UNC System cuts diversity-course requirement for graduation
NC Judge Rejects GOP State Supreme Court Candidate’s Bid To Throw Out 60K Ballots
Common Cause NC Rallies
Safe Families: A Emergency Guide for Immigrants
GOP bill would ban early voting
Celebrating Black History Month (NAMI-NC)
2025 NC Social Work Advocacy Day - Session 2 Sold Out!
NASW-NC Ethics Conference
Week 2: NASW-NC meets with Legislators
NASW-NC was at the NC General Assembly for week 2 of the Legislative Session. We had in-person meetings with legislators to discuss passage of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill and our upcoming Advocacy Day on March 5th. NASW-NC
also attended the Senate Health Committee hearing.
NASW-NC is the only organization with two full-time lobbyists advocating on behalf of the social work profession. We will be in-person at the NC General Assembly each week of the 2025 Legislative Session meeting with legislators
and attending committee hearings.
Our #1 Legislative Priority is the passing of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill, which we first introduced in the 2023 session. You can learn more about the Social Work Compact HERE.
We have already secured bill sponsors in both the NC House & NC Senate. We are meeting with legislators to discuss restoring masters' pay for school social workers and investment in the social work workforce. Please keep reading our weekly Advocacy
Alerts & follow us on social media as we will be sharing updates throughout the legislative session on our lobbying efforts around the 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda.
Registration Closes Today! NASW-NC Advocacy 101 Webinar in preparation for Advocacy Day
This event is free and open for everyone (even if you are not able to attend Advocacy Day), attendees will receive 1 hour of CE for free. A link to the live webinar will be distributed to registrants before the meeting date. This webinar
will be recorded to view later.
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025 Time: 12PM-1PM Location: Virtual
UNC System cuts diversity-course requirement for graduation
The University of North Carolina System is no longer requiring students to take courses focused on diversity, equity or inclusion as a condition of graduation, the system’s top lawyer told chancellors of system universities in a memo.
The move is a response to a Jan. 21 executive order issued by President Donald Trump that seeks to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion instruction from public schools.
The order directs federal agencies to eliminate that instruction, collect
data on it, evaluate it and make recommendations on what to do about it.
While UNC System schools could still offer such courses, “all general education requirements and major-specific requirements mandating completion of course credits related to diversity, equity, and inclusion … are suspended,” Andrew Tripp, senior vice
president and general counsel at the University of North Carolina System, wrote in the Feb. 5 memo.
Last year, the UNC System's Board of Governors cut the system's diversity, equity and inclusion policy and replaced it with one that emphasizes neutrality. Many of the other issues addressed by Trump’s order are covered in university policy, Tripp wrote.
“The Equality Policy reaffirms the University’s commitment and duty to abide by federal and state law prohibiting discrimination and upholds the University’s commitment to institutional neutrality, academic freedom, and freedom of expression,” Tripp wrote.
UNC schools received about $1.4 billion in federal research funding in the 2023-24 fiscal year — about 62% of all university research funds and about 13% of the UNC budget.
“Even though some form of additional federal guidance is expected, and the law in this area remains unsettled, the risk of jeopardizing over $1.4 billion in critical federal research funding is simply too great to defer action,” Tripp wrote.
NC Judge Rejects GOP State Supreme Court Candidate’s Bid To Throw Out 60K Ballots
A Wake County Superior Court judge rejected a bid by GOP North Carolina Supreme Court candidate
Jefferson Griffin to overturn his 2024 election loss to incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs by disqualifying over 60,000 lawfully cast ballots.
The ruling comes after Judge William Pittman held a hearing earlier today concerning Griffin’s election protests over three separate categories of ballots — all of which were previously denied by the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
“The Court concludes that the decision of the North Carolina State Board of Elections should be, and hereby is, affirmed,” Pittman wrote in Friday’s trio of orders.
The three buckets of contested ballots included those cast by overseas voters who did not submit a copy of their photo IDs, voters who never previously resided in North Carolina and individuals whose voter registrations were allegedly incomplete. Opponents
of Griffin maintain that the challenges are baseless and emphasize that affected voters complied with all of the state’s voting rules as required.
