About the National Association of Social Workers
NASW is the largest organization of professional social workers with over 150,000 members. The Ohio Chapter has around 4,000 members from all 88 counties. Social work is a diverse profession, unique among the human service professions in that the term "social worker" is defined broadly in different organizations and settings. Predicted changes in the country's demographics landscape over the next several decades are expected to increase the need for social work services.
The Ohio Chapter is divided into 8 regions: Region 1 (Toledo Area); Region 2 (Akron Area); Region 3 (Cleveland Area); Region 4 (Youngstown Area); Region 5 (Columbus Area); Region 6 (Cincinnati Area); Region 7 (Dayton Area); and Region 8 (Canton Area).
NASW’s primary functions include promoting the professional development of its members, establishing and maintaining professional standards of practice, advancing sound social policies, and providing services that protect its members and enhance their professional status. The Association developed and adopted the NASW Code of Ethics and other generalized and specialized practice standards. Certification and quality assurance are promoted through the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers, and the Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW). Among NASW’s political action programs are Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) and Educational Legislative Action Network (ELAN). The Association also sponsors, through its 56 chapters in the U.S. and abroad, professional conferences and continuing education programs, and produces journals—such as the flagship Social Work—books, and major reference works for the profession.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was established in 1955 through the consolidation of the following seven organizations:
- American Association of Social Workers (AASW)
- American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (AAPSW)
- American Association of Group Workers (AAGW)
- Association for the Study of Community Organization (ASCO)
- American Association of Medical Social Workers (AAMSW)
- National Association of School Social Workers (NASSW)
- Social Work Research Group (SWRG)
Click here to download a pictorial history of NASW **This file is over 10MB, not recommended for dial up users**
The NASW Code of Ethics
The NASW Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers. This Code includes four sections. The first Section, "Preamble," summarizes the social work profession's mission and core values. The second section, "Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics," provides an overview of the Code's main functions and a brief guide for dealing with ethical issues or dilemmas in social work practice. The third section, "Ethical Principles," presents broad ethical principles, based on social work's core values, that inform social work practice. The final section, "Ethical Standards," includes specific ethical standards to guide social workers' conduct and to provide a basis for adjudication.
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