NASW Chapters

NASW’s Chapters were a crucial component of the Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign to support social workers and their clients in informed vaccine decision-making. Since the inception of this CDC-funded initiative to promote vaccine confidence, NASW Chapters hosted trainings, disseminated valuable fact-based information about COVID-19 vaccines, and worked with social workers in their states to assist vulnerable special populations.

NASW’s Chapters hosted 27 virtual Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Trainings in the three-year initiative that began in July of 2021 and concluded in September 29, 2024. Chapters collaborated on the trainings with NASW, the NASW Foundation, and grant partner, the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT) at The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work.

NASW Chapters also partnered with NASW National’s Connect to End COVID-19 team to deploy fact-based, reliable information about lifesaving vaccines, the state of the pandemic, and related local, state, and federal data and programs. The primary objective of all grant-related communications activities has been to assist social workers in their efforts to help individuals and families to make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccines.

NASW Chapters: Communications (2022-2024)

In 2022, 2023, and 2024, 21 NASW Chapters partnered with the NASW National Connect to End COVID-19 team in a wide array of communications and outreach activities aimed at promoting vaccine confidence. Communications channels ranged from newsletters and targeted emails to NASW Chapter websites, Social Media, and in-person outreach to social workers at Chapter conferences and other events.

Participating Chapters analyzed the vaccine confidence landscape in their states, with special attention paid to vulnerable populations. Chapter teams utilized this important data and information in deploying communications and doing outreach to social workers. In an effort to deploy accurate, relevant information, Chapters also attended regular team meetings with the NASW National Connect to End COVID-19 staff, viewed national training webinars, and stayed current with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data and information about COVID-19, vaccines, and the pandemic.

A majority NASW’s 55 Chapters participated in one or more ways: by disseminating communications and doing outreach, attending the initiative’s national webinars, and/or hosting MI-SBIRT trainings in collaboration with UT Austin’s HBRT. Chapters deploying ongoing communications campaigns, and also, in most cases, MI-SBIRT Trainings (training participation donated with asterisk) are listed below:

NASW Chapters: MI-SBIRT Trainings (2022-2024)

Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) are evidence-based models for supporting clients in making informed decisions about their health. These evidence-based modalities can be effectively deployed to help guide collaborative conversations with clients about COVID-19 vaccine decision-making.

In 2022, 2023, and 2024, NASW and 30 of its state chapters, in collaboration with UT Austin’s HBRT, hosted 27 virtual MI-SBIRT trainings across the United States, primarily in states with low vaccination rates and high levels of vaccine hesitancy. These interactive trainings, led by HBRT trainers, introduced MI and SBIRT, and how these evidence-based modalities can be effectively deployed to help guide collaborative conversations with clients about COVID-19 vaccine decision-making.

The complimentary, six-hour (one-day) trainings, included five complimentary CEUs for currently practicing, licensed NASW social work members. The NASW Chapters that provided MI-SBIRT Trainings include:

NASW Chapters: Executive Director Success Stories

Brenda Rosen, MSW, CSW—Executive Director, NASW Kentucky Chapter

Brenda Rosen implemented NASW Chapter communications and outreach in Kentucky on behalf of the Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign and hosted a MI-SBIRT Training (2022) in collaboration with the UT Austin HBRT team.

When we hosted the Connect to End COVID-19 MI-SBIRT training, we had a great turnout. We had a lot of people who worked in healthcare and in schools, who really wanted to connect and have an opportunity to learn. Social workers shared the impact of COVID-19 on them personally and professionally and how the information they were learning was pivotal in bringing back to their agencies.

The biggest message is to support, to validate, those who’ve gotten the vaccine. ‘Yay, that’s wonderful! You’re taking care of yourself, your family, and your community.’ We don’t want to call out those who haven’t, but we want to reinforce the idea that by getting these vaccines, if or when you get COVID-19, it won’t be as severe as it would have been without the vaccine.

Learn more about Kentucky Chapter Connect to End Covid-19 communications and training.

Gwen Bouie-Haynes, PhD, LMSW—Executive Director, NASW MS Chapter and NASW Alabama Chapter; and, Project Coordinator, Connect to End COVID-19 Special Populations

Gwen Bouie-Haynes implemented NASW Chapter communications and outreach in Mississippi on behalf of the Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign and hosted a MI-SBIRT Training (2022) in collaboration with the UT Austin HBRT team. She also has served as the initiative’s Special Populations Project Coordinator.

This project gives a voice to parts of the country that we might not otherwise hear from.

What better professionals are there to deliver this informed vaccine decision making? Social workers are trusted messengers for their clients.

Social workers across the country play an important role in almost every setting. They are uniquely positioned—at the micro (individual), mezzo (small groups), and macro (community) levels—to talk with people from vulnerable populations about the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Learn more about Mississippi Chapter Connect to End Covid-19 communications and training.

Debra Riggs, CAE—Executive Director, NASW Virginia Chapter and Metro DC Chapter

Debra Riggs and her team implemented NASW Chapter communications and outreach in Virginia and Metro DC on behalf of the Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign and hosted a MI-SBIRT Training (2023) in collaboration with the UT Austin HBRT team.

Most of our social workers support getting vaccinated for COVID-19. However, they have found Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT training to be invaluable for talking with clients who are navigating that decision in light of so much misinformation.

The Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign has provided our social workers with more tools and more information to use with their clients who have questions. Having the facts is helping to save lives. The Motivational Interviewing training is incredibly important. Social workers walk away with tools they can use in their practice.

Learn more about Virginia Chapter Connect to End Covid-19 communications and training.

Learn more about Metro DC Chapter Connect to End Covid-19 communications and training.

Marc Herstad, MSW, CISW—Executive Director, NASW Wisconsin Chapter

Marc Herstad and his team implemented NASW Chapter communications and outreach in Wisconsin on behalf of the Connect to End COVID-19 Campaign and hosted a MI-SBIRT Training (2023) in collaboration with the UT Austin HBRT team.

Wisconsin social workers had one central place from a trusted source to go for the most up to date accurate information on vaccines and vaccine hesitancy. Wisconsin social workers benefitted from having a place to go for any resources they would need, particularly with special populations, to help them understand the problems that exist and ways to address them.

Our webinar on MI-SBIRT was a huge success. It filled up almost immediately and the evaluations were outstanding. Our intern, Oliver Wink, did an exceptional job gathering information, especially on at risk communities, for our webpage on vaccine hesitancy and special populations. Slightly higher open rates on social media posts over time.

Learn more about Wisconsin Chapter Connect to End Covid-19 communications and training.