HIGHLIGHTS 07| Chapter Election Results 08 | Social Work Spotlight 14 | Notes from the Field 16 | Preparing to Reopen your Practice Post Lockdown
VOL 29•6 | JULY 2020 BLM EDITION
19 | Free CEUs 20 | Race, Responsibility, & Reconciliation Series 22 | Advocacy in Action 24 | License Renewal
BL ACK L I V E S M AT T ER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nkechi Okoli, President
CHAPTER OFFICE NASW–NJ Chapter Office 30 Silverline Drive, Suite 3 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Ph:732.296.8070 www.naswnj.org
Jennifer Thompson, MSW
Executive Director jthompson.naswnj@socialworkers.org
Christina Mina, MSW Director of Member Services cmina.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 117
Helen French Director of Development & Education hfrench.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 122
Jeff Feldman, MSW, LSW Director of Advocacy & Communications jfeldman.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 114 Annie Siegel, MSW Membership & Education Coordinator asiegel.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 128 Willis Williams
Office Manager wwilliams.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 110
Katherine Girgenti Graphic Designer kgirgenti.naswnj@socialworkers.org or ext. 129
Widian Nicola, President-Elect Judyann McCarthy, 1st Vice President Dawn Konrady, 2nd Vice President Ralph Cuseglio, Secretary Caelin McCallum, Central Regional Rep Sierra Spriggs, Northeast Regional Rep Paula Barber, Northwest Regional Rep Miriam Stern, Southern Regional Rep Jennifer Sorensen, Graduate Student Rep Jamie Terrone, Undergraduate Student Rep
UNIT LEADERS NASW-NJ has 12 units across the state of New Jersey. Atlantic/Cape May/ Cumberland Tanoa Bettis, Chair Janelle Fleming, Co-Chair Bergen/Passaic Melissa Donahue, Chair Nancy Martinez, Co-Chair Camden/Gloucester/Salem Danica Rivello, Chair Danielle Cranmer, Co-Chair Essex Felicia Fdyfil-Horne, Chair Ruby Sekhon, Co-Chair
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Hudson Lauren Snedeker, Chair Jillian Holguin, Co-Chair
Morris Cheryl Cohen, Chair Veronica Grysko-Sporer, Co-Chair
Mercer/Burlington Mary Beth Kohler, Chair Miguel Williams, Co-Chair
Somerset/Hunterdon Margaret Ryan, Chair
Middlesex Joshua Collins, Chair
Sussex/Warren Dina Morley, Chair Afifa Ansari, Co-Chair
Monmouth/Ocean Jeanne Koller, Chair Denise Gaetano, Co-Chair
Union Chair & Co-Chair, Open
To learn more about Unit Leadership opportunities, contact asiegel.naswnj@socialworkers.org
BLM EDITION
NASW-NJ Resources At NASW-NJ, we are committed to advocating for policies and legislation that advance racial justice, creating educational opportunities for social workers related to race and racism, and we are committed to learning, growing, and leaning in, even when it is hard or uncomfortable. Visit our Race and Justice page to learn more.
COVER IMAGE: Masked protesters march for the Black Lives Matter Movement
The current COVID-19 pandemic presents social workers with a number of challenges to address. Visit our Covid-19 Resources page for FAQs and Quick Links to help you stay up-to-date on emergency orders, laws, and procedures that are being implemented.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Board of Directors' Message
|04
Membership Benefits
|18
Executive Director’s Message
|06
Free CEUs
|19
Chapter Election Results
|07
Race, Resposibility, and Reconciliation Series
|20
Social Work Spotlight: Social Workers Creating Lasting Change
|08
NASW-NJ Swag
|21
Notes from the Field
|14
Advocacy in Action
|22
Preparing to Reopen your Practice Post lockdown
License Renewal |24 |16
Advertisements |26
July 2020 | www.naswnj.org 3
Dear Members, The past few months have been immensely challenging, as we—as individuals and as a profession—have had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as address the social unrest and renewed calls for justice in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. We have had to learn how to be socially distant—but emotionally available—from our friends, family members, and neighbors while trying to adjust to working from home and homeschooling simultaneously. For the Black community, not only has COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact in terms of health outcomes and job loss, but the senseless injustice and murder of Black people has coupled with the pandemic to create heightened and extreme concern for the very lives and safety of the entirety of Black America. The disparities in police fatalities, arrest rates, and nationwide injustices against Black Americans has been brought to the fore through recent incidents and the responding protests. But these stories are not new to the Black community. George Floyd’s gasping cry, “I can’t breathe” was the same phrase Eric Garner uttered with his last breath in 2014. Floyd and Garner belong to a tragic and growing list of Black people murdered by police, a list which also includes Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and far too many others whose deaths have not received national attention. They should all still be alive today. Police aren’t the only ones abusing privileges and furthering an entrenched racist system. Amy Cooper’s false accusation of Christian Cooper in Central Park demonstrates how the criminal justice system can be easily weaponized against Black people and displayed the undercurrent of racism that exists even among supposed liberal allies. Amy Cooper knew what she was doing when she stated, multiple times, that “an African American man” was
