National Association of Social Workers

From the President and the Director

Re-Engineering Our Structure for the Future

By Elvira Craig de Silva, DSW, ACSW & Elizabeth J. Clark, Ph.D., ACSW, MPH

President Elvira Craig de Silva

Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark

This column is a bit different this month. Generally the NASW president and executive director alternate writing it. However, we felt this particular column on unification of the profession of social work was one that we wanted to co-author.

On June 18, 2007, 10 of the major social work organizations met at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wis. Wingspread hosts meetings that have a particular significance for society. We came to the meeting with the goal of finding ways to collaborate more closely, so that the profession could unify its agenda and mission. We ended by deciding that we also needed to unify the social work organizations.

The Wingspread Resolution on Social Work Unification reads:

"Leaders of 10 professional social work organizations convened at Wingspread to address the future of the profession. Participants signed a resolution: We resolve to create a unified profession with one social work organization by 2012. This historic agreement sets the stage for an organizational structure inclusive of all sectors of social work. It reflects the diversity of our profession and addresses the concerns of the United States and the global society.

"The social work profession requires a strong unified voice to enhance its ability to serve, to educate, to develop research and to influence social service, social policy and social change. The challenges of the 21st century, identified by the Social Work Congress of 2005, compel a vibrant, proactive, nimble, flexible organizational structure that reflects collective vision and ensures impact. A transition team will address implementation issues and will be guided by the Leadership Roundtable with ongoing input from constituents over the next five years."

The groups attending Wingspread, in addition to NASW, included the Council on Social Work Education, the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work, the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research, the Society for Social Work and Research, the Association of Social Work Boards, the Action Network for Social Work Education and Research, the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors and the St. Louis Group.

NASW was represented at the conference by both of us and by board members Cynthia Moniz and Jean Quam.

On June 23, 2007, the NASW National Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the Wingspread Resolution. That same weekend, the board of the Council on Social Work Education did likewise. Since that time, several other groups have also fully endorsed the resolution. A nine-person transition team has been appointed, and Jean Quam and Betsy Clark will be NASW's representatives.

We would like to explain our thinking. For the past five years, NASW has taken on a major collaborative role. It began when President Terry Mizrahi held the 2002 Social Work Summit. It continued under President Gary Bailey as we hosted the Social Work Congress and began the National Social Work Public Education Campaign. And it continues today with President Craig de Silva's initiative, "Weaving the Fabrics of Diversity," and the Social Work Reinvestment Initiative. Despite these efforts, the profession seems more fragmented than ever. We need a path for change, and we believe organizational unification is that path.

Many of you may recall NASW's history. In 1955, seven social work organizations came together to form NASW. The very first issue of this newspaper stated: "With the establishment of NASW, the social work profession is entering an important and exciting period in its history." It also stated, "With the emergence of a single, unified professional association, social work can now speak with a stronger voice before Congress and the administration."

Also, in Article II of the Bylaws of NASW, the purpose of NASW is clearly delineated: "The association shall at all times recognize and carry out a threefold responsibility: 1) To promote activities appropriate to strengthening and unifying the social work profession as a whole. 2) To promote the sound and continuous development of the various areas of social work practice whereby the profession contributes to the meeting of particular aspects of human needs. And 3) to promote efforts on behalf of human well-being by methods of social action."

It's a lofty statement of purpose, one that social work pioneers crafted to move the profession forward, and it has served us well for 50 years. But it's now time to re-engineer our structure, so that the association is ready to meet the challenges of a new century and to leave a legacy for this generation of social workers.

The Wingspread Unification Resolution has provided the vision. It's up to all of our social work associations to make the vision a reality.

To comment: to Elvira Craig de Silva — president@naswdc.org; to Elizabeth J. Clark — newscolumn@naswdc.org

From September 2007 NASW News. © 2007 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.