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NASW Privacy Policy

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is committed to maintaining your trust, values your privacy and recognizes the sensitivity of your personal information. This policy describes the types of information we may collect from NASW members and others who visit our websites, including www.socialworkers.org, www.helpstartshere.org and the websites of NASW’s chapters (herein collectively "Website" or “NASW Website”), or otherwise use our products and services. This Privacy Policy also describes how we use the information we collect, with whom we share it, and the choices we offer you regarding our collection and use of such information. We have carefully crafted this Privacy Policy to address concerns you might have, and to assure you that if you give us personal information, we will treat it carefully and appropriately.

BY USING THIS SITE, YOU CONSENT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND TO OUR PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES STATED BELOW. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS SITE.

What information does NASW gather/collect and how is it used?

We collect data from all visitors, NASW members and others, to the NASW Website (“Users”) for a variety of purposes such as providing requested products or services and general communications on topics of interest to Users. We ensure that the processing of your information is based on legitimate business interests and that all data is protected from improper disclosure. The following outlines the types of data we collect and how it is used:

Member and Other User Information
NASW is a membership organization. In order to provide resources to members and non-member customers, and to differentiate between them, NASW collects from members and non-member customers data that identifies them directly (Personal Data). This includes postal mail and email address, phone number, birth date, username, payment and billing information, demographic and professional information, and communications preferences. Non-personal data is also collected from all Users. This includes information about your use of our site, such as what areas you visit and what services you access. Such information may also relate to your computer hardware and software, such as your internet protocol (IP) address. Some of this information is collected through the use of cookies (described below).

Event Registration
If you register to participate in an NASW event, program, or promotion such as a conference, we collect and store your name, address, phone number, email address, and any additional information you voluntarily provide on the registration form.

Products/Programs
 In connection with certain online learning products, subscriptions and programs hosted by NASW or one of our vendors on NASW’s behalf, we may collect contact information and other background information. 

Product Purchase
If you purchase a book, subscription product, or other item from NASW, we will collect the information necessary to fulfill your order, which may include name, address, phone number, email address and any additional information you voluntarily provide on the order form.

Requests
We collect information volunteered by Users, including from surveys. We also may collect email addresses of those who communicate with us via email.

Financial Information
We collect financial information to fulfill your product or service orders. When you place an order online with us, register for an event, or pay your dues electronically, standard credit card information (card number, card type, expiration date, etc.) is collected through a third-party payer who is compliant with Payment Card Industry data security standards. The third-party payer provides us with, and we store, the last four digits of your credit card number, which we retain for purposes of issuing applicable refunds.

Session Records
We collect User session connection information as a means to provide additional security to Users. Collecting session information allows us to automatically log out a User who may have forgotten to log out after a pre-determined time of inactivity.

To maintain our quality of service, we may also gather additional data on connection information, including the timing and size of all packets sent over the Internet during a session. The gathered information is not correlated with personally identifiable data about individuals; it is used only to ensure the highest quality experience possible at our Website.

Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the User's computer tied to information about the User and allows the Website to “remember” facts about the User’s previous and current visits. Cookies cannot be used by themselves to identify the user. We use cookies and similar technologies to provide our services and help collect data. By setting a cookie on our site, Users would not have to log in their passwords more than once per session, thereby saving time while on our site. Cookies also allow us, among other things, to provide interest-based advertising and analyze how our services are performing. We also use web beacons to help deliver cookies and gather usage and performance data about our products and services. A web beacon, which cannot by itself identify a user, is a line of code that we place on our Website which allows us to analyze our advertising and the general usage patterns of Users. They help us better manage content on our site by informing us what content or promotions are popular and effective.

Our services may include web beacons and cookies from third-party service providers. Third-party service providers may use data obtained from these web beacons and cookies to track Users’ browsing across multiple websites and to build profiles of Users’ web surfing. Third parties may also use information based on your visits to our Website and other websites you have visited to deliver targeted advertisements to you for products and services that might be of interest to you.

You have a variety of tools to control cookies, web beacons and similar technologies. These include browser controls to block and delete cookies, as well as controls from some third-party analytics service providers to opt out of data collection through web beacons. Different browsers use different settings, so to manage cookies, you should refer to the relevant settings within your browser. You may opt out from receiving targeted advertisements by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) website opt out page here or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt out page here, or, for EU Users, the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA) opt out page here. If Users reject cookies, they may still use our Website. However, they will be limited in the use of certain areas of the Website – such as areas that require User logon. Your browser and other choices may impact your experience with our services.

Traffic Patterns/Log Files
We also collect aggregate traffic statistics throughout our Website to show the number of visitors, the requests we receive from our Website, and the internet service providers (ISPs) that those requests came from. These statistics are used by internal NASW staff to improve our Website and provide better services to Users.

Indirect Collection – Social Networking
Our Website may use social media plugins such as Facebook "Like," Tweet, buttons, etc. When you use these features, your username and password for the related service are collected from you on these third-party platforms and are not shared with us. We also may use features that allow you to easily share content from our Website via social networking platforms, email or text message. You control when you share content from our Website using these features. When you use social networking platforms and plugins, you share your user data with those platforms; their privacy policy applies to disclosure of that data. In addition, social media platforms may be able to collect user data about you, including your activity, or may notify your connections on the social networking platform about your use of the Website. Such services may allow your activity to be monitored across multiple websites for the purpose of delivering more targeted advertising. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of the social networking platforms and third-party apps and plugins that may collect your data so you know exactly how it will be used. We may add new social networking features to our Website in the future.

Other Websites
The NASW Website may provide links to other sites on the Internet. Please note that such other sites are maintained by third parties, over which NASW has no control. NASW does not necessarily endorse these other organizations. Users should be sure to exercise care when accessing and providing information through these sites and become familiar with their privacy policies.

With whom does NASW share my information?

NASW will only release a User’s Personal Data to third parties for the purpose for which the User provided the data, and for the following other limited purposes:

  • To confirm one’s status as a member of the Association in response to general public or authorized employer requests.
  • To permit contact in the context of approved Association business such as identification of members for leadership positions or for public relations opportunities.
  • To permit established business partners such as NASW Assurance Services, Inc., or affinity benefits partners, to contact you about their goods or services. Our third-party service providers are not permitted to share Personal Data we make available to them or use it for any other purpose.
  • To enable trusted partners to help us perform statistical analyses, send you email or postal mail, deliver targeted messaging, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to NASW, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

NASW partners with a trusted vendor to manage mailing list requests. NASW reviews each request from a third-party organization or individual who seeks to promote to NASW members any professional materials, training products or services related to the field of social work, or to perform research specific to the profession of social work. If approved, NASW makes member postal addresses available for limited rental use by the screened and vetted third party. Email addresses are never released to the list customer; instead, an approved email message may be sent to members by NASW’s contracted service provider, who acts on behalf of NASW.

Members may prevent the sharing of their Personal Data with NASW’s business or affinity partners and be excluded from rental lists by updating their Communications Preferences in the MyNASW Member Center at www.socialworkers.org, or by contacting Member Services at 800-742-4089 or membership@socialworkers.org.

Lastly, limited information may be shared to the extent necessary to comply with the law or with legal process served on us and to protect and defend our rights or property.

How does NASW secure User information?

NASW will take reasonable precautions to protect our Users’ information. For instance, when our registration form asks Users to enter information (such as ID, username and password), that information is protected by encryption before being sent to us. Also, the information you provide is stored in a secure location. We restrict access to your Personal Data to those individuals and third parties that need to know the information to accomplish the business purposes described in this Privacy Statement. We are committed to taking appropriate measures to enforce compliance with this Privacy Statement. In addition, we comply with applicable law for protecting Personal Data.

How can I review, update and correct my information?

Users can reset their username or password using the password reset tool on the Log-In page. Additionally, Users can update all contact information; professional, education and demographic information; and communications preferences. To do so, go to the MyNASW Member Center at www.socialworkers.org, or contact NASW Member Services at (800) 742-4089 or membership@socialworkers.org.

What communication can I expect from NASW based on collected information?

Member Resources, Benefits, Special Offers and Updates
Members and non-member customers will receive, via postal mail, email or other digital channels, information on member benefits, programs, products and services.

Member Renewal
Members may be sent courtesy emails notifying them of an impending membership renewal/expiration date. Generally, members may not opt-out of these communications, which relate to the status of their account and are not promotional in nature.

General Information
Users’ contact information will be used to send postal mail, email or other digital communications regarding updates at NASW and event and other information that may be of interest. We may also send you information about third-party products and services that match your interests and preferences.

How can I opt-out of receiving NASW communications?

Users may elect not to receive postal mail or email from NASW (except account notices as described above) by updating their preferences in the MyNASW Member Center at www.socialworkers.org, or by contacting NASW Member Services at (800) 742-4089 or membership@socialworkers.org. All Users may also opt-out of receiving specific types of email by using the “Unsubscribe” option included in every email they receive.

Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as necessary to accomplish the business purpose for which it was collected and to comply with legal and contractual obligations, plus three years. After that period, if we no longer use the information, we will securely dispose of the information or depersonalize it, so that you cannot be identified, with the exception of your email address, which will be used only to inform you of NASW services and products in which you may be interested.

Users in the EU

This section of the Privacy Policy provides additional information applicable only to residents of the European Economic Area ("EEA") and Users accessing the NASW Website from within the EEA. If you are an EEA resident, this Privacy Policy provides you with information regarding your rights under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

NASW is the data controller for the personal information collected from its members and other Users.

Subject to applicable law, you have the following rights in relation to your Personal Data:

  • Right of access: If you ask us, we will confirm whether we are processing your Personal Data and, if so, provide you with a copy of that Personal Data (along with certain other details). If you require additional copies, we may need to charge a reasonable fee.
  • Right to correction or updating: If your Personal Data is inaccurate or incomplete, you are entitled to have it corrected or updated.
  • Right to deletion: You may ask us to delete your Personal Data. However, we may retain the information for prevention of fraud or abuse, or satisfaction of legal obligations or other ongoing legitimate interests.
  • Right to restrict processing: You may ask us to restrict or prevent the processing of your Personal Data in certain circumstances (such as where you contest its accuracy), provided our processing is not necessary based on legitimate interest or legal obligation.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to obtain your Personal Data from us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. You may reuse it elsewhere.
  • Right to withdraw consent: If we rely on your consent to process your Personal Data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on your prior consent.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with the data protection authority: If you are an EEA resident, and have a concern about our privacy practices, including the way we have handled your Personal Data, you can report it to the data protection authority that is authorized to hear those concerns.

These rights are not absolute and they do not always apply in all cases.

In response to a request, we will ask you to verify your identity if we need to, and to provide information that helps us to understand your request better. If we do not comply with your request, whether in whole or in part, we will explain why.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, contact us at membership@socialworkers.org and reference "GDPR request” in the subject line.

Changes in our Privacy Policy

NASW reserves the right to make changes to our Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason without prior notice. Any changes to our Privacy Policy will be posted on this page and other places we deem appropriate so that you are always aware of our policies. We may also contact you by email with changes. Additionally, we will update the “last updated” date below.

Questions or Comments

If you have any questions or comments about our Privacy Policy, please contact membership@socialworkers.org.

LAST UPDATED MAY 2019