Tips and Tools for Social Workers

The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI) invited The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) to review their Best Practices for Embedding a Social Worker in Your Police Department guide. Given the increasing interest in the integration of social workers into law enforcement, embedded social workers who are currently working in police departments or who aspire to work in the police department can use this document as a reference.

On September 15, 2024, NASW submitted comments to the Administration for Community Living in response to Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging. The framework was developed by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities (https://acl.gov/ICC-Aging) and submitted as a report to Congress in May 2024. Read NASW’s comments.

September is National Recovery Month which was established in 1989 with the purpose of advancing evidence-based treatment and recovery methods for those impacted by mental health and substance use conditions. Throughout Recovery Month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) acknowledges the importance of stable housing, the need to provide resources pertaining to social determinants of health that may affect recovery efforts, and the need for improved health and wellness outcomes. 

NASW appreciates the opportunity to submit comments on CMS–1807–P, Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on the revisions of Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments. The association supports CMS’s strategy to create an equitable health care system that results in better access to care, quality, affordability, and innovation.

NASW observes National Suicide Prevention Month this September, including the National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8, 2024 – September 14) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). The association also acknowledges social workers who support those affected by suicide. Over 48,100 individuals in the United States lose their lives to suicide annually, making it the 11th leading cause of death nationwide. Globally, more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year.

The role of social workers in substance use treatment is multifaceted, and they possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and educational resources to offer psychosocial services to individuals, families, and communities that may be experiencing substance use problems. Social workers are important healthcare providers in assisting individuals with substance use disorders as they help remove barriers to treatment.