This fall marks my two-year anniversary at NASW. As I look back on what I expected when I came here and what I hope to accomplish in the future, one thing comes to mind—there is no place I’d rather be. That is simply because no other organization does what we do every day on behalf of our profession.
We have our challenges, as every organization does, and we will always be front and center in debates about what a national leadership organization should be and should do. And that is good, as long as those differences and debates are discussed in an inclusive and respectful manner.
Part of the role of a national association is to be the gathering place for diverse ideas and opinions, but we are united in our goal of advancing the social work profession. With our breadth, depth and reach, NASW is the most prominent force and the most powerful voice in shaping and securing that goal.
In August, for example, NASW chapter leaders from Pennsylvania, California, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, and Illinois met with policymakers attending the Democratic National Convention to talk about the mental health crisis and the need for a more diverse mental health workforce. In September, Karen Goodenough, our Minnesota Chapter executive director, took the lead in representing NASW on the Interstate Compact Commission, a huge step toward achieving greater interstate flexibility for social workers.
At the same time, we continued to advocate for increased reimbursement for clinical social workers through comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the 2025 proposed Physician Fee Schedule, and through our ongoing advocacy for the Improving Access to Mental Health Act. Our association is unique in its ability to carry these messages to the policymakers who can act on them.
We are similarly unique in our ability to develop and disseminate information and updates within the field. In the last few months, we created and communicated issue briefs on school violence, the substance use crisis, aging, and suicide prevention; convened webinars, self-care programs, lunch-and-learn presentations, continuing education programs, and other professional development opportunities for social workers across the country; held our Fall Virtual Forum on mental health and children, youth, and families; and continued to work with regional chapters to plan our 2025 national conference in Chicago.
No one can bring social workers together for this kind of information sharing, learning and engagement the way NASW can.
Similarly, nobody understands better than we do how divisiveness, disinformation and discord—which seem to be so prevalent in our world today—impact society. So, we’ve also added two new pages to NASW’s website: one on voting rights and one on how to mobilize against hate. The world needs social workers now more than ever to take on these issues, and we will continue to share resources on the site to help us do just that.
All of these reasons are why I continue to be excited to work at NASW. It is an honor to be here with all of you, and I’m looking forward to seeing what my third year here will bring.
Barbara Bedney is chief of programs at NASW.