Legislative Education Advocacy Day (LEAD)

NASW Kansas is committed to working across sectors and advocating policies, legislation, and programs that promote justice and advance the practice and profession of social work.

For the past 25 years - NASW-KS in collaboration with the Kansas Council on Social Work Education educates over 300 social workers from across the state on the most critical and current issues in the field. The 2024 LEAD (legislative education advocacy day) will once again occur at Washburn University in the morning with the afternoon set aside for meetings with legislators and observing committee meetings.

Social work students travel from across Kansas representing each of the graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Professional social workers are also encouraged to attend and 2.5 CEU's are available for the morning session.

We at NASW-KS want to think broadly and lay a vision for the future of social work. We want to reimagine this field and continue to work towards the day when individuals and communities have equitable resources. One, where policies, laws, and institutions do not exploit, oppress, or further perpetuate harm. However, we cannot do this alone. We need incoming social work professionals and students like you with bold visions to help lead the way!

Advocacy Day Tool Kit - Check back for updates

The Morning Program:

8:30 - Pastry/Fruit Buffet

9:00 - 11:30 - Advocay Skills Training

Washburn University, 1700 SW College Ave, Topeka Memorial Union, Washburn Room A and B - https://www.washburn.edu/about/visit/index.html

Kansas Chapter encourages participants to eat lunch at Washburn University Memorial Union through purchasing food or bringing your lunch due to limited food options near the State Capitol.

Afternoon Program:

12:45 Group Photo in Front of the Capitol (East Side off of SW Jackson)

1:30: Legislative Committees

2:30: Kansas Senate Convenes into Session

Meeting with Legislators (appointments will be made by attendees)

The afternoon is on your own and is focused on meeting with your legislators and attending legislative committee meetings.

This is one of the most important parts of the day for participants to visit the offices of their house and senate representatives and watch a legislative committee meeting or live proceedings on the floor. Kansas Chapter will direct participants once they enter the State Capitol. Participants who come over to the Kansas State Capitol to observe, learn, or meet with their elected officials will receive a Social Work Month memento gift.

Please contact your legislator prior to Advocacy Day to set up a meeting with them.

The following two websites provide their contact information:

https://openstates.org or http://www.kslegislature.org

Address - State Capitol, SW 10th and Jackson entrance is through the Visitor Center on the NORTH side of the capitol. Parking map and locations - https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-parking/11708

Advocacy Day Sponsors

NASW-KS invites you to join us

Friday, January 26th, 2024

12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch and Learn

1 - Hour Virtual CEU

Free for Members

Non Members - $20.00

“The Social Work Compact” 

Kaitlyn Bison, Wendy Funk-Schrag, LMSW, Rep. Susan Ruiz, LSCSW

This virtual zoom lunch and learn will cover the history of the Social Work Licensure Compact, the purpose of the compact, and the process for its approval in the Kansas Legislature.  

Kaitlyn Bison is a Policy Analyst at The Center of Innovation with the Council of State Governments

Representative Susan Ruiz, LSCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and the Ranking Minority Leader of the Health and Human Services Committee. She is also the sponsor of the legislation in the House.

Wendy Funk Schrag, LMSW, ACSW is the Vice President State Government Affairs for Fresenius Medical Care and has worked with legislative compacts across the nation. Wendy also served as the Board President for NASW-KS Chapter.

A Zoom link will be emailed to all participants the day before the event.

Clinical Private Practice Committee

Have you thought about going into private practice?

Are you interested in clinical social work practice?

Are you wanting support or resources for your clinical practice? 

This Committee meets on a quarterly basis and is an excellent opportunity for NASW members to share resources and support each other whether you are thinking about going into private practice or currently working in an agency as a clinical social worker.

Currently Meeting by Zoom -The groups meets every three months.

All meetings are held Fridays from 3:00PM - 4:30PM CT

Jan 19th, 2024

Apr 19th, 2024

Aug 23rd, 2024

Oct 18th, 2024

Please email Becky Fast – if you are interested in attending this Committee meeting

“Guide to Opening a Private Practice”

This handbook is an informative resource put together by the Committee who are experienced clinical social workers working in private practice.

