Getting Involved with NASW Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Chapter invites all NASW members to put their ideas and energies to work through one of our Activities, Services, or Shared Interest Groups. These groups meet to network, organize continuing education conferences, follow legislation, draft policy statements, represent NASW in the community, and generally serve as the eyes and ears of the Chapter, feeding back information to staff and the elected leadership.
To get involved, please email director.naswok@socialworkers.org. You can be added to a Shared Interest Group's email list, or connected to a staff member overseeing the activity in which you have interest. If you plan to attend a meeting or event, please call the office beforehand to confirm that it is still scheduled as planned.
NASW-OK Shared Interest Groups
Child Welfare
Focuses on educating social workers and the general population on child and youth matters; foster care and analyzing public policy; disseminating findings; advocating for children and families; participating in state-wide child and youth coalitions and groups.
Criminal Justice
Expands the employment of social workers in criminal justice settings, works to assist those professionals who have clients impacted by the criminal justice system, and advocates for human rights in the criminal justice system.
Integrated Healthcare
Expands the employment of social workers and knowledge of those working in integrated healthcare settings by exploring different topics and interactions of mental health and primary care.
LGBTQ Issues
To provide a supportive forum for social workers and students who identify as LGBTQA and/or who work with clients within this population. To raise awareness of the social work field's involvement in and support of the LGBTQA community
To work to expand clinical practice, social work education and social policies to better address the needs of LGBTQA individuals.
Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder
Advocates for legislation and policies to address the opioid and addiction crisis. Offers members who are working in different treatment and community settings an opportunity to share experiences and best practices.
Private Practice
Supports members with all aspects of private practice including administrative, marketing, legal, and clinical issues. In addition to focusing on practical matters such as billing, and insurance company policies, the private practice Shared Interest Groups also address how these concerns impact clinical work.
Retired and Retiring Social Workers
The purpose of the Retired & Retiring (R&R) Shared Interest Group is to provide support, education, resources to Social Workers who have retired and those anticipating and planning for it. Our goal is to support one another through the uncharted developmental passage of retirement and late-career issues.
Committees & Commissions
Chapter Awards Reception Committee
Plans the Annual Awards Reception held annually in March to celebrate Social Work Month and excellence in Social Work Practice.
Chapter Committee on Nominations & Leadership Identification
Identifies candidates to run for chapter leadership positions.
Legislative Advocacy Workgroup
Advances professional social work issues and promotes social and economic justice, human rights, and unimpeded access to services for all. Educates lawmakers at the State House on the importance of human services for the people who use them.
NASW-OK State Conference Planning Committee
Plans the annual event held the 2nd Friday and Saturday of March each year to coincide with Social Work Month.
Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) Committee
The political action committee for NASW. Our goal is to promote the election of candidates that support the mission and goals of NASW. In particular PACE encourages social workers, women and minority groups to run for office and we seek to endorse and support them when they share our progressive values. We inform our members of candidates that we have endorsed and state the reasons for endorsement.
Social Workers Assistance Network (SWAN)
Provides professional consultation and referral to any social worker with personal problems.
Chapter Activities & Services for Members
Career Services
The fast-changing social work job market has forced members to be assertive and interdependent in an effort to locate the quality jobs they deserve. The Chapter assists members with resumes, the job search, and career development.
Member-to-Member Supervision
NASW’s Member-to-Member Supervision program is a service for LCSW NASW members to help them obtain LICSW supervision not provided at their work site.
Professional Mentoring
Provides early career social workers with opportunities to learn under the direction of experienced clinical and macro professionals who are committed to fostering their personal and professional growth.
Social Work Networking Nights (SWNN)
Addresses the diverse needs and interests of social workers, and encourages leadership in the profession, through social events and professional networking opportunities.
Safety in the Workplace
Develops policies and standards for social worker safety in agencies, and schools of social work; researches the incidents and nature of assaults on social work students and practitioners; and provides a central clearing house for this information.
Membership to these groups is by appointment (or election) only.