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Dear Members of the NASW-Washington Chapter,
As we move into the second half of the year, Washington’s social work community finds itself at the intersection of significant opportunity and continued challenge. Following a legislative session shaped by difficult budget decisions, our state continues to grapple with the realities of a behavioral health workforce shortage, increasing demand for mental health and substance use services, and the ongoing need to strengthen access to care across urban, rural, and tribal communities. While lawmakers made investments to preserve key behavioral health services and continue building crisis response infrastructure, the work of creating an equitable, sustainable system of care is far from finished.
In every corner of Washington, social workers are meeting these challenges with expertise, compassion, and advocacy. Whether serving clients in schools, hospitals, community behavioral health agencies, private practice, child welfare, or policy settings, social workers are not only responding to today’s needs, they are helping shape tomorrow’s solutions. As NASW-WA, we remain committed to amplifying your voice, advocating for policies that strengthen our profession, and advancing a behavioral health system where every Washingtonian can access high-quality, culturally responsive care. Together, we will continue to champion the values that define our profession and the communities we serve.
With appreciation,
Danielle Flores
Executive Director
NASW Washington Chapter
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