Tag Archives: Child Welfare

BACKGROUND: Texas attorney general Paxton issued a legal opinion that said gender affirming treatment/procedures constitute child abuse. Based on that legal opinion, Texas Governor Abbott instructed DCPS to conduct CPS investigations on any of these “abusive” gender affirming procedures.  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) in district court to prevent Texas DCPS from conducting ... Read More »

Social workers dedicate their lives to helping others, including some of the most vulnerable people in our society. However, research shows members of the social work profession are more likely to experience work-related stress, burnout, and a lower quality of life compared to other professions and the general population. Self-care is important to social workers and in fact the National ... Read More »

By Elizabeth M. Felton, Esq., LICSW NASW Associate Council Mahanoy Area School District v. B. L., involves the scope of a public-school student’s First Amendment right to free speech that occurs on social media or off campus and the school’s ability to address off-campus speech. The issue of whether public schools can discipline students over something they say off campus ... Read More »

By Mel Wilson, MBA, LCSW NASW Senior Policy Advisor Shortly after Election Day, the new Biden-Harris Administration announced that immigration reform was one of its highest priorities. President Biden also pledged to rescind the inhumane asylum-seeker policies of the Trump administration ― the “remain in Mexico policy.” In February, the administration announced it would accept unaccompanied children, a reversal of Trump-era ... Read More »

Why are adolescents sometimes more impulsive or make poor decisions, such as drinking, hanging with wrong crowd or dropping out of school? The reason could be because of brain development. Many people do not know the brains of youth do not fully develop until they are in their mid twenties, which is why they may behave in ways that bewilder ... Read More »

This month, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the National Association of Social Workers today is commemorating Children’s Memorial Flag Day. Each year, a national day of remembrance is set aside to honor and remember children who have lost their lives in the last year due to violence and preventable causes of death. Across the country, child advocates and ... Read More »

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) supports legislation introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) today that would strengthen the nation’s child welfare system and help prevent mistreatment of youth who are LGBTQ. Kaine’s Child Welfare Workforce Support Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to do a five-year pilot program to focus on the best ways to reduce barriers ... Read More »

Social workers eager to help immigrants who have been separated from their children have a wealth of resources at their disposal. The truth is one of them. National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Board Member Guadalupe G. Lara, LMSW, an expert on social work and immigration, is encouraging social workers to advocate for these children and “to speak to some of the ... Read More »

The Trump AdminThe Trump Administration policy of deporting large numbers of immigrants who are in the United States illegally is having a significant impact on the social work profession. Staff from the National Association of Social Workers Arizona, California, New Mexico, New York City, Texas and National Office Social Justice and Human Rights department prepared a Social Justice Brief that looks at ... Read More »

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year’s theme is “Building Community, Building Hope.” Communities across the country have a great influence in families’ lives. Every person one can get involved and play a role in preventing child abuse and neglect and promoting child and family well-being. Social workers are in a unique position to get involved in some ... Read More »