FAQ

What is the advocacy focus of this year’s LEAD? This year’s advocacy theme aligns perfectly with the annual national Social Work Month theme: Social Workers Are Essential. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen the incredible impact that social workers have and how it’s contributed to our society during this crisis. Social workers in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools are managing the impact of COVID-19 directly. Our private practitioners and clinical social workers are navigating the incredible mental health crisis that has emerged from the isolation of quarantine, the grief experienced by those who’ve lost loved ones, and the impact of trauma on our first responders. However, social workers are often left off the list of professions being recognized for the essential work we’re doing during this time. While we don’t require recognition to perform our jobs at heroic levels, this lack of recognition has consequences in the levels of professional respect, resources, and workforce support. This year during LEAD, we will educate our elected officials about the essential role that social workers play in our communities.

Why are we not advocating for or against a specific bill this year? At the beginning of the legislative session, many of NASW’s top legislative priorities have not yet reached bill status. For some, there may be sponsorship memos. For others, there may be a bill that addresses the issue but does not fully align with our viewpoint. For yet others, we may be aware that an existing bill is not the likely vehicle for the issue to be taken up by the General Assembly. When there is not a singular pressing bill to address, it is common for associations to promote general education about the profession during their legislative days. Given the events of the last year and the relative lack of recognition of social workers as essential workers during the pandemic, this seemed like the perfect time to educate our elected officials on the value of social work.

What other legislative issues are NASW-PA working on? Issues that we will be working on this year include, but are not limited to: • Telehealth • Criminal justice reform • Voting rights/elimination of gerrymandering • Environmental justice • Increasing the minimum wage • Supporting loan forgiveness for social workers but also for all economically-disadvantaged populations • Diversity/anti-racism training

Can we discuss those or other issues during our legislative visits? YES! Part of educating our elected officials about the social work profession is to also share what we stand for. After you’ve shared your experiences and thoughts about social work, talk to your Representative or Senator about an issue that’s important to you.