Sam Hickman, executive director of NASW-WV, participated in this event:
Groups call on West Virginia leaders to be ‘a Santa not a Scrooge’ on COVID relief
WVNews
Representatives of West Virginia community organizations delivered a holiday-themed message to Gov. Jim Justice and the state’s congressional representatives during a virtual press conference Wednesday morning. The groups — which included the West Virginia Council of Churches, the West Virginia Sierra Club and the Kanawha County chapter of the NAACP — urged the state’s leaders to “be a Santa, not a Scrooge, on COVID relief.”

Support Made Available For Educators
Livingston Enterprise
The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), in partnership with several statewide organizations, announced the COVID-19 Emotional Support Line is now available for all Tennessee educators.… In May, the COVID-19 Emotional Support Line was created by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, along with the Mental Health Active Response Team (MHART), the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addictions Services (TAADAS), National Association of Social Workers-TN Chapter (NASW-TN), for healthcare workers and first responders who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Pandemic Creates Push for Increased Hospice Caregiver Respite
Hospice News
The study, conducted between May 15 and June 15, 2020, examined the trajectory of the pandemic during what researchers called a period of transition for hospice providers. Study authors surveyed more than 200 hospice social workers who are members of the National Association of Social Workers listserv, as well as social media sites associated with Social Work Community, Hospice Social Workers, the Society for Social Worker Leadership, Social Workers in Nursing Facilities and Health Care, and the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network.

JaeHee Chung Sherman, Ali Ramos, and Steven Lee Parks are members:
Don’t mess with Texas social workers
Science Line
When JaeHee (Melanie) Chung-Sherman checked her email on Oct. 12, 2020, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Sitting in her inbox was a message from Will Francis, the executive director for the National Association of Social Workers, Texas Chapter (NASWTX). The subject line: “Loss of Discriminations Protections.” At a routine meeting of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, which regulates social work practice, an eleventh-hour rule change from Governor Greg Abbott’s office was accepted into the Social Work Code of Conduct. “We will fight this,” read Francis’ email, “and we will ask your help in doing so.”

Tracye Polson is a member:
Why Focusing On Women, Girls Could Reduce Gun Violence
Youth Today
Tracye Polson, a local therapist and clinical social worker who specializes in trauma, said people have to travel 10 miles outside of ZIP codes with the highest rates of violence for mental health care, which can be hard for minors and families without reliable transportation. “If you are a young girl or a young woman and you’ve been subjected to gun violence and you’re in the Durkeeville area, there are very few resources for you,” she said. Durkeeville’s ZIP code, 32209, routinely has among the highest rates of gun violence in the city.

Sandra Edmonds Crewe is a member:
Howard University School of Social Work Dean Sandra Edmonds Crewe, Ph.D., MSW, Receives Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award
Howard Newsroom
Howard University School of Social Work Dean Sandra Edmonds Crewe, Ph.D., MSW, is the recipient of the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award. The award benefits teachers who have inspired their students to make a significant contribution to society and includes a $25,000 cash prize. Crewe was nominated for the award by her former student, Florence Champagne, MSW.

Mary White is a member:
Army Vet, Single Mom Bounces Back From Homelessness
Bay News 9
Entering her new home for the time was a long time coming for Mary White. The Army veteran and single mother overcame homelessness to purchase a new home through Habitat for Humanity. “Overwhelmed. Excited. Just overall happy. It’s a big day,” White said.… Now working for the VA as a social worker, White is excited to start their new life together, at home. “The end goal was home ownership. So this is the dream come true,” White said.

Margaret Cochran is a member:
How to Overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder (Especially During COVID)
Parentology
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is estimated to affect about 10 million Americans. Traditionally most people feel the effects during winter months, but that’s not always the case — especially right now when COVID is wreaking havoc on people’s mental health. How can you determine if you or your child may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder and how do you overcome it? While SAD is most commonly associated with adults, kids can also fall victim. Dr. Margaret Cochran, psychotherapist and LCSW tells Parentology that teens are not immune.

Sheryl Neverson is a member:
Department of Employment Services partners with community organization to help DC area youth
WTOP
The organizer and activist said he’s also enlisted the help of mental health professional Dr. Sheryl Neverson, a licensed clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health. He said Neverson is able to “connect with young people in a way where they don’t feel like they have a disease or something is wrong with them.”

Stacey Henson is a member:
Parenting With Agoraphobia Is Hard. It’s Harder in a Pandemic.
The New York Times
According to Stacey Henson, a licensed clinical social worker and community outreach coordinator at Orlando Recovery Center in Florida, navigating the new reality of a pandemic can be challenging for anyone, but especially for those struggling with mental health issues like agoraphobia. “In general, any significant change in our daily coping activities is going to impact us in how we manage our mental health day to day,” Henson said. “It causes people to fall back into old behaviors, things that were maybe more comfortable, even if they’re not healthier choices for us.”

Haverhill police want to add therapist to ride with officers
HomeNewsHere.com
Police in Haverhill are asking the city to hire a therapist to ride along with officers and respond to calls involving people in mental or emotional distress. Police Chief Alan DeNaro made the request at last week’s City Council meeting, the Eagle-Tribune reported. The council voted to submit a letter asking the mayor to approve the hire. DeNaro’s proposal would hire a licensed clinical social worker to ride with officers 40 hours a week. The idea was recommended by local health officials and could help defuse tense situations, he said.

Heidi Pritzl is a member:
[Audio] Finding the Right Mindset: Learning to Enjoy Winter
WXPR
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that’s related to the change in seasons. Symptoms usually start up in the fall and continue through the winter.
“Some of those symptoms that you may see is increase in isolation. Feelings of loneliness. Maybe some changes in sleep. We may see some increase in stress and fatigue,” said Heidi Pritzl. Pritzl is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Ascension Kohler Behavioral Health in Eagle River and Woodruff. She recommends seeking medical attention if the symptoms last for weeks or if they’re impacting how you live.

Nani Moskal is a member:
What Parents Need To Know About Teens ‘Cutting’
Yahoo Life
Scary Mommy talked with Nani Moskal, LCSW, QMHP-C, a licensed clinical social worker and adolescent counselor at FCCR in Richmond, Virginia via email, who told us the most important thing you can do for a teen who is cutting is to get them some support — without judging them. Simply ask them what you can do to help, and then really listen to what they say. Other great tips are encouraging them to seek professional help, focus on their strength, and make sure you get some professional help for yourself and learn as much as you can about self-harm.

Cynthia Newton is a member:
In rural Texas, ‘they’re angry at COVID.’ A small-town counselor treats the grieving
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Out here, there’s all this anger,” said Cynthia N. Newton, a traveling counselor from Comanche with a weekly radio show and a sturdy Chevy Traverse to help her reach anyone needing mental health treatment across four counties from Hamilton to Eastland. “They’re angry at COVID,” she said. “They’re angry at all the unanswered questions left behind. We all know anger is a stage of grief — that’s what we’re all experiencing.”Top of Form