— Heidi Sfiligoj, News Staff

NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark and NASW staff visited the NAACP Washington Bureau on Dec. 15 to discuss collaboration and the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. They met with Hilary Shelton, the current director of the bureau, as well as NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous, whose father-in-law was the dean of the school of social work at the University of Pittsburgh from 1972-2001.

"Since the bill is named for Height and Young, both civil rights leaders, it is a natural fit that we meet with the NAACP and ask them to support the bill," said Clark.

During the Dec. 15 meeting, Clark gave the NAACP the most recent draft of the Social Work Reinvestment Act.

The NAACP agreed to support the bill, and Shelton said the NAACP will send letters to its members, urging them to write to their members of Congress and ask them to support the legislation. He also said the NAACP will also send its own letter to Congress, saying it backs the bill.

Social workers were instrumental in founding the NAACP, and NASW looks forward to promoting the NAACP's centennial, Clark said. The organization marks its 100th anniversary on Feb. 12.