NASW-NM and SWRI
The New Mexico Chapter of NASW launched their planning process of SWRI in December, 2006 with a state wide Social Work Summit meeting in Albuquerque. Working with the Social Work Department of New Mexico State University, the Chapter identified social work leaders from schools of social work, state government, non-profit organizations, private practice, social work specialty areas, NASW board members and student leaders to participate. We also secured the commitment of New Mexico’s two state legislators to convene the group. (See NASW News March, 2007).
The initial meeting was focused on reviewing the 2005 NASW work force report and selecting state specific social work issues (and task forces) for study. The issues identified were: 1) licensing and education; 2) recruitment and retention; 3) elevating the profession of social work; 4) social work and the managed care state behavioral health plan and 5) loan forgiveness.
An annual format for meetings was also established. The Social Work Summit leadership group would meet twice a year and a Town Hall Forum would be held during the NASW annual conference in February. Legislative initiatives would be established in the spring meeting (May) with sponsorship of those bills by our two Social Work legislators, Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Rep. Antonio Lujan.
Several objectives have already been achieved through the Summit process. Following a recommendation from the Summit, legislation was passed in 2007 to extend the provisional license for social workers from six months to one year. The Summit has also secured the endorsement of New Mexico Health Resources, an organization that advocates for and recruits health professionals in New Mexico. We have also received a commitment from the New Mexico Secretary of Health to support the inclusion of rural social workers for tax credit.
2009 legislative priorities clearly reflect the Summit/SWRI mission: funding to do state wide research on social work shortages, compensation patterns, and the impact of declassification; extending tax credits to social workers working in rural areas who are providing health care services; increasing loan forgiveness opportunities for licensed social workers; strengthening the New Mexico Social Work Practice Act. The fall Summit meeting will be a planning session to present these proposals in interim legislative committees.
Having successfully established the structure and process for the Summit, NASW-NM and its professional partners are positioned to systematically identify, create and implement action plans to resolve our professional challenges as they emerge.
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