CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 2, 2001

QUALITY INN SOUTH, MADISON, WI

Meeting called to order at 9:20am by President Mike St. John

See attached attendance list.

Industry Updates and Networking

Neil O’Connor reported UW received a grant for "Share The Care" project which teaches caregivers (friends, relatives, neighbors) to work as a team in caring for seriously ill family member. UW planning breakfast mtg. to introduce health professionals to Share The Care system during Cancer Survivors Week, May 17. For more info. call Neil at 608-263-8521 or nj.oconnor@hosp.wisc.edu

Neil reminded group of hospice regulations regarding allowing family members of incapacitated patients to authorize admission to hospice in the absence of an advance directive when 2 physicians sign incapacity form. Refer to WI statute 50.94

Brenda Johnson reported that Dane Co. now offers Safe Place for Newborns program. Program allows mothers to bring newborn to hospital (within 72hrs. of birth) as alternative to abandoning infant. Mother is not prosecuted and hospital works with DA to place infant in foster care. 4 Madison hospitals involved. Social workers encouraged to support assembly bill AB54 which outlines this program. Both pro-and anti-abortion groups supportive. Need additional community education re: this program.

Brenda also shared ongoing licensure issues:

- delays in obtaining license both for new grads and those moving to WI from other states

- reminder that temporary licenses only issued at the CSW level

- some neighboring states allow testing in last semester of education

- some facilities have social workers supervised by other disciplines. Per HSS 124, SW

-must be supervised by SW. Brenda circulated survey to chapter members present and

-will survey other members also. Will share results at future meeting

NICM (National Institute of Case Management) Conference April 9-11, Washington, DC

Group is blend of SW and nursing but still mainly nurse-driven

Bob Miller will be presenting at SSWLHC national conference in April regarding "Blended Departments of Social Work and Nursing" . He has job descriptions for blended positions available and is willing to share them.

Business Meeting:

Treasurers Report/Dave Schmidt

Balance as of 3/1/01 - $5193.47. Member dues yet to be deposited - $150.

One unpaid bill of $244.

Membership Update – 52 paid members. This does represent a decline from last year but do have several new members.

President’s Report/Mike St. John

National Board Update – Ellen Simon will continue as our regional liaison with national. SSWLHC in process of deciding whether or not to remain with AHA.

Chapter Board Meeting was held 1/25/01. Assignments:

Program Chair – Brenda Johnson

Membership Committee – Dean Feldman, Susannah Mooney

Heath Policy Liaison – Mary Jo Walsh

SSWLHC National Conference in San Antonio, April 25-29. Approximately 5 chapter members will be attending. Susannah Mooney won the drawing for $350 stipend offered by the chapter.

Program Committee Report/Brenda Johnson

Upcoming education at quarterly meetings:

June 8 – Palliative Care Programs

September 14 – All day seminar on Ethics/Boundaries. Speaker not confirmed yet. Reminder that mandatory education hours for licensing must be completed by June 30, 2001. A new 2 year period begins after that and SW will again need to complete required ethics/boundaries education.

Chapter Website/Neil O’Connor

Neil announced we are "up and running" (although not linked with national yet).

Web site address: http://members.home.net/wischap-sswlhc/

Neil requested all members to check e-mail page of web site to confirm that their e-mail address is correct. Notify Neil of any additions/corrections.

The Web Site looks great and offers much valuable information to members. Many Thanks to Neil for this wonderful contribution to the Chapter!!!

WHA Liaison Report/Sandra Stephens

New grads experience up to 7 week delay when testing for licensure. Dept. of Reg. and Licensing improved in # of "abandoned" calls (those they never answered) from 30% down to 8%. Kim Nania at Dept. of Reg. and Licensing is contact person who can facilitate licensing issues.

WHA has info. available on WI Statewide Trauma Care system plan. CDC also has Bio-Terrorism plan available. VA is establishing themselves as disaster experts.

NASW Update/Marc Herstand

New licensure bill (Bill # 0746) is as significant as original certification for licensure. See attachment. Other issues are: ability to take license exams early, offering temporary license for levels other than CSW, and requiring 5 years of experience for CICSW. Marc requests we contact AHA, WHA and legislators to voice support for this bill

Lobby Day will be March 27 and will include a hearing on this bill. Education/training on political advocacy as well as opportunity to meet legislators.

New website for WI chapter of NASW is www.naswwi.org Has info. on jobs, continuing education and state conference

NASW state conference will be May 9-11, Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Milwaukee

March Is National Social Work Month Celebration

Gifts to members distributed – PC document holder with chapter name

Special Cheesecake for dessert

Education Program for afternoon

Working With Diverse Populations presented by Wa Meng Cha, Wausau Memorial

Amy Passow recommended the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman as an excellent resource for working with the Hmong population

Next Meeting, June 8, 2001: Education for that meeting will be on Palliative Care

Meeting adjourned at 12 noon followed by lunch and education program.

Respectfully Submitted,

Deb Hupf, Chapter Secretary

SSWLHC/WI CHAPTER