Legislative Agenda 2007-2008

“Through leadership, education and advocacy NASW-NC successfully unifies thousands of professional social work voices to promote healthy, self-sufficient individuals, families, and communities.” Chapter Vision of NASW-NC - Board of Directors

Our legislative agenda reflects advocacy positions aimed at reducing stigma, pursuing a healthy environment, and achieving social justice for all persons in North Carolina. Our legislative goals are always focused on strengthening the social work profession and improving the quality of life for our clients.

Professional Policy

Professional Issues

• Advocate for increased title and practice protections for social workers in all practice settings.
• Advocate for increases in social work salaries and compensation so that there is equity in pay levels among professions
• Advocate for changes in the Social Worker Licensure Statute that support the changing practice environment in clinical social work. This has a particular focus on Provisional licenses, defining the time frame for licensure and changes in the definition of clinical social work practice.
• Advocate for expansion of professional roles, such as within commitment and incorporation statutes, that are in accordance with established education and competence as set forth by NASW and law

Child Welfare

• Continue to promote expanded funding of the Child Welfare Collaborative in order to ensure quality services for children in child protective services Aging

Aging

• Advocate for a state drug assistance program to assist all Medicare recipients in accessing medication
• Advocate for safe and equitable access to long term care facilities for all
• Advocate for home and community based services for older adults by increasing the Home and Community Care Block Grant by $5 Million

School Social Work

• Advocate for increased salaries for school social workers
• Advocate for increased number of school social worker positions throughout the state of North Carolina so that the ratio of school social worker positions to children is at the national recommended level
• Advocate for a privilege statute for school social workers in order to provide greater confidentiality protections for clients

Social Justice & Social Policy

Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services

• Advocate for adequate funding for quality community based mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services (MH/DD/SAS) pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision and state reform, which includes funding for comprehensive Medicaid and technical and transitional support for consumers and providers

• Promote evidence-based best practices among all MH/DD/SAS providers which ensures quality services to consumers
• Advocate for equal and timely access to MH/DD/SAS for all persons in North Carolina
• Advocate for Equitable Coverage of MH/DD/SAS care at same levels as physical healthcare
• Promote services that will divert the persons with mental illness and substance abuse from the criminal justice system

Health

• Advocate for affordable, accessible and quality health care coverage for all persons that includes mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services.
• Promote affordable prescription drugs for all persons and advocate for expansion of the AIDS Assistance Drug Program (ADAP) to enable persons to receive necessary and life saving prescriptions in all Purchase of Care Programs
• Advocate for a quality continuum of care and services for the elderly
• Monitor growth of managed care and promote development of adequate review and appeals process

Individuals, Families & Communities

• Advocate for a living wage for all persons in North Carolina
• Advocate for a higher state minimum wage and an Earned Income Tax Credit
• Promote access to education and job skill training
• Advocate for accessible and quality resources for aging population
• Promote quality affordable Housing for all individuals and families in North Carolina
• Promote a safe environment and equal protection from Domestic Violence for all persons in North Carolina
• Promote a healthy environment for families and communities that supports positive child development
• Advocate for laws and policies in North Carolina that protect all children from abuse, neglect and dependency