This message was sent to ##Email## December 20, 2018     Home  |   About  |   Membership  |   Advocacy  |   Practice    Archive  |   Advertise    TOP STORIES CMS Quality Payment Program Exclusion: Understand What This Victory Means for Clinical Social Workers In June 2019, CMS-1693-P, the proposed rule for the 2019 physician fee schedule, listed clinical social workers as eligible providers for the 2019 quality payment program. NASW responded to the proposed rule explaining why it would be problematic for clinical social workers to report quality measures successfully in 2019. For now, the 2019 MIPS exclusion is a victory for clinical social workers who have reported relief and contentment for the exclusion. New Study Explores Parents' Role in LGBT Adolescent Conversion Therapy More than half of adolescent people who are LGBT are being pushed to change their sexual orientation, a practice that could leave them more prone to do poorly in school, suffer from depression, or die by suicide, according to a new study from the Family Acceptance Project. So-called conversion therapy has long been condemned by the National Association of Social Workers and other mental health advocacy organizations because the practice is emotionally damaging. New Social Work Talks Podcast Discusses Bullying Prevention The concept of bullying has been around for many decades. Bullying has roots in early childhood, and, if not addressed through prevention and intervention, can show up as other forms of aggression and abuse across the lifespan. Dr. Catherine P. Bradshaw, a developmental psychologist and youth violence prevention researcher, and editor of the NASW Press book Handbook on Bullying Prevention: A Life Course Perspective, discusses bullying and its prevention. On Sale Now Handbook on Bullying Prevention: A Life Course Perspective Catherine P. Bradshaw, Editor List price: $39.99 Sale price (print edition only): $31.99 Order today. Print sale price ends January 3, 2019.    AROUND THE PROFESSION Advocate for Supplemental Security Income The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), of which NASW is a member, has published a fact sheet to educate the public about Supplemental Security Income(SSI). SSI provides invaluable income assistance to older adults and other people living in poverty. However, outdated SSI requirements decrease program access and effectiveness. Use the LCAO fact sheet to advocate for the SSI Restoration Act of 2017 (H.R. 3307), which is supported by NASW and provides much-needed updates to SSI.    SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by The University of Utah Changing the Way Child Welfare Workers Learn Interrupting Self-Harm See More, Do More: The Strength of Interdisciplinary Teams Simplifying Systems for Youth in Need ACT to Prevent Suicide   VALUE KIT Social Work Month 2019 This collection of gifts not only saves you money but also is perfect for door prizes during your Social Work Month celebration. $57.99 BROWSE Social Work Month merchandise now. www.jimcolemanstore.com/sw .  PRODUCT SHOWCASE The Institute for Clinical Social Work Master's and PhD Programs with a Clinical Focus Accepting Applications for Fall 2018! MORE    MYNASW MEMBER COMMUNITY — HOT TOPICS Getting on Medicare as a Provider Further Discussion of Code 90837 Grieving Resources/Loss of a Loved One 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. .  PRODUCT SHOWCASE UNE Online Master of Social Work UNE Online’s MSW is now enrolling for the Summer 2019 term! Use code NASWNews to waive you application fee today. Learn more.    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: “bullying prevention” Document: Bullying Prevention and Prejudice Reduction: Assessing the Outcome of an Integrative Training Program Authors: Chatters, Seria Shia J.; Zalaquett, Carlos P. Source: Journal of Individual Psychology. Spring 2018, Vol. 74 Issue 1, p20-37. 18p. Document: Preventing School Bullying: Investigation of the Link Between Anti-Bullying Strategies, Prevention Ownership, Prevention Climate, and Prevention Leadership Authors: Li, Yiqiong; Chen, Peter Y.; Chen, Fu‐Li; Chen, Ying‐Lin Source: Applied Psychology: An International Review. October 2017, Vol. 66 Issue 4, p577-598. 22p. Document: Social and Relational Aspects of Bullying and Victimization in Elementary School: Strength-Based Strategies for Prevention Authors: Newgent, Rebecca A.; Beck, Matthew J.; Kress, Victoria E.; Watkins, Molly C. Source: Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. July-December 2016, Vol. 11 Issue 3-4, p285-297. 13p. Document: Teacher and Staff Voices: Implementation of a Positive Behavior Bullying Prevention Program in an Urban School Authors: Letendre, Joan; Ostrander, Jason A.; Mickens, Alison Source: Children & Schools. October 2016, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p237-245. 9p. 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. Advertisement Aging and Spirituality: Social Worker Continuing Education HealthCare Chaplaincy Network The Spiritual Care Association is offering an instructor-led, online Spirituality and Aging Course for Social Workers, to assist social work professionals in integrating spiritual care into their practices. We are inviting 15 individuals to take part in the course pilot – beginning January 21, 2019 – at no cost. READ MORE Promoted by HealthCare Chaplaincy Network    "MOST CITED" JOURNAL ARTICLES COLLECTION — FINAL WEEKS FOR FREE ACCESS How Many Articles Have You Read in the Collection? Open access ends December 31 to the “most cited and most read” article collection from the NASW journals: Social Work, Social Work Research, Health & Social Work, and Children & Schools. Be sure to read the article below from the collection. Member Savings: NASW members receive an online subscription to Social Work with NASW membership and discounted rates on subscriptions to Social Work Research, Health & Social Work, and Children & Schools. Impact of Death Work on Self: Existential and Emotional Challenges and Coping of Palliative Care Professionals Health & Social Work Palliative care professionals, such as social workers, often work with death and bereavement. They need to cope with the challenges on “self” in working with death, such as coping with their own emotions and existential queries. In this study, the authors explore the impact of death work on the self of palliative care professionals and how they perceive and cope with the challenges of self in death work by conducting a qualitative study. Participants were recruited from the palliative care units of hospitals in Hong Kong. