NEEDS FUNDS FOR THE STUDENTS AWARDS!

 Every year NASW, MS Chapter invites all CSWE schools of social work in our state to submit their star students for the NASW student awards at our annual conference.  At the presentation, one Undergraduate Student of the Year and one Graduate Student of the Year are selected from this group and honored with these top awards and financial honorarium.  The awards are given in honor and memory of former NASW MS Chapter President Claire Nowlin, who exemplified the strength and resilience needed to be a successful social worker in our state.

 

We want to keep this tradition alive, but funds in our awards account are low.  We are asking that you donate to our awards fund, in any amount you can send.  This contribution is tax deductable.  Please use the form below, and follow the instructions closely as our national foundation will be issuing your tax deduction statement. You will get an email stating our chapter office has received your donation first.

                                               YOU CAN ALSO GET THE  Donation Form HERE!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

PLEASE COMPLETE AND SEND THIS FORM IN WITH YOUR DONATION:

 

Name______________________________________________  email_______________________________________________________

 

Mailing address___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Phone_____________________________________________   Amount enclosed $__________________  check or money order only

 

PLEASE MAKE ALL CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS TO:

 

 NASW FOUNDATION --  also write MISSISSIPPI NASW  in memo line 

 

Mail your donation to:  NASW, MS Chapter, P O Box 5599, Pearl MS 39288-5599

 

NASW Assurance Services, Inc is now offering auto, homeowners, & renters insurance in addition to their malpractice coverage...see all their benefits at www.naswassurance.org !

---

Legal Issue of the Month Articles

For more information about NASW’s legal resources please visit the Legal Defense Fund webpage at www.socialworkers.org/ldf .

Clinical Social Workers and Private Practitioners Resources Directory

NASW resources for clinical social workers and private practitioners have been combined into one document, Managed Care Directory of Resources for Clinical Social Workers in Private Practice.  It is available to NASW members online at the following link:  https://www.socialworkers.org/practice/clinical/managedCare08/default.asp?back=yes   

---

         Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists

NOTE: These reports are listed chronologically; scroll down for the earlier reports

August 12, 2011

Social Work members attending this meeting were Kristi Plotner, LCSW, Chair, Melinda Pilkinton, PhD, LCSW, Discipline Specific Chair, Social Work, Spencer Blaylock, LCSW, Anna Lyn Whitt, LCSW, Pat Terry, LSW, and Natalie Bryant, LSW.  This was Natalie's first meeting.  She was appointed by the Lt. Governor to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Catherine Jones' resignation.

Billy Dilworth began with the expense report and stated that renewals for LSWs and LMFTs will begin to come in, but over numbers of licensed social workers has declined from 5,500 two years ago to 3,000 now.  There was some discussion about this, and the impact this reduction in income is having on the board's budget as these fees are the only income the board has to operate; there is no state money involved.  The discussion will be carried on over the next few months.  The Legislative Budget Office received the proposed 2013 budget.  The Office of Public Safety will be handling the fingerprinting for social workers via a Memorandum of Understanding that is currently being drafted, but no date to implement this was given.  Work continues on the Rules and Regulations.   Social Workers are encouraged to check the Secretary of State's website to review materials by going to www.sos.ms.gov .   Kristi assisted Billy in his report and had no further comments.

Dean, DSC-MFT commented on new MFT forms being drafted.  Melinda , DSC-SW provided some details of the next LCSW Supervision training it will be held on the Gulf Coast and Virginia Adolph, LCSW and former member and Chair of the MBOE will conduct the training.  More information will be posted on the MBOE website at www.swmft.ms.gov.    Melinda also stated the MBOE has been approached by the MS Conference on Social Welfare to assist with funding a nationally known speaker on ethics, and MCSW has offered a free exhibit table this assistance will be provided.

Social Work Licenses:

LSW=12;   LMSW=13;   LCSW=17;   LSW by Reciprocity=1;   LMSW by Reciprocity=1;

Reinstatement:  LSW=2;  LMSW=4

July 8, 2011

Social Work members attending this meeting were Kristi Plotner, LCSW,  Board Chair, Melinda Pilkinton, PhD, LCSW, Discipline Specific Chair-Social Work (DSCSW), Anna Lyn Whitt, LCSW, Spencer Blaylock, LCSW, Pat Terry, LSW. 

Billy Dilworth, Executive Director gave the financial report; all expenses and income are within budget at this time.  He stated the Legislative Budget Office request the 2013 budget by August 1 and he is preparing this.  There were no new complaints this month, and several board members gave updates on existing complaints.  Discussion was held regarding the requirement for fingerprinting that was to go into effect July 1, and details remain to be worked out.  Board Attorney Gloria Green discussed the revision of the Rules and Regulations to be consistent with the Administrative Rules Act for the state using the current law and then revise them again using the updated law that was effective July 1.  More information on this will be forthcoming.

The MFT report was given by Dean Worsham, DSCMFT.  Sharon DeBerry is up for nomination again in 2012 and is willing to run another term as she was filling in a vacancy originally.  There was discussion of the work the MFTs have done on the Rules & Regulations from their end, and which MFTs should attend the KLEAR conference this fall.  A general discussion regarding declining revenue ensued.

The SW report was given by Melinda Pilkinjton, DSCSW, who discussed the recent LCSW Supervisor training that was held in Jackson.  It went well, and another training will be planned hopefully for the southern area of the state in the fall.  Cost is a consideration in planning this event.

Social workers licensed this meeting:

LSW= 8 ;  LMSW= 9;  LMSW-Reciprocity= 1;  LCSW=5;  LCSW-Reciprocity=1;  Reinstatement:  LMSW=1; LCSW=!

No LMFTs were licensed at this meeting.