Throughout the last couple of months, Griffin’s legal disputes over his election loss have bounced back and forth between state and federal courts, which has prolonged resolution of the case. On Tuesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that North Carolina State courts should hear the challenge
first, but noted that the legal action could return to a federal court if necessary.
All the while, the certification of Riggs’ victory over Griffin — which was confirmed by two separate recounts — has remained on hold due to an earlier order from the GOP-controlled North Carolina Supreme Court. Today’s ruling is likely to be appealed by Griffin, first to the state court of appeals, and then ultimately to the state Supreme Court, which dismissed an earlier petition from the GOP candidate as premature.
Riggs — along with North Carolina Democrats and voting rights advocates — has repeatedly condemned Griffin’s legal maneuvers seeking to gain a seat on the state Supreme Court bench by disenfranchising North Carolinians en masse.
The North Carolina Supreme Court election at issue is the last uncertified 2024 statewide race in
the country and the court’s 2025 term begins Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Upcoming statewide rallies to protect North Carolina voters (Feb. 15-22)
It’s the people’s turn to say: reject Griffin’s challenge! Respect our votes!
Join the growing opposition against Griffin’s challenges, raise your voice at rallies happening across the state, and build a pro-democracy movement together.
Rallies are scheduled statewide in the Triangle, Triad/Charlotte/Western NC/Eastern NC.
Show up with us at rallies across the state to protest, build community, and paint a picture of our statewide outrage. Learn more and RSVP at ccnc.me/Griffin
Safe Families An Emergency Guide for Immigrants
We are excited to share that El Pueblo has released Familias Seguras. Guía de emergencia para inmigrantes (Safe Families: An Emergency Guide for Immigrants), a Spanish-language guide that helps Latine immigrant families understand their legal rights and
prepare for the potential deportation or detention of a family member. The NC Justice Center is proud to have partnered with El Pueblo and ACLU of North Carolina to produce this invaluable resource, which provides detailed, step-by-step instructions
and easy, fill-in-the-blank templates for creating emergency plans. In particular, families will find guidance on:
What to say during interactions with police or immigration agents
How to prepare in case a family member is deported
How to protect children, pets, household assets, and finances
Early voting in North Carolina would be drastically slashed if state lawmakers approve a new bill filed Wednesday by state Rep. Wyatt Gable.
Early voting is by far the most popular form of voting in North Carolina. More than 5.7 million people voted in the state's 2024 general elections, including more than 4.1 million who cast their ballots during early voting.
Data from recent elections shows the people who vote during early voting tend to lean slightly to the left of the state as a whole, while Election Day voters lean more heavily to the right.
Republicans have long sought to limit early voting options — including on Sundays, when many historically Black churches host "souls to the polls" events that encourage voting after church. Polling shows Black voters drifted slightly toward the GOP in the 2024 elections but still overwhelmingly support Democrats, in North Carolina and nationwide.
Gable's bill would ban all Sunday early voting in North Carolina by reducing the early voting period from three weeks to six days, ending on the Saturday before the election.
A similar proposal eliminating Sunday voting was part of a wide-ranging elections law Republicans passed in 2013 shortly after taking over control of state government. It was later ruled unconstitutional due to racial discrimination, after evidence emerged
in court that lawmakers obtained racial data they then used to write the law that touched on early voting, voter ID and more.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit later ruled that Republican legislators used that data to target Black voters "with almost surgical precision."
Gable, an Onslow County Republican who won election to his first term in November as a 22-year-old East Carolina University student, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening.
Republican officials have undertaken a number of recent efforts to crack down on early and mail-in voting options in the state — including by making it harder to vote by mail and, in some counties, opposing early voting plans that they see as providing
too many options.
The only recent exception has been the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, when Republican lawmakers rushed to lift rules for voting,
including by mail, in western North Carolina. The region hit by the storm is the most heavily conservative part of the state. All but two counties in western North Carolina supported Republican President Donald Trump in 2024.
Currently, Democrats control the elections board for the state and all 100 individual counties, due to a state law giving the governor’s political party that power. Those boards are in charge of setting early voting locations and hours, plus other
decisions such as whether to certify contested election results.
