TAKING ACTION

WASSW Advocating for School Social Work
at the United States Capitol July 2022
SSWAA Representatives at the US Capitol: Utah, Nevada, Washington and Arizona
Picture

2020 NASW Policy Conference 2/17/2020.
WASSW president Liz Nelson and others attended and supported legislation of interest to school social workers, including a bill that improves our standing in the prototypical school model. 

​
LOBBY DAY 2019
WASSW PRESIDENT Liz Nelson represented our organization at NASW's annual Lobby Day activities. NASW puts on a very informative and inspiring session on the legislative process. It also provides a comprehensive list of bills that affect social workers and their clients. We end the day meeting with our individual legislators to advocate for the bills we want to see passed!


LOBBY DAY 2018
It was another valuable Lobby Day as we partnered with NASW to mobilize to influence our state legislature. The event in Olympia was led by Garrett Hebel, NASW Chairperson of Legislative Action Committee. The group had training on Lobbying Do's and Don'ts and How a Bill Becomes a Law. We also had an inspirational talk from Nancy Amidei about finding our passion and sharing our voice. NASW provided education and policy briefs to help us advocate for more social workers in the workforce and other issues important to the social work profession, such as funding behavioral help and reforming Washington's regressive tax system. Social workers then met with legislators to take our message to our elected representatives. It was a great day of learning and advocacy! 
Picture
LOBBY DAY 2017
“Let’s Hear Social Worker Voices in the Halls!” 
 That was the call from Rep. Eric Pettigrew, MSW, at the NASW Lobby Day on February 20. WASSW partnered with NASW-WA to lobby the legislature on important issues under consideration this session. The event was led by Ann Allen, Chair of the NASW-WA Legislative Action Committee. We heard from great speakers, including Rep. Tina Orwall, MSW; Rep. Pettigrew; incoming president of NASW-WA, Catherine Zimmerman, Nancy Amidai, UW School of Social Work Professor Emeritus,  and Bob Cooper, lobbyist for NASW and WASSW. WASSW Board Member Liz Nelson addressed the group on HB 1377 and the need to pass this bill in order to gain recognition of the important work school social workers do in schools in the state of Washington. Over 200 social workers and social work students were in attendance and got fired up to meet with legislators and advocate for bills aligned with social work values.
 Following the rally, we went to the legislative buildings and visited our legislators and encouraged them to support the legislative agenda of NASW-WA and WASSW. Many thanks to Corrine Anderson-Ketchmark, NASW-WA president, for facilitating the partnership of WASSW with NASW-WA and including us as part of their powerful lobbying efforts!

Wassw Annual Lobby Day 2016

WASSW Lobby Day January 2015