NASW-MA Chapter

Attention Social Workers. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts released a report stating that the biggest barriers to diversifying our workforce are: cost of licensure testing, navigating the licensure process, lack of cultural flexibility in license testing administration.

MA social workers, did you see BCBS's report stating the biggest barriers to diversifying our workforce are:
➡️cost of licensure testing
➡️navigating the licensure process
➡️lack of cultural flexibility in license testing & administration

📣Take action using the link [ docs.google.com/document/d/1... ]

NASW-MA staff highlight, Megan Mawdsley. Megan is one of our interns for this year. She is a social work student at Boston University and hopes to continue her career post graduation in legislation and advocacy.

✨Meet Megan Mawdsley, one of our new MSW interns! Meg is a recent graduate of RIC with her BSW, and is currently studying at BU for her MSW. Megan is passionate about racial justice, increasing access to healthcare & community programs, & ensuring that families are not left in poverty. 😊

NASW-MA Staff Highlight. Mickey is an MSW intern from Salem State University. They are an avid musician and would love to incorporate that more into their social work practice.

✨Meet Mickey McGrath, one of our new MSW interns! Mickey is a second-year MSW student at SSU. Originally from the NYC/North Jersey area, they are happy to have found a home on the North Shore in MA. Their policy interests are LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, & racial justice. 😊

Text reads: So who are my state legislators?

So, you don't know who represents you in the state house? No problem!😊

Here are 2 super easy steps to finding out ⬇️:

1. Go to malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

2. Enter your street address, city/town, and zip code

A flyer sharing that The Office for Refugees and Immigrant's and Office of Housing and Livable Communities is offering FREE immigration legal assistance for those in any of the qualifying categories!

The Office for Refugees and Immigrant's and Office of Housing and Livable Communities is offering FREE immigration legal assistance for those in any of the qualifying categories! If you're interested in this service, scan the QR Code above or email ori.inbox@mass.gov with questions.

👏👏👏

Attention Please! Wil a megaphone.

#NASW supports legislation that would reverse all health care provisions in the budget reconciliation law that passed. The new bill would also make permanent enhanced premium tax credits that help keep ACA Marketplace plans affordable for individuals & families. Read the letter here: bit.ly/3VZcqdU

Some thoughts, before we give up on the idea of giving cash to poor families - The Boston Globe "Our neighbors who are poor mirror the rest of us quite closely. Most important, however, they don’t have money," writes one reader.

Thank you to coalition member Rebekah Gewirtz of @naswma.bsky.social for her letter in the Boston Globe defending the importance of cash assistance grants. Read the full letter here: bit.ly/InDefenseOfC... #LiftOurKids

Get out and vote!

NASW-MA PACE is delighted to support fellow social worker Eugenie Kavanagh for Mayor of Brockton. Eugenie will bring her passion for her community to bring new voices to city government to make equitable decisions for all. Make a plan to vote by Sept 16! @naswma.bsky.social

NASWMA PACE is delighted to support fellow social worker Khrystian King in his campaign for Worcester Mayor. Khrystian King is effective in policy, community leadership and advocacy!
Make a plan to vote on Sept 2! @naswma.bsky.social

Advocacy in local and state elections matter. Get involved today!

NASW MA PACE is proud to endorse Sandra Centeio in her election for Brockton School Committee, Ward 5. Sandra’s campaign is grounded in the core values of social work: dignity, equity, and systems accountability. Please make a plan to vote by November 4th! @naswma.bsky.social

NASW MA PACE is proud to endorse Ayesha M. Wilson for Cambridge City Council. Ayesha’s social work values guide everything she does, especially when it comes to advocating for mental health and equitable support systems. Make your plan to vote by November 4th! @naswma.bsky.social

NASW MA PACE is proud to endorse Marc McGovern in his campaign to the Cambridge City Council. Marc has been a leader on housing issues, homelessness, mental health, substance use, poverty and education. @marcgov.bsky.social
Please make a plan to vote by November 4th!

NASW MA PACE is proud to support Sarah Neville in her election for Chelsea School Committee. Sarah knows her community and has worked to ensure transparency and engagement for families in Chelsea.
@sarahneville.bsky.social @naswma.bsky.social

#SocialWorkers want to be active in local politics? Join NASW-MA’s Pace Committee ⬇️

You can still help us with our advocacy. Submit written testimony in support of the SUPER Act today!

✨We had an AMAZING turnout at the SUPER Act hearing, but our work doesn't end here, & we need YOU to help us with our advocacy. Take 5 minutes to submit testimony to the Committee on Higher Ed, sharing why YOU are a SUPER Act supporter. ➡️ docs.google.com/document/d/1... for a testimony template!

SUPER Act Hearing. July 18th, 2025. Sign up to testify today!

📣 MA social workers! The SUPER Act has been announced for a hearing on Friday, July 18th at 1:00pm, & we need YOU to show your support 💜. Sign up to provide oral testimony, submit written testimony to the committee, & add your name to our SUPER Act supporters list🖊️!

➡️ Link in our bio for templates

Thank you @massgovernor.bsky.social for signing the FY26 budget into law with $180 Million for #SchoolMealsforAll! This is the largest investment in the program yet, ensuring all MA students can access school meals so they can be healthy, learn & thrive. #FeedKids #MakeHungerHistoryMA

SUPER Act supporter sign-on letter. Add your name today.

Hey 👋! We are building off our SUPER Act supporter list that we started last session. Are you a supporter of the SUPER Act? Fill out the form [ forms.gle/E2hAhMXDBotM... ].Your name & credentials could be added to legislative testimony in support of the SUPER Act & other advocacy letters.

Social Workers, join us for an advocacy focused pizza party on June 25th from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm in our office in downtown Boston! We will be focused on increasing cosponsors for the Social Work Compact. Planning on joining us? RSVP here: forms.gle/BAvRMJaLwh9U...

Social Workers Have Pride.

Happy #Pride Month! Massachusetts social workers have pride every day. NASW-MA celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and recognizes the continued struggle for fairness, dignity, and equality. 💛🧡💜💙💚

Renee shared her #SUPERActWhy - can you share yours📞? Contact your legislators TODAY & ask them to cosponsor the SUPER Act & share your why. Click [https://ow.ly/GpEH50VVWyY] for our action center & personalized email templates!

NASW-MA is so excited to partner with the Red Sox for the 2025 Mental Health Providers Night Out! This year will be bigger and better than ever as mental health providers from multiples fields will all join together at Fenway Park for a celebration of Mental Health Providers! Please join us to network with other social workers, counselors, therapists, as well as graduate students and enjoy a well-deserved evening of fun as we celebrate our own Boston home team.

Only a few days left to secure your ticket for Mental Health Providers Night at Fenway⚾🥰! Social workers, join us for a special evening celebrating MH providers, networking, & fun! The deadline to purchase your ticket is May 26th, 2025! Click [www.gofevo.com/event/Nationalassociation86] to join us!

FY26 Senate Budget! Amendment #682 | Health Education Data Collection: Filed by Senator DiDomenico, would require schools to provide a biennial report regarding the standards of the most current Comprehensive Health and ...

#SocialWorkers, we need your help! Help us increase cash assistance grants, increase access to MH services for older adults, & collect health education data. Support these 3 amendments by asking your state senator to sign on to them here: www.votervoice.net/NASWMA/Campa...

#Advocacy #MentalHealth

Take 2 minutes to take action and support lifting kids out of deep poverty!

We want to uplift the statement made by @naswny.bsky.social and echo the same sentiment. We stand in solidarity with Ms.Feiner and all social workers who continue to show up and speak out in increasingly difficult public and political spaces.

What is the SUPER Act? Let's explore together.

What would passing the SUPER Act do to support the social work profession? Allow LICSWs to earn continuing education credits for supervision Licensed Certified Social Workers, MSWs, and BSWs. Remove the licensure exam for those at the Master's level (lcsw), the licensure level would still exist. Institute into law a state run grant program for MSW field placement stipends.

Let us reintroduce you to the SUPER Act 🤝! The SUPER Act is our workforce bill to support social workers at all stages of the profession. We are hosting a virtual advocacy event, can you join us on May 7th at 6:30pm? RSVP [https://forms.gle/WNtAB37jfFjqVFAK6] today!

NASW-MA continues to stand with trans people and the trans community. We strongly oppose the recent report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 1, 2025, which was issued under the recent Executive Order seeking to limit gender affirming care for minors. As professionals dedicated to the well-being of all individuals, we affirm that gender-affirming care is evidence-based, life-saving, and essential for the mental health of transgender and gender-diverse youth. Over a decade ago, we played a leading role in the Transgender Equal Rights coalition, advocating to add gender identity protections to existing Massachusetts civil rights law. Today, NASW-MA remains committed to advocating for policies and practices that uphold the dignity, autonomy, and health of all individuals. We will continue to advocate with Massachusetts policymakers to protect all healthcare providers providing comprehensive gender affirming medical care and to protect those in the trans community.

NASW-MA continues to stand with trans people and the trans community. We strongly oppose the recent report released by HHS on May 1, 2025. NASW-MA remains committed to advocating for policies and practices that uphold the dignity, autonomy, and health of all individuals.