 June 10, 2011

Social Worker members present were Kristi Plotner, LCSW, Chair, Melinda Pilkinton, PhD, LCSW, incoming Discipline Specific Chair-Social Work-, Anny Lyn Whitt, LCW, Stella Johnson, LCSW, Discipline Specific Chair- Social Work  and outgoing member of the MBOE, Pat Terry, LSW.

Kristi opened the meeting with reminding everyone that minutes for the meetings were now being emailed to board members for review prior to the meeting, though voting would still be at the meeting.  Billy Dilworth provided information on the recent renewals, stating that 670 had renewed, 38% of those used the on-line renewal,  and 61 had not renewed at all.   There was a new complaint assigned to the LMFT, and discussion of a hearing on a separate MFT complaint with possible dates in later in the summer.  Kristi reported the original Rules and Regulations are being reformatted  to conform with the Administrative Procedure Act.  This will continue to be in process with the Secretary of State's office after the original ones are modified, as the new law coming into effect July 1 will require a revision again.

Jeff did not have a report for MFT.  She discussed the previous training for social work supervisor, specifically related to how the supervisors would get the continuing education training in that area.  More discussion will be held on this topic.

Social Workers licensed:

LSW=11;   LSW by Reciprocity=3;   LMSW-41;   LMSW by Reciprocity=1;  LCSW=1;  LCSW by Reciprocity=2 

LMFT by Reinstatement=1

May 6, 2011

Social Worker members present at the  meeting were Kristi Plotner, LCSW, Chair, Stella Johnson, DSC-SW, Melinda Pilkinton, PhD, LCSW, Anny Lyn Whitt, LCSW, Pat Terry, LSW.

Billy Dilworth was out today and Kristi gave the report for him as well as her report.  The expenses are inline  with the the month, there was a review of complaints  filed  and disciplinary actions taken.  There was discussion regarding the lease at the Medical Mall and lack of space for the office, and Billy is to report more fully on available options at the next meeting. There was also discussion of the need to revise Rules and Regulations to fit the new Administration Procedures, with each discipline taking their part and Billy and Gloria to handle the technical part of the rules.

Jeff gave the report for the MFTs, and stated that Dean Worsham would be taking over as DSC-MFT for him in July.  The committee to handle the MFT CE reviews is going well but is time consuming.   Stella announced that Melinda will take over as DSC- SW.  She stated that LCSW Supervision training will be held June 15-16 in Jackson.

Social Workers licensed:

LSW= 6;LSW-Reciprociety=1;  LMSW=2;  LCSW=5;  LCSW-Reciprocity=1;   Reinstatement:  LCSW=1

LMSW=1 pending 1 letter of reference and outstanding fees.

April 8, 2011

Social Worker members present at this meeting were Kristi Plotner, LCSW, Chair, Stella Johnson, LCSW, DSC-SW, Melinda Pilkinton, PhD, LCSW, Anne Lyn Whitt, LCSW, Catherine Jones, LSW, Pat Terry.

Billy Dilworth gave the expense report, and stated that all expenses are in line for this time of the fiscal year with renewals coming in.  The Legislative Budget Office has notified him that budgets will be restricted in 2012, especially in the travel and contractual line item areas.  He will continue to keep the board informed.  He also stated that the licensing bill, HB 607 was signed by the Governor.   A review of complaints that are in process were discussed, and the disciplinary progress report was reviewed as well.  He is still working with the state agency to find alternative office space at a more reasonable rate but no other options have been found.

Kristi again stated that HB 607 had been signed and would go into effect July 1, 2011.  However there is a need to revise the Rules and Regulations for the and discussion was held as to how this would be handled among the BOE members.  In looking ahead to social work  members for 2012, Anna Lyn Whitt stated she would like to be nominated for a second term.

Jeff did not have a report for the MFT.  Stella reported that the New MBOE Member manuals were almost finished. 

Social Workers Licensed:

LSW=2;  LSW by Reciprocity-1;  LMSW-1;  LMSW by Reciprocity=1;  LCSW by Reciprocity=1

Reinstatement:  LSW=1  

No LMFTs were licensed today.

March 18, 2011

Social Workers attending this meeting were Kristi Plotner, Chair, Stella Johnson DSC SW Chair, Melinda Pilkinton, Pat Terry.  Anna Lyn Whitt and  Catherine Jones were not present.

Billy gave the expense report, and revenue if up due to relicensing. So far 718 LSW have renewed, with half of those renewing on line!  It was noted by two board members that renewal on line is not possible if you are being audited; two board members are being audited, one for the second consecutive time.  The program selecting files to audit uses a totally random process. There were no new complaints filed, and work continues on several ongoing complaints. 

Kristi discussed the confirmation process; all but two members have had to go through the process this year due to confusion over status in past years.  She was very pleased to say that new additions to the board are in process of confirmation, one of whom won't even start until July.  She stated this is the better way to go, getting ahead, to ensure that those coming on the board are official in terms of voting, and in receiving reimbursement if travel is involved in their attendance.  Committees then gave reports, and there was some discussion over the newsletter, which has not been updated since 2009.  They will be working on a solution to keeping members informed in a timely manner.  She then reminded all Board members that they are obligated to complete their Ethics Commission filing by May.  She also gave a brief update on HB 607.

Jeff stated there was not MFT  report.

Stella stated there was no SW report.

Gloria stated there was no legal report.

The following licenses were granted:

LSW=2   LMSW=3   LMSW by reciprocity=1   LCSW=5   LCSW by reciprocity=2

Reinstatement:  LSW=3        LMFT=1

 The next meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2011  at the Jackson Medical Mall .  Please contact the BOE office for directions, at 601.987.6806.