Advocacy

"There's power in me."
Quote by Jane Addams

NASW-NC recognizes and stresses the importance of legislative advocacy by professional social workers. The actions of the US Congress and the NC General Assembly often affect the practice of social work and the clients social workers serve. Policy affects practice and practitioners affect policy.

Lobbyist

NASW-NC has a Director of Advocacy and Legislation who lobbies for NASW-NC members at the NC General Assembly. Our Director of Advocacy and Legislation, Jack Register, has a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) and is an Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW). During legislative sessions, our chapter Director of Advocacy and Legislation reviews legislation that is introduced each day to assess its possible impact on social workers and our clients, and takes appropriate action. We also introduce new legislation. Much of NASW-NC's social policy legislative work is done through coalitions. Click here to view the coalitions with which NASW-NC is a member.

Legislative Committee

NASW-NC has its own Legislative Committee. Every two years this committee develops on the Legislative Agenda for NASW-NC, with the assistance of the Director of Advocacy & Legislation of NASW-NC. The full NASW-NC Board approves the Legislative Agenda before it is published.

PACE Committee

NASW-NC also has its own political action committee known as NC-PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election). This committee helps elect candidates to public office who support legislation and policies consistent with the goals of the social work profession and the needs of those who are served by the social work profession in North Carolina.

HOW YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CLIENTS

• If you'd like to visit and tour the North Carolina General Assembly with our Director of Government Relations, or if you'd like to be a member of the Legislative or NC-PACE committees, please call Jack Register at 919-828-9650 or 1-800-280-6207. Or, you can contact Jack via e-mail at naswncadvocacy@naswnc.org.
• Check out our ALERT page to find out what is going on in both the State and Federal Legislatures that may affect you or your clients. This page will keep you informed about pending legislation that needs YOUR support and will offer suggestions as to how YOU can get involved. Contact your Federal and State representatives and let them know what you think. Tell them you are a social worker and what you do.
• Write letters to your legislators! Here is a link to help you through this process: http://www.peace-action.org/tools/act/howto.html