Please note that by joining the "friends of NASW-PA list" you will not get all the exclusive information as member would. To stay in the loop with NASW-PA we suggest you becoming a member.

If you have a question about membership please email Rachel Rhodes at rrhodes.naswpa@socialworkers.org.

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Champions of Change: How Community Action Shapes Child Welfare

Communities play a vital role in transforming the lives of vulnerable children. Communities can significantly impact children's futures by coming together to provide support, guidance, and resources. This article, presented by The National Association of Social Workers, explores how local initiatives and community efforts can create positive change for vulnerable children.

Mentoring and Supporting Vulnerable Children

Local volunteers who mentor and support vulnerable children provide invaluable guidance, academic help, and positive role models. As a volunteer, you can help a child with homework, teach them new skills, or simply be there to listen. Your involvement can build a child's confidence and encourage them to pursue their dreams. By being a consistent presence in their lives, you show them that someone cares, which can make a significant difference in their development.

Providing Essential Resources

Community support networks offer crucial resources like food, clothing, educational materials, and counseling services to children and families in need. You can participate in or organize drives to collect these items, ensuring children have what they need to thrive. Community centers and local organizations often collaborate to distribute these resources, helping alleviate some of the burdens vulnerable families face. Contributing to these efforts, you help create a safety net for children who might otherwise go without.

Starting a Nonprofit to Help Vulnerable Children

Launching a nonprofit to help vulnerable children allows you to make a structured and sustained impact. You can begin by identifying your community's specific needs and developing programs to address them. Applying for grants and public funding is often easier for nonprofits. When starting a nonprofit through ZenBusiness, you'll need to create bylaws that explain how your organization will run. These bylaws should cover governance, board meetings, voting procedures, and handling conflicts of interest. A clear structure makes your nonprofit more attractive to donors and funding agencies. To further market your nonprofit, use social media and local media outlets to spread the word about your mission and activities.

Offering Safe and Educational Activities

Community-run workshops or clubs focusing on arts, sciences, or sports give kids a safe, educational, and fun environment. These activities can spark interest in new hobbies, promote teamwork, and improve social skills. You can help organize or lead these workshops, creating opportunities for children to learn and grow outside the classroom. Offering these experiences contributes to a child's overall development and well-being.

Providing Educational Opportunities

Community-funded scholarship initiatives offer educational opportunities to academically gifted children from vulnerable backgrounds. By donating to or helping to raise funds for these scholarships, you can ensure that talented children have the chance to pursue higher education and achieve their full potential. Scholarships can cover tuition, school supplies, and other educational expenses, removing financial barriers that might prevent children from continuing their education.

Promoting Health and Wellness

Events organized by local health professionals offer free medical check-ups, mental health counseling, and wellness activities for children in underserved areas. You can help by volunteering or promoting these events within your community. Access to healthcare is crucial for the well-being of vulnerable children, and these events ensure they receive the necessary medical attention and support. By participating, you help bridge the gap in healthcare access and contribute to a healthier community.

Ensuring Safety and Security

Neighborhood watch programs, child safety workshops, and collaborative efforts with local law enforcement create a safer environment for children. You can get involved by organizing or joining these programs, working to raise awareness about safety issues and preventive measures. These initiatives help protect children from harm and create a secure community where they can grow and thrive.

Communities have the power to make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children. By getting involved in local initiatives, providing essential resources, and promoting safety and wellness, you contribute to a supportive environment where children can flourish. Your efforts and those of others in your community can transform the lives of children in need and create a brighter future for everyone.

The National Association of Social Workers is here to support social workers and encourage excellence in our field. Call 717-232-4125.

Unveiling the Veil: Understanding and Controlling Access to Your Medical Data

In the digital age, the security and privacy of medical data are paramount. As healthcare systems integrate more technology, the potential for data breaches or unauthorized access escalates. Knowing who has access to your medical information and exerting control over its dissemination is crucial for maintaining your privacy. This article, presented by the NASW Pennsylvania Chapter, explores practical strategies for identifying which entities have access to your medical data and outlines proactive measures you can take to protect your sensitive information.

Conduct a Medical Data Audit

Understanding which companies can access your medical data begins with a comprehensive audit of your medical records.

