Social Work Organizations
Action Network for Social Work Education and Research
The Action Network for Social Work Education and Research (ANSWER) is a coalition of the following organizations: Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD), Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education (GADE), Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR), National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work (NADD), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR).
Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors
The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) is an association of BSW program administrators, faculty, field directors, and others dedicated to the promotion of excellence in baccalaureate social work education.
Council on Social Work Education
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association representing over 3,000 individual members as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 1952, this partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and private citizens is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in this country.
CSWE works to ensure the preparation of competent social work professionals by providing national leadership and a forum for collective action. The main responsibility of CSWE is therefore to promote and maintain the high quality of social work education. In addition, CSWE strives to stimulate knowledge and curriculum development, to advance social justice, and to strengthen community and individual well-being.
Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work
The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) is an organization whose membership is composed of directors of established social work/social welfare doctoral programs located in accredited universities. It was founded to provide a forum for sharing ideas and strategies, and for strengthening members’ efforts at enhancing doctoral education.
National Association of Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 150,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
Society for Social Work and Research
The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) was founded in 1994 as a free-standing organization dedicated to the advancement of social work research. SSWR works collaboratively with a number of other organizations that are committed to improving support for research among social workers. Our members include faculty in schools of social work and other professional schools, research staff in public and private agencies, and masters/doctoral students.