On April 17, 2013 NASW co-hosted a Congressional briefing with the National Council on Disabilities (NCD), American Psychological Association (APA), and Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) titled, Rocking the Cradle: Protecting the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children. The briefing focused on the barriers persons with disabilities experience when they exercise their fundamental right to create and... 

NASW applauds President Obama for appointing Julia Pierson as Director of the United States Secret Service (USSS). This is a milestone for women and the USSS as Ms. Person is the first woman in the agency’s nearly 150 year history to hold the top leadership position. In January, NASW expressed concern with the change in direction the President was taking on appointing women, of all ethnicities, to Cabinet positions... 

By Rena Malai, News staff Social Work Month has arrived, and NASW urges members to get involved in this nationwide acknowledgement of the social work profession. Sponsorship ads will air on NPR during March, and will reach an audience of more than 20 million, said Gail Woods Waller, NASW’s communications director. The promotion of Social Work Month will specifically be heard on the shows “All Things Considered,”... 

On February 12, the U.S. Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by a comfortable 78-22 margin.  The bill included comprehensive protections for Native American women, women in same-sex marriages, and illegal immigrants, features not included in the 2012 House version of the bill. Now, we are urging the House of Representatives to pass the same version of VAWA that the Senate passed earlier this month. ... 

By Paul R. Pace, News staff There are literally 100 ways social workers can take part in National Professional Social Work Month this March. Visitors to  www.SocialWorkMonth.org can view the suggestions that are conveniently grouped in 10 categories: Students; Entertainment; Profession; Social; Media; Publications; Research; Events; Partners; and Advocacy. The 100 ways list was designed to spice up the annual March celebration... 

On January 29, 2013 President Obama gave his “The Time is Now” speech which ushered in his administration’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislative initiative. A day earlier, a bipartisan group of four Republican and Four Democrats (the “gang of eight”) also announced that they will introduce comprehensive immigration legislation. Because the president received 70 percent of the Hispanic... 

Today, NASW celebrates the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s special message to Congress regarding the state of mental health in the United States.  President Kennedy’s remarks brought the issue of stigma, and access to care, to the forefront of his domestic agenda.  As a result of this initiative, the Community Mental Health Centers Act was signed into law, which funded the development of mental health... 

In the last two weeks NASW has participated in several activities in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy.  Last week, NASW CEO Betsy Clark participated in the White House meeting with mental health groups where she met with Vice President Biden’s Task Force.  Since then, NASW has remained engaged in ongoing efforts with the Obama Administration and the mental health community.  This week NASW was included on two conference... 

In 2009, NASW was pleased to see President Obama build a diverse Cabinet and even participated as a co-sponsor in the celebration of Women Appointees of the Obama Administration. Conversely, since returning from the holidays the President has made four high level appointments all of which are white men. With the departures of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Administrator of the... 

NASW CEO Betsy Clark, and other mental health and disability rights advocates, met at the White House on Wednesday to provide input for Vice President Biden’s Task Force on Gun Control and Violence. The meeting was led by Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius, and included Attorney General Eric Holder, Pam Hyde from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration...