NASW Ohio has been contacted by numerous social workers employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs across the state, who have shared concerns about the current presidential administration’s return-to-office mandate. This mandate applies to nearly all VA staff, including social workers, many of whom have been effectively teleworking for years, particularly since the rise of telehealth following COVID-19. These teams, including outpatient mental health services, homelessness support and outreach, substance use, and suicide prevention, provide care to some of the highest-risk veteran populations.

Though local leadership at many facilities are doing their best to work with the executive order while also trying to protect clinicians and the veterans they serve, we are aware that many social workers are being forced to return to substandard circumstances - for example, open workstations, cubicles, or shared offices that do not allow for appropriate and ethical client privacy, some finding themselves in settings more akin to a public area than a private office setting.

We recognize the ethical dilemma that this poses for staff, balancing meeting the requirement to return to the office or risk termination, while also wanting to ensure continuity of care for clients and protecting their privacy in order to provide high-quality, evidence-based care. Some salient excerpts from our Code of Ethics, Standard 1.07 (emphasis added) include:

(e) Social workers should discuss with clients and other interested parties the nature of confidentiality and limitations of clients’ right to confidentiality… This discussion should occur as soon as possible in the social worker-client relationship and as needed throughout the course of the relationship.

(i) Social workers should not discuss confidential information, electronically or in person, in any setting unless privacy can be ensured. Social workers should not discuss confidential information in public or semi public areas such as hallways, waiting rooms, elevators, and restaurants.

(n) Social workers should develop and disclose policies and procedures for notifying clients of any breach of confidential information in a timely manner. Patient privacy is essential to building rapport and trust and creating a healing environment, which is necessary to provide high-quality, evidence-based care.

Patients have a right to privacy and to be informed about the nature of their care. NASW Ohio strongly opposes mandatory return to office orders when in-office accommodations do not meet the needs of quality care provision. We warn that the lack of privacy offered by shared workspaces will create ethical violations and erode the quality of care available to our veteran community.

For VA social work staff who are being put in this position, NASW Ohio recommends:

• Using appropriate channels to report privacy violations (possibilities include utilizing internal agency processes, or through the Office for Civil Rights, the VA Office of Inspector General, or The Joint Commission)
• Advocating to the extent possible for solutions to increase patient privacy
• Informing clients of the nature of your workspace as part of your discussions on confidentiality, including whether complete privacy (visual and/or auditory) may not be possible

Remember, collective action has power. We encourage staff to use the channels available to them to advocate and reach out with any further questions or concerns. 

Today, October 9, marks Indigenous Peoples' Day, a day to celebrate the many contributions of Indigenous people past and present. Indigenous history is left out of most formal education, including social work education, so in order to properly celebrate, those of us who are not Indigenous can also use today to learn. If you are not an Indigenous person, we encourage you to learn about the land you live on, the people who cultivated the land for hundreds of years before colonization, where those people are now, how you can support their present-day tribes, and how you can stand in solidarity with Indigenous people living in Ohio now. Here are some suggestions to begin:

As our state's name indicates- Ohio has always been home to Indigenous people. Ohio takes its name from the Ohio River, whose name in turn originated from the Seneca word ohiːyo', meaning "good river", "great river", or "large creek." Prior to colonization, indigenous communities were shaping our landscape in many ways, including the 70 mounds built by the groups we now refer to as the Adena and Hopewell. More modern groups including the Shawnee, Chippewa/Ojibwa/Anishinaabe, Delaware, Wyandot, Eel River, Kaskaskia, Iroquois confederacy/Seneca, Miami, Munsee, Mingo, Ottawa, Piankashaw, Sauk, Potawatomi, Wea, and others lived across the state for hundreds of years. Notably, Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee lived in the Chillicothe area and is regarded as a hero for his attempts to resist colonization and genocide of his people.

