MSCNEW History

NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY WORKERS

MOUNTAIN STATE CHAPTER HISTORY

The Mountain State Chapter of the National Eligibility Workers Association (MSCNEW) was organized on October 28, 1982 at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, WV. The purpose of the organization is to improve the knowledge, skills and overall professionalism of eligibility practitioners by providing information, training, and a network of service and support. NEW is the only national organization dedicated to improving the well being of all eligibility professionals.

The Charter members were: Debby Thompson, Jim Reddick, Carolyn Siers, Loretta Jackson, Delores Phillips, Linda Cochran, Joyce Phipps, Guadalupe Dixon, Karen L. Graham, Sue Smith, June Foshee, Glenna Williamson, Sandra Tingler, Carolyn Murphy, Jeannette Childers, Frances Clements, Doris Koch, Marcy L. Heitmeyer, Lois Farris, Virginia Ramey, B. Gale Lucas, Timothy L. Jackson, Nancy A. Davis, Rondal Sprouse, Edward Hughes, Gary Antel.

Since 1982, the Mountain State Chapter has sponsored an annual three day state training conference during the last of October. The 2000 conference will be number nineteen. The conferences are held in different parts of the state in order to reach as many people as possible. These conferences always include workshops designed to improve the quality of work eligibility workers perform. Workshop topics have included stress management, quality control which has evolved to quality assurance, the implementation and management of RAPIDS, client/worker relationships, motivation, interviewing skills, policy training, humor in the workplace, work programs, time management, child support issues, quality customer service, wellness issues in the workplace, Social Security Administration updates, mock fraud trial by IFM staff, team building, conflict management, corrective action, ergonomics, adapting to change, how to understand life insurance policies, advance directives, Appalachian heritage, professional image and eligibility trivia. The Mountain State Chapter has been able to bring in nationally recognized speakers for the closing sessions. Officials from FNS and Administration of Children and Families always lend their support and attend the annual conferences to bring the federal perspective. MSCNEW also enjoys the support of Secretary Ohl, the state office staff, the regional directors, and the community service managers.

In addition to the annual conferences, MSCNEW sponsors regional conferences during the year. Topics have included the mock fraud trial, interviewing techniques to use while entering data into the computer, dealing with difficult clients, workplace security and motivation. Another project of MSCNEW is to recognize the tenure of DHHR eligibility staff by giving awards and certificates.

MSCNEW is proud to help enhance the quality of work of all eligibility workers in the Mountain State which in turn helps them maintain a quality caseload.