Happy Social Work Month! Thank you for your membership with NASW. Take a look at our upcoming Chapter events for March 2025, policy and practice updates, and more.

Jeremy Arp, MSW, ACSW

Executive Director, NASW-WA

(he/him)

March is Social Work Month!

The NASW-WA Membership Engagement Committee is working to help prepare for Social Work Month. The theme for 2025 is "Social Work: Compassion+Action."

Join us for our Social Work Month Celebration!

Please join us on March 28, 2025, for our virtual Social Work Month Celebration. This year, we will host a virtual awards recognition to honor the accomplishments of social workers and community members. Our Executive Committee selected award winners to honor during this year's event. Congratulations to all the award winners!

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Esseme Essang-Ekpo, MSW (Western State Hospital)

Social Worker of the Year:

Sierra Molton, MSW, LICSW (Kids in Need of Defense)

Social Work Educator of the Year:

Deborah Vangeison Svoboda, MSW, PhD (Eastern Washington University)

Taylene Watson President's Award:

Gregorio Ochoa, MSW (Heritage University)

Public Citizen of the Year:

Erin Glathar (Independent Contractor with the Office of Public Defense)

Outstanding Recent Graduate:

Allison Weide, MSW (St. Martin's University & The Ohio State University Alumni)

Outstanding Student:

Viviana Aguilar (Heritage University)

Thanks to social workers across Washington for your inspiring and meaningful work to make Washington a better place for all! More information will follow -- we hope you'll join us in celebrating Social Work Month and our Award winners!

Legislative Updates

2025 NASW-WA Policy Conference Recap

The Chapter's Legislative Action Committee (LAC) hosted Policy Conference events focused on helping social workers learn more about advocacy, our Chapter’s efforts, and what social workers can do to participate in the process. Thanks to all who attended the February 5th virtual event (watch the recording here) and the February 17th in-person event at St. Martin's University and the Capitol in Olympia! View the materials from both events on our Voter Voice page.

The Chapter continues to advocate for our priority areas. The team worked to identify bills to track, follow and advocate for. To view a list of bills that NASW-WA is tracking, click here. As we enter budget season, we'll continue to advocate for funding for human services and protecting communities in Washington.

ZOOM FORMAT: An Hour with Private Practice: Questions & Answers

NASW Members Only...FREE

When: Third Friday of the Month 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET

An Hour with Private Practice (HOPP): Questions & Answers is a free members-only question-and-answer session that provides members with important clinical social work updates affecting the delivery of mental health services in a private solo or group practice. Join us in 2025 to take part in the discussion, ask questions, and comment on private practice topics.

Hour with Private Practice

HOPP: Cultural Competence: Using a Serious Illness Framework to Address Grief and Bereavement

Friday, March 21, 2025 (Noon – 1 pm ET)

Presenter: Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW, APHSW-C, FGSA 

Register here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Navigating Policy Changes Related to Schools and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The beginning of the Trump Administration started with executive orders that impact school social workers, students, and other school personnel. Included in the executive orders were policies related to immigration and deportation. The administration also canceled a policy that previously limited immigration enforcement in schools. Discussions regarding the education system’s interactions with ICE are not new and were a part of educational conversations with the release of Project 2025. In addition, education personnel have long been a source of support to students impacted by ICE raids that occur outside of schools as well. However, the administration’s choice to change the policy on enforcement in schools brings the conversation back to the forefront of the educational community. (Read More)

Quality Payment Program (QPP) Guidance for Clinical Social Workers in 2025.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released updates to the Quality Payment Program which can be found in the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule. This document provides updates specific to clinical social workers who are eligible to participate in the Quality Payment Program. (Read More)

Summary of the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

In late 2024 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). This 1,348-page rule updates policies and payments for clinical social workers (CSWs) and other Medicare providers; these changes, in turn, affect health coverage for beneficiaries. Changes related to payments and other Medicare Part B policies addressed in the PFS take effect on or after January 1, 2025. (Read More)

Update on Telehealth Waivers for Clinical Social Workers

Currently, most of the Medicare waivers that were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic are scheduled to end on March 31, 2025. This includes the geographic and origination site restrictions and the in-person requirements for telehealth services. Unless Congress passes legislation to extend the waivers, clinical social workers and other Medicare providers may be required to adhere to pre-COVID Medicare reimbursement guidelines. This may significantly impact clinical social workers and other providers who have closed their in-person offices and developed telehealth practices. (Read More)

SW Compact Commission - NASW is Ex-Officio!

After some lengthy discussion and deliberation, ASWB, NASW, and CSWA were all named in the commission’s bylaws as having permanent ex officio seats on the commission’s executive committee. This means that NASW will have a permanent non-voting seat at the table, so we (through our representative) can be an active part of the discussion and not held only to speaking through public comment. The 4th ex-officio seat will be rotating among other national social work groups, which right now includes CSWE, the National Association of Black Social Workers, and the Latino Social Workers Association.

The bylaws were edited and formally adopted at the meeting. They are not yet posted to the swcompact.org website but will be once they have undergone a final edit by their legal team. (Read more).

DOH Rules Updates

NASW-WA shares rules updates from the Department of Health as we receive them. See below.

Emergency Rule Update

The Washington State Department of Health is actively working to reduce barriers to licensure and streamline the credentialing process for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers. This effort is part of implementing the provisions of 2SHB 1724 (2023) and E2SHB 2247 (2024). View the full update from DOH here.

CR-102 Alert: Comment Period and Public Hearing for Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers

The Department of Health filed CR-102 on January 24, 2025, under WSR 25-04-016 proposing permanent rules to implement recent legislation. These rules establish standards for the licensed counselor supervisor directory program, supervision, practice on a pending license, and the supervision stipend program.

Public Comment:  Please submit your comments regarding the proposed rule to the Washington State Department of Health either online, by mail, or e-mail by March 11, 2025. Read the full announcement from DOH here.

Spread the Word - SKC Clinic Volunteer Registration Now Open

Please help spread the word about this impactful opportunity so we can fill all 5,000+ shifts during Clinic week, as well as the eyeglasses dispensing event in late May. Here are some quick links to remember:



• Volunteer Registration: Find flyers, social media graphics, assignment descriptions, and more here.

Upcoming Student Series Events

Exploring the Unknown: Unique Careers in Social Work

March 20, 2025 | 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET | Register

Once registered, you will receive the Zoom event information.

So You Want to Go Into Private Practice After Graduation

April 17, 2025 | 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET | Register

Once registered, you will receive the Zoom event information.

View Past Events for Social Work Students here.

Call for Presenters

Are you interested in presenting a workshop for NASW-WA? We have an open call for presenters for our ongoing continuing education series held throughout the year (live, virtual, or recorded).

Click here for more information about what we're looking for!

Chapter Classifieds

NASW-WA offers a space on our website for text-only classified ads. Click here for details.

Stay up to date on the newest NASW-WA Continuing Education courses!