Laura Groshong, LICSW, CSWA Director of Policy and Practice

CSWA has been holding virtual Town Halls every 3-4 weeks for the past six months, moderated by Laura Groshong, CSWA Director of Policy and Practice.  Since there are not many representatives from GWSCSW – except for stalwarts Steve Szopa and Margot Aronson (Hi, Steve and Margot!) – I thought you might like to get a taste of what goes on in these 90-minute meetings of 30-40 CSWA members around the country.  The summary below is from our April 20 Town Hall:

We convened about 15 minutes after the verdicts on Chauvin were announced and almost everyone referenced the relief they felt about the decision; some tears were shed by most attendees.  It took about an hour to get through the intros and process the feelings raised by the decision.

We did get to other issues including:

1. How will people be able to decide whether to go back to the office or not (referred them to my webinar to review the many issues involved)
2. What to do about patients who lie about having COVID (a terrible situation)
3. How to decide whether to give up the office or not (a steadily increasing number are giving it up)
4. Will insurance cover audio/telemental health and for how long (audio only till PHE ends, TMH till end of year)
5. Should you take on patients who are suicidal without meeting in person (a risk that should be assessed on a case by case basis)
6. Survive and Thrive, CSWA’s Zoom group for clinical social workers of color, got a shout out from members
7. An attendee offered to revive the AZ Society
8. Much interest in CSWA sponsoring consulting groups  

Several long-term members of the group have formed relationships outside the meetings and everyone was very grateful for the opportunity to continue to meet.

We hope you join us at our next session on June 8, 5:30 pm EDT