Connect to End COVID-19 Toolkits

Overview

NASW, the NASW Foundation , and the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT) at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work are partners in an initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to engage the nation’s more than 700,000 social workers in boosting COVID-19 vaccine confidence, uptake, and access, particularly among populations with low vaccination rates and higher vulnerability to severe forms of infection.

Vaccine confidence is a complex construct that involves a variety of personal factors such as religious beliefs, political beliefs, perceptions of the government, perceptions of science, individual and/or community experiences with health providers and/or systems, language and/or literacy, and/or immigration/refugee status. As is seen in public health initiatives generally, there are also systemic and logistical factors such as transportation, childcare, and misinformation/disinformation. With their distinctive “person in the environment” framework, social workers possess highly relevant expertise in helping facilitate informed vaccine decision making in this context.

The initiative will include a comprehensive education campaign for social workers on COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness, barriers to vaccination (e.g., misinformation/disinformation, logistical challenges, psychological, etc.), and the role of social workers in promoting vaccination. The initiative will also include trainings for social workers on facts and myths about the vaccines as well as training in Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and other evidence-based, culturally competent, public health- and social work-informed methods for helping clients to process health-related decisions.

Through reflective listening and other strategies, versus traditional advice-giving approaches, these methods support and honor the client’s capacity and right to make choices about their health, while centering science-based and accurate information.

HBRT will collaborate with Michigan State University to develop a smartphone mobile application for social workers which will provide readily accessible vaccine information, motivational interviewing strategies, screening questions and brief interventions, and effective vaccine messaging for real-time support. HBRT will also collaborate with NORC at the University of Chicago to assist in developing messaging and in evaluation efforts.

NASW’s 55 chapters and a number of specialty social work associations will also be engaged in the initiative.

Myths & Facts

Every day, many more people are becoming partially or fully vaccinated. But there are many others who have not yet gotten vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death.

As part of the NASW 2021 Virtual Forum: Reimagining Social Work In Health, a free webinar COVID-19 Vaccination through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts was held Nov. 9, 2021.

The webinar is now available on demand, free of charge and includes free CEs at the Social Work Online CE Institute. Learn more about the vaccines, including myths and facts, and special considerations for social workers. Summary excerpts from the webinar and webinar presentations are included below.

COVID-19 Facts

• Anyone can contract COVID-19.
• We don’t know how COVID-19 will affect each person.
• Certain populations are at greater risk of severe illness and/or death. Among others, these include:
  • Adults 65+
  • People with underlying medical conditions
  • People with mental health disorders and/or substance use disorders
  • People who are unhoused
  • People who are African American, Hispanic or Indigenous
  • LGBTQ people
  • Socially and/or economically vulnerable people
• Some people develop long-term COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., Long Haul COVID), which can result in prolonged disruptions in health and even long-term disability.
• COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and/or death.
• Vaccinated people are eight (8) times less likely to be infected and 25 times less likely to experience hospitalization or death.
• COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Serious side effects that could cause long-term health problems are extremely unlikely following any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support approval or authorization of a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and vaccine safety experts quickly assess unexpected adverse events to guide vaccine recommendations.

Myths & Facts Questions and Answers >>

Special Populations

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, in early 2020, marginalized and vulnerable populations have been especially, adversely, impacted. NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative was launched to provide equitable training and outreach that promote informed vaccine decision-making on the part of social workers and their clients, particularly among those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and/or vaccine hesitant.

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Connect to End COVID-19: Role of NASW and Its Chapters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines vaccine confidence as the belief that vaccines work, are safe, and are part of a trustworthy medical system . NASW and its Chapters are working to increase vaccine confidence and vaccine uptake through training, communications, and outreach strategies that include, but are not limited to:

• offering complimentary NASW National webinars and CEUs;
• offering complimentary NASW Chapter-based trainings and CEUs on Motivational interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Therapy (SBIRT) that promote informed vaccine decision-making on the part of social workers and their clients;
• organizing and collaborating with local community vaccine ambassadors; and,
• partnering with local agency/organization for social workers to attend national webinars and chapter workshop training program.

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Special Populations: Barriers and Solutions

1. Persons Experiencing Homelessness
   Barrier: access to vaccine in traditional setting (clinic, pharmacy).
   Potential Solution: vaccine education and drive at shelters, day programs, food service locations or encampments.
2. Persons with Disabilities
   Barrier: online appointment scheduling and care site navigation.
   Potential Solution: collaboration with Area Agencies on Aging, Meals on Wheels, etc.
3. Incarcerated, Detained, and Justice-Involved Individuals
   Barrier: congregative living settings.
   Potential Solution: prioritization by state to provide COVID-19 vaccine to prisons and jails.
4. Immigrants
   Barrier: language/literacy challenges, limited transportation, fear of immigration-related consequences.
   Potential Solution: language specific outreach, walk-in testing sites.
5. Minority Populations
   Barrier: racism, distrust of medical system.
   Potential Solution: trusted champion; partnering with YMCA, barbershops, salons, local nonprofit; and, mixed media messaging.

