating Committee, and long time member of the Gerontological Social Work Committee.  Conversely, I believe there are many more ways the Chapter has contributed to my professional and personal life.  It has provided me with a forum to share ideas on issues about which I care deeply, a broad network of colleagues that has led to friendships, professional learning, job opportunities and collaborations.  The Chapter has also offered professional and personal growth, and opportunities to participate in advocacy activities.

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