This message was sent to ##Email## April 9, 2020     Home  |   About  |   Membership  |   Advocacy  |   Practice    Archive  |   Advertise ##\userid##    TOP STORIES Urge CMS to Expand Telehealth to Include Audio-Only Devices The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently implemented temporary flexibilities in regulations regarding telehealth in order to ensure that beneficiaries can access health and mental health services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Clinical social workers can use smartphones with video chat apps such as Skype or Apple Facetime, in addition to video-conferencing technology (which was permissible prior to the pandemic), to conduct psychotherapy. However, Medicare will not reimburse for psychotherapy provided via audio-only devices (e.g., landlines). Many Medicare beneficiaries either do not have access to smartphones; do not know how to use video chat capability; or do not have adequate, reliable internet service to support video communications. Are Social Workers Recognized in the U.S. Response to Coronavirus? Answers From Our CEO Last month, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security declared that social workers are "essential personnel" in the fight against the coronavirus, instructing governors to minimize barriers to social workers' ability to quickly deliver services during the pandemic. In his April 6, 2020, "Answers From Our CEO" column, Angelo McClain reassures the profession that NASW is committed to raising awareness of frontline social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, from social workers working in hospitals and health centers and in quarantined nursing homes, to those taking action in communities to feed students during school closures. Recent "Answers From Our CEO" March 31, 2020 – Does the Recently Passed Economic Stimulus Bill Help Social Workers and Their Clients? March 27, 2020 – The Government Is Temporarily Easing HIPAA Enforcement Regarding Teletherapy Tools. How Can Social Workers Use the New Flexibility, and Still Comply With Ethical and Legal Standards? What's It Like Being on the Front Lines of a Pandemic? Social workers worldwide are continuing to help clients—despite great risk the pandemic poses to themselves and their families. Samantha Calvillo, MSW, ACSW, who works in an emergency room, says they have enough PPE for social workers but worries what will happen to social workers when there aren't even enough for nurses. "I signed up for this job and am determined to make myself available for my patients, despite the risks. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of what's to come." Hear from more frontline colleagues. To share your own story, email media@socialworkers.org and include "My COVID Story" in the subject line. Support Seniors During Social Distancing NASW Social Work Talks Podcast – EP49: Supporting Seniors During Social Distancing Lindsay Brine, former educator and current social work student at New York University, speaks about supporting older residents of New York City during social distancing and the coronavirus pandemic.    SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by American Psychological Association New - Brief Strategic Family Therapy (Sample Chapter, PDF) New - Criminality in Context: The Psychological Foundations of Criminal Justice Reform (Sample Chapter, PDF) Just Published! - The Portable PhD: Taking Your Psychology Career Beyond Academia Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD in Youth (Sample Chapter, PDF) Emotion-Focused Family Therapy: A Transdiagnostic Model for Caregiver-Focused Interventions (Sample Chapter, PDF)   NASW Cosponsors Congressional Briefing on Ways to Improve Health, Mental Health Care in Jails The Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) is a federal policy that strips federal health and veterans benefits from individuals upon admission to jail – not upon conviction. MIEP has contributed to the national behavioral and mental health crisis as well as increased rates of recidivism in our local jails. "The Intersection of Health and Justice: A Look Inside County Jails" briefing last month examined the issue and legislation that would allow individuals in custody to continue to receive Medicaid and other federal health benefits until they have gone through due process and are convicted. .  PRODUCT SHOWCASE The Institute for Clinical Social Work Master's and PhD Programs with a Clinical Focus Accepting Applications for Fall 2019! MORE    2020 NASW NATIONAL ELECTION Learn About the Candidates and Their Platforms Cast Your Vote Online Vote today for members of the NASW Board of Directors and the National Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification. To be eligible to vote, you must be an NASW member with current membership, have no pending sanctions, and must have joined NASW by March 15, 2020. Register your vote by clicking this link: https://secure.intelliscaninc.net/nasw/2020/. Voting closes May 29, 2020. Questions? Write to governance@socialworkers.org .  