NASW Ohio Region 2

02/27/2026

Fridays already feel like a deep exhale, but this one carries a little extra sparkle ✨

We are excited to shine a spotlight on something even more meaningful... our 2025 Region 2 NASW Ohio Award Winners who were celebrated locally in January and will be honored on March 14th in Columbus, Ohio at the NASW Ohio Gala!

As we step into 💚 Social Work Month 💚 in March, we are proud to recognize the leaders, changemakers, and everyday difference-makers whose work strengthens our communities and advances our profession.

Join us in celebrating the impact happening right here in Region 2!

02/25/2026

🫟 SAVE THE DATE 🫟

Social Work Month is right around the corner and we cannot wait to celebrate it with you!

We’re hosting a 🎨 Paint & Sip 🧋 Saturday March 21st from 3:30 to 5:30 PM at Painting with a Twist in North Olmsted because even helpers need to refill their own cups.

➡️ Link to RSVP is coming SOON ⬅️

01/15/2026

New Cohort begins on Monday February 2nd. If you know an ASWB exam retaker who has struggled to pass (or if you are one), this course can make all the difference... Please share - To learn more, head to https://sweetgrindstone.com or reach out to me. There are spots available (for now). Susan Mankita

01/15/2026

📣 Applications are now OPEN!

NASW Ohio is now accepting applications for the Student Membership Scholarship, which will provide a free one-year NASW Ohio student membership to selected social work students across the state.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, 46 student memberships have been fully funded through donations for the 2026 cycle. We are truly blown away! Thank you to each and every person who contributed to making this opportunity possible.

🔗 Apply now: www.naswoh.org/studentscholarship
📅 Applications are open from January 15th through January 30th only!

01/04/2026

Congratulations to NASW Ohio Region 2 Co-Director Salima Dunn, who was accepted into the DSW program and will start her doctoral studies at The University of Kentucky this month. We wish her nothing but the best in her educational social work journey.

We love seeing our region progressing in their social work education. Please let us know if you are a recent graduate, LSW, LISW, and or a student that was recently accepted into a social work program. We’d love to shout you out!

12/14/2025

Social Workers. Are you preparing for your LISW or LSW ASWB exam? Attend a free study group. Sign up below. Sign up link: https://raytube.as.me/schedule.php

12/08/2025

Wear your social work values loud and proud. NASW Ohio merch is now available — t-shirts, sweatshirts, and totes created for our members and supporters! Shop here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/nasw-ohio-chapter/

NASW Ohio Region 2 (Akron) Co-Director Salima Dunn shown sporting merch during the Phoenix World Burn Congress last month 💙🤍

11/22/2025

As a benefit of NASW Ohio membership, enjoy our full 2026 webinar series—free, live, and designed to support your practice. Each session is held from 10–11am, offers 1 free CEU, and is recorded so you can watch anytime. Explore the year’s lineup and make the most of your membership. naswoh.org/calendar

11/22/2025

What we do is professional work. From our research papers, to the hours of internships, to supervision hours to passing the ASWB examination we are professionals.

Social work is professional work- and we need the Department of Education to treat it that way. Recent federal changes to loan limits for professional and graduate programs leave social work out, despite the fact that MSW and DSW programs meet rigorous professional standards and prepare practitioners for licensed, regulated, life-impacting work. This exclusion harms social workers and threatens access to our profession. NASW is working with CSWE and coalition partners to push the DOE to recognize social work as a professional degree. We’ve updated our student loan relief resources with the latest information and will be issuing an action alert as soon as the public comment period opens. When that happens, we will need social workers, students, educators, and allies everywhere to submit comments. Your voice will matter, your expertise will matter, your solidarity will matter.

Learn more:
socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Policy-Issues/Student-Loan-Debt-Relief-for-Social-Workers

11/21/2025

We are excited to launch our Student Scholarship Membership Program. Thanks to individuals at our recent conference, we raised up to $2,020 to support students starting their social work journey.

Every donation sponsors a student’s membership for a full year, giving them access to resources, mentorship, and community. You can fund a single membership for $60, support multiple students, or give any amount. Every dollar makes a difference!

Student membership applications for the upcoming cycle will open in January 2026. Your generosity allows us to thoughtfully invest in students and the future of social work. Learn more and donate at: www.naswoh.org/studentscholarship

11/12/2025

Happy Birthday 1st Vice President Rebecca Prather
Enjoy your run today 🏃🏾‍♀️

Happy Birthday, Rebecca! Our NASW Ohio 1st Vice President has been a leader with us since 2014—from Student Board Member to Regional Director to Vice President. Rebecca brings deep commitment to youth, families, and our profession. She holds her BSW and MSW from The University of Akron and an MBA in Healthcare Management from Case Western Reserve University and currently serves as the Clinical Director of six programs at Bellefaire JCB’s Unsheltered, Missing, and Transitional Youth Services Department. We’re grateful for your brilliance, energy, and heart.

11/07/2025

NASW Ohio Region 2 Co-Director Salima Dunn celebrated “Worksgiving” today with social workers from the Inpatient Social Work Department at Akron Children’s, encouraging self-care within the profession and celebrating the season of gratitude while eating together and having fun. We encourage you to do the same with your social work colleagues and have a potluck lunch soon. 🍁 🎃 🍂