2025 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Social Work Licensure Compact is Law in NC

In this week's update:

• Social Work Licensure Compact is Law in NC 
• Justice Riggs finally seated on NC Supreme Court 
• Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Older Adults in 2025 & Beyond
• June is Men's Mental Health Month
• NASW-NC Bill Tracker
• Registration is open for 2025 Virtual Essentials Conference 
   

Social Work Licensure Compact is Law in NC

On Friday, June 13th, HB 231 -Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact was signed into law by Governor Josh Stein. Because of our significant advocacy and lobbying efforts to introduce and pass this bill, the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina (NASW-NC) staff and members were invited to join the Governor for this historic bill signing ceremony. Earlier in the week, HB231 was heard on the Senate floor for its final vote in the NC Senate, where it passed unanimously 44-0. North Carolina is now the 29th state to become a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact.

The Social Work Licensure Compact was activated in fall 2024, upon the passage of the bill in 7 states, however, multistate licenses are NOT yet being issued. The implementation period for the Compact is expected to take 12-24 months from when it was activated; it is only after the implementation period that multistate licenses will be issued. You can learn more details about the Social Work Licensure Compact and the Compact Commission by going to the Compact website here. 

NASW-NC's top priority for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 legislative sessions has been the passage of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact.

NASW-NC is also the ONLY organization lobbying and advocating for the entire Social Work Profession at the North Carolina Legislature. The NASW-NC lobbying team would not exist without the incredible support of NASW-NC membership. If you are already a member of NASW-NC, THANK YOU. Our members are the only reason that we have been able to do this work! 

NASW-NC is not federally funded; we are not state-funded. We are funded by the members of NASW and will not exist to advocate for you and the social work profession without YOU!  We are able to do more if we have a large voice and robust membership. If you are not yet a member, please join NASW and join us in our advocacy efforts.      

Read the Social Work compact press release here. 

Watch the Governor's bill signing ceremony with NASW-NC staff and members here.

Justice Riggs finally seated on NC Supreme Court 

On June 11, Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat, was formally sworn into the North Carolina Supreme Court by Chief Justice Paul Newby after a six-month legal battle with her Republican challenger Judge Jefferson Griffin.

A member of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Griffin led Riggs by nearly 10,000 votes in the immediate hours after polls closed on Nov. 5, according to previous reporting by Reuters. But that lead dwindled as more ballots were counted, and after recounts, Riggs was leading by 734 votes.

Griffin then sought in court to have set aside over 60,000 ballots cast by voters whose registrations were accepted despite having not provided driver's license numbers or Social Security numbers as state law required.

Griffin conceded May 7, two days after a federal judge delivered a victory for Riggs by ordering North Carolina's election board to not throw out any ballots cast by voters in the close race.

Following are some of Riggs’ remarks from her swearing-in ceremony.

“One of the things that so many of us love about the law is that we see it as a profession where the interest of one generation of practitioners in supporting the next generation of practitioners is uniquely strong and important to the integrity of the field.  Anita Earls embodies that spirit, and the time and care she devotes to ensuring that other attorneys flourish is the ideal we dream for this profession. …

“The independence of our judiciary is more important now than ever. And it is fitting to swear my commitment to this role sitting on a court where the concept of judicial review in America first found its footing. 

“Many of us learned about Marbury v. Madison in civics class, the case that marked the first time a federal court first explained that it had the authority and would strike down laws that violated the constitution.  But not all of you may realize that we saw the need for judicial review even earlier here in North Carolina. 

“In Bayard v. Singleton, the predecessor to the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in the first known case of judicial review. Those judges had no roadmap for what it meant for a court to rule that a state law was inconsistent with the state constitution, and they went down that road reluctantly, but they recognized their fealty belonged to the constitution.  Even if it meant that an upset legislature would accuse them of malpractice and delay their pay.  I am so proud that the courage and commitment of North Carolina judges served as precedent for the exercise of judicial review by other American courts …

“As your Supreme Court Justice, nothing will deter me from my obligation to uphold the constitution. I will interpret the law faithfully. I chose to be unafraid of making hard decisions in my defense of the rule of law, even if there may be easier or less intimidating paths.”

(Source: Yahoo.com)
 

Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Older Adults in 2025 & Beyond

Join Justice in Aging, Lambda Legal, and SAGE for this webinar, Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Older Adults in 2025 and Beyond. The webinar will include a basic primer on who LGBTQ+ older adults are, updates about the major programs and services that LGBTQ+ older adults rely on, an overview of key cases impacting the rights of LGBTQ+ older adults, and more. Learn about how you can be an advocate for LGBTQ+ older adults during this challenging and quickly evolving time.    

Who Should Participate: Advocates for LGBTQ+ older adults and other aging and disability stakeholders. 

Presenters: 

• Denny Chan, Managing Director, Equity Advocacy, Justice in Aging 
• Cam Cote, Civic Engagement Coordinator, SAGE 
• Kell Olson, Counsel and F. Curt Kirschner, Jr. Strategist for LGBTQ+ Seniors, Lambda Legal 
• Aaron Tax, Managing Director of Government Affairs & Policy Advocacy, SAGE 

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. ET and will run for 60 minutes.   

REGISTER NOW
 

June is Men's Mental Health Month

June is Men’s Mental Health Month - a time set aside to recognize the silent struggle of millions of men across the country. Consider these statistics*:

• 19% have experienced mental illness.
• 4.3% have experienced serious or severe mental illness.
• 45.9% of those men with symptoms of a mental illness have received treatment.
• Men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women. 

The stigma around men’s mental health often keeps men from seeking treatment and support. Many men with mental health conditions unnecessarily suffer in silence. 

Men’s Mental Health Month draws attention to the need for a culture that supports and celebrates men speaking up and reaching out. Visit the NAMI website to see how you can help break the stigma and show support. 

*Data from NAMI reflects U.S. adults assigned male at birth. 

Learn More Here: MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH

Email: helpline@naminc.org

(NAMI-NC)
 

NASW-NC Bill Tracker

NASW-NC has created a page to keep members up to date with legislative developments regarding the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, restoring master’s level pay for school social workers, and other bills related to the social work profession.

NASW-NC is currently keeping an eye on more than 100 bills that, if passed, may impact the social work profession and the populations we serve. You can view all of the bills NASW-NC is tracking at the NC General Assembly HERE. 

Registration is open for 2025 Virtual Essentials Conference 

Join NASW North Carolina for our Essentials Conference being held virtually on August 13, 2025. The conference title is "Beyond Words: Affirming Equity and Inclusion in Social Work Practice."

This transformative conference brings the social work profession together to explore and reaffirm our shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as foundational principles of ethical practice. Grounded in the core values and standards outlined in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, the conference emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, intersectional understanding, and institutional accountability in creating inclusive environments within agencies, organizations, and communities. Whether you are new to the profession or a seasoned practitioner, this conference invites you to reflect, learn, and take actionable steps toward building a more just and inclusive society through ethical social work practice. Join us as we affirm our professional duty to lead with integrity, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of equity for all.

Early Bird Pricing: NASW Members: $75 / Not yet a member: $150... prices go UP after July 7, so register today!

Click here to register!

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. 

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

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