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threatening her. She was weaponizing her privilege as a white woman in America. This incident stirs many fears and memories. Memories of the Central Park Five—falsely accused based on the color of their skin and persecuted by the man who would one day be elected President. Fears that the situation could have ended a lot differently were it not for Mr. Cooper’s cool head and readily available cell phone. And how can it not stir memories of young Emmett Till, murdered by a white mob in 1955 because of an accusation of “inappropriate behavior” towards a white woman? It has been 65 years since Till’s tragic death helped launch the original Civil Rights movement. Yet still we fight the same battles today. The recent murders of Black Americans, false accusations, multiple injustices, and continued fraying of the public trust have served as the tipping point for millions upon millions of people around the world, to say “ENOUGH!” Let this be the time we root out racism in all its twisted forms. Let this be the time we win this fight for good. As a Chapter, and as a Board, we stand with you to say “Black Lives Matter”—straight, queer, dark-skinned, light-skinned, of African origin, of Caribbean origin, and more. All Black Lives Matter. Right now, this very day, the houses of our Black brothers and sisters are burning. We need to stand up to the flames of hatred and intolerance and come to their aid. As social workers, and your Board, we strive to advocate for those who are most vulnerable and need to be heard and supported. Now more than ever, NASW-NJ is committed to dismantling systematic racism and standing up against social injustices through advocacy, policy, education, and resource development. In June, the Chapter launched its “Race, Responsibility, and Reconciliation Series” to begin an in-depth conversation about race and to develop concrete action steps for our Chapter. A task force has been created to analyze how we, as a Chapter, can better operationalize our diversity plan and we will present its findings in October 2020. We are also hosting free community conversations on race for social workers and the general public to enter into these important discussions, expand awareness, and explore how to eradicate racism not only in our society, but within our profession. You can read more about some of our ongoing efforts in the Advocacy in Action section of this issue. As part of the exploration of racism within our profession, we ask that you take some time to closely and thoughtfully examine the systems in place at your organizations, the diversity of staff and leadership, and the messages, both covert and overt, that may come from your organization, and assess how your organization may be contributing to systems that inequitably deny opportunities or representation to Black people and other persons of color. This is difficult work and some pain is expected— we may be forced to confront our own pre-existing biases and beliefs, accept harsh truths about employers and agencies, and have difficult conversations with our peers. But these steps are necessary if we are to free ourselves from the scourge of racism and bring about true justice and equality for all people. As a Board, and as a Chapter, we are here to help you through this difficult process. We see you. We hear you. We stand alongside you! Together we can bring positive change to our nation.
In solidarity, The NASW-NJ Board of Directors
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DESK OF
NASW- NJ’s Executive Director
Friends & Colleagues: Like many of you, I am struggling. As a wife, as a mother, as a social worker and as an individual, the last month has impacted me in ways I was not prepared for. The ongoing, senseless murder of black women, men and children must stop. I am sitting with the sadness, overwhelmed with outrage, and have questions about whether I’m doing enough, what I can do more of, and how I can speak to my child and his friends about what is happening. I have questioned where we are as an Association and how we can use our collective voices to create change. In June, my family traveled to Washington, D.C. We sat at Black Lives Matter plaza and my son asked difficult questions, which we answered through many tears, and with a lot of honesty. We spoke about the great leaders of our nation who have challenged racism and created change through organizing and activism and the challenges race presents in America. And as we spoke, my heart broke that in 2020, we still are having these types of conversations. However, I was also reminded that now, more than ever, I am so fortunate to be in a profession—surrounded by likeminded people, guided by a code of shared ethics and values—that can do something to address this situation. We have the power to affect change. The beauty of our profession, what makes us strong, is our diversity—diversity of thought, backgrounds, race, gender, experiences—and our simultaneous shared values and commitment to upholding our Code of Ethics. For generations social workers have shown that we can come to the tables, share respectfully, honor one another’s lived experiences and wrestle with different views, but ultimately create meaningful change.
