NASW – Iowa Chapter
Newsletter
MAY 2026 EDITION
Land Acknowledgement:
“We acknowledge that the NASW Iowa Chapter is located on the ancestral land of the Ioway and Meskwaki Nations. We recognize these Indigenous peoples long-standing presence and ongoing contributions to our community. As an institution, we are committed to decolonization and supporting Indigenous rights in our education programs and community partnerships.”
LETTER FROM NASW-IA CHAPTER PRESIDENT-ELECT
Hello fellow Social Workers!
As President-Elect, I am looking forward to hosting a Town Hall scheduled for May 7th at 6:00
PM. This is an opportunity for you, as NASW members, to bring questions, concerns, and
recommendations to the Board as we move into a new term.
There is no question there has been much change within the structuring of NASW at the
national level over this previous year. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about those
changes and how NASW Iowa will be moving forward to advocate and advance the practice of
Social Workers in the state of Iowa.
In addition, we are wanting to highlight the amazing work of our Board over the previous year
and our goals as we move forward. I hope you view this town hall as a coming together– an
opportunity to engage in honest dialogue about the amazing work of NASW and goals to
improve. We know there is power in numbers and NASW’s core mission is to bring Social
Workers together. We want you to feel included and heard as much as possible. Join us at our
town hall and let your voice be heard.
We encourage you to register at:
https://naswia.socialworkers.org/Events/Events-List-View/ArtMID/42670/ArticleID/7140/NASW-Iowa-Chapter-ZOOM-Meeting
I am also encouraging members to email me directly with questions you may have about NASW
or concerns you would like me to address. I will try my best to address these questions and
concerns during the open discussion portion of the town hall. You can email me directly at
nolan@theheartofplayllc.com.
-Nolan, President-Elect
IN OUR COMMUNITY
As we consider the world around us — ever changing, with new stressors and challenges arriving daily, sometimes more frequently than that — it is worth pausing to remember what we are. We are a community. One that values connection and building bridges across divides, not just for the people we serve, but among ourselves.
When caseloads are full, needs are heavy, and the outside world feels overwhelming, this is precisely when our ethical mandate to connect becomes most vital. Social work has never been a solo endeavor. The most meaningful change this profession has made — and continues to make — has always come through community, through networks, through people choosing to show up for one another.
There is truly nothing quite like being in a room — or a Zoom — full of social workers. We may come from different settings, hold different perspectives, and serve very different populations, but at heart the values are the same. That shared foundation is rare, and connecting with others who carry it will fill your cup in ways that are hard to find elsewhere.
Even when we are tired, even when our social battery is running low — connection makes the work easier in the long run and the profession stronger for it. Take a moment to reach out to your network. And if you're looking for a place to start, we hope you'll join us at the NASW Iowa Town Hall on May 7th.
https://naswia.socialworkers.org/Events/Events-List-View/ArtMID/42670/ArticleID/7140/NASW-Iowa-Chapter-ZOOM-Meeting
IOWA NASW NEWS
Iowa Board Elections - 2026
The NASW Iowa board election ballot is currently being finalized, and voting will be opening soon. Members will receive information on how to participate as details are confirmed. Board terms will begin July 1, 2026. We also want to note that the Northeast, Northwest and Southwest (orange, red and blue on the map to the right) branch chair positions are still open. If you are interested in serving in one of these roles, nominations can be submitted at naswia.socialworkers.org.
NASW Iowa 2026 Symposium - Save the date!
We're pleased to announce Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW as our keynote speaker on Friday, September 18. The symposium focuses on compassion, diversity, ethics, innovation, and advocacy in social work.
Date: Thursday–Friday, September 17–18, 2026
Location: DMACC FFA Building, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ankeny Conference Center is the official hotel of the 2026 NASW-IA Symposium
2502 SE Hulsizer Rd.
Ankeny, IA 50021
P: 515-965-2400
F: 515-965-0600
Email: hiexankeny@gmail.com
Use this link to receive the NASW-IA Symposium rate at the
Holiday Inn Express Ankeny
Reservations must be made by Sun. 8-16-26 to receive NASW-IA Symposium pricing
The NASW-IA Symposium will be held at the FFA Enrichment Center, located on the DMACC-Ankeny Campus. Thurs. 9-17 & Fri. 9-18-26
Registration information for the symposium will be coming soon!
Getting ready for your licensure test?
