Chapter Updates
NASW Alabama
The AL Chapter office was not affected by the storm, but NASW chapter leaders and staff are working to assess how many members are victims of Katrina. The chapter will have a new executive director Oct. 1.
NASW Arizona
The chapter is providing regular updates to its members through its newly re-designed Web site. Click here for more information: http://naswaz.affiniscape.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=81
NASW California
NASW-CA member Joni Diamond said that the number of NASW members responding to the Red Cross was overwhelming. She reported that 80% of the attendees in the Greater Los Angeles Red Cross were both LCSW and NASW members.
NASW Illinois
Executive Director Joel Rubin has sent several e-mails to chapter members with the Red Cross volunteer information.
NASW Louisiana
Executive Director Carmen Weisner has resumed work at the chapter office in
Baton Rouge. Early estimates are that at least one-third of the Louisiana
state membership has been directly impacted (lost homes, jobs, family, et
al) by the tragedy. Carmen asks that only social workers in the Louisiana
area call the phone number previously provided. Additional information about
how social workers from across the country can assist the Louisiana efforts
will be forthcoming. Chapter President Derrick Stevensen says that volunteers
who come to the area should expect to sleep on the floor in one of the shelters,
and that housing is needed for victims and volunteers.
NASW Maryland
NASW-DC Metro President Barbara Strother updated the membership in mid-September about needs at the DC Armory. Department of Mental Health and Red Cross workers assisted and screened people at the location. Many older adults were evacuated to the area, so Adult Protective Services staff were consulted. Volunteer coordinators at the Armory say the greatest need now is job placement assistance.
NASW Massachusetts
NASW-MA Executive Director Carol Trust reported that the state had more volunteers than evacuees at Camp Edwards Air Force Base on Cape Cod. She spent two days at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Boston where a service center was open to deal with folks from the stricken areas who got to Boston on their own, usually because they know someone here or have a family member. The folks who came to the Cape were not told where they were headed until after they got on the plane.
NASW Mississippi
NASW-MS Chapter Executive Director Janice Sandefur reported that the permanent phone number for the Salvation Army Disaster Relief Coordinator in the Mississippi area is 601-969-7560. Since they are rotating staff through the area every two weeks, there's no name to attach to the phone number. Janice’s contact said that she began receiving phone calls from social workers across the nation as soon as the message was posted. Also, the Salvation Army is interested in employing displaced social workers for this effort. Grant assisted compensation is available for these workers. Professionals with Vietnamese language skills are very much in need.
On September 23, the Mississippi Board of Examiners for social workers and marriage and family therapists wrote to all licensed members about renewal extensions. They said that due to the disastrous effects that the Hurricane Katrina left residents of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, the Board is granting a six (6) month extension on the renewal of licenses for social workers and marriage and family therapists who licenses expire on September 30, 2005.
The new deadline for licensure renewal for Katrina victims will be March 30, 2006. If warranted, please be able to show proof of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Board suggests that professionals should submit their renewals as soon as possible to delay any problems you may have with your employer regarding the expiration of your license.
Gift Cards Preferred Over Other Donations
The Mississippi Department of Health Social Work Division is requesting that donations in the form of Gift Cards to the only stores that are open in the area be provided immediately in lieu of other items at this time due to individualized family needs for items as diverse as shovels, bug spray, and school supplies. PLEASE PROVIDE GIFT CARDS IN ANY DENOMINATION TO HOME DEPOT, LOWES, KMART, WALMART, & SAM'S CLUB. These can be mailed to the NASW, MS Chapter, P.O. Box 5599, Pearl, MS 39288.
NASW Nebraska
Ivy Riveland, Operations Coordinator, at the NE Chapter wrote to say that Nebraska State Senator Gwen Howard and others have contacted NASW to coordinate relief efforts. Senator Howard is specifically interested in the children of the disaster.
NASW New York City
Executive Director Bob Schachter circulated a press release issued by t he People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, one of the nation's foremost anti-racist training organizations. The NYC Chapter is working with this group to provide “Undoing Racism” workshops across the country with social workers. The People's Institute organization has called for a full investigation of the federal response to the Katrina catastrophe in Mississippi and Louisiana , and especially in the city of New Orleans . For details, visit www.naswnyc.org
NASW Texas
Executive Director Vicki Hansen, along with the 21 branch chairs, has
been working with local and statewide organizations to provide assistance
to evacuees relocated to Texas. See the chapter’s Web site at www.naswtx.org for
up-to-date details on volunteer needs and chapter outreach. The Texas chapter
has also created a database of members who are willing to house volunteer workers
who come in from other areas. In addition, they have an "Adopt A Social
Worker" for individuals and agencies willing to provide relocation and work
for displaced social workers. An NASW-TX board member,
Margie Aguilar-Desrosiers, has been appointed by El Paso's Mayor John Cook
as Chair of the Mayor's Social Work Disaster Relief Task Force, which is coordinating
services with El Paso MHMR for 460 evacuees. San Antonio Branch Chair Linda
Mockeridge has coordinated the mental health services for the city of San Antonio
relief sites and Darly Beaty, board member from the Central Counties Branch
has been named to coordinate mental health services for that area.
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