●      Request Your Data: Start by requesting your health records from your healthcare provider. In many jurisdictions, you are entitled to this information under the law.

●      Review Insurance Claims: Examine your past insurance claims to see which data was shared and with whom.

●      Check Health App Permissions: If you use health apps on your smartphone, review the permissions you’ve granted. These apps may share your data with third parties.

Know Your Rights Under Privacy Laws

Educating yourself about the legal protections you have can empower you to better manage access to your data.

●      Understand HIPAA or Equivalent: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs the use and sharing of personal health information in the U.S. Familiarize yourself with these rights or the equivalent in your country.

●      State-Specific Rights: Some regions have additional protections or rights concerning health data. Research and understand these specifics.

●      Data Breach Notifications: Be aware of your right to be notified of a security breach affecting your data.

Protecting Your Medical Documents

Securing your physical and digital medical documents is essential for protecting your medical data. This fundamental action ensures the confidentiality of your sensitive information.

●      Use Secure Storage Solutions: Keep physical documents in a secure location, such as a locked cabinet or safe.

●      Digital Security Measures: You can PDF convert files with this tool and save critical documents as secure, password-protected PDFs to prevent unauthorized access.

●      Regularly Update Passwords: Change passwords for online health accounts and documents periodically and use strong, unique combinations.

Limit Data Sharing

Exercise caution when sharing your medical information to minimize exposure. Carefully consider who gains access to your data and under what circumstances.

●      Directly Manage Consents: Only give consent for data sharing when absolutely necessary and manage these consents through your healthcare provider’s patient portal.

●      Question the Need for Sharing: When asked to share your medical information, always ask why it is needed, how it will be used, and how it will be protected.

●      Opt Out Where Possible: Many organizations will provide an option to opt out of data sharing. Take advantage of these provisions to protect your privacy.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Utilize technology to bolster the security of your medical data. This proactive approach can significantly mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access.

●      Enable Two-Factor Authentication: This process adds an extra layer of security to any online health-related services.

●      Use Encrypted Communication Channels: When discussing your health information electronically, use end-to-end encryption services.

●      Regular Software Updates: Keep your software and applications updated to protect against vulnerabilities that could be exploited to access your data.

In today's interconnected world, taking proactive steps to protect your medical data is more critical than ever. Understanding your rights, conducting regular audits, and utilizing secure practices for handling and sharing your medical information can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Empower yourself with knowledge and tools to maintain control over your most sensitive information, ensuring peace of mind about your medical data security.

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about our association? Visit NASW-PA.org today!

Article Written by: Nora Hood, Three Daily

June Membership Spotlight: Haylee Kirschner

ABOUT HAYLEE

Haylee is an LCSW working in an in-center Dialysis unit serving over 100 patients with End Stage Renal Disease. Previously she worked in a school based behavioral health program.

By Ned Bloom, American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region

www.Ned.Bloom@redcross.org

Everybody has heard the words “Red Cross.” But do you know the whole story. Let’s start with two facts:

Fact #1: The Red Cross is the country’s largest humanitarian service, but we receive zero dollars from the US government. In fact, we are not affiliated with the government in any capacity. We have turned this into a positive, allowing us to help anybody at any time, without concern regarding a person’s nationality, citizenship level, where they are from, where they are going, income level, etc. None of this matters. Our sole mission is to alleviate human suffering.

Fact #2: Nearly 90% of the Red Cross workforce is comprised of volunteers. This is where you may fit in. As a social worker, you have a unique set of skills that can help fill key volunteer roles in your community.

Recovery Client Care Program Service Associates, part of our Disaster Cycle Services department, work closely with individuals and families impacted by disasters. These life-changing events include everything from single home fires to large scale national disasters. Volunteers in this role advocate for their clients, guiding them through their recovery phase. This support can be provided virtually from your home or place of work or face-to-face with the clients at a Red Cross facility or shelter with most volunteers helping 3-5 hours a week, always on your schedule and availability.

Hero Care Network Caseworkers, part of our Service to the Armed Forces department, assist military members and their families before, during, and after emergencies. These dedicated volunteers support emergency communications, provide access to resources, and recommend referrals. This virtual position – which you can do from your home or place of work – is flexible, with most volunteers helping 1-3 hours per week depending on the current caseload.