NASW Iowa Chapter has partnered with AATBS, a leading provider of exam prep and continuing education for behavioral and mental health students and professionals, to offer you discounted access to their industry-leading products and services. This benefit is being provided to you based on our relationship with AATBS, and is available to you exclusively because you are a member of the NASW Iowa Chapter. To see available products and access your discount,
https://behavioral-science.aatbs.com/naswia/
Live Webinar Exam Prep with Dawn Apgar PhD, LSW, ACSW. Upcoming Dates:
5-19-26 ~ 6-4-26 ~ 6-17-26 ~ 7-14-26 ~ 8-25-26. For more information and registration go to https://tinyurl.com/2026SWExamPrep
MEMBER BENEFIT
Did you know…
From continuing education savings to photocopy discounts, NASW membership can help you save money while investing in your professional growth. Make sure auto-renewal is turned on by visiting https://www.socialworkers.org/nasw/join
IOWA EVENTS AROUND THE STATE
Social Work CEU Events
May 27, 2026 - 12-1p - Northwest Branch Event - Balancing Protection and Autonomy: Ethical Practice with Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Virtual Event.
June 30, 2026 - 1p-4:15p - Navigating the Supervisory Relationship - Linda Richards, LCSW - Virtual Event
Save the date - December 4, 2026 - The Art of Clinical Supervision: The Secret to Successful Mentoring and Communication Webinar - With Dr. D.
Social Work Social Events
May 7, 2026 - 6p-7:30p - President-Elect Town Hall - Virtual Event
May 11, 2026 - 6:30p-7:30p - Southeast Branch Event - Virtual Event
May 21, 2026 - 7p-8p - Student Committee Meeting (subject to be announced) - Virtual Event
June 11, 2026 - 12-1p - Northeast Branch Event - Virtual Event
July 17, 2026 - 6:30p-7:30p - Southeast Branch Event - Virtual Event
**Be on the lookout for more social events coming soon in your branch!**
To register and find more events visit: https://naswia.socialworkers.org/Events/Events-List-View
NASW National Conference
June 10–13, 2026 - NASW National Conference: "Beyond the Breaking Point: Connection Through Purpose and Power," Washington, DC.
Learn more and register at Http://conference.socialworkers.org
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Cathy Beck-Cross MSW, LMSW, EdD
Professor of Social Work & MSW Program Director
Grand View University
Hello!
My career path is exactly why I tell students: you never know where you'll end up. I started at Iowa State, originally in early childhood education but switched to psychology after realizing that children come to school carrying experiences that impact their learning — and I wanted to help address that. ISU didn’t have a social work program and psychology offered a place that I felt like I belonged.
My first job out of ISU was as a substance abuse counselor, which was eye-opening both for what I learned about clients' lived experiences and for confirming that sitting in an office for eight hours a day was not for me. From there I worked for the State of Iowa, spending five years in child protective services. A pivotal experience with a client whose child suffered serious consequences due to drug use in pregnancy prompted me to switch to a different program. I spent the next six years in case management for adults with serious and persistent mental illness — a population I genuinely loved working with and still think about.
While at the State, I was selected for a program that funded an MSW at the University of Iowa — and it was there that I truly developed a social work perspective for the first time. My advanced placement practicum was with a family resource center in the Southeast Polk Community School District, which hired me before I finished my degree. I stayed for 18 years, growing from Family Support Specialist to Program Director, applying macro-level skills in grant writing, community organization, and program development. I still remember the moment in a U of I classroom when it dawned on me that community and policy practice could create change for wide swaths of people — not just individuals. That idea never left me.
Thinking I would stay in that role indefinitely, I enrolled at Drake for my Doctorate to learn new ways to carry out the work. During my studies, the deaths by suicide of four Southeast Polk teenage boys in seven months led me to base my dissertation on understanding what contributes to that kind of loss. As I finished the degree, the school district closed the family resource center due to funding concerns. I applied for a position at Grand View University to help develop a BSW program. I am now in my 13th year there — the first BSW cohort graduated in 2017, and I was part of the team that developed the MSW, which graduated its first cohort in 2022. What I love most is watching students enter macro practice or research with low enthusiasm and leave transformed by it knowing they have the ability to carry out research. I also developed an elective on suicide prevention and resiliency — a topic near and dear to my heart.
I would have never guessed that this would be my career path (so far), and that’s why I always tell students that you never know where you will end up.
CHAPTER OFFICE HOURS
The NASW-IA Chapter is staffed by 2 employees, neither of whom are full-time. This means our staffed office hours are somewhat irregular. This is particularly true during the legislative session. The best way to reach our executive director, Denise Rathman, is to send an email and let her know the best times to call you.
Exec.naswia@socialworkers.org
If you call and get voicemail, please be sure to leave a message, so she knows how she can be of assistance.
Contact Us:
515-277-1117
Nasw.naswia@socialworkers.org
Naswia.socialworkers.org
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NASW Iowa Chapter has a LinkedIn group!
https://bit.ly/NASW-IowaChapterLinkedin