The Importance of Advancing One Social Work: NASW 60 Years Later

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was established in 1955 with a focus on “promoting the professional development of its members, establishing and maintaining professional standards of practice, advancing sound social policies, and providing services that protect its members and enhance their professional status” (NASW, 2014, para. 2). As NASW embarks on its 60th year of continuing its mission of advancing the profession and addressing critical social issues, the importance of advancing “one” social work could not be more important. Social work continues to be a profession of relevance and great contribution. It is also one of the fastest growing professions in the nation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014), the profession is anticipated to grow by 19 percent between 2012 and 2022. This growth represents an anticipated 114,100 new social work positions, largely attributed to growth in aging and behavioral health areas. The profession addresses both long-standing and emerging issues. Using both a micro and a macro lens, the profession is uniquely positioned to promote lasting solutions and necessary changes, and give voice to important topics affecting a vast number of constituencies. In other words, as stated in NASW's brochure about social work, “Social work contributions enable our nation to live up to its true promise” (NASW, n.d., p. 4).