This message was sent to ##Email## February 20, 2020     Home  |   About  |   Membership  |   Advocacy  |   Practice    Archive  |   Advertise    TOP STORIES Medicare's Quality Measure Reporting for 2020 Excludes Clinical Social Workers Medicare’s Quality Payment Program (QPP), Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), will exclude clinical social workers (CSWs) during the performance period January 1 – December 31, 2020. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has excluded CSWs from reporting measures for CY 2020, the agency has finalized a CSW measure set if CSWs are added to the MIPS eligibility list through future rulemaking. The measure code set includes 14 measures identified by CMS for appropriate use by CSWs. President Trump's Proposed Budget Would Shred Nation's Social Safety Net NASW to Work With Allies and Congress to Safeguard Programs That Help Vulnerable People Last week President Trump presented his FY 2021 budget to Congress and the American people, proposing deep cuts to social programs but increases in defense, including funding for a border wall. His proposed cuts to critical safety net programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and low-income housing assistance will exacerbate the income inequality that is already growing at an historic rate. Moreover, households of color will suffer disproportionately if the President’s FY 2021 budget comes to fruition. Join NASW in Advocating for Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization The OAA funds numerous programs that help older adults to maximize dignity, health, and independence. Social workers are involved in the provision and administration of many OAA-funded programs. The OAA expired on September 30. Reauthorization took a major step forward in late January, when Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), introduced a bicameral compromise bill, the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020, an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4334. Grassroots advocacy is essential to maintaining Congressional momentum. Read NASW’s letter of support and contact your Members of Congress today to thank them for their OAA reauthorization efforts and to urge them to pass the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 without delay.    SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by The University of Utah A Decade in Retrospect at the University of Utah College of Social Work Kids of the Cocaine Epidemic: Coming to a More Complete and Complex Understanding Disproportionate Minority Contact: It's Tricky Life Stigmatized: Does Internalized Stigma Affect Minority Groups Over Time? Dr. Robin Arnold-Williams: Fulfilling a Dream      GOVERNANCE Proposed Bylaw Amendment Posted for Member Comment The NASW Board of Directors has approved a 90-day member comment period for proposed bylaw amendment to Article XII.D.4 Chapters/Organization: Nominations and Elections, submitted by the Connecticut Chapter. Go to the member comment forum to review the proposed amendment and post your comment. The 90-day comment period closes May 8, 2020.    SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS Now Accepting Applications for NASW Foundation Scholarships and Fellowships Apply by March 11 The NASW Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships and doctoral fellowships to help provide financial resources to social work students pursuing a variety of social work specialties. Apply online. Applications accepted through Wednesday, March 11, 2020. You must be a current NASW student member to be eligible for these scholarships and fellowships. Questions? Email naswfoundation@socialworkers.org. .  PRODUCT SHOWCASE The Institute for Clinical Social Work Master's and PhD Programs with a Clinical Focus Accepting Applications for Fall 2019! MORE    AROUND THE PROFESSION OPEN ACCESS February 2020 Edition of Health Affairs Journal Addresses Social Determinants of Health and Social Needs Access articles exploring how health systems are investing in and addressing the social needs of their patients. Listen now to the introduction. Gift Set - SW57 $15.99 “Social Workers: Generations Strong” Social Work Month 2020 Merchandise Surprise a colleague, mentor, or professor with this ready-made gift set for Social Work Month, March. Each item in this kit – 12 oz. Ceramic Mug, Slim Frost Pen, and Recycled Sticky Notebook – proudly displays the 2020 Social Work Month theme: “Social Workers: Generations Strong.” BROWSE Social Work Month merchandise now. jimcolemanstore.com/sw    NASW NATIONAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 2020 NASW National Conference June 14-17, 2020, Washington, DC Join more than 2,000 social workers, like-minded professionals, and social work thought leaders for four days of professional development, continuing education, networking, and thought-provoking conversations. Discuss the most pressing issues facing the social work profession in all fields of practice. Learn more at socialworkers.org/2020conference. .  