Jennifer Thompson, MSW
Now, perhaps more than ever, the world needs our leadership. We are called to hold tight to our colleagues and friends, embrace one another and lead by example. We must bring social workers of all backgrounds together for dialogue, sharing and challenging one another. We must look at our dysfunctional systems and challenge them, but also understand how we work through them to create change. We must focus on what unites us, rather than divides us. Dismantling systems of oppression, racism and discrimination and building new ones will take time. We must move thoughtfully and in unison. We must take time to listen to one another, take inventory of what is not working—and what is. We must come together as researchers, practitioners, educators, community advocates and leaders using evidence-based research to form our positions and create solutions. Now, more than ever, we must come together as social workers and be the change. Our Chapter is committed to creating this dialogue and the space for this critical work. From our look inward as an Association to our external advocacy, we will continue to unify, diversify, and lead. I hope you will join us in these efforts. We are strongest together. In health, Jennifer Thompson, MSW
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CHAPTER ELECTION RESULTS The results are in and you've chosen Dr. Widian Nicola as NASW-NJ's President-elect. Congratulations to Widian and all our new Board members. Their Board terms began July 1st, 2020.
P R E S I D E N T- E L E C T: Widian Nicola
SOUTHERN REGIONAL REP: Miriam Stern
V P, F I N A N C E :
BSW REP:
Dawn Konrady
Jamie Terrone
S E C R E TA RY:
MSW REP:
Ralph Cuseglio
Jennifer Sorensen
C E N T R A L RE GI O N RE P : Caelin McCallum
COMM. ON NOMINATIONS & LEADERSHIP IDENTIFICATION: Jenny Conger & Sarah Miller July 2020 | www.naswnj.org 7
SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHT:
A Response to Crisis: Addressing the Illusion of Separateness
SOCIAL WORKERS CREATING
LASTING CHANGE
D
r. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his name to only two organizations in his lifetime: the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA (FOR-USA). The SCLC is well known, but many do not know about FOR’s legacy and work. An interfaith organization, FOR-USA’s mission is to organize, train, and grow a diverse movement that welcomes all people of conscience to end structures of violence and war, and create peace through the transformative power of nonviolence.
Dr. Anthony Nicotera, LSW
NASW-NJ member, Anthony Nicotera, JD, DSW, LSW has been a member of FOR-USA for 25 years, previously serving on their National Council, and for the past year and half has served as an advisor for organizational development. “The social work profession has been informing and contributing to the work of FOR-USA since its inception,” says Nicotera. “Our very own Jane Adams, was one of the sixty-eight leaders committed to active, nonviolent peacemaking who helped found FOR-USA in 1915.” Adds Nicotera, “I view my role as mission advancement advisor with FOR-USA to be central to my work as a social worker and to my commitment to live the core social work values of social justice and respect for the inherent dignity of all human persons.” Nicotera has been instrumental in moving forward FOR-USA’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and the concurrent struggle for racial equity and justice sparked by the killing of George Floyd. In a public statement on COVID-19 issued in March, FOR-USA asserted, “COVID-19 underscores more than ever that we are a world community that is profoundly connected across race, religion, gender, geography and nationality.”
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“The paradox at the heart of the COVID crisis is that we are asked to help one another by not congregating together” notes Nicotera. “That’s contrary to our nature. To meet the challenge of the COVID crisis—not to mention the crisis of racial justice before our nation—we need to embrace our connectedness and recognize the commonalities of the human experience, rather than allow constructs of class, race, religion, and national origin to separate us.” In recognition of the fundamental human need for connection, FOR-USA initiated during the first week of the pandemic, FOR’s Coronavirus Prayer Petition, which Dr. Nicotera helped conceptualize and to which he contributed. The Prayer Petition has collected hundreds of prayers from individuals and congregations around the world and made them available for reflection and sharing to offer an outlet for emotion and maintain spiritual connection during the time of physical distancing. This effort has since grown into FOR’s Gathering Voices Campaign, designed to lift up the stories of community and faith-based leaders and activists committed to confronting the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities. It also seeks to shine a light on the unjust structures and systems that perpetuate these injustices. Originally begun to connect activists facing the challenge of advocating for peace and justice during a time of quarantine, Gathering Voices has morphed into a platform for people of conscience, action, and justice to share and connect.
Dr. Nicotera also worked with FOR-USA’s Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Emma JordanSimpson, to help chart the organization’s response to the killings of George Floyd and so many other Black civilians, honoring the righteous rage, agony, and despair of this global uprising. “The systemic inequities baked into America’s social and economic life will continue to lead to violence and death if unabated,” says Nicotera, referencing FOR’s public statement. “We cannot have peace without justice. There will be no reconciliation without truth and repentance.” The work for peace and reconciliation with justice and accountability continues throughout the United States via FOR-USA’s Peace Fellowships and regional chapters, and internationally, via International FOR branches across the globe, says Nicotera. “I have had the honor of working with many prominent FOR members over the years, including Nobel Peace Laureate Maired Maguire, from Northern Ireland; Arun Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson; and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh” shares Nicotera. “The voices of these advocates for peace and nonviolence are critical in this moment. Consistent with our mission as social workers, they invite us to realize, as Thich Nhat Hanh asserts, that ‘we are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.’”
