NASW-NYC Chapter Committees

 

NASW-NYC has a number of committees that meet regularly and offer opportunities for involvement in a specific area of social work concern, as well as for networking and professional development.  Committees may be viewed as task-oriented groups that serve the Chapter's members, NASW as a whole, and the broader social work community in New York City.

COMMITTEES

 

 

Addictions Committee

By Marc J. Raybin, LCSW – Chair

The Addictions Committee provides various social work opportunities, including clinical skills development, networking and mutual support, gaining free CASAC credits, involvement in policy initiatives, and conference organizing. There are three subcommittees: Addictions Institute Planning, Peer Consultation, and Policy. The Institute Planning Subcommittee organizes the Annual Addictions Institute, known for over 30 years as a resource on addiction research, treatment, and governmental policies. This year’s conference on June 1st features the theme “The Stages of Addiction Treatment and Social Work Practice: From Prevention to Aftercare.” 

The Peer Consultation Subcommittee provides free confidential telephone consultation to social workers dealing with their own substance abuse problem or that of a colleague or family member. Voicemail or e-mail messages, (212) 747-1777 or peerconsultation@yahoo.com, are accessed only by experienced Peer Consultation Committee members. The Subcommittee also supports meetings of “Social Workers Helping Social Workers,” a confidential peer support group for social work students and professionals.

The Policy Subcommittee is working on two main goals. To promote the first one, reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. The second goal, expanded training and education of social workers about addiction, will involve partnering with other organizations.

Meetings are held at the Chapter office monthly on the fourth Wednesday; November and December meetings are held on the third Wednesday. Starting at 9:15 am, a business meeting is followed by a presentation on such topics as HIV/AIDS, Family Systems Therapy, and Rational Emotive Behavior therapy.

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Future of Social Work in Hospitals Task Force

By Frances Gautieri, ACSW, LCSW - Chair

This task force is a joint initiative of NASW-NYC and 1199 SEIU, Professional Technical Unit and is made up of social work leadership and line staff from a representative group of voluntary and public hospitals in New York City. There is coordination on policy issues with the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, Metropolitan New York Chapter. As hospitals and health care settings continue to experience major changes in organizational structure and service delivery models, the essential role of professional social work in this large sector of practice has been repeatedly challenged. The task force serves an important function by promoting the visibility of social work in health care, highlighting the leadership role that social workers perform within interdisciplinary teams including clinical, case management, program development, and community outreach services, as well as our unique skills in bridging the continuum of care to the benefit of patients, families, and  health care systems. For more information, please contact Fran Gautieri at fandgbrown@msn.com.

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Latino Social Work Task Force

By Maria Elena Girone, CEO and Robert S. Schachter, DSW, LMSW – Co-Chairs

The Latino Social Work Task Force (LSWTF) was founded out of a joint collaboration between the Puerto Rican Family Institute (PRFI), a New York-based non-profit health and human services organization and the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NYC).  The Task Force is a leadership group that includes the deans and administrators from six of New York City’s graduate schools of social work, leaders in the Latino community and executives of Latino community-based organizations and other major social service agencies. The LSWTF recognizes the shortage of culturally and linguistically competent professionals to address the complex needs of New York’s diverse, largely immigrant, low-income, and rapidly-growing Latino community, and has worked strategically since 2002 to meet this need.  To date, the Task Force has raised over $200,000 in funds for scholarships for Latino men and women pursuing their MSWs through a yearly fund-raising event, as well as grant writing endeavors and lobbying. For more information about the accomplishments and activities of the LSWTF, please contact Dr. Robert Schacter at schachter@naswnyc.org.

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International Affairs Committee

By Patricia Dawson, LCSW and Moira Curtain, LCSW-R, - Co-Chairs


The NYC NASW International Affairs Committee is a network of diverse social workers, social work faculty and students interested in maintaining a global perspective on issues relating to social work through education, advocacy, and career development.


The purpose of the committee is to: promote activities which focus on issues concerning cultural diversity, immigrants and refugees, social development, and international social welfare; provide a place where career opportunities can be explored within an international context; promote educational exchanges with other social workers worldwide; and advocate for fair and just international social welfare policy.


Over the past few years, the International Affairs Committee has sponsored and co-sponsored a range of events representing a wide array of interest from social workers of all fields of practice. Highlights include:


   • Iraq Forum: Social Work Responses in Iraq and NYC

    • Next Stop NYC: Responding to Traumas of Past Present and Future Refugees
  • Addressing Domestic Violence in Immigrant Communities: Implications for Multicultural

    Practice

   • Trauma Experiences of Adolescent Immigrants


Each year, the committee has supported the representation of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) to the United Nations with volunteers and outreach for Social Work Day at the United Nations.


Social workers and social work students who volunteer their time and energy to help in all aspects of program development coordinate programs.

 To learn about the committee, upcoming meetings and events and join our mailing list, please click here.

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The Disaster Trauma Working Group
By Madelyn Miller, LCSW, - Chair


The Disaster Trauma Working Group has been meeting since 1997 to support social workers’ interest and experience in disaster trauma work. DTWG began in response to the TWA 800 aviation disaster, to offer social workers an ongoing context of support and learning. A collaborative relationship was developed with the American Red Cross of Greater New York at that time.


Bimonthly DTWG meetings focus on comparative disaster experience, related trauma and loss issues, and importantly, address the impact of such work on ourselves. Meetings generally include a presentation, an accompanying reading list, and open discussion. A local and global focus regarding disaster tragedies and challenges facing disaster workers is framed within a historical context.


Since September 11, 2001, DTWG has offered training on the unique dynamics of terrorism, our expanded roles in responding to the collective impact of mass violence, and our dual experience as survivors and service providers. Anniversary meetings continue to mark the passage of time through reflection and remembrance. And the context of war, occupation, and human rights violations is acknowledged.


