Mayor Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals Announces $1 Million Anonymous Donation to Launch Student Loan Forgiveness Program for Behavioral Health Professionals
New York City
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the launch of a new student loan forgiveness program for behavioral health providers, funded by a $1 million contribution from an anonymous donor. The new program is designed to help attract and retain doctors, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians who care for New Yorkers with mental health or substance use needs as the U.S. faces a national mental health professional shortage. NYC Health + Hospitals will offer psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers between $30,000 and $50,000 of debt relief in exchange for a three-year commitment to serve the public health system.

Lisa Savage is a member:
Founders launch fastest growing Black-owned community of mental health professionals
Black Enterprise
Clinicians of Color is a community of mental health professionals whose mission is to connect BIPOC mental health communities to services. Clinicians of Color was founded by Lisa Savage, LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), and Kim L. Knight five years ago. These two mental health professionals met on Facebook and immediately clicked. They realized that Black and Brown therapists were doing amazing things but often overlooked. So, Lisa and Kim decided to create a platform to elevate Black and Brown therapists and provide them with support, training and a welcoming community.

Will Courtenay is a member:
My Husband Is A Parent Too — But You’d Never Know It Based On What People Say To Us
Yahoo News
“Half of all men whose partners have postpartum depression are depressed themselves,” said Will Courtenay, Ph.D., a licensed clinical social worker and founder of PostpartumMen.com. “Depression in both parents can result in devastating consequences for their relationship and especially for their children.” UNLV’s research team reported that the surveyed new dads lacked needed resources to help recognize PPD, repressed their feelings, felt overwhelmed or resented the baby, and felt neglected by their wives, medical professionals and society.

Beth Plachetka is a member:
Declare Independence and Clean Up Your Life!
Shaw Local News Network
Life is messy. Sometimes it’s a small mess, and other times the messiness permeates every aspect of our lives. The bigger the mess, the more despair we experience. “It’s obvious when our desks are messy,” said Dr. Beth Plachetka, LCSW, EdD and owner of Safe Harbor Counseling. “How do we know when our lives have gotten messy? Our thoughts, words, and actions let us know.” According to Dr. Beth, when life is messy we avoid talking about anything important, including finances, relationships, ideas, and beliefs.

Cal Klingensmith is a member:
What Does It Mean To Be Pangender? Experts Explain The Gender Identity
Women’s Health
When choosing a gender identity label (if you do choose to label yourself), pay attention to what feels uncomfortable (is it that you’re uncomfortable with your chest? Or maybe you don’t enjoy being seen as either a man or woman?) and then go from there, explains Cal Klingensmith, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist based in New York who specializes in gender-affirming care.

Addressing social determinants of health has a huge impact
Smart Business
As a critical component of overall health, the role of social determinants of health and the barriers they pose are often overlooked. “From a health care perspective, we need to think about whole health, not just physical and behavioral, but also social,” says Amy Shannon, LSW, director, Social Determinants of Health Program and Products for Highmark Health, parent company of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “It’s critical to identify the resources available for social health to support the best possible outcomes in a member’s health journey.”

Seattle taps UW to study social worker pay
Real Change News
On July 12, the city of Seattle awarded a $498,278 contract to the University of Washington (UW) School of Social Work for a study comparing wages for human services jobs to other similarly skilled positions in the Seattle and King County area. The contract fulfills a request for a proposal issued in May, and the results must be returned no later than Jan. 31, 2023.

Tim Swanson is a member:
Amid mental health crisis, thousands of Colorado kids get free therapy in new program
Colorado Newsline
“It’s a great need. I see parents who are struggling with trying to find a simple entry into counseling for their child without being overwhelmed,” said Tim Swanson, a licensed clinical social worker from Colorado Springs who is an I Matter provider. Cutting out the need for a traditional intake session and paperwork allows him to “get to the meat” of why a child scheduled an appointment with him.

Mywen Baysah is a member:
Inside The Academy Working To Train D.C.’s Violence Intervention Workforce
DCist
Both incidents occurred in public, crowded places. And both, according to clinical social worker Mywen Baysah, were examples of conflicts that quickly escalated to violence because someone became too agitated to think clearly, and no one was around to calm them down before they reached for a gun. “Those two are very strong examples of poor impulse control,” Baysah said as she led the session. “We want to give people options of alternative ways of behaving in the community, and that’s what you guys do every day.”

Deb Goldfarb is a member:
Public health experts say Boston’s approach to Mass. and Cass is working. But push for more police involvement continues.
Boston.com
What is needed, both Komaromy and Deb Goldfarb, a clinical social worker at BMC and the director of behavioral health in Population Health at the hospital, agreed is more time and more resources that are patient-centered and low-barrier — from housing to jobs programs. Such measures allow people the opportunity to meet their basic needs with dignity and gain self-efficacy, and confidence, which aids in the stabilization of their substance use disorder or other behavioral health issues.

Elizabeth Dosoretz is a member:
Elite Behavioral Health launches Back-to-School Supplies Drive
ABC7-Ft Myers, FL
“Approaching the first day of school can prompt a spike in nerves among children, and when coupled with uncertainty over school supplies, students may experience greater feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem, affecting their productivity and readiness to learn,” said Elizabeth Dosoretz, LCSW, founder and CEO of Elite DNA Behavioral Health. “Every student should be able to start their first day of school with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom, so we’re calling on our communities to join us in helping alleviate back-to-school expenses for families already impacted by rising food and gas prices.”