Post-Master’s Program in Spirituality and Social Work at New York University, and continues to develop his Circle of Insight website and framework for deepening social work social justice pedagogy and practice. Learn more about his work at https://www.shu.edu/ profiles/AnthonyNicotera.cfm.
"
If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire a society that is democratic, then democracy must become a means as well as an end." - Bayard Rustin
Dr. Anthony Nicotera teaches social policy, social work and the law, and social justice courses at Seton Hall University. He directs the
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SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHT: SOCIAL WORKERS CREATING LASTING CHANGE
Creating Change through Narrative: Lived Experience Project
S
Dr. Widian Nicola, LCSW
ocial justice and antiracism work are intrinsic to the social work profession. Widian Nicola, DSW, LCSW, has not only a professional commitment to this work, but a very personal commitment, as well. Nicola is an immigrant to the U.S. who identifies as Arab-American or PalestinianAmerican. She was undocumented for nearly 30 years. Nicola says that while she has never experienced overt racism in her life, she understands what it means to be marginalized and to have to quantify her existence and worthiness as an immigrant. “I have a personal sense of what the experience of racism might be like for others. And I’m not okay with it,” Nicola says. “I feel outraged at what is happening in the world right now. And the biggest question I ask myself in this situation—what I ask of myself in any crisis—is ‘what can I do to make a difference?’” One way Nicola is making a difference is through her Lived Experience Project. Originally conceived during her doctoral studies, Nicola sees the project as a way—through narrative—to build empathy, compassion, and connection among people with seemingly different lived experiences and stories from what is presented in mainstream media. It is also a vehicle to center and amplify the lived experiences of minorities and persons of color. The first podcast series Nicola developed, which was focused on the stories of undocumented immigrants, debuted in 2016. Nicola has been developing the second season of the podcast, this one focusing on the lived experiences of people directly impacted by climate change,
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when the murder of George Floyd caused her to shift her focus. “In the news, on television, on social media, I saw people making the same reductive arguments over and over again. And I knew I didn’t want to participate in the cycle of entrenched, rote argument and counterargument. I wanted to shift the narrative. And I realized—I have this podcast platform and an audience. This is something I can do.” The result is her new live interview series, Lived Experience Project: Being Black in America. “I’m not just doing this because it’s the right thing to do at this time. I’m doing it because I have a visceral need—on a
spiritual and deeply personal level—to help bring these stories to the fore” says Nicola. “This project allows us to witness the beautiful, nuanced, vulnerable, and fragile experiences of people,” Nicola says. “Being Black in America is not a homogenous experience, despite what the dominant discourse may suggest.” Lived Experience Project: Being Black in America can be heard and seen on Facebook Live www.facebook.com/widian. nicola.50 and Zoom https://us02web. zoom.us/j/83903091156. At the time of this writing there are five more installments of the series planned. The interviews are being made available in real time, as they
are being conducted, because of the urgency of the situation. Eventually, Nicola plans to weave the raw interview materials into a broader narrative to create a full podcast series. “Or maybe I won’t,” says Nicola. “The most important thing right now is that these stories are heard… the interviews themselves may stand on their own, as perhaps they should.” Widian Nicola, DSW, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor at Seton Hall University and maintains a group private practice in central New Jersey. She was recently elected as NASW-NJ’s Presidentelect. Learn more about her at https:// nicolacounselingservices.com/widiannicola/.
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SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHT: SOCIAL WORKERS CREATING LASTING CHANGE
All Black Lives Matter: The State of Black Girls in America
A
significant body of research exists on the mental health and social needs of Black boys, but research and data on Black girls is much sparser. In her clinical practice, Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW says she kept hearing the same stories over and over again from black girls in her care—stories of negative attitudes towards them from teachers in schools, of not being listened to or having an opportunity to be heard, of being treated differently than white peers, of not receiving the same opportunities as their white peers, of feeling dehumanized by attitudes, policies and practices that unfairly penalized Black girls.
Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW
“There is research that shows Black girls are less likely to receive adequate mental health care compared to white girls,” says Francois-Madden. “And in New Jersey, Black girls are five times more likely to be suspended from school than their white peers. Our state also has the highest black/white disparity rate among incarcerated youth. The more I learned about this phenomenon during my research, the more I wondered ‘Incarceration? Suspension? What is exactly happening and who is helping these girls?’” The more Francois-Madden reviewed existing data, the more she began to notice gaps in treatment and research among Black girls. She wondered how, as a social worker, she could bridge that gap. She continued to research the school to prison pipeline, attending seminars and congressional hearings. And she began writing. In July 2019, her first book, The State of Black Girls was published. A web-based learning platform for Black girls soon followed. “I dedicate my book to every Black girl who feels invisible and misunderstood by people in this world,” says Francois-Madden. “For so long, the voices of Black girls have been silenced and they continue to face challenges and disparities in America. My book, contains strategies and tools to help Black girls successfully navigate each phase and chapter of their lives.”