MI-SBIRT

Connect to End COVID-19: Informed Vaccine Decision-Making

In a complimentary NASW webinar held on January 12, 2022, participants learned how to apply MI and SBIRT frameworks to help clients with their decision-making around COVID-19 vaccination. That webinar is available for self-study, on demand, with complimentary CEUs from the NASW Social Work Online CE Institute.

The webinar is part of NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative—a partnership between NASW, the NASW Foundation and the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT) at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2022, NASW and 14 of its state chapters, and HBRT will host 14 MI and SBIRT trainings across the United States, in states with low vaccination rates and high levels of vaccine hesitancy. These interactive trainings, lead by HBRT trainers, will introduce MI and SBIRT, and how these evidence-based modalities can be effectively deployed to help guide collaborative conversations with clients about COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. The complimentary six-hour trainings, held in two, three-hour sessions over two days, include six complimentary CEUs for currently practicing, licensed NASW social work members. The NASW Chapters providing trainings include: AL, AR, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, NV, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX.

Through Connect to End COVID-19, NASW and HBRT also are creating a Mobile Application (Mobile APP) to provide social workers with MI strategies, SBIRT screening questions, and vaccine information. Release of the APP is projected for early summer 2022.

Leading the University of Texas at Austin team are Mary Velasquez, PhD, Professor and HBRT Director; Kirk von Sternberg, PhD, Associate Professor and HBRT Associate Director; Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW, HBRT Senior Research Program and Training Coordinator; Lloyd Berg, PhD, Associate Professor and Division Chief of Psychology at UT-Austin’s Dell Medical School; and Diana Ling, HBRT Program Manager.

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Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style that develops and strengthens a client’s motivation for and commitment to change. It has a strong evidence base in healthcare and focuses on the client’s strengths and capacity for change. In alignment with social work ethics and standards, MI supports and honors the patient’s capacity for, and right to, self-determination and agency.

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Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to the delivery of early intervention around substance use disorders that is used in professional and community settings nationwide. It is grounded in MI principles and is meant to be a brief dialogue that takes about 10 minutes. In dialogues about vaccination, SBIRT provides clients the opportunity to explore what is best for them, and for providers to support their client’s decision.

Learn more with the following resources:

• COVID-19 Vaccines Through a Social Work Lens: Supporting Informed Client Vaccine Decision Making Through MI and SBIRT -NASW complimentary webinar available for self-study, on demand, with complimentary CEUs from the NASW Social Work Online CE Institute
• COVID-19 Vaccines Through a Social Work Lens: Supporting Informed Client Vaccine Decision Making Through MI and SBIRT Webinar materials:
• Covid-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT , Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH
• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) – Adapted for COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations , Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW-S
• Motivational Interviewing for Brief Conversations about COVID-19 Vaccination , Stéphanie Wahab, PhD, MSW
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
• Motivational Interviewing for Vaccine Hesitancy: A Handbook
• Boston University, Brief Negotiated Interview

Training

A centerpiece of the Connect to End COVID-19 initiative is providing accurate information to social workers about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine safety and effectiveness, barriers to vaccination (e.g., mis/disinformation, logistical challenges, psychosocial and social care considerations, etc.), and the role of social workers in supporting clients in informed decision making regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

Key to the initiative are national, interactive trainings on the use of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and other evidence-based, culturally competent, public health and social work informed frameworks for helping clients process decisions regarding their health. A primary focus is on populations with low vaccination rates and greater vulnerability to severe forms of infection.

Past Webinars: Register For Complimentary Self-Study

COVID-19: New Vaccines, Updated Boosters, and Living with a (Controlled) Pandemic

September 29, 2022

Interactive webinar, offered through NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative, includes the following discussion and topics:

• New COVID-19 vaccines
• Updated booster formulations
• What we’re learning about Long COVID
• Living with a controlled (versus an urgent) pandemic
• Special considerations for mental and behavioral health providers
• Constructively navigating uncertainty

Speakers:

• Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
• Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, Deputy Director of Programs, National Association of Social Workers

Webinar materials include:

• COVID-19: New Vaccines, Boosters and Living With a (Controlled) Pandemic

Register for complimentary self-study webinar, “COVID-19: New Vaccines, Updated Boosters and Living with a (Controlled) Pandemic”

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What’s Next in the Pandemic, Through a Social Work Lens

February 24, 2022

In this webinar, hear from social work and infectious disease experts about the evolving COVID-19 landscape, what’s on the horizon, and how social workers can continue to play a role in vaccine uptake, especially among special populations. This is the third in a three-part series offered through the Connect to End COVID-19 initiative in which NASW is partnering with the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work.

