Thank you for your membership with NASW. Take a look at our upcoming Chapter events for February 2026, Conference Updates, policy and practice updates, and more.

Diana Fergusson

Coordinator of Professional Development and Administrative Affairs

NASW-WA

(she/her)

2026 NASW-WA Statewide Conference Register Now!

Register Now! The 2026 NASW-WA Statewide Conference will be an in-person event hosted in Vancouver, WA, during Social Work Month (March 5-7, 2026). It will feature days of intensive learning and dialogue, networking, and more!

The Conference will explore the theme: "Social Work at the Intersection of Action, Care, and Compassion.” Our hope is to engage social workers working in various practice environments, settings, and subspecialties with workshops that apply knowledge and skills at the micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels. 

Register to Attend the Conference! Register to attend the conference and reserve your room at the hotel today, as the block expires on February 12, 2026.

Thank you to all the presenters who submitted proposals. Presenters have been selected.

Support our Conference! Our sponsors’ support is critical to the success of our event! We have multiple opportunities for organizations and individuals to support our Chapter's event and provide visibility to social workers across the region! Click here to find out more about sponsoring our 2026 Conference!

Legislative Updates

State Updates

The NASW-WA Legislative Action Committee (LAC) continues to plan for the 2026 Legislative Session and beyond. Legislative issues that the LAC is looking at include AI legislation, changes to how social workers are regulated (our own social work board), licensure exam removal for LASWs, and exam alternative pathways for LICSWs.

In place of this year’s Policy Conference, we plan to host an end-of-session town hall in late March or early April, which will provide an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and engagement.

Our Chapter maintains our Voter Voice page. We're including additional opportunities for advocacy, including participation in civic demonstrations and marches. If you have any additions you'd like to see on our Voter Voice page, send us a message!

Celebrate Social Work Month This March at the NASW-WA Awards Luncheon during the Conference

This year's Social Work Month theme—Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.—honors the profession's vital mission to enhance human well-being, support vulnerable populations, and strengthen communities by uplifting individuals, defending equity and justice, and transforming lives through compassionate practice and advocacy. Join us for the NASW-WA Awards Luncheon during the Conference on March 7, 2026. Purchase your tickets for the conference now.

Hour with Private Practice (HOPP)

Meets Monthly Online | 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET | Free | Advance Registration Required

Get important clinical social work updates affecting the delivery of mental health services in a private solo or group practice. An Hour With Private Practice (HOPP): Questions & Answers meets on the third Friday of each month. Access recordings of past sessions at your convenience.

Next Session: February 20, 2026

Topic forthcoming…stay tuned!

CMS Finalizes CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: What Social Workers Need to Know

Effective January 1, 2026, clinical social workers can bill directly for Community Health Integration and Principal Illness Navigation services they personally perform for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness or substance use disorders but are not authorized to bill for services provided by auxiliary personnel incident to their professional services. This Tips & Tools publication highlights updates in the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule that are particularly relevant to social work practice with Medicare beneficiaries, summarizing key provisions of CMS's final rule as they relate to clinical social workers and other Medicare providers. (Read more).

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.

February is Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, NASW Press invites you to Educate. Elevate. Celebrate. Now through February 28, 2026, enjoy 15% off select NASW Press titles that uplift Black voices, scholarship, and social work leadership. Use code BHM2026 at checkout to join us in celebrating history, impact, and the ongoing work of justice.

Visit NASW Press for information about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, CEU books, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards.

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!

FEATURED UPCOMING EVENTS

Miss a live Webinar?

Check out the growing list of NASW Washington Webinars

after they have occurred.

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!

NASW Washington Chapter | Website