SPONSORED VIDEO MSW Online Program at WKU Promoted by Western Kentucky University The Western Kentucky University MSW program offers a unique concentration: advanced direct practice in rural settings and can be completed in person in Bowling Green, Kentucky as well as an online format. Both Advanced Standing and Traditional options are available in a full time or part time format. Apply Today! Call for Student Volunteers NASW is seeking student members to volunteer at the 2020 NASW National Conference in Washington, DC, June 14-17, 2020. All student volunteers will receive complimentary registration to the conference. To apply to volunteer, please e-mail Dave Miller at dmiller.nasw@socialworkers.org by March 31, 2020, and include the following: Full name Cell phone number Student “.edu” e-mail address Name of college or university Volunteers will be selected by random drawing on April 6, 2020. .  PRODUCT SHOWCASE This Day Belongs to You Elevate your Social Work career today. Learn more about the University of New England's 100% online, CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work program with traditional or advanced standing options.    NASW PRESS BLACK HISTORY MONTH SALE Save 20% on Select NASW Press Print Titles Sale Ends March 2 Celebrate Black History Month with special savings on the print titles below. Your 20% discount will be applied automatically to your print book order prior to the final credit card charge. For more information about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards, visit the NASW Press website. If you have questions, please send an email to press@socialworkers.org or call 800.227.3590. Sale ends March 2, 2020. African American Leadership: An Empowerment Tradition in Social Welfare History Multiracial Cultural Attunement Understanding Power: An Imperative for Human Services Multicultural Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Identity Spirituality and the Black Helping Tradition in Social Work EMAIL TIP Make Sure MemberLink Doesn't Get Junked Sometimes, an email message that you wish to receive is incorrectly judged as spam by your ISP or email program and sent to your junk folder. To ensure that MemberLink arrives safely in your inbox, add nasw@multibriefs.com (the sending email address) to your email program's safe sender list. If MemberLink is being sent to your work email address, ask your organization's Information Technology department to whitelist nasw@multibriefs.com. Learn how to add nasw@multibriefs.com to your safe sender list so MemberLink emails get to your inbox.    MYNASW MEMBER COMMUNITY — HOT TOPICS Exam Prep Companies Accessing Research Post-Graduation Resources for Starting a Private Practice The MyNASW online community is open to NASW members only and is free to join. Ask your colleagues questions, find mentors, exchange useful resources, and rally around your passion — social work.    NASW RESEARCH LIBRARY Quickly search by key words to find evidence-based research and client education, assessment tools, practice guidelines, and more at the NASW Research Library. Filter your results by type of source (academic journals, books, conference materials, reports, etc.), name of publication, publisher, university, language, and more. Use your NASW username and password to log in to the library. Keyword Search: “Trump” “social safety net” Document: The state of aging policy and politics in the Trump era Authors: Miller, Edward Alan; Nadash, Pamela; Gusmano, Michael K.; Simpson, Elizabeth; Ronneberg, Corina R. Source: Journal of Aging & Social Policy. May-September 2018, Vol. 30 Issue 3/4, p193-208. Document: The Trump administration’s assault on health and social programs: Potential consequences for older Hispanics Authors: Angel, Jacqueline L.; Berlinger, Nancy Source: Journal of Aging & Social Policy. May-September 2018, Vol. 30 Issue 3/4, p300-315. Document: Immigrant health access in Texas: Policy, rhetoric, and fear in the Trump era Authors: Callaghan, Timothy; Washburn, David J.; Nimmons, Katharine; Duchicela, Delia; Gurram, Anoop; Burdine, James Source: BMC Health Services Research. June 2019, Vol. 19 Issue 1. Document: Aging policy: Where is it now, and where is it going? Authors: Blancato, Robert; Gualtieri, Marie C. Source: Generations. Winter 2018/2019, Vol. 42 Issue 4, p79-84. Access Documents: Log in to the NASW Research Library and enter the title of the article or key words in the NASW Research Library search box. .  SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT    ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS March Social Work Month March is Social Work Month. This year’s theme, "Social Workers: Generations Strong," honors the many generations of social workers championing social justice, social welfare, and individual well-being. Access the 2020 Social Work Month toolkit for ideas on ways to honor and educate about our profession. Celebrate the month with specialty merchandise proudly displaying the 2020 theme. March 2 NASW Press Black History Month Sale Ends Celebrate Black History Month with 20% off select NASW Press print titles. Sale ends March 2, 2020. March 11 Applications Due for NASW Foundation Scholarship and Doctoral Fellowship Awards These awards provide financial resources to social work students pursuing a variety of social work specialties. Apply online by Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Questions? Email naswfoundation@socialworkers.org. March 18 Private Practice Q&A Call-in Session – Are You Ready for An Audit? Tips to Prepare Call-in session is free, available to NASW members only, and starts at 12 p.m. ET. No registration is required.    MEMBER RESOURCES An Hour With Private Practice NASW Members Only…FREE Sessions Held Every Other Third Wednesday of the Month 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET SCHEDULE Simply dial in to join discussions, ask questions, and comment on private practice topics. An Hour with Private Practice: Questions & Answers is a free members-only question-and-answer session held every other month that provides members with important clinical social work updates affecting the delivery of mental health services in a private solo or group practice. Can’t Make the Live Call-In Session? Access audio recordings of past sessions and handouts. Are You HIPAA Compliant? Access HIPAA forms, office policies, and sample documents that can be adapted to your clinical practice setting; training; federal government agency resources; updates; and legal articles to help you meet HIPAA regulatory requirements. Apply for Financial Assistance With Legal Expenses If you’re engaged in litigation related to the NASW Code of Ethics, social work principles, and/or standards of social work practice advocated by NASW, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the NASW Legal Defense Fund. .  PRODUCT SHOWCASE UTArlington School of Social Work The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington is nationally ranked in the top 14% of social work programs. With internationally renowned faculty members conducting research and clinical practice, we prepare our students to be leaders addressing the challenges of a 21st century world. Celebrating 50 years and with a strong reputation, our more than 10,000 alumni are leaders in government, military, community and private organizations around the world helping to create a just society. Read more University of North Carolina Wilmington Students in undergraduate, graduate, advanced standing, certificate and credentialing programs practice skills that advance the empowerment and well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities as they explore policies and programs to ensure social welfare and quality practice. Read more    SOCIAL WORK ISSUES IN THE NEWS Trump's Budget Could Make It Harder to Stay on Social Security Disability Insurance CNBC President Donald Trump has publicly vowed to protect Social Security. Yet advocates for the program fear that his just released budget proposal would hit individuals hard when it comes to disability benefits, as it includes cuts to the tune of $71 billion, according to one congressional estimate.  READ MORE Poverty Is a Winning Issue For 2020 CNN As the primaries turn towards Nevada and South Carolina, there is ongoing discussion about how voter turnout impacted the outcome in New Hampshire. To understand voter participation in 2020, we need to go back and take a look at what happened in 2016. That year was the first election without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act.  READ MORE Graduate Students, Not Undergraduates, Will Gain Most From Coming Loan Forgiveness Forbes A certain amount of student loan forgiveness is set to happen even if Democratic presidential candidates don’t get to implement their wildest schemes, according to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office. The federal government will issue just over a trillion dollars in new student loans over the next 10 years, and taxpayers will end up forgiving about $208 billion, thanks to generous repayment plans that cancel outstanding debt after a set period of time.  READ MORE NASW MemberLink Connect with NASW Recent Issues | Unsubscribe | Advertise | Web Version  To subscribe, contact NASW Member Services at 800.742.4089 Monday-Friday, 9 am - 9 pm ET or email membership@socialworkers.org. Colby Horton, MultiView, Vice President of Publishing | Download media kit Katina Hernandez, MultiView, Executive Editor Jennifer Watt, Director of Membership National Association of Social Workers 800.742.4089 Barb Zorechak, Sr. Marketing Associate National Association of Social Workers 800.742.4089 National Association of Social Workers 750 First Street, NE, Suite 800 | Washington, DC 20002 | 800.742.4089 | Contact Us  Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox. 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063