The North Carolina Legislature is not always in session but there are always advocacy issues to address! If you have a current issue, please contact advocacy.naswnc@socialworkers.org.

Stay involved in our efforts:

• Click here to receive action alerts and weekly updates from NASW-NC straight to your inbox!

• Check out NASW-NC's recent Legislative Updates for ongoing advocacy efforts!
  

• And don't forget! NASW National provides members with advocacy and policy work at the national level. Learn more about:
  • NASW National's advocacy efforts
  • NASW National's Racial Equity efforts
  • NASW National's 2021 Blueprint of Federal Social Policy Priorities
    

2025 Legislative Session

2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda

The NASW-NC Legislative Agenda is designed to support and advance the role of the social work profession and sound social policies in adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics throughout the North Carolina legislative session. This is a working document that is not exhaustive. As legislative bills are introduced, they are reviewed and their impact on the profession is assessed. For more information about any of these items and/org to assist in the advancement of these issues, please contact Lauren Zingraff, Director of Advocacy & Policy at advocacy.naswnc@socialworkers.org.

Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact

In March 2021, NASW announced that the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded the profession a grant for the development of an interstate licensure compact. The compact will be an agreement between states to create portability for social workers to practice in those states. In order to be included in the compact, states must pass legislation agreeing to the compact.

An interstate licensure compact for the social work profession will:

• Improve client access to social work services
• Increase opportunities to practice across state lines
• Enhance the mobility of social workers and their families
• Support spouses of relocating military families
• Improve continuity of care
• Preserve and strengthen the state licensure system
• Enhance the exchange of licensure verification, investigatory, and disciplinary information between member states.

Read more about the process from NASW and an FAQ on Interstate Licensure Compacts.

School Social Work

NASW-NC has spent years advocating for the hiring of more school social workers to address caseload ratios, increase school social worker pay including the restoration of paying master level social workers at the master's pay level and hiring a statewide School Social Work Consultant at the North Carolina Department of Instruction.

• January 2023: After years of advocacy, North Carolina State Board of Education requests the state budget to include $100M for more school social workers and $10M in pay increases for master's level pay social workers.
  

• April 2022: NASW-NC sent a letter to the State Board of Education detailing how recurring and nonrecurring funds can be spent on behalf of school social workers specifically. 

• April 2022: School Social Work Advocacy and Learning Opportunities 

• 2021-2022 NASW-NC Budget Conference Committee Response: NASW-NC sent a letter to every legislator appointed to the budget conference committee with priorities for the profession including school social work.

• March 2022: NASW-NC sent a letter to the newly created Joint Legislative Committee on Access to Healthcare and Medicaid Expansion: As part of the 2021 state budget, legislators created this committee to study the state's ability to expand Medicaid and increase access to healthcare. NASW-NC's Legislative Committee worked on the letter to send to legislators outlining key priorities for social workers in both Medicaid Expansion and supporting the social work profession. Click here to view this letter. 

• 2019: NCDPI approves statewide School Social Work Consultant position after 4 years of NASW-NC advocacy!
  

• 2019: School Social Work Updates including current legislation.

• 2018: School Social Work Updates

• November 2018: NASW-NC Letter to State Board of Education on School Social Worker Needs

Health Information Exchange Authority

NASW-NC has been working for over five years on ensuring a successful implementation of the Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) which requires providers who receive state funds (Medicaid, State Health Plan, NC Health Choice, etc) to be connected and submit patient data to the Exchange. As a result of legislation signed into law in May 2021, social workers have until January 1, 2023.       

Click here to learn more about the January 1 deadline to connect and impact on reimbursement as a result of legislation passed in 2022.

If you are ready to connect, you may connect at anytime between now and January 1, 2023. Click here to learn How to Connect.

See Behavioral Health Sensitive Data Policy. 

HIEA Training Available:

Virtual trainings can be scheduled with any of the nine AHEC regions. NC HIEA and NC AHEC have also designed training modules. To register for each module, click here.

Ban Conversion Therapy

NASW-NC has been involved in efforts to ban conversion therapy in North Carolina. Learn more about this and our efforts. 

Title Protection

In 2009, NASW-NC achieved Title Protection for social workers in the private sector. This means, unless you are hired under the North Carolina State Social Work Personnel Series, you cannot call yourself a "social worker" without a degree in social work. We continue efforts to achieve statewide title protection. Learn more.

NASW-NC has been assisting members with enrollment, rates, and other general questions. Did you know? Due to low rates being offered by one of the plans, NASW-NC was able to advocate for social workers and successfully get HIGHER reimbursement rates!

View Past NASW-NC Legislative Priorities and Issues