Ultimately the last recognized tribe was forced out of the state by 1843 but this does not mean that these tribes and indigenous people no longer live in Ohio. Despite the attempts of genocide many of these tribes have survived to current day, living in Ohio, across the United States, and on tribal lands. Even though Ohio does not have reservations or federally recognized tribal groups, indigenous people of many tribal affiliations live within the state.If you are not an indigenous person, we encourage you to learn about the land you live on, the people who cultivated the land for hundreds of years before colonization, where those people are now, how you can support their present-day tribes, and how you can stand in solidarity with indigenous people living in Ohio now. Here are some suggestions to begin:

-Find who's land you are on: https://native-land.ca/

-Learn where Ohio tribes are now (this information is our best attempt and is likely, in part, inaccurate. This list is incomplete as many more indigenous groups called Ohio home. We welcome any corrections.)

-Shawnee>>

-Ojibwe/Anishinaabe>> (Today, the Ojibwa nation is represented by numerous  federally-recognized tribes across the U.S. and Canada. In 2005, approximately 176,000 Ojibwa resided in North America.)

-Delaware>>

-Wyandot>> (The Wyandot have four bands with recognition in the U.S. and Canada: the Wyandotte Nation (Oklahoma); the Huron-Wendat Nation (First Nation in Canada); and the Wyandot Nations of Anderdon (Michigan) and Kansas

-Eel River (now descendents part of Miami)>>

-Kaskaskia (now descendents part of the Peoria)>>

-Iroquois confederacy>>

-Seneca>> (Three bands of Seneca people are federally recognized by the U.S. government: the Seneca Nation of New York in far western New York; the Tonawanda band of Seneca Indians in New York; and the Seneca-Cayuga Indians of Oklahoma. Many Seneca with historic roots in Ohio, along with Seneca-Cayuga and Ohio Cayuga, are a member of this latter band.)

-Miami>> (Miami Nation of Indiana)

-Munsee>>

-Mingo (now descendents part of the Seneca-Cayuga)>>

-Ottawa (Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians)

-Piankashaw (members of the Miami nation, although lived separately. Now descendents are federally recognized as the combined Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma)

-Sauk (Sac and Fox Nation (Oklahoma), the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri (Nebraska and Kansas))

-Potawatomi (the U.S. government recognizes seven active bands of Potawatomi -- in Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma and Indiana; and other bands of Potawatomi are federally recognized First Nations in Canada.

-Wea (Descendents are now part of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma)

-We strongly encourage those with privilege to donate to the tribes above as a micro form of reparations for the land you occupy.

-Support and stand in solidarity with indigenous people in Ohio by donating to the following organizations:

-Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio

-Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition

-Lake Erie Native American Council

-Cleveland American Indian Movement

https://www.naswoh.org/page/boardvote2023

About NASW Ohio

NASW is the largest and most recognized membership organization of professional social workers in the world. There are more than 150,000 members nationwide and more than 3,800 in Ohio. NASW is the only organization dedicated to the entire profession of social work. NASW supports social workers– everything we do at NASW is focused on making their professional lives better. Support for social workers includes holding the profession accountable to the NASW Code of Ethics by centering anti-oppression and anti-racism as the foundation of our work.  Our clients, communities, and systems will benefit from a workforce of social workers who are working to dismantle systemic oppression while having what they need like reasonable caseloads, fair compensation, and educational debt relief. 

NASW continues to work toward these goals. Currently that looks like combatting the criminalization of social work practice that is occurring through the local and state government’s attacks on bodily autonomy for pregnant people and LGBTQIA folks, taking on the social work license exam that has caused demonstrable harm to minoritized individuals, challenging our profession to address ways we engage in family policing, and addressing the need for anti-oppressive tenets to be included in all levels of social work education. Much of NASW Ohio’s work is bringing to light harms caused by social workers through the harmful systems we often work in and the profession’s alignment with white supremacy. NASW itself also must make changes and amends for the way our professional association has upheld these damaging systems which is a requirement in our pursuit of social justice. 

NASW is a strong advocate on both the state and federal levels. In Ohio, NASW is a member of many coalitions to address the needs of clients and is an active advocate for the needs of the profession (workplace safety, compensation, title protection, paid field practicums, and educational debt relief). In addition to advocacy for the profession, NASW offers members the opportunity to excel in the profession by giving you access to cutting-edge ideas, the most up-to-date information and research and the highest-quality resources available to social workers. You can advance and protect your career with NASW membership.

NASW works to promote the professional development of its members, establishes and maintains professional standards of practice, advances sound social policies and provides services that protect its members and enhance their professional status. We take positions on social issues and legislation concerning social workers and social justice like abortion, the death penalty, gun control, climate change, and more.

