Chapter News

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has announced its support for a multi-state lawsuit, challenging the U.S. Department of Education's new rule that redefines and restricts federal student loan limits for graduate students.

Social workers are often asked to hold extraordinary complexity while staying responsive, grounded, ethical, and effective. Entire communities and systems continue moving because social workers keep finding ways to absorb more, adapt more, and carry more. There is something deeply admirable in that. There is also a cost. People can spend years proving they can carry everything while losing connection to what they actually want to carry.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) are working together to ensure students have affordable access to social work education, despite the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) recently finalized rule excluding social work from its definition of “professional” degrees.

Be wary of employers advertising clinical positions for Licensed Social Workers and listing them as 1099 independent contractor roles. It's illegal in IL, and the consequences for both the LSW and the organization can be severe.

Proposed Bylaws Amendments are now available for member comment on the NASW website.

NASW National has embraced a three-state chapter model designed to strengthen the collective impact of our chapters and expand what we are able to deliver to members.

These individuals will work to represent and serve you on the NASW-Illinois Chapter Leadership Council starting July 1, 2026.

NASW submitted comments to the Department of Education in response to the Reimagining and Improving Student Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. NASW argued that social work should be considered a professional degree for the purposes of student loan limits and that the Tiered Standard repayment plan should be eligible for PSLF.

The engagement of social workers and social work students around this issue reflects the 2026 Social Work Month theme of "Uplift, Defend. Transform." By submitting a public comment, we are advocating to ensure social work retains its professional degree status and continued access to federal financial aid.

Thank you to the over 500 social work students and social work professionals who joined us last week at our annual 2026 NASW-Illinois Chapter Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026! This year's brought participants to the Illinois Capitol Building to meet with their direct legislators and advocate for key issues affecting the social work profession this session.