Social workers are in a unique position
to promote disease prevention efforts (including disseminating accurate
information from trusted sources) and to help address anxiety and other
concerns that are arising as a result of the Coronavirus public health
crisis.
To that end, NASW has compiled resources to support social workers in
this role. As the situation continues to rapidly evolve, we will
continue to monitor developments and work to protect social workers and
the clients we serve.
NASW National:
-
NASW Blog Post: Nursing Home Visitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
School social workers and NASW/TX members Blanca McGee,
LCSW, Diana Hall, LMSW, Elizabeth "Liz" Hummert, LCSW-S, and Lara Hulin,
LCSW, LCDC, drafted a letter with recommendations for schools to handle
post-COVID reintegration that best meets the needs of Texas students: “School social workers have
extensive training in trauma-sensitive approaches, crisis intervention,
and public health concerns, which makes them highly qualified in
addressing the needs of students during the COVID-19 reintegration
process to traditional schooling.” Read more.
- Social Worker COVID-19 Survey: The
Association of Social Work Boards, the Council on Social Work
Education, and the National Association of Social Workers are committed
to collaborating on the range of issues affecting the social work
profession and the people and communities we serve in this ever-changing
and unsettling environment created by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
- NASW Social Work Talks Podcast: Episode 49: Supporting Seniors During Social Distancing
- NASW urges Congress, White House to include funding for personal protective equipment for social workers in next funding package.
- NASW Telehealth page:
Medicare, Legal and Practice Resources for Social Workers, Interstate
Teletherapy, Message From the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB),
and Professional Liability Coverage
- NASW Telemental Health page: Telemental
Health Informed Consent, Video Conferencing Platforms, Professional
Liability Coverage, Privacy/Confidentiality, Updates from HIPPA &
CMS, and Licensure Updates
- Click here
to access NASW National's COVID-19 resources which includes information
on how to support clients, help people in special populations, prepare
your practice and practice self-care during this time.
- NASW PRACTICE ALERT : Medicaid Considerations to Support Communities During COVID-19, Public Health Emergency, April 2020
NASW/NJ Chapter Webinars:
- Parents, Kids & Mental Health During the COVID-19 Crisis with Pat Spencer, LCSW and Jennifer Thompson, MSW - Stream on demand
- Adolescents & Young Adults: Parenting During COVID-19 - Stream on demand
- How to Navigate Grief, Loss, and a New Normal During COVID-19 with Crystal Zelman, LCSW, CCLS, RPT-S -Stream on demand
- Teletherapy & COVID-19 Update with Pat Spencer, LCSW and Jennifer Thompson, MSW - Stream on demand
- The Practice of Mattering During the Time of Social Distancing with Dr. Tawanda Hubbard, LCSW and Jennifer Thompson, MSW - Stream on demand
- Leadership In The Era of COVID-19 with Jennifer Thompson, NASW-NJ | DE Executive Director, and Lakeya Cherry, CEO of the Network for Social Work Management - Stream on demand
- Social Work & Technology Panel discussion about the intersection of social work and technology - Stream on demand
- School Social Work During COVID-19 with Jennifer Thompson, MSW, and Alexis Dragun, School Social Worker - Stream on demand
- Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Social Work - NASW-NJ Healthcare Shared Interest Group with Tracy Grafton, LCSW, ACHP-SW, Stephanie DePiano, LCSW, ACHP-SW, and Jennifer Thompson, MSW - Stream on demand
- Private Practices and Risk Management During COVID-19 (Co-hosted with NASW Assurance Services, Inc) with NASW-NJ and NASW Assurance Services - Stream on demand
NASW/IN
NASW/CT
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Action Alerts!
COVID-19 Advance Care Planning in Health Care Practice
Every year, NASW celebrates National Healthcare
Decisions Day to empower individuals to engage in advance care planning
(ACP). As individuals, families, and communities face the COVID-19
pandemic, the importance of conversations about health care treatment
preferences comes into new focus. During this public health emergency,
health care social workers have a crucial role in communicating
pertinent health information to family members and loved ones and
advocating on behalf of patients in health settings.
Practice Alert COVID-19 Resources for School Social Workers - May 2020
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, school social workers
are essential staff and continue to play a vital role in ensuring that
students continue to receive much-needed mental health, education and
other services despite school disruptions from the pandemic.
