NASW-Illinois Chapter

Happy #SchoolSocialWorkWeek! March 1-7, 2026 The first week of #SocialWorkMonth month is also #SchoolSocialWorkWeek! During this week, #NASW & #SSWAA recognizes the powerful impact of school social workers. bit.ly/4qRYf7D

Get a #SWMonth Toolkit from socialworkmonth.org

Happy Social Work Month!

Social workers are highly trained professionals who don’t just change lives — they transform systems. That’s why this year’s theme is Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.

Learn more + toolkit: socialworkmonth.org
#SocialWorkMonth #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform

Learn baseline knowledge when considering LGBTQ+ demographic information, population statistics, culture, outcome data, and process improvement. Leave with more confidence when interacting with queer patients, clients, or students.

Register BEFORE 03/16 for this #Naswil training at: bit.ly/4ouCIAD

New #Naswil Job Alert! Illinois CASA is hiring at Recruitment and Marketing Director. Read & find more #Naswil #socialworkjobs and #classifieds at: bit.ly/4iwF0w5

HB4826 Introduced in IL House Health Care Licenses Committee House Bill 4826 (HB4826) would strengthen the integrity and quality of continuing education for licensed professionals in Illinois by ensuring that CE credit cannot be awarded for courses that teach practices or actions that are prohibited under Illinois law. This is an important step in protecting both practitioners and the communities we serve while reinforcing clear, ethical, and legally compliant professional standards.

HB4826 has been introduced—marking an important step toward strengthening the quality and legal alignment of continuing professional education in Illinois.

Learn more about the legislation, how it came forward, and what’s next: bit.ly/4ufX3On

Join #Naswil and presenter Allison Staiger, LCSW, for this 2-day, 12.0 CEU training. Learn what you need to start and maintain a private practice with intention and integrity.

Register at bit.ly/464YHHS

Unsure if a course you took will be accepted by IDFPR for CEUs? Read our "Ask NASW-IL" article to find out what you need to know to ensure the education you take will be accepted for CEUs in IL: bit.ly/4tQeTqD

New #Naswil Job Alert! Hera is hiring a Care manager (for older adults). Read & find more #Naswil #socialworkjobs and #classifieds at: bit.ly/4iwF0w5

New #Naswil Job Alert! Champaign Counseling is hiring a Full-Time Kids/Teens/Young Adult Therapist (LCSW). Read & find more #Naswil #socialworkjobs and #classifieds at: bit.ly/4iwF0w5

LAST WEEK TO REGISTER! Navigate the complex ethical landscape of AI in social work with this 4-hour live virtual #Naswil ethics course with presenter Lori Melhart, LCSW. 4 ethics CEUs available.

Register BEFORE 03/02 at: bit.ly/4pJIAqJ

LAST WEEK TO APPLY! NASW-IL is seeking passionate members to serve on our Advisory Board of Directors. This is a meaningful volunteer opportunity to influence change, strengthen our collective voice, and connect with peers.

Learn more at: bit.ly/4punxb6

New #Naswil Job Alert! Rosecrance is hiring a Team Leader – Youth Community Support Team. Read & find more #Naswil #socialworkjobs and #classifieds at: bit.ly/4iwF0w5

Join #Naswil Southern District for this 1.5 CEU lunch and learn about about how CHWs can partner with social workers to leverage their unique cultural and community expertise to improve engagement, follow-through, and outcomes.

Register by 03/10 at: bit.ly/4keXYtO

Join #Naswil East Central District Chair Staci McNicholl for this FREE lunch & learn CEU event in Mahomet, IL, on AI in social work! Speaker Erik Giles will be joining remotely.

Register before 04/15 at: bit.ly/4kM3q7A

Join us for this year's #Naswil Advocacy Day on 04/15/26 for our annual day of action in Springfield, Illinois. Meet with state legislators and unite your voice with hundreds of other social work colleagues on issues affecting the profession!

Register at bit.ly/4hGUr5d

Navigate the complex ethical landscape of AI in social work with this 4-hour live virtual #Naswil ethics course with presenter Lori Melhart, LCSW. 4 ethics CEUs available.

Register BEFORE 03/02 at: bit.ly/4pJIAqJ

CALL FOR PRESENTERS!

Seeking 60 to 90-minute presentations on cutting-edge issues in mental health practice for our annual 2026 NASW Chapters Virtual Conference hosted by NASW-IL and NV. Find out more at: bit.ly/3KyaEhZ

Back by popular demand, this 4-hour CEU course by 2025 NASW Chapters Conference presenter Michael Eiden takes a closer look at treating internet addiction from a clinical social work perspective. Don't miss out!

Register at: bit.ly/456bfhW

Help ensure social work remains a professional degree and submit your public comment by March 2nd to let the DoE know that #SocialWorkIsAProfession

Need help knowing what to write? Visit our website for steps on what to write and where to submit it: bit.ly/3O9n5SK

According to EdTrust, DOE's proposed changes "would deliberately underfund the degrees that staff hospitals, clinics, schools, and community organizations ... worsening existing workforce shortages and reducing access to care for millions of Americans."

- Almost 368,000 students of color who studied at the graduate level in 2023 would not be considered under the new limits

What's the impact of the Department of Education's new definition of professional degrees?

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics:
- Almost 678,000 women who studied at the graduate level in 2023 would not be considered for the new, higher "professional" loan limits

Learn baseline knowledge when considering LGBTQ+ demographic information, population statistics, culture, outcome data, and process improvement. Leave with more confidence when interacting with queer patients, clients, or students.

Register BEFORE 03/16 for this #Naswil training at: bit.ly/4ouCIAD

Help ensure social work remains a professional degree and submit your public comment by March 2nd to let the DoE know that #SocialWorkIsAProfession

Need help knowing what to write? Visit our website for steps on what to write and where to submit it: bit.ly/3O9n5SK

Social workers are the backbone of the U.S. mental health workforce—serving in child welfare, behavioral health, schools, healthcare, and community settings.

Limiting access to MSW education will deepen workforce shortages, increase wait times, and leave communities without critical care.

Help ensure social work remains a professional degree and submit your public comment by March 2nd to let the DoE know that #SocialWorkIsAProfession

Need help knowing what to write? Visit our website for steps on what to write and where to submit it: bit.ly/3O9n5SK

When social work education becomes less accessible, workforce shortages in mental health and social services grow—and taxpayers pay the price.

Higher recruitment costs, reduced continuity of care, and strained public systems weaken outcomes for everyone.

Join Dina Kastner for a discussion on the Dept. of Education’s proposed rule and how it could impact social work student loan limits & PSLF eligibility.
NASW will share how to submit comments before March 2, 2026.

YouTube: bit.ly/4bMHEOC

#SocialWork #StudentLoans #PSLF #SocialWorkAdvocacy

Join Dina Kastner for a discussion on the Dept. of Education’s proposed rule and how it could impact social work student loan limits & PSLF eligibility.
NASW will share how to submit comments before March 2, 2026.

Facebook link: bit.ly/4rNnKrk

#SocialWork #StudentLoans #PSLF #SocialWorkAdvocacy

Help ensure social work remains a professional degree and submit your public comment by March 2nd to let the DoE know that #SocialWorkIsAProfession

Need help knowing what to write? Visit our website for steps on what to write and where to submit it: bit.ly/3O9n5SK