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NASW believes it is critical
for social workers to be informed about current trends and policy
issues that affect social work practice and service delivery—specialized
knowledge that can help them better serve individuals, families,
and communities.
For this reason, NASW
created the NASW Specialty Practice Sections (SPS), which provide
essential resources for social workers, whose interests and practice
needs often extend across a broad spectrum.
On July 1, 2002, NASW
launched four new sections—Health, Mental Health, Child Welfare,
and Policy and Social Justice—which joined the four existing
sections: Aging; Private Practice; School Social Work; and Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Other Drugs.
The addition of these
new sections attracted more than 2,800 members, with an overall
increase in section membership of nearly 40 percent (3,618
new SPS memberships).
Throughout the year, SPS
produced and disseminated 16 newsletters, eight practice updates,
an annual bulletin, and five Web-based practice alerts—publications
that provide current, practical information on policy and practice
issues within the specialty field—to SPS members.
Additionally, the Specialty
Practice Sections Chapter Partnership Pilot Program awarded grants
to 21 NASW chapters to provide face-to-face networking and educational
opportunities to members.
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