A Review of Behavioral Health in 2025
Makeba Royall, LCSW
Senior Practice Associate, Behavioral Health
March 2026
Behavioral health may consist of mental health, substance use disorders, life changes that can impact day-to-day living, and physical symptoms related to stress. The treatment for behavioral health care is not defined by one approach and requires a holistic approach that addresses the whole person by providing individualistic care to help support overall wellbeing. NASW develops written products and webinars to help raise awareness and provide education around behavioral health. Additionally, NASW collaborates with several coalitions, agencies, and organizations to offer guidance on behavioral health and substance use practice in the social work workforce. Take a look at what NASW has done in 2025 related to behavioral health.
Written Resources
Essential Resources for Social Workers Engaging with Law Enforcement Agencies: January 2025 - With the increasing integration of mental health and substance use, law enforcement and other agencies are turning to social workers for support in navigating appropriate responses and care for individuals who may be experiencing a crisis. This document provides essential resources for social workers engaging with law enforcement agencies. Social workers are encouraged to stay informed about their role, the scope of their practice, and the ethical considerations that may arise when social work and law intersect.
The Crucial Role Medicaid and Social Workers Play in Providing Access to Substance Use Treatment: May 2025 - Medicaid is an insurance plan that provided access to care to 78 million people to include those with limited income, children and families, pregnant women, people with disabilities and people in long term care facilities. Medicaid has not only provided access to medical care, but it has also played a significant role in access to substance use treatment. In March 2025, Congress recommended reducing the budget by at least $880 billion over the next 10 years which would impact the role Medicaid plays in providing critical services to individuals with mental health and substance use conditions. This behavioral health practice tool highlights the importance of Medicaid assistance for those who are dealing with substance use disorders and why cutting Medicaid would further harm the communities in which we serve as social workers.
Highlights of the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule: October 2025 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). This rule updates policies and payments for clinical social workers (CSWs) and other Medicare providers; these changes, in turn, affect health coverage for beneficiaries. Changes related to payments and other Medicare Part B policies addressed in the PFS take effect on or after January 1, 2026.
Understanding the Implications of Pink Cocaine in Substance Use: December 2025 - The substance use crisis continues to impact communities at an alarming rate and the illicit drug market is always changing. In recent years “Pink Cocaine” has been in the headlines and deserves some attention. “Pink Cocaine” is a formulation which may include a mix of stimulants and depressants. It has been found in urban areas and club scenes in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. This behavioral health practice tool is raising awareness about this recent substance use trend, the effects it has been having on communities and how social workers can help.
Moderator for Webinars
January 10, 2025 - Emotional Intelligence in Social Work: Strengthening Professional Practice
January 28, 2025 - Social Workers’ Role in Addressing Harmful Substance Use
February 12, 2025 - Cultural Humility: A practice of curiosity and accountability for social workers
April 2, 2025 - Social Workers Out-front on the Harms of Corporal Punishment
April 28, 2025 - Police Social Work: Responding to Community Social Problems through Crisis Intervention
May 7, 2025 – The Power of Civility in the Social Service Workplace (Part 1)
May 12, 2025 – Presentation for University of Texas at Austin Social Work Students. Provided a brief overview of the role of the Practice Team within the Association.
May 20, 2025 - Improving Efforts to Address Tobacco-Related Harms: The Role of the Social Worker
June 23, 2025 - From Knowing to Doing: Trauma-Informed Leadership for Social Workers in Practice
July 9, 2025 - Navigating the Chaotic Wake of Childhood Traumatic Loss, Grief, and Bereavement: Targeted and Sensitive Strategies for Social Workers
September 11, 2025 - Building Recovery Capital: Practical Tools and Frameworks for Social Work Practice
Grant Projects
American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): July 2025 - The practice team was awarded a grant from the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to discuss the importance of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), overdose, and suicide. An in-person presentation took place at the HOPE Center in Harlem, New York. The HOPE Center is a faith based free standing, community mental health clinic that is affiliated with the First Corinthian Baptist Church.
In 2022, NASW and NASW Foundation and the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work started a new four-year project along with other leading medical organizations. This initiative, Engaging Social Workers in Preventing Alcohol and Other Substance Exposed Pregnancies, is supported by the CDC and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2025, the below list of resources were developed to raise awareness about alcohol use and other substance exposed pregnancies.
