NASW-MA Chapter

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! We hope all are doing what they need to care for themselves this season. Spend time with loved ones, nourish your body, and acknowledge the things in your life that bring you gratitude.

Meet the Committee Advocating for Older Adults and People with Disabilities! Our committee thrives on issues both in facilities and around peoples' needs while living in the community. We meet on the third Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. by Zoom.? Whether you are a geriatric social worker, a person working with people with disabilities, a caregiver, a clinician, a macro social worker, or just interested in learning something new, we welcome you to join us! Contact Brianna at [email protected] to join the email list.

Looking to take a licensing test prep course before the new year? We got you! We will be hosting a virtual test prep course on December 7th, 2024 the deadline to register is December 4th, 2024. Learn more at www.naswma.org/events

??? Save the date, social workers! Our annual Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) is back in person at the Massachusetts State House on March 31st, 2025!?? We can't wait to be in community with you all and learn about important policy initiatives on the state level. Make sure to mark your calendar; more info will be coming soon!

Every year on November 20th, Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is observed. It is a day of mourning meant to honor the lives of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people around the world who have lost their lives to violence as a result of their identity. As social workers, it is important now, more than ever, we protect the lives of TGD-identifying folks from the oppressive system we are forced to operate under. Here at NASW-MA, we vow to serve those vulnerable to anti-trans attacks on human rights. If you are interested in learning more about those who lost their lives, we encourage you to visit tdor.translivesmatter.info (TW for violence/murder).

The MA Repay program has launched a new round of loan forgiveness to enhance workforce retention, address service gaps in underserved communities, and reduce burnout among providers. We at NASW-MA hope you can find some financial relief through these services. We believe this program will provide substantial support for those who find the cost of social work education as a barrier to a career in the field. The application for these programs opens November 14, 2024, and closes December 12, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. EST. Interested candidates can find more information and apply through the designated portal at?? www.MARepay.org.

Join the Campaign School for Social Workers on March 7th-8th, 2025 in Hartford, CT. Here you will learn from political social workers, elected officials, and national experts why you belong in politics and gain valuable leadership skills that apply to any practice setting. Visit s.uconn.edu/cs25 to learn more!

The MA Repay program has launched a new round of loan forgiveness to enhance workforce retention, address service gaps in underserved communities, and reduce burnout among providers. We at NASW-MA hope you can find some financial relief through these services. We believe this program will provide substantial support for those who find the cost of social work education as a barrier to a career in the field. The application for these programs opens November 14, 2024, and closes December 12, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. EST. Interested candidates can find more information and apply through the designated portal at?? www.MARepay.org.

It's been a hard week, but we do not want this election to pass without highlighting some of the bright spots we witnessed this election cycle. From historic wins in Congress—thanks to a more diverse and inclusive slate of leaders representing LGBTQ+, Black, and Korean communities—to stronger protections for abortion rights, progress is still possible. These wins remind us that while the fight for human rights is far from over, we are not backing down. As social workers, we'll continue to push for justice, dignity, and equity in every corner of our country. The road ahead is tough, but together, we rise. Image credits: sarah mcbride - https://lnkd.in/eXdaSvRM emily randall - https://lnkd.in/eyaJc94w julie johnson - https://lnkd.in/ejEDbbuE lisa blunt rochester - https://lnkd.in/eRRmSM4D angela alsobrooks - https://lnkd.in/ewNsdKEf andy kim - https://lnkd.in/erj_z-Bu

NASW-MA's Executive Director shared, "Libraries are starting to see the value of having a social worker there to support people in need," in yesterday's article about Boston-area libraries employing social workers. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/e8m8PjqS