Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill
The Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill has been signed into law in the seven states required for the Compact Commission to be established!
The seventh state to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Legislation was Kansas on April 12, 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 and Virginia. 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.
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
New Report on the Impact of Understaffing on the Daily Lives of Nursing Home Residents
Consumer Voice has published a new report, The Impact of Understaffing on the Daily Lives of Nursing Home Residents. Since the Biden Administration announced its intention to propose a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes, the focus has been on how a staffing standard would hurt nursing home owners and operators.
Often lost in the discussion are residents, the people who suffer the consequences of understaffing. To bring the focus back on residents, Consumer Voice surveyed over 120 nursing home residents in the fall of 2023, asking for their perspectives on staffing and how they are affected by staffing levels daily.
The results were striking. The majority of residents who responded to the survey, 88%, stated their facilities lacked the staff necessary to meet the needs of the residents living in their facilities.
NC House speaker calls for $300 million to give private school vouchers to all income levels
House Speaker Tim Moore says the legislature should add $300 million to the state's private school voucher program to address higher-than-expected demand for help paying tuition.
More than 72,000 people applied to the "Opportunity Scholarship" program after state lawmakers expanded who's eligible for the vouchers. The program is now open to all families regardless of their income, but the high demand meant that only about 13,500 students at lower income levels will be able to receive vouchers this year.
Moore said the legislature can afford to make sure no one is left out.
"It's just shown there's much more demand for it," he told reporters Wednesday. "There's a lot of parents who want their kids to be attending either religious or private school. And so I think we ought to be able to step up, but we have the money. The savings reserve has money set aside."
The initial round of vouchers issued are going to families in the "Tier 1" income bracket — an annual income of up to $37,814 for a two-person household (higher for larger families). Families in the "Tier 2" bracket — income of up to $75,628 for a two-person household — might receive vouchers but only if there's money available after the Tier 1 students accept or reject their awards. Unless more funding is added, higher-income families won't be accepted this year.
Funding for the voucher program is already set to increase each year through 2032, when it's set to receive more than $500 million. The allocation is set at $415 million starting next year.
Opponents of the voucher program worry that it will result in less funding for public schools, and Gov. Roy Cooper took to social media to criticize the proposed additional funding Wednesday.
Moore said he thinks the budget will still have money for teacher raises. However, he wasn't sure how lawmakers will approach a request to fund childcare facilities that are grappling with a loss of federal money this year.
"We've made dramatic expansion of child care a priority," he said. "We're going to look and see what the numbers are."
Moore said the state revenue numbers that will shape this year's budget talks haven't been released yet. The legislature's "short session" begins later this month.
Source: WUNC
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) commemorates the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April with their “Building Connected Communities” campaign. The campaign uplifts the role of inclusive, equitable, and connected communities in reducing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. Community is an integral part of all our lives, and the health and well-being of our communities shape our lives. During this month-long campaign, NSVRC will be reinforcing that whenever anyone experiences sexual violence, every community member is affected. By working to promote the collective well-being of our communities, we are also buffering against the risk of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
This year’s theme is “Building Connected Communities.” Join the campaign by accessing free resources at nsvrc.org/saam. Resources are available in Spanish at nsvrc.org/es/saam.
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:
Friday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m.
Zoom Link.
Or One tap mobile+13092053325,,5051031304# US
Passcode: NCCOA.
Join us for Advocacy Day 2024!
April 30, 10:00am - 2:00pm - Advocacy Day 2024
This event, held at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, allows mental health advocates to hear from government officials and legislators, tell their stories about mental illness, and let their voices be heard.
Questions about Advocacy Day? Please contact Lillian M. Davis, Director of Public Policy, at ldavis@naminc.org or by calling (919) 235-4749.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR NAMI'S ADVOCACY DAY EVENTS
Join us on April 30th in Raleigh! Second Chance Lobby Day is a time for all who believe in second chances to come together to speak to our NC lawmakers about the criminal justice + reentry issues impacting our communities. #IAMFORSECONDCHANCES
Moms Demand Action Event
First Presbyterian Church (meeting place)
112 S Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC 27601
When: Thursday, April 25, 9:00 AM
The most important day for Moms visibility and mission in NC is our Advocacy Day. Make a plan to join us on April 25 in Raleigh, where we will urge our lawmakers to support common sense gun safety laws we can LIVE with. As constituents, that is our right, and as Moms Demand Action, that is our goal. Join your Moms from all over the state on this exciting, empowering day.
NC Black Alliance
NC Black Summit : April 25-26, 2024
Raleigh, NC
Mark your calendars for the 18th Annual NC Black Summit in Raleigh on April 25-26, 2024. Hosted by the North Carolina Black Alliance, this year’s theme, “Igniting Progress, Demanding Equity,” perfectly aligns as we approach the pivotal 2024 election—one of the most critical in our lifetime, with implications extending far beyond this year.
With over 20 positions on the ballot, both in NC and nationally, the 2024 Summit offers a unique opportunity for Black elected officials, public policy advocates, community stakeholders, strategic partners, and advocates from across the state to strategize on mobilizing voters to the polls and safeguarding OUR voting rights. We will explore solutions to issues affecting OUR community and collaboratively work towards building a more just and equitable North Carolina.
Find More Information & How to Register CLICK 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.
Want this information sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for weekly NASW-NC legislative updates: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/home