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Francois-Madden says one of the greatest struggles Black girls face in addition to dehumanization is adultification. “When Black girls are misdiagnosed by professionals, or labeled as loud, hypersexual, or aggressive— terms I frequently saw in the case files of Black girls I worked with from the foster care system—this reduces them to convenient stereotypes. It robs them of their unique, lived experiences and minimizes their voices,” explains Francois-Madden. “And with adultification— the process by which youth are prematurely, and often inappropriately, exposed to adult knowledge and assume extensive adult roles and responsibilities—we see Black girls as young as 5 treated in developmentally and socially inappropriate ways for their age. Young Black girls are treated as if they don’t need protection from the hazards of society. The media will portray black teens just 15 or 16 years old as if
they were adult women and the justice system will treat them as such.” Research from the Georgetown Center for Poverty and Inequality shows the same: adults, particularly white adults, view Black girls "as less innocent and more adult-like than white girls of the same age, especially between 5 -14 years old.” Francois-Madden says social workers have a role to play in addressing the needs of Black girls. “We can increase our learning and develop more continuing education offerings for professionals that are specific to the needs and experiences of Black girls. In our schools and agencies, we can review and challenge existing policies and procedures to help create safe spaces for Black girls. We can also incorporate the voices of Black girls in programs we develop for them and create opportunities for Black girls
to develop into leaders. We also need to ensure more Black girls have access to trauma-informed, strengths-based treatments, like the Nurtured Heart Approach.” Francois-Madden is scheduled to present her work at TedX Penn this October, assuming the coronavirus pandemic allows the event to be held. Information on the program and speakers is available at www.tedxpenn.com/ tedxpenn-2020. Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW, is the owner of Hearts Empowerment Counseling Center and a best-selling author. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Family Sciences and Human Development at Montclair State University. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Business Insider, MadameNoire, Fox 5, and on dozens of media platforms. Learn more at https://www.marlinefrancois.com/ and www. thestateofblackgirls.org.
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IN OUR OWN WORDS: Notes from an African-Centered Psychotherapist By: Vashonna Etienne, DSW, LCSW
A
“
When White America gets a cold, Black America gets the flu.
”
s a licensed clinical social worker, my primary focus is on providing AfricanCentered psychotherapy to a community that has suffered historical traumas for centuries and who continue to reflect emotional injuries and wounds stemming from intergenerational trauma. In unprecedented times such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent uprisings in protest of police brutality and violence, America is feeling the effects of systemic racism, systematic oppression, discrimination, and social inequalities. As the founder and clinical director at the Center for Counseling and Holistic Services, I have noticed an increase in trauma related symptoms among my client population which consists of African Americans and other people of color. Symptoms include shock, anger, disbelief, irritability, anxiety, fear, and hopelessness all of which have led to an increase in depression and somatic responses to stress. There is a saying that goes, “When White America gets a cold, Black America gets the flu.” This term usually applies to the economic and wealth disparities that exist between Whites and Blacks, but I can also apply this term to the racial and ethnic disparities in mental healthcare services. Being able to access quality providers who are Black, African American, or persons of color has proven to be a challenge for my client population, and because of this many Blacks and African Americans go untreated for their mental health challenges. In our current crisis, this can prove devastating for a population who may have untreated traumas, both
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historical and intergenerational. Black America is suffering physically and emotionally, and our pain is being observed by the entire world. Whether it is pain resulting from vicarious trauma after witnessing the killings of unarmed Black men displayed across mass media and social media sites, or the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities, that pain and treatment is my main concern. My job as an African-Centered psychotherapist
is to treat a community of people, of which I belong, who are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, but do not always trust the therapeutic process for many reasons, including the history of the mental health system in America, which for so long pathologized and mistreated Black men, women, and children. Armed with this knowledge, I am mindful of the way I engage each client seeking treatment. If I can be a face that brings
comfort, understanding, and freedom to be oneself without feeling judged or misunderstood, then I am happy and pleased to know my community is getting the care and treatment they need to heal for generations to come. Vashonna Etienne, DSW, LCSW, is the Founding Executive Director at the Center for Counseling and Holistic Services. Specializing in work with couples, she practices Afrocentric Psychotherapy in the State of New Jersey. Learn more at www. savingblackmarriages.com.