Job Summary

The National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter is looking for a Practice Associate whose primary responsibility will be to provide support, guidance, and strategic vision toward transformative, anti-oppressive, ethical and sustainable social work practice in Ohio. The Practice Associate will work in a team environment to ensure overall success of the NASW Ohio Chapter.

Our challenges are great. NASW Ohio is actively working on issues impacting social work and social justice like criminalization of ethical practice through abortion and gender-affiming care bans, workforce shortages, widespread burnout and moral injury in our field. NASW is a large institution– and working within a system does not align with everyone’s theory of change– but if you could see yourself or someone you know that’s right for NASW Ohio, please apply. 

Learn more and apply: https://us63.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/nasw/Posting/View/417

Applications due by December 15, 2022

Our neighbors to the south in eastern Kentucky need help given the unprecedented flooding occurring. Here are some ways to support them:

Housing Development Associates

Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards

Each year the NASW Ohio Chapter recognizes exceptional social workers, students, agencies, community members, and elected officials whose work in service to their community reflects the values of the social work profession. Regional winners are selected form the nominees for each of the NASW Ohio Chapter's 8 regions. 

We are excited to announce our 2021 Regional Award Winners!

Region 1- Toledo Area & Northwest Ohio

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Leslie Fall - Retired, Wood County Hospital

Social Worker of the Year - Co-Winners

• Elizabeth Chambers - Clinical Therapist, Dr. Adler and Associates
• Dr. Megan Gonyer - Assistant Professor & Field Coordinator, University of Findlay

Student of the Year

• Alexus Sponseller - BSW Student, Bluffton University

Agency of the Year

• Full Circle Recovery Services

Community Member of the Year

• Aleiah Jones - Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Success, University of Toledo

Region 2- Akron Area

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Dr. Mark McManus - MSW Coordinator, University of Akron School of Social Work and Family Sciences

Social Worker of the Year

• Kandice S. Lacy - Detention Mental Health Clinician, Summit County Juvenile Court

Outstanding Service to NASW

• Dana Cameron - Discharge Planner, Aultman Hospital

Emerging Leader

• Megan Solsman - Behavioral Health Navigator, Coleman Health Services

Student of the Year

• Sylvia McDonough - BSW Student, University of Akron

Agency of the Year

• Limitless Ambition

Elected Official of the Year

• Councilwoman Veronica Sims - Summit County Council, District 5

Community Member of the Year

• Bronlynn Thurman - Program Officer, GAR Foundation
  

Region 3- Cleveland

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Eugenia Cash-Kirkland - Retired, ADAMHS Board Member

Social Worker of the Year

• LaToya Logan - Founder & CEO, Project LIFT Behavioral Health Services

Outstanding Service to NASW

• Mike Dover - Associate College Lecturer Emeritus, Cleveland State University

Emerging Leader

• Phillip Emerson - Bilingual Therapist, Allied Behavioral Health Services

Student of the Year

• Jeffrey Goad - MSW Student, Cleveland State University

Agency of the Year

• Thrive Peer Support

Elected Official of the Year

• Senator Sherrod Brown - U.S. Senator for Ohio

Community Member of the Year

• Yvonka M. Hall - Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
  

Region 4- Youngstown Area & Northeast Ohio

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Russell Curry - Director, A Caring Place Child Advocacy Center

Social Worker of the Year

• Candace Carlton - Quality Improvement & Compliance Director, Hopewell Therapeutic Farm Community

Emerging Leader

• Tabitha Fitz-Patrick - Therapist, Healing and Wellness Therapy, New Beginnings Residential Treatment Center

Student of the Year

• Betty Haynes-Jacobs -  BSW Student, Youngstown State University & Founder of LGBTQ+ Allies Lake County

Agency of the Year

• Cadence Care Network

Elected Official of the Year

• Judge Anthony M. D’Apolito - Mahoning County Common Pleas Court

Region 5- Columbus Area & Southeast Ohio

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Solveig Spjeldnes - Retired Associate Professor, Ohio University

Social Worker of the Year

• Erin Michel - Director of Compliance & Quality Improvement, North Community Counseling Centers, Inc.

