NC General Assembly back in session
The NC House and NC Senate officially opened the 2024 Legislative Short Session on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Both chambers graveled in and then adjourned after announcements on day one. Committee meetings and votes are expected to occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays through June. However, the session can always go longer than expected. “When we come in for short session, guys, it’s going to be the short session.” House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, on plans for a brief session. (NC Insider / State Affairs Pro, 4/11/24)
Governor Cooper Releases His Budget
On the same day the NC General Assembly opened its short session, Governor Roy Cooper released his budget adjustment passed on the State of North Carolina's $1 billion dollar surplus.
Governor Cooper again included $10 Million Dollars for Restoration of Master's Pay for School Social Workers.
In 2013, North Carolina became the first state in the US to eliminate master’s pay for teachers, which meant educators who acquired a master’s degree would no longer be paid a higher salary for acquiring an advanced degree. Restoration of Master's Level Pay for School Social Workers has been one of NASW-NC top legislative issues for the past 11 years.
It also supports student mental and physical health with $44.6 million for school counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. These funds also provide school districts flexibility so that they can strategically hire school health personnel to best meet student needs.
Committing to North Carolina Through Public Schools
The Governor’s budget includes an average 8.5% teacher raise plus a $1,500 retention bonus for most teachers. It would lift starting teacher salaries from $39,000 to more than $47,500, the highest in the Southeast. It reinstates Master’s Pay, increases salaries for school-based administrators and invests $34.7 million to expand Read to Achieve to middle school students. It provides funding for 700 elementary school teaching assistants in grades K-3. The budget provides $11 million to strengthen the pipeline of new teachers and creates opportunities for more North Carolinians to pursue careers in teaching by expanding Teaching Fellows program eligibility to more education schools and in more subject areas.
It makes investments in student success through $217 million for crucial support programs for disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency.
Strengthening Child Care and Early Education for Working Families
On June 30th, federal COVID-19 relief money that funded worker pay increases at the state’s childcare centers will run out. As a result, 29% of childcare centers say they won’t be able to remain open if the General Assembly doesn’t intervene.
The Governor’s budget mitigates the fiscal cliff in child care funding and keeps child care centers open with $200 million for Child Care Stabilization Grants and $128.5 million for child care subsidies that will increase reimbursement rates for providers in rural and low-wealth communities.
Our nationally recognized NC Pre-K program is at risk because of persistent underfunding by the General Assembly. The Governor’s budget shores up NC Pre-K by investing $197 million to cover the full cost of care for NC Pre-K students and $24.4 million to provide summer programs for students once they complete NC Pre-K and before they enter kindergarten. The budget also further reduces child care costs for North Carolina families by providing a refundable child and dependent care tax credit.
Support for NC State Employees
Last year, nearly 25% of state jobs were vacant, leading to employee shortages across the board. In 2023, the turnover rate across state departments was 32.7% for first-year state workers, and nearly 14% overall.
In addition to the current employee shortages, the state could see more vacancies in the coming years. Twenty-five percent of current state workers will be eligible to retire within the next five years.
Governor Cooper’s budget equips state government to attract and retain employees in the face of high turnover and a competitive job market. It invests $251.8 million to guarantee at least a 5% across-the-board salary increase in addition to those in last year's budget. It also includes close to $400 million for a retention bonus for all state-funded employees.
You can read the Governor's Press Release Here:
You can read the Governor's full budget HERE:
(source: CardinalPine.com)
Upcoming NASW-NC Conference & CE Hours:
May 6-7, 2024 Virtual on Zoom -REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 1ST
Registration:
NASW Members $125
Not yet a member? $250
The Clinical Social Work Institute is one of NASW-NC's flagship conferences, offering 1.5-hour workshops for both advanced and beginning clinical social workers. Past attendees have shared that the workshops offered are an enhancement to their practice and areas of specialization. The conference welcomes Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) from across North Carolina, with others joining in from other states and a few from other countries.
You Get ALL the CE!
Because we are in a virtual setting, you benefit by getting MORE CE! 13 hours of CE will be LIVE! All sessions will be recorded and available to view for 1 month after the conference for you to receive an additional 18 hours of CE - a total of 31 hours of CE, including Ethics hours!
