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General Fact Sheets
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NASW
- NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social
workers in the world, with 150,000 members.
- NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development
of its members, to create and maintain standards for the profession,
and to advance sound social policies. NASW also contributes to
the well-being of individuals, families and communities through
its work and advocacy.
- NASW was founded in 1955 through a merger of seven social work
organizations:
- American Association of Social Workers
- American Association of Medical Social Workers
- American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers
- National Association of School Social Workers
- American Association of Group Workers
- Association for the Study of Community Organization
- Social Work Research Group
Organization
- NASW has 56 chapters in every state in the U.S., plus Puerto
Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and an International Chapter. Washington
DC and New York City also host NASW chapters. http://chapters.socialworkers.org
- An elected Delegate Assembly sets organizational policy for NASW,
and an elected Board of Directors establishes strategic priorities
for the association. Each NASW chapter also has a staff, a board
of directors, volunteer committees, and task forces that help to
advance the mission of the association. http://www.socialworkers.org/da
- The NASW National Office employs approximately 135 people, and
is divided into five divisions: Executive Office, Customer Services,
Publications, Professional Development and Advocacy, and Management
and Administration. The national organization manages an $18 million
budget.
- NASW has four subsidiaries. (1) The NASW Foundation supports
scientific, philanthropic, and educational activities that advance
the social work profession. www.naswfoundation.org (2) Assurance Services provides competitive
insurance services to members. www.naswassurance.org (3) The Legal Defense Fund provides
technical advice and financial assistance to members involved in
legal proceedings as a result of upholding the NASW Code of Ethics.
www.socialworkers.org/ldf (4) Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) raises funds
to contribute to the political campaigns of candidates who support
the goals and objectives of social work. www.socialworkers.org/pace
Membership
- Ninety percent of NASW members hold master’s degrees in
social work. The average NASW member has practiced social work
for 16 years and earns over $45,000 per year.
- Nearly 40% of NASW members say that mental health is their primary
practice area. The health sector employs 8% of NASW’s members,
and 8% practice in child welfare or family organizations. Six percent
of NASW members say school social work is their primary practice
area, and another 3% work primarily with adolescents.
- Ninety-three percent of all NASW members maintain some type of
license, certification, or registration in their state; 70,000
also hold advanced credentials from NASW.
Activities
- NASW works to shape legislation and public policy that protects
and strengthens the social work profession; promotes health, welfare
and education; or in some way strengthens opportunities and social
supports for individuals and families.
- To protect the public and ensure high quality social work services
in communities, NASW enforces a Code of Ethics and works to improve
regulation of social work in every state. Thanks to these efforts,
all states in the U.S. now license or otherwise regulate social
work practice.
- NASW provides extensive continuing education programs, including
professional development conferences, through its chapters. The
association also offers membership in eight specialty practice
sections. These include Aging; ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other
Drugs); Child Welfare; Health; Mental Health; Poverty and Social
Justice; Private Practice; and School Social Work. www.socialworkers.org/sections
- NASW annually publishes numerous scholarly reference materials,
four quarterly professional journals, comprehensive research abstracts,
and a monthly newspaper. It also develops practice updates, newsletters,
a Web site, position papers, public education materials and other
tools to improve social work practice and publicly promote the
profession. www.naswpress.org
RESOURCES:
Web: Visit www.socialworkers.org for
more information about NASW members and association activities.
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