NASW Colorado

11/23/2025

Social workers spent decades building a profession grounded in advanced education, ethics, and real-world expertise. Now the Department of Education is proposing a definition of “professional degree” that shuts out social work and several other core professions. That change is more than bad policy. It threatens loan access, shrinks the pipeline, and sends a message that the work social workers do every day is somehow less professional.

A public comment period is coming, and we’ll be submitting formal comments and we’ll make it easy for you to do the same.

A degree in social work IS a professional degree. It always has been. It always will be.

Social workers spent decades building a profession grounded in advanced education, ethics, and real-world expertise. Now the Department of Education is proposing a definition of “professional degree” that shuts out social work and several other core professions. That change is more than bad policy. It threatens loan access, shrinks the pipeline, and sends a message that the work social workers do every day is somehow less professional.
A public comment period is coming, and we’ll be submitting formal comments and we’ll make it easy for you to do the same.

A degree in social work is a professional degree. It always has been. It always will be.

11/21/2025

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

11/18/2025

So You Want to Work on the Islands: Traditional Healing & Culturally Competent Practice with Pacific Islanders

Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 4:00 pm MT / 5:00 pm CT / 6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT / 1:00 pm HAST (please note time slight changes due to daylight savings)
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 9:00 am Hågatña

Join NASW for a special Student Series session exploring social work practice across the Pacific Islands. This webinar will feature a panel of social work leaders from Hawai‘i and Guam who will discuss how traditional healing practices, cultural values, and community-based approaches shape effective and ethical social work. Participants will gain insight into culturally responsive engagement, the importance of place and identity, and pathways for students and emerging professionals interested in island-based practice.

Register at www.socialworkers.org/studentevents

11/18/2025

REMINDER:Join us for our next NASW-CO Virtual CE Lunch & Learn TOMORROW!

"Longevity in Practice: Strategies for Sustaining the Social Work Soul" will explore practical, research-informed ways to stay grounded, resilient, and connected in this work.

📅 Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12–1:15pm MT
🎤 Presenter: Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div.
💻 Virtual via Zoom
✅ 1 CE Credit; FREE for NASW Members & current students ($15 for Not-Yet-Members)

Learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/47zNZcs

Take this hour for yourself. Your practice—and your well-being—are worth it.

11/15/2025

REMINDER:Join us for our next NASW-CO Virtual CE Lunch & Learn!

"Longevity in Practice: Strategies for Sustaining the Social Work Soul" will explore practical, research-informed ways to stay grounded, resilient, and connected in this work.

📅 Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12–1:15pm MT
🎤 Presenter: Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div.
💻 Virtual via Zoom
✅ 1 CE Credit; FREE for NASW Members & current students ($15 for Not-Yet-Members)

Learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/47zNZcs

Take this hour for yourself. Your practice—and your well-being—are worth it.

11/13/2025

✨REMINDER: Join us TODAY for Office Hours at noon MT!✨

These monthly office hours are FREE TO ATTEND & OPEN TO ALL, but registration is required. Learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/NASWCOOfficeHours

11/13/2025

So You Want to Work on the Islands: Traditional Healing & Culturally Competent Practice with Pacific Islanders

Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 4:00 pm MT / 5:00 pm CT / 6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT / 1:00 pm HAST (please note time slight changes due to daylight savings)
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 9:00 am Hågatña

Join NASW for a special Student Series session exploring social work practice across the Pacific Islands. This webinar will feature a panel of social work leaders from Hawai‘i and Guam who will discuss how traditional healing practices, cultural values, and community-based approaches shape effective and ethical social work. Participants will gain insight into culturally responsive engagement, the importance of place and identity, and pathways for students and emerging professionals interested in island-based practice.

Register at www.socialworkers.org/studentevents

11/12/2025

✨REMINDER: Join us for Monthly Office Hours THIS THURSDAY (11/13/25)!✨

Join us for our Monthly Office Hours with Chapter Executive Director, Leanne Rupp, & Chapter Board President, Dr. Amanda Baranski, on Thursday, November 13th (TOMORROW), from noon-1pm MT via Zoom! This is a great opportunity for social workers across the state to connect with the Chapter, stay updated on the latest news & developments, ask questions about licensure processes, & share their thoughts & concerns.

These monthly office hours are FREE TO ATTEND & OPEN TO ALL, but registration is required. Learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/NASWCOOfficeHours

11/12/2025

Join us for our next NASW-CO Virtual CE Lunch & Learn!

"Longevity in Practice: Strategies for Sustaining the Social Work Soul" will explore practical, research-informed ways to stay grounded, resilient, and connected in this work.

📅 Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12–1:15pm MT
🎤 Presenter: Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div.
💻 Virtual via Zoom
✅ 1 CE Credit; FREE for NASW Members & current students ($15 for Not-Yet-Members)

Learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/47zNZcs

Take this hour for yourself. Your practice—and your well-being—are worth it.

11/11/2025

So You Want to Work on the Islands: Traditional Healing & Culturally Competent Practice with Pacific Islanders

Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 5:00 pm MT / 4:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm CT / 7:00 pm ET / 1:00 pm HAST
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 9:00 am Hågatña

Join for a special session exploring social work practice across the Pacific Islands. This webinar will feature a panel of social work leaders from Hawai‘i and Guam who will discuss how traditional healing practices, cultural values, and community-based approaches shape effective and ethical social work. Participants will gain insight into culturally responsive engagement, the importance of place and identity, and pathways for students and emerging professionals interested in island-based practice. Join us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on what time zone you are joining us from!

Register at www.socialworkers.org/studentevents.

11/11/2025

Coloradans are feeling the strain as SNAP benefits are being withheld, leaving many unsure how they’ll put food on the table. Join us in supporting food security efforts and helping families across the state.

🍎 Locate & Visit Local Food Pantries: https://bit.ly/43mSZQt

📢 Contact your State and Federal Legislators: https://bit.ly/47QJwlL

*𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘈𝘚𝘞-𝘔𝘛 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴!