From the Pen of the President: August 2025

NASW-Illinois Chapter President LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro, MSW, LCSW

NASW-IL President LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro, MSW, LCSW (she/her)

This is my first letter to you NASW-Illinois Chapter President, and I want to begin by saying how honored I am to serve this powerful community of social workers. I step into this role with humility, hope, and deep respect for the strength and resilience of our profession. I follow in the footsteps of immediate past president Latesha Newson whose clarity and conviction helped guide this chapter through a pivotal time. Her call to show up boldly when we are needed most is one I carry forward with intention. I also want to warmly welcome our new and returning advisory board members who are already contributing thoughtful ideas and a clear vision for engagement. NASW-Illinois Chapter Executive Director Joel Rubin and I have been meeting with each of them individually, and we’re energized by their commitment and readiness to lead with purpose and impact.

This year, I plan to build on the strategic vision outlined in our chapter plan, one focused on strengthening the NASW-Illinios Chapter as a trusted resource, raising awareness of our shared impact, and using our collective voice to advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. We will continue to champion sound policy, expand social work career pathways, elevate professional development, and deepen partnerships across Illinois. To do that, I’ll be listening through your voices at events, through authentic conversations, and by staying attuned to the shifting realities we face. The future of this chapter won’t be shaped by any one of us—it will be shaped by all of us, standing shoulder to shoulder in a time that demands boldness, creativity, and care. In that vein, if you joined us at the 2025 NASW National Conference which took place in Chicago back in June, thank you for being part of that energy. It was incredible. Over 2,000 individuals attended, including over 400 from Illinois. If you missed it, you still have a chance to connect and grow as early bird registration is now open for the 2025 NASW Chapters Virtual Conference: Mental Health-Compassion + Action.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Kyle Hillman, NASW-IL Director of Legislative Affairs, and our Legislative Committee for their tireless work during the most recent legislative session. With over 200 bills in motion, their advocacy ensured social workers remained not only part of the conversation, but maintained a critical role in the solutions. As we heard at the conference, policy, advocacy, and practice are inseparable. This team continues to show up with purpose on behalf of our profession.

To the many members serving on NASW-Illinois Chapter Committees, thank you. You are the hands and heart of this chapter. Now is the time to reinvest in these spaces to ensure our efforts remain visible, impactful, and responsive to evolving needs. Whether you’re looking to grow as a leader, shape policy, foster inclusive spaces, or connect with others who share your values, there’s a place for you. Our Legislative, Ethics, and DEIAB Committees will be especially vital in today’s climate. Learn more about getting involved here, and reach out if you’re ready to step in.

My hope is that each of you feels part of this living, breathing force for change and knows your part of the story truly matters. Illinois is home to more than 30,000 social workers, each of us offering unique experience, courage, and care to the communities we serve. Keep your “why” at the center, and bring your boldest ideas to the table as we take on this work together because, frankly, we are stronger when we act as one.

I am proud to be a social worker, proud to lead in this moment, and proud to serve you. I look forward to staying connected through these messages and all the ways we gather, grow, and lead together.

In service and solidarity,

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro, MSW, LCSW

Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) 

LCFS Privacy Officer

Lutheran Child and Family Services of IL OBT Corporate Support Office

Work Cell: 630-390-5906

My Pronouns: She, Her, Hers 

Click here to schedule a time for us to meet. I look forward to connecting with you! 

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LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro, MSW, LCSW, CWEL, has been committed for the past 16 years to being a thought leader and executioner of achieving systemic results in human service & technology sectors through learning, creating, and implementing solutions in collaboration with children, families, communities and institutions. She has held direct service and progressing levels of leadership roles in child welfare, clinical services, training, policy development, advocacy, program & risk management, strategic planning, and continuous quality improvement (CQI). LaTasha currently serves as the vice president and chief strategy & innovation officer at one of the largest child welfare and adoption agencies in Illinois, Lutheran Child & Family Services. She also serves at the organization’s privacy officer. She describes her role within her organization as a call to inspire, challenge, and equip stakeholders to consistently ask, answer, and respond to: How are we doing? How do we know? How do we prove and/or improve our efforts and strategically achieve desired social impact results? She serves as a Council on Accreditation (COA) reviewer, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Board Member, Vice Chair of the IL Child Welfare Licensure Board, has served on the NASW-Illinois Chapter Board of Directors and Committees, and she is the leader/member of various other agency, state, and national advisory boards geared towards resource and systems transformation, children and family advancement, workforce professional development, credentialing and stability, race and LGBTQI+ equity and affirming care, social justice, and innovation. Tasha shares her ultimate aim is to electrify sustainable, collective power and capacity for evolving our tomorrows.