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SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19: PRE PARING TO REOPE N YOUR PR AC TIC E Miriam Stern, LCSW first became concerned about COVID-19 and its impact on her practice in late February. She sent an email to her staff “out of an abundance of caution,” to ensure some thought was given to how their work would be impacted “in the event some cases” of COVID-19 arose in New Jersey. Four months later, the reality of what has happened in our state—and the extreme speed at which the situation and guidelines keep changing—still feels surreal to her at times. “What hasn’t changed, though, is our priorities,” says Stern. “We are laser focused on ensuring the health and safety of our staff and clients, the clinical needs of our clients, and the preservation of sustainable income for all of our staff.” Stern says when Governor Murphy instituted the state lockdown in mid-March, 75% of her therapists (and all the support staff) chose to work remotely, providing services via telehealth only. However, a few therapists felt strongly that they wanted to continue seeing certain clients in person, in addition to providing telehealth. Stern decided to keep her practice open and vigilantly
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followed the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the state’s recommendations for essential workers. “The first 6 weeks were nerve-wracking. I questioned myself daily whether keeping the practice open was the right choice,” shares Stern. “Over time my fear subsided, and so far, thanks to our preventative measures, none of our therapists or clients have contracted COVID-19.” Now that New Jersey is in Stage 2 of its reopening plan, more and more private practices are thinking about re-opening. “There is a lot to consider and the decision has to be individualized,” Stern says. “As clinicians, we know the longer we stay closed the more our fear of working in-person may increase. Yet the risks are real and can’t be taken lightly.” Stern has drawn from her experiences during the first few months of the pandemic to create a short tip sheet to help other practitioners prepare to reinitiate in-person services (see opposite page). It’s also important, she notes, to have policies
in place as well as proper consent forms for in-person and telehealth work during COVID-19. Most liability insurance companies have those forms available. NASW-NJ and the NASW National office also have a number of resources available on their websites. “As of this writing, two more clinicians have recently decided to return to our office one day per week,” said Stern. “We’ll continue to monitor the risks of practicing in-person and balance that with the use of telehealth services. I expect the situation to remain fluid as the pandemic continues over the coming months. There needs to be a regular process of assessment and reassessment to ensure we’re doing all we can to protect our clients and our staff and providing services in the most responsible manner.” Miriam Stern, LCSW, is the Executive Director of Meridian Counseling Services, located in south New Jersey. She is also the Southern Regional Representative to the NASW-NJ Board of Directors. Learn more at http:// meridiancounseling.net
TIP SHEET: PREPARING TO REOPEN YOUR PRACTICE DURING COVID-19 1. Have a dialogue with your clients about not coming to an in-person session if they are feeling unwell or if they have a known exposure to someone who is sick. This also applies to staff. 2. Whenever possible, use larger treatment rooms/spaces that allow for social distancing. 3. Require clients and staff to wear masks whenever in the building.
4. Increase ventilation by opening windows during in-person sessions, if possible. 5. In between sessions, spray the air with an aerosol disinfectant that kills the COVID virus (such as Lysol). Frequently disinfect high touch surfaces like computers, phones, and doorknobs and wash hands regularly. 6. Whenever possible, alternate inperson and telehealth appointments
to decrease possible prolonged inperson exposure to the disease. 7. Limit the number of people in the building/office by allowing only clients and staff in the building. Parents, significant others, and other guests should be asked to wait in their vehicles. Also ask clients to wait in their cars prior to appointments instead of in the waiting room, when possible.
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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
JOIN NASW-NJ NOW AND SAVE!
ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: ADVANCE YOUR CAREER • Reduced rate for all in-person and online CE programs • Reduced rate for Licensure Exam Institute (LSW/ LCSW Test Prep) Courses • Reduced rates for Annual Conference • Free CEU opportunities year-round • Clinical Supervisor Directory (Find a Supervisor/Promote your Practice) • JobLink (Members-only online Career Center) • Access to NASW Scholarships (for students) • newSWire™ e-newsletter (weekly) and FOCUS magazine (bi-monthly) • Social Work Advocates (National bi-monthly magazine • Free annual subscription to Social Work journal Practice updates • Specialty Practice Sections • Unlimited access to NASW Research Library (including 25 international research databases) NASW Press – 10% discount
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TO JOIN NASW NOW, GO TO: WWW.SOCIALWORKERS.ORG 18 July 2020 | www.naswnj.org
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S
ocial Work is a profession of social action. It is rooted in our education, our Code of Ethics and ingrained in who we are in our professional and private lives. We are called to fight for social justice, and we do so, daily. It is not enough for social workers to be “not racist.” Our call to action, and our call to others, must be to be ANTI-RACIST. We must aggressively fight against racism, and challenge others to rise to this standard. We must work to systematically dismantle white privilege and create a social system that works equally well for all residents of our nation. It is for this reason that we have created the Race, Responsibility, & Reconciliation Series, to create programs that educate and advise on how we can actively work to be anti-racist. As with our COVID-19 informational webinars we have also worked to bring a selection of free Community Conversation webinars for the R, R, & R Series. These discussions are lead by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and cover a variety of topics pertainig to race. Archived recordings of
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each Community Conversation are available on YouTube and on the NASW-NJ website. These programs include: Issues of Race with Discussing Young Children The discussion of difficult topics with children is never easy. La'Tesha Sampson, LCSW offers advice on how to discuss the issue of race and the recent race-related protests with young children. Stream on-demand.