Speakers:

• Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
• Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, Deputy Director of Programs, National Association of Social Workers
• Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Social Workers

Webinar materials include:

• COVID-19 Update for NASW, Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
• COVID-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Current Landscape and Special Populations , Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH

Register for complimentary self-study webinar "What's Next in the Pandemic Through a Social Work Lens" available in mid-March.

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COVID-19 Vaccines Through a Social Work Lens: Supporting Informed Client Vaccine Decision Making Through Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

January 12, 2022

At this interactive event, participants learned how to apply MI and SBIRT frameworks in supporting clients in their decision making around the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Complimentary webinar and CEUs are available for self-study.

This webinar is the second in a series of three webinars that are part of NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 initiative, undertaken in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The third webinar in the series, “Supporting Special Populations in Vaccine Decision Making,” will be conducted February 24, 2022.

Speakers:

• Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW – CEO, National Association of Social Workers
• Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH – Deputy Director of Programs, National Association of Social Workers
• Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW-S – Senior Research Program and Training Coordinator, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin
• Stéphanie Wahab, PhD, MSW – Professor, School of Social Work, Portland State University

Webinar materials include:

• Covid-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT , Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH
• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) – Adapted for COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations , Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW-S
• Motivational Interviewing for Brief Conversations about COVID-19 Vaccination , Stéphanie Wahab, PhD, MSW

Register for complimentary self-study webinar "Supporting Informed Client Vaccine Decision Making"

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COVID-19 Vaccination Through the Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts

November 9, 2021

As part of the NASW 2021 Virtual Forum: Reimagining Social Work In Health, a complimentary webinar, COVID-19 Vaccination through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts, was offered. The complimentary webinar and CEUs are available for self-study.
Millions of people are becoming partially or fully vaccinated each day. However, there are many others who have not gotten vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death. At this webinar, learn more about the vaccines, including myths and facts, and special considerations for social workers.

Webinar materials include:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts , Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, NASW Deputy Director, Programs and Lee Westgate, MBA, MSW, LCSW-C, NASW Manager of Policy and Advocacy
• COVID-19 Vaccines by Mona K. Gahunia, D.O., Associate Medical Director, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente

Register for complimentary self-study webinar “Covid-19 Vaccination through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts”

CDC Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a wide array of information and resources that are beneficial to social workers who are working to enhance COVID-19 vaccine confidence and support clients in informed vaccine decision-making.

Vaccine Confidence

• Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines
• 12 COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies for Your Community
• Ways Health Departments Can Help Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations

Addressing Misinformation / Disinformation

• Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
• How to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation
• State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Reports
• A Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation - Office of the U.S. Surgeon General 2021

Health Care Providers

• Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination in Children
• Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccinations Currently Approved or Authorized in the United States
• Talking with Patients About COVID-19 Vaccination
• Answering Patients’ Questions About COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccination

Communications

How to Talk About COVID-19 Vaccines with Friends and Family

Special Populations

• How to Tailor COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Your Specific Audience
• How to Talk with Parents and Caregivers About COVID-19 Vaccination
• COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19
• National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) Vaccine Central
• Toolkit for People with Disabilities
• Strategies for Reaching People with Limited Access to COVID-19 Vaccine

Health Equity

• Partnering for Vaccine Equity: Vaccine Resource Hub
• COVID-19 Vaccine Equity for Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
• Strategies for Reaching People with Limited Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
• Reducing Vaccine Hesitancy for People Living With Disabilities - ASTHO
• Resources to Support Vaccine Readiness in Your Community - Vaccine Equity Cooperative

Vaccine Confidence

Every day many more people are becoming partially or fully vaccinated, but there are many others who have not been vaccinated, despite the demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death. Social workers, as professionals who provide services in a wide range of community settings, and who are trusted messengers, are in a unique position to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence, access, and uptake— particularly among populations with low vaccination rates and higher vulnerability to severe forms of infection.

Join NASW’s national Connect to End COVID-19 campaign today! It is a CDC-funded initiative to support social workers and their clients in informed vaccine decision-making.

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Visit our quick links to comprehensive tools, facts, information, complimentary webinars, and CEUs:

• About Connect to End COVID-19
• Myths and Facts
• Myths and Facts Q&A
• MI-SBIRT
• Trainings (Complimentary Webinars and CEUs)
• CDC Resources
• NASW COVID-19 Resources
• News Headlines Archive

Visibility

When is the best time to post on Social Media? Nights and weekends are often the best times to gain attention for social work content— probably because many social workers are working during the day— so don't be shy about posting and sharing updates throughout the day.

