september 2025

member perspective, celebrating social work contd._

Social workers are present everywhere. We are in hospitals, schools, nonprofits, corporations, and government. Within our profession, we celebrate each other through NASW awards and other honors. These recognitions matter. They lift us up and remind us of the value of our collective work. But our recognition shouldn’t stop there. We also deserve to be seen and celebrated in the broader industries where we lead, influence, and innovate every day. 

Recognition in spaces beyond social work matters because it changes the narrative about who we are and what we bring to the table. When a social worker is honored in healthcare, business, education, or leadership circles, it indicates that we belong in the rooms where decisions are made. This kind of visibility not only shows the value of social work but also creates new opportunities for our voices to shape policy, strategy, and systems in ways that serve our communities.

Too often, we hesitate to nominate ourselves or our colleagues. Maybe it feels uncomfortable. Maybe we’ve been conditioned to think that recognition is for someone else. But our work is deserving. The impact is real; both in the outcomes we measure and in the stories we carry. Like the families supported, the lives changed, or the communities strengthened. Those impacts deserve recognition and not just within the social work circle. 

Advocacy is a part of this work too. For me, that has meant speaking up and pushing myself into spaces where social workers have not always had an equal seat at the table. Not everyone is comfortable taking that approach, and that’s okay. Advocacy can look different for each of us. Whether it’s nominating a colleague, mentoring someone newer in the field, or making sure our contributions are visible in the spaces we already occupy. 

This is not about ego, but about equity, influence, and visibility. Every time a social worker is recognized, it helps to pave the way for others. It reminds the world that we are not “baby takers” or “resource linkers” but we are present in so many other facets and leading. By nominating one another, speaking up and celebrating each other’s contributions, we build momentum for the profession as a whole. Pushing for higher pay, more leadership opportunities, and greater respect are things social workers have been demanding for years.

Now is the time for social workers to step forward. Recognition within your own community is important and so is recognition across industries we touch. I encourage you to nominate your colleagues and nominate yourself. Not just for NASW awards, but in every sector where social workers are making an impact. You don’t need to be a CEO to be deserving of recognition. Our contributions matter and they deserve to be seen. 

July 2025

message from the president, contd._

NASW-TX President, Eboni L. Ceasar, PhD, LCSW-S

As she begins her 2-year term, Dr. Ceasar shared the following message with our membership:

"I’m honored and energized to serve as President of NASW Texas during this pivotal time for our profession and our communities. Social workers in Texas stand at the intersection of care, advocacy, and systemic change—and over the next two years, I’m excited to deepen our role as leaders in equity-driven practice.

This is a profession led largely by women and sustained by the skills that society sometimes undervalues—relationship-building, holding complexity, listening deeply, and creating solutions rooted in compassion. I’m excited to elevate and celebrate that expertise, not just within the social work community, but across the larger systems we touch: healthcare, education, justice, policy, and beyond.

We are in a moment where Texas faces growing needs around behavioral health, social justice, and community wellness. I’m most excited about harnessing the collective power of NASW Texas members to drive meaningful change through community engagement, policy advocacy, and inclusive leadership. Together, we can ensure that social workers remain at the forefront of building a more equitable and connected future.

My message to every NASW Texas member is this: We are stronger together, and the time to lead is now.

Whether you’re in direct practice, policy, research, education, or emerging fields, your work matters. Social work has always been about meeting people where they are and walking alongside communities to create pathways toward justice and healing. Our shared commitment to advancing health equity, dismantling systemic barriers, and standing up for marginalized populations has never been more needed—or more powerful.

This presidency is not just about leading—it’s about listening, collaborating, and co-creating with all of you. I’m committed to fostering a space where the diverse voices of our membership are heard and where our chapter reflects the full breadth of social work practice in Texas. Together, we’ll work to advance inclusivity, uplift the next generation of social workers, and boldly advocate for policies that protect human dignity.

Thank you for the work you do every day. I look forward to standing alongside you as we shape the next chapter of NASW Texas."

National conference take-aways, contd._

NASW-TX Member, Victoria Highland, LCSW

These were the feelings I had going to Chicago for the 2025 National Association of Social Workers Conference. Usually, the conference is held in Washington DC, but this year they took the conference “on the road” to the “birthplace of social work”. The conference was held from June 15th to June 19th, of this year. When I arrived in Chicago I felt an immediate temperature shift. I felt lighter as I melted into the city of Chicago, ready to immerse myself in its history, culture, and a conference full of social workers.  

