SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL WORK
LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE

OF THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 21, 2001

QUALITY INN SOUTH, MADISON, WI

Meeting called to order by Mary Jo Walsh, President-elect.

Welcome and introductions.

Moment of silence for those lost in and affected by national tragedy on Sept. 11.

Planned for short business meeting due to special educational program today.

INDUSTRY UPDATE

Marc Herstand from NASW :

• NASW statement on Response To Terrorist Attacks. NASW working with Red Cross to provide volunteer social workers. Both Milwaukee and Madison Red Cross seeking mental health professionals to provide volunteer counseling. Also seeking CICSW's to participate in two-day disaster mental health training which would enable person to be sent to disaster locations around the country. For more info. call Milwaukee Red Cross 800-236-8680, Madison Red Cross (Barb Stock) 608-233-9300, or the Red Cross office in your area. All types of volunteers are needed. Also check following websites: www.naswwi.org  and www.arcbadger.org  .
  
• Pending legislation. 1) SW licensure bill in process. Next step is to go to Joint Finance committee on Oct. 9. NASW of WI supports this bill. With this bill, the CICSW license will be reserved for those meeting the requirements to do mental health counseling. 2)Mental health/AODA parity which offers equal insurance coverage for these with physical conditions. Hearings this past week. Republican support. Many groups from insurance and manufacturing industry opposed. 3) AODA practice. Dispute re: whether or not SW can provide AODA counseling if don't have AODA certification. Increasing controversy re: this issue
• Changes in Dept. of Regulation and Licensing. Four new social workers in the Social Work Section of Reg. and Licensing. Also, work has begun on a new rule which will require SW to have APSW license before seeking CISW or CICSW. Changes may also be coming re: qualifications/experience of those providing "supervision" for licensure.

MEMBERSHIP SHARING

Those present shared info. re: new programs, recent JCAHO survey outcomes, and other pertinent issues. Jane Hounsell, Columbia-St. Mary's in Milwaukee has opening for ED on-call social worker for nights, week-ends, holidays, which could be done by someone looking to supplement income. Contact Jane at 414-298-6767 if interested.

WEBSITE UPDATE

Neil O'Connor has done an excellent job with this. Anyone may send contributions to website by contacting Neil at UW hospital or e-mailing him at nj.oconnor@hosp.wisc.edu Contributions will be screened by the SSWLHC board.

If you have not already done so, check out our website:

http://members.home.net/wischap-sswlhc/

OTHER BUSINESS

Membership - several new members joined with seminar fees bringing total members to over 60. Directory will be updated with new members and available at future meeting.

Election of new officers for next year coming up. Will need to elect President-Elect (who will serve for 1 year as president-elect followed by 1 year as President and 1 year as past-president.)

Also need to elect one board member at large (2 year term) and treasurer (2 year term). Dave Schmidt is choosing not to run as treasurer after having served the group in this capacity for many years. (THANK YOU DAVE!!!)

The SSWLHC board meets 4 times/year (location flexible) in addition to 4 chapter meetings. Anyone interested in any of these positions should contact Mike St. John at Columbus Community Hospital 920-623-2200 or any board member.

Social Work Survey on Staffing/Education/Management/and Salaries completed by members was distributed at the meeting. Will be mailed to members not at the meeting. Many thanks to Brenda Nelson for coordinating this valuable survey.

Meeting adjourned for special educational program Guiding Social Work Practice With Ethics.

NEXT MEETING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2001 QUALITY INN SOUTH, MADISON

BUSINESS MEETING 9AM

AFTERNOON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM - Critical Incident Stress De-briefing presented by Neil O'Connor

Submitted By,

Deb Hupf, Chapter Secretary

Beaver Dam Community Hospital