NASW – Iowa Chapter

Newsletter

July 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

Hello and welcome to a new Board term!

I am looking forward to a great first month of learning, growing, and beginning to settle into my

role as President.

I want to take a moment to thank our Board Members whose terms have come to an end:

• Abe Goetz
• Rebecca Williams
• Becca Bixler
• Mary Collins
• Dana Kozisek

They have been a tremendous asset to NASW and I look forward to maintaining contact with all

and will be encouraging them on from afar to be a voice for Social Workers in Iowa. Thank you

for all you have done to advance the voices of social workers.

With a new board term coming into view, I look forward to building relationships with our new

board members and social workers statewide. I hope to strengthen membership in our state and help to bring meaningful conversations to the work we do.

As we look toward the future of NASW please know your input and voice matters. As a board,

we want to hear from YOU. This work matters because of you. We, as a board, have been able

to advocate and promote legislative, clinical, and human rights issues in our state over the

previous year. We have additionally voiced concerns within our profession as we hold our colleagues and ourselves to our Code of Ethics. This will continue and we want you to be part of it with us.

I encourage you to reach out with questions, concerns, or inquiries on how to become involved.

We have active committees to meet your interest and are always looking for new voices and

fresh perspectives to enhance the work of NASW Iowa.

Nolan Vitzthum, MSW, LISW, LCSW, ACSW, RPT-S™

NASW - IA President
 

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Social Work Licensure Compact FAQs:

The Association of Social Work Boards, the Clinical Social Work Association, and the National Association  of Social Workers have ex officio members on the Executive Committee of the Social Work Compact Commission and are the authors of this document. On April 12, 2024, the Social Work Interstate Compact officially got off the ground after the Compact bill passed in seven state legislatures. State Commissioners were nominated in the Summer of 2024, with the inaugural meeting of the Commission in September 2024 and the Executive Committee began meeting in February of 2025.

1. When will states begin issuing multi-state licenses through the Compact? There is no definite date, but likely within 9-12 months.

2. How many states have joined the Compact to date?

There are 32 states in the Compact as of May 18, 2026. More states are anticipated to be added by the end of the 2026 legislative session. An up-to-date list of states in the Compact can be found at https://swcompact.org/compact-map/

If states pass the Compact with material language changes - meaning the legislation wasn’t passed exactly as written in the Compact bill - then those states may have  to change something in their legislation before they can become part of the Compact. So far, this has been the case in South Carolina and New Mexico.

3. How will complaints against Compact members be handled?

Complaints will be adjudicated in each Compact state and sent to the Home State Board of the social worker for any other adjudication. Remote states can restrict practice in their state. The Home State can restrict practice in all Compact states. Notifications of actionable complaints will be made to all Compact states via the Compact’s data system.

For more FAQ’s visit: https://swcompact.org/educational-resources/

IOWA NASW NEWS

Denise Rathman Nominated for Phi Alpha Honor Society

We are thrilled to congratulate Denise Rathman, Executive Director of the NASW Iowa Chapter, on her nomination by the University of Iowa School of Social Work for induction into the Phi Alpha Honor Society, Delta Nu Chapter.

Phi Alpha is dedicated to excellence in scholarship and the highest professional standards in social work — a fitting recognition for Denise's outstanding contributions to the profession and to social workers across Iowa. Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor!

Do you know a social worker who deserves recognition?

Nominate a colleague for one of our five prestigious awards:

• Catherine G. Williams Diversity Award — for a champion of cultural awareness and inclusivity

• Sharaine Webster Social Worker of Excellence — for an outstanding leader in the profession

• Emerging Social Worker — for a rising star with 5 years or less of practice

• Public Citizen of Excellence — for a community member making a difference in social justice

• Lifetime Achievement — honoring a career of extraordinary impact

Take a moment to celebrate the incredible work happening in our field. Nominate someone today! More information and submit your nomination HERE

Congratulations to the 2026-2027 NASW-IA Chapter Board

Your newest representatives will begin their work on July 1, 2026.

Newest representatives:

2nd Vice President     Jamie Orozco Nagel

Secretary                Maddie Tru-Canales

NW Branch Chair       Michael Henning

BSW Student Rep      Faith Hurlbert

MSW Student Rep     Jill Von Fumetti

Ongoing representatives:

President                 Nolan Vitzthum

First Vice President    Susin Bredice

NE Branch Chair        Open

Central Branch Chair  Bryon Little

SW Branch Chair       Open

SE Branch Chair        Peggy Trosper

The Open Branch Chair positions are still working on being filled. Please contact Nolan Vitzthum if you are interested.