Share Clear Messaging During Birth Defect Awareness Month to Help Prevent Lifelong Effects: January 2025 - Substance use during pregnancy is common: about 1 in 7 pregnant people drink alcohol, 1 in 20 binge drink, and 4 in 10 of those who drink also use other substances, most frequently tobacco and cannabis. January is Birth Defects Awareness Month, a call to action for social workers to share a key message: for a healthy pregnancy, it is safest to avoid alcohol, smoking, and other recreational drugs. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month: April 2025 - During Alcohol Awareness Month, social workers can dispel common myths about drinking, including the belief that there is a safe time or amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. For a healthy pregnancy, avoiding alcohol and other substances is the safest thing to do. And if a client is drinking while pregnant, everyday counts. The sooner the drinking stops, the better for the baby. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.
NASW Social Work Talks Podcast Episode 128: Cannabis Use in Pregnancy: April 2025 - In this episode guests Dr. Roger Zoorob and Dr. Mary Velasquez presented valuable information to help social workers raise awareness and offer prevention methods related to cannabis use in pregnancy. NASW and the NASW Foundation, along with leading medical organizations, have partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Collaborative for Alcohol-Free Pregnancy, a cross-discipline public health initiative. This initiative, Engaging Social Workers in Preventing Alcohol- and Other Substance-Exposed Pregnancies, is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Celebrate National Women’s Health Week: May 11–17: May 2025 - Happy National Women’s Health Week! Social workers can participate by making sure clients know about alcohol’s unique health risks for women, including breast cancer and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. You can learn more about these risks and how to talk about alcohol use with clients by clicking on the link above.
What to Know About Women and Alcohol During FASD Awareness Month | Social Work Blog: September 2025 - In honor of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Month, social workers can help reduce the prevalence of FASDs by conducting alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for all clients—including pregnant women—and clearly communicating the importance of avoiding any alcohol throughout pregnancy. The take-home message for clients is that there is no known safe amount, no safe time, and no safe type of alcohol use during pregnancy. If a pregnant client is currently using alcohol, stopping drinking can still make a difference. The sooner she stops, the better for the baby’s health. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Risky Alcohol and Other Substance Use: September 2025 (Practice Perspective) - SBIRT is crucial to the ongoing identification of and intervention for substance use during pregnancy. By taking the lead in prevention and intervention efforts, social workers can help promote lifelong health and well-being among the clients they serve, including those at risk of a substance exposed pregnancy. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.
New Study Finds Significantly Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke Among Cannabis Users: October 1, 2025 - With cannabis now the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States, social workers can play a key role in improving their clients’ health by making conversations about cannabis and other substance use part of routine practice. October is National Substance Use Prevention Month, a call to action for social workers to conduct screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) with all clients, including those who are pregnant. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.
Workgroups
Providers Clinical Support System-Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (PCSS-MOUD) Consultant – Participate on monthly calls to discuss PCSS-MOUD trainings and webinars. Members of the group are responsible for completing a questionnaire providing feedback and suggestions for presentation improvements.
Coalition and External Meetings
Police Treatment and Community Collaborative (PTACC) – Participated on the 2025 Deflection & Pre-Arrest Diversion Training Summit planning committee by reviewing proposals for the summit which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) – NASW had the opportunity to participate on the Communications Workgroup of the National Partnership on Behavioral Health and Tobacco use, co-founded by SCLC. The workgroup included SCLC, American Academy of Family Physicians, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,NationalAlliance on Mental Illness,NationalAssociation of Social Workers, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The workgroup developed a new educational resource that can be utilized by external presenters to inform audiences about the harms of tobacco use, behavioral health tobacco prevalence, benefits of tobacco cessation and treatment.You may access the resource by clicking here: “Behavioral Health and Tobacco Product Use”. Presenters can easily tailor the content to their needs by selecting individual slides or presenting the complete deck.
Practice Standards
NASW Practice Standards for Social Workers’ Safety in the Workplace – Manage and oversaw the revisions to the 2013 Guidelines for Social Work Safety in the Workplace. Updated Standards are coming soon!
Conferences Attended to Stay Abreast of Workforce Issues
February 2, 2025, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) 21st Prevention Day: Telling the Prevention Story at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center National Harbor, MD
March 20-21, 2025, Psychotherapy Networker Symposium at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC.
May 28-29, 2025, Forensic Social Work Alliance (FSWA), formerly the National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW) conference in New Orleans, LA.
June 8-11, 2025, the Recovery Leadership Summit, hosted by Faces and Voices of Recovery in Arlington, VA.
NASW will continue to monitor behavioral health practice trends and provide additional updates as needed.