• Identifying issues of interest and facilitating the resolution of concerns as they relate to uniformed service social workers.
• Assessing, assisting, advising, and developing strategies on the personnel needs of the USPHS in relation to recruitment, retention, training, utilization, and professional development of social workers.
• Developing position papers, statistical reports, and/or guidelines related to the social work profession, where appropriate.
• Promoting collaboration and communication among and between other professional disciplines and health professionals.
• Promoting all aspects of the social work profession throughout the agencies and programs of the USPHS.
• Advocating for and supporting USPHS social workers in the pursuit of advanced degrees and licensure currency, ensuring appropriate recognition for awards, promoting deserving social workers, and involvement in recommending and reviewing changes to appointment standards and billet descriptions.
• Maintaining and publishing current and historical information relevant to the service of social work officers.

• Executive Committee: The Executive Committee serves as the leadership of the SWPAG and facilitates the execution of the vision, mission, and objectives developed by the SWPAG membership. The Executive Committee consists of SWPAG’s elected officers. Duties and terms of the officers are the following: Chair: The SWPAG Chair is elected by the voting membership, but is not a voting member of the SWPAG. The Chair provides leadership to the SWPAG and provides liaison to the HSPAC. The Chair is considered an ex-officio member of the HSPAC and is expected to attend the HSPAC meetings and any other significant meetings affecting the SWPAG. The Chair may also designate a representative to attend such meetings. The Chair also acts as a liaison between the SWPAG and DHHS agency representatives. The Chair may choose to delegate another Executive Committee member to participate as SWPAG liaison to any DHHS agency, group, or committee as needed. The Chair will serve as the official representative to the Uniformed Services Social Work Planning Committee or delegate to another SWPAG voting member as alternate when the Uniformed Services Social Work conference is actively being conducted.
• Term of the Chair: The SWPAG Chair is elected as the Chair-elect in the year prior to serving as Chair. The Chair serves a 1-year term. If the Chair-elect is unavailable to succeed the Chair, the SWPAG may choose to elect a Chair without the officer first serving as Chair-elect. Alternatively, the group may choose to re-elect an incumbent Chair if the Chair-elect is unwilling or unable to progress to Chair. At the expiration of the Chair’s term, the Chair serves an additional year as an ex-officio member with voting privileges.
• Chair-elect: The Chair-elect is elected by the voting membership. The Chair-elect acts as the official liaison to the SWPAG subcommittees and other groups as assigned by the Chair. The Chair-elect also serves as the Chair of the Policy Subcommittee and is therefore required to be a voting member. The Chair-elect shall exercise all the rights and responsibilities that are granted to the Chair in the absence of the Chair. If acting in the capacity of the Chair, the Chair-elect shall appoint a proxy to vote on his or her behalf. Term of the Chair-elect: The Chair-elect serves a 1-year term and then succeeds as the Chair the following year.
• Executive Secretary: The Executive Secretary is elected by the voting membership. The Executive Secretary provides a written record of the activities of the SWPAG. The Executive Secretary records and distributes the meeting minutes, maintains reports and official documents of the SWPAG, oversees the SWPAG Web site, and works with the Communications Subcommittee to ensure that the Web site remains up-to-date. The Executive Secretary is responsible for informing the membership about meeting details, establishing a meeting agenda in collaboration with the Chair, and assisting in the preparation and distribution of the meeting agenda and minutes to SWPAG members. Term of the Secretary: The Secretary serves a 1-year term with the opportunity to be re-elected.
• In no case will any executive officer be allowed to serve more than 3 consecutive years as an executive officer or 8 total years as a voting member.
• Emergency Elections: The SWPAG may hold emergency elections as needed to backfill any positions vacated as a result of resignation or other unforeseen situations.

