From the Pen of the Executive Director: May 2026
- NASW-IL Staff
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Joel L. Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE
NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director
As I write this, students at schools of social work across the state are preparing for commencement and what lies beyond graduation. During the 2025–2026 academic year, the NASW-Illinois Chapter Chapter has engaged with students and schools in a range of ways including Pizza and Policy events, licensure and membership presentations, with all of it culminating with our annual Advocacy Day that took place last month in Springfield. A complete summary of the day can be found at 2026 NASW-IL Advocacy Day Recap. As always, we were inspired by the over 500 students who attended, as well as the 40 lobby leaders who participated in the lobby leader training.
During the month of May and June, the chapter will also be presenting graduation cords at commencement events across the state.
On behalf of the social work community in the state of Illinois, I wish all graduating students the best of luck and success. The NASW-Illinois Chapter is here to help and guide you. In the excitement of graduation, I encourage all of you to join the association prior to commencement in order to lock in at the student rate and subsequent transitional dues structure. You can do that here.
Lastly, two recent, very helpful books about social work career development for our graduates and all members are The Social Work Career Guidebook and 101 Things to Do with a Social Work Degree: Career Pathways Across Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Practice. The authors of this book were also featured on a NASW Social Work Month Facebook/Youtube event, 101 Things to Do With a Social Work Degree.
At this time last year, the NASW-Illinois Chapter was preparing to host the national NASW conference in Chicago, which was a great success. This year’s 2026 national conference will return to Washington, DC, on June 10–13, 2026 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC. This year's theme, "Beyond the Breaking Point: Connection Through Purpose and Power," centers the resilience, connection, and collective strength that define our profession. Any nonmember who registers for the National Conference will be converted to a full NASW member. If you have colleagues or peers who are not yet NASW members, this is a great event to share with them as well. We plan on having an Illinois attendee gathering at the conference as well. You can learn more and register at Http://conference.socialworkers.org
Some additional updates…
Congratulations to Darby J. Morhardt, PhD, LCSW, who will be receiving the NASW Knee/Wittman Lifetime Achievement Award at the National NASW National Conference in Washington, DC on June 11th. Darby was 2025 recipient of the NASW-Illinois Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kott Gerontology Scholars Program (KGSP) is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 academic year! Final year, advanced degree students interested in careers in the field of aging are encouraged to apply. Application period open through May 31, 2026. This is great opportunity for social work students interested in a career advancing aging program and the nation’s health care system.
Due to Trump’s budget bill, around 150,000 Illinoisans are at risk of losing food assistance beginning May 1, 2026. Illinoisans on SNAP are encouraged to use the state’s screening tool to check their status: https://lnkd.in/gW6Y6Vpt . To learn more, read Governor Pritzker’s full press release: https://lnkd.in/gZvbj-_x
On April 16th, Illinois lost a great friend of the social work profession and a trailblazer for women’s rights, Representative Barbara Flynn Currie. Rep. Currie was the first woman to serve as Illinois House Majority Leader. I would encourage members to read Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch tribute Last night we lost a... - Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch | Facebook.
Lastly, it is never too early to get a head start on CEU requirements. Check out the Chapter’s event page for the later posted trainings for the coming months.
Take care!