New Jersey Social Work Reinvestment Initiative

Legislative Advocacy

Recruit New Social Workers / Retain Current Social Workers / Retrain Experienced Social Worker / Reactivate Community Investment in Social Work
New Jersey’s Goal:
To ensure that New Jersey lawmakers consider and incorporate social work values into policy and legislation. / Develop strategies to highlight how social workers are involved in legislative and political advocacy. Strategies might include:
  • Policy Symposium
  • Legislative Education Day
  • FOCUS articles
  • Web pages
  • Local unit events
/ Work with other Social Work (SSWAA, SSWLHC, Clinical Society, etc.) and other organizations to advocate and lobby for professional social work issues, policies and legislation related to such issues as professional recognition, salaries, caseloads, safety, scope of practice, research, and increased funding (COLA).
Expand and ensure future funding for current loan forgiveness program
Strengthen licensing law (see Licensing Task Force final report)
Develop strategies to increase diversity in the Chapter’s leadership and membership / Continue to host meetings for the Baccalaureate Child Welfare Education Program (BCWEP)
Develop strategies to assist social workers in recognizing the impact legislation and policy has on the profession:
  • Publicize legislative agenda
  • Develop legislative report card
  • Develop speakers bureau
  • Develop position papers, letters, talking points and testimony on important issues (use Legislative and Social Action Committee to determine priorities)
  • Develop and maintain legislative information on Web pages, including Action Alerts and PACE endorsements
  • Provide presentations and materials at Annual Conference, unit meetings, educational and special events.
/ Increase number of social workers elected or appointed to office at the federal, state and local levels:
  • Collaborate with Eagleton Institute
  • Work with lobbying firm to identify open positions and influence Governor’s Appointments Office
  • Develop diverse strategies to increase financial contributions to the Chapter’s political action committee
  • Provide opportunities for members to participate in political process
Regularly develop, revise, and strengthen strategies that encourage and support social workers participation in political and campaign activities for candidates and ballot initiatives.
Continue to be an active member of the Mental Health Parity Coalition

Public Education

Recruit New Social Workers / Retain Current Social Workers / Retrain Experienced Social Worker / Reactivate Community Investment in Social Work
New Jersey’s Goal:
To educate the public about the social work profession, thereby creating consumer demand through a better understanding of professional values and scope of work. / Develop speakers bureau to supply speakers at high schools, community colleges, university career fairs, etc.
Promote the profession through print media and information tables at high schools, churches, and other community outlets
Continue to promote Social Work profession through annual billboard campaign and other mass media opportunities.
Continue to answer requests from the public for information and resources related to social work education, careers, jobs, and salaries / Create contest to generate social work stories to highlight innovative achievements by NJ’s social work professionals. Publish stories in FOCUS and release to local media
Continue to highlight individual members in FOCUS newsletter to reflect various aspects of the breadth of social work practice
Highlight New Jersey social work pioneers and innovators in FOCUS and chapter Web site
Regularly develop and maintain the chapter’s Web-based information related to career and professional development, legislation and political affairs, social work trends, licensing guidelines and requirements, practice methodologies, professional credentials and certificates, conference and special events
Annually selecting, awarding and celebrating 4 social workers and/or citizens at the annual conference
Maintain Harriet Bloomfield Scholarship fund and award annually to one student entering the profession
Create targeted plan to reach media with stories about social workers and the profession
Develop Student Network, comprised of a representative at each school of social work, to disseminate information on the benefits of NASW, on school initiatives in the community, and on networking between the schools / Provide cutting-edge information to professional social workers so that they can take on positions of leadership within their agencies. For example:
  • Supervision courses
  • Administration and Planning track at annual conference
  • Addictions track at annual conference
Develop a program to provide approval for continuing education programs by entities outside of NASW
Take part in important social work related conferences / Continually seek opportunities to support the National Public Education Campaign and its efforts to improve the image of social work
  • Disseminate national campaign fundraising materials at conferences, events, meetings, presentations, etc.
  • Raise funds for national campaign
Create and implement state campaign and continue to support the national campaign. (See the Public Education Task Force Marketing Plan)
Annually promoting social work month through newsletter, Web site, special presentations and events
Continue to use newSWire, our electronic newsletter, to send out important and timely announcements to members and other interested parties.
Host 2nd “Social Work Summit” comprised of social work organizations in the state to collaborate and engage in planning

Workforce Development

Recruit New Social Workers / Retain Current Social Workers / Retrain Experienced Social Worker / Reactivate Community Investment in Social Work
Ensure a qualified and culturally competent social work labor force by expanding social work professionals’ skills and knowledge in traditional and new social work practice / Commission study through Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University to determine current threats to the social work profession.
Explore potential membership at community college (subscription to newsletters, discounts at continuing education events, etc.)
Sponsor brown bag lunches in agency social work departments to discuss benefits of NASW membership
Continue to accept and mentor graduate interns and involve them in conducting and disseminating research related to current and future workforce trends
Encourage vendors at New Jersey annual conference to recruit social workers for open positions at their agencies
Continue to highlight social work jobs on the “Classifieds” section of our Web page – including national’s JobLink
Continue to send out newSWire and unit listserv emails with opportunities for networking and announcements. / Create Leadership Development training to prepare individuals for leadership roles within NASW and their own agencies
Continue to support and expand Private Practice Special Interest Groups within local units
Continue to host Annual Career Event for Social Work students and new professionals / Offer licensing preparation courses and supervision courses at state agencies
Distance learning: Continue to provide quality audio component (CDs and podcasts) and expand to other states. Develop online and teleconferencing components to continuing education program.
Continue to support and facilitate free educational events at unit meetings
Offer new professional development tracks at annual conference, including Addictions, Supervision and Administration and Planning / Explore “site based” CE offerings where agency would host CE event for social work staff and public
Continue to offer site based “free” continuing education events during social work month