Race Through the Lens of Trauma Dr. Tawanda Hubbard, LCSW, and Dr. Widian Nicola, LCSW, lead a discussion regarding race and trauma. They examine the systems that perpetuate intergenerational trauma related to racism. Stream on-demand. Queer and Black: Politics, Identities and
Movement
Through the transgender community's activisim around police brutality, the origins of pride
began! Queer liberation and racial justice are still incorporated in today's climate through the Black Lives Matter movement and the current rallies against police brutality and injustice. Bianca Mayes, MPH, CHES leads a discussion on the history of LGBTQ pride. Stream on-demand. Upcoming live Community Conversations: • Self Care for the Black Community During Covid-19 and BLM • Summer Book Club Series: "How to Be an Anti-Racist • Myths Surrounding Immigration & Undocumented Clients • Let's Talk About Whiteness: Understanding Racial Identity, Privilege, and Fragility You can find more resources and programs in the Race, Responsibility, & Reconciliation Series at https://naswnj.socialworkers.org/News/ Race-and-Justice.
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A CALL TO ACTION: SOCIAL WORKERS C R E A T E C H A N G E
ADVOCACY IN
ACTION Call to Action
I
n this time of COVID-19, racist violence, and societal turmoil, it is imperative that social workers use our collective voice to enact change. The time is now to correct the ills that have long-plagued our nation—systemic racism, lack of access to health care, health disparities, income inequality and more. The system as it exists does not work for a large segment of our society. Social workers can change that. In Trenton, we’ve been working with the legislature since they reconvened to address some of these crucial issues. In early June, we were invited to testify before the Assembly Health Committee regarding the needs of mental health providers and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our testimony highlighted the importance of social workers during the time of COVID-19 and the urgent need to address the backlog of applications at the Board of Social Work Examiners. We also stressed the need to protect expanded access to telemental health services. Read our full testimony to the Assembly Health Committee. We also testified before the Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee in June in support of A-1897, legislation that would decriminalize marijuana in our state as well as provide a path to expungement of records for individuals incarcerated due to possession of small amounts of marijuana. Consistent with NASW-NJ’s broad mission and our support for a public health approach to marijuana and other drug use, NASW-NJ supports
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the decriminalization of marijuana and the expungement of existing related criminal records as a crucial step in our battle to dismantle institutionalized racism. Read our full testimony on A-1897. We were also invited to testify before the Assembly Human Services Committee regarding the needs of the Developmental Disability population during COVID-19 and how the state can be better prepared to serve the needs of these individuals. We highlighted the need for a supply of PPE dedicated to providers of disabilities services, the need for a safe location where individuals with DD can seek care for non-emergent issues in the event of another lockdown, and the need for agencies to develop contingency plans for service delivery in the event services again need to be shut down. Read our full testimony to the Assembly Human Services Committee. In early July we will be meeting with the head of the Division of Consumer Affairs to discuss the difficulties social workers are having with our licensing board—delayed processing of licenses and the need for temporary licenses to be provided for qualified individuals until licensing exam testing can resume in full. At the National level, NASW staff have been working to ensure Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) act immediately to extend enhanced coverage for telehealth services that were instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of this writing, we
have heard that most public and private insurers are moving to extend the COVID-19 telehealth expansion for at least another 90 days. Read the letter NASW and allied partners sent to Governors of all 50 states and to state insurance commissioners. In July, we put our money where our mouth is, joining the growing number of organizations who are refusing to purchase paid advertising on Facebook until the company addresses "the proliferation of hate speech and voter disenfranchisement efforts on the site." We join our colleagues and like-minded partners by
calling on Facebook to increase its accountability, deploy decency and offer support to victims facing hate and harassment on their platform. A Call to Action All these actions are building up to our next big event - Call to Action: NASW-NJ’s Virtual Advocacy Day where we’ll be asking you, our members, to reach out to your local, state, and federal officials about steps they need to take to address racial injustices in our institution. We’ll be holding a couple of pre-sessions in mid-July to set the tone and give you the tools you need to
be able to successfully advocate with government officials. Then on July 28-29, we’ll join with the NASW-NYC Chapter for a two-day social work advocacy blitz. We’ll be targeting local mayors, police chiefs, state and federal legislators demanding they take action to address needed police and criminal justice reforms in our state. More information on this event will be available shortly. We hope to see you there!
