NASW Ohio Chapter

Governor DeWine has vetoed HB 68. This is the result of advocacy of trans folks and their families, providers, and advocates. Thank you all for taking action. Our advocacy action steps continue. Now we need to contact our Ohio legislators to urge them not to overturn the veto.

Testimony Alert⬇️ This hearing had sponsor testimony on 10/04 and is scheduled for opponent testimony on Wednesday 10/11 at 9:30 am. Call/email the House Higher Education Committee and send your testimony asking committee members to vote NO on this bill.

Join Region 1 (Toledo & NW Ohio) Director La’Shardae Scott for the upcoming monthly online meet-up. Connect with other social workers in the area and NASW Ohio. You will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a $20 gift card. Register at naswoh.org/region1

On to November. The defeat of Issue 1 proves how well we can mobilize. Join us in protecting Ohioans right to self-determination and social workers’ right to practice ethically without fear of criminalization by supporting the reproductive freedom initiative on November 7th.

Thank you! Read the full statement on our Instagram page. instagram.com/p/CvuyV_3M7wb/…

HUGE win for Ohioans as we rejected a corrupt attempt to take away power from the people. Issue 1 has been defeated. We can do big things when we organize, collaborate, and vote. Now on to November!

Our 2023-2024 NASW Ohio Board is off to a great start. We recently held our board retreat where we came together to plan for the future of social work and NASW Ohio. Watch out for big things happening from this great group of leaders.

Next an explainer for what’s happening with Issue 1 and how it would impact you as well as social work? Check out the full article at naswoh.org/voteNOon1 and remember to vote NO on Issue 1 on or before August 8th.

Social workers can earn 4 CEUs for working at the polls during the special election on August 8. The election was scheduled last minute by the Ohio General Assembly so polling locations are not prepared with poll workers. Learn more and sign up at ohiosos.gov/elections/poll-w…

NASW Ohio PACE Committee endorses a “NO” vote on Issue 1 to protect our democracy and majority rule in Ohio. Learn more at votenoinaugust.org/

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Cynthia Tyson is now on our Board of Directors as Region 5 Co-Director (Columbus Area) along with Stephanie K. Starks, LISW-S. Dr. Tyson’s bio is listed on our Instagram page. Welcome Dr. Tyson! instagram.com/p/CutsBZAtf8T/…

Spread the word. @acluohio and their partners are holding a Trans Block Party on Saturday 7/29 in Columbus to create a space for trans and gender nonconforming folks to build community and celebrate #transjoy. Food will be provided. Event link: facebook.com/events/79335006…

NASW Ohio Practice Associate, Liam Strausbaugh, was interviewed by the Columbus Dispatch for an article about what gender affirming care is and what HB 68 would do to social work and clients. Read here: dispatch.com/story/news/loca…

NASW Ohio expresses our deep sympathy and heartbreak at the loss of Past President Mildred “Mit” Joyner. She served as president of NASW from July 2020 to June 2023 and was a keynote at the Ohio Chapter 2022 conference. We offer our condolences and support to Mit’s family.

Congratulations to social worker and NASW leader, Danielle Tong, for being selected to lead CelebrateOne. She is a great fit to lead the city of Columbus to reduce infant health disparities. abc6onyourside.com/news/loca…

A big congratulations to DR. Chanté Meadows who successfully defended her dissertation, “Black Mental Health Clinicians’ Experiences & Lessons from the Intersecting Crises of Black Mental Health, COVID-19, and Racial Trauma: An Interactive Phenomenological Study.”

Therapists and others that work with people that have been pushed to the margins are feeling threatened by hostile rhetoric online and off. The Securing Sexuality offers suggests social workers and others can use to protect themselves and their clients. spoti.fi/442sIoo