With a current focus on the future, and disaster preparedness planning, DTWG continues to incorporate a public health perspective, considering the well being of the broad community as well as individuals. Synthesizing lessons learned in the past two years, our focus is on development of new response initiatives and continued collaborative efforts.
All social workers are invited to meetings.

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Gerontological Social Work Committee

By Peter Martin, MSW, and Jeannine Melly, MPA ,- Co-Chairs

The Gerontological Social Work Committee (GSWC) meets quarterly to address practice and policy issues of work with aging populations. Recent meeting topics have included the Age-Friendly Cities Project, NYC budget update, and housing and homelessness.  Each meeting includes time for networking and reports from the standing subcommittees: Workforce, Legislative, Long Term Care, Mental Health, and Diversity.  Past Committee initiatives have included the Salary/Workforce Survey and a Workforce/Licensing Conference. The survey explored five areas: salary and benefits, education and licensing, agency and private practice settings, demographic information, and interest in the Gerontological Social Work Committee. New initiatives will be launched for this coming year. Regardless of one’s field of practice, most social workers deal with issues associated with aging at some point in their careers. The Gerontological Social Work Committee welcomes participants to its meetings and invites questions and comments regarding issues relevant to work with senior populations.  For more information, please contact co-chairs, Jeannine Melly at jmelly@NYAM.org and Peter Martin at petersmail@verizon.net.

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NASW-NYC PACE (Political Action For Candidate Election)

By Joan Serrano Laufer, ACSW, LMSW, and Mary T. Harrington, LCSW - Co-Chairs

NASW-NYC PACE is the independent political arm of the Chapter.  PACE identifies qualified candidates running for local and state offices and garners support for them among the Chapter membership. PACE endorses candidates who espouse social work values and who work to promote both professional goals, such as loan forgiveness and licensing, and client centered goals such as mental health parity and repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Through funding from a small voluntary portion of annual membership dues, NASW-NYC PACE is able to contribute to candidates. NASW-NYC PACE also mobilizes social workers to participate in political campaigns through the use of social work skills including planning, organizing, motivating, and working within systems. The Committee’s mission includes educating and involving social workers in the political process. NASW-NYC PACE generally meets at the Chapter office from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. E-mail pace@naswnyc.org for more information.

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New Professionals Task Force

By Alison Franks, MSW and Ricardo Torres, MSW - Co-Chairs

The New Professionals Task Force (NPTF) was formed in 2006 to help early career social workers negotiate the often difficult transition from school to the professional workforce.  Through educational and social events, the NPTF has worked to develop leadership capacity, address workforce conditions, and deepen connections among early career social workers in New York City.  The NPTF is governed by a 15 person steering committee, has annual meetings and alternating monthly educational and social meet-ups, participates in NASW-NYC events, and visits several schools of social work each year to speak with current students.  The NPTF is currently developing a mentoring program for early career social workers and is planning workshops on career development, licensing, and community organizing.  For more information, please e-mail the Task Force at new.professionals.task.force@gmail.com.

 

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Nursing Home Committee

By Wayne Orlowitz, LMSW, and Ricky Cosenza, ACSW - Co-Chairs


The Nursing Home Committee consists of social workers employed in various long-term care facilities in New York City, public proprietary and voluntary auspices, as well as representatives from consumer organizations and the New York City Department for the Aging.  The NASW-NYC Nursing Home Committee holds quarterly meetings over the program year. One is an annual meeting to discuss Nursing Home Surveillance conducted by Federal and State regulatory agencies with a focus on social work’s role. A second annual meeting is a joint meeting with the NASW-NYC Gerontological Social Workers Committee to review long-term care policy and practice issues. Other meeting agendas include the goal of improving social work practice and working with consumer groups in terms of client advocacy.  For more information please contact co-chairs, Wayne Orlowitz at (718) 961-1212 ext 1153 and Ricky Consenza at Rcosenza@qbecf.com.

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Private Practitioners Group

By Lynne Spevack, LCSW, Chair

The Private Practitioners Group (PPG) provides a forum for social workers in private practice in which to exchange resources, learn from and support one another, and combat isolation and network, focusing primarily on the non-clinical aspects of private practice.  PPG members get together “virtually” by email and in monthly meetings. Over 500 PPG members correspond via an occasional, moderated e-mail “digest” containing members’ posts about locating resources, news pertinent to private practitioners, and  an informative “Private Practice Tip.” Each month about 25 members gather at the Chapter office for in-person meetings. Each meeting is freestanding, providing information about a specific topic such as practice building, navigating insurance, getting started in private practice, and tax preparation. LCSWs in part-time and full-time private practice and LCSWs contemplating beginning a private practice are welcome to join the PPG by contacting the chairperson, Lynne Spevack, LCSW at LynneSpevack@aol.com  or (718) 377-3400. For more information see “Chapter Committess and Task Forces” at www.naswnyc.org.

 

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LGBT Social Work Committee

By Amanda A. Saake, LMSW, and James Holmes, MSW, - Co-Chairs

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Committee of NASW NYC’s mission is to:

•  Provide LGBT social workers and social work students with a peer network that  promotes connection, positive interaction and mutual support 

•  Celebrate the contributions LGBT social workers make to the profession  

•  Provide continuing education in order to empower social workers to better serve the needs of  LGBT clients and expand their clinical and community based practice  

• Promote social justice on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people  

• Support research that contributes to the existing body of social work knowledge with an emphasis on LGBT cultural competency.

Committee meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, from September to May, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th Street, NYC. To join our listserv and to access information on Committee activities, please go to the website at lgbtnasw@yahoo.com.

 

 

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