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2008 NASW Election Slate

As this News went to press, NASW's National Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification was meeting to develop the slate of candidates for the association's 2008 election. The slate will be posted in January at Governance and will be published in the February News. Only persons whose names were submitted to the nominations committee by the Oct. 31, 2007, deadline but were not included in the slate may be included by petition on the final ballot. Petitions are due at the NASW national office by Feb. 8, 2008.

Medicare Bonus Deadline Nearing

Clinical social workers have until Feb. 28, 2008, to file their claims for a 1.5 percent bonus payment of their total allowed Medicare-covered services rendered from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2007. Claims may be filed with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services electronically or on paper on the CMS-1500 Form. The bonus was created under CMS's 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, which offers a financial incentive for clinical social workers and other health care professionals to participate in an optional quality-reporting program. For details, see the NASW Clinical Social Work Practice Update "2007 Medicare Bonus Incentive Program for Clinical Social Workers".

Nominees Sought for Recognition Awards

NASW and the NASW Foundation are accepting nominations through April 18, 2008, for the 2008 National Recognition Awards. Awards include: NASW — Social Worker of the Year, Public Citizen of the Year, Public Elected Official, Lifetime Achievement Award; Foundation — International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award, Knee/Wittman Health and Mental Health Achievement Awards.

Foundation Offers Scholarship, Research Awards

The NASW Foundation is accepting applications through March 14, 2008, for its 2008-2009 fellowships, scholarships and research awards: Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship; Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship; Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarships; Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship; Ruth Fizdale Award. For details: NASW Foundation; e-mail; (202) 408-8600, ext. 504

Taxes and Membership Dues Deductibility

Members who qualify to deduct membership dues payments from income taxes should note the following: For tax year 2007, 9.54 percent of the annual NASW dues payment is not deductible. The percentage is based on the amount of association lobbying activity in 2007. For tax planning purposes, the nondeductible portion of the NASW dues payment to be made in tax year 2008 is 12.06 percent.

Loan-Forgiveness Law Update

Members who want to learn the latest information about the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 [November News] and whether they qualify for possible student loan forgiveness should view the latest U.S. Department of Education contact information.

JobLink Upgrades Continue

NASW continues to improve its JobLink service for job seekers and employers. NASW credentials and certifications are now appended to the records of job seekers who are NASW members and are updated every time the members log on to JobLink. And employers can now search for specific NASW credentials and certifications when searching the extensive resume database of job seekers. Also, JobLink has added a 30-Day Resume Access Package for employers.

Veterans Hotline

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a national suicide prevention hotline for veterans — (800) 273-TALK (8255). The toll-free hotline number will be staffed by mental health professionals who will take calls from across the country and work with local providers to help veterans. The VA is operating the hotline in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Sanctions in Force

NASW adjudicates certain allegations of violations of its Code of Ethics by members, and if violations are found, may impose sanctions. For the current list of sanctions of public notification imposed within the past 10 years that remain in force: Sanctions in Force

This Month In Social Work

Family Intervention, Suicidal Ideation, Practice With Muslims, Kin Networks, Volunteering, Race and Diagnoses

Journal of the National Association of Social Workers

Knowledge for Powerful Practice

Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2008

Managing Editor:
M. Scott Moss
naswnews@naswdc.org

Senior Editor:
Lyn Stoesen naswnews@naswdc.org

Writer:
Paul R. Pace naswnews@naswdc.org

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Jim Snyder
(703) 764-5949

Advertising:
Erinn Dumas
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NASW President:
Elvira Craig de Silva, DSW, ACSW

Executive Director:
Elizabeth J. Clark, Ph.D., ACSW

Publisher, NASW Press:
Cheryl Bradley

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