Self-care Tips & Resources:
Telehealth:
NASW/TX Telehealth Statement June 24th: Read here
NASW/TX Telehealth Statement June 17th: Read here
ATTENTION CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS: Medicare Revises Telehealth Place of Service and Modifier Codes During COVID-19
Covid-19 – Telehealth page, a memo
The general rule regarding the provision of telemental health
services is that providers must meet any licensure requirements of the
jurisdiction where they are licensed and any licensure requirements of
the jurisdiction where the patient is physically located. If state law
and licensing boards are silent on this issue, then social workers have
not been expressly granted the authority to provide telemental health
services in that jurisdiction. Social workers can check the regulations
in their jurisdiction for general information on the provision of
telemental health services with a 50 state telemental health survey (PDF)
that focuses specifically on the remote delivery of behavioral health
care services. This 2017 survey is updated through 2019 via a free app available on Android and iOS.
However, in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, some
states (e.g., Massachusetts, Iowa, Indiana) are temporarily suspending
some of their regulatory provisions for telemental health requirements.
Check with your state to find out if any changes have been made to those
regulation at the ASWB's regulatory provisions webpage.
COVID-19 Resources:
-
Disaster preparedness for seniors and people with disabilities.
Telehealth Certification Institute's Code of Ethics registry to guide telehealth best practices.
Telehealth Certification Institute's database of federal and state telehealth rules and regulations.
After receiving requests and strong interest, The Senior Resource Guide has compiled a list of skilled nursing facilities in Texas that are currently accepting COVID-19 positive patients. You can access the spreadsheet here. NEW 3.25.21
Center for Public Policy Priorities resource on finding health coverage if you just lost your job, in English and Spanish.
- Find your Texas COVID-19 Collection Site HERE.
-
The Dell Med Departments of Health Social Work and Psychiatry have worked together to create a Dell Med 24 hour mental health crisis counseling line for health care workers.
They are beginning by providing support to Dell Med, Dell Children’s,
Dell Seton and Ascension colleagues. They hope to grow the program in
the future.
If individuals are interested in volunteering for the Dell Med mental health crisis counseling line, they will need to fill out the form in this link.
We need the most coverage on Tuesday mornings (8-12pm), weekend mornings (8-12pm), and weekend afternoons (12pm to 5pm).
-
The state of Texas has set up pro bono counseling services
through HHSC for people who need support. Because of that resource,
we’ve encouraged members to volunteer with a couple of resources that
are focused on pro bono services for healthcare workers and frontline
responders. One is local to Texas, and currently available to those in
the Austin area, and the other is through a national collaboration, and
available across the state.
-
Project Parachute is a pro bono therapy for COVID-19 frontliners provided by Mental Health
America, Eleos Health and the Anxiety and Depression Association of
America. Providers from across the country can sign up and them it’ll
match someone in need with a therapist in their state. The therapist
then contacts the client directly!
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: State Emergency Assistance Fund Could Help Families Facing Significant Challenges Avoid Increased Hardship
- NAMI Webinar, Ask the Expert: Supporting the Emotional Needs of Children and Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Thursday, April 23, 2020 3:00:00 PM CDT - 4:30:00 PM CDT
- Social Work Career: COVID-19 Resources for Social Workers and Therapists
- The Joint Commission: Emergency Preparedness Efforts
- USDA Rural Development: Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
- NASW Social Work Brief: Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations Expected to Bear Brunt of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Patient Resources: A Conversation on Mental Health in Light of COVID-19, tune in ever other Thursday! Watch the webinar series here.
