CSWE Full Circle April 2015

Social Work Day on the Hill

CSWE participated in Social Work on the Hill Day on March 17, 2015, in Washington, DC. Members from the CSWE Board of Directors and commissions met with congressional representatives to discuss the scope of social work and to advocate for federal policies that support the profession. CSWE President and CEO Darla Spence Coffey moderated the Social Work on the Hill Day event sponsored by the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy and the National Association of Social Workers; the theme was “Engaging Congress in the Pursuit of Social Justice.”

Congressional Social Work Caucus founder Edolphus “Ed” Towns explained the background and mission of the caucus, which engages social workers, social work advocates, and congressional representatives in dialogue. He also introduced keynote speaker and former representative Ron Dellums (D–CA). Dellums discussed the unique role of social workers as the best-trained public activists against poverty in America. He encouraged social workers to come together and inspire their fellow citizens to make more concerted efforts to eradicate poverty.