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!    ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH - APRIL Make Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Routine Alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) is an evidence-based tool backed by more than 30 years of research. Yet most people have not talked to a health professional about their drinking. Among women, only 13 percent have talked to a professional about how much they drink – despite risky drinking among women having grown rapidly. April 9 is National Alcohol Screening Day – a call to make SBI a part of your routine practice. Social workers are an integral part of health care and should take a leading role in primary prevention of risky drinking among women. You can help women avoid drinking too much and avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy in three steps: screening, intervention, and referral. Related Resource SBI With Adolescents Interactive Role-Play Simulation From Kognito Practice therapeutic communication skills needed to screen adolescents for substance use and conduct brief interventions (SBI). This evidence-based simulation is free through April 30 to help students sharpen their professional and interpersonal skills and fulfill required field practice. Used by dozens of schools nationwide, Kognito provides an effective, scalable, and data-driven solution to address the increasing need for practice-based distance learning. .  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.    COVID-19 & SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE SocialWorkers.org/COVID19 Stay current on rapidly changing policies affecting your social work practice and the people you serve. Make sure you follow federal and state regulations if you are using teletherapy for clients. Address COVID-19-related ethics and legal issues in your social work practice. Support your clients and adjust your practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 Hospital Social Workers Insurance Payments Secure Teletherapy Software for Groups 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: "coronavirus" "covid-19" "prison" Document: Countries Crack Down on Basic Rights Amid Virus Pandemic Author: Stojanovic, Dusan Source: AP Top News Package. March 2020 Document: Locked Up: No Masks, Sanitizer as Virus Spreads Behind Bars Authors: McDowell, Robin; Mason, Margie Source: AP Regional State Report. March 2020 Document: Emergence of COVID-19 Infection: What Is Known and What Is to Be Expected Author: AlTakarli, Nourah S. Source: Dubai Medical Journal. March 2020, p1-6. Document: The Novel Coronavirus: A Bird's Eye View Authors: Habibzadeh, Parham; Stoneman, Emily K. Source: International Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. April 2020, Vol. 11, Issue 2, p65-71. 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 AND REMINDERS April 6 Voting Opens in 2020 NASW Nation Election Cast Your Vote Online Here Learn about the candidates and their platforms. You must be a current NASW member with no pending sanctions and must have joined NASW by March 15, 2020, to be eligible to vote. Voting runs April 6 - May 29, 2020. May 20 Private Practice Q&A Call-in Session – Minimizing Liability Risks in Private Practice Call-in session is free, available to NASW members only, and starts at 12 p.m. ET. No registration is required. .  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 You became a social worker for personal reasons. You’re more experienced now. You’re ready for a new challenge. Diamond Healthcare looks for social workers who are qualified, licensed, and passionate to run programs. We have openings for leadership positions across the country! Check out our current openings at Diamond Healthcare. See something of interest? Email your resume directly to rmullins@diamondhealth.com.    SOCIAL WORK ISSUES IN THE NEWS Ohio Governor Signs Order Allowing Counselors, Social Workers To Telework Dayton Daily News Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an order allowing counselors, social workers, and family counselors to telework without excessive requirements and training. “In this time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, those who need those services can get them,” DeWine said.  READ MORE 'They're All Really Afraid': Coronavirus Spreads In Federal Prisons NPR Federal prisons are wrestling with the rapid spread of the coronavirus at more than two dozen facilities across the country in an outbreak that has already claimed the lives of at least seven inmates and infected almost 200 more, as well as 63 staff.  READ MORE Federal Prisons Pose 'Imminent Danger' in Spreading COVID-19, Union Says Government Executive Federal prisons are "proliferating the spread" of coronavirus, according to a March 31 complaint prison workers have filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The union complaint, obtained by Government Executive, cites "imminent danger" conditions at facilities nationwide.  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