The conference didn’t officially start until Monday afternoon and I used my free time to soak up local sights, eat great food with enough garlic to scare off any vampires, and talk to other social workers. Throughout the conference I saw social workers from all over the country. I even met people from Hawaii and Alaska. I had lunch with three individuals that work with indigenous tribes in New Mexico. I met a social work student with big plans to impact ecological social work and another with goals to advocate for young men. I met so many people with a common goal of wanting to improve the situations of their communities; all with the common goal of learning and professional development. 

The conference opened on a roundtable discussion “Past is Prologue” where these panelists discussed the lessons the social work profession needs to learn from our history and actionable steps we can take to improve our future. Social work history deserves to be celebrated, and also, there are darker parts of our legacy we need to learn from. We were reminded that Jane Addams’s Hull House refused black clients while pushing white immigrants to Americanize, Eugenics was taught as part of social work education, and during the Red Scare many social workers were politically divided. The profession of social work has a history of doing harm to BIPOC communities, while also minimizing/ erasing the contributions of these communities to the profession. 

Gwen Bouie-Haynes, PhD, the Executive Director of Alabama and Mississippi NASW Chapters, reminded the audience that showing up to the table as a social worker has power. She talked about her efforts to make changes in the deepest reddest bayous in America. It was really impactful to hear her say “we must not walk in fear, but that we must speak truth to power”. Dr. Bouie-Haynes elaborated by calling us to actively seek common ground with community rule makers rather than waiting to be included. She reminded us that, as social workers, we are trained to meet people where they are and actively listen. She shared how using these skills helped her figure out what was most important to the communities she served; then she amplified their voices by going to lawmakers as a social worker ready to collaborate on positive changes. Justin Harty, Phd., Assistant Professor at Arizona State University, furthered the message by reminding the audience that we cannot meet people or communities where they are if we don’t take the time to understand where they have been. 

Another timely roundtable was on social work and Artificial Intelligence. The panelist ranged from AI curious social workers to renowned experts in the field who started off with curiosity. The common theme was that AI has exceptional possibilities in the field of social work AND needs human oversight to avoid harming communities. We were reminded that the foundations of AI have eugenics baked into the code and AI crisis lines have been shown to have more negative outcomes for communities of color. As an elder Millennial, with a strong distrust of technology, I was really hoping to hear how to stop this new technology. While the panel did acknowledge the harms and potential dangers of AI, the panel’s message was clear: “AI is not going away and the future will be built by those involved in the conversation”. Social workers were called to stay AI curious and bring our advocacy to conversations around AI. We were encouraged to advocate within our organizations to create policies requiring human oversight of AI tasks such as note taking. Using HIPAA compliant programs and client consent to using AI. Additionally, technological equity and digital safety were discussed. The discussion was timely and interesting which left me cautiously curious to learn more about AI.

The conference ended on Juneteenth with a celebration and call to action. The honorable Rev. Alecia Flint Dixon sang “Lift Every Voice” and encouraged conference goes to lift our voices on the refrain. We were greeted by the National Association of Black Social Workers National President, Renata Hedrington-Jones, PhD., and she called us to “put our sneakers on” and get busy in the fight for social justice. The closing keynote address was given by Lurie Daniel Favors, Esq., the Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College and the host of the Laurie Favors show on Sirius XM’s Urban News. She shared about the African principle of Sankofa- the importance of looking back to learn from our past. She implored us to “grapple with our history” to better understand where we are in this moment. She ended her call to action by saying “choose today which side of the line you stand and adjust your ethics accordingly” because “history will be the stories our children and grandchildren tell about what we chose to do in this moment”.
  
There were so many amazing moments at the conference that it is impossible to replicate it here. Time and time again we were reminded that “social work is political” and “social justice is an action” not just an ideal. We were encouraged to build community on common ground. Many speakers encouraged social workers to either run for office, or to get involved in political efforts in our communities. Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez and Senator Karina Villa reminded us that political action starts at the local level. They shared how the landscape of Chicagoland politics changed on a local level to protect underserved communities most vulnerable to adverse impacts of legislation. 

The overwhelming message of the conference was that social work is not a spectator profession. Social work is the movement toward social justice inspired by compassion and human connection. Every social worker can get involved in their local communities. We can advocate to local policymakers, help with political campaigns and encourage voter turnout. We can build community by organizing item swaps, hosting book clubs and playdates. As social workers, we are being called in this moment to create a movement of human connect that prioritizes empathy and compassion. I’m excited to see what change we create.