Outstanding Service to NASW

• Steve David - Advocacy Director, The Ohio State University College of Social Work

Emerging Leader

• Bailey Fullwiler - Neighborhood Social Worker, Columbus Public Health

Student of the Year

• Tahira Easley - MSW Student, The Ohio State University

Agency of the Year

• SourcePoint

Elected Official of the Year

• Priscilla R. Tyson - Member, Columbus City Council

Community Member of the Year

• Michael Young - Lead Pastor, City of Grace Church

Region 6- Cincinnati Area & Southwest Ohio

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Dr. Nina E. Lewis - Multi-Systems Director, Hamilton County Job & Family Services

Social Worker of the Year

• Josh Spring - Executive Director, Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition

Student of the Year

• Rose M. Hurley - BSW Student, Miami University

Agency of the Year

• Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio

Elected Official of the Year

• Representative Brigid Kelly - 31st District, Ohio House of Representatives

Region 7- Dayton Area

Social Worker of the Year

• Kerri Shaw - Community Health Worker Program Coordinator, Ohio Alliance for Population Health

Outstanding Service to NASW

• Jill Bucaro - Social Worker, Law Office of The Public Defender of Montgomery County

Emerging Leader

• Megan Cerney - Clinical Therapist, Rise Counseling Group

Student of the Year

• Rebecca Avery Neal - MSW Student, Miami University

Agency of the Year

• House of Bread

Elected Official of the Year

• Judge Helen Wallace - Montgomery County Juvenile Court

Community Member of the Year

• Tae Winston - Founder & Owner, The Entrepreneurs Marketplace

Region 8- Canton Area & Northcentral Ohio

Social Worker of the Year

• Kelli Cary - Vice President of Programming, RAHAB Ministries

Outstanding Service to NASW

• Patrice M. (Patti) Fetzer - Director of Prevention, Stark County Educational Service Center

Student of the Year

• Cassady Paige Starkey - BSW Student, The Ohio State University, Marion Campus

Agency of the Year

• Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc.

Community Member of the Year

• Angel N. Singleton - Recreation Coordinator, City of Mansfield Parks & Recreation Department; Co-founder, We ACT

Today, October 11, marks Indigenous Peoples' Day, a day to celebrate the many contributions of indigenous people past and present. Indigenous history is left out of most formal education, including social work education, so in order to properly celebrate, those of us who are not indigenous can also use today to learn. If you are not an indigenous person, we encourage you to learn about the land you live on, the people who cultivated the land for hundreds of years before colonization, where those people are now, how you can support their present-day tribes, and how you can stand in solidarity with indigenous people living in Ohio now. Here are some suggestions to begin:

As our state's name indicates- Ohio has always been home to indigenous people. Ohio takes its name from the Ohio River, whose name in turn originated from the Seneca word ohiːyo', meaning "good river", "great river", or "large creek." Prior to colonization, indigenous communities were shaping our landscape in many ways, including the 70 mounds built by the groups we now refer to as the Adena and Hopewell. More modern groups including the Shawnee, Chippewa/Ojibwa/Anishinaabe, Delaware, Wyandot, Eel River, Kaskaskia, Iroquois confederacy/Seneca, Miami, Munsee, Mingo, Ottawa, Piankashaw, Sauk, Potawatomi, Wea, and others lived across the state for hundreds of years. Notably, Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee lived in the Chillicothe area and is regarded as a hero for his attempts to resist colonization and genocide of his people.

Ultimately the last recognized tribe was forced out of the state by 1843 but this does not mean that these tribes and indigenous people no longer live in Ohio. Despite the attempts of genocide many of these tribes have survived to current day, living in Ohio, across the United States, and on tribal lands. Even though Ohio does not have reservations or federally recognized tribal groups, indigenous people of many tribal affiliations live within the state.If you are not an indigenous person, we encourage you to learn about the land you live on, the people who cultivated the land for hundreds of years before colonization, where those people are now, how you can support their present-day tribes, and how you can stand in solidarity with indigenous people living in Ohio now. Here are some suggestions to begin:

-Find who's land you are on: https://native-land.ca/

-Learn where Ohio tribes are now (this information is our best attempt and is likely, in part, inaccurate. This list is incomplete as many more indigenous groups called Ohio home. We welcome any corrections.)

