Helping Medicare Beneficiaries Plan for & Navigate Coverage in 2026

Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW, Senior Practice Associate–Aging

December 2025

Four NASW Publications Available

Many social workers have been wondering how the recent shutdown of the federal government affected Medicare annual enrollment for calendar year 2026. Similarly, questions have arisen regarding the impact of recent changes within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the enactment of the July 2025 budget reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21, also known as H.R. 1) on Medicare coverage for the upcoming calendar year. This four-part series of Tips & Tools for Social Workers addresses those questions and provides additional updates. Read more

New Study Finds Significantly Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke Among Cannabis Users

By Diana Ling, MA, Senior Program Manager; and Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, Senior Health Strategist; Health Behavior Research and Training Institute; The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work

Oct 01, 2025

Cannabis use increases the risk for heart attack and stroke, including among young people with no prior history of cardiovascular issues, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data on 200 million people aged 19 to 59 and found that cannabis users had a 29% higher risk of heart attack and 30% higher risk of stroke compared to nonusers. Cannabis users were also twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

Read more about New Study Finds Significantly Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke Among Cannabis Users

Social Work Student Events

NASW invites all social work students and recent graduates to our student-focused series to enhance your skills and connect you with colleagues from across the country. NASW members and non-members are all welcome to attend. 

NASW student events are held on the third Thursday of each month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. PT, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. ET.

Fear and Survival: Uniting our Social Work Community in the Face of the Federal Immigration Crackdown

Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET

Kick off the year with NASW and a critical conversation for our social work profession. Join us for a discussion with expert social workers on challenges and risks faced by clients and communities in immigrant communities. What is happening in communities after traumatic immigration raids? This NASW Student Series is in partnership with the NASW-MA annual virtual MLK Jr. Forum on Racial Justice will identify how social workers can work together to provide a system of care to support immigrant communities in the face of a federal immigration crackdown. Expert social workers will discuss approaches to addressing the impact of immigration policy in communities, interventions to support immigrant communities, and strategies to integrate advocacy into clinical work.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify systems of care within immigrant communities.
• Learn specific interventions to address the impacts of immigration policy in social work practice across the range of settings where social workers live and work.
• Learn strategies to engage in advocacy centering communities most impacted by immigration enforcement.

This event is FREE and has 2 CEs available. Registration closes January 13.

Register now for "Fear and Survival: Uniting our Social Work Community in the Face of the Federal Immigration Crack Down"

Registration is free!

Check out the benefits students receive

Call for Workshop Speakers!

Are you a speaker? An expert in your field?

We are looking for speakers for our NASW-Nevada-hosted Education workshops.

Topics can include, but are not limited to:

Substance Abuse/Use

Social Justice

LGBTQ+ Issues

Workplace Conflict Management

Ethics

Aging

Child Abuse/Family Violence

Children, Youth, & Families

Clinical/Behavioral Health

Spirituality/Mind-Body Wellness

If you or someone you know would be interested, use the form below to connect with us!

Sign up here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/x5oe7n115szsiw/

NASW-Nevada Hosted Education:

NASW-NV CEUs are accepted by the following boards and organizations:

• Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers
• Nevada State Board of Psychological Examiners
• State of Nevada | Department of Education
• State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors

Cultural Humility: Addressing the Goldilocks Syndrome

Date: January 5th, 2026 at 10 am PT, 12 pm CT, 1 PM ET

1 hour of Cultural Competency

Zoom

Description:

This training introduces clinicians to the principles of cultural humility, using the "Goldilocks Syndrome" as a framework to explore the challenges of achieving balance in culturally responsive practice. The course critically examines the impact of colonialism on the helping professions, emphasizing the importance of decentralizing the colonizer's perspective and promoting client-centered care. Participants will learn practical strategies for self-reflection, bias recognition, and collaborative learning to ensure ethical and culturally humble practice. Through case studies and self-assessment, clinicians will to navigate cultural complexities with sensitivity, humility, and respect.

Speaker: 

Dr. Witni Jackson, LCSW, MAC

Dr. Witni N. Jackson is a seasoned social work professional with over a decade of experience in mental health, crisis intervention, and program management. As the CEO of Kuna Consulting, Dr. Jackson designs and delivers accredited educational programs for social workers and professional counselors across Georgia. She also provides clinical supervision and consultation upon request. Her dedication to education and training has equipped numerous clinicians with the skills needed to excel in their fields.