Starting a Private Practice Business here 

NASW Member Benefit

Don't Miss Our Regular Member Meetups

May 12th - Noon - 1 pm - (1 Hr Free CEU)

Kansas Legislative WrapUp

What advanced and what didn't during the 2023 Session regarding mental health care, social services, welfare reform, and social work licensing.

Presenters: 

Representative Heather Meyers - a social worker and the Ranking Minority Vice Chair of the Welfare Reform Committee.

Amy Campbell - Government Relations Director for Kansas Mental Health Coalition.

Join NASW and connect with fellow Kansas NASW members for an informal virtual lunch and learn. The member meetups provide information on a variety of topics and focus on sharing resources and practice wisdom.

KS Chapter members bring resources, experience, and questions on social work practice with adults, children, and families during for a hour of support and connection at noon.

KS NASW Members receive discount code contact bfast.naswks@socialworkers.org for code.

This virtual training meets KS BSRB CEU. It also meets MO licensure requirements for suicide assessment and treatment.

Presentation Title

“The Opposite of Suicide”

Learning objectives:

Participants of all identities and experiences will benefit personally and professionally:

1) Gaining increased understanding, comfort, and inspiration for their personal and professional experiences with suicide

2.Identifying how Social Work Values and Ethical Principles plus a Solution-Focus are essential for reducing USA’s high rates of suicide attempts and deaths

3. Gaining familiarity with a diverse range of USA-based resources for support, information, and training on reducing suicide risk and providing support for suicide grief

Speaker:

Ms. Epstein brings decades of experience in the USA-and-beyond “suicide prevention” community. She is also a social worker who lives with suicide grief for family, and friends, including mental health professionals.  Her areas of special expertise include reducing suicide risk, support for grief after suicide or death from other causes, and support for trans and nonbinary youth and adults.  Ms. Epstein served as a volunteer counselor, then as Director for 34 years, of Headquarters Counseling Center, now known as KSPHQ, which serves Kansas on 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  Since December 2013, her social work is with teens and adults, and she offers support groups, retreats, workshops, and special events. She also provides consultation and training.  Her groups include Healing After Suicide Loss, for suicide grief; Stayin' Alive, for living with suicide thoughts, self-harm, and attempts; and Thriving Family-Friends, for supporting suicidal loved ones. Ms. Epstein is: a member of the leadership team of the international Coalition of Clinician Survivors (of Suicide Loss)Task Force; a founding member of the international community PAUSE, People Addressing and Understanding Suicide Experiences; a member of the Steering Committee of NAMI Douglas County, Kansas; and a member of the Thriving: Grief Support Team of The Light Center in Douglas County, Kansas.  She is also the host of a podcast and events at "The Intersection of Art and Emotional Well-Being.”  Ms. Epstein, her husband, and their Rainn Beau pup live in an 1880’s home in Lawrence, Kansas.  For more about Ms. Epstein: https://MarciaEpstein.biz

For the past 20 years - NASW-KS Chapter together with the Kansas Council on Social Work Education has come together for networking and advocacy training. Each year social work students have traveled from across Kansas representing each of the graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. This year the event will be virtual. Professional social workers are also encouraged to attend and 3 CEU's are available for the morning session.

Check your email and look at your spam folder as zoom credentials have been emailed out and will be emailed out several times if you have registered.

Virtual Event 

8:15 am - Please LOG IN AT THIS TIME 

Check your email and look at your spam folder as zoom credentials have been emailed out if you have registered.

8:30 am - 

The morning will begin with singer/songwriter and social worker Joy Zimmerman.

8:45 - 11:30 am - Annual Advocacy Day Skills Training 

Please join together with social work students, faculty, and social workers from across Kansas. The event will focus on what is happening in the Kansas Legislature and strategies for social workers to advocate for change. 

This virtual training will be held together and sponsored by the OK NASW Chapter. The training will focus on the NASW Code of Ethics and the changes on the Code of Ethics pertaining to self-care. The training will provide 2 hours of ethics.