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Nasw-Nj's Virtual Advocacy Day
July 2020 | www.naswnj.org 23
SOCIAL WORK LICENSING RENEWAL IN 2020
2
020 is a licensure renewal year for social workers, which means that all social work licenses and certifications in the State of New Jersey will expire on August 31, 2020 unless they are renewed. Many of you will have already received information via U.S. Mail from the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs regarding the renewal of your social work certification/license. If you have not yet received your renewal notification, you can expect to receive it via U.S. Mail soon. Renewal is online only, and your renewal notice will provide you with instructions on how to renew your license or certification. The deadline to renew your license without incurring any additional penalty fees is August 31, 2020. If you renew after August 31, 2020, a late fee of $100 will be added 24 July 2020 | www.naswnj.org
to your renewal fee. After September 30, 2020, you will not be able to renew online and will need to contact the Board of Social Work Examiners directly for reinstatement procedures and associated fees. If you have not renewed your license or certificate by October 1, 2020, you will not be able to practice social work in the State of New Jersey until you have reinstated your license. Members have reported that the Board’s website would not allow them to renew their license online in the first several days after notifications were mailed out. Since notifying the Board, social workers have been able to successfully renew their licenses online. If you were previously having trouble, we encourage you to try again using the instructions on your renewal notice.
At the time of this publication, there are no announced extensions for licensure renewal or changes to the current continuing education requirements. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS To renew your license or certification, you must complete the required number of continuing education credits outlined below during the current biennial period: September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020. As a reminder, you will NOT be sending your CE certificates to the Board of Social Work Examiners when you renew your license. Rather, you will be asked to confirm that you have completed or will complete your CE requirements by August 31st. The BSWE requires you to keep certificates
of attendance for 5 years following the licensing cycle for which the credits were obtained. However, NASW-NJ encourages members to keep documentation permanently, as this information maybe useful to you in ways you cannot predict right now. At this time, there is no limit on the amount of continuing education credits you can earn online, as long as they are courses that are valid according to the NJ BSWE Regulations. Information about approved sources of continuing education can be found starting on page 17 of the Regulations. Members are also welcome to reach out to our team with CEU questions.
Certified Social Worker (CSW): CSWs must complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education (5 hours of which must be in ethics, 3 hours in the area of social and cultural competence, and 1 hour related to prescription opioid addiction). CSWs who have completed more than the 20 hours during the biennial period may carry over a maximum of 4 surplus hours into the next cycle. Licensed Social Worker (LSW): LSWs must complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education (5 hours of which must be in ethics, 3 hours in the area of social and cultural competence, and 1 hour related to prescription opioid addiction). LSWs who have completed more than the 30 hours during the biennial period may carry over a maximum of 6 surplus hours into the next cycle.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): LCSWs must complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education (5 hours of which must be in ethics, 3 hours in the area of social and cultural competence, and 1 hour related to prescription opioid addiction). At least 20 must be courses or programs related directly to clinical practice. LCSWs who have completed more than the 40 hours during the biennial period may carry over a maximum of 8 surplus hours into the next cycle.
If you obtained a license or certificate after September 1, 2019, you must complete one-half of the minimum required credits of continuing education, of which 3 credits must be related to ethics, 2 credits must be related to social and cultural competence, and one credit must concern prescription opioid drugs. More information about licensing, continuing education requirements, and renewal can be found on our Licensing FAQs page. Additionally, members are welcome to reach out to us for a licensing consultation for any other questions.
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CLASSIFIEDS CLINICAL SUPERVISION CBT Supervision & Training. Congenial group meets every other Friday morning in Cranford. Clinical discussion and suggested readings explore the newest CBT approaches. For further information, contact: Lynn Mollick at LynnMollick@gmail.com or (908) 276-3888. Dr. Mollick is the Co-Founder and Co-Leader of the NJ Association of Cognitive Behavior Therapists.
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NEW JERSEY CONTINUING EDUCATION APROVAL COLLABORATIVE Do you offer professional development courses for social workers? Are you looking to reach more people and increase your revenue? Adding CE credits for social workers is a geat way to do so! The New Jersey Social Work Continuing Education Approval Collaborative (CE Approval Collaborative) is recognized by the New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners as an approving entity for social work CEUs in the State of New Jersey.
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www.naswnj.org/Events
www.naswnj.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/CE-Course-Approval July 2020 | www.naswnj.org 27
Register at: naswnj.org/events
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Nasw-Nj's Virtual Advocacy Day More information on pages 22-23