-Shawnee>>

-Ojibwe/Anishinaabe>> (Today, the Ojibwa nation is represented by numerous  federally-recognized tribes across the U.S. and Canada. In 2005, approximately 176,000 Ojibwa resided in North America.)

-Delaware>>

-Wyandot>> (The Wyandot have four bands with recognition in the U.S. and Canada: the Wyandotte Nation (Oklahoma); the Huron-Wendat Nation (First Nation in Canada); and the Wyandot Nations of Anderdon (Michigan) and Kansas

-Eel River (now descendents part of Miami)>>

-Kaskaskia (now descendents part of the Peoria)>>

-Iroquois confederacy>>

-Seneca>> (Three bands of Seneca people are federally recognized by the U.S. government: the Seneca Nation of New York in far western New York; the Tonawanda band of Seneca Indians in New York; and the Seneca-Cayuga Indians of Oklahoma. Many Seneca with historic roots in Ohio, along with Seneca-Cayuga and Ohio Cayuga, are a member of this latter band.)

-Miami>> (Miami Nation of Indiana)

-Munsee>>

-Mingo (now descendents part of the Seneca-Cayuga)>>

-Ottawa (Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians)

-Piankashaw (members of the Miami nation, although lived separately. Now descendents are federally recognized as the combined Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma)

-Sauk (Sac and Fox Nation (Oklahoma), the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri (Nebraska and Kansas))

-Potawatomi (the U.S. government recognizes seven active bands of Potawatomi -- in Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma and Indiana; and other bands of Potawatomi are federally recognized First Nations in Canada.

-Wea (Descendents are now part of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma)

-We strongly encourage those with privilege to donate to the tribes above as a micro form of reparations for the land you occupy.

-Support and stand in solidarity with indigenous people in Ohio by donating to the following organizations:

-Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio

-Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition

-Lake Erie Native American Council

-Cleveland American Indian Movement

NASW Ohio is hiring a student organizer

Issues affecting social work students are mounting. Between unpaid internships, the high cost of education, and changing dynamics within the classroom- social work students have unique concerns that need to be addressed by the social work profession. These issues disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, creating barriers to entry to the profession. To take on this challenge, NASW Ohio is looking to hire a part-time, temporary student organizer. The position is for 10 hours a week from September 2021 to May 2022, at a rate of $25 an hour (approximately $1,000 a month minus taxes). The student organizer can be a current social worker student fulfilling their field practicum requirement through this role, a current social work student separate from the field practicum requirement, or a recent social work graduate. The organizer can be based anywhere in Ohio and would primarily work virtually, but must be able to travel.

The student organizer will develop and implement a campaign to address issues affecting students, centering on the issue of unpaid internships, with input and support from NASW Ohio staff. The campaign will engage current students, graduates, field departments, social work universities, and professionals. As part of this campaign the student organizer will be expected to:

• Meet with students to organize at individual social work programs, either in-person or through videoconference. Travel costs to in-person meetings will be reimbursed at the IRS mileage reimbursement rate.

• Conduct classroom presentations either virtually or in person on the topic of student advocacy and NASW membership.

• Organize and host leadership meetings with key stakeholders including other NASW chapters.

• Produce written reports on findings, project outcomes, and recommendations

• Meet with NASW staff weekly for supervision

We are looking for someone who is excited by this work, who can work independently with minimal supervision, takes self-initiative to develop the work, and is comfortable with public speaking. Previous community organizing experience preferred. NASW Ohio membership required once hired.

NASW Ohio is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or any other protected factor. We also engage in anti-discriminatory hiring practices, folks who are women, queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, parents, have different abilities, are immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/hQYEYDkbiCpdqfU37

NASW Ohio produces a quarterly magazine that focuses on social work and social justice. Social workers are invited to join the magazine workgroup to develop the themes for future magazines, brainstorm content ideas, and write content/conduct interviews. 

The workgroup will have four virtual meetings over the course of the year on August 2, 2021, October 4, 2021, January 10, 2022, and May 2, 2022 from 10am-12pm. Workgroup members can volunteer to take on writing and interviewing projects that would occur in the month following the meeting.

For more information or to join the workgroup email dsmith.naswoh@socialworkers.org. 