Republican state lawmakers have been trying since 2016 — when Democrat Roy Cooper defeated Republican Gov. Pat McCrory — to change that law. Numerous attempts since then have been ruled unconstitutional in court or rejected by voters
at the ballot box.
The legislature’s latest attempt to give Republicans power over elections administration passed in a lame-duck session December, after Democratic Gov. Josh Stein won the 2024 election to replace Cooper. That law has since been temporarily blocked in court,
but litigation is ongoing.
McCrory himself crossed party lines after that new law passed, joining Cooper and Stein in criticizing the attempted election board maneuvering as unconstitutional.
As we observe Black History Month, it's crucial to highlight the importance of mental health within Black communities. Systemic challenges and cultural stigmas often hinder access to appropriate care, making it vital to connect individuals with resources
that understand and address their unique experiences.
Mental health is a cornerstone of overall well-being. For Black individuals, historical and ongoing systemic inequities can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and trauma. Addressing mental health within the Black community involves not only providing
access to care but also ensuring that this care is culturally competent and responsive to specific needs.
Accessible Resources Throughout North Carolina
For those seeking support throughout North Carolina, several organizations offer culturally competent services:
· North Carolina Black Alliance: Committed to health equity, the North Carolina Black Alliance works to improve access to healthcare in Black and low-wealth communities. (https://ncblackalliance.org/)
· UNC Charlotte's Center for Integrated Care: This center offers resources specifically designed for Black students. Services include counseling, support groups, and wellness programs to foster mental health. (https://cic.charlotte.edu/blackstudentwellbeing)
· The AAKOMA Project – Focuses on youth mental health in communities of color through research, resources, and advocacy. (aakomaproject.org)
· RDU Black Therapists: This nonprofit organization aims to debunk the stigma associated with therapy in the Black community by connecting individuals with Black therapists in the RDU area. (https://www.rdublacktherapists.org)
· Darkness RISING Project: A mental health nonprofit that provides free community wellness workshops, a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, and a Black Mental Health Provider Database. (https://darknessrisingproject.org/about/)
This Black History Month, let's commit to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities. By utilizing and supporting these resources, we can work towards a future where mental health care is accessible, inclusive, and
effective for all. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and communities and professionals are ready to support you on your mental health journey.
For more information and resources, visit our website by clicking below.
2025 ADVOCACY DAY -REGISTER TODAY! SESSION 2 SOLD OUT!!!!
NASW-NC's 2025 Advocacy Day is WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 in Downtown Raleigh! We will have a new location for morning orientation (sessions between 9AM-12PM) this year due to the NC History Museum being closed for renovation.
Church on Morgan's meeting space is like an auditorium, not with religious symbolism of any kind.
This event is FREE and open to all. We have limited space for this event and want as many people to attend as possible. Please only register if you are certain you can attend.
An OPTIONAL contribution is available during the online registration process. NASW-NC is proud to make the North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day free for all. We welcome your contribution to this event. All contributions will be donated to social work students from across the state to aid in their travel to Raleigh. Please consider contributing to this effort to help connect the social work profession to those who represent us and our communities at the North Carolina General Assembly.
Each participant will register for ONE session: Session 1 begins at 9:00 am Session 2 begins at 10:30 am- SOLD OUT!!!!! * We ask that those close to the Raleigh area register for Session 1 to allow for those traveling from far to attend Session 2.
The 2025 Ethics Conference "Innovation and Ethics: The Future of Social Work in a Tech-Driven World" will explore the intersection of technology and social work in the modern era. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the role of technology
in social work is becoming increasingly significant. This conference aims to create meaningful discussions around how innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and digital platforms can enhance the delivery
of social work on all levels, while also addressing the ethical challenges they present.
Key topics of focus will include the integration of technology and AI in social work practice, clinical documentation considerations with data privacy and security, and the ethical responsibilities of social workers in navigating the digital
divide. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with seasoned practitioners in these areas and learn how social workers can leverage technological advancements and maintain their commitment to ethical principles, client autonomy,
and social justice.
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are
a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
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