The COVID19 pandemic is a health and mental health crisis, to be sure. But it is also a crisis of social injustice, inequitably affecting vulnerable & marginalized populations that include, among others, individuals who earn low incomes, or are incarcerated, homeless, in foster care, over 65 (especially those in long-term care facilities), people of color, or the undocumented. Connecting underserved populations to care is a hallmark of #socialwork. This is the kind of social justice that #socialworkers, students, and educators are always working to address, but has new urgency during this global #pandemic. The incredible strain on our health care system & the widespread impact on our civic infrastructure has surfaced existing (and often persistent) gaps in service. Further changes in federal and state policies are needed to protect vulnerable populations during and after the pandemic. Policy makers must ensure that economic recovery is a shared recovery for all Americans. Read how the Association of Social Work Boards, #NASW & the Council on Social Work Education are addressing these and other issues and how you can help https://buff.ly/3bgRpCs
Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers & MFTs COVID-19 Update
Please click here for an update from the Licensing Board.
Social Work Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
The pandemic reminds us how connected we all are. Learn ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), support clients and prepare your practice. Social workers, like many health and behavioral health professionals, are concerned about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on their well-being, the people to whom they provide services, their families, and others in the community.
NASW has been working on multiple fronts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure access to services, such as advocacy to ensure insurance coverage for teletherapy. Social workers are in a unique position to promote disease prevention efforts (including disseminating accurate information from trusted sources), and to help address anxiety and other concerns that are arising as a result of this public health crisis. As the situation continues to rapidly evolve, NASW will continue to monitor developments and work to protect social workers and the clients we serve.
For information regarding:
Helping People in Special Populations, click here
Preparing Your Practice, click here
Supporting Clients, click here
Self-Care, click here
Telehealth, click here
Ethical Considerations, click here
NASW MS Annual Conference Canceled
due to COVID-19
NASW-MS 2020 Annual Conference
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Report Child Abuse/Neglect in Mississippi
To report a case, please use the MDCPS Report Child Abuse online system or by downloading the MDCPS Report Child Abuse mobile app through one of the following links:
2020 Health Insurance
Marketplace Open Enrollment
begins November 1st visit www.healthcare.gov
Updated Advocacy Materials for Improving Access
to Mental Health Act (S.782/H.R.1533)
Improving Access to Mental Health Act (S. 782/H.R. 1533)
The updated general issue Brief can be found here and the HBAI Brief and can found here. Click here for FAQs. The Improving Access to Mental Health Act will provide a crucial step forward in mental health care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries and in advancing pay equity for social workers. Since one or more of your lawmakers is on a key committee of jurisdiction, it is imperative that you let them know you urge their support for this legislation.
The vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries in SNFs experience anxiety, depression and other challenges. Millions of these beneficiaries also live with physical or medical conditions which give rise to similar challenges.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is the lead sponsor in the Senate. She is joined by lead cosponsor, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and cosponsor Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).
Please join us in supporting this legislation by contacting your Member of Congress TODAY and urging them to cosponsor S. 782/H.R. 1533 the Improving Access to Mental Health Act. Tell your elected officials about your experience as a CSW. A personalized communication goes a long way with a Member of Congress. Help them to understand the importance of client access to mental health care services and of social worker reimbursement and compensation. Together we can help ensure clients have full access to the high-quality mental health services CSWs provide.
Congressional Black Caucus & Mental Health
Professionals Seek to Address Racial Disparities
in Access to Behavioral Health
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Takia Richardson LICSW, LCSW
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Aug 22, 2019
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For several years, suicide has remained among the top 10 causes of death for ages 10 through 44. Data from the National Center for
Health Statistics’ Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999–2017 brief indicates that suicide rates in the United States increased by
33 percent during that review period (Hedegaard, Curtin, & Warner, 2018).
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Read More ...
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The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
(VAWA) of 2019: Taking it to the U.S. Senate
Toolkit for Engaging with Your Lawmakers In Person During the August Recess NASW and its coalition partners, the National Task Force to End Sexual & Domestic Violence & the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence encourages NASW members to contact their Senators during the August recess. Here is a toolkit to assist you in taking action.