If you would like to receive information about meetings, activities, or how to get involved please email us: naswnyc.crdi@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook! at “Naswnyc Race Diversity-Intersectionality”

On Tuesday, February 6th NASW-NYC and NASW-NYS are Having
a Joint Call-In Day for the Social Work Investment Initiative!! 

**Please see below for instructions on lobbying legislators via phone calls & social media. The Advocacy Toolkit is attached. Committee Chairpersons, Association Partners, Organizational Partners - please distribute to memberships.** 

What do we want to accomplish?!

1. Full implementation of the state’s 2002 social work licensure law

2. $4 million Loan Forgiveness Program for Social Workers specifically working in a currently exempt setting. As an effort to mitigate the reportedly high rates of staff turnover in exempt agencies, such an initiative would not supplant the current loan forgiveness program available to a broader array of social workers.

3. $18 million incentive program for currently exempt agencies to increase the number of licensed social workers available to provide supervision. The incentive would provide a stronger career track and reduce reported staff turnover.

4. $500,000 for the development and distribution of culturally sensitive and ESL test preparation to assist those who are vulnerable to, or have already, failed the LMSW and LCSW exams.

5. $250,000 for the development and implementation of a workforce survey to assist in tracking and identifying workforce gaps. The survey will be utilized (upon mandate) by the NY State Education Department at registration and re-registration of all Article 154 licensees (Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Master Social Workers), and will assist in data collection efforts to track the distribution of licensed practitioners across the state and identify workforce gaps.

HELP US LOBBY!!

Step 1: Find your Senator here

https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator  

Find your Assemblymember here

http://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ 

Step 2:Call & Use the Following Script:

"Hello, my name is ____________, I am a constituent from (City), (Zip Code). I don’t need a response; I am opposed to the continuation of the licensure exemption and I am in favor of the Social Work Investment Initiative. Thank you so much for your hard work answering these phones, I know how integral you are to the democratic process!

TIP: Don't forget to say Thank you!

Step 3: Use Social Media!

Post the following on Facebook AND SHARE when you see someone else post it! 

"I’m calling on New York State to vote in support of the Social Work Investment Initiative because this licensure exemption renders my professional license moot, and I KNOW my social work license is valuable. #InvestinSocialWork"

Tweet the following on Twitter AND Retweet!

"Social Work Investment Initiative is not just an investment in our profession, but an investment in our communities’health. #InvestinSocialWork #EndtheExemption

OR

"It’s time for NYS to #EndtheExemption and vote in favor of the #SocialWorkInvestmentInitiative."

TAG the Key Leadership of Albany

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Twitter: @NYGovCuomo 

Facebook: @GovernorAndrewCuomo

John J. Flanagan, Senate Majority Leader

Twitter: @LeaderFlanagan 

Facebook: @sen.john.flanagan

Jeffrey D. Klein, Independent Democratic Conference Leader 

Twitter: @JeffKleinNY 

Facebook: @jeffrey.d.klein

Carl E. Heastie, NY Assembly Speaker

Twitter: @CarlHeastie

Facebook: @Carl.Heastie

AND! TAG @NASWNYC & @NASWNYS !!

Find our Call to Action on Facebook here and Share widely!! Thank you! 

Peace,

Candida Brooks-Harrison, NASW-NYC President & Founding Co-Chair

pronouns: she/her/hers

Brian Romero, Co-Chair

pronouns: he/him/his

NASW-NYC Coalition on Race, Diversity and Intersectionality (CRDI)

Join our Facebook Group! NASW-NYC CRDI