CHAPTER CONNECTIONS



CHAPTER CONNECTIONS

Newsletter of the Illinois Chapter Society for Social Work Leadership in

Health Care

The mission of the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care is to promote social work in health care throughout Illinois.

President: Dawn Moutray, MSW Editors: Martha Wright, MSW

Dawn.moutray@ Maryellen McGreevey, MSW

June 2004 Website:

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

It was exciting to attend the SSWLHC Chapter President’s meeting in Las Vegas and hear that our chapter is one of the most successful! We are one of nine states with the most members. Thanks to all of you, I was able to share our ideas and strategies that have worked for us. I presented on a panel about increasing membership and membership satisfaction. I was able to explain our retreat to discuss and resolve issues as well as our membership survey. It was also interesting that other chapters have the same problems planning an annual conference that meets everyone’s needs as far as location, time and content. There is one problem others have that we don’t. We have wonderful involvement from our members for anything from our annual conference to legislative and membership issues. I was very proud to represent our chapter. It was also good to hear that the SSWLHC is in good shape financially. The next national conference will be in Houston, Texas on April 13-16, 2005.

We will be having our annual conference for the Illinois Chapter of SSWLHC on July 23, 2004 at Edward Hospital in Naperville. Brochures are on their way. It will be an exciting conference on “Diversity.” We will also be presenting the Social Work Leader of the Year Award. So, I hope to see you all there!

Illinois Chapter Board Meeting Highlights

The March 5 board meeting was held at OSF St. James Hospital in Pontiac. The goals from the board retreat were discussed and the mission statement confirmed. The mission statement is “To promote social work in health care throughout Illinois. This is achieved by promoting education, networking, advocacy, mentoring and best practice standards.” Membership survey results were also discussed with the priorities being networking with colleagues, attending the annual conference and district events and the newsletter. Nancy Brooks, our national SSWLHC liaison, attended and shared national business with us. Some chapters are using phone conferences and e-mail for board meetings. She talked about national fundraisers and CEU booklets. Also, the Home Care Social Work organization joined SSWLHC. An update on the annual conference for July 23 was given. The committee is confirming speakers and obtaining vendor support. The Social Work Leader of the Year will be presented at the conference. A legislative sub-committee was formed to look at pending legislation. Committee members are Tom Tynan, Dan Byars, Terri Drew and Betty Nelson.

National

The national SSWLHC conference in Las Vegas was great! There were 302 attendees and the organization exceeded its budgeted profit. We had great speakers and networking opportunities in an exciting city. Next year the conference will be held in Houston, TX. The website listed above is a great resource tool and has the following information: roster of the national 2004 board and staff, membership directory, publications, tools such as the standards of care, a bulletin board of upcoming state events and career opportunities.

Members submitted their names for the $750 scholarships to the national conference. The winners were Betty Nelson, Galesburg and Carrol Stovold, Lake Forest, IL.

State

The time is getting close! The Illinois SSWLHC Conference will be held in Naperville, Illinois at Edwards Hospital on Friday, July 23, 2004. The topic will be “Disparities in Healthcare Among Minorities”. The cost for the all day conference will be $50 for members and will offer 5.5 CEUs. Brochures will be mailed soon. Please join us and plan to spend part of the weekend in the Chicago area. Many hotels are available with good rates.

Legislative Report

Tom Tynan, our legislative chair has submitted the following report: As legislative chair I endeavor to keep you informed regarding pending or newly enacted legislation both in Illinois and nationally that impacts the profession of social work and the populations we serve. From time to time I have forwarded emails to the membership that can give you an opportunity to participate in the process by contacting your elected representatives and expressing your opinion and/or support for pending legislation. I appreciate the e-mails that I have received from many of you alerting me to a piece of legislation that may be of interest to our membership. Keep the e-mails coming. My email address is: ttynan@

As you know the Lobby Day 2004 was a big success. Nearly 600 social workers and social work students participated! Two bills that were targeted by the Lobby Day event were HB #3071 and HB #4104. HB #3071 is a consumer choice bill that allows

Medicaid reimbursement of licensed clinical social workers, among others. The bill passed the Illinois House but has been hung up in the Senate Rules Committee. HB #4104 eliminates the sunset date on the mental health parity law. That bill is currently in the House Rules Committee. Feel free to contact your state representatives to move these bills along.

Chicago District

The Chicago District is planning its annual luncheon at the Erie Street Café on Tuesday, June 22, 2004. The speaker will be Frances Glosson of Centegra Healthcare Systems. The topic is “Finding the Ritz in Healthcare through Servant Leadership and Values Integration”. CEUs will be provided.

Anyone who has information for the Chicago district, please contact Maryellen McGreevey, mmcgreevey@, 312-492-3079 in order to get it in our newsletter. This may include upcoming CEU offerings, job location changes, promotions, new LCSWs, etc.

New members include Patricia Castronova, Victorian Manor; Mary Cherullo, Advocate Christ Medical Center; Sharon Oates, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital; Jennifer Schoenhofen, Victorian Manor; and Bradley Sjostrom, AIMMC.

District officers are: president: Lynn Kedrowski, lynnkedrowski@, 708-403-6500, pres-elect: Dan Byars, dbyars@, 815-338-3148, secretary: Sheryl Walton, Sheryl.Walton@, 708-346-5261 and treasurer: Don Bensing, dbensing@eyecare.ico.edu, 312-949-7638.

Northwest District

The Northwest District had its quarterly meeting at Proctor Hospital in Peoria, IL on April 13. A two hour CEU program is being planned at the hospital on October 12, 2004. The topic will be Veteran’s Rights and Benefits. This information will assist in the placement of veterans.

The next quarterly meeting will be at Cottage Hospital in Galesburg on Tuesday, July 13.

Members will be submitting their names for two $150 scholarships for the state conference in Naperville. The winners will be notified on June 30.

Christine Banks of Heritage Manor in Normal, is a new member.

District officers are president: Nancy Tuftie, ntuftie@, 815-433-3100 secretary: Mary Suhr, jsuhr@, 309-792-4353 and treasurer: Kenny Bloyd, kabloyd@, 309-647-5240.

Southern District

The Southern District had a meeting on June 2 at St. Joseph’s hospital in Breese, IL.

Keith Sudemeyer gave a two hour in-service on the social services outpatient program he developed at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. After 1½ years the program has demonstrated its value to the hospital in not only serving the mission of the health center but also reducing the charity costs of the hospital. The program provides case management through home visits by social workers.

At their business meeting the district awarded two $100 scholarships for the annual state conference in Naperville. The winners were Margaret Wayne, Belleville and Gerrie Haukap, Breese, IL.

Grace Givens of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan is a new member.

District officers are president: Nancy Weiss-Hayes, nwhayes@, 618-465-4522 and treasurer: Terri Drew, tdrew@, 618-465-4522.

E-mail & Address Changes

Please notify Betty Nelson, betty_nelson@, (309-343-8131) membership chair, of any e-mail or address changes so you can continue to receive this newsletter and notices of upcoming events.

State Board officers: president-Dawn Moutray, president elect-Pat Sutton, treasurer-Terri Drew, secretary- Deb Hartman, awards/nominations- Nancy Tuftie, membership-Betty Nelson, legislative chair-Tom Tynan and newsletter chairs-Martha Wright and Maryellen McGreevey

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