Act. Engage. Inspire.
When you reflect on your career, was there a mentor or colleague whose experiences and insight gave you a fresh look at a challenging situation, or inspired you to achieve more professionally? Do you want to pass on the knowledge that you've acquired throughout your career? Maybe you want to further your professional legacy by volunteering or stepping into a leadership role? Or maybe you just want to stay connected to colleagues and social work in your retirement years.
Through NASW membership, you can do all of the above, and even more.
Stay Connected. Expand Your Professional Influence
MyNASW Member Community
NASW’s MyNASW online member community is a welcomed way for retired and late-career social workers to stay connected to the profession and colleagues and to help the next generation of social workers. Share your professional insights, help problem-solve, post resources and articles that helped you in your career, be a resource for newer social workers, and bring experienced points of view to discussions.
Chapter Membership
During retirement, you may find you now have more time to get involved in advocacy efforts for the social work profession and vulnerable populations. Consider participating in state-level advocacy led by the NASW chapter in your state. NASW membership includes membership in the national association and in your state's NASW chapter. Learn about challenges facing social workers in your state, volunteer, serve in leadership roles, be a welcomed resource for newer social workers, attend chapter events, and more.
Specialty Practice Sections
NASW’s Specialty Practice Sections (SPS) help keep social workers current on developments, educational opportunities, and practice resources in their specialty practice areas. Take live and on-demand SPS CE webinars for free. SPS members also can participate in their corresponding
MyNASW subcommunity, at no extra charge:
- Children, Youth, and Schools, which is exclusively for members of the School Social Work; Child Welfare; and Children, Adolescents & Young Adults Specialty Practice Sections.
- Clinical Social Work, Aging, and Health, which is exclusively for members of the Aging; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; Health; Mental Health; and Private Practice Specialty Practice Sections.
- Social Justice, Administration, and Courts, which is exclusively for members of the Administration/Supervision, Social and Economic Justice & Peace, and Social Work and the Courts Specialty Practice Sections.
Section membership costs about the same as just one CE course per year, in addition to your NASW membership.
Lifelong Learning
NASW membership offers many ways after retirement to continue your learning and understanding of current social work challenges.
NASW Journals
Social Work is the premiere journal of the social work profession and the official journal of NASW. Social Work is dedicated to improving practice and advancing knowledge in social work and social welfare. NASW membership incudes a digital subscription with access to the full journal archive, which goes back to 1956. NASW's specialty journals, available at reduced subscription rates for NASW members, provide articles on innovations in practice, interdisciplinary efforts, research, program evaluation, policy, and planning.
Social Work Advocates Magazine
NASW’s award-winning magazine, Social Work Advocates, carries in-depth feature articles about social work trends and issues. NASW membership includes an e-subscription to our magazine. Visit the Social Work Advocates archives to catch up on issues you missed prior to joining as an NASW member.
NASW Research Library
Explore more than 25 international databases with thousands of documents from leading research institutions, think tanks, and advocacy groups. The NASW Research Library, a members-only research tool, gives you access to databases that include ERIC, SocINDEX, and PubMed. You'll also find resources from government agencies such as NIH, HHS, and DOJ. Stay current on critical thinking and evidence-based research. Search articles by author, title, topic, or publication.
Continuing Education Discounts
Take free and discounted CE courses as an NASW member at the Social Work Online CE Institute. Search your practice area for relevant courses.
Dedicated Support
Ethics and Legal Consultations
NASW members facing job-related ethical dilemmas and social work-related legal issues can talk privately with NASW ethics and legal staff. These free, highly valued services are for NASW members only.
Practice and Policy Experts at National Level
When you join NASW, you help ensure that there are dedicated practice and policy experts at the national level who advocate for your practice area and for the populations and communities served by your practice area. This work cannot be done without the support of our dues-paying members, and we thank you!