Committees & Networks 

NASW-WI has many exciting and diverse opportunities for volunteer involvement. 

We have board positions, branch steering committees, board committees, specialized task forces, and various networks that can appeal to different special interests in the membership. One of the exciting things about NASW-WI is that new networks can be formed if there is enough interest from membership. A majority of our committees function via toll-free conference calls.

Volunteer involvement with NASW-WI is a great way to meet other practitioners, develop leadership skills, make important professional and career contacts, and work cooperatively to change social policy on a state or national level.

2024 Committee Sign Up Sheet – Committees and Networks

A sampling of our current list includes:

Committees

BOARD OF DIRECTORS : 

• The NASW Board of Directors is the governing body for the Wisconsin Chapter of NASW. It meets four times per year in Madison. It sets policy for the chapter, develops and implements chapter goals and objectives and has fiduciary responsibility for the chapter. For more information contact Marc Herstand at  mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org .

CONTINUING EDUCATION : 

• NASW WI’s Continuing Education Committee plans the annual conference, the Winter webinar series, the Boundaries and Ethics workshops and reviews and approves programs for continuing education hours. The Continuing Education Committee meets monthly by toll-free conference call. For more information contact the Continuing Education Chair Joan Groessl or NASW WI Executive Director Marc Herstand at  mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org .
  Continuing Education Committee Chair: 
  Joan Groessl,  groessl@charter.net

DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION 

• NASW WI’s DEI Committee examines how NASW WI can better meet the needs of and support NASW WI members and social workers from diverse backgrounds. Previous activities have included: planning a Town Hall Meeting and follow-up workshop on racial disparities in Wisconsin at the annual conference, communicating with the State of Wisconsin Department of Children & Families and several counties regarding racial disparities in child welfare; and meeting with Dane County’s Community Relations Director regarding racial disparities in Dane County. For more information contact Dawn Shelton-Williams or Pat Parker.
  Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Chairs: Pat Parker, pa_parker@msn.com
  Dawn Shelton-Williams, dawn.shelton-williams@aurora.org

FINANCE 

• The Finance Committee prepares the chapter budget, reviews quarterly financial reports, reviews the annual audit and conducts other business and sets other policies as necessary. If you have a financial background or would like to learn more about finances, this might be the committee for you. The Finance Committee meets quarterly by toll-free conference call. For more information contact the Finance Chair Debbie Zemel or NASW WI Executive Director Marc Herstand at  marchertand@naswwi.org .
  Finance Committee Chair: Katie Krueger, k80_k1@outlook.com.

LEGISLATIVE AND SOCIAL POLICY :

• The Legislative/Social Policy Committee is another highly active committee, which plans the Chapters biennial lobby day, reviews and takes a position on the biennial state budget, reviews bills that are introduced into the Wisconsin Legislature, determines the Chapter’s position on priority bills, develops position papers on Wisconsin chapter priority issues, and helps mobilize members on high priority bills. In general the Legislative/Social Policy Committee prioritizes bills in the areas of health care, child welfare, family, violence and civil rights. The Legislative/Social Policy committee meets monthly at 5:00 PM via Zoom. For more information contact Corky Hempe or Marc Herstand at  mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org .
  Legislative and Social Policy Committee Chair:
  Cornelia “Corky” Hempe,  cghempe@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING: 

• The Membership and Marketing Committee conducts surveys of NASW WI members, reviews chapter recruitment and retention efforts, conducts specialized recruitment and retention campaigns, and reviews and revises marketing materials and strategies. For more information contact Nadir Carlson.
  Membership and Communications Coordinator:
  Nadir Carlson, ncarlson.naswwi@socialworkers.org

WISCONSIN SOCIAL WORKERS PAC: 

• Wisconsin Social Workers PAC (WSWPAC) endorses candidates running for statewide or local office. In addition WSWPAC provides money and organizing assistance in targeted races. NASW PACE, operating out of the national office, endorses candidates and provides funding in Senate, Congressional and Presidential elections. For more information contact NASW-WI Chapter at  mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org .
• Wisconsin Social Workers PAC Committee Chair:
  Wendy Volz Daniels,  wvolzdan@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND REGULATION : 

• The Professional Standards & Regulation committee monitors, reviews and advocates on rules and bills affecting the practice of social work in Wisconsin. The Professional Standards & Regulation committee meets the third Monday of every month at 12:00 noon by toll-free conference call. Some recent examples of committee focus have included; Medicaid reimbursement in schools and for in-home services for LCSW’s in private practice, HMO reimbursement for in-home services, HMO hiring of CAPSW’s, Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare recruitment, retention and staff qualifications, prior authorization for MA services and proposed changes to the requirements for licensure as a clinical social worker. For more information contact Jennifer Burelbach or Marc Herstand at  mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org .
  Professional Standards and Regulation Committee Chair: 
  Jennifer Burelbach, jenniferburelbach@charter.net

NOMINATIONS AND LEADERSHIP IDENTIFICATION : 