NASW Iowa 2026 Symposium - Registration open!

We're pleased to announce Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW as our keynote speaker on Friday, September 18. Keynote Topic: The Ethical Use of AI in Social Work: Practical Strategies for Real-World Settings (6 CEU’s, including 3 Ethics)

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

Email: hiexankeny@gmail.com

Use this link to receive the NASW-IA Symposium rate at the Holiday Inn Express Ankeny

**Hotel reservations must be made by Sun. 8-16-26 to receive NASW-IA Symposium pricing**

Member Recognition: New NASW Practice Standards for Serious Illness Care

We're proud to recognize NASW-IA member and former chapter board member Lynnea Andersen, LMSW, CHPO, for her contributions to the newly released NASW Practice Standards for Serious Illness Care: Hospice and Palliative Care Social Work. This important resource is now available to guide social workers in delivering compassionate, high-quality end-of-life care.

The publication is available as a free downloadable PDF or as a printed copy through NASW Press. Learn more about the standards at socialworkers.org.

Preparing for Your Licensure Exam? NASW-IA Has You Covered

NASW Iowa Chapter has partnered with several trusted resources to help members prepare for licensure exams:

AATBS — As an NASW-IA member, you have exclusive access to discounted exam prep and continuing education through AATBS, a leading provider for behavioral and mental health professionals. Access your member discount here.

Live webinar prep sessions with Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW are scheduled for July 14 and August 25, 2026. Register here.

PassItPro — Highly recommended by colleagues in Ohio, this online exam prep provider is another great option — and registrations from Iowa directly support the NASW-IA Chapter. Visit PassItPro.

MEMBER BENEFIT

Did you know…

When you join NASW, you automatically receive two memberships for the price of one — both the national NASW membership and your state chapter membership are included under a single annual fee. That means Iowa social workers get local connections and resources plus the full weight of the nation's largest social work association behind them — all at once!

IOWA EVENTS AROUND THE STATE

Social Work CEU Events

July 29, 2026 - 2:00p-5:30p - The Phenomenon of Minority Stress: Applying a Trauma-informed Lens to Working with LGBTQIA+ Individuals and Communities (3 Ethics CEUs).

July 31, 2026 – 9a- 12:15 p. - Bridging Worlds: Ethical Approaches to Navigating Culture, Rights, and Advocacy (3 Ethics CEUs).  IN PERSON- Cedar Rapids. 

September 17 and 18, 2026 - Symposium - DMACC FFA Building, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023 - 9/18/26 is also available virtually

December 4, 2026 - The Art of Clinical Supervision: The Secret to Successful Mentoring and Communication Webinar - With Dr. D.

To register and find more events visit: https://naswia.socialworkers.org/Events/Events-List-View

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Jill Von Fumetti, BA

MSW Student, Grand View

Jill Von Fumetti graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies from the City University of New York, School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) in January 2023. While at CUNY SPS, she was the Founder and President of Delta Alpha Pi, an honors society for high achieving students with disabilities.

Upon graduation, she took a position at the Easterseals Society of Iowa in the Assistive Technology Center. Her work duties included writing a monthly newsletter showcasing items available in the center as well as helping to bring together an alternative augmentative communication (AAC) workshop. AAC technology allows nonverbal people with disabilities the communication devices necessary to express themselves. While she loves the vocation of advocating for people with disabilities, she wanted to have a broader and more direct impact on the helping profession.

Jill has been told on countless occasions that she would excel as a therapist because of her ability to show empathy and interpersonal skills. She returned to the field of social work after a 15-year leave of absence due to mental health concerns. Jill is in her first semester of MSW candidacy at Grand View University in Des Moines Iowa. She plans to study the Clinical track, and has aspirations to be a therapist for people struggling with trauma and grief. Jill has a particular interest in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) as well as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and plans to become certified in both modalities. Her long-term goal is to become a professor of social work because she has the desire to shape the future of the social work profession.

Jill currently is a member of the Represent Engage Persist (REP) Committee as well as being an active member of the NASW Iowa Student Committee. Jill is excited to see where her involvement with the NASW takes her, and wants to express her extreme gratitude to the welcoming, insightful, supportive social workers she met on the MyNASW forum prior to her application to Grand View.

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.  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