Child Welfare Practice Tools

May is National Foster Care Month and NASW recognizes the work social workers do to secure permanent placement and help young people age out of foster care.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) acknowledges April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is a time to recognize the role social workers play in supporting prevention efforts. A key to prevention is strengthening families by increasing family protective factors and reducing risk. According to the CDC definition, “Protective factors are characteristics that may decrease the likelihood of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACES).” ACEs include child abuse and neglect, violence and other harmful occurrences.

NASW Task Force for Serious Illness: Palliative and End of Life Care is please to announce the attached draft practice standards for public comment, Serious Illness: Palliative and End of Life Care. The draft standards offer guidance to social workers in all settings where palliative and end of life services occur. They offer guidance to social workers and serve as benchmark for services social workers provide. We value your input and encourage you to review the document.

In late 2024 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). This 1,348-page 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, 2025.

Last year, NASW worked to support children, youth, and families (CYF) and in 2025, we will continue our commitment to preparing social workers to support and advocate for families. During 2024, the Children and Adolescents practice area published resources, advocated in Congress, coordinated a back-to-school campaign, contributed to school violence prevention, collaborated with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a preconference presentation and prepared, finalized, and received approval of the new school social work standards. 

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) acknowledges November as National Adoption Month. The White House Proclamation on National Adoption Month highlights how adoptive families provide permanency, love, and stability so children can grow to be happy, healthy, strong and resilient. In addition, national efforts to support adoptive homes included parental leave and policies that reduce financial burdens for families.