From January 2001 NASW NEWS
Copyright ©2001, National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

Moving Forward

Where NASW Stands

Josephine NievesBy Josephine Nieves, MSW, Ph.D.

As you may know, I leave NASW this month to move on to new challenges. I leave at a time when social work is experiencing unprecedented growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 36 percent increase in the number of social workers by 2008. There are now 600 social work programs with 60,000 students enrolled. Likewise, the number of jobs is growing, and we have convincing evidence that salaries, too, are on the rise.

My tenure with the association has been extremely satisfying as well as challenging, and I am proud of all that we have done. When placed end to end, our accomplishments make an impressive list, but — more important — have pointed us in a new direction:

  • We celebrated a marvelous Social Work Centennial with congressional and commemorative events, social work artifact donations to the Smithsonian and celebrations across the nation.
  • We hosted the first Social Work Summit with leaders from 44 social work organizations, the first step toward a strong, unified profession, and plans are under way for a follow-up.
  • Four and a half years of advocacy netted victories in reimbursement, saved social work jobs and prevented thousands of nursing home residents from losing mental health services. Advocacy also won millions of dollars in increases for child welfare training and millions more for elementary school-based counseling.
  • Four years of image work brought $2.5 million worth of free media. We publicly challenged a television show that abused our profession and celebrated another for its accuracy.
  • We built coalitions and alliances, one with a powerful New York state union, SEIU/1199, that will yield power and advocacy advantages for years to come.
  • We revised our Code of Ethics, now a surpassing document that serves members and consumers and leads the professional community.
  • Our Web site speaks vividly for the profession.
  • Continuing education offerings now match member needs, and we are moving toward use of cutting-edge technology and distance learning in our C.E. programs.
  • Political action and our considerable get-out-the-vote efforts increased the number of social workers in Congress and the number of Congress members who support our public policy agenda.
  • I am proud of our legal action. We joined litigation concerning managed care, confidentiality, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, people with disabilities, childhood abuse memories and a host of critical questions. Law notes on a variety of topics now help social workers handle legal issues.
  • NASW won federal grants to do work in HIV/AIDS, adolescent health, violence, substance abuse and bereavement emergency medical services.

Regarding the health of the association, membership is stable and finances are improved. We are far ahead of many associations that have experienced gross declines in membership. The NASW Press produced 54 new books, four nationally highest-ranked journals and revenues topping $3.2 million, with no red ink.

A newly designed NASW Foundation will raise funds for initiatives of critical importance to social work policy and practice, and we will soon announce two very large, dedicated grants.

A management audit consolidated staff, and another will soon advise us on improving governance. New computer systems and software give us state-of-the-art capabilities second to none.

Member benefits improved. The Insurance Trust, always strong, is stronger still, offering more and better insurance. JobLink gives members access to jobs across the country. And, we added color to the NASW NEWS!

In sum, the association is on solid ground, positioned for achievement in the new century. NASW is moving forward.

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