Chapter News

On Thursday, April 19th, the Senate Commerce & Public Safety Committee will hear SB1519:  protective orders; schools; appropriations. There is a strike everything amendment to SB1519. NASWAZ encourages you to voice your concerns using the "Request to Speak System," or by contacting the Senate Commerce & Public Safety Committee members directly.

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The National Association of Social Workers, Arizona Chapter (NASWAZ) stands with educators, support staff, and the community as they call for improved and sustainable funding for education that provides for teachers and support staff, school facilities, maintenance, and school resources.

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On April 10th, 2019, House Bill 2569 (Occupational Licensing; Reciprocity) was signed into law. This legislation requires a “regulating entity to issue an occupational license to a person who establishes residence in Arizona if the person is currently licensed or certified in good standing in at least one other state in the discipline applied for and at the same practice level as determined by the regulating entity and if the person meets a list of other specified requirements”.

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The Arizona Legislature convened on January 8th and concluded Friday, May 4^th. A total of 1,328 bills were introduced and 369 bills passed. The last week of the session focused on the FY 2019 state budget and meeting #RedforEd demands. The statewide educator walkout lasted six school days and concluded when the Governor signed the budget. 

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The Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent comments by President Trump equating Neo-Nazi, white supremacists, and other hate groups with counter-protesters in Charlottesville, VA. The facts and history do not support President Trump’s statements.  

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The National Association of Social Workers Arizona Chapter (NASWAZ) is very concerned about the gun violence that has tragically impacted our communities. We join with concerned citizens and groups to promote legislation that assures safety and security in our state and in our schools. We offer the recommendations below for your consideration. We wish to promote reasonable, effective, and sensible responses to curb gun violence. 

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Many social workers are concerned about the new AZ law that requires state employees to report undocumented persons to the INS. This legal brief below is a resource compiled by the NASW Office of General Counsel and has been published as the January 2010 Legal Issue of the Month.

Social workers may have a general concept of immigration requirements, but this area of law is both complex and volatile.  U.S. laws and policies affecting the status of immigrants have evolved over time in response to various social, political and economic pressures.  More recently, in the wake of welfare reform in the 1990s, and in the post 9/11 era, U.S. immigration policy has returned to an exclusionary focus that has turned toward conflating criminality and undocumented immigration status.  Although immigration laws are within the exclusive purview of the federal government, a number of states have attempted to address concerns about violations of immigration law by residents bypassing various exclusionary measures.  This may create legal questions and ethical dilemmas for social workers who work in programs or areas serving immigrants.  When social workers are used as enforcers of exclusionary government policies to the extent of “turning in” violators, valid questions may be raised about the extent a social worker may meet both legal and ethical obligations.  This Legal Issue of the Month article reviews recent legal policy as enacted by U.S. Congress, the state of Arizona and related interpretations of the law regarding immigrants’ eligibility for public benefits, documentation and reporting requirements.

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