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 palliative care professionals: five physicians, 11 nurses, and six social workers. Interviews were transcribed to text for analysis. Emotional challenges (for example, aroused emotional distress from work) and existential challenges (for example, shattered basic assumptions on life and death) were identified as key themes. Similarly, emotional coping (for example, accepting and managing personal emotions) and existential coping (for example, rebuilding and actualizing life-and-death assumptions) strategies were identified. This study enhances the understanding of how palliative care professionals perceive and cope with the challenges of death work on the self. Findings may provide insights into how training can be conducted to enhance professionals’ self-competence in facing these challenges.  READ MORE .  SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT    ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS January 3 NASW Press Annual Holiday Sale Ends Save up to 60% on 30 print books. Sale price valid through January 3, 2019. January 15 Manuscripts Due for Health & Social Work “Social Work and Gun Violence” Issue Spark action among social work practitioners and researchers to address gun violence across the micro, mezzo, and macro systems. Submit manuscripts by January 15, 2019. Sample topics include the role of guns in intimate partner violence, firearms in community violence, unintentional death, efforts to increase social worker knowledge about gun violence and safety, programs to identify at-risk kids in schools, firearm suicide prevention, and effective responses to gun violence incidents. 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.    MEMBER RESOURCES Reduce your risk of an ethics complaint with these FREE NASW resources: NASW Code of Ethics, which helps guide the decision-making and everyday professional conduct of social workers Ethics tip sheets, which help you uncover ethical considerations in a given topic area Ethical Standard of the Month (ESOM) series, which walks you through the recently revised NASW Code of Ethics, highlighting significant revisions, and helps you understand and apply the Code appropriately Self-study webinar on the 2017 revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics to help you understand the rationale behind the revisions and the implications for social work (free, no CE credit) Free ethics consultations for when you are facing a job-related ethical dilemma NASW Practice Standards & Guidelines, which describe the optimal services that you should provide as a social worker, employers should support, and consumers should expect Advertisement   SET YOURSELF APART! Earn your Master’s in Social Work from the comfort of your own home. 2-year and 1-year online degree programs available. LEARN MORE.      NEW MEMBER BENEFITS CE Tracker NOW LIVE Start Your Subscription Today Discounted Pricing for NASW Members We know how hard it is to keep track of the constantly changing licensing renewal requirements, and we’re here to help. CE Tracker tells you exactly what you need to renew your license in your state – everything from the amount and type of CEs needed, to renewal deadlines. Start tracking your continuing education for license renewal today. Pricing: NASW members, $25; non-NASW members, $40. "Taxbot" Business Expense Tracker NASW Members Save 30% on the Software Track and organize business expenses, including mileage, using your smartphone or laptop. Taxbot, a user-friendly business expense tracker, ensures your records are tax compliant and helps you to get the maximum tax refund possible. Taxbot’s mobile app works with your phone’s GPS to track your trips and then calculates your mileage. With Taxbot’s credit card integration, you simply enter your business credit card information and then snap photos of your credit card receipts with the app. Taxbot keeps a running tally of your potential savings by documenting your deductible expenses. Taxbot is also available online. Learn more and sign up today for Taxbot. NASW discounted member prices: monthly, $7; annually, $70. .  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 Network, Connect, Learn & Grow Don’t miss CSH Summit 2019, April 30 - May 2, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Leaders from several professional fields will activate cross-sector collaboration and partnerships, connecting the dots with supportive housing. If you register now, you receive an early-bird discount. This is one of the best national networking opportunities of the year.    SOCIAL WORK ISSUES IN THE NEWS Survey: More Than Half of Massachusetts Adults Struggle Finding Help With Mental, Substance Abuse Problems WBUR-FM Many of us know from experience: It's much harder to get an appointment for mental health or substance use care than for most physical illnesses. A survey of 2,201 adults from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts confirms the experience with some stark numbers.  READ MORE How This Little Tweak to Social Security Could Keep Elderly People Out of Poverty MarketWatch With more Americans today living into their 80s and beyond, the elderly are becoming more vulnerable to slipping into poverty. To reduce the poverty risk facing the oldest retirees, some policy experts have proposed increasing Social Security benefits for everyone at age 85.  READ MORE Boys Need Better Access to Mental Health Care — Why Aren't They Getting It? NBC News Throughout high school, Alexander Sanchez was severely depressed. He thought about suicide, and he didn’t know how to explain what was wrong or ask for help. Instead, Sanchez said that whenever he wasn’t in school, he would lie in bed all day, “not eating, not being happy, being almost not there.”  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 Smallwood, MultiView, Assistant Executive Editor | Contribute news 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