SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL WORK LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE

Chapter Meeting Minutes

September 13, 2002

Quality Inn South, Madison, WI

Meeting called to order by President Mary Jo Walsh.

Welcome and Introductions.

NASW Update – Marc Herstrand:

Mary Jo Walsh was elected to the Social Work Section of the WI Board of Regulation & Licensing!!! 

 Follow up to Licensure Bill:  By November 1, rules need to be created regarding the ability of social workers to do psychometric testing.  There is still a question about whether clinical social workers can provide clinical counseling on AODA without being CADC certified.

Lobby Day Planning has begun.  It will be March 12th at the Masonic Center.  NASW is asking sister associations to contribute issues. 

PACE, now called WI Social Workers PACT, is mobilizing members to support the campaign for governor.  They are also targeting 3-5 senate races and 8 assembly races.

Task Force on Children’s Issues:  concerned about managed care and foster children’s mental health needs.  Are proposing that all welfare staff must adhere to NASW Code of Ethics.

Rules for outpatient clinics are once again delayed!  1986 was the last revision.

Continuing Education:  next year’s NASW spring conference will be May 7-9 at the Marriott West in Madison.  There will be an upcoming town hall meeting on faith-based services.

Treasurer’s Report – Amy Passow:

Balance as of 9/13/02:  $4,199.56

 Health Policy Committee – Sharon Winters:

Sharon is the liaison to the committee, which currently has no members!  Please let her know if you would be willing to participate. 

 Topics important to us that were discussed include budget correction & the cost of health care for employers. 

Sharon reported that a bill passed that says if an HMO denies your request to see a certain provider, an outside mediator can be contacted to assist in mediation.

Membership – Cindy Koehn:

7 new members joined this quarter.

 Letters for 2003 renewal went out this week.

 Cindy and Dean called the members from last year that didn’t renew.  Found out that some had moved, and others didn’t realize they were behind in dues.

 Programs – Mary Jo Walsh:

The December 6th meeting has been cancelled.  A new meeting has been scheduled for November 15th.  It will be a full-day program on Bioethics and the Mentally Ill.  There will be a presentation in the morning and panel discussion in the afternoon.  They are looking for panel discussion members – preferably social workers from around the state that are divided as follows:  nursing home, inpatient psychiatric unit, acute care setting, emergency room.  Karen Benson volunteered to help with labeling and mailing brochures.  Let Mary Jo know if you have address lists for other SW groups, such as Dialysis SWers, Onc SWers, VA SWers, etc.  Other disciplines will be welcome at this meeting, feel free to post the brochure at your places of work.  The board needs to determine the conference fees for members vs. nonmembers.

Idea:  Having Marie Hornes speak about the Alzheimer’s Conference she attended in Sweden.

Idea:  Resident/Patient/Client Rights Violations & how they are investigated/Grievance Process/The hiring of private detectives.

Idea:  The role of a SWer in a “volunteer” vacation.    Cindy Sellon volunteers in Haiti.

Idea:  HIPAA/Confidentiality/Access to records.

 Web-Site:  Amy Passow and Mike St. John:

As it is hard for some members to get to meetings due to time away from work and distance to drive, the board is working on enhancing the web-site in order to add value to membership. 

 A questionnaire is going out with renewal letters asking people for ideas on what they would like to see changed.

WHA – Sandra Stevens:

Sandra is retiring.  Anyone interested in becoming this liaison, please speak with Mary Jo Walsh.

 Her position as Director of Social Services at Mendota Mental Health will also be posted.

 COP – Pat Anderson:

There is a conference in Eau Claire on COP training Oct 10&11.  Registration deadline is Oct 1.

 A long-term function screen will be put on the internet, along with the training to learn how to complete the screen.   Pat has the web-site address.

 The state is hoping to simplify the waiver process.

 A hand-out with nursing home vacancies in county nursing homes was passed around.

 Pat reported there are 8 city-owned nursing homes in Wisconsin.

 A manual has been created to help with relocation when nursing homes close.  The nursing homes are required to notify the county ASAP so they can oversee the moves.

 Announcement – Brian Theiler:

Gunderson Lutheran is closing their home health care program as of January 1st.

 Nominations – Mary Jo Walsh:

The board is accepting nominations for President Elect, Secretary, and Board Member At Large.  Please let the board know if you are interested in running, or have a nomination.

Affiliations – Mary Jo Walsh et al:

Mary Jo and Sharon met with Marc Herstrand this week to discuss a possible affiliation with NASW as they are creating a health care section.

Dave Schmidt suggested we may want to affiliate with the American Case Management Association.

Members wondered whether we can maintain our association with SSWLHC-National and affiliate with another organization & what a new affiliation would mean for dues.  It was suggested that a hand-out be developed with goals of each national group, pros and cons of affiliating with them, and the cost of each. 

Next Meetings:  Board Meeting – October 9th; Chapter Meeting – November 15th.

Respectfully Submitted,

Amy Passow, Chapter Treasurer, filling in for Chapter Secretary