— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff

NASW has launched a new loan forgiveness Webpage, which now boasts an area dedicated to state-specific loan forgiveness programs.

The Web page has been updated to include frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the College Cost Reduction Act and the Higher Education Act, which offer loan forgiveness for social workers. The site has also been made interactive, allowing members to take action on the most recent federal policy changes related to loan forgiveness and other NASW legislative priorities, as well as convey their own loan forgiveness stories or inform NASW about loan forgiveness programs in their state.

“Even with the World Wide Web, finding information can be a daunting task. NASW’s new loan forgiveness Web site is designed to be an interactive resource center for individuals seeking information on loan forgiveness, whether it’s frequently asked questions, federal loan resources, state loan repayment programs, links to loan repayment applications or tips on how to advocate for the cause. The new and improved loan forgiveness Web site is sure to become a favorite for members,” said Dinahsta Thomas, an NASW government relations intern who helped create the new site.

NASW lobbyist Nancy McFall Jean says the site will also benefit NASW’s advocacy efforts.

“Personal stories from constituents can be very compelling to members of Congress and will ultimately serve to promote the social work profession and our legislative agenda,” she said. “Additionally, NASW seeks to provide accurate and up-to-date informational resources for our members.”

NASW supports loan forgiveness for social workers as part of its continuing efforts to enhance working conditions, salaries and other benefits for members of the profession and to make sure that consumers have access to qualified professionals. NASW supports offering loan forgiveness and other educational supports for social workers in a variety of practice areas, such as those in child welfare and schools.

“Recent reports indicate that social workers with an MSW may have student debt in excess of $20,000, BSWs over $18,000 and DSWs over $30,000. This is staggering given our lower salaries relative to other professions,” said McFall Jean.

Get more information: Student Loan Forgiveness for Social Workers