By Greg Wright, NASW Communications Director While most of the nation is sleeping, the work of overnight crisis hotline worker “Beth” is just beginning. Working remotely from home, still wearing a bathrobe and a chemise, Beth takes calls from people experiencing a variety of crises. An Afghanistan War veteran still haunted by nightmares of a civilian mother he accidently shot and killed; a woman living with mental illness who no longer has health insurance and is off her medications and displaying mania; and a young woman who is a runaway and unhoused who is being pressured by her boyfriend to ..read more

By NASW Staff On April 16, 2024, the House of Representatives reintroduced a truly seminal bipartisan criminal justice reform bill called the Second Chance Act (SCA). This news of the reintroduction of SCA is more gratifying when we realize that it coincides with the act’s 16th anniversary. This legislation, originally passed in 2008, came about through years of advocacy and activism from the criminal justice reform community– in collaboration with SCA’s Congressional champion, Danny Davis (D-IL).  As one of the core members of the criminal justice reform coalition that advocated for SCA ..read more

By Mel Wilson, MBA, LCSW, NASW Senior Policy Adviser The Arizona Supreme Court recently held that an 1864 law, which made nearly all abortions in that state illegal, was constitutional and could be enforced almost immediately.  Because of the national repercussions of the ruling, there have been an outcry over the disregard for the reproductive rights of Arizona women and women throughout America. At present, at least 16 states in the United States have enacted laws that make performing an abortion a felony at any stage. Unsurprisingly, the decision to allow a 160-year-old law to remain ..read more

Heather Rose Artushin, LISW-CP By Heather Rose Artushin, LISW-CP As social workers, we often embark upon this professional journey with a heart for helping people to live well. But what if dying well was a conversation that was never meant to be saved for the end of life? Ronald L. Riffel, retired social worker and board member of the Center for Conscious Living and Dying (CCLD) in North Carolina, initially responded to a call for volunteers to sit with people who were dying, in what he described as a profound experience. Nestled in the Swannanoa Valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains ..read more

April Ferguson LCSW-C Senior Practice Associate Children and Adolescents April 2024 The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) acknowledges April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm. During this month, attention is focused on prevention efforts that eliminate abuse and neg ..read more

How often do you talk with clients about their alcohol use? Do you know how much drinking is too much, or what counts as a standard drink? April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an invitation to social workers to make conversations about alcohol use part of routine practice—and to make sure they’re armed with the facts. As the nation’s largest group of mental health services providers, social workers are uniquely positioned to help clients make significant positive changes in their health and well-being by taking time to talk with them about their drinking. These conversations can have a major impa ..read more

Our hearts ache for the families of the six individuals still missing in the aftermath of the tragic collision involving the Dali cargo ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday around 1:30am. Despite challenging conditions, search and recovery operations persist, reflecting the resilience and dedication of first responders. We extend our deepest condolences to all affected by this devastating event. As investigations continue and the city remains in a state of emergency, it is crucial to prioritize support for impacted communities and ensure comprehensive recovery efforts ..read more

By Denise Johnson, LCSW-C Senior Practice Associate March 2024 In February 2024, a major healthcare cybersecurity attack occurred, affecting many patients and providers including clinical social workers (CSWs). The attack targeted UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Change Healthcare, a technology clearinghouse that manages billing and administrative tasks for healthcare organizations. The attack, known as ransomware, involved hackers gaining access to healthcare payment systems, encrypting files, and demanding payment in exchange for a decryption key. As a result, Change Healthcare became tempora ..read more

By Yasoda Sharma, PhD, MSW March is recognized as Women’s History Month, with the 2024 United Nations theme being “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.” Women worldwide face numerous challenges, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive actions to empower them. Investing in women is the pivotal first step to drive change and accelerate the transition towards a just, safe, and more egalitarian society for all. Women’s History Month. Women of different ages, nationalities and religions come together. Women’s History Month offers a dedicated time to recognize and celebrate the contributio ..read more

This Saturday, March 23rd marks the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Commonly referred to as Obamacare, this is a moment to reflect on the deep impact this revolutionary legislation has had on the healthcare landscape in the United States. When it was enacted in 2010, the ACA’s aim was to increase access to affordable healthcare for millions of Americans, improve the quality of care, and address gaps in health results. Since then, this sweeping, groundbreaking law has improved the health of all Americans, including children, women and families, men, older adults, communities ..read more