NASW Becomes a Sponsor of the Demand Treatment! Project

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has joined with more than 30 other national organizations as sponsors of Demand Treatment! —A Join Together project funded primarily by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Demand Treatment! is based on the principle that the first step to increasing the availability and quality of treatment is for consumers, family members, and key leaders to take action to drive up demand of services across the spectrum—from early identification to the specialized treatment system. The project goal is to increase the number of people who receive alcohol and drug screening, brief interventions, and quality treatment in communities across the United States . Demand Treatment! activities are designed to provide a variety of ways for communities and individuals to participate, including community partnerships and other mechanisms.

There are currently 28 Demand Treatment! partners in cities and counties across the country, including: Boise, Bozeman, Carroll County (MD), Chicago, Denver, Des Moines, Everett (MA), Flint (MI), Houston, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Lincoln, Louisville, Manchester (NH), Milwaukee, Mobile, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reno, Rochester (NY), Sacramento, San Diego County, San Francisco, Sarasota, Tucson, Trenton, and Williamsburg (VA). Each community is pursuing its own strategy to achieve measurable increases in the number of people receiving quality substance abuse treatment. Details about the Demand Treatment! project are available Online at http://www.jointogether.org/home/

A recent survey conducted by NASW indicates that 18 percent of the clients seen by NASW regular members are being treated for an alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder, or both. NASW is proud to sponsor Demand Treatment! as an ongoing demonstration of the organization's commitment to promote the need for substance abuse treatment services in this country.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington , DC , is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families and communities through its advocacy.