The National Association of Social Workers

Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies. NASW Virginia Chapter (NASWVA) represents social workers in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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NASWVA strives to assure achievement of the highest standards of Social Work practice in the Commonwealth via:

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• Promoting the core value of belief in the inherent worth and dignity of each individual.

• Endorsing and advancing a professional social work identity and presence.

• Connecting, educating, and defining standards to provide the tools necessary for enhancing professional practice.

• Assessing and addressing current trends and issues relevant to and affecting the profession.

• Advocating and supporting public policies and legislative efforts to further the profession of Social Work and embrace the diversity of human need.

The Latest News...

2020 NASWVA Conference

Plan to join NASWVA at the 2020 Annual Conference! Here are some highlights...

• The event will take place at the Williamsburg Lodge (same location as 2019) from March 26 - 28, 2020.​

• Our Conference Committee is working hard to secure the best speakers to cover the most timely and relevant topics.​​​

• We expect to offer options to earn over 20 CE hours over the three days.​

• We will once again have a special Student Conference on Thursday, March 26.​

• Registration will open soon (tentatively November 15).​

• We are improving the conference by including planning additional networking opportunities, expanding the exhibitor fair, and adding a special self-care session on Thursday.

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We look forward to seeing you!

Conference Highlights

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We are pleased to announce our Keynote Speakers for 2020...

Rachel Marco-Havens is a multi disciplinary “solutionary” artist. Her primary medium, communications, ignites collaborative conversations, which often lead motivated people to take inspired, regenerative action in their own communities. 35 years of deliberate personal expansion, including immersion in Tibetan Buddhist studies, provide the foundation for Rachel’s art, advocacy and activation. She continuously invites us to recognize the inter-connectivity between social, environmental and spiritual justice movements. Rachel moves the energy from the ripples of conversation to waves of inspired activity. Learn more here. (Photo credit Franco Vogt)

What will Rachel discuss during her keynote? Listen here to find out...

Katherine Gray Silvan is a performing artist, ordained Interfaith Minister and a licensed Master of Social Work whose passion is to educate, empower and love people of all backgrounds and faiths. Katherine wrote, directed and starred in her own one-woman show, “Full of Myselves,” has written and performed dozens of character sketches and works as a visiting preacher, sharing the message of universal love, religious tolerance and respect for diversity. For fourteen years she worked as a Hospice chaplain and self-care coach for caregivers of the dying. Katherine’s focus in study has been on being a force of love in the world, and for her the greatest gift of all is being able to share this with the young people of our country. Learn more here.

Hear Katherine share more about her background and the topics she'll be covering at the conference!

Ken E. Nwadike, Jr., is a peace activist, motivational speaker, and video journalist. Nwadike Jr is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, which produces motivational videos to spread love, inspire change, and raise awareness of social issues. His ‘Free Hugs’ videos have reached hundreds of millions of views on Facebook and YouTube. In 2014, Nwadike launched the Free Hugs Project to spread love in response to the bombing of the Boston Marathon. The Free Hugs Project gained popularity in 2016, as Nwadike made major news headlines for his peace-keeping efforts and de-escalating violence during protests, riots, and political rallies. Nwadike was featured in Google’s 2016 Year in Search video as a highlight of some of the year’s most defining moments. Learn more here.

Pete Dunlap MAED, is an expert in technology overuse and addiction. His organization, Digital Detangler, equips people with tools and strategies that enable healthier digital habits and promote well being. We now spend more time on devices than we spend asleep. As our smartphones have taken over most of our free time, space for reflection, personal growth, and self-care is pushed to the margins if not completely neglected. We’ll look at how social media use can become a compulsion and investigate our own social media experiences. While we can connect and build social capital on social platforms, we also expose ourselves to a new world of dangers that include cyber-bullying and exploitation. Come learn about the trends that have driven us to distraction and be presented with a path forward, one that embraces the best tools that technology can provide while limiting the plethora of distractions that thwart your best intentions. Learn more here.​​

What will The Digital Detangler share with us? Watch this video clip to see!

NASW to complete Member Record Update, Member Directory, and Member Survey - Please participate! - October 4, 2019

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NASW turns 65 in October 2020.  Everything NASW has accomplished is because of our members.  We invite you to participate in two important efforts in the next few months that will help us celebrate, and prepare to grow and serve you in the future.

Member Record Update

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Working with our partner, Publishing Concepts Inc., we will print a membership directory album for our 65th anniversary next October.  The first step is a comprehensive member record update.  You will soon receive invitations by postcard and email to contact the directory team and update your member data.  Key areas to review include your:

• Contact information, such as mailing address, email address, and phone number.

• Professional information, such as practice area and work setting.

• Communication preferences, to tell us the types of information you want to receive, such as CE and professional development, career and jobs, and advocacy.

Up-to-date member profiles help us provide relevant resources and support based on your social work practice interests, and help us represent you better as we advocate on your behalf at the national, state, and local levels.

65th Anniversary Member Directory

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If you choose to, you can be listed in the printed member directory, and you can submit a photo and/or a short essay.  There’s no cost to be in the directory. If you choose to purchase the album, you can reserve your copy when you update your data.  When NASW last published a commemorative directory in 2015, thousands of members submitted essays celebrating their social work history and experiences.

Regardless of whether you participate in the member album, NASW urges you to respond to the postcard or email from the directory team when you are contacted next month.  Your data updates are critically important for NASW to understand who we're serving and to represent the interests of social workers to legislators and policy makers. 

Member Survey

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This fall, NASW will also be surveying members for an in-depth look into social workers’ needs and opinions. Our partner, McKinley Advisors, will assist us in this effort. More information about the survey will be available in the upcoming weeks. If you are contacted by McKinley, we encourage you to participate. Your confidential feedback will help strengthen our association and enable NASW to better meet the evolving needs of our members.

If you have questions about any of these initiatives, please contact Member Services at membership@socialworkers.org or 800.742.4089, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET. We’re here for you.