Chapter News

The ASWB social work licensing exams changed on Monday, August 3, 2026. All four categories are affected: Bachelors, Masters, Advanced Generalist, and Clinical. What exam candidates take is dependent upon the assigned test date, not the registration date. Example: If you registered on June 3, 2026 to take an exam, but your test date is not until August 3,, 2026, you will take the new (2026) exam. Alternatively, if you registered on June 3, but your test date is on (or before) August 2, you will take the old (2018) exam. Why the Exams Are Changing ASWB surveyed more than 25,000 social workers during the 2024 Social Work Census to ...

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Protecting Against Burnout in the Heat of August As the summer reaches its peak, the demands on social workers rarely slow down. The August heat can mirror the intensity of our work, making this prime season for exhaustion. Burnout doesn’t just drain our physical energy; it erodes our empathy, creativity, and capacity to care for others. Lets focus on proactive ways to protect our well-being and asking a critical question: What are you, or your workplace, doing to help mitigate burnout? Evaluating the Workplace Environment Self-care is a vital tool, but it cannot fix a toxic or unsustainable work environment. True burnout mitigat...

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NASW-OK Members, I hope that you’ve got civics on your mind, because I’ve been thinking a lot about the upcoming midterms, and I think we have a pivotal opportunity to operationalize our core values through this election. In every corner of the state, from primary care clinics and university campuses to community behavioral health centers and veteran facilities, we’ll see how legislative decisions shape the daily realities of the people we serve. Funding for mental health resources, reproductive healthcare access, housing assistance, crisis response services, criminal justice reform, and civil rights protections are all d...

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Each month, NASW-OK is proud to recognize a member who is making a difference in the social work profession and their community. Our Member Spotlight celebrates the dedication, leadership, and impact of social workers across Oklahoma while giving members the opportunity to learn more about one another and the many paths within the profession. Meet this month’s NASW-OK Member Spotlight: Amy Ward, LCSW! Amy has been an NASW member since 2008 and currently serves as a social work educator at East Central University. She first joined NASW as a BSW student to connect with other social workers and grow her passion for the profession. ...

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NASW Oklahoma is excited to announce the results of the 2026 Chapter Leadership Election. Thank you to all of our members who participated in this year's election and for your continued commitment to strengthening our chapter through your engagement and support. Please join us in congratulating the following members, who officially began their terms on July 1, 2026: Southeast District Chair - Clifford James McManus  Southcentral District Chair - Kodi Powell Northeast CNLI Representative - Dee Ann Manatowa MSW student Representative - Ariel Fedrick BSW Student Representative - Isabella Burden Our newly elected ...

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Call for Proposals for the NASW-OK 2026 Virtual Professional Development Series closes soon! Make sure to submit your proposal by July 8th to be considered.  Virtual workshops will be held on Fridays between September and December, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CST. NASW-OK will provide an honorarium of $75 per CEU workshop hour, and we are seeking proposals for 1.5 and 2-hour presentations. We welcome proposals on relevant and emerging issues in social work. Whether you are a first-time presenter, an experienced speaker, or a professional in a field related to social work, we encourage you to apply. Submit your proposal today! Please...

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NASW Members, Amendments are now available for member comment on the NASW website. Members can visit https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Governance/NASW-Bylaws/Proposed-Bylaw-Amendment-Comment-Forum-2026 to view and comment on all Proposed Bylaws Amendments. This comment period will last through Sunday August 9, 2026. For reference, information on the NASW Bylaws Amendment Process can be found here. There are three proposed changes to the bylaws that are available for review. To comment, you’ll need to click on the link for each change, which is the identifying section on the right (e.g. - XII.D.01 Chapters) This will allow you to...

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As a social worker, you care deeply about your community, your clients, and the future of this profession. If you’ve been looking for a way to grow your impact and stay connected to the bigger picture, this is your opportunity. NASW-OK leadership nominations are now open through May 1st! Becoming a leader with NASW-OK is a meaningful way to build your leadership skills, connect with social workers across the state, and help shape the direction of our profession. When social workers step into leadership, we strengthen our collective voice and increase our ability to create change across our workplaces, our communities, and the systems...

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NASW-OK Members, We’re exploring the development of committees here in Oklahoma to better support our members, advance equity, and respond to the needs of social workers across all practice areas. Your input is essential in helping us shape these efforts. We’ve created a short survey to gather your thoughts on what matters most to you. Your responses will help us decide which committees to form, what resources to prioritize, and how members can get involved in meaningful ways. Whether you’re interested in contributing to a committee, sharing ideas, or simply letting us know what’s important to you, we want to hear f...

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We’re excited to invite you to the Legislative Education & Advocacy Day (LEAD) on March 30, 2026! Legislative Education & Advocacy Day Event is a free event open to social work students and professionals across the state and provides a deeper look into the political process (bill involvement, advocacy, etc). It is designed to educate students and professionals about important legislation affecting clients and the social work profession. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and get a "hands-on" lobbying experience of talking with state legislators about important policy issues. Th...

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NASW-OK Members, Got questions about NASW or Oklahoma licensure? Want to hear what’s happening in the profession and with the Chapter? Join us on March 4th at 6:30 PM CT for the Membership Matters Live Forum with the NASW-OK Board and Executive Director. These interactive Zoom sessions give NASW-OK members a direct line to Chapter leadership and an opportunity to ask questions, share feedback, and hear real-time updates on advocacy, licensure, workforce issues, and more. Whether you’re a long-time member or just getting started, this is your space to connect, learn, and be heard. We hope to see you there! Register here: http...

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NASW Oklahoma is pleased to welcome Will Francis as the Chapter's new Executive Director. Will currently serves as the Executive Director for the NASW Texas and Louisiana Chapters and will now also oversee operations for the Oklahoma Chapter as part of a new chapter operations structure implemented by NASW National. While this transition brings new opportunities for collaboration across chapters, Will wants to reassure members that NASW-OK remains committed to serving the unique needs of Oklahoma social workers. He is already working closely with the Oklahoma Chapter Board of Directors and looks forward to learning more about the issue...

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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) commends Congress and the White House for passing into law the $2.2 trillion economic relief package that will provide aid to individuals, families and communities. “Our nation is experiencing unprecedented levels of psychological and economic devastation as a result of this public health crisis” said NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW. “We applaud lawmakers and the Trump Administration for working quickly in a bipartisan way to bring relief to working class and middle-class Americans, many of whom are struggling to afford housing, food and health care during this pandemic.”

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Perhaps your kid is asking, “Can I catch coronavirus?” or maybe just “What is coronavirus?” As parents themselves, Maryland social workers Arlen Grad Gaines and Meredith Englander Polsky are encountering the same questions. In response, the co-authors wrote I Have a Question About Coronavirus, a free children’s e-book to help parents maneuver coronavirus-related queries.

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NASW-MA Executive Director Rebekah Gerwirtz applauds her state's governor's executive order, which covers "telemental health in such a comprehensive way." Gov. Charlie Baker pruned the regulatory thicket surrounding telehealth because of the coronavirus crisis, but some therapists say the mental healthcare system, which was overburdened before still has barriers that prevent practitioners from adequately responding to needs during an emergency that is exacerbating patients’ existing mental health problems, and causing new stresses.

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