Welcome to 2024! I am writing to you from the past, as our office closed for the last week of December.
Beginning this year, NASW-MO is committed to beginning our advocacy and educational mission strong! The theme of 2024 Social Work Month is Empowering Social Workers! And NASW-MO is excited to do this.
Although the Missouri Legislative Session begins on January 3, your NASW-MO advocacy team has been reading pre-filed bills and following those topics of importance to the social work profession. We expect a challenging and exciting year.
As your ED, I am committed to working hard for you in our Capitol. Last year was my first year, and it taught me the value of showing up. Many of you took our Legislative Committee Hearing Basics and Introductory Legislative Trainings this winter. We look forward to tapping you and many others for support. Whether submitting written testimony from your living room or traveling to Jefferson City for something you are deeply passionate about, NASW-MO wants to connect you to our process. Please continue to read our Newsletters this session, both our midmonth Legislative Updates and our general Newsletters, to keep informed of the bills we are tracking. This is a year for social work to show up.
And don’t miss out on our Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) at the Capitol on March 5th, for a curated advocacy experience! Details will be forthcoming.
And we are also excited for another year of offering strong educational opportunities to our members and all of the social work profession. Our Virtual Conference March 1st-2nd, Macro for Everyone, will be connecting the dots for all social workers on how policy, advocacy, leadership, ethics, and other macro elements of our profession impact all of social work, our systems, our clinicians, and our state. The slate of presenters is shaping up to be exciting!
As your New Year begins, I invite you to continue to connect more deeply with us at your NASW chapter. Know that we are here, that we listen, and that we are committed to Empowering Social Workers. To empowering you! I am grateful for the opportunity to be your Executive Director and to support your social work journeys.
I wish you a happy, healthy, and safe 2024!
In solidarity
Cassie E. Brown, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Executive Director, NASW-MO