Now more than ever before behavioral and healthcare providers are experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout, in a climate that requires providers to be at their best self. Join us as we look at compassion fatigue and burnout, the importance of self are and look at ways we as providers can be our best in this difficult environment.

-Identify the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout 

-Recognize the ethical impact of compassion fatigue

-Identify the ethical importance of self-care

About Charles

Charles B. Cobble is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Board Certified Diplomate with 5 years of experience working with a diverse and complex population.

Charles graduated from University of Tennessee Knoxville with a MSSW and a Certificate in Gerontology. Charles currently works as a Homeless Social Worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs and serves as a First Lieutenant with the Tennessee Army National Guard as a Behavioral Health Officer meeting the complex needs of over 1500 soldiers and recently returned from a deployment in Kuwait. Charles is also an adjunct faculty member at Tennessee Technological University where he teaches Social Work courses and provides consultation on the Social Work academic structure.

This virtual training meets KS BSRB CEU requirements and MO licensure requirements for suicide assessment and treatment.

On the average there are 123 suicides per day. There are 25 attempts for every one completion. Suicide affects all ages and groups. When people die by suicide, their family and friends can experience shock, anger, guilt, and depression. To reduce the potential for suicide during these crises, it is crucial to decrease stress, anxiety, fears and loneliness. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background, so knowing the warning signs and what resources are available can help save lives.

TWO HOUR CEU:

PRESENTED BY

PHELICA A. GLASS, LSCSW

Private practice clinical social worker in Topeka, Kansas

DISCUSSION POINTS

Importance of Treatment Planning

Depression and Anxiety Assessments

Messages Heard About Suicide

Administering the Columbia –Suicide Severity Rating Scale

Benefits of the Treatment Plan

Case Scenarios

Developing the Treatment Plan

Learning Objectives

Participants will review the purpose of the treatment plan.

Participants will discuss the use of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

Participants will explore the importance of culturally competent client driven treatment plans.

Participants will explore the importance of the impact of suicide nonwhite youth and adults

NASW Members: Please join us for an open discussion and opportunity to network and to collaborate with colleagues!

Don't Miss Our Upcoming Member Meetups

Receive a Free CEU

Meet - Connect - Share - Learn

Join us and connect with fellow Kansas NASW members for an informal virtual lunch and learn. The upcoming monthly discussion topic will focus on s

April 23 - Noon - 1 pm

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders

May 14th - Noon - 1 pm

Building your toolkit - confronting trauma and compassion fatigue

June 11th - Noon - 1 pm

"Family Systems Therapy - Techniques and Interventions”

Please bring any resources, ideas, and questions that you may to share with colleagues.

Please email Becky Fast - NASW-KS Executive Director below to register and you will receive the zoom link when the date arrives.

Need Your 3 Ethics Hours?

Looking for Variety and Unique Training Opportunity

Join NASW KS Chapter and NASW-OK Members for this unique opportunity.

6 CEU Hours for the Day

3 General CEUs for the Morning and 3 Ethics CEUs in Afternoon

Half Day or Full Day Registration Available Here

1) Person First Language in Psychosocial Rehabilitation

09:00 AM - 10:30 AM

James L. Smith, MSW Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Performance Improvement Coordinator at NorthCare Mental Health Services

1)      Understand definition of “Person First Language”

2)      Understand differences between treatment and recovery

3)      Be familiar with elements of Inclusion & Diversity in language

4)      Understand elements of discrimination in language

5)      Know the difference between “Identity-first” and “Person-First” language, and how each used 

2) How Social Workers are Navigating Advance Care Planning During COVID-19

10:40 AM - 12:10 PM

Dr. Tina L. Peterson, PhD, MPH, CSW, LMSW, Norman, Oklahoma

OU Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work Associate Professor

1.     Describe what is known about advance care planning across the lifespan  

2.     Discuss how technology is impacting conversations about advance care planning

3.     Identify promising approaches to initiating conversations about advance care planning 

Ethics and Clinical - CEUS - 3 Hours for Afternoon Session

3) Growing Up and Out: Helping Traumatized Youth Become Successful

01:00 PM - 02:30 PM

Amber Jewell, LMSW (NASW-KS Board Member)

LeRoy, KS - School Social Worker| Private Therapist| Motivational Speaker| Author|

1) Learn biopsychosocial phases of childhood to adulthood.

