Social Work Advocates Magazine

By Paul R. Pace, News staff A social worker in Congress announced she will lead the next Social Work Caucus after its founder and chairman, U.S. Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns, D-N.Y., retires this year. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said she is honored that Towns asked her to continue the caucus’ important effort into the next term. “I look forward to ... Read More »

By Rena Malai, News staff Discovering South Africa’s social work voice was the theme of the People to People delegation trip in August, which included NASW CEO Elizabeth J. Clark and 10 NASW members from various roles in interdisciplinary care. The delegation co-leader was John Mastrojohn, III, senior vice president of the Office of Philanthropy at the National Hospice and ... Read More »

By Paul R. Pace, News staff The term “life coach” was among the 100 new additions to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary this year. The phrase started in the mid-1980s and is commonly used to describe those who help others achieve their personal best. Many social workers — who are skilled in helping clients cope with challenges — say coaching comes naturally, ... Read More »

By Paul R. Pace, News staff NASW hosted a discussion July 24 in the LGBT Networking Zone at the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. Speakers from various disciplines gathered for the session called “LGBTI Human Rights: Building Capacities through National and International Associations and Federations.” The event was open to anyone at the conference’s Global Village section. Attendees ... Read More »

By Rena Malai, News staff NASW staff members took part in a Capitol Hill rally in June to advocate for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (S.1925), as the House’s version of the bill contains language that leaves out the LGBT population, Native Americans and undocumented immigrants. As a member of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human ... Read More »

By Rena Malai, News staff Diana Stroud was appointed to the NASW Assurance Services (ASI) board of directors in July, replacing  Paul D’Agustino, whose term expired. “Paul was a terrific leader, and was instrumental in helping to launch ASI during his term,” said Tony Benedetto, ASI’s executive vice president. D’Agustino is now chairman of NASWIC. Stroud, MSW, is the assistant ... Read More »

By Paul R. Pace, News staff NASW leaders joined social workers from around the world at the Joint World Conference of Social Work and Social Development, held in July in Stockholm. The theme for the global event was “action and impact.” It brought together the three major global social work organizations: the International Association of Schools of Social Work, the ... Read More »

By Laetitia Clayton, News staff Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and a lifelong educator, spoke to social workers during NASW’s national Hope conference in July about their role in helping service members, veterans and their families cope with the effects of war — and she announced NASW’s commitment to support and advance this role. NASW has ... Read More »

By Paul R. Pace, News staff In addition to upholding the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Supreme Court in June handed down decisions in two other cases that are important to NASW and social workers. The high court struck down the majority of Arizona’s immigration policy that critics charged as being excessive. NASW’s Legal Defense Fund facilitated NASW’s participation in ... Read More »

By Paul R. Pace and Rena Malai, News staff Nearly 1,000 social workers from 12 countries carried home the message that “social work is the profession of hope” from NASW’s national practice conference “Restoring Hope: The Power of Social Work.” The gathering, held July 22-25 in Washington, D.C., provided an opportunity to learn, network and renew social workers’ commitment to ... Read More »