Of course, these are but two of the many volunteer opportunities the Red Cross offers but are the most closely related to social work. Please, we invite you to learn more by exploring all of our volunteer options at www.redcross.org/volunteer or emailing me at Ned.Bloom@redcross.org. We look forward to hearing from you and ideally welcoming you to the team very soon. Thank you.

**Please note that this article topic was established prior to the nationwide protesting occurring at many college campuses.  

Many of us have watched in horror and confusion at what has been happening in Israel and Gaza since October 7th. Not knowing what to do to help, the context of the conflict, or how it matters to us as social workers can feel overwhelming. As social workers, it is important for us to understand the history, how the US has been involved, and why this is not a political debate but a humanitarian issue. Most importantly, however, is for us to know what we can do to help. 

The fighting between Israel and Palestine goes back decades and has been influenced throughout by the US’s and other countries' involvement. Every year since WW2, the US has passed budgets that send massive amounts of aid to Israel. Per a report published on March 1, 2023 by the Congressional Research Center, “To date, the United States has provided Israel $158 billion (current, or non inflation-adjusted, dollars) in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding. At present, almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance; from 1971 to 2007, Israel also received significant economic assistance.” 

A great place to learn about the history between the countries as well as how the United States has been involved is: https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict

Or 

https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel/history

Most recently, on October 7th, 2023 Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel and killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, taking hundreds of hostages, and harming 3,300 more people. Soon, Israel launched a retaliation attack. Since that time, more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed and there are reports that approximately 10,000 of those deaths have been children. More than 2 million Palestians have fled their homes to try to escape the violence. At this point, there are still hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza who are unable to evacuate. Even for those who do evacuate, they are unable to find safety. There is devastating starvation, lack of medical care, and little to no supplies to sustain the people. Israel has targeted hospitals and churches in their attacks as well as other infrastructure points. There is a humanitarian crisis happening and many people including vulnerable populations, such as women and children, are suffering and dying daily. There have been other countries and organizations, such as the United Nations, pushing to end collective punishment as Israel punishes civilians for the crimes of Hamas, allow humanitarian aid into the city, and free hostages. The US  has vetoed U.N. resolutions for a cease fire three times. 

As social workers who abide by the NASW code of ethics, it is clear that we cannot ignore the crimes that are being committed against the people of Palestine by the Israeli government. Our code of ethics states, “Social workers should promote the general welfare of society, from local to global levels, and the development of people, their communities, and their environments. Social workers should advocate for living conditions conducive to the fulfillment of basic human needs and should promote social, economic, political, and cultural values and institutions that are compatible with the realization of social justice.”  - 6.01 Social Welfare.”. Therefore, as social workers, we should be pushing for a ceasefire, a free Palestine, and aid to any and all people who have been negatively impacted by war. 

If you are feeling stuck and unsure of what you can do, you are not alone. However, there are steps you can take today to help call for a cease fire. Find out who your representatives are and reach out to them. If you don’t know who they are or how to contact them use this link: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Tell them you want a ceasefire, the US to stop funding genocide, and an end to the war against the Palestinian people. Use your platforms and your voices as a way to advocate. Using social media platforms is also a way to advocate for an end to the war. Many of us forget how powerful it can be to use your voice to speak out against what we know to be wrong. If you want to help financially, visit this link:

https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel/donate

Jen Norton, PhD, MSW, Connect to End COVID-19 Ambassador

Isn’t the Pandemic Over?

We are now into the fifth year of a pandemic that most of us never could have imagined, or wanted to imagine. And for many, the COVID fatigue is real. We are ready to move on with our lives. We are ready to attend parties, events, gatherings without fear of entering someone’s breathing zone and wondering what invisible particles we’ll pick up. For those of us with children, we never want to hear the words “flexible instruction day” ever again. Sure, some people are still getting COVID. But those aren’t people we know, right? Or they are, but it’s just like getting a cold or a typical flu. They’ll be home for a few days, drink plenty of fluids, rest, and they’ll be back to their normal health in a week.