2) Explore independent living skills and tools for youth transitions.

3) Identify tools that will work with youth transitioning to adulthood

4) Ethical Decision Making and the NASW Code of Ethics with social work practice

4) Assessment and intervention: SUICIDE PREVENTION

02:45 PM - 04:15 PM

Phelica A. Glass, LSCSW, GCCAC, FAAGC, CSOTP

Private Practice, Topeka, KS - (NASW-KS Board Member)

1)Participants will review the purpose of the treatment plan.

2) Participants will discuss the use of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

3) Participants will explore the importance of culturally competent client driven treatment plans.

4) Ethical Decision Making and the NASW Code of Ethics with social work practice

ANNUAL SOCIAL WORK ADVOCACY DAY #SWLEADTHEWAY

Please log in at 9:30 am. Headliner event starts at 9:45 am.

6 Diagnosis and Assessment CEUs available

Speakers: 

Rhonda Weimer, LCSW, LSCSW
Dr. Tami Radohl, PhD, LSCSW

Goals: 

Recognize diagnostic criteria between TBI, Depression, Anxiety, Autism, and ADHD.

Understand signs and symptomology of each diagnosis.

Identify potential treatment approaches for TBI, and how to partner with physicians and mental health professionals. 

Please email Becky Fast – for questions and virtual zoom link will be emailed out prior to the trainig

The COVID-19 pandemic has left us all yearning for days of the past when we were able to safely attend activities with friends and family. In the past months, many social workers have lost clients, friends and family members. This profound grief, stress, and loss of normalcy have created an environment where we as a profession and our clients are mourning their loved ones, old roles, rituals, and routines.

This 3-hour CEU - workshop “Grief and Loss during Covid-19” is a live interactive workshop, about what grief looks like throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how we as professionals can be proactive in caring for ourselves, our loved ones, and those we help in our practice. 

 Three Hour CEUs:

Goals: 

1)    Define grief, loss, and mourning.

2)    Construct strategies to help process emotions of grief and ways to cope in this new way of life.

3)    Learn the importance of grieving loss and building resilience during this chaotic time. 

4)    Provide tools to cope with grief and loss plus discuss ways to navigate change.

Presenter:

Matthew Benorden, LMSW, M.Div., CT

 Matthew, who is certified in Thanantology (the study of death, dying, and bereavement), has been speaking on this topic for over 14 years.  After being a pastor and chaplain for over 20 years, he earned his Master of Social Work degree from Washburn University.  Matthew currently serves as a social worker within the criminal justice system.  He is the vice president on the board of directors for the Kansas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).  

Interactive Zoom Live CEU Opportunity

Instructor: Steven Pharris, LCSW, JD

Experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a demonstrated history of working in Nonprofit Organizations, Crisis Intervention, Case Management, Team Building, and Public Speaking. Strong education professional with a Doctor of Jurisprudence focused in Law from Nashville School of Law and Master of Social Work from Spalding University.

• Basic principles underlying ethical thinking

• How to identify ethical dilemmas in our social work practice

• Differentiating Legal, Moral and Ethical dilemmas

• Our obligations under our Code of Ethics and State Licensure for ethical practice

• Throughout, there will be ample opportunities for participant input, and many examples from social work practice will be provided for discussion

Provide plenty of time for sharing your ideas and asking questions. After the training, we hope that you will feel more knowledgeable with the complex situations that come up in your area of practice.

Please email Becky Fast – for questions and virtual link will be emailed prior to the event.

March is Social Work Month.

The Social Work Month website offers the theme rationale, and downloadable logos and special graphics giving social workers and their allies tips on how to stand up for the profession. Social Work Month-related merchandise is also available.