Cost: 1 hour of Cultural Competency / $20 Nonmember / Free NASW Member / Free for students (no CEUs)

Register Here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/z1mljdwt0thph9h/

Ethical Gray Areas in Counseling: A Live Courtroom Debate

Date: February 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT, 12:00 p.m. CT 

Zoom

2 CEU (Eithics)

Description:

Not all ethical decisions are black and white. In this fast paced training social workers will explore real-world ethical dilemmas that don't always have clear answers. This interactive session transforms the learning space into a mock courtroom where participants witness - and participate in - debates over challenging clinical scenarios. Using ethical codes, the workshop highlights how professional values can sometimes conflict with legal obligations, cultural norms or client-centered care. Participants will examine multiple perspectives on issues such as dual relationships, confidentiality, and professional boundaries in modern therapeutic settings. 

Dr. Witni Jackson, LCSW, MAC

Main Speaker Bio:

Dr. Witni N. Jackson is a seasoned social work professional with over a decade of experience in mental health, crisis intervention, and program management. As the CEO of Kuna Consulting, Dr. Jackson designs and delivers accredited educational programs for social workers and professional counselors across Georgia. She also provides clinical supervision and consultation upon request. Her dedication to education and training has equipped numerous clinicians with the skills needed to excel in their fields.

Cost: 2 CEU (Ethics) / $25 Nonmember / $10 NASW Member / Free for students (no CEUs)

Register Here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/z4lzk98062qu10/

The Ethics of AI for Social Workers

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm CT / 10:00 am to 2:00 pm MST / 9:00 am to 1:00 pm PST

Presenter: Lori A Melhart (she/her), LCSW

Virtual Platform: Zoom Meeting

CEUs Available: 4.0 Ethics

Description: Navigate the complex ethical landscape of AI in social work with this comprehensive course. It meticulously covers HIPAA compliance for AI tool usage and strategies for securing informed client consent. Explore diverse ethical AI applications while distinguishing between beneficial support and activities constituting therapy. Crucially, gain an up-to-date understanding of Illinois' landmark Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (HB1806) and its direct practice implications. This course fosters critical thinking for responsible AI integration, prioritizing client well-being and professional standards. Participants will engage with AI tools on their devices, bridging theory with practical application for an empowered future in social work.

Register Here: https://naswil.wufoo.com/forms/z1pesxoj01qfa4q/

Committee/Task Forces 2025-2026

The NASW-Nevada Chapter seeks volunteers in every part of the state to volunteer on chapter committees or task forces to support events and chapter priorities.

NASW is your association. Why not take advantage of all the opportunities it has to offer? Within each of our regions are ongoing leadership opportunities, CEU workshops, and networking events organized just for you. NASW-Nevada is your networking link to what’s going on in your community and the social work profession at large. This is your professional organization—make the most of your membership, and get involved!

Consider joining one of the many committees and task forces within the NASW-Nevada Chapter.

For 2025-2026, they include:

• Licensure Task Force - Review current existing licensure practices and make recommendations to the state on how to streamline licensure, create a more equitable path, and support Nevada students. In formation*

• Conference Committee - assists in education review, promotes the event, and solicits sponsors/exhibitors. In formation*

• Rural/Frontier Committee - a standing committee tasked with looking for ways to better integrate rural social workers into the association.

• Racial Equity Committee - a standing committee tasked with reviewing current issues around racial equity.

• Membership and Community Outreach Committee - a standing committee to work with community partners to further recruit members and inform the social work profession on NASW activities. In formation*

*Committees that are designated as "in formation" are committees that are currently not meeting but in which the association will be launched when needed or the applicable time period arrives. Committees marked "currently active" are currently meeting and have a formal charge.

Additional opportunities and task forces may be added throughout the year as needed by the Board of Directors. Updated opportunities will be reflected on the NASW-NV website and via email news blasts.

If you're interested in serving on one of these advisory groups, please complete an NASW-Nevada Committee Volunteer interest form.

Email admin.naswnv@socialworkers.org to Join the meetings!