Legislative Day

Letisha Alexander-Bean, Andy Allen, Latasha Allen, Angelyn Aquino, Mary Bell, Heather Black, Larry Brantley, Tasheika Brownlee, Stephanie Collier, Brett Dillard, Melissa Donovan, Lakeisha Evans, Bobby Fort, Mary Foster, Melissa Gable, Tameka Gates, Joanna Grissom, Nilda Guerra, Bethany Harper, Soraida Herring, Doris Hervey, Tishema Hibbler, Kristalyn Holcomb, Kimberly Holley, Deanna Houston, Mallory Johnson, Angela Johnson, Trisha Kessler, Melissa Kuykendall, Meghan Langston, Reaver Lipson, Misty McCammon, Stephanie Middleton, John Oakes, Corina Orange, Jacqueline Pulliam, Eve Pulliam, Brandi Robbins, Ledia Robinson, LaToya Ross, Ashely Scott, Shurunda Sessom, Victoria Sims, Laura Leigh Smith, Brandy Summers, Tanganyikia Swearengen, Lisa Swords, Buffie Taylor, Lawanica Thomas, Sherri Vaughn, Latrice Wallace, Janita Walls, Trista Ward, Chrissy Wilburn, Casey Williams, Charlotte Williams, Tenika Winters, Shirley Wonzo-Ford, Heather Wright, Elizzabeth Zimmerman

A Loan Forgiveness Program for Social Workers—$200 Million Is Available for Loan Repayment

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LPR) offers fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community-based site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that has applied to, and been approved by, the NHSC as a service site. There is more information available about the loan repayment program, eligibility requirements, employment opportunities in HPSAs, and NHSC . For inquiries about this program, contact CallCenter@hrsa.gov or 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.

There will be two (2) Graduate level Social Work scholarships given to eligible candidates. The applicant’s must meet the following criteria:*

First year MSW students:
a. Accepted to the MSW program, not on probation;
b. Show a financial need for the scholarship
c. Show a strong commitment and dedication to the field of social work

Second year MSW students:
a. Academically in good standing and hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
b. Show financial need to continue formal graduate studies.
c. Show a strong commitment and dedication to the field of social work

Students from Belhaven, Mississippi College and Tougaloo College:
a. Accepted to the MSW program at Jackson State University, not on probation
b. Show a financial need for the scholarship
c. Show a strong commitment and dedication to the field of social work

Application Process:
a. Complete the attached application form;
b. Submit two(3) letters of references in support of their scholarship application. One
must be from a faculty member, and one from an employer.

All applicants must be interviewed by two (3) Board members for Mary S. Nelums’ Foundation.

Mail complete package to: Mary S. Nelums Foundation, P.O. Box 12385, Jackson, MS 39236.

For further information, you may contact Mary S. Nelums at: (601) 750-4204

* Scholarship amount will be based upon availability of funds.

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


Social Work Reinvestment Act...Federal legislation affecting you and your practice....

NASW continues to need your support of the reintroduced the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R. 795) in the House of Representatives. You may remember from the 110^th Congress that the act is designed to address challenges to the social work profession such as serious safety concerns, significant educational debt, and comparatively insufficient salaries, thereby helping to ensure that millions of our clients throughout the nation can continue to receive professional and quality care. This legislation will create the foundation for us to meet the ever-increasing demand for the services that we provide. We, as professional social workers, have the unique expertise and experience to help solve the social and economic difficulties that our nation is currently facing. Last year, we had a strong outpouring of grassroots mobilization through social workers' 50,000 letters to members of Congress; this year we need these again! Please contact your member of Congress and ask them to support these bills, and if they say no, ask for specifics information about their opposition. We hope you will share information with our office as well. Your Senators and Representatives are back at work in Washington need to hear from you....you can use our Legislative/Advocacy button to the left, above, and click on the CapWiz link to access contact information, and voting records for recent legislation affecting "equal pay for equal work" for women, children's health plan, and more. We strongly encourage you to review their voting record, and contact them. Thank you!

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

February 23, 2010 Meeting Report

The MBOE February 23, 2010 special call meeting of the MBOE was held at the MBOE office by teleconference as scheduled meetings were cancelled due to severe weather conditions.

Those social workers present in the office were Kristi Plotner and Pat Terry. Those present and voting throughout the meeting by telephone were Melinda Pilkinton, Stella Johnson, Cathy Jones.

During this meeting there were 15 LSW, 8 LMSW, 1 LMSW by reciprocity, 3 LCSW, 3 LCSW by reciprocity.

March 5, 2010 Meeting Report

This meeting was held at the Jackson Medical Mall First Steps Conference Room beginning at 10:30 a.m. Social Work Discipline Specific Committee (SW DSC) members in attendance: Stella Johnson, SW DSC Chair, Kristi Plotner, Chair of the Board, Melinda Pilkinton, Anna Lynn Whitt, and Pat Terry. Catherine Jones was absent.

Billy Dilworth, MBOE Executive Director, presented the agency’s financial report. As of 2.8.10 the budget is stable and within expected limits for this time of year. He also reviewed the Complaint report, and 2 new complaints were assigned. There was discussion about posting consent orders on the website for public notification once a decision was reached on complaints.

MBOE Chair, K. Plotner, discussed the status of committees of the board and reveiwed who was on them. She also formed another committee, Legislation Committee, to review the SW/MFT statutes that will sunset in 2011, and develop a list of things to work on with NASW, MS and MAMFT so we will all be working on the same page.

Jeff Hinton, LMFT Chair, gave a report about the MAMFT conference last week. It was well attended, and there were many questions and concerns from LMFTs about the new rules and regulations.

Stella Johnson, SW Chair is finalizing the new manual for new BOE members; Ana Lyn will help with organizing sections for the manual. She reported that the FARB conference was good, ASWB had a spring conference in May that needed representation; MS Valley State University has a spring conference April 15-16 and Stella will attend as a BOE member.

Gloria reported the AG's office has discussed defacto board members and reimbursement, and information for the new member packet regarding legal issues.

The Board approved the following numbers of SW licenses:

4 LSW 1 LSW-Reciprocity 2 LCSW 5 LCSW-Reciprocity

Reinstatements 3 LSW 1 LCSW

The next meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2010 at the Jackson Medical Mall . Please contact the BOE office for directions, at 601.987.6806.

Federal employees can support NASW Foundation, CFC #12538, in the 2008 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). This pre-tax deduction is a great way to support charitable and educational social work projects. Learn more about the NASW Foundation and its work at www.NASWFoundation.org.

"Publication of an advertisement does not constitute endorsement or approval of any product or service advertised, or any point of view, standard, or opinion presented therein. Mississippi Chapter, NASW is not responsible for any claims made in an advertisement appearing in its publications."