Legislative Home Page

Advocacy at the Chapter

Members of the legislative committee can:

  1. Learn the legislative committee's mission statement and history
  2. Attend the weekly or monthly meetings
  3. Write and review written or oral testimony 
  4. Testify on behalf of the chapter 
  5. Engage in action alerts 
  6. Attend student advocacy day

Practice Committees

Practice committees are composed of NASW-MD members who share concern for the same issues. These individual committees focus on particular areas of concern for social workers. A chairperson is appointed by the Chapter President for each committee. Meeting on a monthly basis, the practice committees discuss social issues to decide which are the most important. They then submit these issues of concern to the Legislative committee.


The Following Committees Make Recommendations to the Legislative Committee:


  • Aging Committee
  • Children, Youth and Families Sub Committee
  • Forensic Committee
  • Private Practice Committee
  • Social Workers in Schools Committee
  • Social Workers Unravelling Racism Committee

Legislative Committee

The Legislative Committee is made up of appointed members and liaisons from each of the Practice Committees. During their monthly meetings, the Legislative Committee discusses the concerns of each of the Practice Committees with the goal of creating an agenda of the issues that NASW-MD wishes to place focus upon during the year’s Maryland Legislative Session.

Lobbyist


NASW-MD employs a Lobbying Firm which keeps the Legislative Committee abreast of the progress with its agenda.

Legislative Agenda for 2026

  • The Social Work Workforce 
  • The Aging Community 
  • Children, Youth, and Families Protection
  • Immigration

Testimony

After the Legislative Committee has established an agenda, members may offer verbal or written testimony to support their agenda before the legislature after the Executive Director and Lobbyist review it. Testimony allows NASW-MD members to go before legislative committees and advocate their position on certain bills and regulations of concern.


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