National Association of Social Workers

From the Director

Use the Web Site to Stay Current

By Elizabeth J. Clark, Ph.D., ACSW, MPH

It's been three years since I assumed the role of executive director of NASW. The time seems to have gone by quickly, and the years have been busy, challenging and exciting. I now fully understand the privilege of being in my position. I also believe I now have a fairly complete working knowledge and understanding of the issues, as well as the opportunities, facing our profession.

Two of those challenges are helping members stay current in their practice areas and helping them not only use, but embrace, technology. The two are becoming more and more interrelated.

A study done of NASW's membership reported that 97 percent of us have access to computers and the World Wide Web. Yet, that percentage is greatly reduced when we ask how often you use your electronic capacity to access NASW's Web site. I want to encourage you to do so, and to explain a few things that will help you better understand the opportunities that exist there.

First of all, our Web address is www.socialworkers.org/. You can also reach us by visiting www.naswpress.org/, www.naswinsurancetrust.org/ and www.naswfoundation.org/. What won't work is using www.nasw.org. Despite repeated efforts, we have been unable to convince the long-time owners of that site address to sell it to us.

There are two components to our Web site — what we refer to as "in front of" and "behind" the "door." Materials posted in front of the door are available to everyone. Things behind the door are for members only. For example, items such as our Code of Ethics, standards of practice, Register of Clinical Social Workers and abstracts of endorsed policies in Social Work Speaks are open to the general public. But the majority of the 6,000 Web pages are for members only.

In order to get to the members-only section, you need to first log into the NASW Web site. This is quite easy to do. You click on "Member Log In" in the upper right-hand corner and enter your user name and password. This will get you into the Member Center, where you then can update your member record, print a new membership card or print a membership certificate. Don't let a forgotten password deter you, either. With a few keystrokes, you can get your password. If you do not know your membership number or user name, you can phone our Member Service Center at (800) 742-4089 during normal business hours, and a representative will walk you through the process.

Once in the members-only section, you can peruse exciting new areas and options. You will find particularly helpful current practice updates, the legal issue of the month, NASW News and codes to access specific member benefits. Also, please check our advocacy listserv at www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/listserv/choices.asp, and don't forget that our journals can now be accessed online at www.naswpressonline.org/.

A new feature on our Web site is called NASW WebEd. This is an excellent example of how technology can help you stay current. This year, WebEd will be offering what we call the "understanding" series in specialty areas.

We launched the first course in April. Called "Understanding Cancer: The Social Worker's Role," the course awards two free continuing education units if you complete the online exam. In its first month of availability, 3,000 people completed the course. They represented every chapter of NASW and 21 different countries.

The second course went up on the Web in June and is called "Understanding End of Life Care: The Social Worker's Role." Other courses in development for this series are "Understanding Genetics" and "Understanding Pain."

The focus of the first courses on NASW WebEd are content areas in which many social workers have indicated an interest. We welcome suggestions about other courses that you believe would help you stay current in the field.

I hope you will take advantage of this membership benefit. We want you to be comfortable visiting our Web site, and we want you to find the content so useful that you will return again and again.

To comment to Elizabeth J. Clark: NewsColumn@naswdc.org

From July 2004 NASW News. © 2004 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.