President’s Message

From Ruth Sterlin

            At the threshold of every New Year, I feel equally bound to look both backwards and forwards. It is important to evaluate what has passed during the old year; and, at the same time, it’s critical not to get stuck there. In glancing back at 2007, I’m very proud to say that our accomplishments were numerous.
            To begin with, we hosted the last two Jane Roiter Sunday Morning Seminar Series presentations on “Attachment and Healing.” Later in the year, we kicked off the 2007-08 Series on the theme of “Grief, Trauma and Resiliency: Clinical Issues and Challenges” with two excellent presentations by Peter Shabad, Ph.D. and Eleanore A. Ryan, Ph.D. In addition, we provided our members with the opportunity to participate in a three-part Supervision Seminar Series, presented by Eric Ornstein, L.C.S.W., and Sharon Williams, L.C.S.W.
            All of these events provided our membership with highly relevant educational content presented in a professional manner. In addition, they provided all participants with great networking opportunities and chances to connect with colleagues. In saying this, I wish to underscore that the Board of ISCSW has been listening to the important feedback of members who have expressed a need for our Society to be alive and active. In addition to the above presentations, we had two networking evenings, plus a large and wonderful Conference on Ethics presented by Dr. Carlton Munson in October. In fact, there has been an event for members to attend on the average of once every other month. In my book, that’s a significant offering to members from an active and caring professional organization, an average we will all work hard to maintain!
            I’d like to say a few more words on the Munson Conference. It was a resounding success! We had over 100 people attending, all provided with a tasty lunch, and book sales to top it off. Dr. Munson was an excellent presenter.  He showed us ethical potholes to watch out for, and included important legal information. Afterwards, he told me that he was impressed by many of the questions from the audience. I want to thank ISCSW Board members, Jewish Child and Family Services, several volunteers from our membership, and all who attended for your contribution to its success.
            Regarding progress in our profession, I want to call your attention to the letter of thanks from NASW-IL sent to Daniel Potter, Board member and our Legislative Chair, reprinted on p.15 of the Winter 2008 Newsletter and available online at the link below this message. In it, Daniel receives praise and gratitude for all of his significant efforts, as well as the alliance forged between our two organizations, all of which helped move Medicaid vendorship for Clinical Social Workers forward to become the law in Illinois. We will all soon be entitled to Medicaid reimbursement, even in our private practices---no small accomplishment. Thank you, Daniel, for your effective work with NASW, professional committees and State legislators in helping move this terrific benefit forward.
            And---a final glance over the past year---ISCSW has officially affiliated with the Center for Clinical Social Work. On p. 12 of the newsletter, you’ll find an article about the benefits of this affiliation by JoAnn Brown. Please be aware that the CCSW provides many resources our membership can turn to, but the decision to join the Center remains entirely up to each ISCSW member. 
            As we begin 2008, a significant development is the approaching ISCSW membership campaign. Leah Hays Harding, our new Membership Chair, is working hard to spread the word and build up our membership by contacting social workers in the northern part of Illinois. Please do your part in telling others about all of the wonderful benefits our Society has to offer Clinical Social Workers.
            We are also looking forward to the launching of our Cultural Competence Committee, chaired by Board member Henry W. Kronner. It is exciting that we have someone ready to guide us towards broadening our professional thinking by helping us to raise our awareness and sensitivity to cultural issues in our clinical work. We also anticipate that Henry will lead the Society’s efforts to reach out to recruit a more diverse membership. On p. 12 of the newsletter, Henry writes about his vision for the Committee, as well as his wish to hear from all of you about your ideas for the Committee’s direction. As President of ISCSW, I look forward to articles, presentations and honest discussions to add cultural depth and richness to our personal and professional growth.
            With the start of the New Year, the Society continued our Sunday Morning Seminars with Robyn Seidman’s presentation on January 20, “Helping the Survivors of Suicide to Heal: Social Work Intervention in Complicated Grief.” Still to come is a very special panel discussion on February 24, moderated by Katherine Tyson McCrea, Ph.D., on “Promoting Healing of Complex PTSD Trauma in Youth: Clinical Social Work Contributions to Global Peace-Building.”
            And, finally, during the coming year, the Society will continue to promote and maintain excellence in education and practice. The content and breadth of training for future social workers has been a hot topic lately. Many argue that existing social work programs do not really prepare social workers for in-depth clinical work with clients. In an effort to influence the training of future social workers, we will continue to forge solid alliances with surrounding schools of social work, as well as to represent our profession. We have an excellent start on this, given that our Board membership includes Henry W. Kronner, an Assistant Professor at Aurora University School of Social Work; Eric Ornstein, a Clinical Associate Professor and Fieldwork Liaison at Jane Addams College of Social Work; Geoffrey  Magnus, a Professor at the University of Illinois School of Psychiatry, Beloit branch; Daniel Potter, a Lecturer at Loyola University School of Social Work; and Allyson Morch, the student liaison to our ISCSW Board from Jane Addams College of Social Work.

            The Illinois Society for Clinical Social Work is vital and alive! And we ask for your help and commitment to join us in keeping it that way. Email us! Talk to us!

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!