Description: Social work advocacy at the state level involves influencing legislation and policy to promote social justice and the well-being of vulnerable populations. Elected officials have the ability to fund, support or impose restrictions on social work practice and social workers are ethically obligated to engage in the political process.
Trainer: Valerie L. Arendt, MSW, MPP, serves as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NC). Prior to this role, she spent seven years as the chapter’s Director of Membership, Marketing, and Communication, and later as Associate Executive Director, where she provided professional and career support for over 4,600 social workers across the state. With advanced degrees in Social Work and Public Policy, Valerie brings a wealth of expertise in nonprofit management, advocacy, and organizational leadership. At NASW-NC, she is dedicated to advancing the social work profession, championing policies that promote social justice, and supporting the needs of social workers statewide. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to empowering communities and driving meaningful change.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the training participants will be able to:
- Explain how the NASW Code of Ethics relates to social workers’ ethical obligation to social and political action.
- Discuss the 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda and potential public policy changes that will impact the social work profession.
- Identify and engage in actionable steps to advocate for the social work profession, social justice and client issues.
References:
- Beimers, D. (2015). NASW involvement in legislative advocacy. Journal of Policy Practice, 14, 256–274. doi:10.1080/15588742.2015.1017685
- Day, A., McLeod, B., Hawkins, R. L., & Mogro-Wilson, C. (2023). The importance of policy advocacy in social work. Families in Society, 104(3), 243-244. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231187908
- Sherraden, M. S., Slosar, B., & Sherraden, M. (2002). Innovation in social policy: Collaborative policy advocacy. Social Work (New York), 47(3), 209-221. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/47.3.209
UNC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK MACRO LECTURE SERIES