By Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA America, seemingly suddenly, finds itself in the middle of the most existentially threatening crisis of racism and intolerance since the events leading up to and including the Civil War. As was the case over 160 years ago, the present-day neo-fascist and white supremacy crusade is directly driven racial enmity – compounded by deep animus toward ... Read More »
NASW Social Work Pioneer Lester Blackwell Granger (third from right) pushed to integrate the U.S. military after World War II. Source: U.S. National Archives. By Deron Snyder The accomplishments of people of color are often overlooked in American history. That is also true of social workers of color. Lester Blackwell Granger is one such historical figure, a social worker few ... Read More »
By Marisa Markowtiz,LMSW, CASAC-T Multi-ethnic group of kids in fitness class together. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that develops in childhood and lasts into adulthood. Approximately nine percent of children get diagnosed with ADHD, according to the latest CDC survey from 2019. Common features of ADHD include problems with executive functioning tasks, including working memory, self-monitoring, planning, prioritizing, ... Read More »
The South Carolina State House with the state flag flowerbed in the foreground. The National Association of Social Workers South Carolina Chapter (NASW-SC) is strongly against the proposed House Bill 3515, also known as the “Entrepreneur Freedom Act.” The purpose of this bill is to repeal and do away with licensure for social workers and many other professions in South ... Read More »
I live in a tiny town in a rural county, and I advocate for LGBTQIA+ folks like me. I fly rainbow flags on my home. I stand out, because going back into the closet isn’t an option. The school buses pass my house every morning on the way to the same school I attended, terrified, where I heard threats, veiled ... Read More »
By Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA The political climate approaching the 2022 Midterm Elections may very well be ranked with the years leading up to the Civil War as a period when the nation was facing the greatest threat to democracy. While that danger has by no means dissipated, it has certainly has been stalled by the Midterm Elections outcome. Predictions ... Read More »
By Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW I was browsing a free book on the Internet recently and the first line stopped me. It started with Amartya Sen’s quote, “A misconceived theory can kill.” Immediately, I thought about the amount of death that has pummeled the United States over the past few years. More than a million deaths from COVID-19 to date, ... Read More »
By Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW It’s been 21 years since first responders rushed headlong into the burning World Trade Center while frightened civilians rushed for the exits. Each September, we remember and reflect on their bravery. Heedless of their own safety, they carried out their mission to serve and to protect us in our most devastating time of need. ... Read More »
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is encouraging its members to comment on an important proposed rule to strengthen nondiscrimination protections in health programs through Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. NASW will be submitting comments and encourages social workers to do so as well. The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) and partner organizations have created comment portals (listed ... Read More »
Crumbling infrastructure and recent flooding in Mississippi caused an already struggling water treatment plant in the state capital of Jackson to collapse. Residents in the city of 150,000 are having difficulty getting water to drink or to flush toilets, prompting the city to close schools and business and residents to wait in long lines for water. The NASW Mississippi Chapter has mobilized volunteers ... Read More »
Social Work Blog Social work updates from NASW