By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
When I started my MSW program at San Francisco State University 45 years ago, I wanted to change a world filled with racism, inequality, poverty, and injustice. My classmates and I thought that we could make a significant difference with what we could learn in a professional social work program. We would ..Read More…
By Janlee Wong
NASW-CA Executive Director
John Lewis great Civil Rights icon and the last of the big six leaders who organized the 1963 March on Washington (King, Wilkins, Young, Farmer, Randolph) leaves behind an incredible legacy of bravery and courage, organizing acumen and principled ethical stands that are universally admired.
During my family’s 2015 Civil ..Read More…
By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
Historically, NASW has had an intentional policy to recruit members, leaders, and staff to reflect diversity and inclusion of the social worker population and to a lesser extent the general population. In some years it has been successful. Some chapters have struggled but the intention is there and will continue. To ..Read More…
By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
The stunning massive and near universal outcry and protest the killing of George Floyd and many others by police has galvanized people across the nation and the world. No one can watch the video of Floyd’s killing without feeling pain and demanding justice. Liberal or conservative, white, or black, Asians, Latinx, American Indian/Native Americans and so many ..Read More…
RACISM: WHEN DOES IT END?
By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
While recent events seem to indicate an increase in racism, we all know that it is ever present and must be fought continuously. The recent killings by police of Ahmaud Aubrey (GA) Breonna Taylor (KY), George Floyd (MN) and Tony McDade point to how imbedded racism is in American society and culture and ..Read More…
Social workers! Our Executive Director, Janlee Wong, recently sat down to share a message for our new class of social workers that graduated this spring. We know that not being able to celebrate this achievement in person has been tough for many, but we would like to share this message of hope from us to ..Read More…
By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
Congratulations Graduates,
In this time of crisis and turmoil, and in all times of human need, people look to professionals like social workers to help. All of us do this because this is what we’re trained to do. This is what our Code of Ethics, our values and our professionalism tells ..Read More…
By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
The NASW California Chapter Board of Directors held a recent “check in” meeting via Zoom and it’s amazing what professional social workers are doing during the COVID 19 emergency. The Board reflects the breadth and diversity of professional social work and here are some highlights from what Board members are ..Read More…
By Janlee Wong,
NASW-CA Executive Director
What might be the future of telehealth in the aftermath of COVID-19? In the near term (end of this year), many providers will continue to deliver their services via telehealth even after the stay at home order is lifted. Lingering concerns and anxiety will cause some patients and clients to prefer telehealth ..Read More…
After 25 years as the Executive Director of the California Chapter, I will be retiring as of July 31, 2020. My early social work career averaged 5-6 years per job as it is for many social workers. So, staying as long as I have, meant how ideal the NASW job was for me. I’ve accomplished what ..Read More…
