April 23, 24, 25, 2008, Charleston (WV) Civic Center

The Largest NASW Chapter Annual Conference in the Nation! 

Thank you to the over 1,750 professional social workers, health and human services professional, keynote speakers, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers who helped make the 2008 Spring CE Conference for Social Workers a resounding success!  Your comments have been overwhelmingly positive. 

We have already begun planning for the 2009 Spring Conference, which is scheduled for Wednesday through Friday, April 29, 30 and May 1, 2009 at the Charleston Civic Center.  Please mark your calendar and plan to join us there for this annual celebration of the social work profession!

Noah Adams' keynote address opened the conference on Wednesday morning with a powerful and sensitive look at the people of Appalachia, and stories of his facinating career.  In her closing keynote address on Friday, Hilda Heady, MSW offered valuable information about how to effectively serve military personnel, veterans and their families.  She also praised the Spring Conference planners for providing diverse training and content on these needs, including numerous workshops presented by experts on PTSD, TBI, social and health services and resources.  The importance of this effort was brought home on a personal level at the close of the conference as a tearful veteran and social worker expressed his thanks.

Content still available online for reference purposes:

To View Workshop Descriptions:  Workshop_Descriptions (pdf) Click Here

The West Virginia Chapter is pleased to announce the candidacy of the following members for the positions indicated.  The Chapter Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification (CCNLI) has certified that the slate meets all of the Chapter's affirmative action goals and representational mandates.

Members are informed that candidates may be added to the final ballot through a petition process.  Members wishing to have their name/s added to the ballot by petition have 15 days from the date of this announcement to notify the Chapter Office of their desire to seek a place on the ballot by petition, and 30 days from the date of this announcement to submit a successful petition.  To be successful, petitions for a position elected by the members statewide must include the signatures and printed legal names of at least 30 members (5% of the Chapter membership) as of June 15, 2007.  For a regional position, the signatures of 5% of the total number of members within the region as of June 15, 2008 are necessary.  Regional member numbers and petition forms may be obtained from the Chapter Office.  Questions regarding the petition process may be addressed to Robbin Durham, ACSW, CCNLI Committee Chair, in care of the NASW WV Chapter Office at 1608 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25311. Phone: 304.345.6279. Fax: 304.720.3766.

Please join me in congratulating the Committee and our candidates!

2008 Preliminary Slate of Candidates, West Virginia Chapter, NASW

Position                    Candidate 1              Candidate 2

Secretary                 Bethany Ellard           Diane Market
MSW Candidate     William Feathers       Stacey Reed   
BSW Candidate      Jewell Field               Caitlin Warland

Northern Region  Karen Schimmel (unopposed)
Southern Region  Sarah Whittaker  (unopposed)
Central Region   Jean O’Halloran (unopposed)
Western Region   Kelli Phelps  (unopposed)

CCNLI Committee:
Western Region Member Rita Brown  (unopposed)
Northern Region Member Patience Land  (unopposed)
Central Region Member  Karen Dotson  (unopposed)

Kim McGann, MSW
Secretary, Board of Directors

June 19, 2008

Major Sponsor Exhibitors:

1-800-GAMBLER :

The Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia

Burgess Center for West Virginia Families & Communities, WVU Division of Social Work

West Virginia Home Health Services / Amedisys

Day Sponsor Exhibitors:

ALL MED

Nitro, Beckley, Huntington, Logan, Ashland, KY

LHC Group, Inc.

Housecalls Home Health & Hospice, Lewisburg, HomeCare Plus, Parkersburg, Roane Homecare, Princeton Community Homecare, Wetzel County Homecare, Boone Memorial Homecare, St Mary’s, Medical Center Home Health Services, Housecalls Home Health & Hospice, Belpre, OH

West Virginia Health Care Association

Gala Reception Sponsor Exhibitors:

Pressley Ridge

The Youth Academy

West Virginia University Division of Social Work

Refreshment Sponsor Exhibitors:

CRC Health Group/Charleston Treatment Center

Liberty Point Behavioral Healthcare, LLC

Stepping Stones, Inc.

Timber Ridge School

UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia

Youth Services Systems, Inc.

Exhibitors (booth #):

Youth Villages 206

The 2008 Spring Conference attracted over 1,700 social workers and other health and human services professionals to Charleston on April 23 - 25. Our first-ever service project resulted in the collection and distribution of over 76 pounds of food and nearly $100 to low income and homeless families and individuals. In addition, several boxes of items were collected to create 'Hero Packs' to help keep military families connected across the miles.  Special thanks to NASW WV Captiol Branch members for coordiating the project!  We look forward to building service project opportunities in to future Spring Conferences!

Awards of Merit Presented at Spring Conference

NASW West Virginia Chapter is pleased to announce the following recipients of our 2008 awards of merit:

Social Worker of the Year: Debra Beatty, ACSW of Elkview. A therapist in private practice, Debra's impressive skills and caring personality helped to make her the obvious choice. Committed to her profession and community, Debra has been involved in many consumer advisory groups and is a member of the NASW WV Spring Conference Planning Committee

Exemplar Award for Excellence in Social Work Management: Steve Mason, ACSW of Charleston. Steve has performed with great distinction as the state's chief addicitons specialist at WV DHHR's Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities. He is the recipient of pervious awards of merit from his peers in the addictions treatment field. Steve has chosen to retire this year.

Public Citizen of the Year: Rev. Dennis Sparks, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches. Dennis is a tireless, respected and effective advocate for good causes, including children's health, child welfare, clean elections, and economic and social justice. Having Dennis and the WVCC on your side is a wonderful thing!

Jon Blair Hunter Award for Political Advancement: State Sen. Jon Blair Hunter, MSW began most of his speeches on the Senate floor with 'As a professional social worker...'. He no only promoted our profession, but consistently demonstrated its most cherished values.  Jon was presented with the inaugural award recently named in his honor by the Chapter Board of Directors.  This was previously known as the Legislator of the Year award.

Special Award: Betsy Randall, PhD, ACSW. As outgoing President of the Board of Directors of the NASW West Virginia Chapter, Betsy has help to shape and lead our success over the past two years.  The Chapter exercises influence far beyond our size and is is in better financial condition than when she took office. Her respectful and inclusive style of leadership has been appreciated.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS!

Check back often!  We'll add new content, features and photographs on an ongoing basis.  Don't forget to add us to your bookmarks!

Contact information concerning employment and continuing education opportunities relevant to West Virginia social workers is posted free of charge when timely and as our capabilities allow.  Electronic format submission preferred.  We reserve the right to edit submissions to remove qualitative content  All editorial decisions are final.

April 29, 30 & May 1, 2009, Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, WV

Mark your calendar NOW to attend this very special edition of NASW's annual Spring Conference!  We're reviewing your suggestions about inviting speakers back from previous years, including special features in the conference, displaying memorabilia from conferences since 1985, and MORE!

Call for proposals now in effect!

To Download the Call for Proposals Form: Click Here