Region 3 (Region 3 includes Cuyahoga County), https://www.naswoh.org/page/region32021

Region 5 (Region 5 includes Athens, Belmont, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Morgan, Monroe, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Ross, Union, Vinton and Washington counties in central and southeastern Ohio, https://www.naswoh.org/page/region52021

Ballots

Login with your NASW username and password to access the ballot for the region where you live.

Region 1 (Toledo Area) Region 1 includes Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Hardin, Logan, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Van Wert, Wood, Williams and Wyandot counties in northwest Ohio.

Region 4 (Youngstown Area) Region 4 includes Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Geauga, Harrison, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning and Trumbull counties in northeastern Ohio.

Region 8 (Canton Area) Region 8 includes Ashland, Coshocton, Crawford, Holmes, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Stark, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.

This new working group will identify and tackle specific anti-racism projects relevant to NASW Ohio Chapter operations and scope. NASW Ohio leadership has determined that the first anti-racism project for the working group will be to evaluate and update the Chapter’s continuing education (CEU) programming to ensure that all CEUs provided by NASW Ohio adequately adhere to anti-racist ethics and practice standards.

We want to hear from as many people as possible and have developed multiple tiers for engagement so that individuals with varying capacities can participate. This working group is open to all social workers, regardless of NASW membership as well as other stakeholders in the social work profession which includes consumers or clients and social work students. It is essential that this group embrace an intersectional lens which means centering the leadership of those with both professional and lived experience of racism and other forms of oppression. 

Tier 1: General interest in anti-racism and social work practice.

Signing up for this tier will add you to an email list to be updated on opportunities to comment on proposed changes and future anti-racism projects but does not require any specific time commitment.

Tier 2: Working group member

Signing up for this tier indicates that you are interested in joining regular meetings and completing tasks for the entirety of the current anti-racism project, if possible. As one project concludes and another begins, working group members will have an opportunity to re-commit or dis-engage from the group. This includes compensation.

Tier 3: Project leadership 

Signing up for this tier indicates interest and willingness to take on management and coordination of the current working group project. This includes scheduling, documenting & overseeing progress and communicating with group members with support from NASW Ohio staff. This tier includes compensation.

 

Please complete this short form to declare your interest, and NASW Ohio staff will be in touch!

• Current vaccines are prioritized for Healthcare workers and personnel who are routinely involved in the care of COVID-19 patients.
  
• Residents and staff in nursing homes.
  
• Residents and staff in assisted living facilities.Patients and staff at state psychiatric hospitals.
  
• People with developmental disabilities and those with mental health disorders, including substance use disorders, who live in group homes, residential facilities, or centers, and staff at those locations.
  
• Residents and staff at our two state-run homes for Ohio veterans.
  
• EMS responders

Subsequent prioritization categories could include social workers more broadly including private practitioners, child and adult protective service workers, etc. Age, disability and other factors may also qualify social workers before professional eligibility. We have compiled a list of resources for local information on vaccine distribution by county here>> If you think your agency or your practice is eligible for a priority vaccine due to work that brings you into contact with the public, we recommend completing the form listed on the sheet or contacting the county board of health. If you think you are eligible for the 1A vaccine group make sure you tell them so. Some counties are collecting names for 1B (school employees, older adults, and some disabled folks). If you have trouble reaching the board of health try messaging them via their Facebook page. If you are denied please let us know by emailing info.naswoh@socialworkers.org.

Each year the NASW Ohio Chapter recognizes exceptional social workers, students, agencies, public citizens and elected officials whose work in service to their communities reflects the values of the social work profession. Check out our 2020 Regional Award Winners at www.naswoh.org/2020awards!

Social work is a dynamic profession with a profound history. Honor that history- and our future- by purchasing our limited-edition shirts. These shirts are available for purchase from December 1- December 11. If you purchase a shirt it will be mailed to you on December 12. Don't miss out! We will only sell these a few times a year.

These shirts are one-of-a-kind, illustrated portraits of three heroes of social work- Jane Addams, Whitney Young, and Frances Perkins. All shirts are available in multiple colors, sizes, and types (including a sweatshirt). The front features a black and white portrait of the social worker and the back has the NASW Ohio logo at the top