- National Disability Covid-19 Healthcare Support and Advocacy Hotline: 1-800-626-4959
Call Disability Underground if you are disabled and need
Covid-19-related medical advocacy or other support. You can also email
them at contact@disabilityunderground.org
Urgent Appeal To Accelerate Releases from TDCJ - NEWS RELEASE - Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Texas WIC Expands Eligible Foods, Launches Updated App
- Balancing “Essential” With Safe and Ethical During COVID-19
- Coronavirus/COVID-19 CWA Recommendations for Workers who Interact with the Public
- Familes USA: Frequently Asked Questions: State Health Coverage Strategies for COVID-19
Student Resources:
Materials to Share:
Texas Department of State Health Services Resources:
Articles:
NASW/TX Joint Letters:
- Letter to Governor Abbott: "On behalf of the Texas Medical Association and the 32 undersigned organizations, thank you for your leadership as the state navigates the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is an extraordinary public health emergency that requires a vigorous response to limit its spread. We appreciate your timely actions to keep Texans safe as well as executive orders to eliminate regulatory burdens that otherwise may have hindered physicians’ and providers’ ability to timely care for patients." Read more here. (NEW 9/1/2020)
- Expanding Telehealth Services in All Self-Insured Plans and Sustaining them Beyond the COVID-19 National Emergency: "We are writing on behalf of the American Psychological Association (APA)1, the American Psychiatric Association (APA)2, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)3, the National Alliance on Mental Illness4, and Mental Health America5 to ask the Department of Labor to take action to help ensure that tens of millions of Americans covered by self-insured plans regulated by your agency (Plans) have access to much-needed mental and behavioral" Read more here. (NEW 9/1/2020)
- Requests for COVID-19 Phase Four Response Package: To
Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and
Minority Leader McCarthy: "We write to urge you to address the urgent
and emerging needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and
the programs that serve them during the Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic and resulting disruptions. It is imperative that the
next stimulus package address survivors’ needs - directly and via the
programs that serve them." Read more.
- "To Commissioner Morath: We
commend the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for its leadership in swiftly
developing robust guidance and informational resources to assist school
districts in launching remote instruction at the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic. That same leadership is now needed to ensure that school
districts are not only instructing students but are also tending to the
social-emotional conditions needed for students to be able to learn from
that instruction" Read more.
- To Commissioner Wilson: We
are contacting you regarding the next steps necessary to ensure minimal
disruption in the provision of mental health and substance use services
to Texans, as current Medicaid telehealth and telemedicine changes are
set to expire on May 31, 2020. The collective group represents mental
health and substance use stakeholders across the state. We ask you to
consider an extension of this policy until a vaccine is available.
However, if that is not possible, a 120-day extension would allow
providers time to further evaluate the current situation and make the
best decision for themselves and their patients." Read more.
- Letter to Texas Congressional Delegates urging
the U.S. Congress to pass an additional relief package that
specifically focuses on expanding health coverage and providing strong
patient protections to ensure that all Texans can access and afford
comprehensive health coverage during the ongoing public health crisis.Read here.
- Letter to Governor Abbott to
adopt a policy that clearly directs health care providers across the
state to refrain from discriminating against people with disabilities
and chronic conditions in the provision of treatment during the COVID-19
emergency. Read here.
- Urging Congress to build on
past bipartisan efforts and ensure all individuals have equitable access
to testing and treatment for COVID-19; equip states and localities with
sufficient financial support to combat the crisis; provide protection
and support to the health care workforce and others on the frontlines of
the pandemic; assure access and capacity in the health system; and
protect against high and unexpected health care costs. Read here.
- Protecting Immigrant
Families letter urging Congress to ensure that the next COVID-19 relief
bill includes testing and treatment for everyone, without regard to
immigration status, halts the public charge regulations, provides
stimulus checks for all tax filers, and expands access to nutrition
programs. Read here.
- Letter from Children and Youth Advocates Urging Congress to Include Immigrant Families in Future COVID-19 Relief Package Read here.
- Letter to Governor Abbott
seeking guidance on the rationing of healthcare resources that prohibits
discrimination against persons with disabilities. Read here.
- Letter urging Congressional leadership to include the VACCINES Act in the next COVID-related legislative package. Read here.
- 45 TX orgs sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott office
w/ steps urgently needed to ensure infants and toddlers w/ disabilities
and developmental delays cont. to receive life-changing Early Childhood
Intervention (ECI) services. Read here
- Letter
to Governor Abbott, Executive Commissioner Wilson, and Commissioner
Hellerstedt - Urging the State to issue guidance on the rationing of
healthcare resources that prohibits discrimination against persons with
disabilities.
- Mental Health Liason Group: Request
states to temporarily lift restrictions on telebehavioral health at all
levels of care by telephone or video for individuals regardless of
insurance plan and ensure payment parity until the conclusion of this
national emergency. Letter to Office of Governor Doug Ducey ; Letter to Mitch McConnell ; Letter to National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- Voting advocates call out Texas Secretary of State as “shockingly silent” amidst COVID-19 election emergency
- The Child Protection Roundtable - Letter to Texas Leaders: NASW/TX coauthored a letter relating to the safety and care of the children and families in the child welfare system.