• Operational Year: The operational year for the SWPAG is the calendar year January 1 – December 31.
• Frequency of Meeting: Meetings will be held at least once per quarter. Additional meetings may be called by the Chair as needed.
• Agenda: A meeting agenda and appropriate background material are made available to the SWPAG members by the Executive Secretary.
• Recording and Reporting: Minutes of each SWPAG meeting, including attendance, are recorded by the Executive Secretary and approved by a majority of the SWPAG voting membership. The SWPAG Executive Secretary maintains a permanent file of official minutes and reports and forwards to the upcoming Executive Secretary.
• Operating Subcommittees: The SWPAG may have operating subcommittees to accomplish its objectives. These subcommittees are organized and conduct business in a manner consistent with the HSPAC. Subcommittee membership may include non-voting SWPAG members; however, the subcommittee Chair must be a voting member of SWPAG. Subcommittees report their findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations to the full SWPAG when necessary and where appropriate. Each SWPAG subcommittee Chair shall provide the Executive Secretary with an electronic subcommittee report at least three (3) business days prior to presenting subcommittee updates at a SWPAG meeting Each SWPAG subcommittee Chair shall provide the Executive Secretary with an electronic subcommittee report at least three (3) business days prior to presenting subcommittee updates at a SWPAG meeting.
• Appointment and Role of the Subcommittee Chair: The subcommittee Chair is the liaison between the voting membership and subcommittee members and is appointed by the Executive Committee for a 2-yr term. The subcommittee Chair provides leadership and direction to the subcommittee members in order to meet the subcommittee’s specific goals and objectives. Sub-committee Chairs are in charge of selecting volunteer, non-voting members on their sub-committees. The subcommittee Chair must be a voting member of the SWPAG. Subcommittee Chairs may be reappointed to Chair the same subcommittee up to 2 consecutive years.
• Appointment and Role of the Subcommittee Co-Chair: The subcommittee Co-chair is appointed by the subcommittee Chair. Subcommittee members can self-nominate for the position of subcommittee Co-chair for a 1-year term at a time. The role of the Co-chair is to assist the Chair in the performance of the subcommittee’s goals. The Co-chair should be familiar with the duties of the Chair and act as Chair in the Chair’s absence. The Co-chair can be a non-voting SWPAG member. The Co-chair shall exercise all the rights and responsibilities that are granted to the subcommittee Chair in the absence of the Chair. In the absence of the Chair the Co-chair may vote by proxy. The Co-chair may be reappointed to co-chair the subcommittee up to 2 consecutive years.

The operating subcommittees may include but are not limited to:

• (1) Awards: Provides recognition of officer achievement in SWPAG or Commissioned Corps activity exemplary of social work practice. Responsible for awards and letters of appreciation for voting members, non-voting members, and executive officers as appropriate.
• (2) Communications: Responds to issues that impact social workers and their role in the HSPAC and CC transformation through the HSPAC and chief professional officer. Responsible for updating and disseminating SWPAG-related information, working with the Secretary to maintain SWPAG Web site and listserv, soliciting and preparing articles for SWPAG Web site, and developing SWPAG materials for the HSPAC booth at the COF Symposium. Actively solicit social workers to present and contribute to Category Day at the annual COF Symposium.
• (3) Career Development: Actively seeks and disseminates information on career opportunities for professional development, vacancies, and special assignments
.
• (4) Membership: Solicits, selects, and facilitates the nomination and appointment of the voting membership. Maintains current list of social workers involved in SWPAG, and distributes a welcome package to all new PHS social workers upon receiving their initial assignment.
• (5) Policy: Maintains, reviews, and revises by-laws according to charter set forth by the HSPAC Charter and By-laws. The update, including any revisions, is reviewed and approved by the HSPAC. Keeps SWPAG members informed of policy changes issued by CC headquarters, manual circulars, CCPM, and executive orders from the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) and the Surgeon General (SG). Monitors the regulations for social work licensure in the USPHS.
• (6) Readiness: Provides support and maintains communications with the SWPAG membership about changes in readiness standards and upcoming training requirements. Provides information on deployment opportunities and is abreast of deployment issues that affect social work officers.
• (7) Recruitment/Retention: Keeps membership informed of policy changes issued by CC headquarters manual circulars, CCPM, and executive orders from the ASH and the SG. Subcommittee provides assistance to officers that request support in entry, assignment transitions, change in status, etc. Maintains awareness of and involvement in recruitment activities.
• (8) Mentoring: Keeps SWPAG apprised of mentoring tools and resources. Ensures representation of the SWPAG at every scheduled Officer Basic Course where a social worker is in attendance. Responsible for coordinating quarterly SWPAG meet and greets, including remote and regional areas.