• The Nominations and Leadership Identification committee recruits NASW WI members to run in the yearly chapter elections. This recruitment includes contacting members to run for Board officer positions, branch Board positions, Nomination positions and social work student members to run for the student positions on the NASW WI Board of Directors. For more information contact Emily Kenney or Marc Herstand at  mherstand.naswwi@socialworkers.org .
  Nominations and Leadership Identification Committee Chair:
  Emily Kenney,  emilyjanekenney@gmail.com

REGIONAL BRANCH GROUPS : 

• NASW WI has divided up the state into seven branches: Southeast, Kenosha/Racine, South Central, Northeast, North Central, West Central and Southwest. Several branches have active steering committees that meet regularly. If you would be interested in getting involved with a branch in your region, return the committee sign-up sheet with your address and we will send your name to the branch chair for the region. 
• Membership and Communications Coordinator:
• Nadir Carlson, ncarlson.naswwi@socialworkers.org

Specialty Networks 

Specialty Networks are special interest groups organized by NASW WI members in collaboration with the NASW WI chapter office and Board of Directors. Task forces are generally formed by the Board of Directors and designed to focus on a particular problem area in the social work field.

CLINICAL NETWORK:

• NASW WI’s Clinical Network has an active list serve where Network members communicate among themselves and receive important information from the NASW national office and other sources. The Clinical Network posts a regular column in the chapter on-line newsletter and hosts a luncheon at the annual conference. For more information contact Dale Decker or the NASW WI office at admin.naswwi@socialworkers.org.
  Clinical Network Chair:
  Roberta Bronecki: roberta.bronecki@pinevalleywi.com

YOUNG LEADERS NETWORK: 

• NEW CHAIR NEEDED: The NASW WI Young Leaders network is designed to connect young NASW WI social work professionals with each other. Activities are based upon the interests of participants. The NASW WI office will help promote the activities and networking of this group through blast emails, the on-line newsletter and the Executive Director’s e-newsletter. The NASW WI Young Leaders Network will be organized and directed by volunteer NASW WI members in consultation with the Executive Director. For more information contact the NASW WI office at admin.naswwi@socialworkers.org

PRIDE NETWORK – LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) AND INTERESTED OTHERS NETWORK :

• The Pride Network's mission is to inform, train, advocate, and discuss LGBTQ+ issues that impact social work practice and policy. We will review and discuss current LGBTQ+ issues to see how social workers can best support their clients. Additionally we will support NASW-WI LGBTQ+ members by creating a platform for conversation that connects and supports NASW LGBTQ+ members. We will create resources and advocate politically to help social workers address the social injustices that impact the LGBTQ+ community. Contact the co-chairs Winnie Chastek (she/hers) at wchastek@uwm.edu Messina Duggan they/them if you have any questions about the Pride Network.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES NETWORK:

• NASW-WI’s Children’s Issues network is a volunteer-based advocacy group which performs community outreach and policy advocacy in the interest of improving the lives of children. If you are interested in being part of the children’s issues network, please get in touch with co-chairs Antoinette Davis at adavis@generationalcycles13.com and Kayla Howell at kaylahowell529@gmail.com

HEALTHCARE SOCIAL WORK NETWORK OF WISCONSIN:

• HSWN is grounded in the NASW code of ethics and the 6 social work values, is based on advocacy, inclusion, personal and professional growth, and collaboration. Further, one of the 12 grand challenges in social work is closing the health gap the HSWN will rise to that challenge. Who is the HSWN of Wisconsin for? Most people recognize healthcare social workers as providing services in hospitals. Healthcare social workers specialize in public health, geriatric, palliative, and inpatient medical or mental health care. They work in hospitals and other specialized medical settings like nursing homes, rehabilitative care centers, or related home-care services and hospices. Some healthcare social workers specialize, while others may serve a wider variety of clients with ongoing medical issues. Healthcare social workers often collaborate with other medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, discharge coordinators, administrative staff and physical therapists as part of an interdisciplinary team. Please contact Cindy Dunst (cindunst@gmail.com) the co-chair of the HSWN to receive information regarding advocacy and resources in healthcare social work.
• Healthcare Network co-chairs Cindy Dunst,cdunst@childrenswi.org, Linda Wojtasiak, lwojtasiak@outlook.com
  

RURAL MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK:

• Being a social worker in a rural area is a very unique experience that brings its own set of challenges and gifts. The Rural Mental Health Network gathers together social workers who are working in rural areas across the state to support each other, share strategies and work to advance ideas and policies that will support rural communities.
  Rural Mental Health Network chair
  Susan Kopp Townsley, LCSW, susan@stonehousecares.com

DISABILITY NETWORK

The disability network's mission is to inform, educate, advocate, and discuss disability issues affecting those with disabilities relevant to social work practice and policy. We will review and discuss current disability issues related to how social workers can best support their clients in WI. Additionally, we will provide resources and advocate politically to help social workers address inequalities in the disability community.
Disability Network Chair: Adam Brabender, adambrabender12@outlook.com