- Cover Texas Now! - Over 50 Groups Urge Governor to Ensure Health Insurance Meets Texans’ Needs During Pandemic
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3-30-20: Announcing LBJ In the Arena a weekly virtual event series exploring the impact of COVID-19 on our communities:
- April 1, 2020: LBJ In the Arena: On the Frontline: Restarting Our Cities
- April 8, 2020: LBJ In the Arena: FEMA: Leading in the COVID-19 Crisis
- April 15, 2020: LBJ In the Arena: Managing the Fiscal Meltdown
3-26-20: NASW/TX Board of Directors offers support and guidance during the COVID-19 epidemic. Read now.
3-26-20:
Presidents of National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) issue joint statement of
solidarity. Read now.
3-26-20: Free
Practice Resources to Enable Quick Telehealth Adoption During COVID-19
Social Distancing Measures: Lists a number of free valuable resources,
including recordings of webinars that are very helpful to providers who
are new to telehealth.
3-25-20: The
CSWE Commission on Accreditation and the CSWE Department of
Accreditation have revised their statement to programs in light of the
worsening COVID-19 pandemic. Please see the revised statement here.
It covers these areas: Student safety,
reduction in field hours, Remote field activity, candidacy or
reaffirmation materials that are due in spring or summer 2020, program
site visits, and assessment.
3-25-20: Urge Congress to
ensure that Medicare reimburse for mental and behavioral health services
provided by audio-only telehealth. Learn how you can help.
3-21-20: NASW/TX
knows our members have a lot of questions about COVID-19’s impact on
social workers and our clients. We will be holding a members-only
webinar on Tuesday, March 24, 12-1pm to update everyone on what we know
and what we have been advocating for regarding telehealth, COVID-19
relief legislation, mental health supports, and more. Meeting will
include Q&A. Space is limited. Check your email for registration
details!
3-20-20: NASW/TX Executive Director Asks Private Insurance Plans to Align with Governor’s Emergency Telehealth Order
“NASW/TX is incredibly appreciative of
the Governor’s Order that state run and regulated plans reimburse for
all telehealth services at the same rate as in person, and allow
providers to conduct visits over the telephone. However, Texas’
regulatory oversight does not extend to self-funded and non-marketplace
plans, and these make up the majority of the private insurance coverage
in Texas. We encourage these plans to follow the Governor’s Order and
allow mental health providers to conduct their visits over the
telehealth platform of their choice at the same rate as in-person
visits. This is necessary for the safety of both providers and clients
alike, as the Governor’s most recent directives to all Texans include
discouraging any non-essential travel out of a person’s home. We hope
these plans step up and do what is safest for everyone in our
community.” - Will Francis, LMSW Executive Director, National
Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter
3-20-20: Informed Consent for Telehealth
Licensed Clinical Social Workers can provide telehealth services See 22 TAC 781.223 without any special training or certification.
Rules on informed consent are here: TAC 781.201(a)(6) and 781.203(9). For new clients an LCSW would need to secure written informed consent per 22 TAC 681.41(e).
An acceptable workaround for securing written informed consent for new
clients who do not have access to a computer and cannot physically come
into the clinic due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the LCSW could simply
cover the required informed consent components over the phone with the
client. The client can then simply text or email their assent from his
or her phone. The text or email could then be printed out (or
photocopied if in text format) by the provider and included in the
file. When including such a printout or copy in the patient file, the
provider should notate on the copy a brief statement that the assent
relates to the required informed consent, and then sign or initial and
date the document.
3-20-20: Letter
to Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader
McCarthy requesting that audio-only services via telephone also be
reimbursable by Medicare during this crisis.
"Millions of Medicare patients who are
quarantined and/or physically distancing do not have cellphones with
video chat capability, and/or do not know how to use this capability.
They may also not have internet service or broadband speed. This is
especially true for those residing in rural areas or who are lower
income. At a time when older adults, particularly those with chronic
conditions are vulnerable to COVID-19 and isolated in their homes, they
need to be able to pick up a phone and connect easily with mental health
providers." Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW Chief Executive Officer, NASW
and Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD Chief Executive Officer American
Psychological Association (APA) Read the full letter here.