This year we are offering a track on Social Work Leadership and Business Development:
• People, Power, and Change: Informing social work practice through a distributive model of leadership
• Shattering the Silence: Confronting Racisms Impact on Mental Health and Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• How to open & market a successful private practice
• Belonging to Belong: Why Emotional Courage is Required to Support People and Change Systems
And other great sessions including:
• Social Work In The Space Between-An Imago Perspective
• A New Frontier: Social Work & Library Partnerships in NC
• Do No Harm: Navigate Weight Stigma and Build and All body Practice
• Veterans and Mental Health: Helping Those Who Served
• Fostering Meaningful Connection in Aging Individuals
• Electronic and Online Sexual Behavior: But, Wait, The Kids Know More Than We Do!
Plus many more! Check out all sessions offered on our Conference Brochure!
VIEW BROCHURE AND REGISTER HERE
Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill
Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill
NASW-NC met and had more communication with NCGA staff again this week when the 2024 session opened around working to pass SB 718!
UPDATE: Vermont is now the ninth law to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill on April 23, 2024!
The Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill has been signed into law in the nine states required for the Compact Commission to be established!
The ninth state to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Legislation was Vermont on April 23, 2024. The first bill to pass the legislation was Missouri on July 7, 2023. The other bills where it is law are South Dakota, Utah, Washington State, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas and Nebraska. Thank you to the NASW chapters who took the lead in each of the states that have both ratified and introduced the compact in each of these states.
Additional states will be able to join the Compact Commission as soon as the legislation is passed in their state. The legislation has been introduced in 19 other states, including here in North Carolina. Senate Bill 718-Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact was introduced during the NC General Assembly Long Session in 2023 and is currently in the Rules Committee. NASW-NC has been working all year to ensure the Social Work Licensure Bill is passed during the short session which begins on April 24, 2024. Please be on the lookout for Advocacy Alerts & updates from us on how you can help us reach out to your legislators at the right time to help get it passed.
You can learn more about the Compact Bill by reading the NASW Press Release.
Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities:
Community Spotlight Event: ENC’s Advocacy Day 2024
Equality NC is committed to advocating for policy changes, social reforms, and cultural shifts that dismantle systemic barriers and empower LGBTQ+ individuals to live authentically and without fear of discrimination or violence. One important way we do this is through our annual Advocacy Day. Join us in Raleigh on May 30th, 2024, to meet with your representatives and discuss the importance of policies that uplift and protect the LGBTQ+ community. Register by May 16th to ensure we can schedule a meeting with your representative!
2024 Aging Advocacy Day- May 7th 2024
This event, which is sponsored by major aging advocacy groups in the state, provides the opportunity to make your voice heard by sharing information with our lawmakers about the growth in our state’s older population and the need to plan for this significant demographic change. It will be the first opportunity to introduce state House and Senate members to the newly developed Multi-Sector Plan on Aging (All Ages, All Stages NC) and invite them to learn more about this Plan.
More specific details will be forthcoming, but mark your calendar now and register for this important event. An orientation to the Advocacy Day, which will include a review of plans and instructions for the day, will be provided at the monthly NC Coalition on Aging Membership meeting on:
May 1st Lobby Day organized by El Pueblo, La Fuerza and the Alianza. Join us and share this out with your friends and networks!
The event will begin with a press conference at 9AM and will be a great opportunity for folks to meet with their legislators. This day is not just about rallying—it's about mobilizing, strategizing, and taking direct action to defend our rights and dignity.
Organizado por El Pueblo, su organización hermana La Fuerza, y sus aliados de la Alianza, este día no se trata solo de movilizarnos, sino también de elaborar estrategias y tomar acciones directas para defender nuestros derechos y nuestra dignidad.
Date: May 1st
Location: 1 E. Edenton St. Raleigh, NC 27601
Time: Starts at 9AM
More Information & Register Here!
NC Budget & Tax Center
Our Dollars, Our Future 2024
Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET
Join the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center on May 2 in Raleigh for a day of advocacy to take the budget back to the people. We will be requesting meetings with legislative leadership to demand a more transparent and equitable budget process, and joining together to discuss how we can organize to ensure future budgets fund the services and programs our state needs so every North Carolinian — from Boone to Wilmington and all parts between — has what they need to thrive.
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
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