Tips and Tools for Social Workers

Founded by Mental Health America in 1949, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! NASW participates in this important initiative each year to acknowledge those affected by mental illness and the role clinical social workers play as mental health providers.

Social workers can help prevent prenatal alcohol exposure by implementing universal screening. Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based, non-stigmatizing and highly effective modality for identifying and reducing risky drinking. Read more about how social workers can use SBIRT to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

As we each consider how to celebrate Older Americans Month in our workplace and community, we can keep in mind the OAM 2026 theme, Champion Your Health. Yes, each of us can play an active role in managing our own health as we age by engaging in prevention, informed decision making, and self-advocacy. At the same time, strong public systems and policies that promote equity, affordability, access, self-determination, and full participation in society are essential to experience health and well-being in later life.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) acknowledges the role social workers play in preventing child maltreatment. This month NASW focuses on preventing online harm to children. Online harms include cyber bullying, exploitation, child sex abuse materials (CSAM), harmful artificial intelligence (AI) generated content and predatory adults that target children.

NASW is developing a task force for the revision of the NASW Standards for the Practice of Social Work with Adolescents . NASW reviews and revises these standards to incorporate and update best practices. We encourage social workers who have a minimum of 5 years of work with adolescents and their families to submit their resume for consideration. Experience can include clinical practice and/or case management in adolescent healthcare, mental and behavioral health settings, child welfare agencies, adoption services, community-based child abuse prevention, juvenile justice services, and school social work. A competitive candidate should have excellent writing skills and is expected to participate in meetings and prepare documentation.

NASW Task Force for Suicide Prevention is pleased to announce the attached draft practice standards for public comment, NASW Standards of Care for Suicide Prevention.  The draft standards of care offer guidance to social workers and serve as benchmarks for services social workers provide.  We value your input and encourage you to review the standards by clicking HERE.

Please use the comment section to provide your feedback no later than March 31. We kindly request that you include your professional background with your comments.  Thank you in advance for your comments.