DELEGATE ASSEMBLY National Association of Social Workers
Purpose • Set broad organizational policy • Establish program priorities • Develops collective stance on public and professional issues
The 277 Delegates • Elected by each chapter • National Board of Directors • Non voting delegates: – National Executive Director – Chapter Executive Directors • California’s 15 member delegation the largest of all chapters
California Delegation • Chapter President • 4 at large delegates elected statewide, 2 north and 2 south • 9 regional delegates • 1 student delegate (not elected until Spring 2014)
Duties and Roles of Delegate Assembly • Set broad organizational policy: In the form of Program Priorities – Composition, structure, and financing of the Association • Bylaws amendments authority (est. 2008): – Limited to the organization and role of Delegate Assembly – membership dues split between the National Office and its chapters • Revisions to The Code of Ethics
Priority Categories • Financial Viability • Social Justice and Anti ‐ Oppression • Professional Identification and Membership • Promoting and Marketing the Profession • Public Policy • Social Work Training, Education, Research, and Practice • Workforce Development
Public and Professional Policy Statements • Public policy statements: – NASW's position on issues that affect society in general and recipients of social work services in particular • Professional policy statements: – social worker conduct, standards or relationships with other professionals
Policy Statements Provide Guidance • Proposed legislation • Legal matters (e.g. amicus curiae friend of the court briefs) • Social work education • Practice settings • Social Work Speaks
Policy Statement Update Process “Evergreen” • Members may propose new, updated, revised or deletion of any policy any time online. • Policy Statement Steering Committee (NASW practice/policy staff with input from Chapters and experts) decides “retain, revise, eliminate or new within 2 months • NASW CEO reviews and posts on web for feedback • Panel members finalize and present to Committee, CEO and National Board
2014 DA Issues • Should the Delegate Assembly continue as is? – What are some of the reforms being discussed for the Delegate Assembly? • Do away with it • Bring back a live in person national conference • Bring back a hybrid live in person regional conference • Review and revise policy statements annually • Permit all members to be “delegates” and comment and revise policy statements
DA Timeline Feb 2013 Call to Assembly Prog Priorities Bylaws Amend Ethics Amend Spring 2013 x x x Proposals developed June 2013 x x x Deadline for proposals Sep Oct 2013 x x x Board of Directors approval Website comments Spring 2014 Panel Review x x Prelim and final Agenda Online approved by Board Aug 2, 2014 Assembly x x x Convenes Implementation July 2015 Jan 2015 Jan 2015
Detailed Timeline – Feb 2013 Call to Delegate Assembly – Spring 2013 National Program Committee develops the initial set of proposed program priority goals, input sought – June 2013 Proposal deadline to DA Planning Task Force – Sep 2013 National Board of Directors approves Program Priorities – Oct 2013 Delegates, members review – Jan ‐ Mar 2014 Online Program Priority panels convened – May ‐ Jun 2014 Program Priorities finalized – Aug 2 2014 DA votes on program priorities – July 2015 Program priorities go into effect
How You Can Prepare • Review the policy statements, volunteer to serve on a panel to revise them • Identify policy experts for the policy statements, enlist their participation to comment on the statements • Attend in person and online NASW events to “spread the word” on the Delegate Assembly purpose: policy, priorities, org change
Live Online Meeting Logistics August 2014 • Assembly occurs via computer • Option to participate in the live online meeting in regional location or from home • Need a computer with speakers and microphone • Reimbursement of expenses by Chapter for travel, hotel and meals if attending a meeting
References & Resources • 2011 DA website at http://socialworkers.org/da/da2011/default.asp – Includes the 2014 policy statements for review – http://socialworkers.org/da/da2011/policies/policies2014.asp • Chapter Staff: – Janlee Wong, naswca@naswca.org, (800) 538 ‐ 2565 x11 • National staff: – Sue Jashinsky, sjashinsky@naswdc.org, (800) 638 ‐ 8799 x266 • Former Delegates Version January 25, 2013
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