***This message is even more important in the wake of recent flooding. Texas social workers are needed to assist with recovery efforts. If you meet criteria and have time to volunteer, then please connect with the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Disaster Behavioral Health Coordination team. (see recent NASW communications).***

febrUARY 2025

cultural competency, contd._

NASW-TX Executive Director, Will Francis, LMSW

NASW-TX is recommending that the rules be kept as currently written, but the change still allows for all the same types of CE’s and any continuing education covering the populations currently listed in the rules would still count. Unlike the proposed change to our Code of Conduct in 2018, this does not erase any groups from protection, but instead broadens the definition related to these populations.

This is going to be an incredibly challenging session in Texas, and we’re already seeing major rollbacks from the new Presidential Administration, including a halt on trillions of dollars in federal funding “for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.” (Executive Order)

We are going to need to be strategic in our advocacy, and while we are not pleased with this change, the new language still aligns with our Code of Ethics and retains CEU hours dedicated to competency when working with various groups.

Please look out for an upcoming opportunity to discuss these changes though a town hall or other group meeting open to all, and we thank you for your membership and commitment to social work and social work values in Texas.

strategic planning committee, contd._

NASW-TX values diversity within its membership and encourages individuals from all backgrounds to apply. The organization strives to include a wide range of experiences, ages, practice and educational settings, identities, and voices in its work. Committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and uplifting environment, NASW-TX welcomes social workers from all backgrounds and communities.

To volunteer, interested individuals must complete the Strategic Planning Committee Volunteer Form by February 21, 2025: https://forms.gle/rdNETh8D2aLjV2539. For questions or more information, contact Will Francis at wfrancis.naswtx@socialworkers.org.

funding pause, contd._

NASW-TX Executive Director, Will Francis, LMSW

Background: First, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued this memo clarifying that the funding pause only applies to programs that may be implicated by the President’s Executive Orders. It further states that “any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause. Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused.”

Second, federal agencies that provide federal funding have been instructed to report by February 7 to OMB on any program that has funding or activities planned through March 15, 2025. OMB will be following up with additional deadlines for subsequent periods beyond March 15. The instructions issued to agencies are here, and the Program Analysis Template is here. The full list of questions included in the template is at the bottom of this message.

Please do not hesitate to contact your NASW Team to discuss any specific concerns or questions.

Questions for Federal Agencies from Program Analysis Template:

• Please identify the email of the senior political appointee responsible for overseeing this program

• Does the program have any pending funding announcements?

• Does the program have any anticipated obligations or disbursement of funds before 3/15/2025?

• Does this program have any statutory requirements mandating the obligation or disbursement of funds through 3/15/2025?

• Provide the estimated date of the next obligation or disbursement of funds

• Does this program provide Federal funding to non-governmental organizations supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens?

• Is this program a foreign assistance program, or provide funding or support activities overseas?

• Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the revocation and recission of the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan?

• Does this program include activities that impose an undue burden on the identification, development, or use of domestic energy resources (including through funding under the Inflation Reducing Act of 2022; and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)?

• Does this program provide funding that is implicated by the directive to end discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities, under whatever name they appear, or other directives in the same EO, including those related to “environmental justice” programs or “equity-related” grants?

• Does this program promote gender ideology?

• Does this program promote or support in any way abortion or other related activities identified in the Hyde Amendment?

• If not covered in the preceding columns, does this program support any activities that must not be supported based on executive orders issued on or after January 20, 2025 (including executive orders released following the dissemination of this spreadsheet)?

• Provide additional information on program or project activities

JANUARY 2025

MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP, contd._

This meeting will serve as a platform to connect, share experiences, and discuss how we can establish an ongoing support network tailored to our unique needs and perspectives.

Meeting Details: (Please RSVP by February 1st by replying to Janet Tuohy at janet@zenhart.com or 512-368-1715)

Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 
Time: 1830 (6:30 PM CST)
Platform: Meeting link will be sent to who RSVP by February 1, 2025

This initial meeting will provide an opportunity to:

• Share experiences and challenges specific to our roles as military-connected social workers.
• Explore ways to offer ongoing support and professional collaboration.
• Develop a network to strengthen our collective well-being and effectiveness in the field.

Whether you’re looking for camaraderie, professional insights, or simply a safe space to connect, your voice and presence are invaluable to this initiative. If you have any specific topics or ideas you’d like to see addressed, please contact Janet Tuohy at janet@zenhart.com or 512-368-1715. We look forward to meeting you and building a strong, supportive community together.

We look forward to meeting you and building a strong, supportive community together.