Support social justice's inclusion in California licensure requirements! This petition will be sent to the NASW-CA chapter along with a formal proposal. Add your name and support! Adaptation of proposal below:

This brief proposes that social justice advocacy and activism be included in California licensure requirements to comply with the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics clearly states that social workers should challenge social injustice as an ethical principle and pursue social and political action for broader society, per code 6.04.Yet, currently California social work licensure requirements do not include any form of social or political action requirements, instead focusing solely on direct service and training. This proposal suggests that social justice advocacy and activism be included in the Law and Ethics portion of the biennial continuing education requirements.

At present all licensees are required to complete six hours of Law and Ethics education every two years (Behavioral Board of Sciences, 2015). The current proposal recommends that social justice advocacy and activism count towards those six hours.

The National Association of Social Work has a moral and ethical obligation to uphold the core values of the social work profession. If initiated with the NASW California chapter, California licensure requirements will model requirements for social work professionals that are grounded in both direct practice and social justice.