“Social workers are responsible for social security,” I often heard.  In NASW’s focus on social work reinvestment, we have invoked the name of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a Presidential cabinet and as United States Secretary of Labor.  She was one of the longest-serving cabinet officers in history.  As we are facing current economic challenges, Frances Perkins’ name continues to rise.   One... 

March 11, 2009 – NASW and IASWR executive directors Betsy Clark and Joan Zlotnik stood behind Dr. Dorothy I. Height (blue hat, bottom center) at a White House event where President Obama signed an executive order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls. The Council will be chaired by Valerie Jarrett and staffed by Tina Tchen. The President signed autographs as he left the room.  Read More →

We were recently invited to a conference call with the Department of Education, where we discussed the President’s 2010 budget for their department. We were part of a small group asked to participate and were able to learn, firsthand, about the Administration’s plan to: Make Pell grant funding mandatory. The maximum for the 2010-11 academic year would be $5,550. Restructure and expand the Federal Perkins Loan Program...