For many families, this narrative doesn’t hold true. As of April 2024, nearly 1.2 million people in the US have died due to COVID-19; most were unvaccinated, even though vaccines were widely available. That figure includes over 55,000 Pennsylvania residents. In January 2024, weekly death at the national level peaked at 2,553; in Pennsylvania, the peak was 139 (COVID Data Tracker - Deaths). For those who haven’t been directly impacted by a COVID loss, that figure might not be as meaningful. Some might point to these numbers as evidence that COVID is not a prevalent issue anymore. Take a moment, though, to think about these numbers. Imagine a room full of 139 acquaintances, clients, and loved ones. Now imagine the room is empty. Until the weekly death rate reaches zero, we have work to do.

Why I Care

When the pandemic began in March of 2020, I was the director of an online MSW program in Pennsylvania, serving approximately 800 students across the country and internationally. Naively, I imagined COVID would have little impact on our classes, as we were already structured as both online and asynchronous. It took a couple of weeks for me to realize how ridiculous my assumption was. I stayed in my position until March 2022, and in the two years at the helm of our program, I bore witness to every possible type of loss among our students. I’m still not sure how, but we did not lose a single online student or faculty member during that time.

For the students, though, the levels of loss were tremendous. Students were going through the death of multiple family members, friends, clients, acquaintances. Spread across the country, many students were located in some of the worst hot spots for hospitalizations and deaths. If they weren’t experiencing losses directly, they were overwhelmingly impacted by the increased reliance on essential workers, the loss of income, added caregiver burdens, and on and on. It was an absolute miracle that so many students were able to handle their additional trauma and stress with grace, let alone attend to their coursework and field internships. I have never been so impressed with the fortitude and resiliency of humans as I was by what I witnessed from our students during those two years.

Truthfully, aside from the vicarious trauma stemming from supporting students and faculty as best I could in my program director role, I was and am incredibly privileged when it comes to the direct impact of COVID on myself and my family. My wife and I were able to work from home with relatively little difficulty. Our child was just under two years old at the start of the pandemic, and we hadn’t been reliant on daycare thanks to flexibility in our work schedules. Neither of us lost any immediate family members or had any family members hospitalized for an extended period of time. Yes, we lived in fear just like most other people, but our fears weren’t realized in any direct way. I recognize how unique and lucky we were in our experience, though, particularly through the lens of knowing what my students were going through. I also recognize that more than zero deaths per week when we have effective vaccines means that I will do whatever it takes to keep my loved ones and your loved ones safe. None of us, nor our clients, are guaranteed to make it through the pandemic--whatever that looks like--unscathed.

The COVID Landscape

Vaccines are safe and highly effective. Being up to date on vaccinations is the best way to prevent severe illness, yet fewer than 22% of Americans have received the current booster dose. Vaccine uptake is significantly lower in special populations that are at risk of severe illness and death, such as BIPOC, the uninsured, and pregnant people.

As social workers in Pennsylvania, where do we need to focus our attention? The data shows us that age continues to be the strongest risk factor for serious COVID-19 outcomes, and that risk increases with age. When looking at deaths by age group, 40-49 year-olds make up less than 5% of total deaths due to COVID, while those 75 and over comprise more than 55%. Indeed, “compared with ages 18-29 years, the risk of death is 25 times higher in those ages 50-64 years, 60 times higher in those ages 65-74 years, 140 times higher in those ages 75-84 years, and 340 times higher in those ages 85+ years” (COVID Data Tracker - Underlying Medical Conditions).

Considering how the risks for older adults compare with data on vaccination of nursing home residents and staff, we have a clear issue. In PA, approximately 47.0% of nursing home residents are up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations. Among staff, the percentage drops to less than 10% (COVID Data Tracker - Nursing Home COVID-19 Vaccination). Those of us who are involved in nursing home and assisted living facilities can target this gap, educating colleagues on the importance of keeping our clients safe.