Focus on posting at lunchtime, after work, and on Saturdays and Sundays on Facebook. You can duplicate stories and share on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, altering them for length of message for each platform.

If you want to gain extra visibility, use videos, GIFs, images, and graphics that you can create with Canva or other image-making services. Make your content stand out.

Be sure to include @nasw on Twitter. Tag @naswsocialworkers on Facebook and tag @naswsocialworkers on Instagram. Tag @naswsocialwokers1 on TikTok. Remember to tag influencers, your friends, and colleagues, too!

Facebook & Instagram

Sample Facebook and Instagram Posts

• Stay up to date on #COVID19 vaccinations and boosters. Safe and effective, COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Visit @CDC – https://bit.ly/3m6P9Zi – to arm yourself with the facts. Learn more about NASW’s CDC-funded National campaign to promote informed COVID-19 vaccine decision-making: https://bit.ly/3nHhllU. Complementary trainings and CEUs available. @TexasSteveHicks @NASW @NASWFoundation
• Are you current with your #COVID19 vaccinations? Get up to date information @CDC https://bit.ly/3m6P9Zi and find vaccination locations near you https://www.vaccines.gov/. Join the @NASW national Connect to End COVID-19 initiative today! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wokatW.
• According to @CDC older adults are more likely to get very sick from #COVID19. The updated COVID-19 booster provides added protection, preventing severe illness or hospitalization: https://bit.ly/3LeF46t. Join the @NASW Connect to End COVID-19 initiative: https://bit.ly/3wokatW.
• Hear the latest on #COVID19 and earn complimentary CEUS with the #NASW self-study webinar, COVID-19: New Vaccines, Updated Boosters, and Living w/a (Controlled) Pandemic. Available as part of NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign. Register today and earn complimentary CEUs: https://buff.ly/3VjCr4J. @CDCgov
• NASW and NASW Foundation are partnering with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded initiative to support social workers and their clients in informed COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Register today: https://buff.ly/3VjCr4J for four complimentary, self-study webinars and CEUs: COVID-19 myths and facts; Motivational Interviewing; Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment; working with populations with low vaccination rates and greater vulnerability to severe forms of infection; and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Connect to End COVID-19: https://bit.ly/3nHhllU.
• Register for four complimentary, self-study webinars, and CEUs as part of NASW’s national Connect to End COVID-19 initiative: #COVID19 myths and facts; Motivational Interviewing; Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment; working with populations with low vaccination rates and greater vulnerability to severe forms of infection; and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Register today https://buff.ly/3VjCr4J and Connect to End COVID-19 https://bit.ly/3nHhllU.

Twitter

Sample Twitter Posts

• According to @CDC older adults are more likely to get very sick from #COVID19. The updated COVID-19 booster provides added protection, preventing severe illness or hospitalization: https://bit.ly/3LeF46t. Join the @NASW Connect to End COVID-19 initiative: https://bit.ly/3wokatW
• Are you current with your #COVID19 vaccinations? Get up to date information @CDC https://bit.ly/3m6P9Zi and find vaccination locations near you https://www.vaccines.gov/. Join the @NASW national Connect to End COVID-19 initiative today! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wokatW
• Safe and effective, COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, death. Visit @CDC – https://bit.ly/3m6P9Zi to arm yourself with the facts. Learn about NASW’s campaign to promote vaccine confidence: https://bit.ly/3nHhllU @NASW @NASWFoundation
• Hear the latest on #COVID19 and earn complimentary CEUS with the #NASW self-study webinar, COVID-19: New Vaccines, Updated Boosters, and Living w/a (Controlled) Pandemic. Available as part of NASW’s Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign. Register today: https://buff.ly/3VjCr4J @CDCgov
• Join the @NASW Connect to End COVID-19 initiative today! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wokatW about training, tools and information that promote vaccine confidence among social workers and equip social workers to support clients in informed vaccine decision-making. #COVID19

Tools and Tips

Tiktok

Consider posting on TikTok at least once or twice a week. On TikTok, make sure you are looking directly into the camera. Videos people enjoy the most on NASW’s page have been the ones where social workers are talking or engaging with the audience and use more trendy topics and music.

Linkedin

Because LinkedIn is a more professional (business) platform, you'll want to craft your messages appropriately. Network with other social workers. Share research and facts.

Useful Tips

Images: Please share only images that you have permission to post on social media; and, make sure you add useful alternative text to images to make them accessible to people with disabilities.

Alternative Text: Alternative text (aka "alt text") is an important tool for increasing the accessibility of images and for improving the overall user experience of your online content. Follow this link to learn more.