The 2005 NASW CONGRESS represents a major accomplishment for the social work profession.  The theme, “A Coming Together of the Profession”, speaks to the significance of this event, held March 17-18, 2005, in Washington, DC.  BPD, CSWE, NADD, and NASW were conveners for the Congress.  Other sponsors included: AARP, Association of Oncology Social Workers, GADE, IASWR, NASW-LDF, New York Academy of Medicine, Simmons School of Social Work, and Insurance Trust of NASW. 

The Conveners and Sponsors participated in the development of a vision statement to guide and frame the deliberations and activities of the Congress.  Below is the vision statement:

SOCIAL WORK EXPERTISE IS HIGHLY VALUED FOR HELPING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY PROTECT AND ADVANCE THE WELL BEING OF ALL PEOPLE, AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE.

Approximately 400 social workers and social work educators convened to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities for the profession over the next ten years.  As a convener/sponsor, BPD had 25 representatives at the 2005 NASW CONGRESS.   The goal for the two-day Congress was to establish 12 Imperatives to guide action strategies for the total profession.  On Day 1, participants divided into four practice areas – Aging, Behavioral Health, Children and Families, and Health and Health Disparities.  The outcome for Day 1 was to generate up to four (4) Imperatives per practice area for a total of sixteen imperatives.  The second day was organized into four areas – Education, Policy, Practice, and Research – with the outcome to develop up to four (4) Imperatives per group.  Then, participants voted electronically on the Imperatives from Day 1 and Day 2 to arrive at the overall goal of 12 Imperatives listed below. 

BPD will use these Imperatives to guide some of its activities.  Additionally, BPD will work with the conveners and sponsors to develop a collective, coordinated plan for the implementation of strategies to address the 12 Imperatives.

BPD’s representatives at the 2005 Social Work Congress were:  BPD President Anita Curry-Jackson, BPD President-Elect Linda Moore, BPD Vice President Virginia Cruz, BPD Secretary Stephen Anderson, BPD Treasurer-Elect Debbie Simpler, BPD Program Coordinator Kristine Moreno, Freddie Avant, Carol Minor Boyd, Janet Bradley, Renee Daniel, Paul Dovyak, Julie Guevara, Grafton Hull, Anna McPhatter, R. Ann Myers, John Nasuti, Kim-Anne Perkins, Wanda Priddy, Ginny Raymond, Adelle Sanders, Catheryne Schmitz, Jack R. Sellers, Andrea Stewart, Dorothy Stratton, and Mary Ann Suppes.

The following twelve imperatives for issues were developed at the Congress:

Aging

1.            Assure excellence in aging knowledge, skills, and competencies at all levels of social work education, practice, and research.

Behavioral Health

2.            Participate in politics and policy (be at the table) where major decisions are being made about behavioral health.

Children and Families

3.            Assure a qualified social work labor force to serve children.

Health and Health Disparities

4.            Take the lead in advocating for quality, universal healthcare.

5.            Elevate the public’s awareness of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of social work practice in healthcare.

Education

6.            Address the impact of racism, other forms of oppression, social injustice, and other human rights violations through social work education and practice.

7.            Increase the value proposition of social work by raising standards and increasing academic rigor of social work education programs.

Policy

8.            Mobilize the social work profession to actively engage in politics, policy, and social action emphasizing the strategic use of power.

Practice

9.            Continuously acknowledge, recognize, confront, and address pervasive racism within social work practice at the individual, agency, and institutional levels.

10.          Strengthen social work’s ability to influence the corporate and political landscape at the federal, state, and local levels.

Research

11.          Promote culturally competent social work interventions and research methodology in the areas of social justice, well-being, and cost-benefit outcomes.

12.          Connect research and practice through partnerships among researchers, the field, and communities.