Underlying medical conditions put people of any age at greater risk for more serious COVID-19 outcomes. In Pennsylvania, only 7 of our 67 counties have less than 40% prevalence for any of five underlying chronic medical conditions found to increase the risk of illness associated with COVID-19: heart disease, chronic kidney disease, obesity, diagnosed diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Four counties have over 50% prevalence (COVID Data Tracker - Underlying Medical Conditions). Pennsylvania is geographically diverse, with a high rural population contrasted with major urban and metropolitan areas. Counties closer to Pittsburgh, State College, and Philadelphia tend to have lower prevalence percentages than those in the northern, western, and south central areas of the state. Social workers in geographic areas where chronic medical conditions are more prevalent--or social workers in agencies where clients are more likely to have one of the conditions listed above--can also educate their colleagues and clients on the importance of vaccination in protecting each other.

The Connect to End COVID-19 Initiative

I keep bringing up education, but where can we go for guidance? The NASW encourages all social workers to follow vaccination guidelines from the CDC, and promote vaccine uptake by family members, clients, and others in the community. To advance these goals, the NASW is partnering with UT/Austin in a CDC-funded initiative through September 2024, Connect to End COVID-19. In addition to providing accurate vaccine information tailored to social workers, they are providing complimentary virtual training, with complimentary CEUs, to equip social workers to support their clients in making informed decisions regarding becoming vaccinated. The aim is to enable social workers in a broad range of settings to meet clients wherever they are in their vaccination journey. They are not--nor am I--instructing social workers to coerce clients to become vaccinated. Instead, the program shows how we can put our distinctive professional expertise to effectively work with clients around their vaccine decision-making.

Clinical evidence and outcome data for millions of people demonstrate that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective for people aged 6 months and over. The benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh the risks of severe illness, hospitalization, death, Long COVID, and other negative outcomes. Unvaccinated people are up to seven times more likely to die of COVID-19 infection than vaccinated people. Although people who are up to date on vaccinations can experience a breakthrough infection, they are much less likely to become severely ill or die of it. Social workers might desire more understanding about the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines as they decide whether to get vaccinated. NASW’s initiative provides opportunities for social workers to gain a greater understanding on these topics.

Summary

As social workers, we are committed to the well-being of all people and we have the unique position of being trusted messengers in our communities. Vaccines are free and widely accessible across the nation. Unfortunately, disinformation campaigns and misinformation continue to pose significant barriers to the public fully understanding the severe risks posed by COVID-19, including among those who are at greatest risk of severe illness and death. Vaccine and booster uptake must be pervasive to be effective. Though uptake has increased over time, the rates are still low in certain subpopulations and geographic areas, such as among those who are uninsured, living below the poverty level, or living in a rural area. We have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our clients and loved ones. Please join me in spreading this message and visit the NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 resource center.

This project and article are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3.3 million with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Additional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. (2021, November 3). How to address COVID-19 misinformation. Click here to address COVID-19 misinformation

National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). Connect to end COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3kkJTAa

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 30). Risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death by age group. https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-age.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, April 4). COVID data tracker. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home

2024 is an election year!

Everyone gets involved in different ways.  You may walk door-to-door helping to spread the word about the candidates you support, you may promote and attend events in the community that share information about each of the candidates, you may work your local polls on election day, or you may engage in discussions with friends and family.  The most important thing is that you get out and vote during the Primary and General Elections.  

Over the last year, we have witnessed many changes at the local and national level that highlight the need to know what candidates support before electing them to these positions .of power.  There are a variety of ways to learn information about the candidates at the local and national level.  Network television often promotes informational sessions about the candidates.  Local communities will hold events to share information about the local candidates.  

This is also the time to help advocate for our clients and community members.  Many myths exist surrounding who is eligible to vote.  This is especially true for individuals who may have a criminal history.  Help others know if they are eligible.  A great website to use as a reference is https://www.vote.pa.gov/Register-to-Vote/Pages/Voter-Registration-Requirements.aspx or https://www.vote.pa.gov/Register-to-Vote/Pages/Convicted-Felon,-Misdemeanant-or-Pretrial-Detainee.aspx.

Don’t forget, you can always support a write-in campaign as well.  Whatever you do, VOTE.  

In Pennsylvania, the Primary Election is right around the corner on April 23, 2024.  In order to vote in this year’s Primary, you must register to vote by 04/08/24. 

The General Election is November 5, 2024, and the last day to register to vote in the General Election is 10/21/24.