What is NASW doing?

 

NASW is implementing a child welfare initiative with the goal of helping communities' better support child well-being. NASW has identified four objectives:

  • Defining the child welfare workforce and its unique challenges;
  • Advocating for appropriate staffing, working conditions, and caseloads;
  • Improving the public perception of child welfare social work; and
  • Securing funding that expands child welfare strategies at NASW.

NASW Child Welfare Specialty Practice Section members describe their experiences in child welfare in a new study released in June, 2004.

NASW continues to advocate for child welfare legislation on Capitol Hill :

NASW will continue to support a strong federal role in and adequate funding for child welfare programs, including training programs. NASW will concentrate its efforts on promoting policies that protect the best interests of children, including the use of qualified staff and reasonable workloads that permit adequate contact with children, parents, grandparents, and their families. During the 108th Congress, NASW will focus its efforts on improving the child welfare workforce and child welfare programs aimed at prevention. Specifically, NASW will work to improve the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and to enact the Child Protective Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act.

Child Welfare Action Alerts

Social workers take action and contact their members of Congress on specific issues. You can do this personally, or through NASW's Congress Web click here.

Updates and Letters Regarding Child Welfare

This section provides social workers with up to date information regarding legislation and testimony provided by NASW and social workers on child welfare issues. For more information, click here.

Media Strategies

NASW Communications Department has an active media relations component. Currently, we track stories in child welfare, help frame the messages, and provide resources to the media. The biggest hurdle to overcome is misuse of the social work title in child welfare. For more information on how NASW works with the media click here.

Specialty Practice Section in Child Welfare

NASW has implemented a Specialty Practice Section in Child Welfare -an essential resource for social workers whose interests and practice needs vary.  The NASW SPS for Child Welfare is designed to provide content expertise and inform members about current trends and policy issues that impact social work practice and service delivery.  The section links you to key information and resources to help you stay at the forefront of your specialty. Join Today !

  • The Child Welfare Section Membership allows you to keep up with trends in child welfare through:
    • The Child Welfare Section Connection-a twice yearly newsletter that focuses on practice and policy issues of interest to social workers practicing in the field of Child Welfare or interested in this area.
    • The Child Welfare Practice Update--providing current practice and policy information pertinent to child welfare.  
    • The Child Welfare Alert-provides resources, tools and data for advocacy, including sample letters to congress and op-ed piece