3-19-20: NASW/TX condemns recent
inflammatory public remarks made by Texas Senator John Cornyn regarding
the background and origin of COVID-19. Senator Cornyn’s remarks were
inaccurate, unnecessary, and perpetuate racist stereotypes against the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Texas. We must
stand together as Texans in times likes this and social workers support
the AAPI community.
3-19-20: A new webpage is now available from the Children’s Bureau to help child welfare professionals and families respond to COVID-19.
The Children’s Bureau urges child
welfare agencies and community partners to develop a process to stay
informed on updates related to the coronavirus—or COVID-19—in order to
meet the needs of children and families during this time.
3-18-20: Here are two NASW Student Loan Forgiveness Webinars:
Powered by Savi Choose 3/24 2T 6 pm or 3/26 at 2 pm both EST
Explore student debt repayment,
including income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, and the Public Service
Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Savi experts will walk you through the
COVID-19 Student Loan Aid Tool, which automates applying for IDR plans
& Savi’s Student Loan Tool, which helps you analyze repayment and
forgiveness programs to determine the best solution for you and helps
you enroll in appropriate programs that could lower your monthly
payments. https://buff.ly/2xKemz2
3-18-20: The
Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) and the American Federation
of Teachers (AFT) are co-hosting a FREE webinar on student loan
repayment options during the coronavirus pandemic. Fri 3/20, 2pm. Join here: https://protectborrowers.org/webinar/
webinar is for borrowers who have an interest in learning more about
student loan repayment options as well as those working with student
loan borrowers.
3-18-20: FREE NASW webinar, Key Developments in Telehealth Webinar,
Monday, March 23,12-1pm... Join us to hear an update on guidance from
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on enhanced
telehealth (including teletherapy) options for Medicare beneficiaries
during the current #COVID19 public health emergency. The webinar will
provide a detailed overview of CMS’ guidance, implications for licensed
clinical social work practice; implications for commercial insurer
telehealth reimbursement, and suggested resources on telehealth and
teletherapy. There will also be time for Q and A. Register now! https://buff.ly/392dh2H
3-18-20: The
Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners is an independent licensing
board administratively attached to the Texas Health and Human Services
Commission (HHSC). The Board, as an independent entity, maintains a
management structure and decision-making authority separate from HHSC.
This message is an official communication from the Texas State Board of
Social Worker Examiners.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at
the Federal Department of Health and Human Services released a
notification stating their office will exercise its enforcement
discretion and will not impose penalties for noncompliance with the
regulatory requirements under the HIPAA Rules against covered health
care providers in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth
during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. Please read the
entire OCR Notification of Enforcement Discretion here.
3-18-20: Alliance for Health Policy is offering a free mini-series on Twitter @AllHealthPolicy. Register here.
Session 1 - Flattening the Curve
3/18 | 11-11:30am CT
Session 2 - At the Front Line: Public Health and Health System Challenges
3/19 | 11-11:30am CT
Session 3 - Leading through Crisis: Perspectives from Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt
3/20 | 11-11:30am CT
3-18-20:
Optum (part of United Healthcare) is offering an Emotional-Support Help
Line for anyone who may experiencing anxiety or stress following the
recent developments around COIVD-19. This free service can be reached at
866-342-6892, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is open to all.
3-17-20: Check out our NEW podcast episode, "Self-Care for Social Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic"
via NASW's Social Work Talks! Our guest, NASW member Dr. Kristen Lee
Ed.D. LICSW, is an expert on preventing & treating burnout. Listen now.
3-12-20:
NASW/TX postpones all Chapter events, banquets, meetings and in-person
group get-togethers for 30 days to adhere to guidance from the NASW
National Office on social distancing. The memo stated, "According to
public health officials, the United States is at a make-or-break moment
that will depend on one of the most basic public health tools—social
distancing. Basically, social distancing is a blanket term in public
health that describes certain types of actions that can slow the spread
of an infectious disease. What it means in practice is limiting your
interactions with large groups of people."
3-12-20: A special message from NASW President Kathryn Conley Wehrmann regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. https://buff.ly/33dJp1Y
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