NASW is a sponsor of this National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus Study.
This study is an important opportunity to promote and elevate the social work profession, and ensure that our nation’s health systems not only provide medical care, but attend to the many non-medical factors that contribute to health: transportation, housing, food insecurity, social supports, employment, and more.
Medical care contributes approximately 20% to health outcomes; many other factors, or "social determinants," contribute to the other 80%. Attending to these social determinants is what social workers have been doing for decades, resulting in improved health outcomes for millions of people. Social workers bring expertise in supporting individuals with complex medical and social needs to health care teams.
The study has been funded by a broad coalition of philanthropic foundations, social work organizations, and over 60 social work academic programs. Three social work experts serve on the Study Committee.
NASW is working in partnership with study sponsors and others to coordinate convenings and conference presentations at events around the country over the next year. We hope to see many of you at these events!
This consensus study will have many implications for social work practice, health care service delivery, workforce, research and more. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the findings and recommendations help shape the future of the profession and society in positive ways.
For more information, please contact Carrie Dorn at cdorn.nasw@socialworkers.org.