Celebrating Legacy and Shaping the Future: CHaSCI at NASW 2025
The 2025 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) National Conference, held June 15–19 in our vibrant hometown of Chicago, brought together thousands of social workers, thought leaders, and advocates under the theme: “Social Work: Celebrating Our Legacy | Developing the Future.” It was a powerful reminder of the profession’s enduring impact and its evolving role in addressing today’s most pressing challenges.
From inspiring keynotes to dynamic breakout sessions, the conference offered many opportunities for continued learning and connection. Some of our favorite sessions included:
“CEO Speaker Series: The Power of Coalition Organizing: How Membership Organizations Mobilize for Change,” moderated by Dr. Anthony Estreet with panelists Amanda Hollowell with Color of Change; John Gruber with the Human Rights Campaign; Malcolm Kenyatta with the Democratic National Convention; and Stacy Davis Gates with the Chicago Teachers Union
“The Therapist’s Use of Self: Being the Catalyst for Change with Therapy Veteran Clients,” by Matthew Selekman
“Social Workers, Social Justice, and Politics: Celebrating Our Legacy | Developing the Future,” by Victor Manalo, Marla Blunt-Carter, and Valerie Arendt
Robyn Golden received the 2025 Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement Award from the NASW Foundation.
At CHaSCI, we were especially proud to celebrate the achievements of CHaSCI Director of Policy & Partnerships Robyn L. Golden, recipient of the 2025 Knee/Wittman Outstanding Achievement Award. This prestigious honor, presented by the NASW Foundation, recognizes Robyn’s groundbreaking work in integrating social care into the health care system and her leadership in advancing policies that support whole-person care. Her efforts have helped reframe how Medicare can be leveraged to support social work, and her legacy continues to inspire our field.
We were also thrilled to have CHaSCI Policy Associate Alyssa McFadden present a poster on one of CHaSCI’s projects, titled “Social Work in Healthcare - Training Program (SWIHC-TP): Findings and Future Implications.” It was a lovely opportunity to share outcomes from this project (you can read more in previous blog posts here and here), hear stories from other social workers working in healthcare, and promote the upcoming launch of our Social Work in Healthcare Certificate (more details to come).
Alyssa McFadden presents a poster about the Social Work in Health Care Training Program (SWIHC-TP).
Additionally, our colleagues from the Social Work and Community Health Department—Padraic Stanley, Daniela Mitchem, and Mary Granados—delivered a compelling breakout session titled: “Social Work-Centered Community Interventions That Promote Health Equity and Align with the Health Care System.” Their work exemplifies how social work can lead in creating equitable, community-based solutions that bridge gaps in care, and we are so excited that they had the opportunity to share this good work on the national stage.
The NASW 2025 conference was a time of growth, reflection, and renewed energy. We ended the conference inspired by the collective wisdom of our peers and excited to continue building a future where social work remains at the heart of health, equity, and justice.
Until next time! Thank you NASW for an unforgettable experience!