Social Work Professional Advisory Group (SWPAG)

General Meeting - Minutes

21 September 2017 1300 - 1400 HRS EST

Conference Dial in641-715-3286 546654#

Call Meeting to order: 1300HRS EST, CDR Sonjia Howard

Roll Call: Executive Secretary:LCDR Marriah Lombardo (Please Email your attendance to LCDR Marriah Lombardo at

Welcome/Acknowledgments:

  • 2017 Learning Series Part I:
  • The learning series for this month is cancelled. CAPT Buckingham has been deployed to his work duties; series will continue next month.
  • CDR Howard would like to use this time has an open forum to disucss topics relivent to social workers in the usphs
  • SWPAG updates from the chair:
  • SWTOY to be announced earlier than normal
  • Letters of appreciation-getting ready to distribute for those who attended and/or contributed to SWPAG as per Uniform Bylaws
  • Newsletter:
  • Newsletter-please consider submitting a newsletter
  • Deployments-
  • A lotof social workers out deployed –lets keep everyone in out thoughts and prayers –down range
  • Mass deployment of so many officers-consider the human side of disasters-how disaster impact those on deployment.
  • CDR Boremann-can we help out agencies with small eoc-to help with those deployment
  • CDR Howard-we have to advocate for ourself
  • CDR Boremann-as a member of corps care workgroup-efforts are being made by a group of passionate officers and leadership does care. She could be an adhoc rep to swpag on this issue . Highly recommend social workers become sat team membes.
  • Encourage swpag members to become sat members
  • Social workers in the corps should communicate how we can help in this regard
  • SWPAG-review board-
  • 58 in applicant pool- some more in screeening-chair is deployed-cant review applicants without a review team-were granted an extention until 9 october
  • Mid-year Accomplishments initiated by CDR Howard and sent to HSPAC Chair/CPO
  • Awards-
  • Submitted the SWPAG for a UC
  • Sumbitted Joint Social Work Panel Award for UC
  • Per HSPAC, Awards Chair, both pending review/approval
  • Org chart-
  • 100% of the chair positions filled-some co-chair positions remain vacant
  • Coin Sales-
  • CDR Howard put together a team to handle treasury and coin sales. Turn around time for coins is 6 weeks. Requested Team collaborate in conjunction with Coin Vendor and work to get an AD to SWPAG for coins sales and return by end/Nov 17.
  • SWPAG Elections-
  • 2019 – Chair, Chair-Elect, and Executive Secretary positions nominations will go out in late Oct 2017. Announcements of winners will be on last SWPAG General Meeting call, 21 Dec 2017
  • AMSUS-
  • SWPAG set a precedence for the first time in the history of SWPAG & AMSUS by getting CEUs awarded to 5 accepted sessions.
  • SWPAGhas a significant footprint this year and we ask that as many SWs attend
  • Reminded SWPAG about AMSUS Explosion “50”. An initiative to get at least 50 SWs registered for AMSUS 2017.
  • Open forum-
  • Appointment Standards
  • CDR Borenmann-are applicantsto usphs across all board being denied that are on psychotropic medicines or mearly receiving treatment?
  • We should confirm if this is true or not.
  • S/C Chairs can talk about strategy and go from there?
  • A number of chairs need to be involved? –
  • CAPT Julie Niven-The PSYPAG might be helpful about this concern. Might consider contacting them.
  • SWPAG Application Updates:
  • CDR Howard at the request of the SWPAG, will send out an email on how to review applications; If your team is together, send updates to me while CAPT Schmidt is deployed
  • CDR Borenman-do we know who we have been assigned?
  • CDR Howard – Will work on assignments this week.
  • Conference attendance/training
  • Nicole Gaskin-Laniyan -new year-consider being present at conference as a corps
  • Howard-lets push swpag to attend amsus to support those speaking at amsus; maybe we have a training corner with thise opportunities
  • CAPT Lennon-thank you for sharing this information with us. Is anyone going to the macro MDconference?
  • Attendance:
  • CDR Sonja Howard, CDR Jennifer L. Bornemann, LCDR Marvin R. Mitchell, Jr.,CAPT JulieNiven,CDR Tyson Baize, LCDR Marlene Nicholson, LCDR John Getchell, LT DierdraOretade-Branch, LCDR Kari Harris,LCDR Andrea J. Cunningham, CDR Anthony L. Johnson, CDR Kristin Kelly, CAPT Todd Lennon, LCDR Marriah Lombardo

Meeting Adjourned: 1357hrs EST

Next Meeting: 19 Oct 2017, 1300hrs EST – See Call Info Above

1