Thank you, Kay Castillo!

After 12.5 years with the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina, Kay Castillo, Director of Advocacy, Policy and Legislation is moving on from the association.

Kay holds a BSW from Campbell University and started with NASW-NC as an intern in 2009. In her role at NASW-NC, Kay spent years advancing the social work profession through policy development at the North Carolina General Assembly working closely with legislators and with various state departments to advance the social work profession statewide.

Arguably, Kay’s greatest accomplishment with the association was successfully securing legislative sponsors and lobbying for the bill that saved clinical social work licensure in 2019. The passage of this legislation updated the clinical social work exam requirements in North Carolina state statute so LCSWAs could continue to become fully licensed. This legislation would not have passed without Kay’s lobbying skills and legislative relationships on behalf of the social work profession.

Kay has given social workers a voice at the table as a member of NASW-NC’s many Coalition partners. She served as the Chair of The North Carolina Coalition, a statewide organization advocating on behalf of Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Substance Use Disorder Services and was Chair for the Mental Health Coalition, a subcommittee of The Coalition focusing on mental health policy.

Kay has also served as the International Coordinator for the NASW-NC International District and communicates with over 200 NASW members working and living abroad.

Kay has assisted thousands of NASW-NC members in solving insurance reimbursement issues, answering licensure and legal questions, and advocating for all areas of the social work profession.

Kay’s commitment, dedication, and personality has been a great asset to the NASW-NC family and membership and she will be greatly missed.

Kay's last day with NASW-NC will be December 16, 2022.

I am sure you will join me in wishing Kay the very best in her future endeavors. 

Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP

Executive Director, NASW-NC